St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 6d; The end is not yet.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 7.  

It was like a horror story they were hearing.  Destruction upon destruction, evil events coming to pass in the near future that would tear the world apart and the end of the world would come.  They wanted to know.  But Christ had to prepare them before telling all that would happen.  The disciples must be prepared.  Their minds, their curiosity, their anxiety were raised to the point of high expectation, but it had to be brought back to reality in order that they would not be led astray by fear.

Christ was coming to the end of his journey.  His time here on earth was almost finished.  It was now up to the disciples to take over and continue the tasks he started.  They were his followers.  They were his students.  They were the witnesses of all that was said and done by the master.  They will be the ones who would receive the spirit of Christ to carry on the message of hope and love.  But as he told them:  "But the end is not yet."

More was yet to come.  More was yet to be revealed.  More destruction, more evil, more hardship, more sorrow, more pain, more suffering, more death.  More was yet to come before the end would come and Christ would return triumphant.  The disciples needed to know some of what would happen but not all.  They had not received the spirit and their souls were not ready to accept what was to come.

Are we ready?  Are we prepared to accept what is to come today, tomorrow, anytime.  Have we made our peace with our Father, repented of our sins, asked of his forgiveness?  Or is that something that we will do later at the last minute when the world comes crashing in?  

I thought so myself.  I was so busy chasing after the golden ring that I did not have the time to stop and repent of my sins.  The things that I did were necessary to survive and thrive in this world.  I did not do enough, I thought, to get ahead.  I needed to do more.  I needed to cheat more, lie more, play the game more, be more aggressive, steal more, do anything and everything I could to get ahead like others.  

And when I crashed from my failures he picked me up and showed me that I was not a failure.  He showed me that I was his precious child that he loved from the beginning.  He told me that the things that I sought here on earth were nothing compared to the things that he had prepared for me in heaven.  I am already rich beyond my wildest imagination.  I am loved beyond any love that I can find.  The peace that I might find here is nothing compared to the peace that I know through him.  I have new life, now and nothing can take that from me.  I am ready, today, tomorrow, forever.  My soul is at rest.  May your soul know peace and be at rest.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 6c; These things must happen.

 Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 6.  

So they are given line by line item by item of the things that will happen before the end will come.  Christ points out all the things that will happen, in their time, so they will know what to expect when they hear of these things and they will not be alarmed as others.  They will not panic.  They will not show fear.  They will be at peace.

He is preparing his disciples for the great movement of fear and anxiety that will take place by the evil that will come forth.  He told them:  "For these things must come to pass."

There must be wars and rumors or war.  There must be anxieties and fears, and panic to move the people to do unspeakable things that they would not do ordinarily.  For they will not think rationally when they are afraid and fearful.  They will not think clearly when fear rules their thoughts.  But as far as the disciples are concerned, they will have clear vision, clear understanding, clear knowledge of what is to come because Christ has given them the wisdom to know what is coming and what is to happen.

He has been with them in times of hardship and pain, in times of trouble and sorrow, in times of hunger and in times of impending death.  Each time he has chastised them not to be afraid because he was with them and will be always.  Even though he left them and returned to the Father, he sent his spirit to fill them with his presences to let them know that he is still with them.  So even though certain events must come to pass the disciples were not afraid.  They knew that he was with them and would protect them and keep them from harm.

And if it was true for them it is true for us today, his children.  He would not leave us behind without his protection, without his guidance, and without his wisdom to help us along the way.  He is the way, the truth, and the light that leads to life eternal.  All we have to do is follow his lead, keep his light burning within us, and love each other as we love ourselves.  We are all one family, all made in his image and likeness.  Praise be to God

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 6b; Do not be alarmed.

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 5.  

Many will be led astray by false prophets proclaiming themselves as the Christ.  This is what he told his disciples so that they would know when they heard someone proclaiming to be the Christ  that it was not he.  They would hear many things to come.  Many would get excited by what they would hear but he warned his disciples not to listen to all they would hear or see.  He warned them not to believe all they would hear others talking about because many would speak on what they would hear others saying and repeat the scandal of others.

Christ warned them not to be alarmed, not to be swayed by what they would hear.  The words would spread like wildfire over the grassland causing many to panic.  But the disciples were fore warned not to panic, not to be afraid.  Christ told them: "Take care that you do not be alarmed."

They must become the foundations during the storm that others can turn to for support.  For many will be blown away by the rumors and the panic of what they hear and see others doing.  Those that know the disciples and follow the teachings of Christ will know that the disciples have the foundation of his knowledge and his teachings and that nothing will harm them until it is their time.  They are his pillars here on earth for the church that he established and nothing or no one shall come between him and his church.

So there may be rumors and false prophets and teachers proclaiming themselves to be the Christ but he left instructions as to the how and the wherefore of his coming.

Let no one deceive as to the end of time.  It is written for all to see and believe when the end of time will take place.  Pray that you are not here to see or experience it. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.