| (Copyright 10-02-2024) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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| Greetings Brethren, and a Happy Feast of Trumpets to all. At sunset this evening I gave the shofar a blast to mark the beginning of the Holy Day. In ancient Israel, a ram’s horn (shophar in Hebrew) was blown annually on the first day of the seventh month – the new moon – the Feast of Trumpets. This Feast commemorates the blowing of the trumpets that will precede Christ’s soon coming return. This Generation It was only two days before Jesus’ final Passover and death on the cross, when the disciples asked Jesus about all the structures on the Temple Mount (Matthew 26:2). Jesus explained to them that everything they were looking at was going to be destroyed – to the extent that there would not be left one stone upon another that was not thrown down (Matthew 24:2). Jesus then crossed over the Kidron brook to the Garden of Gethsemane on the western face of the Mount of Olives with several of His disciples: Matthew 24:3 As [Jesus] sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age? After Jesus revealed some of the signs of the end of the age to His disciples, He said: Matthew 24:34 Truly, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Jesus was revealing a prophecy of future events to His disciples. As of yet, the disciples had no idea that He was giving them a preview of the Seven Seals of Revelation—the last of which is the Seven Trumpets. That phrase, “This generation,” is speaking of the people who would hear the Gospel of the Kingdom being preached in all the earth—that’s good. But that generation will also experience catastrophes like: wars, floods, disease epidemics, horrible natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, tribulation, and the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place. All of these precursors will herald the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, when the Kingdom of God will be near at hand. Brethren, there is one thing we can be sure of: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind, is returning—this second time, to establish His Father’s Kingdom over all this earth! In today’s sermon we will be looking specifically at which generation Jesus was speaking about and what they will go through. If these verses are speaking of our generation, which they are, what can we expect? We have only a short time left. The fifth seal that Jesus reveals is religious persecution and tribulation (Revelation 6:9). Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. This sermon is an urgent warning to us, the Church of God. We often think of ourselves as a privileged generation in that some of us will be in a place of protection from Satan when trouble comes, and we will not have to die to enter the Kingdom of God. Let’s ask ourselves this question, “Why would God select us out of all the peoples who have ever lived, and offer us the Kingdom, without having to die like billions and billions of others have?” What could make us so special? 1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain [to the last day] shall be caught up together with [all those saints throughout history who have died], in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wow! Aren’t we the lucky ones, brethren? We are living the good life now. We go to all the church potlucks. We see our friends on the Sabbath and at the Feasts. We don’t have to worry about the Tribulation because we will be spared the troubles of it. We all ‘know’ that we are not like the Laodiceans who make God so sick to His stomach that He has to regurgitate. We are living the most charmed life ever! … or not? We would be wise to ask ourselves this question, “Who will have to die—be slain for the word of God—in order to be in the first and better resurrection (Matthew 24:9, Revelation 7:13-14, 6:9-11)?” Then, on the other hand, why will some of the brethren never have to die? There must be something so very special about those saints that God would make an exception to the rule, “It is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrew 9:27). Who is Going – Who is Staying Behind The Bible tells us that at the end, people will be eating and drinking and marrying—having a great time! But eventually, things will come to a head when God allows the Beast to make war with the saints and overcome them: Revelation 13:15 … as many as would not worship the image of the Beast should be killed. Those saints who are being protected will not have to face this most severe trial. The Bible is clear that a portion of the Church will be protected and nourished in a Place of Safety, and the remainder, will not be protected (Revelation 12:14-17). Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is there a Place of Safety?” “What is its purpose?” “What will qualify some for the Place of Safety?” What is it that God is looking for? Witnesses Somehow, in God’s great providence, He will protect a little flock from the horrors of the Tribulation. “Why did they make it to the Place of Safety, and not me,” some will ask? The small group of physically protected saints will, from their place of refuge, be a light and beacon of hope to their Christian brethren who have not yet overcome Satan. Those brethren in the Place of Safety will be witnesses that God has a very high standard, from which He will not deviate. The rest of the brethren will finally learn that true Christianity is no “gravy train” when they ask themselves, “Why not me?” Those who will be protected will have already proven their faithfulness to God; He knows where they stand; He sees their track record with Him; and He will not require them to experience the horrors that the rest of humanity will suffer. Why? They will not have to die in the Tribulation because they have already laid down their lives often in service to their brethren. Overcomers Overcoming has to do with putting God and His Way first in our lives and overcoming Satan. Jesus enumerated three distinct points which are necessary to overcome Satan. They are absolutely required of all who will enter the Kingdom of God (Revelation 12:11, Revelation 3:21). The overcomers laid down their lives daily—sacrificing themselves—following Christ’s example (Romans 12:1). That third point is the deciding factor as to who goes to the Place of Safety, and who will have to wash their robes in the Tribulation [martyrdom]: Each one must overcome Satan by loving the brethren enough to lay down his life daily for them. Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. We, of the Church of God are being judged now. Our Savior tells us: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (Revelation 3:19). *** The Children of God.net Working together around the world Bringing the message of hope to a world in turmoil SabbathCoG.org Listen to Live Services at 2:00 PM Central Time on the Holy Days by calling the Free Conference Call dial-in number, (667) 770-1685 and entering the Participant access code: 696903# The playback number is (667) 770-1688. The playback Reference Number for Trumpets sermon is 414#. We wish everyone a spiritually profitable Feast of Trumpets. Your brother in Christ, Warren M. Zehrung ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Countdown 471 Article by Warren Zehrung Comments by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| As I read this, I got the feeling that Warren was saying all the saints that are protected would be in one place as in a place of safety. I know that Worldwide Church of God used to teach a place of safety where the church would go to a certain place and be protected through the tribulation. However, that is not what scripture teaches us. Since I cannot get into Warren’s mind to know whether he believes there is a place of safety where those who are protected will be all in one place or if he means certain saints will be protected no matter where they are. No matter what he believes, he is right that some people in the church will be protected, and some won’t be protected. However, according to scripture, there is no place of safety where they will be in one place and protected. Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mar 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. In Mathew 24:31, the trumpet mentioned is the seventh trumpet and when the seventh trumpet sounds the elect of God will be resurrected. In both sets of scripture above it clearly shows that those who are alive at Christs return are gathered from the four winds (four quarters of the earth). So the elect who are still alive at the time of the resurrection are not together in one place but scattered all over the earth and heaven (lower heavens). So in conclusion, there is no place of safety as it was taught in the Worldwide Church of God. God is Great and Awesome and we should never limit His power. God is able to protect His elect no matter where they are. |
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