End Time–The Solutions: Church of God - Love of

In Matthew 24 we see the words of Jesus as He explains to the disciples what the end time will be like. Let us read a few scriptures. Matthew 24:10-13 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. The love that is waxing cold will be against the brethren, the church and the Salvation Process itself. You will, no doubt encounter these individuals. But then we see the one foundational verse for all our studies into the End Time: Problems and Solutions: 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. This great study of the end time is giving you much knowledge, wisdom and warning that will enable you to endure to that end and to be saved. Do passages in Psalms show us the principle of having love for the church? Psalm 102:11-14 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. 12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. Psa 102:14 - commentary For thy servants take pleasure in her stones - Those who profess to be thy servants; thy friends. This was the “evidence” to the mind of the psalmist that God was about to visit his people, and to rebuild Jerusalem. It was an “awakened interest” among the professed people of God, leading them to manifest their love for Zion, and for all that pertained to her - a love for the very stones that lay in undistinguished heaps where the city once stood - the piles of rubbish where the walls and dwellings had once been. The people of God in their captivity began to look with strong interest on these very ruins, and with an earnest wish that from these ruins the city may again arise, and the walls be rebuilt. And favor the dust thereof - literally, pity - or, show compassion for. They no longer look with indifference on these ruins of Zion. They look with a tender heart on the very dust of those ruins. They feel that a wrong has been done to Zion; they ardently desire its restoration to its former splendor and glory. They long for a return to it as to their home. They are weary with their captivity, and they are anxiously waiting for the time when they may revisit their native land. This would seem to refer to an awakened interest on the subject, caused perhaps in part by the fact that it could be ascertained (see Dan_9:2) that the period of the captivity was about to end, and partly by an influence on their hearts from on high, awakening in them a deeper love for Zion - a revival of pure religion. The practical truth taught here is, that an indication of a coming revival of religion is often manifested by the increased attention to the subject among its professed friends; by the desire in their hearts that it may be so; by tenderness, pity, compassion among them in view of abounding desolations, the coldness of the church, and the prevalence of iniquity; by their looking with interest on that which had before been neglected, like shapeless ruins - the prayer-meeting, the communion, the sanctuary; by a conscious returning love in their hearts for all that pertains to religion, however unimportant it may be in the eyes of the world, or however it may be despised. A surrounding world would look with unconcern on the ruins of Jerusalem; a friend of God, in whose heart religion was revived, would look with the most tender concern even on that rubbish, and those ruins. So it is in a revival of religion, when God is about to visit his church in mercy. Everything in regard to the church becomes an object of deep interest. ~Barnes Notes One cannot separate the concept of the church with that of the religious life. The church is an integral part of the religious life. Do the Psalms speak of what true religious life is like? Psalm 128:1-6 1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel. Psa 128:2 - commentary For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands - Thou shalt enjoy the avails of thy labor; thou shalt be secure in thy rights. This is a general promise respecting the prosperity which religion affords. If all people were truly religious, this would be universal, so far as man is concerned. Property would be secure; and, except so far as abundant harvests might be prevented by the direct providence of God - by blight, and mildew, and storms, and drought - all people would enjoy undisturbed the avails of their labor. Slavery, whereby one man is compelled to labor for another, would come to an end; every one who is now a slave would “eat the labor of his own hands;” and property would no more be swept away by war, or become the prey of robbers and freebooters. Religion, if it prevailed universally, would produce universal security in our rights. Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee - literally, “Happy thou, and well with thee.” That is, happiness and security would be the consequence of true religion. ~Barnes Notes Note: To the degree we love the church and this religious life, we are happy and secure. Psa 128:3 - commentary Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house - It is not uncommon in the East, as elsewhere, to train a vine along the sides of a house - partly to save ground; partly because it is a good exposure for fruit; partly as an ornament; and partly to protect it from thieves. Such a vine, in its beauty, and in the abundant clusters upon it, becomes a beautiful emblem of the mother of a numerous household. One of the blessings most desired and most valued in the East was a numerous posterity, and this, in the case of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was among the chief blessings which God promised to them - a posterity that should resemble in number the sands of the sea or the stars of heaven. These two things - the right to the avails of one’s labor Psalm 128:2, and a numerous family - are the blessings which are first specified as constituting the happiness of a pious household. Thy children like olive plants round about thy table - Beautiful; producing abundance; sending up young plants to take the place of the old when they decay and die. The following extract and preceding cut from “The land and Book,” vol. i., pp. 76, 77, will furnish a good illustration of this passage: “To what particular circumstance does David refer in the 128th Psalm, where he says, Thy children shall be like olive plants round about thy table? Follow me into the grove, and I will show you what may have suggested the comparison. Here we have lilt upon a beautiful illustration. This aged and decayed tree is surrounded, as you see, by several young and thrifty shoots, which spring from the root of the venerable parent. They seem to uphold, protect, and embrace it. We may even fancy that they now bear that lead of fruit which would otherwise be demanded of the feeble parent. Thus do good and affectionate children gather round the table of the righteous. Each contributes something to the common wealth and welfare of the whole - a beautiful sight, with which may God refresh the eyes of every friend of mine.” ~Barnes Notes Psa 128:4 - commentary Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed ... - As if he had said, “Look upon this picture. See the farmer cultivating his fields; see him gathering in the grain; see him at his own table calmly, quietly, and gratefully enjoying the fruit of his toil. Look upon that picture of a happy family - numerous, cheerful, beloved - giving promise of upholding the name of the family in future years - and see all this as coming from the Lord - and you have an illustration of the blessedness which follows a religious life.” ~Barnes Notes Note: God is using illustration after illustration to show what it ultimately is like to be a firstfruit in the church He founded through Christ. The love Israel had for Jerusalem is the kind of love we are to have for the church. Where do we see this illustrated? Psalm 137:1-6 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. "If I do not remember and love the Church of God, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth--Let me cease to speak." In our love for the church, do we weep when the church is in disharmony, turmoil and division? We see this again in the illustration of Jerusalem. Isaiah 22:4 Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. Now from the commentary: Look away from me - Do not look upon me - an indication of deep grief, for sorrow seeks to be alone, and grief avoids publicity and exposure. I will weep bitterly - Hebrew, ‘I will be bitter in weeping.’ Thus we speak of “bitter” sorrow, indicating excessive grief . Labour not - The sense is, ‘My grief is so great that I cannot be comforted. There are no topics of consolation that can be presented. I must be alone, and allowed to indulge in deep and overwhelming sorrow at the calamities that are coming upon my nation and people.’ Because of the spoiling - The desolation; the ruin that is coming upon them. The daughter of my people - Jerusalem ~Barnes Notes The ultimate destination of the church is a one-world religion in which all the people of the earth are members. Do we see this expressed in scripture? Isaiah 62:1, 6-7 1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah 62:6 - commentary I have set watchmen upon thy walls - . The speaker here is undoubtedly Yahweh; and by watchmen he means those whom he had appointed to be the instructors of his people - the ministers of religion. The name ‘watchmen’ is often given to them. Which shall never hold their peace - The watches in the East are to this day performed by a loud cry as they go their rounds. This is done frequently in order to mark the time, and also to show that they are awake to their duty. “The watchmen in the camp of the caravans go their rounds, crying one after another, ‘God is one; He is merciful’; and often add, ‘Take heed to yourselves’“ - (Tavernier). The truth here taught is, that they who are appointed to be the ministers of religion should be ever watchful and unceasing in the discharge of their duty. Ye that make mention of the Lord - Margin, ‘That are the Lord’s remembrancers.’ These are evidently the words of the prophet addressing those who are watchmen, and urging them to do their duty, as he had said Isaiah 62:1 he was resolved to do his, Lowth renders this, ‘O ye that proclaim the name of Yahweh.’ Noyes, ‘O ye that praise Yahweh.’ But this does not express the sense of the original as well as the common version. The Hebrew word hamazekiyriym, from זzâkar, “to remember” means properly those bringing to remembrance, or causing to remember. It is a word frequently applied to the praise of God, or to the celebration of his worship Psalm 20:7; Psalm 38:1; Psalm 45:17; Psalm 70:1; Psalm 102:12. In such instances the word does not mean that they who are engaged in his service cause Yahweh to remember, or bring things to his recollection which otherwise he would forget; but it means that they would keep up his remembrance among the people, or that they proclaimed his name in order that he might not be forgotten. This is the idea here. It is not merely that they were engaged in the worship of God; but it is, that they did this in order to keep up the remembrance of Yahweh among people. In this sense the ministers of religion are ‘the remembrancers’ of the Lord. Keep not silence - Hebrew, ‘Let there be no silence to you.’ That is, be constantly employed in public prayer and praise. ~Barnes Notes Isaiah 62:7 - commentary And give him no rest - Margin, ‘Silence.’ The idea is, ‘Keep not silence yourselves, nor let him rest in silence. Pray without ceasing; and do not intermit your efforts until the desires of your hearts shall be granted, and Zion shall be established, and the world saved.’ Till he establish - Until he shall establish Jerusalem, and restore it to its former rank and privileges. Till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth - That it may be the subject of universal commendation and rejoicing, instead of being an object of reproach and scorn. The truth taught here is, that it is the privilege and duty of the ministers of God to pray unceasingly for the extension of his kingdom. Day and night the voice of prayer is to be urged, and urged as if they would give Yahweh no rest until the desires of their hearts should be granted. ~Barnes Notes Note: You are engaged in a massive, worldwide work. What you are doing as firstfruits will result in this church becoming a one-world religion with Christ, in person, on earth leading it. This is both the love you have for the church and the goal you have for all of mankind and the Plan of God. Being a part of this church, are we to rejoice with her? Isaiah 66:10, 13-14 10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. Isa 66:10 - commentary Rejoice ye with Jerusalem - The idea which is presented in this verse is, that it is the duty of all who love Zion to sympathize in her joys. It is one evidence of piety to rejoice in her joy; and they who have no true joy when God pours down his Spirit, and, in a revival of religion, produces changes as sudden and transforming as if the earth were suddenly to pass from the desolation of winter to the verdure and bloom of summer; or when the gospel makes rapid advances in the pagan world, have no true evidence that they love God or his cause. Such scenes awaken deep interest in the bosoms of angels, and in the bosom of God the Saviour; and they who love that God and Saviour will rejoice in such scenes, and will mingle their joys and thanksgivings with the joys and thanksgivings of those who are thus converted and saved. All ye that mourn for her - That sympathize in her sorrows, and that mourn over her desolations. ~Barnes Notes Isa 66:14 - commentary And when ye see this - This great accession to the church from the Gentile world. Your bones shall flourish like an herb - This is an image which is often employed in the Scriptures. When the vigor of the body fails, or when it is much afflicted, the bones are said to be feeble or weakened, or to be dried. like manner, prosperity, health, vigor, are denoted by making the bones fat, or by imparting health, marrow, or strength to them Proverbs 3:8; Proverbs 16:24. The sense here is, that their vigor would be greatly increased. The hand of the Lord shall be known - That is, it shall be seen that he is powerful to defend his people, and to punish their enemies. ~Barnes Notes Who is our best example of loving the church? The answer, of course, is Jesus Christ. Would He give His life for it?  Would we? John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Does Jesus know us? Do we know Him? John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Does Jesus feed the flock? Does He gently lead us? Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Does God ask the ministry to love the church as did His Son? Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Did Christ love us and give Himself as an offering? Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Do we love the church and Christ because He loved us? Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Did Christ love us so much that He washed us from our sins? Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Did He redeem us from the world? Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Does Christ love the church? Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Note: We clearly see the duty before us. We are to maintain our love for the church and keep our love from waxing cold.

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