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Though there are things we can't know, there are things we do know with unalterable confidence:
"When people say, "There is peace and security," destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
We know that there is no peace and safety outside of Jesus.
Of this verse, note several things. First, no matter what translation you look at, the verse invariably says 'when they are saying/while they are saying.' The verse does not state 'after they say'.
Additionally, the translations invariably use the phrase 'peace and safety/peace and security', which is what they are saying these days! The world is now seeking the increasingly elusive quality of peace and security.
The word security is from the Greek compound, meaning not and totter. The notion behind the word is they will be looking for a 'firmness that equates to security.' There is nothing on the earth that offers a foundational firmness that equates to security. There is no treaty, no house, no nation, no leader, no idea, no government that will offer the security that God does. The only security there is, is God.
That is why the drive to find peace and security ratchets up at a frenzied pace, because as the world crumbles into not-peace (war) and not-safety (chaos), they look toward something, anything, that will provide security.
We know war does come. There is no peace. The Tribulation opens with a horseman riding on the waves of war, unleashing it upon the world. (Revelation 6:3-4). Damascus is destroyed, (Isaiah 17), The Middle East goes to war (Psalm 83), Iran attacks Israel (Ezekiel 38-39), and the rest of the world is drawn into war after war (Matthew 24:6).
Now here is an interesting verse: Jeremiah 8:10b-12. Jeremiah speaks of conditions of the Israelites that mirror ours today, "From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord."
The priests and prophets spoke of superficial things, not getting to the heart of the matter, which was their sin and failure to repent of. We have that today, preachers refusing to speak of sin but instead treating the people with a bandage when what they need is a tourniquet. They dress the wound as if the people are not dying!
They speak of peace but there is no peace, none inside themselves with God and none outside themselves with each other. They are so seared with sin that they don't even blush anymore. They have no shame at their deeds, and so, that important word "so," meaning because of their failures before the Lord, they will be brought down and punished. As it was then, it will be again.
"When people say, "There is peace and security," destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
We know that there is no peace and safety outside of Jesus.
Of this verse, note several things. First, no matter what translation you look at, the verse invariably says 'when they are saying/while they are saying.' The verse does not state 'after they say'.
Additionally, the translations invariably use the phrase 'peace and safety/peace and security', which is what they are saying these days! The world is now seeking the increasingly elusive quality of peace and security.
The word security is from the Greek compound, meaning not and totter. The notion behind the word is they will be looking for a 'firmness that equates to security.' There is nothing on the earth that offers a foundational firmness that equates to security. There is no treaty, no house, no nation, no leader, no idea, no government that will offer the security that God does. The only security there is, is God.
That is why the drive to find peace and security ratchets up at a frenzied pace, because as the world crumbles into not-peace (war) and not-safety (chaos), they look toward something, anything, that will provide security.
We know war does come. There is no peace. The Tribulation opens with a horseman riding on the waves of war, unleashing it upon the world. (Revelation 6:3-4). Damascus is destroyed, (Isaiah 17), The Middle East goes to war (Psalm 83), Iran attacks Israel (Ezekiel 38-39), and the rest of the world is drawn into war after war (Matthew 24:6).
Now here is an interesting verse: Jeremiah 8:10b-12. Jeremiah speaks of conditions of the Israelites that mirror ours today, "From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the Lord."
The priests and prophets spoke of superficial things, not getting to the heart of the matter, which was their sin and failure to repent of. We have that today, preachers refusing to speak of sin but instead treating the people with a bandage when what they need is a tourniquet. They dress the wound as if the people are not dying!
They speak of peace but there is no peace, none inside themselves with God and none outside themselves with each other. They are so seared with sin that they don't even blush anymore. They have no shame at their deeds, and so, that important word "so," meaning because of their failures before the Lord, they will be brought down and punished. As it was then, it will be again.
Comments
Dear Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteYour ruminations are a blessing to me, as I am sure to the body of believers that are blessed to read your insights.
Our Father is so wonderful in all His provision through Christ Jesus ~ ysic
Hi Sharon, thank you so much! The Holy Spirit is surely wonderful to deliver me the time to study and the wisdom to understand. He is always working among the body.
DeleteOn the carnal side, thanks for letting me know. Writing is often lonely work. I rarely have a clue as to how it's received, other than having faith in the abstract that His word will not fail. It's nice to know someone was touched. :)
Wow....just saw this minutes after reading your post:
ReplyDeletehttp://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-responds-palestinian-letter-215234971.html
Brethren we are living in the last moments of the age. May we be counted worthy to escape all these things and stand before the Son of Man.
Grace and peace,
Ian
Ian, that is amazing! Thanks for letting me know that news. Peace peace, when there is no peace...
Delete...based on the headlines, Trump declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel...forever. Would love to know your input currently. I feel like I'm dressed to the nines (spiritually) and waiting for my ride to a banquet dinner...and I'm pacing the hallway, looking at my watch. Can't sit down, I'll get dog hair on my clothes. Can't eat, because I'm going to eat and I'd have to brush my teeth again. I'm pacing, anxious, excited, but at the mercy of my 'ride' and when they come to pick me up. That's how this person (in their late 60's) is feeling...two weeks before Christmas. Good grief, Charlie Brown!
ReplyDelete