What does it mean to be "set apart" from the world? To be not conformed to the world? To live not depending upoan the world for it's provision nor it's influence?
"BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD." (Romans 12:2)
"WHOSEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD, IS THE ENEMY OF GOD" ( James 4:4)
Certainly you can not literally remove yourself from this world, unless of course you are dead. But I don't think this is what the scriptures are telling us. God has always warned His people to live "separately" from the ways of the world. Separate from those who do not believe in God, from those who do not follow His Word. Look what happened when Israel lived among those who followed false gods. They were continually getting into trouble. And soon they started doing the same things that those who did not believe in the true God were doing.
"LOVE NOT THE WORLD NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD. IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM" (1John 2:15)
Why are we told not to love the world or the things in it? Because..."THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD" (James 4:4)
The world does not follow God's laws. It does not even believe in God. Why should we as believers in the truth follow the world and it's lies? The teachings of this world are the opposite of God's. We send our children to worldly schools and they are taught theories that contradict what the scriptures say. Instead of teaching "creation" by God, they are taught that we have evolved from monkeys. We are created in the image of God not the image of a primate! This is why we are told to "separate" from them.
"WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES; THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DEVINE NATURE, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST" (2Peter 1:4)
"FOR IF AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE POLLUTION OF THE WORLD THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, THEY ARE AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN AND OVERCOME, THE LATTER END IS WORSE WITH THEM THAN THE BEGINNING" (2 Peter2:20)
"FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH,L AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD." (1Jophn 2:16)
"WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD" (James 4:4)
What does this mean, "a friend of the world"? And who really wants to be God's enemy? If we are an enemy of God then we certainly have not hope of eternal life with him. And the opposite of that is the lake of fire. Therefore it is extremely important that we find out what it means to be a friend of the world.
If we are partaking in the world's traditions, then we are comforming to it's image. If we take part in this same things that the world does, which are contrary to God's word, then we are not apart from the world at all. We have become partakers of the world's sins.
"COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES" (Revelation18:4)
This is a very serious matter! There is a day coming soon when this world will be judged for her sin. And if we are among them , we will receive the plagues which are sworn upon her.
"THEREFORE SHALL HER PLAGUES COME IN ONE DAY, DEATH AND MOURNING AND FAMINE: AND SHE SHALL BE UTTERLY BURNED WITH FIRE, FOR STRONG IS THE LORD GOD WHO JUDGES HER" (Revelation 18:8)
So what traditions of the world do we partake in ? How do we celebrate Christmas? do we remember the birth of the Saviour of the world, and hold this day in honor of Him? Or do we include a fat man dressed in a red suit bringing clothes to all the good children? This is a lie! We are deceiving our children the same way satan deceives us. Now, do we stand up for the truth, or do we conform to a lie? Are we being cruel to our children by telling them the truth?
What does the Easter bunny have to do with Jesus Christ? What about Halloween? The tooth ferry? Valentines day? If you do a simple little research you will find that all of these worldly traditions and many others are all of " pagan" origin. They have nothing to do with God. Because God is truth and these traditions are lies. If we partake in the lies and uphold them, then we have become "friends" of the world.
The real sad things here is that many churches uphold the same traditions.I have seen pagan traditions upheld in the house of God. And I have seen religion distort the truth of Christianity. What does pure religion look like in the eyes of God?
"PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD AND THE FATHER IS THIS: TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTION AND TO KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD"
Unspotted from the world! Pure religion does not consist of going to church once or twice a week. Pure religion is seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is not a practise that is confined within the walls of a building or some religious organization with a specific denominational title. You take it wherever you go and wherever you go , you keep yourself unspotted from the world. Unspotted from it's traditions, apart from it's beliefs, separate from it's standards and practices. A religous man does not stand up for it's particular denomination but rather he stands upon God's Word.
Many times we become so wrapped up in the cares of this world that we have very little time for God. There are distractions everywhere you turn. Vanity is a distraction. Lusts of the flesh are distractions. No matter how you try and justify it, it is wrong.
"VANITY OF VANITIES SAITH THE PREACHER, ALL IS VANITY. ALL THINGS ARE FULL OF LABOR , MAN CAN NOT UTTER IT, THE EYE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING NOR THE EAR WITH HEARING. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS THAT ARE DONE UNDER THE SUN; AND BEHOLD ALL IS IS VANITY AND VEXATION OF THE SPIRIT. HE THAT LOVES SILVER SHALL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH SILVER, NOR HE THAT LOVES ABUNDANCE WITH INCREASE. THIS IS ALSO VANITY. ALL THE LABOR OF MAN IS FOR HIS MOUTH AND YET THE APPETITE IS NOT FILLED" (Ecclesiates)
It seems a man is never satisfied with what he has , he always wants more. People just don't seem content to get by, they need "abundance". One man has fifty billion dollars in his bank account, and it is still not enough. How much is enough? When you have Jesus in your life , you have more than enough. The more money a man has, the less he needs to rely upon God. Only a hundred years ago or so ,a man and his family were to happy to have food , water , a warm fire and a roof over his head.
"LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE" (Hebrews 13:5)
"HAVING FOOD AND RAIMENT LET US BE THEREWITH CONTENT" (1 Timothy 6:8)
As each day goes by, each year, each decade, man becomes more and more powerful. Knowledge is being increased so rapidly that the average man today really has no idea what the human race is capable of creating. What is kept in secret would terrify the typical citizen. The Bible talks about a mark given to everyone. How far off is this? This things are no longer seen as rediculous prophesies but rather a matter of time. And very soon, there will be no escape. This is why we are being warned in the scriptures.
A great and terrible day is quickly approaching. A day which has never been the likes before nor ever will again. A time so evil that no other day in history can be measured against it. A day when all hell is going to break loose and swarm the face of the earth.
"THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR AND HASTETH GREATLY,EVEN THE VOICE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD: THE MIGHTY MAN SHALL CRY THERE BITTERLY. THAT DAY IS A DAY OF WRATH, A DAY OF TROUBLE AND DISTRESS, A DAY OF WASTENESS AND DESOLATION, A DAY OF DARKNESS AND GLOOMINESS, A DAY OF CLOUDS AND THICK DARKNESS. A DAY OF THE TRUMPET AND ALARM AGAINST THE FENCED CITIES AND AGAINST THE HIGH TOWERS. AND I WILL BRING DISTRESS UPON MEN AND THEY SHALL WALK LIKE BLIND MEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD: AND THEIR BLOOD SHALL BE POURED OUT AS DUST AND THEIR FLESH AS THE DUNG. NEITHER THEIR SILVER NOR THEIR GOLD SHALL BE ABLE TO DELIVER THEM IN THE DAY OF THE LORD'S WRATH. BUT THE WHOLE LAND SHALL BE DEVOURED BY THE FIRE OF HIS JEALOUSY; FOR HE SHALL MAKE EVEN A SPEEDY RIDDANCE OF ALL THEM THAT DWELL IN THE LAND.
GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER, YES GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER OH NATION NOT DESIRED. SEEK YE THE LORD ALL YOU MEEK OF THE EARTH, WHICH HAVE WROUGHT HIS JUDGEMENTS, SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS SEEK MEEKNESS. IT MAY BE THAT YE SHALL BE HID IN THE DAY OF THE LORD'S ANGER" (Zephaniah)
A day in which God's wrath is poured out. Even all the armies of the world with their " High Towers" and their "Fenced Cities" will not be able to stand. No amount of money or power will save you. Perhaps we think that this day is just too far off into the future for us to worry about. It isn't. It is closer than we think! God's Word tells us to "gather together". He tells us to "come out" from among the world and gather together and we shall be "HID" in the day of the Lord's anger. He will prepare a place where we can be safe from the horrible time. A place "apart" from society and it's influences where we will not receive of the world's plagues. We are commanded to gather together.
"COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE"
"FOR THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE ARE VAIN"
Look around you now. In your community in which you live. The schools, the market place, the streets, the government buildings, the court house, the police stations, everywhere.How much do you hear about God? When do you ever hear God's Word? What he's doing? And what He is going to do? It's never mentioned. The world has nothing to do with God, unless it is in vain. This is what we need to come out of. This is what is going to be destroyed by our Lord. This is what distracts us from serving God.
The Word of God tells us the story of how the Israelites, God's chosen people, were held captive by the Egyptians. They were slaves to the Egyptians. to their customs and false gods. They were overtaken by the world around them. Unable to serve the true God the way they wanted to. So God freed His people from this bondage. He provided a way for them to escape so they could be free.
In these last days, God will once again provide a way for His people to escape the bondage of this world. A world which does not know God controlling those who do. The Lord is faithful and true. What He has promised, He is able to do.
"THEREFORE BEHOLD THE DAYS COMETH SAITH THE LORD, THAT IT SHALL NO MORE BE SAID 'THE LORD LIVETH THAT BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT: BUT THE LORD LIVETH THAT BROUGHT UP THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH, AND FROM ALL THE LANDS WHERE HE HAS DRIVEN THEM AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN INTO THEIR LAND THAT I GAVE UNTO THEIR FATHERS' ". ( Jeremiah 16"14,15)
There is s promised land awaiting those who believe that there is. For those who serve God and follow His ways. And their is destruction awaiting those who do not. Jesus warns us to be ready.
"JUST AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH SO TO SHALL IT BE IN THE DAYS OF THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN" (Matthew 24:37)
Remember Noah? God told him to build an ark in the middle of dry land. He said that He would bring a flood to destroy the man from the face of the earth. The people must have thought that Noah was "crazy". It had never even rained upon the earth yet. How rediculous it must have looked , building a boat on dry land waiting for it to rain hard enough for it to float. Not just a little row boat but a huge ship! The people laughed at Noah and mocked him. But Naoh was obediant and kept on building. And sure enough the rains came. Then who looked rediculous?
Noah warned the people that God would send a flood but they ignored him. Now it was too late! The waters were rising quickly and people began to drown. Thousands of people were frantically and desperately swimming for the ark. Begging and pleading to be allowed in. But it was too late!.
The same will be in the last days. When the message is spoken of a terrible and dark day approaching, it is just ignored, yet it is warned in the Word of God. They feel they have nothing to worry about, but so did the people in the days of Noah as well.
We are told to separate ourselves from those who follow the world's standards. We are told to separate spiritually and physically. Israel physically removed themselves our of Egypt, out from under the bondage, from the pagan traditions and false gods. Noah and his family were physically taken out of the old world and brought into the new one. Lot, in the old testament as well physically removed himself out of Sodom and Gomorrah because the cities were full of evil and worshipped false gods and traditions. Again in the last days here on earth we are called to physically remove ourselves out of this society whose ways and traditions are contrary to God.
But why can't we just remain where we are and serve God there? Why can't we just have nothing to do with the world's traditions and beliefs where we are? Because the day is coming when it will be impossible to do that. You will either serve satan or you will be killed. The devil will manifest himself and become ruler of this world. He will set up his kingdom here and set out to deceive the whole world. Just as in the days of noah,, there will be no escape.
"AND I STOOD UPON THE SAND OF THE SEA AND I SAW A BEAST RISE OUT OF THE SEA. AND I SAY ONE OF HIS HEADS AS IT WERE WOUNDED TO DEATH, AND HIS DEADLY WOULD WAS HEALED. ALL THE WORLD WONDERED AFTER THE BEAST. AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE DRAGON WHICH HAVE POWER TO THE BEAST AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE BEAST SAYING WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE WAR WITH HIM? AND POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM TO CONTINUE FORTY-TWO MONTHS. AND DOES GREAT WONDERS SO THAT HE MAKES FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN ON THE EARTH IN THE SIGHT OF MEN. AND DEVEIVES THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH.
AND CAUSE THAT AS MANY AS WOULD NOT WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST SOULD BE KILLED. AND HE CAUSES ALL BOTH SMALL AND GREAT, RICH AND POOR, FREE AND BOND, TO RECEIVE A MARK IN THEIR RIGHT HAND OR IN THEIR FOREHEAD. AND NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL SAVE HE THAT HAD THE MARK OR THE NAME OF THE BEAST OR THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME." (revelation 13)
A great beast will rise to power in the last days and he will deceive the world. He will have power to continue for forty - two months or three and a half years. He will cause everyone to receive a mark that signifies that they are his. If you refuse this mark, you will be killed. If you take this mark, you will face the wrath of God. You will not be able to buy or sell anything unless you have this mark. You cannot have a job with it, nor can you even receive welfare. You will have no income. How will you buy clothes? Or food? You won't even be able to go to a doctor for treatment if you are sick. You will not have a drivers license or even own or rent a house. you will not be able to use a phone or receive mail. If you can't see the bondage in this world now, you will then!
But how will satan deceive the world? Do we think that some pitch-forked red beast is going to walk around with a 6-6-6 stamp in his hand? How could he deceive the world looking like that? No, satan is not going to look like the cartoon character we have imagined.
"SATAN IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT"(2 Corinthians 11:14)
He will appear as "good" at first not evil. Then he can deceive.
"HE SHALL ENTER PEACEFULLY EVEN UPON THE FATTEST PLACES OF THE PROVINCE. HE SHALL COME IN PEACEFULLY AND OBTAIN THE KINGDOM BY FLATTERIES" (Daniel)
He can deceive because he can appear to be "good".He will try to convince the world that he is the righteous one.
"AND HE SHALL EXALT HIMSELF AND MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE EVERY GOD, AND SHALL SPEAK MARVELOUS THINGS AGAINST THE GOD OF GODS. NEITHER SHALL HE REGARD THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS NOR THE DESIRE OF WOMEN, NOR REGARD AND GOD, FOR HE SHALL MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE ALL" (Daniel)
The devil will rise to power and take control because it is "given" unto him. Not because he has taken control from God. He could never do that. But God will allow this to happen, and will destroy evil and the prince of evil together in the end. When satan is given control he will try and lead as many astray as possible. People will turn from God and follow the beast. There will be a great falling away from the truth.
"LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS, FOR THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST ADN THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, THE SON OF PERDITION. WHO OPPOSES AND EXALTS HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT IS CALLED GOD, OR THAT IS WORSHIPPED, SO HE AS GOD SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD , SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD".( 2 Thes. 2:3,4)
A great falling away from the truth. This is happening right now! The truth is written within the scriptures and more and more the truth is being ignored. Who would have ever thought that a pastor of a church would marry two gay men? This is a reality. And a great sin by a man of God, who has fallen away from the truth.
"AND WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM THAT PERISH; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. FOR THIS CAUSE, GOD SHALL SEND THEM A STRONG DELUSION THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE"
In these last days if we as a people disobey God's word we will be deceived by satan.Once you knowingly go against God's commands you open yourself up to be deceived by the devil. No man is any match for the devil.Literally, you are playing with fire!
So where is the escape? Where is the hope? This is a very evil time and why would God allow His people to be subject to such horror? If you take the mark of the beast you will be killed. If you refuse , your killed. Sounds kind of hopeless. Yet God's word says that htis time is going to happen. So what are we to do? Where is the escape? The only way this time does not apply to you is if you are dead before it happens. God has always provided a way out for His people, and He will this time as well!
"THERE APPEARED A GREAT WONDER IN HEAVEN; A WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN AND THE MOON UNDER HER FEET, AND UPON HER HEAD , A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS. AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH A MAN CHILD WHO WAS TO RULE ALL NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON, AND HER CHILD WAS CAUGHT UP UNTO GOD AND HIS THRONE"( Revelation)
The woman represents a people. It represents the spiritual nation of Israel. Out of Israel came our Lord Jesus who was and Israelite. It is He who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron. Jesus is the man child. This woman represents a people with whom the devil is concerned with in the last days.
"AND WHEN THE DRAGON SAW THAT HE WAS CAST UNTO THE EARTH, HE PERSECUTED THE WOMAN WHICH BROUGHT FORTH THE MAN CHILD"( Rev.)
The devil has always tried to destroy what God has created from the beginning. And he won't stop trying until the very end. He has persecuted the church for two thousand years. Trying hard to deceive them , and in fact is!. But God is going to protect this woman, these people. He will provide a place for them where they can be safe from the dragon for three and a half years while the beast has his power. A place "apart" from the main stream of society. A "physical" separation from the rest of the world. A place in the wilderness.
"AND TO THE WOMAN WERE GIVEN TWO WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE THAT SHE MIGHT FLY INTO THE WILDERNESS INTO HER PLACE, WHERE SHE IS NOURISHED FOR A TIME , TIMES, AND HALF A TIME, FROM THE FACE OF THE SERPENT" (Rev.)
She will be protected there by God. She will be cared for and nourished for a time, times and a half a time, which is the same as three and a half years or forty-two months. this is why it is so important for us to be " aware" of what is going to happen, in these last days. You will not be spared because of ignorance. This is why the message is coming out now. this is why we are told to "gather together". To "come out" of her. The end is very near. Perhaps this sounds rediculous to some. It sounded pretty rediculous when Noah said it too.
"AND THE SERPENT CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH , WATER AS A FLOOD AFTER THE WOMAN. THAT HE MIGHT CAUSE HER TO BE CARRIED AWAY BY THE FLOOD. AND THE EARTH HELPED THE WOMAN AND THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH AND SWALLOWED UP THE FLOOD WHICH THE DRAGON CAST OUT OF HIS MOUTH" (Rev.)
We as Christians do not have to walk in fear of the devil or the last days wrath of God. We do not walk in fear, but in victory. Because the Lord wrote the book, He knows how the story ends. We just need to trust Him and follow Him , He knows the way!
If we believe and trust that what He has said, He will do, then we must also " prepare" for when He does it! If you choose not to trust and follow God, regardless, it will still happen.
But we may say, does not the day of the Lord come as a thief in the night? Yes, He will come as a thief to those who are not watching.
"BUT YE BRETHREN ARE NOT IN DARKNESS THAT THAT DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF"
We should not be in " darkness" because the warning is going forth. We have no plead for ignorance, everyone can obtain a copy of God's word. Jesus warns us of this day. So why are we not preparing? Just as in the days of Noah people were not concerned about God's rediculous warning.
As God's people , we need to gather together in one accord, one spirit. Which is the Holy Spirit of God. What would you be willing to "give up" for the Lord? What would keep you from doing His will? The world? Or the treasures of it?
"WHERE YOUR HEART IS, THERE ALSO IS YOUR TREASURE"
Satan tries to hold a person captive by the things he possesses. Greed is the root of all evil. Worldly possessions , worldly concerns , have a very tight grip on a person. It can be extremely difficult to "let go"
"WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHOULD GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?"
No matter what you own or what your success is, you will lose it one day anyway. Don't let it be because of satan, let it be because of God.
In the beginning of the early church when the message went forth of salvation and the spirit of God moved upon the people, what was their response? What did they give up for the Lord?
"AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND OF ONE SOUL; NEITHER SAID ANY OF THEM THAT OUGHT OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSED WS HIS OWN; BUT THEY HAD ALL THINGS COMMON" (Acts 4:32)
They let go of the things that would keep them from totally surrendering to God. They gave up their selfish character in return for God's spirit. Our greatest fear of letting go is being afraid that we will be "without". These people in the early church didn't "lose" anything, but they gained everything. It is not God's intention that we be without. He just wants us to depend upon Him. Which either one day will be, or we shall have nothing! Neither God, nor the earthy possessions.
"NEITHER WAS THERE ANY AMONG THEM THAT LACKED: FOR AS MANY AS WERE POSSESSORS OF LANDS OR HOUSES, SOLD THEM AND BROUGHT THE PRICES OF THINGS THAT WERE SOLD AND LAID THEM DOWN AT THE APOSTLES FEET, AND DISTRIBUTION WAS MADE ONTO EVERY ONE ACCORDING AS HE HAD NEED"
(Acts 4:34-35)
"AND ALL THEY THAT BELIEVED WERE TOGETHER AND HAD ALL THINGS COMMON. AND THEY CONTINUED DAILY WITH ACCORD IN THE TEMPLE AND BREAK BREAD FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE DID EAT THEIR MEET WITH GLADNESS AND SINGLENESS OF HEART. PRAISING GOD AND HAVING FAVOUR WITH ALL PEOPLE. AND THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED." (Acts)
The Lord blessed these people and no one was without. The church grew everyday and many miracles were done. These people looked to God for their possessions, and provisions , not the world. The church was the welfare system! How different it is today.
These people did not have variation of doctrine, they were of one mind and one accord. This is why things "happened" then.How can God move effectively through a community of different churches and denominations that cannot even "agree" with each other? If they did agree , there would only be need for ONE denomination. The Christian world is not of one mind and accord .
The strongest arguement, I believe, against becoming "apart" from the world or separating ourselves from them is that if we do this how could we be a witness to the rest of the world? How do we reach the lost if we have nothing to do with the world? Are we not commanded by Jesus to go into the world and preach the gospel? How could we do this if we kept ourselves separate? And so the idea of separation sounds unscriptural. After all aren't we just suppose to be separate in spirit? Then we could still be a witness to the lost - "in the world but not of it".
"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)
What does that mean? The 'fulness of the Gentiles'? Or in Luke it is referred to as "the times of the Gentiles". Paul is saying in this passage of scripture that Israel has been blinded until the fulness of the Gentiles. Which seems to say that Israel will " see" again when this 'fulness' is complete.
Israel was not blinded for ever nor were they "cast away" (see Romans chapter 11) They were only temporarily blinded until the Gentiles have had the opportunity to receive the message of salvation.( Stay with me here). Paul was an 'apostle' of the gentiles. He took the message to them. And now basically the whole world knows who Jesus Christ is. This time of preaching the message of salvation to the Gentiles will come to an end. The times of the Gentiles is NOT the end of the promise. However, this message is not well received among the Gentile churches because they believe they are the end of the promise. The next thing that happens, according to them. is that Jesus returns. If God is not finished with Israel then why should we be?
"AS CONCERNING THE GOSPEL THEY ARE ENEMIES FOR YOUR SAKES; BUT AS TOUCHING THE ELECTION, THEY ARE BELOVED FOR THEIR FATHERS SAKES" (Romans 11:28)
When this message is spoken of it is not well received by the churches. For some reason, it appears to be a threat to their faith. But this should not be! If a person is saved and serves God he should have nothing to fear. God loves all people the same.
When the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, then Israel will "see" again. They will be "born again" but this time of the spirit. And this is happening even now. Ezekiel chapter 37 talks about the time when Israel will be born again. But it will not happen until the times of the Gentiles are complete. There is a great evil that is about to come upon the face of the whole earth, a time that has never been the likes before nor ever will come again, as we can clearly see in Zephaniah, Amos and other parts of Scripture. But it will not happen until Israel, chapter 7 of Revelation, has been sealed. Which in turn cannot happen until they are able to "see" that they should be. And this won't happen until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. This evil day that is about to come on this earth spares no one except those who are protected by God.
"COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE THAT YOU BE NOT PARTAKES OF HER SINS AND THAT YOU RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES" (Rev.18)
"GATHER YOUR SELVES TOGETHER, YEA, GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER, O NATION NOT DESIRED: BEFORE THE DECREE BRING FORTH, BEFORE THE DAY PASS AS THE CHAFF, BEFORE THE FIERCE ANGER OF THE LORD COME UPON YOU. SEEK YE THE LORD ALL YE MEEK OF THE EARTH......IT MAY BE THAT YOU SHALL BE HID IN THE DAY OF THE LORD'S ANGER" (Zephaniah 2)
God is warning His people to come out from among the world. He tells His people to gather themselves together before the evil day comes upon us. And He shall hide us in a safe place.
This is why we need to start seriously thinking about "separation". There will come a day, according to God's word, that we will not be able to. This is what happened in the days of Noah. And just as it was in the days of Noah , so too will it be in the days of the coming of the Lord. The people were warned of a flood coming but they thought it was ridiculous. God as well is warning His people today, but it seems as though few people really care.
After we carefully study the word of God, we can clearly see that separation is not unscriptural at all, in fact it is God's will. It was through Israel that salvation came to the rest of the world and it will be through Israel that the kingdom of God will come.
"THROUGH THEIR FALL(ISRAEL) SALVATION HAS COME TO THE GENTILES" (Romans 11:11)
"IF THE CASTING AWAY OF THEM (ISRAEL) BE THE RECONCILING OF THE WORLD, WHAT SHALL THE RECEIVING OF THEM BE, BUT LIFE FROM THE DEAD" (Romans 11:15)
Now, when we speak of Israel, we do not limit it to those who live in the country of Israel over in the middle east. It is not Israel of the flesh that God is concerned with. It is Israel of the Spirit!
"THEY WHICH ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH , THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED"
"FOR HE IS NOT A JEW WHICH IS ONE OUTWARDLY; NEITHER IS THAT CIRCUMCISION, WHICH IS OUTWARD IN THE FLESH; BUT HE IS A JEW WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY, AND CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT.(Romans 2:28,29)
The spirit of Israel being born again in the last days is limited only to whom God chooses."He who has an ear, let him hear"
This is why it is important for us to "gather together". To be "separate" from the world and it's traditions. To "come out" from among them. To be not "partakers of her sins", If we do this, God will protect us from the evil to come. He will keep us safe.
Revelation chapter 12 speaks of a physical separation. Acts chapter 4:32-37 tell us what it really means to be of one heart. It's not like we don't know or can't find out. the question is what do we do about it?
