Thank you for the replies. As I was reading them, I couldn't help but to see the spiritual reason of each point made. Bear with me as this has turned out to be a much longer response than expected. I would do a tl;dr at the bottom, but I'm not good with those. So if you're not a fan of walls of text, just know that it's a lot of the same where I try to explain in my own words the things I learned at bible-truths.com. There are also things in the wall of text that I didn't learn from Ray that I have questions about.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
It is my understanding that Christ is only interested in the spiritual condition of those He is speaking to, to those that hear Him. Those that did hear Him, but walked away, counted the cost, but realized the cost was too high. This is why they can't handle the truth, this is why their love went cold, and this is why they think that "once saved, always saved" is true.
It's not an easy thing to believe in spiritual things, even harder still is to acquire the Spirit to obey them (Zec_4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit...), considering how hard it is for a "rich man" to enter the Kingdom. Spiritual obedience is foolishness to those who are perishing because, who wants to do something no one can see? If one is unable to see that this type of carnality is in the heart of every person who has ever lived, then look again.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
This isn't telling us to not love the people in the world, but it is telling us to not love what is INSIDE the people of the world, and not to love what was once inside of us, or still may be. Every single word of the passage above and below pertains to the Spirit.
2Pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity ["I will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes." For he said: I have done this by my own strength and wisdom, for I am clever. - Isa 10:12-13], they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Can those that want to be under the law even hear the law? Not if the law is spiritual.
Luk 11:42 "But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Of course, they can't hear the law; otherwise they would do what the law tells them to do. So, what is the point in doing something outwardly good if inwardly there is nothing but all manner of evil? (Luk_11:39) Wouldn't it mean more to God if we first clean the inside of the cup, so the outside could be clean?
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Did they not all hear? Sure sounds like they did.
Rom 10:18 But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did:
Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.
It's not that they didn't hear, it's just that they didn't believe it. Next passage, and let's not forget, the sermon on the Mount of Olives is for "us".
Mat 24:12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
Mat 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.
Mat 24:14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.
Question: If Jesus is referring to the end of the world in Mat. 24:14, but the sermon on the mount is FOR US, how do I reconcile this? Maybe I'm just overthinking it too much.
Mat 24:15 "So when you see the abomination [Greek: idolatry] that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" [Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? - 1Co 3:16] (let the reader understand)
Mat 24:16 "then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!
Here's the Amplified Bible's version of Mat 24:15. I found it very peculiar in a good way.
Mat 24:15 So when you see the appalling sacrilege [the abomination that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place--let the reader take notice and ponder and consider and heed
Is this next passage not a witness to Mat. 24.15?
2Th 2:3 No one should be deluding you by any method, for, should not the apostasy be coming first and the man of lawlessness be unveiled, the son of destruction,
2Th 2:4 who is opposing and lifting himself up over everyone termed a god or an object of veneration, so that he is seated in the temple of God, demonstrating that he himself is God?
2Th 2:5 Do you not remember that, still being with you, I told you these things?
Who makes the abomination, the idol of the heart, sitting in God's Temple "desolate" and how?
2Th 2:8 then will be unveiled the lawless one (whom the Lord Jesus will despatch with the spirit of His mouth and will discard by the advent of His presence)
Isn't this exactly what Daniel 9:27 is saying?
Dan 9:27 ...And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation,
until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
Jesus tells us that he who endures to the end shall be saved (Mat 24:13), so isn't this precisely what Daniel 12: 11-12 is saying?
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.
Dan 12:12 Blessed, happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous, and to be envied is he who waits expectantly and earnestly [who endures without wavering beyond the period of tribulation] and comes to the 1,335 days! - Amplified Bible
Everything was going smoothly thus far, until I came across these two passages.
Luk 21:20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.
Luk 21:21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it,
Luk 21:22 because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written.
Dan 11:31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.
Dan 11:32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
Dan 11:33 "Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.
Dan 11:34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
Dan 11:35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
I can't tell if the two passages are talking about "the many called" or "the few chosen". Can you? Is this simply a prophecy of "the dispersal"?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_diaspora I suppose it could also be a parable about the persecution of "the few chosen". I see glimpses of "wolves in sheep's clothing", tribulation and the judgment of the Elect by fiery refinement and purification in the Daniel passages. But somehow, I'm still unsure. It seems a proper interpretation of the two passages could make or break my understanding of some things.
If you have any other Scripture that may help in proving or disproving these ideas, please don't hesitate to post them. I don't mind being wrong nearly as much as I used to, but I do love learning more about the "deep things of God".
If I'm "preaching" to the choir, forgive me. I only do it because they are the only ones who would understand and receive it with gladness. They are also the only ones by His Spirit that can show me where I goofed. Nothing beats fellowship with like-minded people. To be honest, I never intended for my response to be as long as this. I couldn't stop as I searched the Scriptures, then one verse led to another verse, and here we are. Furthermore, I debated with myself for hours, wondering if I should put all this out there, as I didn't know how it would be received.
In times like this, I sincerely wish Ray was still alive, so I could ask him what he thinks. I have so many questions, in case you didn't notice by the numerous question marks throughout my post. I struggle greatly with dividing the word of truth. Sometimes things are crystal clear, other times I can't see my hand in front of my face.
I've read all of Ray's papers and emails at least 2 or 3 times each since learning about Ray and his teachings in 2008 or 2009. Not only that, but I searched the Scriptures almost daily for over ten years. It feels like I'm only now starting to see some things, assuming some of the things I'm seeing now are true. I ask myself often if I even have His Spirit, not of just understanding, but of faith, grace and love.
Pamela, you know if they persecuted Christ, they would persecute those that love Him. Endure to the end, and you will be saved.
Author
Topic: Because lawlessness will multiply... (Read 2492 times)