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"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
=20
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 =
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
=20
The Wrath of God=20
"For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to =
stand?" (Rev. 6: 17.)=20
"The wicked are overthrown. and are not: but the house of the =
righteous shall stand" (Prov. 12: 7)=20
It does not take much insight into the Holy Scriptures to see that =
the great day of God's wrath is swiftly approaching. Flashing across =
today's horizon are mighty signs of this end-time holocaustal event. You =
recall, it was Jesus' disciples, who asked him "What shall be the sign =
of thy (second) coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt. 24:3). The =
most descriptive words in His answer read like this: "For nation shall =
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be =
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matt. =
24:7). What a tribulation! Child of God, pray, pray!=20
Now, we are told by Jesus himself that "Immediately after the =
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall =
not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the Powers =
of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the =
Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, =
and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with =
power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound =
of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four =
winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:29-31).=20
John, the revelator, while banished on the isle of Patmos, was =
given a vision of the foregoing narrative of Jesus. And here is, in =
part, his vision: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and =
lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sack-cloth =
of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto =
the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely (green) figs, when =
she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when =
it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of =
their places. And the kings (rulers) of the earth, and the great men, =
and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every =
bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks =
of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us, and =
hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the =
wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall =
be able to stand?"' (Rev. 6: 12-17).=20
John furthers his revelation by saying: "And the nations were =
angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should =
be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants, the =
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and =
great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy (corrupt) the earth" =
(Rev. 11:18).=20
Jeremiah, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives =
us this description of the great day of God's wrath: "At his wrath the =
earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his =
indignation" (Jer. 10:10).=20
Seemingly, all the prophets, both major and minor, spoke of this =
end-time wrath of God. It was Malachi who asked, "Who shall stand when =
he appeareth?" (Mal. 3:2).=20
Nahum gives us this vivid description of our Lord's return to =
judge and to end the world: "The mountains quake at him, and the hills =
melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all =
that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can =
abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, =
and the rocks are thrown down by him. The Lord is good, a strong hold in =
the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an =
overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and =
darkness shall pursue his enemies" (Nah. 1:5-8).=20
Perhaps many who read these great end-time prophecies may feel as =
Job did when he pleaded, "that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that =
thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou =
wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!" (Job 14:13).=20
Evidently, John the Baptist during his stay in the wilderness must =
have had a revelation from God concerning this Oncoming wrath, for "When =
he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said =
unto them, 'O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the =
wrath to come?' " (Matt. 3:7).=20
It is time, I should think, for all of us to become quite serious =
about the magnitude of this end-time disaster. We should have a thorough =
overhauling of the requirements made of those who are expecting to be =
able to stand during the time of such a catastrophe. The Bible gives us =
this splendid psalm, which, to say the least, should be very helpful in =
forming a conclusion: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the =
Counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth =
in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; =
and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a =
tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in =
his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth =
shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the =
wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the =
judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord =
knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall =
perish" (Ps. 1:1-6).
Jesus gave us a tremendous warning when he said, "Heaven and earth =
shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to =
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting =
(self-indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that =
day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them =
that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray =
always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that =
shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21: =
33-3-6). What a rich heritage is ours! if we endure to the end.
The church has never been in greater peril, nor in deeper slumber =
than it is today. Our only escape is a spiritual awakening. We even have =
those who, in their frustration, say that Jesus isn't coming back any =
time soon. We gather from their conversation that they think the =
apostles looked for a first century return of the Lord and were fooled; =
so, why should we look for such a remote possibility here in the =
twentieth century.
Often I wonder what these sleeping brethren will think and say =
when Jesus takes up those who are ready and looking for him. When Elijah =
was, at last, missed by the clergy of his day, they wrote his obituary =
in the ironic words, "peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him =
up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley" (2 Kings 2: =
16).
Apparently, many of our clergymen of today are leaving the =
impression that the Lord is slack concerning his return. I can assure =
you, my reader, that this is not the situation at all, or at least the =
Apostle Peter says it isn't. He informs us in his second letter that: =
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count =
slackness; but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should =
perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord =
will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass =
away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, =
the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing =
then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons =
ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and =
hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on =
fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? =
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a =
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing =
that ye look for such things, be. diligent that ye may be found of him =
in peace, without spot, and blameless" (Pet. 3:9-14).=20
I have great fear that a number of God's men are following the =
noxious idea that we are about to enter some great utopia, an imaginary =
island where religion and politics are about to form a new phase or =
Structure of social regeneration. This, we know, is an impracticable =
scheme of the devil. I must tell You, beloved, the late shadows of the =
evening of time are gently stealing across earth's fading sky, and that =
dreaded night, so dark and frightening, not only seems, but is =
inevitable. At the same time, a glorious sunset is lighting the path of =
those who shall not have to walk in darkness, but in the light of that =
eternal city, "whose builder and maker is God."
Now, what about you, my friend, are you sure this minute that you =
are not walking in darkness, but that you are still clean and justified =
in the sight of God? If so, then you have the Promise of eternal =
salvation which Jesus shall bring with Him. Listen to that devoted man =
of God, the Apostle Paul, as he tells us, "Being now (present tense) =
justified by his (Jesus') blood, we shall be (future tense) saved from =
wrath through him (Jesus)" (Rom. 5:9). This Apostle goes on to tell us =
"When we were enemies, we were reconciled (reunited) to God by the death =
of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be (future tense) =
saved by his life" (Rom. 5:10).=20
Relatively few holy Ghost filled believers understand that we are =
justified or reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and that we are =
to be saved (from the wrath to come) by the life of his Son. This is =
made crystal clear in Heb. 7:25, and reads like this: "Wherefore he is =
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing =
he ever liveth to make intercession for them". How wonderful and sublime =
the realization of this is! In other words, Jesus becomes our Mediator =
when we come to God, and receive his Spirit. By this, we mean that he =
makes peace between God and us. And this is called reconciliation or the =
new birth. After we become a believer then Jesus becomes our =
Intercessor, which means that he keeps peace between God and us. =
Needless, to say, no one would ever be saved from the wrath to come =
without this intercessory service of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who is even =
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. =
8:34).=20
No more tremendous words were ever uttered than these of Jesus in =
Matt. 24:13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be =
saved." Whether one will be saved in the end from the wrath of God =
doesn't depend entirely upon one's having been reconciled to God. A =
thousand times no. To make it clear, one's entrance into the kingdom of =
God by reconciliation, and one's inheritance in the kingdom of God at =
the time Jesus returns to pour out his wrath are two completely =
different operations or experiences. This is indicative of what Paul was =
saying to the Colossians when he encouraged them in "Giving thanks unto =
the Father, which hath made us meet (suitable or fit) to be partakers of =
the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the =
power of darkness (sin), and hath translated us (by the new birth) into =
the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:12, 13). Moreover, this same =
apostle warned the Galatians, who had, also, received the Holy Spirit =
(Gal. 3:2), against the works of the flesh, "which," he tells us, "are =
these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (lustfulness), =
idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (discord), emulations (ambitions =
to equal or excel), wrath (violent anger), strife, seditions (resistance =
to lawful authority), heresies (false religious opinions), envyings, =
murders, drunkenness, revelings (merry or noisy celebrations), and such =
like: of the which," he goes on to say, "I tell you before, as I have =
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not =
inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal 5:19-21).
We must be inevitably awakened to the fact that the works of the =
flesh are prevalent among the people of God today. Paul had no trouble =
in finding these great evils among the early believers, especially among =
the Corinthians, who, like their present day counterparts, held onto =
their profession of spiritual life. Doubtless, this had much to do with =
his telling the Ephesians to "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may =
be able to stand against the wiles (tricks) of the devil" (Eph. 6:11).
Paul knew only too well the truth of what he was saying, and we =
must accept it. For if we are not able to stand now with victory over =
Satan, how can we expect to be able to stand in the day of God's wrath, =
the day his Son ceases to be our lawyer and becomes our judge? The =
psalmist perfectly expressed this when he cried: "Thou, even thou, are =
to be feared:,and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? =
Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and =
was still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the =
earth" (Ps. 76:7-9).=20
May I now conclude with these words which God himself spoke to the =
prophet Jeremiah (12:5): "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they =
have wearied thee, then how cans't thou contend with horses? and if in =
the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how =
wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" The swelling of Jordan is a =
term used here to signify the wrath of God, which will bring the final =
separation between the faithful and the unfaithful, even as Joshua and =
Caleb, the two faithful spies, were separated from the unfaithful =
children of Israel by enduring, and then receiving the privilege of =
crossing Jordan into Canaan, which was a shadow of the glorious home =
land of all true and faithful born-again believers. Remember, it was =
Jesus who said, "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14).=20
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com=20
=20
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<DIV>
<P>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Darial size=3D3><B>"Distributing the Good Gospel =
Materials of=20
the Pioneer Tract Society"</B></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D550 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR height=3D35>
<TD width=3D550 bgColor=3D#000000 height=3D35><IMG height=3D35=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/bartop.gif"=20
width=3D550 border=3D0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D1>PO Box 2392 Daly =
City, CA=20
94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 Fax:=20
1-650-757-5750<BR>Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com =
=20
E-Mail: </CENTER></FONT>
<P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D600 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><IMG height=3D241 hspace=3D10=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/reli58.gif"=20
width=3D150 align=3Dleft vspace=3D5 border=3D1> <!-- ******** END =
OF HEADER *************** --><A name=3Dtop></A><FONT=20
size=3D4>
<H1>
<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>The Wrath of God =
</FONT></CENTER></H1>
<CENTER><B><I>"For the great day of His wrath is come; and who =
shall be=20
able to stand?" (Rev. 6: 17.) </I></B></CENTER>
<P>
<CENTER><B><I>"The wicked are
overthrown. and are not: but the =
house of=20
the righteous shall stand" (Prov. 12: 7) </I></B></CENTER>
<P>It does not take much insight into the Holy Scriptures to see =
that the=20
great day of God's wrath is swiftly approaching. Flashing across =
today's=20
horizon are mighty signs of this end-time holocaustal event. You =
recall,=20
it was Jesus' disciples, who asked him <B><I>"What shall be the =
sign of=20
thy (second) coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt. =
24:3)</I></B>.=20
The most descriptive words in His answer read like this: =
<B><I>"For nation=20
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there =
shall be=20
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" =
(Matt.=20
24:7).</I></B> What a tribulation! Child of God, pray, pray!=20
<P>Now, we are told by Jesus himself that <B><I>"Immediately after =
the=20
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon =
shall=20
not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the =
Powers=20
of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of =
the Son=20
of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth =
mourn, and=20
they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with =
power=20
and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound =
of a=20
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four =
winds,=20
from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:29-31).</I></B>=20
<P>John, the revelator, while banished on the isle of Patmos, was =
given a=20
vision of the foregoing narrative of Jesus. And here is, in part, =
his=20
vision: <B><I>"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and =
lo,=20
there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as =
sack-cloth of=20
hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell =
unto the=20
earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely (green) figs, when =
she is=20
shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when =
it is=20
rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of =
their=20
places. And the kings (rulers) of the earth, and the great men, =
and the=20
rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every =
bondman,=20
and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of =
the=20
mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us, and =
hide us=20
from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the =
wrath of the=20
Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be =
able to=20
stand?"' (Rev. 6: 12-17). </I></B>
<P>John furthers his revelation by saying:<B><I> "And the nations =
were=20
angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they =
should=20
be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants, =
the=20
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small =
and great;=20
and shouldest destroy them which destroy (corrupt) the earth" =
(Rev.=20
11:18). </I></B>
<P>Jeremiah, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, =
gives us=20
this description of the great day of God's wrath: <B><I>"At his =
wrath the=20
earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide =
his=20
indignation" (Jer. 10:10). </I></B>
<P>Seemingly, all the prophets, both major and minor, spoke of =
this=20
end-time wrath of God. It was Malachi who asked, <B><I>"Who shall =
stand=20
when he appeareth?" (Mal. 3:2). </I></B>
<P>Nahum gives us this vivid description of our Lord's return to =
judge and=20
to end the world: <B><I>"The mountains quake at him, and the hills =
melt,=20
and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all =
that=20
dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can =
abide in=20
the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and =
the=20
rocks are thrown down by him. The Lord is good, a strong hold in =
the day=20
of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an =
overrunning=20
flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness =
shall=20
pursue his enemies" (Nah. 1:5-8). </I></B>
<P>Perhaps many who read these great end-time prophecies may feel =
as Job=20
did when he pleaded, <B><I>"that thou wouldest hide me in the =
grave, that=20
thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou =
wouldest=20
appoint me a set time, and remember me!" (Job 14:13). </I></B>
<P>Evidently, John the Baptist during his stay in the wilderness =
must have=20
had a revelation from God concerning this Oncoming wrath, for =
<B><I>"When=20
he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he =
said=20
unto them, 'O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee =
from the=20
wrath to come?' " (Matt. 3:7). </I></B>
<P>It is time, I should think, for all of us to become quite =
serious about=20
the magnitude of this end-time disaster. We should have a thorough =
overhauling of the requirements made of those who are expecting to =
be able=20
to stand during the time of such a catastrophe. The Bible gives us =
this=20
splendid psalm, which, to say the least, should be very helpful in =
forming=20
a conclusion: <B><I>"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the =
Counsel of=20
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in =
the seat=20
of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in =
his law=20
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree =
planted by the=20
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his =
leaf=20
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The =
ungodly=20
are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. =
Therefore=20
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the=20
congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the =
righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Ps. =
1:1-6).</I></B>
<P>Jesus gave us a tremendous warning when he said, <B><I>"Heaven =
and=20
earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take =
heed to=20
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with =
surfeiting=20
(self-indulgence), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so =
that=20
day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all =
them that=20
dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray =
always,=20
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that =
shall come=20
to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21: 33-3-6).=20
</I></B>What a rich heritage is ours! if we endure to the end.
<P>The church has never been in greater peril, nor in deeper =
slumber than=20
it is today. Our only escape is a spiritual awakening. We even =
have those=20
who, in their frustration, say that Jesus isn't coming back any =
time soon.=20
We gather from their conversation that they think the apostles =
looked for=20
a first century return of the Lord and were fooled; so, why should =
we look=20
for such a remote possibility here in the twentieth century.
<P>Often I wonder what these sleeping brethren will think and say =
when=20
Jesus takes up those who are ready and looking for him. When =
Elijah was,=20
at last, missed by the clergy of his day, they wrote his obituary =
in the=20
ironic words, <B><I>"peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath =
taken him=20
up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley" (2 Kings =
2:=20
16)</I></B>.
<P>Apparently, many of our clergymen of today are leaving the =
impression=20
that the Lord is slack concerning his return. I can assure you, my =
reader,=20
that this is not the situation at all, or at least the Apostle =
Peter says=20
it isn't. He informs us in his second letter that: <B><I>"The Lord =
is not=20
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is =
long=20
suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that =
all=20
should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a =
thief in=20
the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great =
noise,=20
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and =
the=20
works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all =
these=20
things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in =
all=20
holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the =
coming=20
of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be =
dissolved,=20
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, =
according=20
to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein =
dwelleth=20
righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such =
things,=20
be. diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, =
and=20
blameless" (Pet. 3:9-14). </I></B>
<P>I have great fear that a number of God's men are following the =
noxious=20
idea that we are about to enter some great utopia, an imaginary =
island=20
where religion and politics are about to form a new phase or =
Structure of=20
social regeneration. This, we know, is an impracticable scheme of =
the=20
devil. I must tell You, beloved, the late shadows of the evening =
of time=20
are gently stealing across earth's fading sky, and that dreaded =
night, so=20
dark and frightening, not only seems, but is inevitable. At the =
same time,=20
a glorious sunset is lighting the path of those who shall not have =
to walk=20
in darkness, but in the light of that eternal city, <B><I>"whose =
builder=20
and maker is God."</I></B>
<P>Now, what about you, my friend, are you sure this minute that =
you are=20
not walking in darkness, but that you are still clean and =
justified in the=20
sight of God? If so, then you have the Promise of eternal =
salvation which=20
Jesus shall bring with Him. Listen to that devoted man of God, the =
Apostle=20
Paul, as he tells us, <B><I>"Being now (present tense) justified =
by his=20
(Jesus') blood, we shall be (future tense) saved from wrath =
through him=20
(Jesus)" (Rom. 5:9).</I></B> This Apostle goes on to tell us =
<B><I>"When=20
we were enemies, we were reconciled (reunited) to God by the death =
of his=20
Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be (future tense) saved =
by his=20
life" (Rom. 5:10). </I></B>
<P>Relatively few holy Ghost filled believers understand that we =
are=20
justified or reconciled to God by the death of his Son, and that =
we are to=20
be saved (from the wrath to come) by the life of his Son. This is =
made=20
crystal clear in Heb. 7:25, and reads like this: <B><I>"Wherefore =
he is=20
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him =
seeing=20
he ever liveth to make intercession for them"</I></B>. How =
wonderful and=20
sublime the realization of this is! In other words, Jesus becomes =
our=20
Mediator when we come to God, and receive his Spirit. By this, we =
mean=20
that he makes peace between God and us. And this is called =
reconciliation=20
or the new birth. After we become a believer then Jesus becomes =
our=20
Intercessor, which means that he keeps peace between God and us. =
Needless,=20
to say, no one would ever be saved from the wrath to come without =
this=20
intercessory service of our Lord Jesus Christ, <B><I>"Who is even =
at the=20
right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. =
8:34).=20
</I></B>
<P>No more tremendous words were ever uttered than these of Jesus =
in Matt.=20
24:13:<B><I> "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same =
shall be=20
saved."</I></B> Whether one will be saved in the end from the =
wrath of God=20
doesn't depend entirely upon one's having been reconciled to God. =
A=20
thousand times no. To make it clear, one's entrance into the =
kingdom of=20
God by reconciliation, and one's inheritance in the kingdom of God =
at the=20
time Jesus returns to pour out his wrath are two completely =
different=20
operations or experiences. This is indicative of what Paul was =
saying to=20
the Colossians when he encouraged them in <B><I>"Giving thanks =
unto the=20
Father, which hath made us meet (suitable or fit) to be partakers =
of the=20
inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the =
power=20
of darkness (sin), and hath translated us (by the new birth) into =
the=20
kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:12, 13).</I></B> Moreover, this =
same=20
apostle warned the Galatians, who had, also, received the Holy =
Spirit=20
(Gal. 3:2), against the works of the flesh, <B><I>"which,"</I></B> =
he=20
tells us, <B><I>"are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,=20
lasciviousness (lustfulness), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, =
variance=20
(discord), emulations (ambitions to equal or excel), wrath =
(violent=20
anger), strife, seditions (resistance to lawful authority), =
heresies=20
(false religious opinions), envyings, murders, drunkenness, =
revelings=20
(merry or noisy celebrations), and such like: of the which," he =
goes on to=20
say, "I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, =
that they=20
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal=20
5:19-21).</I></B>
<P>We must be inevitably awakened to the fact that the works of =
the flesh=20
are prevalent among the people of God today. Paul had no trouble =
in=20
finding these great evils among the early believers, especially =
among the=20
Corinthians, who, like their present day counterparts, held onto =
their=20
profession of spiritual life. Doubtless, this had much to do with =
his=20
telling the Ephesians to <B><I>"Put on the whole armor of God, =
that ye may=20
be able to stand against the wiles (tricks) of the devil" (Eph.=20
6:11).</I></B>
<P>Paul knew only too well the truth of what he was saying, and we =
must=20
accept it. For if we are not able to stand now with victory over =
Satan,=20
how can we expect to be able to stand in the day of God's wrath, =
the day=20
his Son ceases to be our lawyer and becomes our judge? The =
psalmist=20
perfectly expressed this when he cried: <B><I>"Thou, even thou, =
are to be=20
feared:,and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? =
Thou=20
didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, =
and was=20
still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the =
earth" (Ps.=20
76:7-9). </I></B>
<P>May I now conclude with these words which God himself spoke to =
the=20
prophet Jeremiah (12:5): <B><I>"If thou hast run with the footmen, =
and=20
they have wearied thee, then how cans't thou contend with horses? =
and if=20
in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, =
then how=20
wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" </I></B>The swelling of =
Jordan is=20
a term used here to signify the wrath of God, which will bring the =
final=20
separation between the faithful and the unfaithful, even as Joshua =
and=20
Caleb, the two faithful spies, were separated from the unfaithful =
children=20
of Israel by enduring, and then receiving the privilege of =
crossing Jordan=20
into Canaan, which was a shadow of the glorious home land of all =
true and=20
faithful born-again believers. Remember, it was Jesus who said,=20
<B><I>"Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14). =
</I></B>
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