The British People in Prophecy #1

Go To Meeting

(Church at Home)

Lyall Johnston—September 3, 2014

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Greetings, everyone! This is Lyall Johnston, welcome to Church at Home! Church at Home is sponsored by the Christian Biblical Church of God, and we are dedicated to restoring original Christianity for today.

In the 24th chapter of Matthew we read what is commonly known as the Olivet Prophecy.

Matthew 24:1[transcriber's correction]: "And after going out, Jesus departed from the temple… [they were in Jerusalem] …and His disciples came to Him to point out the buildings of the temple. But Jesus said to them, 'Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there shall not be left here even a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down.'" (vs 1-2). Jesus is making a reference to 70A.D. when the Romans came in and sacked Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed, just as Jesus said.

That tells us something about Jesus Christ and His ability to prophesy, to see the future and to record it ahead of time.

As it say in one place, 'God declares the end from the beginning.' God knew what was going to happen. Jesus knew what was going to happen to the temple, because He knew what was in the heart of man, and because of man's actions; those penalties, those curses that were going to come upon him.

Verse 3: "And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives…" This is why this is called the Olivet Prophecy, because Jesus goes in and gives prophecy here, taking us right from the time in 30A.D. when Jesus lived on this earth 2,000 years ago right up until today, and even into the future. What God has said, through His Son Jesus Christ, God will do! God will accomplish it! Prophecies of God are sure! They are unshakable!

The only thing that can change what God has said—and mostly this is just delaying the eventual events—is that if man everywhere will repent. We have examples of that in the Bible, when wicked kings had done the most abominable things in the eyes of God, when the stench of their actions went up into the heavens and God became so angry with that king, IF that king repented when he was told by one of God's prophets what he had done and what God was going to do, then God relented and changed what He had said for the time being.

Verse 3: "And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him alone, saying, 'Tell us, when shall these things be?…. [talking here about the destruction of the temple] …And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the completion of the age?'"

Question for Jesus, and here is His answer, these words are form the mouth of God Himself. As Jesus Himself said, 'Man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'

Here is this prophecy; we need to take note. Prophecy is Truth when it comes from the mouth of God. Prophecy cannot be broken. What God has said He will do, He will do, despite what clergy, ministers and priests say today. To the contrary, what God says stands! What God says remains true and faithful, and 'every man a liar.'

Verse  4: "Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Be on guard…'" Here is a warning, here is a message for you and me. Jesus begins by saying, "Be on guard…" also, 'listen to what I'm about to say.' This is why Jesus prefixed the prophecy that He is about to unveil and reveal, the sequence of events. He begins by saying, "Be on guard…" Why?

"'…so that no one deceives you'" (v 4). What do you think that Jesus meant when He said, "…[Let] no one deceive you"? Is He limiting that to just certain people, or is He saying, "…Be on guard, so that no one deceives you." In other words, 'Don't allow any other person to deceive you.'

Why? Because God says 'believe in Me and trust in Me,' because, as Jesus said, 'Your Word, Father, is Truth!' Man does not have the Truth apart from the Word of God.

Why is Jesus prefixing His statement: "…Be on guard, so that no one deceives you." We will find out.

Verse 5: "For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ'; and they shall deceive many." Again, going back to the previous verse: "…Be on guard, so that no one deceives you." Here He's referring to 'religious' leaders, those bringing a false gospel, those bringing a false 'religion,' which is not the true faithful ways of God called Christianity, but a false Christianity.

Why did we say that? Because these people are going to come and say, v 5: "For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ'…" We can read two things there:

• Yes, Jesus of Nazareth, the one born of the virgin Mary, He is Christ!
• Others will come and say, 'I am the Christ, worship me!'

That's a tactic of Satan because he wanted Jesus to worship him (Matt. 4). 'If You will just fall down and worship me, Jesus Son of God, I will give you all the kingdoms of this world,' showing that today Satan is the one who controls all the nations of this world, the same as he did back in the days of Jesus Christ. And he will continue to rule until Jesus Christ returns to this earth for his second appearance. But this time not as a humble servant, but as King of kings and Lord of lords, with all the power of heaven and all the angels of God, and all the saints with Him to take over the governments of this world, the governments of every nation. He will rule this world by the laws and commandments of God.

Why do you think that the traditional Christianity of today says that you don't have to keep God's laws, when Christ says that He's coming back and that everyone will know God, and that everyone will be keeping His laws and His commandments.

• Who are we to believe?
• Who do you want to put your faith in?
• What teachings do you want to put your faith in?
• What teachings should we put out faith in?

Verse 5: "For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ'; and they shall deceive… [not the few, but] …many." A true statement when you look at 'religion' and the world today, when you look at what is seen as Christianity, when you have a thousand and one different sects, different beliefs calling yourselves Christian, and they all disagree with one another. They are not doing as God says, obeying His voice!

There are very few, indeed, today who see that God wants us, God desires for us to keep His commandments in order to receive the blessings in this life, and immortality at the return of Jesus Christ; living forever!

Verse 6: "And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you do not let these things disturb you…." Those who are the true disciples of Christ, the true servants of Christ, one who hears His voice, one who keeps His commandants, as He has said that He wants us to do.

"…do not let these things disturb you. For it is necessary that all these things take place, but the end is not yet." (v 6). The disciples did not know—here we are 2,000 years down range from this prophecy that Jesus gave on the Mt. Of Olives—that Jesus Christ would not have returned in that period of 2,000 years. It was not revealed to them. They thought that He was going to come in their lifetime, and they all died, or they were all martyred for their faith, preaching and belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as have many since their day.

• What's going to happen?
• What did Jesus prophesy?

Verse 7: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom…"

• Have we seen this over the past 2,000 years?
• Have we not seen wars fought in the name of Christ?
• Is that God's way?

Not only shall "…nation shall rise against nation…" We're asking that today. Look at how many place that there are conflicts. Some of those are very concerning for us, or they should be. They should be giving us a warning that we need to change our ways and turn back to the ways of God. We have the departed from them!

The WE that we're talking about are the British peoples of the United Kingdom. All British peoples who have immigrated to other islands around the world, to other continents around the world, in fact, are the descendants of another people that goes back into the annals of history.

That's what we want to look at, because God has given specific instructions, specific prophecies about the British people. About what would happen to them because of the promise made to one man back in the history of the Bible: Abraham! The people of the British Isles have descendants of the sons of Abraham. We will look at that more closely.

But in these prophesies, or in this prophecy in Matt. 24, we do need to take care, we do need to be on guard, and there are things that we need to do. Unless we do, the evils that are coming upon us will come and we will suffer with everyone else.

There is a way of escape, and Jesus gives us that way of escape! It has to do with the laws and commandments of God. But it also has to do in the fact that we must believe that God exists!

That is becoming a very precious commodity in the British Isles, because Christianity—even traditional Christianity—is fast losing its way. Yet, as a people we are so proud of our heritage. We are so proud because we think that we became a great people, that we became the British Empire by the strength of our own arms! How deceived can we be?

The British Empire, the greatest empire to ever exist in the history of mankind, the British Navy that ruled the waves with great powers; so much so that during the South African war—during the Boer War—the whole British Army, the fighting forces, were able to be sent to So. Africa to fight that war with the sure knowledge that the British Navy alone could protect the homeland of the British Isles.

How far we have fallen since those days! Why is that God has broken the power of the British Empire? This is not just something that has happened by natural circumstances—NO! This has happened because we became so proud and so vain that today we walk in a vain show. We will not recognize the God of heaven Who gave us that greatness, that we could be called The Great British Empire, which today still does have a limited degree of power. But today we are under threat, all of the British people. Even our brothers in the United States of America. We don't see it! We want to look at some of those events that are sure to happen, as Jesus said here in Matt. 24:

Verse 7: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places."

Are we not seeing an increase in these events? This is not just because of our modern media. When we can see what is happening around the world, as we sit down in front of our television screens or on our iPads, computers and know what's going on in the far corners of the earth, almost moment by moment, as those events are happening; all the evils in the world!

• Have you noticed how negative the world news is?
• Have you noticed how negative the news coming out of the nations of this world is?
• Are you aware of the evil that is creeping up upon us?

We, in one sense if we're not careful, can be like the frog put in a pot on the stove, in cold water, and that water is heated up gradually, slowly. The frog does not realize what is happening until it is too late. The frog becomes cooked and he dies in the water.

• Are we going to be like that?
• Are you going to be like that?

or

• Are you going to be like Jesus said, "…Be on guard…"

For those who are the true followers, Jesus said, v 8: "Now, all these things are the beginning of sorrows."

• Would you say that we are in a time of sorrows today?
• When human life becomes so cheap to many people?
• Where we're prepared to kill/murder one another?
• Where we're prepared to butcher our unborn children?
• Where we're prepared to seek mediums?

Even our leaders, our political leaders—even royalty—seeking strange spirits. Not the Spirit of God, not the Word of God, for guidance. We have turned our backs on God, and we have rejected Him, and He is rejecting us! "…Be on guard…" as Jesus said.

We need to turn to His Word to see what He has to say, so that we then know that no other man or woman can deceive us, regardless of who they are.

"…these things are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to affliction, and shall kill you…" (vs 8-9). Why?

• because you accept the Word of God
• because you are following all the words of God
• you're living by every word that lives out the mouth of God
• you're preaching His Word
• You're publishing His Word

So, "…they deliver you up to affliction, and shall kill you; and you… [meaning the true followers of Jesus Christ as it was for Christ's apostles and followers in His day] …shall be hated by all nations for My name's sake" (v 9). Yes, true Christians shall be "…hated by all nations for My name's sake."

Now, there is going to be a false religious system, calling itself Christian, that is going to be behind the killing of the servants of God, just as it always has been down through the centuries.

Who do you think is behind this great 'religious' system? None other than Satan the devil, who 'appears as an angel of righteousness,' as the Apostle Paul tells us. Even Satan's ministers appear as 'ministers of righteousness.' In fact, they are ministers of darkness! They are Satan's servants and they are deceiving many, as Jesus said they would.

"…hated by all nations for My name's sake" because we accept the name of God. We take it and we follow that.

Verse 10: "And then shall many be led into sin, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." That is not the Christian way. Jesus goes on to show why this will take place:

Verse 11: "And many… [not the few] …false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many." Today there are men who are claiming 'I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am a true prophet of God.' They're making their prophecies, which fail. Jesus said, 'Don't believe them. I have not sent them, unless they are speaking according to My words' (Isa. 8).

Lead many to sin, betray one another, and "many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many." What did Jesus say that we read? Be on guard so that no one deceives you!

He's coming back to that. When Jesus or God the Father mentions something twice, They're telling us is to take note, don't forget, this is important! This is going to happen, and if you're not on guard you are going to be deceived.

Verse 12: "And because lawlessness shall be multiplied, the love of many shall grow cold." Can we understand that? Do you know what Jesus is saying here? "…because of lawlessness…" What is lawlessness? It means that where there is no law… Is the Law of God being preached from the pulpits of the churches today? No! What is being preached is lawlessness.

Because the churches, and those claiming to be Christians, are held accountable by God, and particularly those who have the role of ministers, those who have the role of 'religious' leaders, those who have the role of teaching these Scriptures, the Word of God. When they don't, what happens in society?

Well, in your churches it's okay if you're having illegitimate sex and you get pregnant that you can abort the child. It's okay if you're 'gay' you come to us and you want to get married, we'll marry you. Is this not lawlessness! You see, these things violate the laws and commandments of God! Jesus Himself, remember:

• the Son of God
• the One today Who is sitting at the right hand of God the Father
• the One Who is the Mediator of the New Covenant
  • founded and based on the blood of His own life
  • based on His obedience to God the Father in that He did not once sin

is saying that because "…lawlessness shall be multiplied, the love of many shall grow cold." That is true, even in the modern-day Christianity.

Verse 13: "But the one who endures to the end…" Jesus is talking about

• those who are faithful
• those who avoid being deceived
• those who listen to Him
• those who obey the laws and commandments given to us by God Almighty Himself

If you endure to the end, even if you have to endure unto blood and give up your life, being a person who is not lawless, but one who believe in and follows and practices the Law of God, which can convert the mind, change our lives and bring the blessings of God as He offers them to us.

Those "…who endures to the end that one shall be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom…" (vs 13-14)—the Kingdom of God, talking about the coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ where He's coming in the air in great power and glory, and He is going to setup His kingdom on earth and rule all nations, bringing peace, happiness and prosperity.

Today the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached and proclaimed. That's the responsibility of those whom God has called and sent them teachers of His Word. Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Today we have a gospel about Jesus, and we ignore His message. Jesus Christ is the focal point of the Kingdom of God, so the Kingdom of God is a message about the King: Jesus Christ and the Lamb of God Who was sacrificed for the sins of the world.

But Jesus came proclaiming that kingdom, saying that in the future He will return with all His Holy angels and all the saints, and they will set their foot on Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God will begin on earth.

When we die we're not going off to heaven. God's Word says that 'the dead know not anything.' It also says, 'the soul that sins it shall die' (book of Ezekiel). Back in the garden, Satan said to Adam and Eve, 'If you eat, if you disobey God, you won't die. Your mind will be opened, the scales will fall from your eyes and you will know the truth.' Well, God had already given them the Truth and they chose to disobey God.

In Gen. 5[transcriber's correction] you see the corollary to what God had said in opposition to what Satan had said. He said that 'you will not die because you've got an immortal soul.' LIE! Man does not have an immortal soul. When Go breathed into man, He breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living soul, which can die!

God put into the mind of Moses to write this. This man lived for 969 years as Methuselah and he died. You go to Gen. 5[transcriber's correction] and you will see that every man that lived and had his sons and daughters and he died.

When we die we go back to the earth. There is a spirit in man, which only has consciousness when man is alive. When man dies, that spirit—which is not his immortal soul—it the spirit in man that God put in man that goes back. That is the record of a man's life: his character and all that he ever did. That man or woman waits dead in the grave, the body turned back to dust until a resurrection. Only then will man become a living being again. (But that's another topic)

Matthew 24:14: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come."

So, this Gospel is being preached. And the Christian Biblical Church of God is dedicated to preaching that very Gospel, which encompasses the entirety of the Scriptures from the very first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter in the Bible, which is Rev. 22. The message of the Kingdom of God is spread right throughout the words of the Old Testament and the words of the New Testament. The words breathed to us and given to us by God!

That Word has a lot to do with the people of the British Isles and those who are the descendants of them scattered around the nations of the world. We're going to continue in that next time.

I would like to bring to your attention a new book that is called Two Nations that Changed the World—America and Britain—Their Biblical Origin and Prophetic Destiny by Philip Neal (our editor).

That's a book that you need to read. You can go online to cbcg.org and download your own personal copy so that you can read it in your own time, or you can request a hard copy.

Here at Church at Home we have a lot more to bring you about the British people: who they are and who are the people they are descended from. This is a message that is so important to the people of the United Kingdom today.

We need this knowledge! If we reject this knowledge—as most are today—then certainly the time of sorrows is only going to increase until we come into the end-time, a time to be feared by all man unless we turn to that One Source for our salvation! That Source is God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ!

Once again, thank you for inviting me into your home. Until next time, this is Lyle Johnston saying so long everyone!

Scriptural References: Matthew 24:1-14

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 4
• Isaiah 8
• Genesis 5

Also referenced: Book: Two Nations that Changed the World—America and Britain—Their Biblical Origin and Prophetic Destiny by Philip Neal

LJ:bo
Transcribed: 6-24-15

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