Saturday, January 20, 2018

How can we obey the Bible's command to gather, after leaving the "Watchtower"?

You may recall prophecies about the return of Christ, where he gathers people "from the 4 winds, from one extremity of the heavens to the other extremity" (Matt.24:31). Other prophecies tell us that those "leaving the city" will be invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Matt.22:8-10; Rev.19:9NIV ).
We are given the idea, that there will be a gathering from all over, collecting together those who might accept an invitation to spiritual food. Where that food is located, is where those with insight, will gather (Luke17:37NKJV ; Rev.11:7,3,9).
Prophecy also tells us, that an urgent need will arise, to flee a city (Rev.18:4; Mark13:14; Luke17:26-28,29-31,32-34,35-37).

A similar situation occurred in the first century, before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, in 70CE. Christians who obeyed Jesus' warning, did flee to the "Judean Hills/wilderness"
(Dan.11:31-33; Matt.24:15-16; Eze.36:8; John15:16; Matt.7:20)
(Dan.11:33; Rev.13:7,10; Col.2:8).
There was no guarantee that those fleeing Jerusalem would find those of like-faith, collected into a cohesive, organized, comfortable group. Yet they still obeyed the command to flee, and despite being scattered, they were fed by those whom Christ assigned to feed them (see Acts8:1,4; James1:1; 1Pet.1:1; Rev.1:9-11)
Today, we have another fulfillment of the end of a covenant, and the harvest and segregation of both the good/faithful/"wheat", and disobedient/"weeds"/"chaff", based upon one's regard for that divine covenant. At each covenant's conclusion, there comes a destruction of those who were unfaithful to it.
We too, must flee the unfaithful "City" (Zech.8:3; Isa.1:21; Rev.17:1).
We too, discern a "disgusting thing/abomination, standing in the holy place/standing where it does not belong, which is causing desolation" to God's faithful nation (Matt.24:15; Mark13:13-14; 2Thess.2:4; Rev.11:2; 13:4,7-8).
We too, must Flee the empire of the unfaithful (Rev.18:4; Jer.51:6; Isa.48:20; Matt.24:14; Ps.68:11) and go to the mountains of Israel for sustenance (Eze.36:8; Matt.5:14).

Despite our also being scattered, we can communicate by means of the internet. This offers not only the written words of our brethren, but also the ability to video chat, to see and hear members of our family of faith. We are fully able to heed Heb.10:24-25, by giving comfort and encouragement, sharing our excitement about, and insights into, what we are learning, and even working together in this final ministry. (Matt.22:8-10; Rev.22:17; Matt.10:23).

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