Perils of the Endtime

Introductory questions to chew

How alert and discerning am I?

Could I swayed by deceivers?

"Then shall they deliver you up" -- Do I qualify as a target?

How deep and secure is my loyalty to my fellow Christians?

What effect is iniquity having on me?

Is my spiritual commitment now sufficient to carry me through to the end?

Is the gospel of the kingdom going forth from me?

It Will Be Bad; He Will Be Good

Matthew 24 is a dreary, foreboding chapter. But Jesus does not leave us without hope.

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (12).

Please, not me. Or my families. Or my friends.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (13).

Oh, may we live by His enduring grace!

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (22).

Talk about things getting bad! What terrible deception comes around the corner. But God doesn't want to lose His people, so He will not allow them to struggle long with such deception.

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (31).

I am so grateful for this hope.

And for these warnings:

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (42).

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (44).

May I live today in watchful readiness, allowing His enduring Word to determine my living.

Got It?

I couldn't miss it in Mark 13!

"Take heed lest any man deceive you" (5).

"But take heed to yourselves" (9).

"But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you" (23).

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is" (33).

"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh...Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping" (35, 36).

"And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (37).

Mark, beware what and whom you listen to!

Mark, be careful how you live!

Mark, pay attention to God!

Mark, live for Him!