Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament epistle which was written by Jude the brother of James. More specifically, today’s passage is found in verses seventeen through twenty-five of the epistle. When this epistle opens, it does so first with Jude introducing himself as the servant of Jesus Christ, and as the brother of James. The audience Jude is writing to are those which were sanctified by God the Father, as well as preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. I have previously written concerning the great freedom men like Jude and James, as well as the apostles Peter and Paul had when writing their epistles, for they opened their epistles—not only with their name, but also with a direct reference to Jesus Christ, and their association with him. It’s important that we recognize and understand this, for when you come to the epistles which were written by the apostle John, you will not find any mention of his name at the opening of the epistle, nor will you find any declaration of association with Jesus Christ. This isn’t to say that the apostle John was somehow ashamed of Jesus Christ, or of His name, but rather a statement of the turbulent, dark and dangerous times the apostle lived in. If you study and examine the time and dating in which the epistles written by John were composed, you will find that they were written in the year 90 AD—a clearly dark and dangerous time to be living as a Christian within the Roman Empire, and under the dark shadow that empire cast upon the earth. By the time the apostle John wrote his three epistles, twenty years had passed since the destruction of the Jewish Temple which stood in the city of Jerusalem, as well as the fire which had wreaked havoc, devastation and destruction within the city of Rome. If you study the history of the Roman Empire during the days following the death, crucifixion, burial and ascension of Jesus the Christ, and even after the Day of Pentecost you will find that nearly thirty years after the Day of Pentecost took place within the city of Jerusalem, there was a fire which wreaked tremendous havoc, devastation and destruction within the city before finally being contained after six days had passed. For six days a fire burned within the city of Rome, and it would be this great fire which burned in Rome that would have a dramatic impact and affect on the Christian community within the city. There are many who believed that Nero was responsible for the fire, and even “fiddled” while the fire burned within the confines of the city. Nero, however, would blame the Christians for the great fire within the city, and it would be this blame, this accusation, this word of judgment against the Christinas that would cause a great persecution to break out against the Christian community within the city.

It’s actually quite interesting to consider that in the year 64 A.D. a great fire was ignited within the city of Rome, and that this great fire was blamed on the Christian community. What’s more, is that only six years later the Roman tenth legion would enter into the city of Jerusalem, unleash devastation and destruction, and would ultimately bring about the destruction of the second Jewish Temple which stood upon the Temple Mount. Six years had already passed since the great fire had burned a great portion of the capital city of Rome, and there was again conflict within the Roman Empire, as the Roman army entered into the capital city of Jerusalem and utterly destroyed the Jewish Temple which stood upon the Temple Mount. By the time we come to the writing of the epistles which the apostle John wrote in the year 90 A.D., we find a great cloud, and a great foreboding being upon the Christian community within the Roman Empire. When the apostle John wrote and sent his three epistles during that time, he sent them during an incredibly difficult time for Christians who were living under the dark and foreboding shadow of the Roman Empire. When the apostle John wrote these three epistles, there was such an intense persecution which broke out against the Christian community that it was incredibly difficult for Christians to speak of Christ openly and freely among those around them. As a direct result of the great fire which broke out within the city of Rome, Christians were now living under the dark shadow of being blamed for the fire—an indictment and accusation that would give Nero all the grounds he needed to persecute the Christians who were living in the Roman Empire. I can’t help but think about what it was like for Christians to live during that time, for not only did they have to deal with and face the accusation of being responsible for setting fire to Rome, but they also had to deal with an intense persecution which broke out against them as a direct result of that blame. What’s more is that only six years later Rome itself would enter into the city of Jerusalem, and would utterly and completely destroy the Jewish Temple which stood on the Temple Mount. Think about this for a second, for for six years the Temple of the Holy Spirit was being persecuted and coming under intense attack and spiritual warfare, and now the physical Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem was destroyed. What we must recognize and realize, is that while the physical and natural Temple which stood in the city of Jerusalem was in fact utterly and completely destroyed by fire, the spiritual Temple of the Holy Spirit—a temple that was made without human hands and given birth by the very person of Jesus Christ when the promise of the Father was released within he earth.

This epistle which was written by Jude the brother of James was written in the year 66 A.D., which dates it only two years after the great fire which burned within the capital city of Rome. Scripture is unclear where Jude was when he wrote this epistle, but one thing we do know for sure is that this epistle was dated only two years after the great fire within Rome led to the great persecution which would break out against the Christians within the empire. What makes this particular epistle so incredibly interesting, is that within the epistle itself Jude makes no mention or reference to persecution, to affliction, to suffering, and to opposition during that time period. If you take the time to truly read and study the epistle which was written by Jude the brother of James, and the servant of Jesus Christ, you will find that Jude focused his attention on a completely different threat that rose up against the Church and body of Jesus Christ. I have often used the words which our Lord Jesus Christ Himself spoke when speaking unto His disciples concerning the two great threats which faced, and which will continue to face the Church of Jesus throughout the years. If you turn and direct your attention to the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel of Matthew you will find some incredibly powerful language spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ concerning the Last Days, and concerning the end of times. Within the words which Jesus spoke unto His disciples, you will find that He specifically warned against two distinct assaults and attacks that would come against His followers and disciples in the last days—an assault and attack that would come from within, and an assault and an attack that would come from without. If we are going to truly understand the words which Jesus the Christ spoke in this passage of Scripture, it is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize this twin threat that would rise up against the body of Christ within the earth. The words which we find in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s gospel bring us face to face with the tremendous difficulty and challenges the body of Christ will face during the last days—such that will try both their patience, as well as their endurance. Consider if you will the words which are found and recorded in this particular chapter within Matthew’s gospel beginning with the first verse:

“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew him the buildings of the Temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 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? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows…

“Then shall the deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure. Unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come…

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand) then let them which be in Judaea, flee into the mountains: let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together…

“Immediately after the great tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:1-35).

As you read the words which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke on this particular occasion you will find that He spoke of two distinct realities which would face the Church and body of believers in the coming days and times. On the one hand you have the body of Christ facing the threat of deception by those who profess themselves to be Christ, and from those who perform great signs, wonders and miracles, so as to deceive—if it were even possible, the very elect. If you read the words which Jesus spoke in this passage of Scripture, you will find that He began by instructing them to take heed and to be caution and careful that no man deceive them. When responding to their inquiry concerning the sign of His coming, Jesus immediately directed their attention and their focus to guarding themselves against being deceived, and then transitioned to an emphatic declaration that many will come in His name declaring themselves to be Christ, and as a result of their declaration, many will be deceived. For the longest time I have read these words and have thought and believed that what Jesus was saying was that there would be many who would come in His name and would declare themselves to be Jesus Christ—either in flesh for the first time, or in the flesh for the second time. For the longest time I believed that there would be those who would rise up among us and would declare themselves to be the Christ, and yet the more I look at and examine history, the more I can’t help but think that there haven’t been a great number of individuals who are declaring themselves to be Christ. It wasn’t until reading this very passage this year that I began looking upon the words of Jesus and thinking that maybe what He was referencing and speaking about was not many coming in His name and declaring that they are in fact Jesus Christ, but many who would come in His name and declaring relationship, association and affiliation with Jesus Christ. If you study the word “Christian,” you will notice that the root word is the name of Jesus Christ, thus directly connecting Christians with Christ. When I read of Jesus speaking of those coming in His name and declaring that they are Christ, I can’t help but think and believe that what they are actually doing is declaring themselves to be “Christ’s,” as in Christ’s followers, and Christ’s disciples. I can’t help but be reminded of the words which our Lord spoke unto those who gathered round about Him to listen to Him give His famous Sermon on the Mount:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it…

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gathere grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them…

“not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:12-23).

When I read the words which our Lord spoke—not only in His famous Sermon on the Mount, but also in His Olivet Discourse—I can’t help but be absolutely gripped and consumed with the fact that one of the greatest dangers facing the church of Jesus Christ is deception—deception through false brethren, deception through false apostles, deception through false teachers, and deception through false prophets. In this Olivet Discourse in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s gospel Jesus instructs and warns the disciples to guard themselves against deception, and to take heed that no one deceives them. Jesus then transitions and declares unto them how many would come in His name, saying they are Christ, and will deceive many. Jesus would break from this subject of deception and speak of wars and rumors of wars that will be heard within the earth, as nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. What’s more, is that in those days there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All of these—Jesus declared—would be the beginning of sorrows, but the end would not yet come. After speaking of these “beginning of sorrows,” Jesus then goes on to emphatically declare unto the disciples that in those days they will be delivered up to be afflicted, and to be killed, and they would be hated of all nations for His name’s sake. Jesus goes on to declare that during those days many will be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Following these words, Jesus redirects and turns his attention once more to the tremendous danger of deception, for He warns that many false prophets will rise, and deceive many. During those days of false prophets rising up and deceiving many, and as a result of iniquity abounding, the love of many shall wax cold. This would not be the only mention of deception Jesus would make within this passage of Scripture, for Jesus would go on to warn His disciples that if any man says unto them, “Lo, here is Christ, or there,” they were to believe it not, for there will be false Christ’s and false prophets, which will shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived. Within this discourse with His disciples, Jesus held no punches, but instead warned His disciples of two great assaults and attacks which would rise up against the church of Jesus Christ during the last days—deception and persecution.

I have long believed that two of the enemy’s greatest tactics and strategies against the church of Jesus Christ is deception, as all as persecution. What’s more, is that I don’t even necessarily believe that both can, and even will occur at the same time. I believe that the enemy and adversary will seek to destroy the church from within using deception, and deception through false prophets, false teachers, false apostles, false brethren, and even false Christs. I find the words which the Lord spoke to be incredibly intriguing and somewhat challenging—particularly and especially when He spoke of and declared that there would be false Christs and false prophets which would rise up during the last days. In the twenty-fourth verse of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus aptly summarizes this great deception that would come upon and come against the church by not only speaking of false prophets that would seek to deceive the elect through false teaching and false doctrine, but also speaking of false Christs who would deceive the elect through false testimony. I can’t help but find the words which Jesus speaks in this twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s gospel to be particularly captivating—especially in light of what we find in the twenty-third chapter of the same book. In the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s gospel we find Jesus speaking of the last days, and the deception that would come against the church and body of Jesus Christ, but in the twenty-third chapter we find Jesus directly confronting and indicting the religious community during that day. In fact, immediately after indicting the religious community that was found to be present during His day, Jesus then begins speaking to His disciples concerning the last days, and the tremendous deception that would take place during those days. When speaking of false Christs, I can’t help but think of those false brethren who would creep in among us professing a false testimony concerning Christ, in order that they might infiltrate our ranks, sow seeds of discord, deceit and dissent, and wreak havoc in the church. I can’t help but be reminded of the words which the apostle Paul wrote—not only unto the Corinthian congregation, but also unto the churches which were in Galatia. Consider if you will the words which the apostle wrote unto the Corinthian congregation, as well as the words which were written unto the churches which are in Galatia:

“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through His subtitle, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with me. For I supposed I was not a white behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed and offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I. Keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their work” (2 Corinthians 11:1-15).

“Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by name means I should run, or had run in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: and that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepted no man’s person) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conferenced added nothing to me” (Galatians 2:1-6).

Within these two passages, the apostle Paul not only speaks of those who masquerade themselves as agents and ministers of light, but also of false brethren who creep in unaware among us, so as to spy out the liberty that is found in Christ, as well as to bring us into bondage, affliction, and oppression. The apostle Paul was very concerned about deception which would seek to infiltrate the ranks of the body of Christ through false prophets, false teachers, and false prophets who would bring with them false doctrine and false teaching, as well as that which would enter into the church through false brethren and false Christ’s—those who professed a testimony concerning Jesus Christ, and yet their lives point to the exact opposite. We dare not miss the tremendous significance of the words which our Lord spoke unto His disciples, for when referencing and speaking concerning the Last Days, He not only warned of false prophets who will bring false teaching and doctrine, as well as signs, wonders and miracles, but also of false Christs—those who profess allegiance to and relationship with Jesus the Christ, and yet whose lives deny any such reality being manifested. I find the words which our Lord spoke in the twenty-third chapter of the New Testament gospel of Matthew to somehow be linked to what we find and read in the twenty-fourth chapter, for I am convinced that we find and what we see within the Pharisees and religious community during Jesus’ day, we also see in the Last Days, and will continue to see among the saints of Jesus Christ. As surely as we speak of false Christs and false brethren, we must speak to the tremendous hypocrisy that will not only infiltrate the church of Jesus Christ, but will also seek to deceive the saints of God. Consider if you will the words which our Lord spoke in the company, in the presence, and in the hearing of the Pharisees, the scribes, the elders, and the religious system that was in place during His generation:

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalted himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted…

“But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer the them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye Belinda guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And who’s shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the others undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and says, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:1-33).

Pay close attention to the words which our Lord spoke concerning the scribes and Pharisees, for I am convinced that the indictment he lobbied against them can, will and does directly apply to many false brethren and false Christs who enter in among us, and will seek to thrust the body of Christ into confusion, chaos, dissent, and deception. When you come to the epistle which was written by Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, you will find him not writing concerning persecution, nor concerning affliction, nor concerning suffering, but rather, concerning deception. Within this epistle we find Jude writing unto those which were sanctified by God the father, and preserved in Jesus Christ that it was needful for him to write unto them, in order that he might exhort them to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude then launches into a lengthy statement concerning false brethren, false teachers, false apostles, and false prophets that will creep in among the saints of God. Jude spends a great deal of time, effort and energy writing concerning the nature of these false brethren and false teachers which will creep in among the body of Christ before turning the attention back to the saints themselves, and instructing them to bu9ild themselves up on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, and keeping themselves in the love of God while they look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Towards the end of this epistle, Jude provides a wonderful and powerful word of instruction unto those to whom the epistle was written—namely, that the saints of God and body of Christ were to have compassion as they made a difference in the world, and among themselves. Within this epistle Jude speaks of two distinct groups of individuals—those whom we were to exercise and display compassion toward as we make a difference, and those whom we are to save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. As these words mark—not only the final epistle written within the New Testament, but also the series of writings I have undertaken this year—I can’t help but be intimately and wonderfully challenged that in these Last Days we are to be such who not only exercise and show compassion on some as we seek to make a difference, but we are also to save others with fear, pulling them out of the fire. SHOWING COMPASSION, SAVING WITH FEAR! I am firmly convinced that in these last days there is a great and tremendous need to pull countless men and women out of the fire—out of the very fire of hell which not only consumes them, but also threatens their eternal state. There are those who see the fire and run away from it in the opposite direction, and there are others who see the fire and run towards it in order that they might seek as many as they can save. The question we must ask ourselves is not only whether or not we see the fire, but whether or not we are going to be those which run toward the fire in order that we might save as many as we can with and through fear. Oh that we would be a people who do exercise and show compassion as we make a difference, but that we would be those who see the fire, run toward the fire, and seek to save as many as we can from the fire. Will you be one who sees the fire and runs toward it in order that you might save as many as you can, or will you be one who sees the fire and runs away from it in the opposite direction?