The Bible paints a pretty grim picture of what will be taking place at the ‘end of the age’. Do any of us know when that will actually occur? No, not really; but Paul seemed to suggest that the ‘end of the age’ was already here when he penned those words some 2000 years ago. (1 Cor. 10:11).

John added a little more sense of urgency declaring (back in his day) that it was already the ‘last hour’. (1 John 2:18). Here’s a provocative thought to chew on: Every generation has their own ‘end of the age’ and ‘final hour’...does it not? (Luke 21:32)

Let’s be honest here...are we not seeing ‘perilous times in the last days’ (2 Tim. 3:1-5) where they ‘call good evil and evil good’? (Isa. 5:20)

After Jesus shared some parables with the multitudes, He ‘sent them away to their homes’, and then His disciples came to Him asking for more explanation to what they had heard Him teach. Remember...He only reveals the ‘mysteries’ of the kingdom to His disciples... those who ‘come to Him’ (with their whole heart- Matt. 13:11). It was the parable of the ‘wheat and tares’ that He expounded upon (Matt. 13:36-43).

Notice there in vs. 39, His comment about how the ‘harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels’... Who or what do they ‘gather up’ first, to be dealt with? Hint- “all things that offend (cause sin) and those who practice 'lawlessness' (41) (break God’s law-1 John 3:4).

And who will be left...’shining as the sun in the kingdom of their Father’... the ‘righteous’, I believe it says there (43)? And who exactly are the ‘righteous’ ones? Obviously it is those who bore all the good fruit. (Matt. 3:10,12; 7:19; John 15:6; 1 John 3:4-8; 2:29).

Clearly...just ‘saying Lord, Lord’...is not some automatic pass into the kingdom of God. (Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46). You might take a quick look at 1 Pet. 4:17 and 2 Thess. 1:8 and circle that 4-letter word that distinguishes who is in grave danger of falling into judgement when those ‘angels’ come to sort it all out. Did you catch that part about those who do not ...’obey’ the gospel? Did Jesus not come preaching the ‘gospel of the kingdom’ with a message of ‘repentance’? (Matt. 4:17). And what was His warning to any and all ... who failed to repent? (Luke 13:3,5)

Am I starting to sound like a ‘broken record’ here? (funny...but how many young people have no idea what that expression even means anymore?). So what was the somber warning and exhortation given there in Hebrews 3:12-19 regarding the ‘deceitfulness of sin’, and how often were we advised to be exhorted?(13). Do you sense the urgency in Paul’s words there in 2 Cor. 7:1?

Friends....the first time Jesus came to the earth, He came as a ‘Lamb’, gentle and meek. And the religious ‘experts’ of the day missed it altogether. They were anticipating the Messiah to come in a different manner. And guess what? He’s coming back again, but this time as a ‘lion’ and as a ‘thief’. Interesting side note here, but who else is compared to a ‘lion’ in 1 Pet. 5:8, and tell me again what a ‘thief’ does? (John 10:10) You might also take a look at Rev. 3:3 and 16:15, along with 1 Thess. 5:2 and Matt. 24:42-44.

Do you think it is remotely possible that many of the ‘religious experts’ of today...could make the same mistake their counterparts did the first time around when Jesus appeared on the scene? That would be the same crowd that were preaching a ‘peace and safety’ message back in Jeremiah’s days before judgement came on the people of God. Do a quick review of Jer. 23:16-20, and make note of verse 19 that talks about the ‘storm of the Lord going forth in anger’. Oh, and when was it suggested that this would all be so clearly understood? (20)

I remember back in Texas how we’d always get those ‘storm warning alerts’ telling us to ‘seek shelter immediately!’. (That was when I usually grabbed my cameras and drone and headed out to take pictures). But in all seriousness, that is the message I feel compelled to continue sounding the alarm for...that we better be ‘seeking shelter immediately’; and there is only one sure-fire place of true shelter- and that is ‘abiding in the secret place of the Most High’. (Ps. 91:1-4). We’ll take a look at that Psalm of promise tomorrow, Lord willing.