Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of Luke

Chapter 17

Luke.17:1 He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! 17:2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Jesus Christ states a truth here that it is impossible for it not to happen, stumbling of little ones will come, but why? First when a truth is a truth, it may or may not be personal the truth stating a condition that is a fact which cannot be changed. A cat is a cat, a dog is a dog, the truth is in this case a condition, which is a cat, or dog.

1 Timothy 6:5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.{NU omits "Withdraw yourself from such."}

The time would come when weeds would over-sow the field of God's planting of wheat. The weeds are the condition that must cause stumbling, the weeds are not going to change their nature into wheat so they don't stumble a little one, it is impossible for that not to happen. In other words, stumbling must occur simply because of the nature of the weeds teachings. It much like putting fertilizer on a patch of weeds, and they grow tall, strong, and spreed like wild fire, but one does not prepare for a harvest of wheat now do they?

Haggai 2:12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The priests answered, "No."

James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

Gal.5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

Gal.6:7 Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

The truth is the truth but when truth is digest by a weed, a fleshly person, what will it produce? Yeast, a corruption to the truth, a mixture of good and evil, but the evil corrupts the good into a mass of lump of leavened bread, so goes the kingdom of God upon earth as Jesus stated would happen to those claiming to represent it into the last days.

Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures{literally, three sata. 3 sata is about 39 litres or a bit more than a bushel} of meal, until it was all leavened."

Millions and billions have stumble time and again not even knowing what they have stumble over because of this masses false kingdom of God, and its teachings, so heavy is the debt of false religion it like a great millstone of sin, sin of people freely forgiving by God, but withheld by false religion through laws of yeast, and corruption, it must be cast into the seas where it belongs! Yes, where indeed God cast the debts of his children to be remember no more.

Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Here false religion has put its debts of sin into the very heavens for control of the masses of humanity making each person pay and stumble by its false teachings. So heavy a yoke it has placed upon its members like a great mile stone they stagger and fall into their own self-righteousness before the nations of our earth time and again, mocking the very name of God Jehovah.

Rev.18:5 for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities. 18:6 Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.

Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"

Jesus warns us, do not uses your brothers debt, the debt you have been freely forgiven, do not rack up a scored card and dole out justice by debts of sin. Do not be partial, judge righteously, judge equally. You have been freely forgiven; your sins have been cast into the sea, not accounted, you have been set free from a judgment deserved. Woe to those building up again what Christ tore down, woe to those that love self-righteousness more than the glory of God, woe to those building unrighteous kingdom by payments of sin to maintain a position of power over others.

Rev.18:21 A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He who hears, let him say, "Come!" He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Luke 17:3 Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. 17:4 If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

How can human's not sin against each other when we are conceived in sin, it is impossible. Sinning in biblical terminology is a debt we owe to the person for overstepping God's righteous laws, we have sinned just in imputing evil to someone without getting the facts. In other words, welcome to the human race.

1 Peter 3:11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

When we sins seriously against others repentance is needed, but some people hold out repentance to such a standard that the person must climb a mile high ladder on bloody knees to obtain to forgiveness. But for those with godly wisdom, lets state here for the record what godly wisdom is. It is receiving the gift of Holy Spirit by the mind of Christ having a reasonable peaceful mind created by life of Christ indwelling a person. What its not is having peace at all cost to the exclusion of truth.

James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

God brings us peace by forgiveness, but God pays a price, for our debt to forgive us. In other words, God does not lower the standard of truth to keep the peace. When Christian's with Holy Spirit sin, it is because they our fleshly, having a work of the flesh by a desire, some misguide fear or motive. This to a reasonable mind states a fact, a truth, we all fail short of the glory of God. Not that we compromise truth, but we cannot take all mistakes and sin to degree that we hold our own mistake at a different standard.

Matt.7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

Those judging harshly should not think when they sin, their judgments are OK, but when a brother or sister sin it is the end of the world demanding perfection. The Spirit of God in us should make us reasonable knowing that we all fall short of God's glory each day, and he does not mock or expect perfection from a flawed human created in sin. God forgives us hundreds of times in a day. But we must come to this truthful understanding in examining ourselves not by degrees of other humans sin accounting us a better, but against the Christ whom did not sin at all!

Rom.7:19 For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice. 7:20 But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
7:21 I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. 7:22 For I delight in God's law after the inward man,
7:23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

God always corrects and discipline those he loves, humans think it is their position once they get religion to constantly reprove people uninhibitedly. However, none like it when they get the same measure back, not one! All of this should help us become reasonable and compassionate with out condoning untruth's or unrighteousness.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Luke17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
17:6 The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 17:7 But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down at the table,' 17:8 and will not rather tell him, 'Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink'? 17:9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. 17:10 Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"

Christ ties two thoughts together here seemingly unrelated, but profoundly connected for those having the mind of Christ, and not the mind of the fallen flesh. The disciples of Christ ask him a question about having more faith, but why did they ask? Simply put, Christ had just told them they must forgive their brothers up to seven time a day if he ask us for forgiveness. Now the response from his disciples was very honest, give us more faith to do that. They recognized what many false Christian's fail to understand, such kindness and forgiveness is a gift of our faith from God, not of self. Human under sin our legal minded, they cannot forgive, they make laws demanding payment for transgression, and they do not let people violate those laws seven times a day. Furthermore, neither did the Law of Moses allow for such benevolent forgiving of sin.

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}

Hebrews 10:28 A man who disregards Moses' law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.

This was profound request from Christ, hence, give us more faith, how do we increase our faith to forgive? Not walk on water, not do powerful works, not have more gifts of Spirit, but to forgive each others transgression like God does us? Please give us more faith to do this seemingly this impossible act!

Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

Faith a fruit of God's Spirit, but all fruitage of God's Spirit comes from love, yes! Love, for God is love! He is not faith, not peace, not kindness, not joy, these fruits come from being love, and flow from the act of love, so please Christ tells us how to increase our faith because we all lack love?

1 John 4:8 He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn't love his brother remains in death.

Now this point is so sorely over looked by Christian's to day striving to be great, to be known for good works, to climb the teaching ladder into fame. Jesus shocks his disciples! “You want more faith?” Stop thinking so much about your personal needs, learn to serve your God, learn to be a good slave, stop putting your needs above being a servant of God. Stop boasting, stop promoting your feelings as of God, stop making God equal to yourselves, and serve as a servant trusting God will take care of all your needs. Stop putting yourselves above your brothers.

1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.

Rom.12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. 12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,
12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Stop your agenda, you have not been appointed the faithful slave, you are a worker for God, is he going to feel gratitude because you did the things assigned, is he going to become your servant upholding your unrighteousness more than his own righteous name? Does this shock you that to gain more faith in Christ means putting yourselves aside for the glory of God as his servant and not being a self-serving person?

Luke 19:17 "He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'

Luke 19:22 "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

False religion on every front makes God the servant to its fleshly material needs, to its own fame on earth, boasting in the flesh on every occasion in mocked humility, worship of men, and idols, real faith does not come from self, it comes from God as a gift, if we are humble serving God, being a body member, which implies a faceless position in serving others with gifts given us from the body of Christ for the body, we will be given the gift of faith. God does not compete with false gods, or man idols, but he doe give gifts to those serving him as Christ His own son served, proving himself faithful and discreet upon earth onto death, are you faithful and discreet?

Ephesians 2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Luke 20:10 At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. 20:11 He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

John 12:26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 13:16 Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him.

Luke.17:11 It happened as he was on his way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.
17:12 As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance. 17:13 They lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 17:14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." It happened that as they went, they were cleansed. 17:15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. 17:16 He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. 17:17 Jesus answered, "Weren't the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 17:18 Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?" 17:19 Then he said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you."

Leprosy such a terrible disease, removing a person from the community, even from family and friends into a life of being feared and hated. Here Jesus performs and wondrous act of healing not one leper, but ten! As marvelous as this was its not the main point of the story, the main point is only one of these lepers freed from a life of one of the most vilest of diseases glorified God for being healed, but the question begs why?

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

We may think certainly I would have came back and gave glory to God working through Christ, and most people would say the same. However, the Greek Scriptures hardly paint a good picture of mankind nature under sin. This alone offends some Christian's, but we must ask why only one person for such a grand gift given to them who had no chance of living among society ever again, for there was no cure known for leprosy it was the death penalty, why did so many not glorify God?

Rom.3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.
3:11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 3:12 They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one."{Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20}
3:13 "Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit."{Psalm 5:9} "The poison of vipers is under their lips;"{Psalm 140:3} 3:14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."{Psalm 10:7} 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood.
3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways. 3:17 The way of peace, they haven't known."{Isaiah 59:7-8} 3:18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."{Psalm 36:1}

So often Christian's forget, we are not deserving of undeserved kindness, but why do they forget? It is they think because of some self-goodness they have gain a reward, in this case nine of the lepers must have thought they deserved to be healed, thinking they had through some goodness earned the right to be healed. There can be no other explanation if they had thought there were not deserving of the gift of being healed and restored into life, they would have certainly glorified God!
Rom.7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good. 7:19 For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice.

Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

So many religious people accept Christ and than go into a life of earning their salvation, ever thought and ever word is about trying to gain God's favor by some good work they are doing. The will deny it, but their sinful nature cannot believe they are not deserving no matter how hard they work or try, eternal life is a free gift of God, undeserved gift, so glorify God for healing us from sin.

Luke 18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 18:12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Yes, we are all under a death sentence alienated from the family of God, because we are born sinners. Once a sinner no human on earth has a cure for an incurable disease of sin. There is not one human that can redeem themselves from death of sin, not one person on earth has the power to heal us from sin.

So many glorify their good works boasting about their good intention and heart, how they are adding too God on earth, but they are not glorifying God, they are not showing appreciation for a gift given freely a gift not earned. More then that they enslave others to the same misguided works of law religion.

Romans 4:4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as debt.

Romans 9:11 For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,

God does not in the Greek scriptures glorify man upon earth, in fact, Christ refused to be called good teacher or to be glorified upon earth, saying only one is good, God. Furthermore, the Greeks scriptures does not speak will of mankind under sin, but it does give us the greatest of all hopes, where like the one leper who glorified God that one day all humans will give glory to God, uniting heaven and earth, and all the destruction, sickness, and death of self-glory will be remember no more when mankind no longer glorifies themselves as deserved, and shows appreciation for what God has done for them freely.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Luke 18:19 Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one--God.

1 Peter 1:24 For, "All flesh is like grass, and all of man's glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;

Isaiah 40:6 The voice of one saying, "Cry!" One said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field.

Isaiah 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh's breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever."

Luke17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation; 17:21 neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." 17:22 He said to the disciples, "The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 17:23 They will tell you, 'Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Don't go away, nor follow after them.

Billions of dollars and people have sought to make Christ incoming Kingdom observable, in books, magazines, movies, and preaching it, but Christ said his Kingdom would not come with observation. Throughout the history of mankind since Christ one pattern repeats itself, and what is that?

Ecclesiastes 1:9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

People have said: “Look, here! Or, Look there!” So many have done just that in looking for some event, some new prophesy, being mislead, in looking for Christ Kingdom. Human, hate the thought that we follow the same pattern of thinking and feelings as do all human upon earth rather a thousand's or two thousand's years ago, each generation of human believe their generation is the generation that Christ Kingdom comes in.

Matt.24:36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Every generation has been mislead in this area of false prophesy, and yet, still Christian's believe they have some special understanding of Christ Jesus incoming Kingdom, but Christ warned his own disciples, the foundation stones of his Kingdom not be mislead by these reports, how? By staying in the truth, what truth?

Matt.24:28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures{or, eagles} gather together.

Here is the key, please listen, and it will make much sense to you, if your honest, and love truth? Christ is the truth, he is the temple of the living God, the temple is the center of Christ Kingdom, we are the temple if we are in the truth, that is, in Christ Jesus. Subsequently, the Kingdom is in us, if we are in him. Now why would anyone in Christ, leave the truth to follow a man or woman in their prophesy, when they are already in the kingdom, with Christ indwelling them?

Matt.24:25 "Behold, I have told you beforehand. 24:26 If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner chambers,' don't believe it.

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Why would they believe a lie when they have the truth, the Spirit which is the truth teaching them and bearing witness to Christ life and his personality within them? There no where to go, there no group, not church, no one person prophesy that we must leave Christ to go out into the wilderness to find the body of Christ if we are in the body. Now the question reminds, will Christ mislead us? When he tell thousand's of people while upon earth in word, than leaving a Holy Spirit inspire bible through his apostles, which says: “if we believe in him we have eternal life?”

John 3:15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 5:24 "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.

No! Only someone not in Christ, having his life, which is the truth, and the comfort of Holy Spirit would believe that salvation depended upon some person knowledge of end times prophesy. Nor would they believe a lie. God's children are not created in fear, fear that God is both light and darkness every changing as does all unrighteous men, from teaching to teaching depending upon the spirit of error of mankind's latest wisdom. This is where Christ ask each one of us a vital question? Will he find faith upon earth when he returns? Faith not in man, faith not in prophesy or the latest teachings, but faith in what? The truth, he is our truth, provided we stay in the truth!
1 John 5:6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

1 John 4:13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

John 15:26 "When the Counselor{Greek Parakletos: Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, and Comfortor.} has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me.

Luke.17:24 for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. 17:25 But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

One must stop and reason the verses above these where Jesus states his kingdom will not come with observation, are very strong words for those worshiping by site as the Jews religion did in the physical temple, kings, and priesthood, whom saw the greatest wars fought on earth by God's own hand.

Christ now tells them the the biggest event in the whole world would not be noted by most of mankind, including them, which is Christ incoming Kingdom! How many have been mislead over this subject, a few, or the majority of mankind since Christ? That generation, and the interpretation of that generation has since Christ mislead most religion into thinking they were that marked generation.

Matthew 16:3 In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times!

Matthew 24:24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

Where does lightning flash up is the question? If lightning flash up physically all would see that a storm is coming particularly an aquiculture community whom lives depend upon knowing the sky's (the Jewish system of things Christ speaks to here), the seasons, and weather. Moreover, just below Christ tells his disciples that the day of his coming will over take mankind like the flood did in Noah's day, it will be a snare trapping a wild animal seeking food, unexpectedly, they are caught for lust of their flesh.

John 4:48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe."

John 6:2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.

John 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.

Strange most Christian's religion's are looking for physical signs in the skies, but they too are planted in the flesh and grow into weeds with fleshly minds. still they will be caught unaware? The real issue is not the physical, but spiritual, just as Christ brothers are not known by the world, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Where does the lightning flash up? It is in the hearts of those anointed by God's Spirit they will know the Lord's is coming, not by man's will, or a churches teachings, or anything else under the Sun, but through the power of God's Holy Spirit, no human is going to take credit for the coming of the Lord, not even Jesus knew the day or hour of his return, nor the angels, yet puny men of the flesh, to no surprise think they are apprized of such information since Christ walked the earth.

2 Peter 1:19 We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts:

John 17:14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:25 Righteous Father, the world hasn't known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.

1 John 3:1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.

Let us remember God is not hurrying people into the ark of salvation, the Christ, by dates or signs, he is by His love, that is, an appeal to his great kindness towards mankind in giving them His son life, if that is not enough than signs will not change a person hearts. The Good News will be preached and if that Good News does not change ones heart to freely give their love and will to God, than no prophecy or pushing of fearful signs will put a person into Christ for salvation. We appeal to others through God's love, if we uses fear of death as the motivator nothing gained, for love gains nothing out of fear, not faith or trust in a good righteous God whom has sworn not one promise to us would go unfulfilled.

Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Luke 11:29 When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah, the prophet.

Luke 11:30 For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will also the Son of Man be to this generation.

Luke 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.

Matthew 24:14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Luke 17:26 As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 17:27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 17:28 Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 17:29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all. 17:30 It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

Nothing within God's written word ever encourages saving self by some human wisdom, and yet, time and time again for thousand's of years religious people have tried to save themselves by human wisdom, but not so with those whom belong to YHWH. So why does the coming of the Son of Man come without striking observabliness and catch the world off guard?

Hebrews 10:7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.'"{Psalm 40:6-8}

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 4:14 Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

James 4:15 For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that."

Is the God of love a trickster, does he want to make people do some mystery work to be saved like figure things out through dates in their bibles. Is there some hidden thought encoded in his word the bible if we can unlock we can save ourselves from being caught off guard at the coming of the Lord? No God is not a trickster what he has spoken from the beginning has been generously given to mankind including His son life.

Matt.7:7 "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 7:8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
7:9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The antiphysis of self-survival is complete reliance upon God for salvation and not from man or ourselves. From Adam's fail into sin into the last book of the bible one point stand above all else, our complete dependency upon God for eternal life. Everything in between is darkness of self-reliance which is against God's will. The Son of man himself set the pattern of complete trust in his Father in every word, each prophet prior to Christ whom was faithful spoke by God's mouth and not their own, they could not in the slightest rely upon their work or words to save themselves. Each king of Israel who stayed faithful to God must not rely upon the power of his own arm to save Israel, but upon God who created and gave Israel his name and power by complete reliance upon God as their King.

Psalms 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn't respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Yah, Yahweh, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation."

Mark 10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!

The very thing Adam did not do. No! God is not a trickster, he not asking mankind to figure it all out to be saved, no! He is however asking us to trust in him by our faith that he will always take care of us as his children knowing it is impossible for him to do evil. God does not want self-survivor he want our love and trust for a perfect Father, he wants hearts, hearts that are waiting upon him in full faith when the Christ comes. He does not want last minute conversion from fear of some fearful sighting in heaven, or some report of a war, an earthquake. We must'n thinking things are out of God's control that he is not paying attention, or that he makes our salvation dependent upon some prophecy spoken to us by a man, or a woman, we must as the Son of Man showed in action at his death, in saying; “Not my will Father but yours.”

Isa.40:28 Haven't you known? Haven't you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint. He isn't weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 40:29 He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.
40:30 Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; 40:31 But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

The nation will be got off guard, not from God's meanness, but rather from people own pursuit of independence from God, they will being doing what all human have done on earth who are separate from God's will, doing their own will. in eating, drinking, given in marriage the normal actives of people running their own lives with the free gift of life God has given them choosing for themselves what is good and evil.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

Luke17:31 In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back. 17:32 Remember Lot's wife! 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
These words of Christ Jesus has been frightening to Christian's since penned before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire in 70CE. Many have felt that there is yet another future flight out of the city of Jerusalem in our times, but none of the apostle spoke of a further event instructing the Christian's body to physically flee anywhere, not even in the book of Revelation is there a picture of Christian's fleeing out of cities into the wilderness into some community to escape the great tribulation. Hence, so many thinking person have concluded that the words Christ spoke here where focus on his times when Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman Empire and not ours, but there are some lesson we should consider.

1Cor.10:11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.

Christ makes the point if we seek to save this life we will lose it, he also speaks of the wife of lot, who once out of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah she looked back losing her own life? Christ also speak of not trying to save the needs of our flesh, not turning back to those things of daily cares, but instead living in faith, in trust at the drop of a hat our last day may be here.

Matthew 19:27 Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"

Matthew 19:29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.

This theme is carried into other books of the bible even though the end of this world has not arrived in two thousand years Christian's must always be ready for their master return, not getting bogged down into the daily cares of life where they become a slave of the flesh to exclusion of Christ.
Rev.17:1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,

Let none of us think here Christ is teaching self-survival he is not, he is talking about living in faith, which is trust in our Heavenly Father for every need and instruction in our life, will be provided at the needed time. If we lose this life living in faith we have finished our course we can trust completely knowing nothing we need in this life and in the next, God has promised His love will not fail us.

Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."{Deuteronomy 31:6}

Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

It is not living in faith that's wicked, it is a lack of faith where we believe God is looking for reason to trick us, or expect us to find some secret knowledge of end times prophecy for our salvation.

1 Corinthians 2:5 that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Luke.17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left. 17:35 There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left." 17:36 {Some Greek manuscripts add: "Two will be in the field: the one taken, and the other left."}
17:37 They, answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together."

Many have roved about searching for knowledge of the end of our world, they have went two and fro, for thousand's of years, but none have found the time or date of Christ coming! In Matthew chapter twenty-four Christ gives a list of things that must happen before the end, but at the same times gives us warning the things listed by him would be the very thing to mislead most of mankind, what? Yes, the list of things Christ gave, like wars, reports of wars, earthquakes, famine, would be the very signs that would mislead most of mankind, but why?

Matt.24:4 Jesus answered them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray. 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

Here is the point Jesus makes in Luke, where is the body? If one discern the body than there would be vultures, and/or eagles, but where is the body, and what body? No one ever found Christ physically body, and no one on earth will find Christ spiritual body unless it is revealed to them by God through faith! The world did not know Christ according to God's written word, they do not know Christ brothers, but why? Because they have God's Spirit, the world does not know God either, what do they know? Physical fleshly things, a fleshly person cannot know God, so how could they know where the body of Christ is at?

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

So how is the world mislead by signs, the very thing Christ warned his disciples about, The Jewish nation was very physical nation, one had no doubt for in the center of the city was their heavens by sight the very present of God, in the temple, representing where God resided in heavens in the holy of the holies. Many physical signs did befall the physical Jerusalem before its destruction, many were misled by physical signs, but where is Christ body today.

John 4:48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe."

Mark 13:22 For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

Here is the point are you saved, or saved? Those in the body of Christ are saved or they can't be there, than there are those seeking signs to be safe so when the end come their knowledge of end-time prophecies saves them. In other words, what is required of all Christian's to be saved? Faith! If you have faith why seek salvation through prophecy, you are in the body of Christ where the feeding for the body is happening. Your in touch with Christ indwelling you, and you are being feed the bread of everlasting life, why would a person go out to of Christ for a false prophecy, or some new light, when they are in the light by faith?

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.

Here than is how one is taken and another not. Those in Christ are purchased by whom? Jehovah God they are his property, and are set as members in Christ, they can be taken at God's will at any time, not just at the end of our world. Now where the body is, is above where Christ is not upon earth in a religion, but above through faith we have approached a heavenly mountain Zion, by faith, mankind will not know the day or hours, even Christ upon earth as a servant of God did not know the time, are we faithful servants, do we trust the hand that feeds us, are we resting from our works, in the greater Sabbath, Christ Jesus trusting our lives are hidden with him?

Heb.12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,
12:19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,
12:20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned{TR adds "or shot with an arrow" [see Exodus 19:12-13]};"{Exodus 19:12-13}
12:21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."{Deuteronomy 9:19}
12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
12:23 to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
12:24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,{Jeremiah 31:31} and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
12:25 See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
12:26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens."{Haggai 2:6}
12:27 This phrase, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.
12:28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can't be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.{Deuteronomy 4:24}

Completed on: September 27, 2014

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus