The First Statement Made by
Christ Jesus
in the Olivet Discourse
                                             By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                          October 20, 2018
     "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?  and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
                                                                                     Matthew 24:3
Introduction
     What is commonly referred to as the "Olivet Discourse" is recorded in Matthew 24 - 25, and in Mark 13.  The three questions asked by the disciples are those in our text Scripture for this study.  The four disciples who came to the Lord Jesus, asking these three questions, according to Mark's account, were Peter, James, John, and Andrew, Mark 13:3.  This is the background for the Lord's answers to His disciples, but in this study I am not dealing with the questions asked by the disciples, but rather emphasizing the Lord's first statement  to His disciples.......
     "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you, Matthew 24:4; Mark 13:5.
Warning About Deceivers and Deception
     Over and over again throughout the New Testament, God's people are warned about deception and being deceived.  Christ Himself went on in this same Olivet discourse to warn the disciples, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect," 24:24.  
      Please notice, that in the English translation, the words "it were" are in italics.  This means these words do not appear in the Greek text. They were added by the translators in an effort to make the sentence more clear to the reader.  But in this instance, the added words give the impression to some that it is just not possible for "the elect" be be deceived.  Wrong!  Totally wrong!   By leaving out these added words, this warning of the Lord, literally reads, ".....insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect."  This makes it clear, or should, that the possibility of a true believer being deceived or not being deceived rests squarely upon the believer.  We believers can either take the Lord's warning seriously, and earnestly study God's Word, allowing it to permeate our souls, or we can neglect the Word, and leave ourselves wide open to being deceived by wicked men.  2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible.  Take heed!  
     Sadly, I have never previously seen a time when there was so much false teaching and deception in the churches and in the ranks of Christianity.  
     Satan is working overtime today to deceive people into believing his lies, and sadly, many of God's people are receiving Satan's deception as Scriptural truth.  God have mercy!  
The Resurrection and Rapture
     Satan knows that there is going to be a resurrection of all deceased believers in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Satan knows that those  resurrected believers will then be raptured, right along with all living believers, 1 Thess. 4:16-18. Satan knows that this is "the blessed hope" of all true believers, Titus 2:11-15.  And yes, Satan knows that the end of this age is swiftly approaching, and that the resurrection and rapture is very near.  Satan also knows that he cannot prevent the resurrection and rapture from happening, so he is doing everything he can to steal the joy of God's people in serving the Lord,  and making believers just as "miserable" as possible.  He does this, primarily through deceiving God's people into believing his lies.   Does this sound familiar to any of our readers?  
     Because Satan is very much aware of God's plan for His people, Satan is sowing the seeds of false teaching and deception in the churches and  among  God's people as never before.   Folks, there has never been a time previously when God's people need to be dedicated to the study of God's Word daily, and extremely careful to check out what they read and what they hear by the Word of God.    Make absolutely  certain that what you are reading, or hearing from different sources, is in perfect harmony with the "rightly divided" Word of God.  
The Book of Revelation
     I have known for several years, that there are those in the churches and ranks of Christianity, who simply have no idea of how to "rightly divide" the revelation received by John.  This makes me wonder about the true spiritual state of some who "profess" to be believers.  
      Let me assure our readers that I am not passing judgment upon any individual, for the Lord is the only One who is able to look into the heart and determine who is truly saved, and who is just a "vain professor." It is only the Lord who can make the correct determination about one's salvation, or one's lack of salvation.
      But as a true believer in Christ,  I am in a position, and do have an obligation, to  determine the truth of the word, which is being taught and preached to God's people, 1 Corinthians 2:13,  2 Timothy 2:15.  
     And that is just what I propose to do in this study.......
The Rapture in Revelation 12?
     Over the past year or so, I have had a number of "prophecy teachers" tell me that the rapture of God's people will not occur until Revelation 12 is fulfilled.  Oh, is that so?  No!  It is not so! Such a claim is false teaching!  Beware of false teachers! Matthew 7:15.  
     There was much religious fervor about Revelation 12,  when the planets and constellations in the heavens moved into the positions described in Revelation 12:1 a few months ago.  Some just knew that the Lord was coming at any minute to rapture His people to glory.  But it didn't happen!  Why not?
     Because there is no rapture of God's people described in Revelation 12 at all.  The whole chapter is about Israel, who was the nation and people through whom the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, 12:1-5.  It is glaringly obvious that in these Scriptures, John was inspired of God to give a brief glimpse into the past, in order to emphasize the true position held by the "woman" in these Scriptures in the eyes and mind of the Lord God.  The "woman" in Revelation 12, is the nation and people of Israel, with whom the Lord God made an "everlasting covenant," Genesis 17:7-8; Exodus 40:15.    
     Immediately after rehearsing the brief history of the birth of Christ, the inspired Word states that the "woman" flees into the wilderness, Rev. 12:6.  This truth is stated for a second time in 12:14.  This is obviously a reference to Israel and the Jewish people fleeing to Petra, when the image is set up in the courtyard of the Tribulation Temple.  This is what the Lord told  Israel to do [Matthew 24:15-20], and here in Rev. 12,  we see Israel obeying.   The entire chapter, following the brief intro in verses 1-5, focuses attention upon the "woman."  There is not a single word in the whole chapter about a "rapture" occurring for God's people.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the only person in this chapter who is "caught up unto God, and to His throne," 12:5.  Glory!
     The one place in Revelation, where the rapture is prophetically  typified by John himself is Rev. 4:1.  Just because some try to read the rapture into other passages in Revelation does not make it so! Do not allow yourself to be deceived!  Learn to "rightly divide the Word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15.
The Rapture in Revelation 13?
     Now here comes a video, in which a "prophecy teacher" goes to great length to have God's people living in this present dispensation, raptured to glory in Revelation 13.  Hogwash!  Hogwash!  [This video is so disgusting it merited a double hogwash].  
     The person, and his activities,  being emphasized in the whole 13th chapter of Revelation, is "the beast" [better known as the anti-christ].  There is not a single word in this chapter that suggests or implies a rapture taking place.  But this fellow who made the video has God's people living today being raptured just in the nick of time to escape taking "the mark of the beast."  
     Then this video also begins the Tribulation period  in Rev.  13, following the rapture.  Hogwash! [That's the third one!] Folks, there are nine chapters describing  the judgments of the Tribulation period preceding Rev. 13.  Chapters 4 - 12.  Now what is this fellow going to do with these nine chapters which precede Revelation 13? Is he going to work everything prophesied to occur in those nine chapters, into John's vision of the Tribulation following  chapter 13?  I don't think that it will work!  I don't think the Holy Spirit of God made a mistake when He arranged God's Word in the order of fulfillment exactly as God wanted it fulfilled.     
     John was given the vision of the Tribulation period in the order in which it will occur, event following event.  And this fellow presumes he has the right to rearrange God's Word to make it fit his theory?  I don't think so!  Revelation 22:18-19 is still in the Bible!  Beware of deceivers!  
But Silliest of All.......
     Then here comes the silly theory being espoused by a supposedly "sound" Bible teacher, claiming that God's people are not going to be raptured off the earth at all.  Rather, according to Doctor "New Insight," at the time of the rapture, the Lord is simply going to make all of His people immortal, impervious to harm,  and  invisible, and we shall remain right here on the earth during the Tribulation period.  Now,  Isn't this some glorious "blessed hope" for God's people?  Shall we set up a "cheering section" for such extra-scriptural revelators?  
      Folks, this silly theory merits five "hog washes" and a "barf."  There is not a Scripture in the Bible which states or teaches such stupidity.  None!   Sadly, this is a perfect example of the kind of "spiritual leaders" [?] who have infiltrated the churches and the ranks of Christianity today?  Why?  Because some of God's people today have convinced themselves that they just cannot be deceived, so in outright disobedience to the Lord's command,  they have stopped watching for deceivers in the churches and the ranks of Christianity.  And I suspect that Satan loves it!  Beware of deceivers!   May God have mercy upon His people!
Understanding and Rightly Dividing
The Word of God.......
     First, make your calling and election [choosing] sure, 2 Peter 1:10-11.   It is absolutely impossible for any unsaved person to understand God's Word, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.  Even true believers are dependent upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit for spiritual insight and understanding, John 16:13.  Let this truth become "fixed" in your mind!  
     Second, always take the Word of God at face value for what it actually and literally says, unless the inspired Word itself, or the context in which the Word occurs, sets forth some Scriptural reason for doing otherwise.  When God inspired His Word for mankind, He said what He meant, and He means what He says.   Believe it!  
     Third, STUDY God's Word, daily and often.  The inspired Word is ".....a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path," Psalm 119:105.  God's Holy Word is not a "rabbit's foot" or "good luck charm" to be rubbed only when one is in trouble.   We who are true believers need God's Word to enlighten us, strengthen us, and lead us in the paths of righteousness, and through the darkness of this "present evil world," Galatians 1:4.  There has never been a time previously, when God's people needed God's Word more than they do today.   We believers  need God's Word on a regular and daily basis.  
     Fourth, obey God's will as set forth in His Word.  Learn to "rightly divide the Word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15.  Then share what you learn with others as you have opportunity.  What you have to say to lost loved ones, friends, or neighbors, may be the very thing the Lord will use to bring that person to Christ.  Put Acts 1:8 into action.    
     Fifth, reject any teaching, from anyone, which is in violation of God's Word, or which does not harmonize with what God's Word actually and literally says and teaches.  
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     And may our gracious Lord God add His blessings to this study, and use it to bless the hearts and lives of His people.  In Jesus Name!  
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     My personal contact information:  
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL..........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE........573-202-6493
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