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(Courtesy of Voice of Prophecy)
False Christs
/in Pastors BlogFalse Christs
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
Matthew 24:23-25
Could we really be deceived? Jesus says that the miracles and signs that will be done in the final days by false christs will be so wondrous that even the elect could possibly be deceived. That is an amazing thing to think of.
Would you consider yourself to be elect? When I think of the word elect I picture someone like Peter, John or Paul. I don’t think of the average Christian as myself. If the elect could be deceived, how much more us? These questions should really question your foundation of faith and knowledge.
What would it take for you to believe in a false Christ? We know that Jesus will not touch the ground when he returns. We know that when he appears in the sky, it is the end. He will not live among us doing miracles as in the first time he came. So how could we, bible believing and knowing people believe a false Christ? Perhaps we will be in such need that we will be desperate for a solution. Perhaps a family member will be sick or dying and then miraculously healed. Perhaps some of us will be starving and miraculous food will be created. Perhaps a false Christ will save you from a disaster or accident. What would it take to question whether a false Christ could possibly be real?
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
Matthew 24:26-28
The bible gives us many texts like this to make it clear that human walking people claiming to be Christ will be liars. We need to know and truly believe texts like these and search out the others to secure ourselves. What a disappointment it would be to go so far in your walk with Christ to then fall at the very end to a false Christ.
Impossible? Not at all. Just look at the many stories in the bible of gods elect children being led astray by false gods, people and ideas. Solomon wisely tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. We have a tendency of repeating past mistakes. May we use our time now wisely to prepare ourselves, our minds and our futures.
If the very elect could possibly be deceived, what does that mean for us? We must be elect and better still to make sure our future is solid with the true Christ.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Great Tribulation and Hope
/in Pastors BlogGreat Tribulation and Hope
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Matthew 24:21
The great tribulation. We can look around at all that is happening in the world and then think that it can get worse, much worse, it can be disheartening. There is so much pain and suffering already, do we really need more? Unfortunately, as bad as the world is, it is still being protected by God. The day God finally steps away and let’s Satan have his way is not something anyone should look forward too- outside of the knowledge that at least the end has truly come.
It might not feel like it, but God is protecting us. He is still holding back the winds of strife and stopping Satan from truly completing his desires. There are many things we can’t explain. We don’t know why innocent little babies suffer or are abused. We don’t know why the helpless are allowed to suffer. We don’t know why good Christians get horrible sicknesses. But, even with all that, we must believe that God is still in ultimate control and doing what is best for us.
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [c]elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:22
Its verses like this that we have to hold onto. God is in control. God has a plan. God will not allow more than we can handle in this world.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
If you ever find yourself in trouble, remember this verse. This is where faith and reality collide and we need to have faith to move forward.
God is with you. God has your best in mind. Trust in him.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Sabbath Flight
/in Pastors BlogSabbath Flight
20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
Matthew 24:20
As time passes and the Second Coming fails to arrive, several groups are formed. There are those who believe that the church has strayed from the original early church teachings, claim that we are currently Babylon, and push towards a return to the way things were before.
At the same time, as the Second Coming fails to arrive, there is another group who believes that we are lost in the past, holding onto outdated beliefs and who push towards a modernization of church beliefs and laws.
Both push in opposite directions and cause a rift within the church. Those left in the middle, either because they simply follow what they are being told or because they disagree with both groups, end up trying to keep everything together.
Although it may seem as if things are getting worse, in fact there is nothing new, as Solomon repeats several times in Ecclesiastes. There is nothing new under the sun.
What does all this have to do with Matthew 24:20? The verse shows that while arguments and debates rage on within the pews, the world keeps spinning and God’s plan continues on as God deems fit. We like to think that by being in the church, we will somehow avoid the problems or pitfalls of the last days but this verse shows the exact opposite.
There will be many within the church, true Christians who worship and love God but who spend more time in politics and debates than in preparation of their own lives and futures. Many will be caught in shock as events unfold quickly around them and will have to suffer needlessly as someone who tries to fly in the middle of the winter or by not having Sabbath peace because they’re rushing off in haste.
God gave us all brains, some better than others granted, but still all working enough to make our decisions for what is best. Some will be dead on and find relative peace in the middle of the storm while others will be left being tossed to and fro and left naked and bruised but thankfully still saved.
We all want to save the world but remember that the world is already doomed to be lost. We all want to save the church but remember, the church is not under our protection but God’s and He’s much better at protecting it anyway.
Let’s do what we’re actually supposed to to.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Be Ready
/in Pastors BlogBe Ready
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:14
It’s not just Adventists it seems who read the book of Daniel. Jesus seems to have known the book as well. He gives the disciples, and us in turn, a warning found in that book. When you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ standing in the holy place, it’s time to run.
Prophecy and looking ahead is something Jesus believed in. Several times in the gospels he predicts future events and compares them to natural events like the weather. That is because God made a promise to us:
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7
God loves us and doesn’t want us to be caught unawares. He has laid out the future of our world in his Bible so that we can prepare and be ready. Although details might be scarce sometimes and we’d like to know more, God gives us enough to be ready.
17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
Matthew 24:17-18
Here we see a warning about being ready. It’s not that we can stop it or change it. That’s not why Jesus gives us glimpses of the future. He shows us things so that we can prepare.
If you know things are coming soon, you won’t have to go back and rush try and get things done. A person who prepares doesn’t need to go back but can confidently move forward.
19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
Matthew 24:19
Many people take this as a message to not have kids. That is not the point. What is being said here is, if you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ and know the end is very close and that it’s time to run, it’s not a good idea to ignore it and try and live as nothing is changing. That too is part or being prepared.
Are we preparing ourselves? Are we ready for the Second Coming of Jesus?
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
To The World
/in Pastors BlogTo The World
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
This is the most important verse in Matthew 24. Even with all the other prophetic signs and events, this is the only verse that truly tells us what needs to happen before Jesus comes back.
Many people, being in the church for so many years and witnessing so many things, feel as if God is delaying his coming. It has been two thousand years since Matthew was written. The world has gone through two world wars. The Berlin wall fell. Y2K passed by without much hassle. There have been wars, disasters and of course pandemics but Jesus has still not returned.
Some think the problem is the church or more importantly the message. People think that if we only preached the right messages or put more emphasis on certain points that God would come. Some think we have to refine our diets better or change our music. Some think we have to go backwards to the old ways while others think we have to go forward and be progressive.
That, by and large, is nonsense. The problem is neither the church, nor the message, the diet or the focus. The problem is that verse 14 still hasn’t been accomplished. We keep looking down at ourselves instead of looking at those who still need to learn and hear about Christ. There are still millions of people who need to learn about God in a serious and loving way. People still need to make a choice for or against God.
If we spent half the time and effort in our judging, condemning and fighting within churches to actually go out and share the truth with the world, God would already be in the sky.
The truth must be preached to all nations and people. We seem satisfied preaching to the same people who already know and have the Bible. It’s not that this work is not important. Yes, there are many Christians out there who still need to hear the unique message that we have. The problem is that we have made that our primary and sole work.
In many cases, the people that we’re supposed to be reaching are the same ones we put down, cast out and condemn. How is the work going to be finished with this kind of attitude?
The job has been simply shown to us. We just need to get it done.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Birth Of Christ
/in Pastors BlogBirth Of Christ
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:4-7
We don’t know the day that this event happened, the day that Jesus was born, but we do know that it did happen. There was a day when the Son of God, perfect and holy, gave up the perfection of heaven and came down to this sinful planet. He left light and came into darkness. The actual day becomes less important as the event itself. I know there are many who refuse to celebrate, focussing on all the pagan backgrounds of many traditions and also how Christmas is constantly pushing away from Christ and towards Santa. That is understandable when you look at how commercial and artificial many of the parts of Christmas has become.
But I hope that doesn’t prevent you from taking time at some point in the year to focus on this beautiful gift from God. Just like the cross, so much can be learned from the nativity story. Most of all is the character and love of God towards us.
I will be keeping this blog much shorter than usual as I know that many will be busy joining with family but I just hope that you all can take some time to think and meditate on the wonderful love of God.
Peace and joy to you all.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Offended and Betrayed
/in Pastors BlogOffended and Betrayed
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
Matthew 24:6
In verse 9 we see a double prophecy at work. When Christianity was first born, they were hated by both the Jews, as blasphemers, and Romans as troublemakers. Both groups brought Christians before the courts as seen several times in the book of Acts.
The same will be true as we reach the end of world’s story. In truth, Christians and believers have been brought before courts throughout its history. It will be intensified however towards the end, in the same way natural disasters have always been but have steadily grown in these last years.
10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Matthew 24:10-11
Verses 10 and 11 show just how bad things will get. People will be betrayed which means that before these same people were those who were trusted. It won’t be strangers or people outside of your circle of trust that will betray you but your very friends and family. This will be a very painful time for God’s people. They will have to choose God over their loved ones who failed to create a real relationship with Jesus.
People will begin following the words and teachings of false prophets and teachers. The Bible will be put away as obsolete and outdated. People will follow the teachings that please their own beliefs. That is why our own personal study of the Bible is so important. With prayer and the Holy Spirit, we all can learn and know the will of God in our lives.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:12-13
Love will slowly become cold. It’s important to realise that this love is godly love and not the false, fleeting love that the world offers. People will claim that the world is joining in love but it’s important to know which love they are speaking of.
The key word at the end here is ‘endures’. This word makes it very clear that it will not be an easy time for God’s people. They will have to endure and struggle during these times. May we all set our minds and lives for this coming trouble.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto