07/09/2023 – “What on Earth is Happening?” by Ray Stedman (1917 – 1992) / Chapter 5 Excerpts – “God’s Plan for Israel” – Matthew 24: 16-20.
From the Editors’ Preface:
This book was copyrighted by Elaine Stedman in 2003, over ten years after Ray’s death. The entire book covers: Jesus’ Olivet Discourse , Matthew – Chapters 24 & 25. (also Mark 13 & Luke 21).
Excerpts:
“What on Earth is Happening? is a sober, rational, thoughtful approach to Bible prophecy. It is not a lofty theological treatise but a readable, friendly conversation. Although the subject matter is serious, Ray’s warmth and humor make this an enjoyable and comforting book to read.
In these pages, you will discover the future as Jesus first unveiled it to His disciples on the Mount of Olives two thousand years ago, We believe this book will do more than inform you about the future. It will change your life right here, right now. So settle back, turn the page, and begin your journey. The future begins now.”
My excerpts from Chapter five begin from the last paragraph on pg #95:
“Because there will be no salt at work in that society of the future, the dark menace of human arrogance will grow even more wildly conceited. Like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, science. will go blithely on, mixing evil potions and conjuring up ever more frightening inventions of uncontrollable power. Human beings already believe that anything that can be done is permissible for there are no moral boundaries in a world that has dismissed God. If we want to create artificial human beings, why shouldn’t we? If we want to engineer disease organisms that have never existed before, what is to stop us? If we choose to completely reshape nature and even redefine what it means to be human, who can tell us “No”? God? What God? We are God!” …
Comment insert: Let’s keep in mind that Ray wrote this book at least 30+ years ago!
Light in the Darkness – pg #97:
“…there are three rays of light to encourage us as we face the full implications of this remarkable prophecy of Jesus.
The first ray of light:
… He (Jesus) told us that He came into the world not to condemn it (the world) but to save…
But Jesus came into the world, John 1:14 tells us, ‘full of grace and truth.’ He has given us grace — but He has also given us truth, the prophetic truth of the Olivet Discourse. Jesus came to give us new life, but He has also told us what life is like apart from Him: we are helpless and doomed without Him, and condemned to destruction. So withHis grace comes His warning, and the grace cannot save us unless we heed the warning.
… What are we living for? Are we spending our lives in a quest for something that will be swept away in the fires of the Great Tribulation? Or are we investing our lives in a lasting relationship with the Lord throughout eternity? We cannot have it both ways. We must choose one or the other.
The second ray of light:
God’s dealing with Israel, as revealed in this prophecy, mirror His dealing with us as believers, We often see this principle in Scripture: God’s relationship to Israel is frequently a metaphor to describe His relationship to individual Christians. Notice these parallels:
As a nation, Israel has long lived in unbelief toward the Lord Jesus Christ. The people of Israel have wandered in obscurity and persecution for centuries. Any Christian knows that there are also times of unbelief in his own life. Though he is a believer, at times he can be a very unbelieving believer. The result of those times of unbelief is a feeling of wandering, of being lost in the dark, and distant from God.
But this account of 144,000 Jewish believers shows how God can break through unbelief. He can bring the light of Jesus streaming through the darkness just when we need it most. You may be going through a crises experience right now. God is about to bring new light into your heart so that you will no longer walk in barreness and darkness, but in light, glory, and peace.
The key to deliverance is to accept not only the light but the darkness as from God. When we can thank Him for the darkness, then the light is not far away. That is what will eventually happen to Israel, and it is what God is waiting to bring about for us now.
The third ray of light:
Everything is happening on schedule and according to God’s sovereign plan. It has been anticipated and predicted. Perhaps the most comforting word Jesus ever spoke to His disciples is found in John 14: 1-2: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house [the universe] are many rooms [places to live; earth is one of these rooms, but there are others]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.’ That is a comforting word indeed!
Beyond the darkness lies the dawn of a new day for this weary, suffering, beaten world. As people of faith, we lift up our eyes, we strengthen our hearts. and we rejoice. Let the future come. We have no fear. Our God is in control.”
Soli Deo Gloria!