Part of End Time – Wisdom
Part of the End Time-Wisdom.
Jesus’ word must be taken with honor, and he must have complete knowledge and understanding of why he said it. Christians firmly believe that we are dealing with the end-time prophecy, but not the end of the world that many Christians are saying. We are more at the end of the ages or the end of a generation. Some regions felt it even before the pandemic was announced, but it has manifested differently. Food shortages, extrajudicial killings or persecutions, uncontrolled use of illegal drugs, floods, earthquakes, and many more. All are considered to be the destruction of human souls.
We are controlled by the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) just by allowing lies, deception, and temptation to play in our minds. Many claim it is the end of the world if we see fires coming from the sky, which is an excellent sign from heaven (Missiles), Kingdom would rise against the kingdom (China’s aggression to occupy lands and islands), people against people (ideology), violent protest and senseless killings. A corrupted mind is unstoppable, leading to less opportunity for people to enjoy peaceful living.
“In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
Fearful events like shootings of the innocents such as in churches, malls other business establishments and shooting in tandem, and provocation, if not handled properly, will cause lives; using children as a shield for their wicked works, teaching fear in religious gatherings, taking advantage or abuse of the freedom of speech, press, and religion becomes the tool to achieve their agenda or self-interest.
We are in a Pandemic (plague) time, and we need to pay close attention to the government’s mandate and stay focused on the ruling of the mind, never to take away that God is still in control. Suppose this pandemic is to reset the sinful lives of the people. In that case, those who were infected and recovered and other remnants of this pandemic must thank God for giving them a chance or second life to revisit their faith and strengthen their hope that God, without a doubt, exists.
God is using this Pandemic event before the worst thing could happen (judgment day). God is good; this event is good for our learning and discipline and prepares us to live a better life. We must re-evaluate our faith and submit with humility because it is the only way.
Remember the deluge during Noah’s generation when God reset human lives because humans continuously sinned? We are in the same situation regarding sin. Still, we are in a better position because we know and understand how to live our life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit before we even give back our lives to God, who owns them in exchange for the promised eternal life.
Jesus Christ was sorrowful seeing this group of Jews, God’s chosen people, with no hope of accepting him as the Messiah. When he declared that he and the Father were one, they didn’t believe him, and when he said we could be gods, they charged him with blasphemy. The Jews need spiritual healing. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” Jesus, with sad feelings, said these woes to the leaders of the Jewish faith (Scribes and Pharisees) that can lead the Jews to the truth, but they chose not.
The following woes serve to advise not only the Jews but the Christian believers and non-believers as well. We also can be encouraged by remembering who Jesus is. Revelation 1:5 reminds us that He is the faithful witness; he will not lie because his words are actual. According to John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life….” He is now with the Father. If what Jesus said about his grievances to the Jews and treated it as a guide for a righteous living, then the link with the Jews about the salvation of non-Jews will be freely celebrated, and the Son will be with them forever—1 Thessalonians 4:17.
13) “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those entering to go in.”
14) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense, make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”
15) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte and make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves when he is won.” 16) “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.” 17) “Fools and blind! For which is greater is the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?” 18) “And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift on it is obliged to perform it.”
19) “Fools and blind! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?” 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you, cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [l]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so, you outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside, you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [m]adorn the monuments of the righteous, Matthew 23:13-29 NJKV
Many still wait for Jesus’ return but believe that he already came within our hearts and the kingdom is in our souls. When we look forward to the goodness of Jesus’ words, waiting is only directed to the Jews, for they still need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah.
Luke 13:35—”Look, your house is left to you desolate (deserted of people and in a bleak and dismal emptiness). I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
God is all in all.