From The End Of The World To The Rapture: Tracing The Prophetic Timeline Backward From The Great White Throne To The Rapture Of The Church

The end times timeline does not terminate with man building a better world, repairing the damage of sin, or finally learning how to govern himself. It ends with the present heaven and earth fleeing away from the face of the One seated on the Great White Throne. Revelation 20 shows the final collapse of Adam’s ruined world system, followed by the judgment of every lost soul who rejected the light God gave them. From that fearful scene, the prophetic timeline begins to unfold in reverse: the Great White Throne requires the end of the Millennium, the Millennium requires the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Second Coming requires the completion of the time of Jacob’s trouble, and the Tribulation requires the removal of the blood-bought Church before the wrath of God is poured out.

“And as he 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 world?” Matthew 24:3 (KJB)

That is why the Bible believer is not waiting for the end of the world; we are waiting for the Lord from heaven. The next event for the body of Christ is not the mark of the beast, the rise of Antichrist, or the opening of the seals in Revelation 6, but the blessed hope of Titus 2:13 and the catching away of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4. When you start at the end and work backward, the rightly divided timeline becomes clear. God will judge this world, restore Israel, reign from Jerusalem, destroy the final rebellion, judge the lost dead, dissolve the first creation, and make all things new. But before that final chain of events begins in earnest, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the Church will be gone. Today we look at the end times prophetic timeline in reverse!

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SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: From The End Of The World To The Rapture

From The End Of The World To The Rapture

Most prophecy teachers and end times teaching will ask, “What happens next?” And that’s a pretty good question. But today we are going to ask, what must have already happened before the world can come to an end?

“And as he 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 world?” Matthew 24:3 (KJB)

That is not the Rapture. That is not the Second Advent. That is not the Day of the Lord beginning. That is the end of the creation immediately before eternity begins in Revelation 21. Today we start at the end and work our way back to where we are right now.

I. The First Heaven And Earth Are Removed

Main Text: Revelation 20:11; Revelation 21:1
Truth: The prophetic timeline does not end with the Millennium; it ends with the passing away of the first heaven and earth.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1 (KJB)

Application: Man talks about saving the planet, but God says this present creation is appointed for removal. The Bible-believer is not looking for the restoration of Adam’s fallen world system; he is looking for the new heaven, the new earth, and New Jerusalem.

Backward Question: Before the first heaven and earth flee away, what must happen?

II. The Great White Throne Judgment Must Take Place

Main Text: Revelation 20:11-15
Truth: The lost dead are raised, judged according to their works, and cast into the lake of fire.

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15 (KJB)

This is not the Judgment Seat of Christ for Church Age saints. This is not a judgment to decide rewards. This is the final judgment of the Christ-rejecting dead.

Application: The sinner’s works cannot save him, but his works will condemn him. The only safety is to be found in Christ before death.

Backward Question: Before the Great White Throne can happen, what must be finished?

III. The Thousand-Year Kingdom Must Expire

Main Text: Revelation 20:7
Truth: Satan is loosed after the thousand years, proving that even under perfect government, unregenerate man is still corruptible.

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,” Revelation 20:7 (KJB)

Application: The problem with man is not merely environment, politics, poverty, or education. The problem is sin. Even after one thousand years of Jesus Christ ruling visibly from Jerusalem, the unsaved heart will still follow rebellion when given the chance.

Backward Question: Before Satan is loosed, where was he?

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:8-11 (KJB)

Satan Must Be Bound During The Millennium

Main Text: Revelation 20:1-3
Truth: The Millennium begins with Satan bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years.

“And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:3 (KJB)

Application: There is no present “kingdom age” in which Satan is already bound. Revelation 20 says Satan is shut up so that he deceives the nations no more. One look at the nations today tells you that has not happened yet.

Backward Question: Before Satan is bound, what event brings the Kingdom in?

IV. The King Must Return At The Second Advent

Main Text: Revelation 19:11-14
Truth: The visible return of Jesus Christ destroys the Antichrist’s kingdom and brings in the literal reign of Christ.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” Revelation 19:11-14 (KJB)

This is Christ coming with His saints, not Christ coming for His saints. Revelation 19 brings the King back to earth in judgment, war, and visible glory.

Application: The world is not gradually becoming Christianized. The Kingdom does not arrive by politics, social reform, or religious unity. The Kingdom comes when the King comes.

Backward Question: Before the King returns in Revelation 19, what has the earth just endured?

V. The Time Of Jacob’s Trouble Must Run Its Course

Main Texts: Revelation 6-18; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:21
Truth: The Tribulation is Daniel’s seventieth week, a time of judgment on the nations and purging for Israel, not the Church going through “hard times.”

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (KJB)

This period includes the rise of Antichrist, the mark of the beast, the abomination of desolation, the seals, trumpets, vials, and the global wrath of God.

Application: The Church is not appointed to wrath. The Tribulation is not God beating up the bride of Christ before the marriage supper. It is God resuming His prophetic dealings with Israel and judging a Christ-rejecting world.

Backward Question: Before Daniel’s seventieth week begins, what must be removed?

VII. The Church Must Be Caught Up

Main Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Truth: The Rapture removes the Church before the time of Jacob’s trouble begins.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJB)

This is not Revelation 19. In 1 Thessalonians 4, the saints meet the Lord in the air. In Revelation 19, Christ returns to the earth to make war and reign.

Application: The Church is looking for Christ, not Antichrist. We are waiting for a shout, not the mark. We are listening for the trump of God, not preparing to endure the vials of the wrath of God.

Backward Question: Before the Church is caught up, what is God doing right now?

VIII. The Present Church Age Must Finish

Main Texts: Romans 11:25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Titus 2:13
Truth: Right now, God is calling out a body for His Son through the gospel of the grace of God revealed through Paul.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25 (KJB)

This is the mystery age, the Church Age, the dispensation in which Jew and Gentile are made one body in Christ. When the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, God’s prophetic clock with Israel resumes.

Application: The message for today is not “build the kingdom.” The message is: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Get saved. Get in the body of Christ before the trumpet sounds. Reserve your seat on Flight #777!

Reverse Timeline Synopsis

1. The First Creation Flees Away — Revelation 20:11; 21:1
   The world ends because God removes the first heaven and earth.
2. The Lost Dead Are Judged — Revelation 20:11-15
   The Great White Throne closes the record of unsaved humanity.
3. Satan’s Final Revolt Is Crushed — Revelation 20:7-10
   One last rebellion proves the incurable nature of fallen man.
4. The Millennium Has Run Its Course — Revelation 20:1-6
   Christ has reigned for one thousand literal years.
5. Christ Returned Before The Millennium — Revelation 19:11-16
   The King came back to destroy Antichrist and take the throne.
6. The Tribulation Came Before The Second Advent — Revelation 6-18
   Daniel’s seventieth week brought wrath, judgment, and Israel’s purging.
7. The Rapture Came Before The Tribulation — 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
   The Church was caught up before the wrath fell.
8. The Church Age Is Where We Are Now — Titus 2:13
   The next event for the body of Christ is not the end of the world, but the blessed hope.

In Conclusion

When you start at Revelation 20:11 and work backward, and the whole prophetic timeline comes into a sharper focus in a way that reading it from start to finish does not.

• The world cannot end until the Great White Throne takes place.
• The Great White Throne cannot take place until the Millennium is over.
• The Millennium cannot begin until Christ returns.
• Christ does not return in Revelation 19 until the Tribulation has run its course.
• The Tribulation does not begin while the body of Christ is still here.
• Therefore, the next event for the Bible-believing Christian is not the end of the world, it is the Rapture of the Church.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

• HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Women In The Ministry: Paul’s Doctrinal Order Shows Faithful Women Labouring In The Gospel Without Taking The Offices God Gave To Men

Right now, debates are raging all across the professing Church as to what is, and is not, the role of women in the Church of Jesus Christ. Many of these heated discussions are really just people responding primarily from their feelings and prejudices rather than from the revealed word of God. Let the church honour faithful women without altering church office. Let men stop hiding from responsibility and qualify themselves for leadership. Let deacons be what Paul said they must be. Let women serve where God has placed them with joy, strength, and reward. And let the whole church bow to the final authority of the written word of God. Amen? My Sunday Servuce message is entitled “Women In The Ministry”, the first in a new series we will explore Sunday mornings and in the Sunday night Radio Bible Study as well.

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJB)

YOU ARE INVITED: Come and be a part of our live and in-person Sunday Service starting at 11:00AM at the Bible Believers Church at the Bookstore in Palatka, Florida.

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Women In The Ministry, Part 1

Women In The Ministry, Part 1

Main Text

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJB)

The New Testament honors faithful women in ministry, but it does not establish women as ordained deacons in the church. Paul’s order is clear: women may serve, labour, help, teach in proper order, support the gospel, and be highly commended by the apostle, but the official church offices of bishop and deacon are given with male qualifications.

Application

A Bible-believing church must never despise the labour of godly women in the gospel ministry, but neither may it rewrite Paul’s doctrine to satisfy modern confusion. The answer is not to silence faithful women from all service, and it is not to place them into offices God did not give them. The answer is to let every member of the body serve according to the order of the Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:22-27 (KJB)

I. Paul Gives The Office Of Deacon To Qualified Men

“Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” 1 Timothy 3:12 (KJB)

Paul does not leave the office of deacon undefined. He gives qualifications, and those qualifications include being “the husbands of one wife” and ruling “their children and their own houses well.” That language is not accidental, cultural, or optional. It places the office of deacon in the same masculine household order as the office of bishop. The deacon is not merely someone who helps around the church; he is a qualified man entrusted with recognized service under the authority and order of the local assembly.

The modern church often tries to separate service from Scripture, as though usefulness alone qualifies someone for office. But Paul never does that. A man may be willing, talented, energetic, and popular, and still not be qualified. Likewise, a woman may be faithful, godly, fruitful, and deeply useful, and still not be given the office of deacon. The issue is not value, the issue is order.

II. Phebe Was A Servant, Not An Ordained Female Deacon

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:” Romans 16:1 (KJB) – read all of the chapter.

Phebe is one of the strongest examples of a faithful woman in Paul’s ministry circle. Paul commends her by name. She was a servant of the church at Cenchrea, and that is a high commendation. She was trusted, useful, faithful, and worthy of the church’s help and reception.

But the King James Bible does not call Phebe a deacon. It calls her “a servant of the church.” That matters because words matter. God preserved His words, not His “message” The word may be connected to service, but Paul’s doctrinal qualifications for the office are not found in Romans 16; they are found in 1 Timothy 3. Romans 16 shows her faithful service. It does not install her into ordained church office.

The Bible believer should be careful here. We should not downgrade Phebe into nothing, and we should not promote her into something the Scripture does not say. She was a servant, a succourer, and a faithful helper in the ministry. A “succourer “ is one that, according to Webster’s 1828, is one that provides relief and help, and a deliverer. That is honourable enough without changing the Bible.

Look at this amazing honour that Jesus gave to a woman in the “gospel ministry” that He gave to none of the apostles.

“And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Mark 14:6-9 (KJB)

III. The Wives Of Deacons Must Also Be Spiritually Qualified

“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” 1 Timothy 3:11 (KJB)

Paul inserts this verse right in the middle of the deacon qualifications because the home life of a deacon matters. His wife is not irrelevant to his ministry. She must be grave, not a slanderer, sober, and faithful in all things. Why? Because the deacon’s service touches the church, the saints, the home, the poor, the widows, and the practical burdens of ministry.

Some try to make this verse mean “women deacons,” but the King James Bible gives the plain reading: “their wives.” The context then continues immediately with the deacon being “the husband of one wife.” Paul is not creating a female office here. He is showing that the wife of a deacon must not undermine the ministry by gossip, instability, worldliness, or unfaithfulness. A man’s public ministry can be damaged by disorder in his private house. Paul’s church order does not merely examine a man’s platform; it examines his household.

IV. Women Laboured Mightily In The Gospel Without Taking Church Office

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJB)

Paul had no problem commending women who laboured in the gospel. Euodias and Syntyche laboured with Paul. Phebe served the church. Priscilla helped in the work with Aquila. Mary bestowed much labour. Tryphena and Tryphosa laboured in the Lord. Persis laboured much in the Lord.

That should end the false charge that biblical church order makes women useless. It does not. Godly women in the New Testament were active, valuable, remembered, and commended. They served the saints, helped gospel workers, hosted churches, taught younger women, assisted in private instruction in proper order, and bore burdens in the ministry. But Paul’s commendation of their labour never cancels Paul’s doctrine of church office. Labour is not the same as headship. Help is not the same as oversight. Service is not the same as ordained authority. The church gets into trouble when it confuses those categories.

V. Paul’s Restriction Is Against Authority Over Men, Not Against All Ministry

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:12 (KJB)

This is the verse the modern church does not want, but it is still in the Bible. Paul does not forbid women from serving the Lord. He does not forbid them from prayer, testimony, hospitality, discipleship, mercy, teaching younger women, or helping in gospel work. What he forbids is a woman teaching or usurping authority over the man in the assembly.

That means the issue is not whether women can minister. They can and they did. The issue is whether women may take the ruling, authoritative, doctrinal offices of the church. Paul’s answer is no.

The Bible’s order is not anti-woman. It is anti-confusion. It protects men from laziness, women from misplaced burdens, and the church from rebellion against the written word.

VI. God’s Order Protects The Church From Confusion

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJB)

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJB)

When Paul gives church order, he is not trying to suppress life in the body. He is trying to preserve peace, doctrine, authority, and edification. Confusion enters when the church starts measuring ministry by ability alone instead of obedience. A woman may be gifted, but giftedness is not the qualification for office. A man may be willing, but willingness is not the qualification either. God has an order.

A church that follows Paul’s doctrine will have men leading, women serving, saints edified, doctrine protected, and the gospel advanced. A church that rejects Paul’s doctrine may still have activity, but it will not have biblical order.

Closing Challenge

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 (KJB)

The question is not, “Can women be useful in the ministry?” The Bible answers that with a resounding yes. The question is not, “Did Paul value women who laboured in the gospel?” He absolutely did. In fact, I will go so far as to say without those women, Paul could never have gotten done all the things God used him to do. So the question is, “Did Paul establish female deacons as an ordained church office?” The answer from the King James Bible is no.

Let the church honour faithful women without altering church office. Let men stop hiding from responsibility and qualify themselves for leadership. Many churches are run by women because the men have abdicated their God-given positions. Let deacons be what Paul said they must be. Let women serve where God has placed them with joy, strength, and reward. And let the whole church bow to the final authority of the written word of God.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJB)

The Bible position is balanced and plain: faithful women are servants in the work, but ordained deacons are qualified men. That is not tradition, or preferring men over women, or any of that nonsense. That is Paul’s doctrinal order for the church.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

• HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Little Children In The Bible Show Us The Whole Path Of Faith From Coming To Christ, To Being Formed By Christ, To Abiding Until He Comes. That’s Faith Like A Child

Faith like a child is not weak faith, ignorant faith, or blind religious sentiment; it is the right kind of faith because it comes to Christ with empty hands and a dependent heart. When the Lord Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me,” He showed us that the doorway is not pride, performance, intellect, ritual, or religious self-confidence, but simple trust in the One who calls. A child does not negotiate terms, present qualifications, or boast in achievement; a child simply comes because he is invited and because he believes the one calling him is good. That is the beginning of true faith: not confidence in the flesh, but helpless dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. But childlike faith does not end with merely coming to Christ; it continues as Christ is formed in the believer and the believer abides in Him until He appears.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Faith Like A Child

Faith Like A Child

Little Children: From Coming To Christ To Being Ready At His Coming

Main Texts

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (KJB)

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (KJB)

The Bible presents a spiritual progression in these three uses of “little children.” The Bible uses the phrase “little children” to denote actual little children who are seeking to come to Jesus, and it also uses that phrase to denote the “little children” that are formed, in people of any age, through the new birth.

First, the little children are called to come to Christ. That is the beginning. No one enters the kingdom through pride, religious performance, self-righteousness, or human merit. The child comes empty-handed, dependent, trusting, and helpless.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJB)

Second, the little children must have Christ formed in them. Paul is not dealing with unsaved pagans in Galatians 4:19, but with believers who had been turned aside by legalism. They had begun in the Spirit, but were being tempted to be made perfect by the flesh. Paul travailed over them because doctrine matters, grace matters, and Christ must be formed in the believer.

Third, the little children are told to abide in Him until He appears. John brings the thought to the Judgment Seat and the appearing of Jesus Christ. It is possible for a saved person to be ashamed at His coming, not because salvation is lost, but because fellowship, fruit, doctrine, and testimony were neglected. We cannot lose our salvation, but we can lose our inheritance.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:22-25 (KJB)

In the case of a Christian who might have lived in such a way as to lose their inheritance, you would need to plead the “sure mercies of David” before the Lord.

“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:33,34 (KJB)

“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:2,3,7 (KJB)

Come to Christ → Christ formed in you → Abide in Christ until He appears

That is reception, formation, and expectation.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 (KJB)

Application

I. The Child Must First Come To Christ

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

The first issue is not religion, church attendance, moral reform, or personal improvement. The first issue is coming to Christ. A child does not come with a résumé. A child does not come boasting. A child comes because he is called, welcomed, and received.

This is the simplicity of salvation. The sinner comes to Jesus Christ by faith, with nothing to offer and everything to receive.

“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.”

Doctrinal Point: Salvation begins with helpless dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, not confidence in the flesh.

II. The Child Must Then Be Formed By Christ

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (KJB)

Paul calls the Galatians “my little children” because he had spiritual responsibility for them. But they were in trouble. They had been pulled toward law-keeping, religious bondage, and fleshly performance after having begun in grace.

Christ being “formed” in them speaks of more than profession. It speaks of doctrine taking root. Grace replacing bondage. The inner man being shaped by the truth of Christ according to Paul’s gospel.

Doctrinal Point: The saved person must grow beyond merely being brought to Christ; Christ must be formed in him through sound doctrine, grace, and the renewing of the mind.

III. The Child Must Abide Until Christ Appears

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (KJB)

John brings the child of God face to face with the appearing of Jesus Christ. This is not merely sentimental language. This is accountability language. A believer may have confidence at His coming, or he may be ashamed.

The issue is abiding. Remaining in fellowship, continuing in truth, and not being seduced by antichrists, false doctrine, worldliness, and spiritual drift.

Doctrinal Point: The Christian life is lived in view of the appearing of Jesus Christ, and the believer should desire confidence, not shame, at His coming.

Closing Challenge

The connection between these three verses is not accidental. The Holy Spirit shows us the whole path of the child of God.

The little child comes to Christ.
The little child has Christ formed in him.
The little child abides in Christ until He appears.

Many are content to say they came to Christ, but they resist being formed by Christ. Others begin well, but fail to abide. The Bible calls the believer to all three.

So the question is not only, Have you come to Christ?

The deeper questions are:

• Is Christ being formed in you?
• Are you abiding in Him?
• Will you have confidence when He appears, or will you be ashamed before Him at His coming?

The Lord does not merely call little children to come near. He calls them to grow in grace, stand in truth, abide in Him, and be ready when He appears. Whenever that may be.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

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“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

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