In this blog, I am going to share with the readers what I observed are three major trends that seem to grip THREE major groups of people and are being fulfilled according to end-time prophecy. Generally speaking, it may seem that one group has distinct advantages over the other two groups, but from God's perspective, this is not necessarily so.
1. The Haves vs The Haves-Not
The past couple of decades had seen the shift towards globalisation, where the world has become a global village. Such trend has resulted in unprecedented wealth creation in the history of mankind. Those with the capital - the investors/capitalists - and those with the required skills - the professionals - have greater mobility to move their funds in various capital markets and their choice of employment worldwide. However, those without the capital and or required skills are often being left behind as the world passes them by. Hence, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer in relative terms.
Such dichotomy between labor (the haves-not) and the capital (the haves) is a recipe for tensions and conflicts in this divided world. James 5:1-8 warns those who are rich in this world not to heap up riches at the expense of the poor - in these last days.
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
You have condemned, you have murdered the just, he does not resist you.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (Jas 5:1-8).
2. Moral Decadence
The rich of this world are often less willing to share their riches with the poor and needy. Instead, they would rather spend their wealth on the pleasures and the material trappings of this world. That is why billions are spent on marketing campaigns targetting at the well-heeled and famous. Little wonder that businesses that cater to purchases of luxurious penthouses, branded marques, exquisite watches and exotic vacations are doing extremely well, especially in major cities of the world where the wealthy congregate.
Such observation is consistent with 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where it warns of the things to come in the last days.
" But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such peoepele turn away."
3. Mark of the Beast
In the end-time scenario prophesised in Revelation 13:15-17, there is a group of people who are under the 'spirit of domination' in almost every aspects of their lives. They lose all personal rights and civil liberties, and are being dominated by a system with the mark of the beast, with the number being 666. This could refer to a current religious system that dominates the lives of over one billion people of the earth's population.
It will rise up to challenge the democratic freedom of modern civilisation as most of the world's population is currently living under.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Gospel of Grace vs Gospel of the Kingdom
And the gospel of the kingdom wll be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Many Christians believe that the gospel of grace must be preached in all the world to all nations before the second coming of Christ will materialise. A careful reading of Matthew 24:14 will reveal two crucial facts that are often misunderstood.
1. It is the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven that must be preached and not the gospel of grace before the consumation of the end.
2. The preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven is set forth as the end and not the second coming of Christ.
The 'end' as used in Matthew 24:14 comes from the Greek word 'telos' which means the final comsummate end of all things. And this only happens after the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth (known as the Millennial Kingdom). This word differs from the word 'end' used in Matthew 24:3 which is a Greek word 'sunteleios' in reference to the accomplishment of certain events before the close of the present church age.
According to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthins 15:3-4, the gospel of grace refers to the good news pertaining to the grace of God. 'That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.'
The gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven is the good news pertaining to the establishment on earth of a corporeal kingdom which will rule and reign for one thousand years in fulfillment of God's covenant to David (2 Samuel 7:8-16).
Paramount to the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is the call upon the nation of Israel to REPENT of her disobedience to the commandments of God. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the nation was called to REPENT of their rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah.
Central to the gospel of grace, individuals are called upon to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation of their spirit (Acts 19:43; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16; John 3:16).
Under the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, signs, wonders and miracles were manifested to authenticate the messengers and the messages (Mark 16:16-20). While the preaching of the gospel of grace is to be accompanied by the Word of God from Scriptures, illuminated by the Holy Spirit and those who hear are to accept by faith.
In Matthew 24:14, the Lord Jesus focused on the end of the world, rather than the end of the church age. The preaching of the kingdom will come during the millennial age to all the nations of the world before the consummation of the end of the world.
Therefore, this end of the world will not come until after the return of Christ to earth, ruled and reigned for one thousand years and put all enemies under His subjection, including death, before delivering all things to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
As Christians, our task is to preach the gospel of grace to all people. The return of the Lord Jesus is not solely dependent upon the success of the churches and missions organisations to fulfill this prophecy, though it is their mandate to disciple the nations (Matthew 28: 19-20). The fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the second coming of Christ is the prerogative of God alone.
The time of our Lord's return has been set by God as given to us in Acts 15:14 and Romans 11:25, when the number of the Gentiles together with the remnant of Israel are fulfilled according to the election of grace to form the Body of Christ. When that prophecy has been fulfilled, then our Lord will return.
Adrian Fah is the author of The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven
Many Christians believe that the gospel of grace must be preached in all the world to all nations before the second coming of Christ will materialise. A careful reading of Matthew 24:14 will reveal two crucial facts that are often misunderstood.
1. It is the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven that must be preached and not the gospel of grace before the consumation of the end.
2. The preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven is set forth as the end and not the second coming of Christ.
The 'end' as used in Matthew 24:14 comes from the Greek word 'telos' which means the final comsummate end of all things. And this only happens after the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth (known as the Millennial Kingdom). This word differs from the word 'end' used in Matthew 24:3 which is a Greek word 'sunteleios' in reference to the accomplishment of certain events before the close of the present church age.
According to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthins 15:3-4, the gospel of grace refers to the good news pertaining to the grace of God. 'That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.'
The gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven is the good news pertaining to the establishment on earth of a corporeal kingdom which will rule and reign for one thousand years in fulfillment of God's covenant to David (2 Samuel 7:8-16).
Paramount to the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is the call upon the nation of Israel to REPENT of her disobedience to the commandments of God. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, the nation was called to REPENT of their rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah.
Central to the gospel of grace, individuals are called upon to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation of their spirit (Acts 19:43; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16; John 3:16).
Under the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, signs, wonders and miracles were manifested to authenticate the messengers and the messages (Mark 16:16-20). While the preaching of the gospel of grace is to be accompanied by the Word of God from Scriptures, illuminated by the Holy Spirit and those who hear are to accept by faith.
In Matthew 24:14, the Lord Jesus focused on the end of the world, rather than the end of the church age. The preaching of the kingdom will come during the millennial age to all the nations of the world before the consummation of the end of the world.
Therefore, this end of the world will not come until after the return of Christ to earth, ruled and reigned for one thousand years and put all enemies under His subjection, including death, before delivering all things to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).
As Christians, our task is to preach the gospel of grace to all people. The return of the Lord Jesus is not solely dependent upon the success of the churches and missions organisations to fulfill this prophecy, though it is their mandate to disciple the nations (Matthew 28: 19-20). The fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the second coming of Christ is the prerogative of God alone.
The time of our Lord's return has been set by God as given to us in Acts 15:14 and Romans 11:25, when the number of the Gentiles together with the remnant of Israel are fulfilled according to the election of grace to form the Body of Christ. When that prophecy has been fulfilled, then our Lord will return.
Adrian Fah is the author of The Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven
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