As Paul wrote to Timothy and was inspired by the Spirit to state “that in later times some will depart from the faith” we can see from history that this has occurred in every age – and – just as bad, if not worse, there have been (and continue) distortions of the original faith which the Scriptures alone reveal – to those genuinely seeking what is true. 

Paul writes that this will occur ” through the insincerity of liars” [v.2] and how much insincerity permeates our nation – and the whole world today!

Because there is no belief in and fear of God today  – there is no sincerity. Timothy is told to “put these things before the brothers” and for him to “be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. ” [v.6]

It is vital that we follow this advice of Paul to Timothy – but how rarely has it been followed down through the Centuries – but now we have come to the climax of the “later times.”  Now, more than ever, believers need “godliness” which ” is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. “[v.8] ” because we have our hope set on the living God” [v.10] – and a focus of thought so that our minds are “set.”

In our “later times” how tragic – in the end – to be without this hope.  Thankfully Jesus said “those days” would be “cut short” or ‘no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” [Matt. 24 v.22]

Paul in his 2nd letter to Timothy enlarges on this point, he tells him to “understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, …” [3 v.1,2]   There is no doubt we are living “in later times” , so it is vital that, as we read in today’s chapter [4 v.10], that we recognise it is vital, – as Paul told Timothy, (and us) at the end of ch. 4  to “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

By Bro D.Caudery

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Bible Truth and Prophecy, – Welcome to our channel run by the Christadelphians Worldwide to help promote the understanding of God’s Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and Gods plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.
We are always keen to receive your feedback, you may leave comments in the comments area below or alternatively email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you with a reply as soon as we can.

For more information on the Christadelphians
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Thisisyourbible

Read a variety of booklets on-line concerning various key Bible subjects.
Free Bible Booklets

Bible Truth & Prophecy is a remarkable on-line tool for establishing just how far removed from the teachings of the Bible mainstream Christian teaching has become.

End Time Prophecies are interpreted using the Bible, not man made ideas or notions.
Key Biblical subjects such as the Trinity, Devil/Satan worship, Holy Spirit Gifts & much more are all dealt with extensively from the Bible’s viewpoint and not man’s.We will demonstrate how Christian beliefs have become corrupted, and reveal the ‘Truth’ as taught by the 1st Century Apostles.

Our first reading today described the tragedy of Achan.  After the wonder of Divine help in the conquest of Jericho, surely everyone would have been in awe of the power of the one true God.- the wonder of what he was able to do in giving the nation a dramatic victory. 

One man, Achan, did not, he was self-centred, his mind focused on personal gain, an early example of the spirit of Judas Iscariot.  The family of Achan must have been party to hiding the spoil he took from Jericho so they all paid the penalty. This is a challenging message for us!  From the Psalms, natural Israel sings, “Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!” [106 v.3]

Then in Isaiah ch. 11 our hearts and minds were lifted up by the picture of Eden restored – by the “branch” from “the stump of Jesse” the father of David – and how this “shall bear fruit.” [v.1]  And what a wondrous fruit was the result! It revealed to men and women “… the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” [v.2]  The more we ‘know’ of the LORD – the more we are filled with “fear” in the sense of awe!

This will lead to that wondrous promised time for those whose minds ‘eat’ of this “fruit”!  They will be there when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”[v.9]

Our readings were fittingly completed by the last (3rd) chapter of Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians. Paul asks them to “pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.” [v.1,2]

Finally, let us take into our hearts and minds – Paul’s petition – surely made from his heart!  It was; “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” [v.5]

The more we seek the Lord the more that spirit of “steadfastness” will develop and we will “not grow weary in doing good.” [v.13]  The people, entering the promised land learnt this the hard way, what a lesson Achan’s failure was to them!

Paul ends his epistle by saying/praying, “may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way … The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Let us pray that “the Lord will direct (y)our hearts” so that, as he told the Thessalonians “you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [2 v.14] at his coming – and how close are we to that time now!

By Bro D.Caudery

Follow us on our dedicated Facebook page
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Or our website
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If you would like to subscribe to our YouTube channel, once you have clicked ‘Subscribe’ make sure you click the cog next to the subscribe button and select ‘Send me all notifications for this channel’

Note: Bad language and comments with links to other videos or websites will be removed.

Download our ‘Free’ Bible APP – ‘KeyToThe Bible’ for i-phone or Android
Download here…

Other Christadelphian Channels we recommend
BibleProphecyHD
ChristadelphianVideo
ChristadelphianHUB
BibleStudiesHD
BibleTruthVideos
BibleProphecyHD
BibleProphecyHub
CPDLIVE
BibleProphecyChannelUpdate

Bible Truth and Prophecy, – Welcome to our channel run by the Christadelphians Worldwide to help promote the understanding of God’s Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and Gods plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.
We are always keen to receive your feedback, you may leave comments in the comments area below or alternatively email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you with a reply as soon as we can.

For more information on the Christadelphians
b­logspot
Twitter
Thisisyourbible

Read a variety of booklets on-line concerning various key Bible subjects.
Free Bible Booklets

Bible Truth & Prophecy is a remarkable on-line tool for establishing just how far removed from the teachings of the Bible mainstream Christian teaching has become.

End Time Prophecies are interpreted using the Bible, not man made ideas or notions.
Key Biblical subjects such as the Trinity, Devil/Satan worship, Holy Spirit Gifts & much more are all dealt with extensively from the Bible’s viewpoint and not man’s.We will demonstrate how Christian beliefs have become corrupted, and reveal the ‘Truth’ as taught by the 1st Century Apostles.

Our thoughts today arose largely from the challenging words of Paul in the first 2 chapters of his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians.  Let us appreciate that when the lessons in God’s word are particularly challenging to us and we struggle to clearly discern their meaning – that this is part of God’s wisdom to make His word food for our whole lifetime. Our foundation ‘step’ – is to read the whole context and grasp as clearly as we can the flow of the reasoning.

This particular letter of Paul starts on a very encouraging note; he says, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” [v.3]  It is challenging for each community of true believers today to ask themselves, if Paul were here and knew our ecclesia, would he write something similar about us?

Paul tells them he is able to “boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith” especially “in the afflictions that you are enduring.” [v.4]  Paul then describes the utter drama of the time (how soon now?) “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” [v.7,8]  

What is it to “not know God“?   It is different to saying he does not exist!  We prove we know him – by our actions!  John wrote, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” [1 John 4 v.8]

Back in Thessalonians, in his 2nd chapter Paul writes of “the mystery of lawlessness” [v.7]  Why is it a mystery?  Our particular line of thought is that “lawlessness” is natural to human nature – and how it is increasing today! We suggest it is a mystery because men are more conscious than ever in our days of the wonders of the miracle of creation – yet they are trying harder than ever to believe there is no Creator, ”  We recall what Jesus said, when asked “what is the sign of your coming?” He said, “because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”  [Matt. 24 v. 3,12]  – although most may still claim to believe!

Today we wait with heart-felt awe, for what could be very soon – “Jesus revealed from heaven” and the awesome actions Paul describes in today’s 2^nd chapter take place!  There will be a particular “lawless one …whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” [v.8] 

More than ever, as we sense with awed hearts what is coming on our world, let us make sure we “know God” in the fullest sense.

By Bro D.Caudery

Follow us on our dedicated Facebook page
Facebook Page ‘Alethia’ BibleTruthandProphecy
Or our website
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If you would like to subscribe to our YouTube channel, once you have clicked ‘Subscribe’ make sure you click the cog next to the subscribe button and select ‘Send me all notifications for this channel’

Note: Bad language and comments with links to other videos or websites will be removed.

Download our ‘Free’ Bible APP – ‘KeyToThe Bible’ for i-phone or Android
Download here…

Other Christadelphian Channels we recommend
BibleProphecyHD
ChristadelphianVideo
ChristadelphianHUB
BibleStudiesHD
BibleTruthVideos
BibleProphecyHD
BibleProphecyHub
CPDLIVE
BibleProphecyChannelUpdate

Bible Truth and Prophecy, – Welcome to our channel run by the Christadelphians Worldwide to help promote the understanding of God’s Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and Gods plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.
We are always keen to receive your feedback, you may leave comments in the comments area below or alternatively email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you with a reply as soon as we can.

For more information on the Christadelphians
b­logspot
Twitter
Thisisyourbible

Read a variety of booklets on-line concerning various key Bible subjects.
Free Bible Booklets

Bible Truth & Prophecy is a remarkable on-line tool for establishing just how far removed from the teachings of the Bible mainstream Christian teaching has become.

End Time Prophecies are interpreted using the Bible, not man made ideas or notions.
Key Biblical subjects such as the Trinity, Devil/Satan worship, Holy Spirit Gifts & much more are all dealt with extensively from the Bible’s viewpoint and not man’s.We will demonstrate how Christian beliefs have become corrupted, and reveal the ‘Truth’ as taught by the 1st Century Apostles.

“WICKEDNESS BURNS LIKE A FIRE” 

Isaiah has a blunt and challenging message for his people in today’s 7th chapter of his prophecy – it is rather in contrast to the positive picture we read in Joshua ch. 19 where the people cross the Jordan into the promised land.  Isaiah says, “For wickedness burns like a fire” [v.18] and “Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire…” [v.19]

We sense that this is a poetic picture that can also be applied to God’s judgments that will soon come on this earth where “wickedness” has been burning “like a fire” to blot out anything that is genuinely godly!  The time is surely coming – and soon – when God will act.

Our ch. 5 in 1st Thessalonians has several parallel thoughts.  Paul had already made them “fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” [v.2]  This evidently means that the world will have no awareness that the Lord is about to act – and today it has almost totally lost consciousness that there is a Creator.

Since 1939 we have lived through wars in many parts of the world, but today, the only war, if you can call it a war, is conflict between some Islamic factions north east of Israel: the Islamic concept of the Creator is very fictional, there appears to be no “fear” toward him: there is spiritual “darkness” in them and throughout the world.

Paul tells the Thessalonians, and us, that those who really know God’s word know, says Paul, that they “are not in darkness … for that day to surprise you…” [v.4] and “since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love” – and then he adds, “and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” [v.8]

A “helmet” protects our head – our mind – so essential when everyone else is losing theirs – using it for useless purposes.  Paul told the Ephesians to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” [6 v.17]  Back in Thessalonians, the next verse (9) inspires by telling us, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our world is “destined to wrath” because it abounds with “wickedness” that “burns like fire“!  Our responsibility, as Paul told the Thessalonians, is to “encourage one another and build one another up” [v.11] and to “encouragethe fainthearted” [v.14] and “pray without ceasing.” [v.17]

By Bro D.Caudery

Follow us on our dedicated Facebook page
Facebook Page ‘Alethia’ BibleTruthandProphecy
Or our website
BibleTruthandProphecy (Subscribe for updates)

If you would like to subscribe to our YouTube channel, once you have clicked ‘Subscribe’ make sure you click the cog next to the subscribe button and select ‘Send me all notifications for this channel’

Note: Bad language and comments with links to other videos or websites will be removed.

Download our ‘Free’ Bible APP – ‘KeyToThe Bible’ for i-phone or Android
Download here…

Other Christadelphian Channels we recommend
BibleProphecyHD
ChristadelphianVideo
ChristadelphianHUB
BibleStudiesHD
BibleTruthVideos
BibleProphecyHD
BibleProphecyHub
CPDLIVE
BibleProphecyChannelUpdate

Bible Truth and Prophecy, – Welcome to our channel run by the Christadelphians Worldwide to help promote the understanding of God’s Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and Gods plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.
We are always keen to receive your feedback, you may leave comments in the comments area below or alternatively email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you with a reply as soon as we can.

For more information on the Christadelphians
b­logspot
Twitter
Thisisyourbible

Read a variety of booklets on-line concerning various key Bible subjects.
Free Bible Booklets

Bible Truth & Prophecy is a remarkable on-line tool for establishing just how far removed from the teachings of the Bible mainstream Christian teaching has become.

End Time Prophecies are interpreted using the Bible, not man made ideas or notions.
Key Biblical subjects such as the Trinity, Devil/Satan worship, Holy Spirit Gifts & much more are all dealt with extensively from the Bible’s viewpoint and not man’s.We will demonstrate how Christian beliefs have become corrupted, and reveal the ‘Truth’ as taught by the 1st Century Apostles.

“ENCOURAGED YOU AND CHARGED YOU TO …”

             Our readings today provoked two opposite thoughts: well, in truth, several others also.   What were the thoughts in the heart of Rahab as she took in the Israelite spies and hid them?  She said of her people , “as soon as we heard it, (i.e. the conquests of Israel beyond the Jordan)  our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth…” [Josh 2 v.11]

It was the honesty of this declaration of her belief in God that was surely the key factor in her and her relatives being saved as Jericho is destroyed. These words  would have “encouraged” the spies – and also Joshua – when they were reported to him.  Should not we be “encouraged” today by these inspired “words” today!?

Then Isaiah tells us how “the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me” and “warned” him “not to walk in the way of this people … do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread …” [ch. 8 v.12] Our world is increasinglyfearful of the future although, as much as they can, they put it at the back of their minds.

Isaiah is told, “The LORD of hosts … Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary …”  These words surely “encouraged” Isaiah as his nation lost its’ vision of divine things more and more. How would he feel (and fear?) as he was told the LORD will become “… a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  … They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”  [v.13-15] We can see how much these words apply to our world today.

Isaiah is told “… seal the teaching among my disciples…. To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” [v.16, 20]  There is “no dawn” for this world – only increasing darkness – and increasing “fear” and “dread.” When those who truly “fear” God experience this – they turn with ever greater urgency to their Saviour and Lord. May we do this.

Finally, we are greatly “encouraged” by the words of Paul in his 1st letter to the Thessalonians.  May we, “encourage one another” in our “work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” [1 v.3]  and, with all our hearts, “wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” [v.10] 

Finally, in ch. 2, Paul reminds them how we “encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” [v.12]  May our constant reading of God’s word encourage us to really do this and “establish (y)our hearts blameless in holiness … at the coming of our Lord Jesus” [ch. 3 v.13]

By Bro D.Caudery

Follow us on our dedicated Facebook page
Facebook Page ‘Alethia’ BibleTruthandProphecy
Or our website
BibleTruthandProphecy (Subscribe for updates)

If you would like to subscribe to our YouTube channel, once you have clicked ‘Subscribe’ make sure you click the cog next to the subscribe button and select ‘Send me all notifications for this channel’

Note: Bad language and comments with links to other videos or websites will be removed.

Download our ‘Free’ Bible APP – ‘KeyToThe Bible’ for i-phone or Android
Download here…

Other Christadelphian Channels we recommend
BibleProphecyHD
ChristadelphianVideo
ChristadelphianHUB
BibleStudiesHD
BibleTruthVideos
BibleProphecyHD
BibleProphecyHub
CPDLIVE
BibleProphecyChannelUpdate

Bible Truth and Prophecy, – Welcome to our channel run by the Christadelphians Worldwide to help promote the understanding of God’s Word to those who are seeking the Truth about the Human condition and Gods plan and Purpose with the Earth and Mankind upon it.
We are always keen to receive your feedback, you may leave comments in the comments area below or alternatively email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you with a reply as soon as we can.

For more information on the Christadelphians
b­logspot
Twitter
Thisisyourbible

Read a variety of booklets on-line concerning various key Bible subjects.
Free Bible Booklets

Bible Truth & Prophecy is a remarkable on-line tool for establishing just how far removed from the teachings of the Bible mainstream Christian teaching has become.

End Time Prophecies are interpreted using the Bible, not man made ideas or notions.
Key Biblical subjects such as the Trinity, Devil/Satan worship, Holy Spirit Gifts & much more are all dealt with extensively from the Bible’s viewpoint and not man’s.We will demonstrate how Christian beliefs have become corrupted, and reveal the ‘Truth’ as taught by the 1st Century Apostles.