yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. Genesis 31:7 (ESV)
Jacob’s faith was in God, who is sovereign over our live and so is always in control and will not give us more than we can bear and controls how far our enemies are able to go.
But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2 (ESV)
Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled 40 years later in 70 AD
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6 (ESV)
Jesus warns us that we will see persecution and war but encourages us that we should not be shocked or alarmed by this and that this is not a sign of the end (possibly to correct any misunderstanding that difficult times indicate the end)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
This is the great sign (rather than wars, persecution, or bad weather) of the end, when Jesus will return to rule and reign from Jerusalem. The Gospel will be proclaimed to every people group. There are currently 7287 unreached people groups consisting of 2.91 billion people, we must finish the mission.
And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Matthew 24:22 (ESV)
God takes special care of those he has elected, this should fill us with praise, hope and faith.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 (ESV)
As God’s elect children we can not be ultimately led astray because we are in the Father’s hand, Jesus is our good shepherd and the Holy Spirit is our guide. We are secure in Christ.
For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Matthew 24:27–28 (ESV)
This is a good point for cults like Jehovah Witnesses and Rastafarians who say Jesus has already come back. Jesus said when he comes back it will not be in some hidden or secret or exclusive way but the whole world will know beyond any doubt
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (ESV)
Every person is in need of salvation. Paul makes a great case for this in the opening chapters of Romans.
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