Are you Ready for the Time of the End?

Brethren, time is short. How short? You and I don't know. We just don't know. No man knows. But the question I have is, are we ready? Are you and I ready? You and I know Satan has many tricks up his sleeve. I mean, some of the major deceptions in the world is clearly the misunderstanding between grace and law. You see that everywhere in whatever churches, any contact with people. Oh well, the law's done away. That is a big deception. We've got to be careful. Another big deception in the world that you and I are very aware of is the belief of the immortal soul and the belief of the Trinity. Big, big deceptions in the world. And there are many others. There are many others. But as we approach the time of the end, one of the things that I have seen in the last few years, and you probably will see that as well, and it'll become more and more prominent, is people quoting prophetic events and placing them at the wrong time frame and, unbeknown to those people, but that is a form of deception. That is a form of deception. Now, if you and I turn to Matthew 24 verse 11, Matthew 24 verse 11, it says, then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Now, this is, as we can see before verse 14, where it talks about this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, which means it's today, today, many. Now, it doesn't say a couple or a few. It says many, and when the Bible says many, it means many. There is much deception, many false prophets. Oh well, today we don't call them prophets, quote-unquote, we just call them pastors, ministers in different churches, but in today's context, those are the so-called prophets, ministers of religion and people that proclaim themselves to be ministers. Many rise up and deceive a few. No, no, no, it doesn't say deceive a few. We'll deceive many. And then you just read a little bit later in verse 24. You read a little later in verse 24, and it says, false Christs and false prophets. In other words, false messiahs and false ministers. And in today's context, I see those false Christs as implying, for instance, leaders claiming they're going to solve all the world's problems, because that's what Christ is going to come in, is going to come and save the world's problems, that is Second Coming. And so you and I can see many political leaders around the world saying, well, vote for me, I'm going to solve all the problems. And in verse 24 it says, and show great signs and wonders to deceive. Brethren, there's going to be miracles. As time moves on, there's going to be great miracles that is going to boggle your mind and my mind to deceive, to deceive, to cunningly lead you astray from the truth. And then he says, in verse 24 at the end, if possible, even the elect.

And which, if you and I are not close to God, now understand elect is not just those that are called, but it's those that are chosen. It was those that are baptized that are in your church. And if possible, we'll deceive even those.

Just a few chapters earlier, Christ in Matthew 7, Christ in Matthew 7, verse 15, warned about wolves. And he says, beware of false prophets. And as I mentioned, I see that as a false minister who will come to you in sheep's clothing. Oh yeah, they talk to you of such a nice religious town and caring. But inwardly, they are ravenous wolves. I'm not saying everyone is that way. But that's what the Bible says. And so, as time moves along, and you and I are nearer to the end time, and I was just talking to somebody earlier on today, and I don't think that younger people really see it like those of us that are seniors, that have been around and seen so many things over the last 20-30 years. As they have been around for a little while, we see that time is short. But sometimes, younger people may feel, oh well, we still have a number of years. Maybe we do. Maybe we do. You and I don't know how long it is. No man knows a day or the hour. But we know the season. And brothers and sisters, brethren, this is the season. And so, Christ in Luke 21, verse 36, Luke 21, verse 36, says, watch and pray that you may be accounted worthy.

Watch and pray that you may be accounted worthy. Oh, it's not that you and I make a choice. It's that you and I may be accounted worthy by God. Now, quite often, we may be only focused on the first part, which says, to escape all these things. But I think the latter part is probably even more important, which is and to stand before the Son of Man. That means that you will be standing next to Christ at His coming as a resurrected spiritual being.

I am convinced, and I think you'll agree with me, that that is even more important than just escape these things that will come to pass. But the benefit is that if you are watching and praying that you are accounted worthy, you would benefit from both of them.

What are we? What is it that you and I are to watch? Now, there's basically two things. One, we have put a lot of focus in the past, since the days of the worldwide Church of God, to watch world events. And that's point number one. There's two. You see, point number one is, yeah, watch events in light of prophecy. And so, you have to know prophecy.

You just have to look at Scriptures like Isaiah 5 verse 20, and you know that is the case today. Do you know what Isaiah 5 verse 20 says? Well, go and look yourself. Look yourself. When people call right wrong, when they call truth lie, you and I just have to open our eyes to what's happening in our media today. Right is being called wrong.

It's a fact. Twenty years ago, probably we could not understand that. But today, we can. It stares us in the face. And the people that call wrong and they call it right, they stare it in our face as if we are self-righteously judging them.

Brethren, we need to watch these world events. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, starting in verse 3, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, starting in verse 3, says, Let no man deceive you. Brethren, today I'm talking about deception. Deception. This world is full of deception. Are we ready to discern this deception? Because it's an outright attack from Satan.

For that day will not come unless the falling away come first. I might be wrong. Okay, fair enough. That's George the Campos' speculation. But I believe this falling away has happened in the mid-90s.

And the man of sin is still to be revealed. But we are in this time gap, which is the son of perdition, who exalts himself above all that is called God. All that is worship, so that he sits as God sits, quote unquote, between brackets, in the temple of God. In other words, he's going to be self-proclaiming himself that he is God, and he's going to sit somewhere as God sits, showing himself that he's God. Now, some people use the scripture to say, well, there's definitely going to be a temple, but it does not have to be that. It could be even a pagan temple that he sits on, and he clears himself that he's God. And he sits there as God sits in his throne. In other words, proclaiming himself that he's God. It could be that. I'm not saying it is, but we have to leave that option open. And then we read in verse 8 and 10. And then the lawless one will be revealed. This man of sin is going to come, whom the Lord will consume of the breath of his mouth. In other words, it will be right at the time this man will be living when Christ comes, right at the end. And it says, verse 9, the coming of the lawless one is according to the work of Satan. This false prophet this wicked one, this leader, religious leader, that is going to influence the beast power and its leader, they will work out miracles. Miracles. Great miracles. That if it were possible, will deceive the very elect.

And brethren, this deception is in place today. Already and growing. Now, obviously, it will get much bigger. But it is already working today.

As I mentioned, truth is called lie, right is called wrong, or wrong is called right. And there's many other people in innocence may take a prophetic event of the future and place it today.

And that way, deceive people. By the mere fact of misplacing a prophetic event, its timing according to the prophetic lineup explained to us in the book of Revelation, they place it at a different time and deceive people. For this, they could take certain things that are prophesied to happen during the seven lost plagues, and they place it as if it's happening today.

I'm not saying people that do that are trying to deceive you, because they're doing it in innocence. But it is important, we all understand the prophetic sequence that God gives to us in the book of Revelation. You see, God revealed—and if you read in Revelation 1, verse 1, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God the Father gave Christ gave him, to show his servants—that's you and I—things which must shortly take place. And the word shortly could mean suddenly. You read that in Greek, it could well mean that things which suddenly will take place. And that, to me, makes more sense. They're going to come suddenly. Elsewhere, they read sudden destruction. It's going to come suddenly. But why is God showing them to us? Why is he revealing them to us? So that you and I are not deceived. So that you and I are not deceived. He's incumbent upon us to understand these events in the proper prophetic timeline of sequence of events. It's important for us to understand the Book of Revelation in its proper sequence.

Now, I'll briefly, later on, mention very briefly a quick sequence of events. But nowhere can I spend and explain in detail the content of the Book of Revelation in one hour. If you're really interested, just in the brackets, I do have a series of 34 Bible studies of about an hour each on the website, talking about the Book of Revelation. And not only me, I the ministers also. It is important for us to understand.

You see, because behind us, you and I have to understand and really get it. That Satan is the God of this world. Satan is the God of this world. Do we get it? Oh, why is God allowing all these things going on, etc., etc., etc.? Because Satan is being allowed to rule at this time in God's greater wisdom. Well, but when Christ comes, Satan will be dethroned. And so, as I mentioned, there's two things we got to watch. Number one, you and I got to watch ourselves.

And number two, we got to watch world events. And I mentioned about world events because that's what we are focused in the past. But I believe we need to focus more today in watching ourselves. And that's why I put that as number one. We got to watch ourselves. And I'll talk a little bit more about watching ourselves a little later. So let me recap so that you are not lost. You know, one of the lessons of teaching, tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them, and then tell them what you've told them. And so it is important to recap what I'm going through so that you don't misunderstand. Because I'm covering a lot of material today. And you'll have to dig in because I'm pointing to areas where you should dig in and study more. But in simple words, today I'm speaking about beware of deception. That's what I'm talking about today. Particularly deception that is designed to deceive the very elect. In other words, you and I. And therefore, are we consciously, consciously aware and ready to discern this deception and then focus on what we need to do? And therefore, my message today is about two simple things. Under the beheading, beware of deception. Two simple things. You and I need to be aware there's a war, a spiritual war going on. Men today are just pawns. There's a spiritual war going on. Point number one. And point number two, what is it that you and I need to do as God's people called today to rule in the kingdom of God? So that you and I are ready to stand with Christ as he's coming. And so let's address that first point, that there is a spiritual war behind the scenes.

We need to understand the world's way. The way the world is going is inspired and backed up by Satan, who has deceived the whole world.

Do you really believe that the whole world means the whole world? I mean, just look at the example. At the time of Noah. Noah preached for many years. Okay, maybe as many as 120, but maybe he preached for 70, 60, 50, 100. I don't know. And how many people repented and came into the ark with his family? How many people repented and came into the ark with him with his family? Zero. Except his family. There were eight people, they were his family. His three children, their wives, and him and his wife. Eight people. You know, he preached for all these years, decades upon decades. How many people repented? Doesn't it feel like today? We are preaching the gospel unto the whole world, and how many people are coming into the church?

Very few.

Because it's Satan's world. We preach the gospel to the whole world as a witness. As a witness. So when the Great Tribulation comes, they actually can repent and say, wow, we should have repented before. And God will still give them an opportunity in his mercy. But we are preaching the gospel to the whole world as a witness. And so we gotta understand that the world today, the way of the world today, is not God's way. And you and I, like salt on a plate, a little grainy eye, a little grain there, and sometimes when you put the salt, I gotta sometimes put it in my hand to see if it's coming out because I can't see it. You know, it's just a little bit here and a little bit there. To make the world palatable, in a sense, to God.

You see, we are just a few that have been called and have responded, and for they are the elect. And you and I have to continuously fight the assault. Yes, the assault that we have around us, politically, religiously, educationally, and economically.

Because there is an enemy. There is an enemy.

There is a being that is fighting the church.

There is a being that is fighting the church. And you know that that war between that being, Satan, and the church is described in the Bible? Yes, it is.

And that is in Revelation chapter 12. And I'm going to go through Revelation chapter 12 briefly to show you how Satan is attacking the church.

Because Revelation chapter 12 is a beautiful summary, super summary, in perfect logical sequence of what has been happening. In the first verse of Revelation 12, it says, Now a great sign appeared in heaven, and a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Oh, yeah! So many ideas of who is this woman? Oh, is this that? Is the other? Oh, you know, astronomy, astrology comes into play, and blah, blah, blah. But the Bible interprets the Bible. And so you have to go back to Genesis chapter 37, and there it's interpreted. Genesis chapter 37, when this young man has this dream and makes his brothers and everybody else upset against him. Genesis chapter 37 verse 9.

And then he dreamed, stole another dream, and told her to his brothers, and said, I have dreamed another dream, and this time the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bow down to me. And so he told it to his father and his brothers, and his father rebuked him and said, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you? There is a clear description of who is verse one talking about. Verse one is talking about the nation that came out of that family. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that is talking about the nation of Israel. And out of that nation of Israel, and you know, to Abram was promises given to him and his seed, and the seed is Christ. And out of that nation, there was that seed born, which is now in verse two. That nation gave birth to Jesus Christ.

And that's what verse two is talking about, the most prominent son of that came out of that nation. And that's Christ. And you and I know, a big apart, you and I know that right from the beginning, you're reading Genesis 3 when Satan deceived Eve, and Adam just listened to what Eve said, and you see that that is described in Genesis 3, 14, and 15, there would be an animosity between the woman, being the children of Eve, and the other children, the children of Satan and Satan himself. And see, this is what has happened in the world, and it's still happening today. This world is being led by Satan, and as a bias against God's people, be it physical Israel or spiritual Israel. You know how Pharaoh killed the infants? You know how Herod tried to kill those children of two years and younger? And you know other stories, how they tried to wipe out the nation of Israel. And you know today, that hatred continues against the nation of Israel. But the real great hatred is first and foremost against God's people, spiritual Israel. And then we see in verse 3 through 6, and we see that then as soon as Christ is introduced into the story after verse 2, Satan appears. You can read that, that it's Satan, the great fiery dragon. And he shows the story how he convinced a third of the angels to go with him, and Satan's main fight has been always to devour Christ. That's what it says at the end of verse 4, to devour a child, the child of Israel, as soon as it was born.

And indeed, the nation Israel bore a male child, which is Christ, and he, as we read in verse 5, he is to rule all nations of the rod of iron when he comes back at his second coming. And we know that before that, he died and was caught up to God and his throne. That's where he is.

And then we read in verse 6, and the woman fled. And now we see the church and the eyes of duality, meaning again, because it was an attack in AD 70 against the nation of Israel, but also against spiritual Israel. Spiritual Israel had to flee into the mountains, into hiding during the dark ages. And it says, the woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there 1,260 days. And so indeed, the church was hidden. The church was hidden. You know, from 554 AD to 1814 AD, exactly 1,260 years. And so then it moves on in verse 7 into the future, because up to YAH has been the past. And then in verse 7, we can see into the future. And it says, and the war broke out in heaven between Michael and his angels. And that is very probably still to happen, because then it says, then they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. You see, because in the first war, long before the creation of Adam and Eve, and Satan and his demons were thrown to the earth, but they were not expelled. There's a difference between being thrown down to the earth, but they still had access to heaven, as you and I can see in Job, because you can see Satan having access to the throne of God to accuse us, day and night. Day and night. But then after this event, he's not able to accuse us anymore, because it says in verse 9, the great dragon, which is Satan, was cast out of heaven. Cast out! He didn't just fall and then get back up there. He was cast out. He was expelled. This is future. And that serpent of old, called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. Do you believe that he deceives the whole world? The whole world means the whole world! That means you and I, in certain points, could also still be deceived. We've got to be aware. And he was cast out to the earth, and his demons or angels were cast out with him. And then in verse 10, he says, you know, that now salvation comes, and he says, for the accuser, our accuser, Satan, accuses them, in other words, us, you and I, before God, day and night. Now, put your name there. I'm going to put my name. Just say, say I do or say or think something wrong. Satan is right there at the throne of God and saying, look at what George thought, did or said wrong, accusing me. And he does that to you as well. Day and night! But you and I can go on our knees and ask God to forgive us and asking for Christ's blood to be sprinkled on us. And at that moment, righteousness is imputed upon us. God's righteousness. In other words, our sins are forgiven. Blessed is he whose sins are no longer imputed. Romans 4. And that's what happens to us. Our sins are forgiven because what Christ has done. And so it says in verse 11, it says in verse 11, the accuser of our brethren has been overcome by us. How? By the blood of lamb. By the blood of the lamb. Even that point is misunderstood.

Because many people don't understand, just like the lambs, the possible lamb, had to shed its blood and die by shedding its blood by the pouring out of his soul, of his life, as it says in Isaiah. That's what caused Christ's death. And even that is being deceived today by the world. It's Christ's blood, his life, because life is in the blood, was given out for us. And you and I overcoming by the blood of the lamb. Because of that, God's righteousness is imputed upon us, as we read in Romans chapter 4, and you are clean. Not because of your self-righteousness. It's God's righteousness that's imputed upon us gratis, because you trust and believe in what he's done. Now, does that mean you don't have to do your part? Of course. Our repentance must be permanent, or we must not keep doing it. But you see, that's how we overcome Satan. And they do not love their lives to the death. We have to be prepared, not all of us, but some of us may have to be prepared to give our lives to God till the end, demonstrating our faith to God till we die. Like many in Hebrews 11, at the end of Hebrews 11, it says, some were cut asunder and this and that, but they still died in the faith. They didn't give up, because they did not love their lives to the death. And verse 12, therefore, rejoice. Because in heaven, because, yes, Satan has no more God access to heaven, but woe to them on earth, because great wrath is coming to earth, because Satan is coming down to earth now, he's been cast down, he knows he has a short time. There is probably, again, George the campos speculation right when the beginning and when the Great Tribulation is going to start. I might be wrong, but I think that's when it will happen. And then there'll be Great Tribulation, Great Wrath, because he knows he has a short time. Oh yeah, he knows he's got three and a half years. Now he knows the three and a half years. Now the countdown of Daniel 12 starts. Maybe that's the, what is it, 1335 days? Who knows? So, verse 13, when the dragon, Satan, is thrown to earth, he's gonna persecute the church. Number one, enemy, God's people, you and I. And the church will flee. I've mentioned many times a portion of the church will flee. And then the other portion will not flee. And the portion that does not flee is referred to as, in verse 17, as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And so what do we have? We have two groups of people here which are members of the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. I'm not talking about this fellowship or that fellowship. I'm just talking about God's people, whatever they may be. Some will be counted worthy to escape. These things to come, and some will not. And so I get back to the final question that I had is, we've got to prepare ourselves. See, there's going to be a lot of deception, but what is it that you and I need to do to be ready?

You know, it reminds me of the parable in Matthew 13, that some of the seed fell amongst thorns, and some of the seed fell on good ground. You can go and read that from verse 3 through verse 23. And some of the seed fell on ground and became unfruitful. And some of the seed fell on the ground and became fruitful. Which means that seed represents God's word and the gospel and the preaching and the help through God's Holy Spirit. And some of us bore fruit, and some of us did not. And so what is that fruit?

Is the fruit being a preacher in church? No. Is the fruit giving hell and fire sermons? No. So what does God require of us? What does God require of you and I?

Luke 6, verse 6. Hosea 6, verse 6.

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice. God desires mercy, faithfulness, loyalty, humble following Him by being merciful, by applying that difficult law that we heard in the sermonette.

That's what God wants from us. Look at Micah, chapter 6. Micah, chapter 6, verse 8.

Micah, chapter 6, verse 8. What shall I? What shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression the fruit of my body, for the sin of my soul? Is that what God wants from you and I? No. Verse 8, he has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. That is a beautiful parallel to Matthew 23, 23, when Christ told the Pharisees and scribes, you bunch of hypocrites. You tithe all the little microscopic little detail, which yeah, you should tithe, but you have neglected the weightier matters of the Lord, justice, mercy, and faith. That's what it's talking about. Yeah, justice, mercy, and faith. It was to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. In other words, walk with God humbly in faith and trust that you trust Him regardless. And when you read in more detail in 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 3 through 11, then it says, and if you do these things, if you build these things up, beautiful set of scripture there that tells you how to put on the divine nature, how to put on the new man, it says, and if you do these things, if you build these things up, beautiful set of scripture there that tells you how to put on the divine nature, how to put on the new man, it says, and then this way, God will provide you an entrance into the kingdom of our Lord, and that will be supplied to you abundantly. That's how you will enter into the kingdom of God. That's how you will stand before the Son of Man at His Second Coming.

And so, what must we do now? What must we, you and I, do now?

Let's go back to Matthew 24. Matthew 24. Matthew 24. Verse, starting in verse 45, and it says, Hooden is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made him ruler of his household to give them food in due season. It's him that he, when he comes, finds so doing. So doing. You and I are going to be working in preparing a people, preparing ourselves. We're going to be changing ourselves. We're going to forget about the cares of this life, as he talks in verse 47, on words, and start beating your fellow man and saying things that are hurtful, like we heard in the sermonette.

That's the heart commandment. We got to renew ourselves daily. Otherwise, we're not going to be ready. And you read at the end of that chapter. If you're not doing that, you'll be cast, thrown with the hypocrites, and they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That's the second death. Matthew 25 then follows, which is the parable of the 10 virgins.

And brethren, we must be awake. We must be putting oil and more oil and more oil, which is God's early spirit, today, and build up. Think about it like a reserve, a reserve tank, being full of God's early spirit. I know it's an analogy, but anyway. And if you turn to Zephaniah, Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 14 says, you know, he says, a great day of the Lord is near. And he talks about the trumpet of alarm. It's near. And then in chapter 2, in verse 1, he says, gather yourselves together, oh, undesirable nation. Who is the undesirable nation? God's people. We are the undesirable nation in this world.

And then it says in verse 3, seek the Lord all the omik of the earth. Whoever upheld his justice, seek righteousness, seek humility or meekness, that it may be that you will be hidden. It may be that you will be accounted worthy to escape in the day of the Lord's anger.

So we've got to be meek. We've got to be teachable. And brethren, as I mentioned, I'm not here to give you a fire and hell sermon. No, by no means am I doing that. There's plenty of bad news around. You don't need any more bad news. But I want to give you the good news of the kingdom of God that God has promised and God does not lie that you will be protected if you and I do our part.

Pray and watch that you may be counted worthy. That's good news, brethren. How I don't know. And I think it's strategic importance that God doesn't tell us how it is because he'll do it at his right time. He's a God of miracles. He's able to do it. God loves us. He does not want to punish you and I. Oh, yes, if he has to correct you and I, he will correct like any good dad and mom.

But he wants you and I to change and repent now, to renew ourselves daily. God has a wonderful plan of salvation for you and I for us to be the children of God in his kingdom, to rule with him as king and priests, as part of that bride that will marry Christ that is coming. There will be in the kingdom of God. And God is giving you and I an opportunity to be trained now to rule then.

You and I, as true disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to be examples and reflect his light, using, of course, God's Holy Spirit as a help, to be trained now to rule. We will not be rulers that are unqualified. They will be voted by people. No, God will elect us. God will elect us. And then you and I will be able to teach others in all tomorrow to live justly, to have mercy, and to walk in faith, just like we are learning to do that today.

May, please, brethren, God fill you up with his Spirit, that you may remember, please remember, that we have to watch all the time. And let us not be deceived by the things of this world. Remember that you and I need to be renewed daily, so that you and I can be accounted worthy to stand with Christ at his second coming. And, brethren, that is my humble prayer and request for you all. Amen.