After mentioning the coming of many deceivers that would come in his name truthfully teaching that he is the Messiah; after mentioning the hearing of wars and rumors of wars; after mentioning nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; and famines and earthquakes, Jesus at Matthew 24:8 Jesus makes this statement:
All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Note: Jesus did not mention nations and kingdoms (plural) rising against each other, he mentioned nation and kingdom (singular) would rise against each other. This gives us a clue as to a future time period Jesus was referring to in which two nations, two kingdoms would be in contention with each other. I mention them at the end of this article and the time period in which they will arrive.
The beginning of birth pains. The events that Jesus mentioned at Matthew 24:4-8 were not signs that would lead to the end because (1) It was not signs that his disciples ask Jesus about, they asked about a sign and (2) Jesus said at Matthew 24:6 but the end is still to come.
So the events of Matthew 24:4-8 would be the precursors to the birth of something. What?
Pregnancy, Child Labor, and Birth
In order to help the reader understand and appreciate what Jesus was referring to at Matthew 24:8, it would be helpful to review what a pregnant woman goes through before she gives birth to a child. Immediately preceding childbirth, she experiences pain. In most cases, it comes upon her unexpectantly, her water breaks. (I should note here that Christ said that no one knows (except the Father) when he would come (be born again). His coming would be like a thief in the night. When a thief comes, he does not announce it. It is unexpected.)
These are indicators that the baby is on its way and she has very little control over this process.
When Jesus mentioned that “All these are the beginning of birth pains” he was not referring to the coming of a literal human baby, but the certain coming or birthing of his one thousand year kingdom; it would be born out of God’s Kingdom in heaven. A close look at Matthew 24:3 shows that this is exactly what his disciples were asking him:
Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Not only was his disciples asking him about the sign of his coming kingdom (it’s birth) but also it’s ending. That Christ’s future 1000 year kingdom is definite (has an ending) can be seen at Revelation 20-6-7:
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison
That Christ’s Kingdom is likened to a child that is about to be born of a pregnant woman, can be seen in Revelation Chapter 12:1-2:
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
It should be noted in the above Scripture that we are told of a great sign that appeared in heaven. Well, is this not what Christ’s disciples asked about at Matthew 24:3? This sign is a pregnant woman in heaven clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. Pregnant, this woman cries out in pain as she is about to give birth. At Matthew 24:8, Jesus mentions those events that would be the beginning of pains of distress.
The description above is not a literal woman. Why? Because no literal woman lives in heaven. No literal woman is clothed with the sun. No literal woman can have the moon under her feet. No literal woman can have a crown of stars on her head. The sun, the moon, and stars are luminaries that appear in heaven. So this woman is God’s Kingdom which is in heaven. And, God’s Kingdom (The Woman) will give birth to another Kingdom.
When Jesus’ disciples asked him at Matthew 24:3, what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age, they were asking him “When will your kingdom be born (come) and when will it end?” At Matthew 24:30, Jesus told them about THE SIGN that would signal his kingdoms birth. The exact sign we see mentioned at Revelation 12:1-2.
The sun is the radiance of God Himself over the woman and His own Kingdom. The moon under the woman’s feet is showing that it is NOT God’s Kingdom (The Woman) that comes to the earth, which is under the earth, but Christ’s Kingdom that comes or that will be born and have a definite dominion over the earth. The crown of stars on this woman’s head is all of the angelic hosts who reside in heaven. In other words, the stars represent all of the angels who are citizens in God’s Kingdom in heaven. Satan is among those stars.
The Birth of Christ’s Kingdom
After the events of Matthew 24:4-8 are fulfilled, an old world (our existing world) ends, and a new one is born out of God’s Kingdom in heaven: Christ’s Kingdom of 1000 years over the earth. (Christ does not literally return to the earth, he returns in the sense that he has a rulership over the earth with his throne in heaven).
Revelation 12:1-6 describes the birth of Christ’s kingdom in this way:
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
First notice the similarity of these Scriptures to what is mentioned in Matthew 24:3 and Matthew 24:30 as I mentioned earlier. What is common is that “a sign” (not signs) is mentioned. Also notice that Revelation 12:1 and Matthew 24:30 BOTH mention that the sign appears in heaven.
The sign itself – that is seen only in heaven – is the birth of Christs Kingdom out of God’s Kingdom in heaven and Christ being given his promised kingdom. His coronation is an event only witnessed by those who reside in heaven. That he is coronated as earth’s new King in heaven can be seen in the wording of Matthew 24:30:
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
That he comes with POWER and GLORY means only one thing: he comes as a powerful and glorious King. The first sending of the Son of God to the earth by his Father in heaven was NOT as a king (a Lion), but as the sacrificial Lamb of God. His second returning or coming will be much different; it will bs a powerful King; The Lion that is of the tribe of Judah. (Rev 5:5)
That we are told that the sign is seen in heaven means that no human on earth will witness the event of Christ being coronated as king. Only the angels – including Satan – will witness that event. That’s right, Satan is still in heaven to this very day and will be in attendance when Christ is coronated King by The Most High God; and Revelation 24:30 shows ANOTHER sign seen in heaven and it is the Great Dragon who is present in heaven during the pregnancy and birth of the woman’s child.
Before Christs Kingdom is born, the Great Dragon – who is in heaven at that time – is keenly interested in this pregnancy and will have convinced one-third of the angelic host to rebel against what ensues from this pregnancy. He would have to be in heaven to do this convincing as that is where the other angels reside. Revelation 12:3-4 reads:
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.
It is important to note that The Great Dragon – now and at the time of the birth of Christs future Kingdom – has great authority even in heaven. This can be seen by his symbolic appearance of having crowns on its seven heads. There is common misconception that The Devil is no where near heaven and that misconception is absolutely wrong. There is also a common misconception that this very powerful angel is ugly in appearance. That too is wrong. This Great Dragon is an angel and is very beautiful and compared to precious stones in his beauty. It is man who has incorrectly portrayed him as a grotesque creature with horns and a pitch fork . In fact, he to this very day has great influence over ALL of the angelic hosts. He is a very powerful angel of very high-ranking far above all of of the other angels except one: Michael, the archangel. He has a throne and great authority. He has power, authority and a throne (kingdom) not only over the angels, but also OVER THE EARTH. His power, authority, and throne was not given to him by himself, but given to him by God. (See Revelation 13:2)
We are even told at 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:2 that Satan (The Great Dragon) is the god of this age (world).
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Cor 4:4 – KJV)
It makes perfect sense why this Great Dragon is keenly interested in the birth of Christs Kingdom and consuming it because it will replace his age and usher in a new one under a new King, Christ.
When Christs Kingdom is born (begins), the Great Dragon is right there in heaven awaiting its birth so that he can consume it; in other words, fold it into his authority and throne. The Great Dragon has authority in heaven and would be able to do this. However, God does not allow that to happen and He (God) folds Christ’s kingdom into His throne. That is what it means at Revelation 12:5:
And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
So what does it mean when we are told that the woman’s child was snatched up to God and his throne? It simply means that the child (Christs Kingdom) is off limits to The Dragon and UNDER GOD’S PROTECTIVE WINGS. This being off limits to the Dragon is related to the Dragon’s Abyssing of 1000 years – the exact same duration of Christs Kingdom as you will next see.
War Breaks Out In Heaven: Two Kings (Rulers) Contend
Before the earth can benefit from the goodness of it’s new King, the old ruler of the world must be dealt with.
At the birth of Christs kingdom (the sign), two rulers over the earth will then be standing up in heaven: (1) The Great Dragon and the earth’s new King, Christ (who is Michael). Two Kings (kingdoms) can not coexist over the earth. One must go. As his first act as King, Christ (Michael) does battle with a mighty adversary who has great influence over the stars in heaven (angels) and who was ruler over the earth. This adversary will not peacefully give up his power, throne, and great authority without a fight:
The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Revelation 12:6-10)
The significance of the woman (God’s Kingdom) fleeing into the wilderness simply means that it is not God’s Kingdom (The Woman) that will be doing battle with the Dragon, but its child, Christ himself as King over his kingdom. It also shows that it will not be God’s Kingdom ruling over the earth at this time, but Christs kingdom must rule over the earth for a definite time BEFORE God’s Kingdom comes down to it.
Christs Kingdom MUST rule first over the earth before God’s Kingdom comes down. Christ’s kingdom is definite and only lasts for 1000 years. God’s Kingdom is INDEFINITE, meaning when it comes to the earth, will have no end. Too, that the woman flees into the wilderness shows that she will undergo a period of preparation for a future marriage; a reconciliation with a lost mate. That marriage will come after Christ’s kingdom of 1000 years will have ended and he will have prepared the inhabitants of the earth (The groom) for the marriage or restoration between God and mankind; mankind being that lost mate alienated from its Creator.
Notice that Michael and his angels battle against The Dragon and his angels. If both Michael and The Dragon both have angels under their command and control, then both Michael and The Dragon are both rulers with authority. Yet, the outcome of this battle is that Michael wins the battle and The Great Dragon will be finally ousted out of heaven. It is important to understand that this event is yet future and Satan is still in heaven and has authority and influence over the stars (angels) in heaven.
Michael, the Archangel (Chief Angel, Jude 9) and his angels (stars) oust Satan from heaven and down to the earth along with his angels (stars).
So when Christ’s kingdom is born (this is still future), a war breaks out in heaven, not on earth. This is not war as we humans envision war using guns, bombs, and ammunition. Angels cannot kill or destroy each other so this war would not be a war in a deadly or destructive sense, but a war of disagreement. If there is disagreement, sides are taken. There is polarization.
Sadly today, the world of religion proclaiming to follow Christ is divided and in disagreement. There is a reason for this: The god of this world – The Serpent – manipulated matters so that it would be that way. If an entire world of religion, especially the one claiming to follow Christ is conditioned and indoctrinated to contend and fight among themselves, then they will be polarized. Today, they war with words with each other over WHO is telling or teaching the truth about God and Christ. As I mention numerous times on this website, there are over 41,000 contending so-called Christian denominations who all teach Christ differently and they all claim they are teaching the truth. Well, that is just not possible. There are two possibilities:
1. They are all teaching the the truth.
2. None of them are teaching the truth
There is a third possibility but I would not really call it a possibility as it is subjective and what the particular denominations would obviously believe about themselves.
3. Only one of them is teaching the truth.
Number two is the reality: None of them are teaching the truth because neither God or Christ authorized the establishment of something called by men, Christianity. It was man himself who authorized its creation for himself in the same manner that man authorized a book THEY named Bible. And, I would task anyone to produce evidence that God or Christ told anyone to set up a religious system and call it by any name. I would also task anyone to produce evidence where God told anyone to compile a book from many smaller books (scrolls), give that book a name, call that book Holy, and told them to call the book THEY named The Bible, “The Word of God.” Did not Jesus identify himself as The Word of God? So how can a book suddenly and conveniently appear after his ascension and assume that title? It is men – a particular race among men – who has done this blasphemous and disrespectful-to-God-and-Christ thing. They have become so in-your-face and arrogant in the thing that they have done, they are difficult to reason with. They believe they know-it-all and have all of the answers and resent anyone challenging them. Anyone.
Yet, the undeniable truth is that God authorized a person – His Son – and said we are to listen to him. (Luke 9:35)
A time will come when the Great Dragon will no longer wield power, influence and control over the angelic hosts loyal to God in heaven after he is defeated by Michael and kicked out. He will only have influence, power and authority over the stars (angels) he drags down with him to the earth and these stars will be used to establish his future base of operations on a future earth after Christs Kingdom ends. That base of operations is a throne called The Beast. Dear reader do not be misled, it will not be literally named “The Beast.” The Beast is simply a symbolic way of saying that a mighty kingdom will arise up on the earth AFTER Christs kingdom of 1000 years ends. You will see this explained more fully in a moment.
The Great Dragons ousting does not mean that The Great Dragon completely loses his power, authority and throne. He loses it in heaven. But still will be able to wield it over the earth. So Michael (Christ) bounds Satan and his angels for one thousand years so that he will not be able to wield any power, control or authority on the earth or interfere in the administration of Christs rule of 1000 years over the earth. Revelation 20:1-3 reads:
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
Notice that Revelation 20:1-3 clearly tells us that the purpose of the Dragons Abyssing is to keep him from deceiving the nations (of people) anymore UNTIL the thousand years were ended. So what does this tell us. One, the Dragon will deceive the nations once more AFTER Christ 1000 year Kingdom ends. That is what Revelation 20:7-8 says the Dragon will do when he is released. Two, that the thousand years being referred to here is Christs definite kingdom over the earth of 1000 years. That very same paradise he promised a condemned man who was NOT his follower at Luke 23:43.
It is important to note that no angel other than Michael (Christ) – the one who defeated the Devil in heaven – is strong enough to seize him and bind him up for 1000 years in the Abyss. It is also important to note the duration of The Great Dragons Abyssing: The exact same length as the duration of Christ’s rule over the earth.
The Beginning of the Birth Pains of Distress
So the pangs of distress Jesus referred to at Matthew 24:8 were not signs of the end, but events that would be precursors to his 1000 year kingdom over the earth being born out of heaven. Those events – birth pains – will be a time period where the will world saturated with misinformation about him; a world that will speak of him has their leader and they his followers but will be misled away from him; a time period and world where there will be teachings, speculations, rumors and the hearing of wars coming wars; and a time period where a nation and a kingdom will arise against another nation and kingdom; and famines and earthquakes.
What many miss and stubbornly refuse to consider and even see is that the expression nation and kingdom are used, NOT nations and kingdoms (plural). Thus, when we are told that “Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom”, Jesus is not referring to the nations and kingdoms of today. They will have all been long gone. No, Jesus is referring to a kingdom that will rise up and be established over the earth by The Dragon after his kingdom ends that will have thoroughly deceived the nations of mankind that will contend with God’s Kingdom that will most certainly come down to the earth. This is the nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom Christ is referring to.
After The Birth Pains, Then What?
This: Christ’s Kingdom of 1000 years is born. When Christ’s Kingdom comes into existence a period of 1000 years is peace and an eventual paradise will be enjoyed over the entire earth because it will have a good and righteous king over it. This King – as he promised at John 5:28-29 – will resurrect all of mankind from the dead. But that kingdom of Christ over the earth MUST and will end and the Great Dragon to be released upon that future world. Revelation 20:7-8 affirms:
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
We are not provided many details over what span of time the Dragons Beast will reign over mankind in those future days. But it is logical to assume that it takes time to establish and build up things; it takes time to deceive an entire world; it takes time to prepare and gather people up especially if their numbers are uncountable like the sand on the seashore. After Christ’s kingdom ends and the Dragon ascends out of the Abyss, it reigns over the earth 100 years or more. We do not know. We DO know that his reign and kingdom setup occurs after Christ’s kingdom of 1000 years ends.
When Christs 1000 year kingdom ends, what will he (Christ) have accomplished? His mission: Preparing all of mankind to be reconciled back to his Creator as it was with Adam, the first man. No longer do we see at this time a Savior and intercessor between God and mankind. All of mankind will be as Adam was. Did Adam have an intercessor between himself and God? No! Adam was able to speak with his Creator one-to-one. So when Christ’s kingdom of one-thousand years ends, this is what The Great Dragon sees when he comes up out of the Abyss. Will the Great Dragon attempt to physically change the world? No.
In the Garden of Eden, the Serpent did not change the physical beauty of that place. Neither will he change what it took Christ 1000 years to establish on earth: A Paradise. The Great Dragon is not concerned about the external environment of mankind, but control and influence over us. That is why we see him here going forth to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth.
The world Christ leaves behind after his 1000 year kingdom ends will be united. They will have been united under him as king and will remain united after he is no longer king UNTIL the Great Dragon goes out to deceive them.
That a Great Resurrection occurs during Christ reign as king over the earth can be seen in the expression In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
So when Satan goes out to deceive that future world after Christ’s Kingdom ends, we are told the number of people on the earth in those future days are like the sand on the seashore. Can any human count the individual grains of sand on the seashore? No way!
Today, in 2013, we can come pretty close to providing a number of persons who now live on the earth. Yet, in the future, Christ will have resurrected all of mankind born since Adam – to include Adam – back to like. That is why we are told that their numbers are like the sand on the seashore. No human today knows how many people lived and died on the earth since Adam. So as far as we are concerned, this number cannot be counted, just like the sand on the seashore and cannot be counted. (See Revelation 7:9)
When the Great Dragon deceives that future world Christ restored back to its Creator, the world of mankind becomes divided. On one side a deceived, evil, made to be unfaithful, and disobedient slave. On the other side a watchful, faithful, and obedient slave. Both are slaves to Christ until The Dragon deceives most of the world that is like the sand of the seashore away from being faithful to God and Christ and supporters of his throne, The Beast.
One slave will listen to the Master they knew as their King for 1000 years and other slave cease to listen but will be so thoroughly deceived, he will think he is being obedient and doing God’s will. This very same mentality exists in the world to this day and it is a laborious task to get the members of the religious system called by men, Christianity, to come to the truthful realization that they fit this evil and unfaithful slave that THINKS it is following Christ and doing God’s will. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23:
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
Ouch!
We must not allow our imaginations to run wild to think that in those future days that there will be guns, knives, and bombs. No! The world Christ leaves behind will be much knowledgeable and wiser than we are today and RESTORED back to their Creator. So the mankind of the future will be dignified in every way, even the deceived ones. But the Great Dragon will deceive that world and because they will be convinced by the Devil that their peace and safe world will be upset by those NOT with them, that deceived future world will turn on their former Brethren and attempt to have them removed.
Jesus goes on to say at Matthew 24:9:
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
Notice the expression Hated by ALL NATIONS. All of those nations will be under one kingdom after Christ’s kingdom ends, the kingdom or throne of the Serpent. This tells us that a time period will come when ALL of the Nations will hate those remaining faithful and obedient to their King, Christ. It is important to note that even those not obedient to Christ in those future days will still believe in him, they will be deceived and will unwittingly become no longer be obedient to him. This is how it was with the chosen Apostle, Judas. Judas was a CHOSEN disciple of Christ (An Apostle). So Judas knew the truth about God and Christ and his teachings just like the other Apostles Jesus taught. But Judas CHOSE to betray Christ. Judas was not angry at his Master. He showed no hateful tendencies towards his Master. In fact, Judas recognized Christ as his Rabbi (Teacher) and kissed him very tenderly. So Judas, even though he betrayed his Master, loved him. How could Judas NOT love his Master? That love for his Master led to Judas taking his own life out of despair over what he had done. Yet, Jesus knew that Judas was deceived by the Devil and Christ did not reject Judas as many today within the circles of Christianity erroneously teach. Jesus knew he had to die and it was the Devil, not Judas who created the circumstances that led to his death.
So, in those future days, the persons deceived by The Serpent will love Christ as Judas did, they will just be deceived and that deception will cause them to make some wrong choices and decisions that will lead to the betrayal and death of many of their Brothers and Sisters in Christ who remain faithful to him. I believe that after their betrayal of their Brothers and Sisters in Christ, many of them will take their own lives after they realize what they have done. I am certain that they will think their acts of betrayal would be a good thing for the betrayed. But after they see how the Beast (The Serpent Throne) treats them – not being able to buy or sell and being persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and even put to death, many will feel sorry for what they did. Yet, this shows the cunning, intelligence, power and influence the Serpent possesses. This Serpent believed it could tempt the Son of God in the wilderness and it could not. If it has confidence such as this, it is nothing for them to think that he cannot tempt and turn us.
Jesus said that his faithful servants will be hated by ALL of those nations of mankind (not countries as there will be no countries), but nations of people who Christ had resurrected back to life and restored to their Creator during his kingdom rule of 1000 years. Jesus said they would be handed over to be persecuted and PUT TO DEATH because of him. BECAUSE OF HIM? In what way: Because his faithful servants will obey him and not worship (support) the Beast and its image. The rest of the world (who will have been deceived) will see their actions as unreasonable and ungodly. Why? Because if the majority of restored mankind is in agreement, why dissent? Yet, they will not realize that The Serpent deceived them all.
On a small scale today we see this same mentality being displayed by persons who are citizens of the various countries. If one does not think like the majority or go along with that country’s agenda, those persons may be labeled as unpatriotic, spies, troublemakers, terrorists, unlawful, etc. Even lied on, treated unfairly and harshly and imprisoned. I know as an American citizen who served 20 years in its Armed Forces that pressure to conform is placed upon persons who do not go along with the policies of the government, right or wrong. Failure to possess a certain mindset loyalty, and patriotism can get you in hot water. It could translate into public labeling as un-American, loss of a job or not being able to get a good job or running for office. Human government everywhere is like this. They all demand a certain loyalty and conformity. Sadly, the religious system called by men, Christianity, creates a certain image of itself of being clean, chaste, pure and white. (no pun intended). It expects its membership to not only believe a certain way but also to look a certain way thinking that this outer appearance and image is what identifies them (in front of others) as followers of Christ. Yet, Christ said it was love for each other is what would identify them as his followers. (John 13:35)
We must think and not be carried along by the flood of thinking in the world – and particularly within the religious system called by men, Christianity – that the Pangs of Distress Christ mentioned were signs of the end. No, they would be events that would be precursors to his kingdom of 1000 years over the earth being born out of God’s Kingdom.
The question his disciples asked him at Matthew 24:3 has nothing to do with the end of THIS WORLD. Christ disciples were asking him about THE SIGN (a single event) that would signal his kingdom being born (his coming) and they were asking him when his kingdom would end. Even his disciples knew that Christ’s future kingdom would not be an indefinite one. They also knew that when Christ’s Kingdom did arrive, run its course, and then end, that something would follow it: The release of Satan from his Abyss and the establishing of something on the earth in those future days after Christ’s kingdom ends: A Beast. Another kingdom under the Serpent.
Thus, Christ’s disciples would have been very interested in Jesus’ answer to their question at Matthew 24:3.
World Today Taken Down The Wrong Path
Today, most of the so-called believing world has been taken down the wrong path and has been told that the events of Matthew Chapter 24, Mark Chapter 13, Luke Chapter 21 and the Book of Revelation have fulfillment or are having fulfillment today. This is a part of the great deception and misinformation about Christ that he said would occur as part of the birth pains preceding the birth of his kingdom. (Matthew 24:4-5)
As time progresses and whenever a perceived major event occurs in the world, Christendom over reacts and claims some fulfillment of prophecy only to later get egg in their faces. For example, in 1975 the Watch Tower organization said Armageddon would occur. Well, 1975 came and went without event. To this day, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t even want to discuss it. Many who come into that organization, would not be told this anyway. Many within the religious system called by men, Christianity, predicted certain dates in 2012 as the end of the world, the Rapture or the return of Christ will occur. They refuse to learn because they continue to make the same claims each and every time a major event occurs.
Even the organization I was a member of for more than 25 years, the Watch Tower (Jehovah’s Witnesses), the date 1914 is taught as the date Christ returned (parousia) and began ruling invisibly from heaven. Such things are not knowable by humans or angels according to Christ. (Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:42, and Acts 1:7) Thus, such predictions are false. This date is getting the Watch Tower organization in trouble because it is a date that all of their prophetic teachings hinge upon. If this date is false, all built upon it is false as well. And I can tell you that a lot has been built upon that date. Even before that year arrived, the Watch Tower advertised it world wide in public announcements and in their literature. It is still being held up as a true date. This date will backfire and adversely impact the credibility of the Watch Tower. I see one of two things happening: (1) A new light or understanding will be presented. The Watch Tower always brings forth this new light or new understanding thing when it is embroiled in an error. Rather than saying it made a mistake, it says God shed NEW LIGHT on the matter. This gives them a way out of having to ever admit that the error was from men. They do this because they already have established that the Watch Tower is “The Truth” and God’s spirit-directed earthly organization. Yet, if what they believed formerly was given in error, it was not from God because there is no error in God. Additionally, God does not play games like this. Why would He allow someone to widely say something is the truth only to give them NEW LIGHT? (2) Large masses of persons will leave the Watch Tower organization.
If they do leave, I pray they have the good sense to keep their senses and not leave off from worshiping God and serving their Master, Christ. I pray that they do not enter into other religious organizations but to stay away and out of all of them. I pray more than anything else that they do not become angry, disgruntled and vindictive like so many I see do. They should count it as a blessing from God that they are free. No, this freedom and NOT joining some church or religious organization mean living a life as a long-haired hermit. It means being sensible and balanced. It means recognizing that our Master is not a human being, but an invisible angelic Son of God who tells us that our worship to God must be with spirit and truth because God is a Spirit (Invisible. John 4:23-24 and 1 Col 1:15) Christ is the Truth so it is through him that we worship God. “With spirit and truth.”
In a world of with the Serpent as its ruler, worship of God through Christ is not easy because this world’s ruler constantly tempts us in unbelievable ways to redirect us away from the truth. Only a few know the truth and have stayed on course. I tell you. 99.9% of the world today is not on course. In fact, when you talk to the membership of the more than 41,000 contending so-called Christian denominations, they ALL say they are on course. How can that be when they all teach Christ differently and they all have fancy titles that they give themselves or adopt? That means something is wrong.
The ruler of this world, The Serpent, has also thoroughly misled many claiming to be followers of Christ in another way. He is able to get them to be loyal to his world by getting them to align themselves with the countries in which they are citizens. Thus, we see a so-called Christian who is a combination of being a loyal American (for example) and a loyal Christian: A Christian American. So whatever the American government says or does with regard who IT says is an enemy country, the American Christian believes it supports any action the government takes.
For example, as of late, there is much in the news about possible U.S. airstrikes on Syria because of alleged use of chemical weapons against its own people. Such a war could pull in Israel, Iran, Russia, China and a host of other countries into the conflict. This could lead to a prolonged war. Yet, because Christendom teaches and believes that Israel is “God’s chosen people,” such a war in their minds would be justified. That is what makes Christendom dangerous. If the nation of Israel bombed and killed 10000 innocent men, women, and children, many within Christianity would have no problem with it because they believe that Israel is Gods chosen and they believe all of this is prophecy and God’s will. Just a few days ago, I had a reader of this blog who is a “Christian” (he is White) tell me that it was God’s will that Black people were made slaves because Noah cursed Canaan. I had to explain to him that God did not curse Canaan, Noah did and that Black people did not descent from Canaan, but from Cush, the Son of Ham. And, he told me – a Black man – to basically get with the program in believing this too. There is a disturbing dysfunction with many within this religious system. God would not create this evil and did not create this evil and dysfunction. I am 100 percent convinced that what men call Christianity is the most dangerous entity on the planet and it will devote many to destruction. I believe we are about to see a so-called Christian nation pick a fight with Syria so as to draw in Iran to pick a fight with them so as to gain a foothold in that region and the Suez Canal and control of the oil. I do not believe it is about chemical weapons. A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon of mass destruction. Over 100,000 people in Syria were killed using conventional weapons and where was the outrage and protests. These so-called Christian nations have become evil and hypocritical. It justifies its own “Christian” use of weapons of mass destruction on other – including two atomic bombs – and then act as some moral agent when others do it. It does not say that other nations see their hypocrisy and are saying, “Who are you to talk?” Yet, Christianity is at the heart of it all and remain silent when it comes to war – especially when it is a war against people of another religion. Yet, it represents God and Christ. Christ taught also to “Love your enemies.” Christianity and the nations that claim to be of it have failed terribly and miserably in this regard. No wonder Christ will say to them, “I never knew you.”
Must Be Born-Again Into Christ’s Kingdom If We Are To Even SEE God’s Kingdom
Jesus, in his discussion with the Pharisee Nicodemus, said something of vital importance that Nicodemus then and many today have not come to understand. What he said is recorded at John 3:3:
Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
By the time Christ begins to rule as king over the earth, we humans will need him. Why? Because we all will be literally dead. Christ promised a hearing of his voice and a calling out of the grave ALL persons. (John 5:28-29)
The Great Resurrection of the future is a resurrection from the grave of all of us INTO that 1000 year kingdom of Christ. That condemned man who was not a follower of Christ will be resurrected INTO Christs 1000 year kingdom. (Luke 23:43)
The act of being returned to life from the death state is being born-again. We will be dead. To open our eyes again and breathe air into our lungs is being born again from the dead. This is what the Pharisee Nicodemus did not understand. That is why he would say at John 3:4:
Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!
That was the extent of Nicodemus’ understanding and it is the extent of many today who water down what Jesus said concerning being born-again to accepting him as their Lord and Savior. They completely miss what Jesus is saying here.
Jesus is essentially saying, “Unless you die and resurrected by me from the dead (born-again back to life), you will not even be able to SEE God’s Kingdom, no less be in it.” Jesus was teaching that the prerequisite to entering God’s Kingdom when it comes down is that one has to be born INTO or resurrected INTO his kingdom of 1000 years. Then if they endure right down to the end of his kingdom, they will be able to see God’s Kingdom come down and enter it. This is deep for most persons to comprehend. So deep that they reject it without consideration. It is much easier to be like Nicodemus in their thinking.
The purpose of entry into Christ’s Kingdom is to prepare mankind for God’s Kingdom when it does come down. God’s kingdom is not seen coming down until (1) The end of Christs Kingdom and (2) the end of the Serpents Kingdom after Christ’s kingdom ends. So one has to be resurrected (born into) Christ’s Kingdom of 1000 years, go through it and then endure faithfully through what the Dragon will set up on earth after Christ kingdom ends. That is why Jesus says in Matthew 10:22:
… but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
So the teaching of Christ’s followers being raptured off of the earth and going to heaven is an outright false teaching not from Christ. These teachings water down what Christ taught because the persons who create these teachings are unable to comprehend what Jesus was saying, just like the Pharisee Nicodemus. The religious system called by men, Christianity, has seen to it that the world is kept Nicodemus-like.
If Jesus used the expression born-again, what does that imply? This: That a person had a first birth and a first death? All of us were born. We all have a human mother and father. We all know that we will one day die. (Eccl 9:5)
If anyone thinks that they will not die, then they believe the same lie the Serpent told the woman, Eve. (Gen 3:4)
When we die, we have two things now in front of us: (1) A Second Birth and (2) A Second Death.
Well, the second birth is our literal resurrection from the dead. Jesus had that experience. As a man (Son of Man) he was born of a human mother Mary and he died and was buried for three days and resurrected by his heavenly Father. So Jesus, the Son of Man, had a first birth, a first death, and a second birth (resurrected or born-again from the dead). The Christ is not subject to the Second Death which is The Lake of Fire or going into “being no more” or nonexistent. (Revelation 20:14)
All persons born of Adam – to include Adam – (that is the entire human race) WILL experience a Second Birth; that is, be resurrected. Jesus promised this to ALL.
When they hear his voice and open their eyes and stand up, it will be inside of Christs 1000 year kingdom over the earth. Satan is Abyssed. They will have been born-again from the dead.
All of mankind from all time periods will find themselves alive again and in a world different from the world they died in. Most will have no clue what had happened but will know that if they were dead and someone had the power to make them and billions of others alive again, would be nothing but amazing to the worst of them. Yet, they will come to know that voice that woke them up from death as THEY will hear it.
Upon being born-again from the dead, ALL of mankind will eventually be able to see (perceive) God’s Kingdom coming down because Christ will ensure that they will be taught this under his rule. They will also be taught that at the end of Christ kingdom, Satan will be released from his prison and he will establish a beastly kingdom over the earth. They will also be taught that the Serpent (Satan) will mislead them and that they are to be ever so watchful of that. They will also be taught that if they faithfully endure through that period of The Beast, they will be able to enter into God’s Kingdom when it comes down. In other words, they are saved for eternal life into Gods eternal kingdom. (Matthew 10:22)
See article What Does Born Again Really Mean?
It is so unfortunate that the religious system called by men – Christianity – reject this and prefer to water-down what Christ taught. They teach a lie by telling its membership that all they have to do is accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and they escape to heaven.
The organization I belonged to for many years taught (and still teaches) something similar excepted it is wrapped differently. They teach that one must join God’s Earthly Organization or else. Jesus NEVER taught in that manner or taught such things.
We all live in a time period of grace and forgiveness by God and Christ. (Thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice). No one should be issuing threat or ultimatum or putting pressure on anyone to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior or to join some organization. Neither should anyone who thinks they sit safe in religious organization judge anyone or condemn them to some outcome. Jesus didn’t.
Did he condemn the adulterous woman? Did he tell her to go join a congregation? Did he condemn that criminal who he promised paradise? No!
It astounds me that many claiming to follow Christ, forget from where they came! They were once people uninformed. Not knowing. Now, that they THINK they know, they are quick to judge others.
Jesus said no man goes to heaven. Christianity teaches the Satanic lie that their dead loved ones are either in heaven or in a fiery place of torment. When the fact of the matter is that they are all in their graves awaiting to hear Christ’s voice and resurrect them to life again on earth where his kingdom will be over. Even King David is not in heaven. (Acts 2:34)
