The Wall

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“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

Does God Protect His Word (part 7)?

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Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."

Here are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as He taught on the Mount of Olives. Leaving the city of Jerusalem, Jesus begins teaching about future events, prophecies concerning the temple and the return of Christ. The disciples ask, "what will be the sign of your coming at the end of the age?" (Mt 24:3; Mk 13:4; Lk 21:7) He answers, "the sing of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory." (Mt 24:30) In other words, the sign of His coming will be His coming.

His coming will be preceeded by the "birth-pangs" of misleading false christs and the persecution of those who stand for the truth of the gospel (Mt 42:4-14; Mk 13:5-13; Lk 21:8-19). Past prophecies will be fulfilled and distress will grow as the deceptions of false christ's continue (Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt 24:15-28; Mk 13:14-23; Lk 21:20-24) then the Son of Man will come (Mt 24:29-31; Mk 13:24-27; Lk 21:25-27). Count on these things as surely just as a tree gives its fruit in season (Mt. 24:32-41; Mk 13:28-32; Lk 21:28-33).

Our Lord Jesus Christ emphasizes that heaven and earth itself will return to nothing before His words fail. Consider the role of prophecy here. So much time passes between their giving and fulfillment that it seems as if the words are forgotten or delayed; however, the fulfillment is in God's time. What is truly remarkable is that the prophetic words are made sure because they are God's words. Any other word man speaks, any ordinance, law, utterance, assertion--all the memorable speeches and quotes--will vanish, empty, while the words of Christ fulfill. When the sun, moon and stars cease their proper function, His word will be accomplished.

The sign His word is protected is in His returning.

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