If ‘judgment is to begin first at the house of God’, as Peter indicates...(1 Pet. 4:17), it might not be a bad idea to have a better grasp as to what this ‘judgment of God’ looks like, and how it plays out. And if you are of the ‘school of thought’ that ever since Jesus died on a cross...that God no longer deals with sin in the church because Jesus took all that ‘punishment’...can you explain what happened to Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5; or maybe elaborate on Paul’s counsel in dealing with sexual immorality in 1 Cor. 5:5.

What I have laid out here the past few days is a study of OT examples where God brought judgment on the world, and even more specifically, on His people. That’s as good a place to begin studying where we can better understand what God’s wrath is, why it’s ‘poured’ out, and what it looks like in the process. I say this can be beneficial given what God told Jeremiah how ‘His people don’t know His judgements’ (8:7; 5:4). And let’s not forget we are told to be ‘mindful of the words of the prophets’ of old, given that all of them, from Samuel on, have foretold of these days’. (Acts 3:24-26; 2 Pet. 3:1-2)

Tragically, many unsuspecting ‘believers’ today have been lulled into either a deep sleep, deception, or a false sense of security where they need not be concerned with any ‘judgments’ since they will be ‘long gone’ ...compliments of the ‘rapture’. Or else they’ve been told that even if the rapture is delayed, ‘nothing bad’ will happen to them despite their ongoing lifestyle of living in sin and/or the flesh...’because they trust in Jesus’. (Jer. 23:16-20; Heb. 10:26-31)

Surely we all know the link Jesus drew to the ‘days of Noah’ and His eminent return, saying ‘as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of Man returns...” (Matt. 24:37-39). How did Noah and his family escape the destruction of God’s wrath and judgment? By ‘entering the ark’. Friends, I hope by now you realize that today, we ‘enter the ark’ by being ‘in Christ’ ...by abiding in Him (Ps. 91; 1 John 3:6; 5:18). I would hope we could all agree that there is no better place to be than abiding in Jesus...regardless of when a raptures takes place or tribulations come. And scripture paints out for us what that looks like, to abide in Him. (John 15:1-8; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:6-9; 5:18) Can we bear lasting fruit if we are not abiding in Jesus? And what was the warning from John the Baptist in Matt. 3:7-12?

We’re going to jump back and forth from OT to NT in today’s study because it’s important we see a direct connection and how relevant what the writers of old passed down to us. So let’s first begin with the parable of the great banquet which Jesus shared in Matt. 22:1-14. Those first seven verses may ‘step on some toes’ as it portrays an easy ‘rut’ or pattern many of God’s children can fall into...which can lead to a ‘drifting’ (Heb. 2:1; James 1:22). I also hope you recall our lesson from the other day as to why Jesus taught in ‘parables’ (Matt. 13:13-15), and who He makes them clear to, those ‘mysteries’... woven deep within them.

Despite the constant and repeated calls to those who were invited to come and get ready for this wedding (Matt. 22:3), it appears that other things had become more of a priority for them. I mean...really...who has time, or even serious interest in ‘making one’s self ‘holy and blameless’ as they prepare for the coming of the bridegroom? (Matt. 25:10; Eph. 5:26-27; Rev. 19:7-8; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:1; 1 John 3:3). Did Jesus not say these people ‘made light of it'...and ‘went their own way? (Matt. 22:5)

Apparently, the patience of the king wore thin...to the point his ‘anger’ was aroused and he became furious (7). Anyone recall what we learned about God’s ‘anger’ from 2 Sam. 24:1 and 1 Chron. 21:1? So who did the king ‘send out’ (or ‘unleash’) to ‘destroy those murderers and burn up their city’? Does your Bible say he sent out his ‘armies’? If you have been giving some serious time and study to the messages this past week, I would hope & pray that some ‘more pieces should be coming together’ here for you about now.

Is it possible that those folks who were so busy ‘making light of and going their own way’ ...may have ‘missed the time of their visitation’? (Jesus shared a similar example in Luke 14:18-20). Would you please now turn to Luke 19:41-44 and read that slowly. Why are we told that Jesus, once again...is found to be weeping? There is much to ‘unpack’ in these next few verses as we read the chilling words Jesus spoke, comments about if they had only known what would bring them a genuine peace (as opposed to a false peace and security that many find themselves walking in today- (Jer. 23:16-17; Ezek. 13:10; 1 Thess. 5:2-3; Deut. 29:19)

What does Jesus then foretell will happen in the coming days in vs. 43? Who is our ‘enemy’ today? And what are these enemies going to do? Does your Bible say they will ‘build and embankment and close in? (anyone remember the passage I told you to make note of in Hab. 1:10 yesterday?). No need to get bogged down with this minor detail, but you realize when one ‘builds and embankment, that you do this ‘little by little’, whether you are cutting down trees to stack up or pushing up piles of dirt and stones. And who is going to be ‘leveled’ as a result of this ‘enemy’ ...coming in... like a flood? And once more, why will this all unfold in such a tragic manner, based on the recorded words of Jesus in vs 44?

Friends...what was the earnest plea and warning from Jesus that we read in Luke 13:1-5? And what was Peter’s words of assurance found in 2 Pet. 3:9?

Let’s finish up with Matt. 23:37. This most likely dovetails in with the passage in Luke 19 we just read, as we hear Jesus lament over Jerusalem, expressing how He wanted nothing more than to gather her children unto Him as a mother hen does her chicks. But they ‘were not willing’. He’s not going to force you to lay your life down, but it is His ‘kindness that leads us to repentance’ (Rom. 2:4; Ps. 23:3)...if we are ready to follow Him, as opposed to just...‘accept Him’ as you ‘say you believe He’s the Son of God’ (Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46)

Now I realize some will want to point out what Jesus was ‘seeing’ ...was the coming destruction of the city when the Romans would come in and level the place in 70 A.D. And I’m not here to dispute that. All I want to point out, which the Holy Spirit will need to confirm ...is there is a ‘prophetic’ layer or element to this that may very well apply to ‘every generation’ who each has their own ‘last days’ and ‘end of the age’. (Matt. 23:36; 1 Cor. 10:11-12). Tomorrow, a closer look at these ‘armies’ that will carry out God’s judgments and wrath.