Kingdom Living In Perilous Times

“Kingdom Living in Perilous Times”

By

Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.

Scriptures:- Genesis 6:1-8, 11-13 ; 2nd Timothy 3: 1-7. Matthew 24:36-38.

Text Scripture:- 2 Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come”.

Shall = expected, definitely will happen.

OPENING:- Let me open this message with a brief explanation of the phrase “Last Days” because there is some confusion about this in Christiandom.

Let me suggest to you something I believe is vital to understanding the Bible and what is going to happen and that is the difference between the last days and the end time. Now some might say there is no difference and that is based upon ones belief. There are Pre-Tribulationist, Mid-Tribulationist, and Post-Tribulationist. Being Pre-Trib. This is what I believe.

UNDERSTAND *:- The last days is the period at the end of these present days that are immediately prior to the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His Church - better known as the Rapture. The Tribulation/Great Tribulation is not what is considered the last days that is the wrath and judgment of God.

WATCH THIS:- because there can be some confusion when it comes to this right here. The last days take place while the church is here, when the church is raptured away then the Tribulation and Great Tribulation take place for a period of 7 seven. This is during the Marriage Feast of the Lamb when we are with Him in Heaven – basically a 7 year honeymoon if you will. How can I say that, let me back this up with scripture. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 19:15 “…at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established”. Scriptures are witnesses, a witness testifies to what they know, the Bible says in John 5:39 “ Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testify of me”. WATCH THIS:- Jesus said in Matthew 24:34, Mark13:30, Luke 21:32 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled”. This generation – another word for generation is Age. So this generation or this age of the church you, you, you, and me will not pass until all these things be fulfilled. Although some of us may pass on the church age will not pass away until all these things be fulfilled. UNDERSTAND - the church age goes from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church..

The Bible has a lot to say about the last days, it warns that we will be faced with extraordinary pressures and challenged with extraordinary opportunities and in order to be able to take advantage of the opportunities and survive the pressures we need to understand what the Word of God says.

Moses says in Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law”.

UNDERSTAND there are 2 things The Secret Things and The Revealed Things.

The number 2 conveys the meaning of a union, division or the verification of facts by witnesses. A man and woman, though two in number, are made one in marriage Genesis 2:23 - 24. There is also the union between Christ and the church 1Corinthians 12. The testimony of God is divided into Old and New Testaments. His agreements with mankind are divided into Old and New Covenants. The first man, Adam, sinned and brought death and destruction into the world. Jesus, however, as the second (or last) Adam brings the hope of the resurrection and eternal life 1Corinthians 15:21 - 22, 45 – 49. At the minimum, the testimony of at least 2 people were needed in the Old Testament to convict someone of a crime or sin. The validity of this teaching was confirmed by the Apostle Paul 1Timothy 5:19, Titus 3:10. In the End Time, two witnesses will appear on the world scene to testify and uphold the truth of God against the Beast and the False Prophet Revelation 11 – after the church is gone! Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs so that they could not only testify about his teachings and miracles, but also be witnesses of those who accepted or rejected the gospel Mark 6:7 - 13. Two can also convey comparison and contrast. That is extremely important and I will get into a contrast shortly.

There are 2 things the secret things and the revealed things. The problem is today that many people are trying to figure out the secret things which are God’s and they do not obey the revealed things which we are to act upon!