NUGGETS OF TRUTH!

Mt 25:1-14
Parable of the ten virgins. Chapters 24 and 25 continue the thoughts of chapters 21-23.

Chap 23 7 woes - of scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites = church leaders
seven = fullness; woe = grief

Verse
13 -- 1. Shut off from the Kingdom of heaven
14 Devour widows houses
DEVOUR (b) metaphorically, "to squander, to waste," ; "to consume" one's physical powers by emotion, ; "to devour" by forcible appropriation, as of widows' property, (KJV only); ; "to demand maintenance," as false apostles did to the church at Corinth, <2 Cor. 11:20>; "to exploit or prey on one another," 15 -- 2. Make converts of hell; hell = everlasting punishment
16 -- 3. Swear by temple = swear by God
23 -- 4. Wrong tithe
25 -- 5. Clean outside, self interest inside
27 -- 6. Clean outside, dead inside = spiritually dead
29 -- 7. Tombs of Prophets = reflects they are liars

vs 34-39 Setup for understanding Chapter 24
34-36 kill the prophets - guilt of all the righteous falls on them
37-39 your house will be desolate
Generation = nation 1074
House = city of Jerusalem 3624

Chap 24 Desolation of Jerusalem and Christ's coming and the end of the age.

Matt 24:2 And He answered and said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here shall be left upon another, which will not be torn down." (NAS)

24:2 these things = see = perceive [gr]; Lk 24:45
What things?
1. all of what He has been speaking about in the last three chapters or at least 23:34-39
2. temple buildings destroyed

24:3 The disciples asked 3 Questions:

1. When will these things be? 24:2, 23:34-39

2. What will be the sign of your coming?
Coming according to Israel's belief as King. Israel was always looking for a sign. Lk 17:20-21, 19:11*
*they = the 12 disciples 18:31

3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?
End of age as Israel believes.
Age = denotes a particular period or interval. [gr] 165, 5550
Age = completion of world. [gr] 165
Jewish term = the messianic period = Jesus coming as earthly king. 165

SUMMARY: The disciples did not yet perceive what Jesus was saying, and so they asked for a sign which is what Israel usually did. Jesus therefore replies about "two" things coming to an end:
1) The end of the blood covenant stopped when the destruction of the temple took place [24:14-22].
2) He also clarified that no sign will come announcing His presence [second coming][24:23-28], but when He comes at the end of the world, certain events will have happen in the spirit realm preceding that event [24:29-31]. They will understand all these things when they receive the Holy Spirit and/or when their understanding is opened. Lk 24:45

NOTE: I do not see anything in scripture that indicates Jesus will establish an earthly kingdom at the end of the age, i.e., where He will descend and physically reign.

ANSWERS:

Jesus does not give them answers according to their misunderstanding [Israel's] of scripture, but gives a correct scriptural answers to their questions.

1. When will these things be? -things of 23:34-39, 24:1-2

A. Killing and crucifying, scouring, persecution of prophets, wise men, scribes.
Question 23:34 = Answer 23:36, 24:9

B. Desolation of the house of Israel [Jerusalem]
Question 23:38 = Answer 24:15-22
vs 15. Abomination of Desolation = armies Lk 21:20, Jn 11:48, Lk 19:41-44
Abomination of Desolation = men of lawlessness [stone of 24:2]
What do they do? Dan 11:31-32, 12:11
holy place = Jerusalem Lk 21:20-24

ABOMINABLE, ABOMINATION
denotes an "object of disgust, an abomination." This is said of the image to be set up by Antichrist, ; of that which is highly esteemed amongst men, in contrast to its real character in the sight of God, . The constant association with idolatry suggests that what is highly esteemed among men constitutes an idol in the human heart. In , entrance is forbidden into the Holy City on the part of the unclean, or one who "maketh an abomination and a lie." It is also used of the contents of the golden cup in the hand of the evil woman described in , and of the name ascribed to her in the following verse. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

I Jn 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the {spirit} of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

Rev 14:9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, (NAS)
Beast = Satan

ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
The Hebrew root for abomination is shaqats, "to be filthy," "to loathe," "to abhor," from which is derived shiqquts, "filthy," especially "idolatrous." This word is used to describe specific forms of idolatrous worship that were specially abhorrent, as of the Ammonites <1 Kin 11:5,7>; of the Moabites <1 Kin 11:7; 2 Kin 23:13>. When Daniel undertook to specify an abomination so surpassingly disgusting to the sense of morality and decency, and so aggressive against everything that was godly as to drive all from its presence and leave its abode desolate, he chose this as the strongest among the several synonyms, adding the qualification "that maketh desolate" , Septuagint bdel-ug-ma er-e-mo-se-os. The same noun, though in the plural, occurs in . The New Testament equivalent of the noun is bdel-ug-ma = "detestable," i.e. (specially) "idolatrous." Alluding to Daniel, Christ spoke of the "abomination of desolation" .
(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)

ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
The phrase is found in and as a quotation from and <12:11>. In Daniel, the words mean "the abomination that makes desolate." In other words, Daniel prophesied that the Temple would be used for an "abominable" purpose at some time in the future. As a result, God's faithful people would no longer worship there-- so great would be their moral revulsion, contempt, and abhorrence at the sacrilege-- and the Temple would become "desolate." [from Nelson's]

Where is God's temple now? 1Cor 3:16

CONCLUSION: It is Satan's plan to get every person to worship him, i.e., worship the beast or his image [Rv 15:2]. Jesus is also conforming His church, to His image [Rm 8:29].

C. Destruction of temple buildings. 24:2, 24:14-15, 4-22
vs 14. end shall come; does not say end of age
The desolation of God's earthly Jerusalem, the end of the temple and the end of the blood and grain sacrifice.
The gospel is being, and has been preached to all the inhabited earth through the Holy Spirit. Rm 16:25-26
The new covenant had to be preached before the temple could be destroyed because of the blood covenant. Both covenants were in place for a period of about 35 years.
World = specifically the Roman Empire 3625

2. What will be the sign of Your coming? Mt 24:23-28, Lk 17:20-37 [READ 20-25]
Jesus is talking spiritually about second coming at the end of the world.
There is no sign of His coming. 2Pt 3:10 But there are some indicators.

3. End of the age? World: 29-31
vs 29 After the tribulation of those days; the fall of Jerusalem.
The sun darken and etc. = Satan and fallen angels cast down from heaven. Rev 6:12-13, [12:7-8 read]
Sign = His ascension Acts 1:9-11; Mourn = Mt 9:15
Tribes of the earth = 12 tribes = the church
When the disciples see Him ascend, they will know that He can come at any time. Unexpectedly!

SUMMARY:

Mt 24: 4-22 The destruction of Jerusalem = the end of the blood covenant
23-28 Sign of Your coming
29-31 End of the age
32-51 Recap of all things previously mentioned.
Generation = race ft. note, nation

WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST JESUS

THE FORMAT FOR LEARNING: TEACHING:
1Jn 2:26-7 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. {27} And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

I want to share some of the meat of the word with you!
But before I do that we need to establish some common ground.

GOD IS LOVE:
1Jn 4:16-18 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. {17} By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. {18} There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. For God so loved the world! Jn 3:16

GOD IS SPIRIT: and those who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and truth. Jn 4:24

SPIRIT: For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the son of God. Rm 8:14

TRUTH: Jesus said to him; I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father, but through me. Jn 14:6 And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. Jn 8:32, 36

LET'S EXAMINE THE KINGDOM OF GOD

For the kingdom of God is not eating or drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rm 14:17

RIGHTEOUSNESS: Believes by faith
Rm 10:8-10 But what does it [righteousness] say? "the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, {9} that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; {10} for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

PEACE:
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1Thes 5:9 God has not destine us for wrath.

JOY:
1Pt 1:8-9 And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, {9} obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

WHERE IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Lk 17:20-21 The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, Look, here it is! For behold the kingdom of God is in your midst. [or within you]

HOW DO WE ENTER THE KINGDOM, I.E., HOW ARE WE SAVED?
Through Jesus Jn 14:6
Jn 3:16-21 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. {17} "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. {18} "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. {19} "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. {20} "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. {21} "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
Believes = To give oneself over to another. [gr]

THE GOSPEL:
1Cor 15:1-4 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, {2} by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. {3} For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Are we convinced that Jesus died for and released us from our sin? [guilt]
Rev 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, {6} and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

KNOWING THIS, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Rm 6:6-7

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live [my will], but Christ lives in me [His will]; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God [ability of the Holy Spirit], who loved me and delivered Himself up for me. Gal 2:20
Act 1:8 Receive power [ability] when the H.S. comes upon you.

FURTHER EXPLANATIONS 1Pt 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh [suffered death = died to the will of the flesh], arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men [self will] but for the will of God.

Rm 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

THIS IS HOW WE BECAME RIGHTEOUS, WE BELIEVED THE GOSPEL AND RECEIVED GOD'S GIFT.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED?
Rm 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

THE COVENANT
Heb 7:14-19, 8:6-13, 9:1-28, 10:1-25 Heb 7:6 The promise of faith: Rm 4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

vs 7 Jesus is the promise of restoration with the father; and righteousness, peace, joy, life, truth.

vs 11 If perfection is through the law, then there is no need for Christ.

vs 16 New covenant = not a law of physical requirement; but according to the power of an indestructible life;
Old = Heb 9:10
Who was this life? Christ! Heb 9:14-15

vs 18 The Law has been set aside. Why? It made nothing perfect!
Does the new covenant make the worshiper perfect? YES!
It brings a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

vs 22 Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant!

vs 25 Jesus saves forever, for he intercedes for us according to the will of God.
What is the will of God for us? I Jn 3:23 And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

LET'S REVIEW

1. We have received a better covenant.
2. A covenant of Faith and not by works of men [flesh].
3. A covenant of the Spirit, not of the flesh.
4. A covenant that makes the worshiper perfect before God.

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW? [MOSAIC LAW]

1. The law brought about knowledge of sin. Rm 3:20
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law 1Cor 15:56.

The thing that separates us from God is sin [guilt]; and the power that drives guilt is the law. KNOWLEDGE OF SIN MAKES US FEEL GUILTY and we want to hide from God who made us to have fellowship with Him. Gen 3:6-11, 21

2. The Law came in that the transgression might increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. Rm 5:20 God gave the Law so we would know that we could not establish His righteousness in ourselves, by ourselves, and would have to cry out to Him for Mercy.

3. The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. Gal 3:24

4. We have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter. Rm 7:6 [Born Again]

5. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rm 10:5
Until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed [charged to us] when there is no law. Rm 5:13

6. Who was the law made for?
1Tim 1:8-11 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, {9} realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers {10} and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, {11} according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS ALWAYS COME THROUGH GRACE BY FAITH! Heb 11

Heb 8:7-13
vs 7 A NEW COVENANT, A BETTER COVENANT.

vs 10 God's Laws are in our minds and in our hearts. Spirit led.

vs 12 God has forgotten our sin! We need to do the same?

vs 13 We have a new covenant.

Heb 9:9-26
vs 9 WORSHIPER PERFECT IN CONSCIENCE.
This is what the new covenant has accomplished for us, we need to get into agreement with it.

vs 14 God wants to cleanse your conscience!
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God 1Jn 3:21

vs 26 Christ has put away sin [guilt] by the sacrifice of Himself.
He released us from our sins by His blood. Rev 1:5
Not only our sin, but the worlds also. 1Jn 2:2
Sin has no power and is not imputed against us.

Heb 10:1-18
vs 1 The Law could not make the worshiper perfect in God sight, but this new covenant does!

vs 2 This is the rest of the new covenant.
No consciousness of sin. [guilt]

vs 10 We have been made holy through Christ.

vs 14 We have been made as if we had never sinned in God's eye.
Why? Because he made a propitiation for our sin [Jesus] and has chosen to forget our sins [that's called Grace]. vs 17

vs 17-18 He has forgiven and forgotten. [love]

HOW DOES GOD REALLY SEE US?
1 John 3:1-10 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

{2} Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

{3} And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Hope = Heb 11:6 God is who He says He is and will do the things He says he will do, and is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Purifies = to be free from guilt or moral blemish [dic]

{4} Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
Practices = commit to 4160 = To set our intent on a certain course [dic]

{5} And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

{6} No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

{7} Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; Deceive us. Who is the deceiver? = guilt

{8} the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Rm 7:14 For I know the Law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into bondage to sin. Who released us? It started in the garden of Eden. Satan deceived Eve; she and Adam felt guilty.

{9} No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Why?
1. His seed abides in us.
Seed = Jesus in the form of the Holy Spirit. We must be Spirit led.
2. Because we are born of God.
The reason this is true is that God cannot deny Himself.

{10} By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

SO HOW ABOUT 1Jn 1:8-2:11
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. {9} If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. {10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; {2} and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

DO WE HAVE SIN? We are born with 2 types of sin.
1Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this.

1. UNFORGIVABLE SIN: Sin of the spirit
Mk 3:28-29 "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; {29} but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin "--

When we speak against someone, we reject them and/or what they are saying, i.e., the Holy Spirit is the One who calls us to salvation!

2. FORGIVABLE SIN: Sin of the flesh Rm 7:18-8:4
7:20 sin which indwells me; is the sin of the flesh
Can we overcome it? No! vs 25
Can we be set free from it? Yes! vs 8:2
Can we live with it? Yes! in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit
7:25 We are a split personality
Will we ever be set free from this flesh.
Yes, when we physically die.
God see us like that has already happened.
Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; Rm 6:6
What are we to do in the mean time?
Ja 5:16 says Confess your sins [fleshly] one to another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
HEALED? FROM WHAT? [from guilt]

WHY DID GOD LEAVE US IN THIS POSITION?
2Cor 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

WHY ARE WE PLEASING TO GOD?
1Jn 21-24 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; {22} and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.{23} And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.{24} And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES
Mt 22:35-40 And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW. THE LAW OF GOD.
Gal 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN. 1Pt 4:8

LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT
Col 3:12-15 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. {14} And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. {15} And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

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