Sunday study: Gross Darkness and the Harbingers of the Advent

Sunday study:  Gross Darkness and the Harbingers of the Advent 

27/09/20

The scriptures begin by teaching us that " And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" Genesis 1:2. It is interesting to understand that God as it was in the beginning God's Spirit is "upon the face of the waters" , in Revelation 17, we understand that the waters in Bible prophecy represent people, so in this world of darkness, God's Spirit is ministering until the Day Star arises in our hearts. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" 2 Peter 1:19.  It is interesting also that in the midst of the gross darkness Christ speaks light, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee" Isaiah 60:2. To appreciate the light, we need to "eschew evil", and the same Jesus who "... who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" 2 Corinthians 4:6 is going to  "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" Psalm 51:10. So when there is darkness, we should know that there is a promise of light "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" Genesis 1:3. So those who allow the Word of God to have an abiding influence in their life will have the mind of Jesus even in the midst of the gross darkness, the same voice that spoke light into existence, says to us in 2020 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" Philippians 2:5.

It seems like yesterday when we all were welcoming this new decade, 2020 has been an eventful year though we still have two months to go and time is certainly too short and moving too fast. The year began with people in the world and the church all talking about the 20/20 vision but instead we all were blind or in darkness in regards to the "sudden" calamity caused by the pestilence in the form of Covid19 pandemic which has moved us into dark and mind boggling era. Certainly our vision has scales and we behold ever changing events darkly. Many of us in early March were caught up in the panic buying for 'toilet paper' and basic necessities as the harbingers of strange disease from China arriving in London woke us up from our  ease to unsettled us. Our memory cards on our smartphones were afterwards clogged with viral videos, some jesting or warning us about some mobile towers and the 5G. We afterwards entered a period of never ending death rate count and lockdowns; currently under a draconian rule of six which surrenders our cherished human rights . The events in the US gripped the world under a cloud of racial tensions, the BLM movement coupled with Antifa anarchists soon  began riots and lootings which are reported to have cost over $2 billion in insurance claims. The tension over SCOTUS, US 2020 elections, Chinese/ US cold war etc are all harbingers of the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. I truly believe that the events of this year aroused many from their stupor, perhaps we needed the spirit filled zoom meetings instead, " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose " Romans 8:28 . The lockdown seems to be an opportunity to be in the wilderness and have an experience with the Lord away from the influences of our peers.  Unless we use the this lockdown as time to mend our nets away from the 'seas', we would have missed the opportunity to replenish our Spiritual supplies in preparation for an inevitable stupendous crisis. We will soon be in need of a faith that cannot be moved, a faith that endures weariness, hunger and delay until we hear the voice of Jesus applauding the patience of the saints.

Our scripture reading is taken from : Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee".

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. - Revelation 18:1

After the darkness in regards to the Covid19, who really can say they know what will happen tomorrow? "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" Proverbs 29:18. So having the law of God which is love to God and neighbour is happiness even when sudden calamity comes our way. Living within the revealed will of God is knowledge and understanding, prediction though important are of no value is knowledge is not coupled by necessary works of obedience. " For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, declaring the woes that were to come upon the city. By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge, “A voice from the east; a voice from the west; a voice from the four winds; a voice against Jerusalem and the temple; a voice against the bridegroom and the bride; and a voice against all the people.” This strange being was imprisoned and scourged; but no complaint escaped his lips. To insult and abuse he answered only, “Woe to Jerusalem! woe, woe to the inhabitants thereof!” His warning cry ceased not until he was slain in the siege he had foretold"GC88 30.3.

Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign. “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,” said Jesus, “then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out.” [Luke 21:20, 21.] After the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack. The besieged, despairing of successful resistance, were on the point of surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his forces, without the least apparent reason. But God’s merciful providence was directing events for the good of his own people. The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was afforded for all who would to obey the Saviour’s warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from Jerusalem, pursued after his retiring army, and while both forces were thus fully engaged, the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city. At this time the country also had been cleared of enemies who might have endeavored to intercept them. At the time of the siege, the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested. Without delay they fled to a place of safety,—the city of Pella, in the land of Perea, beyond Jordan. - GC88 30.4

We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for God’s mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil one. But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but he leaves the rejecters of his mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown. Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown, which yields its unfailing harvest. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan. The destruction of Jerusalem is a fearful and solemn warning to all who are trifling with the offers of divine grace, and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy. Never was there given a more decisive testimony to God’s hatred of sin, and to the certain punishment that will fall upon the guilty. - GC88 36.2

Let men beware lest they neglect the lesson conveyed to them in the words of Christ. As he warned his disciples of Jerusalem’s destruction, giving them a sign of the approaching ruin, that they might make their escape, so he has warned the world of the day of final destruction, and has given them tokens of its approach, that all who will may flee from the wrath to come. Jesus declares, “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations.” [Luke 21:25; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-26; Revelation 6:12-17.] Those who behold these harbingers of his coming are to “know that it is near, even at the doors.” [Matthew 24:33.] “Watch ye therefore,” [Mark 13:35.] are his words of admonition. They that heed the warning shall not be left in darkness, that that day should overtake them unawares. But to them that will not watch, “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” - GC88 38.1

The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than were the Jews to receive the Saviour’s warning concerning Jerusalem. Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in money-making; when religious leaders are magnifying the world’s progress and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security,—then, as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly, “and they shall not escape.” [1 Thessalonians 5:2-5.] GC88 38.2

To be continued...