It is always a joy to repost the wonderfully written messgaes from my dear friend and brother in Christ, Alf Hutchinson of Obadiah Outreach Ministries in South Africa. There are few brothers and sister who I agree more with each others deep understanding of God's word. Todays message is extremely important (as they all are); but this particular one should be a blaring clarion wake up call to the many Christians on the Internet, especially, who those who need to tighten up their walk with Christ!
WHO ARE THE DECEIVED ELECT?
24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders todeceive, if possible, even the elect.
Jesus warns us that false prophets and teachers would arise in the last days, prior to His return; and they would be so convincing that they would, if it were possible, deceive even the elect…
Firstly we have to put to bed exactly who is, or who are, the ELECT…Some would have us believe that they are Jewish believers, who have come through the great tribulation…some say that they are only OT Saints…but we care not what people say; what do the Holy Scriptures reveal? Paul tells us that the elect are those who believe in Jesus; and are the elect of God…known as the ecclesia; both OT and NT elect…Called out by God
ROM 11:7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it,and the rest were blinded.
COL 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
TI 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith ofGod's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
If you are reading this missive and have given your life to Jesus, repented, and are walking in His ways …you are one of His elect…
The Holy Scriptures tell us that Jesus said that people would be deceived …but then goes on to insinuate, that this deception will be so clever and cunning that if it were possible, even the elect, His chosen ones would be deceived ….and that dear reader includes you ! Deception is taking place in the church to-day and many are being deceived.
Our Bibles are simple to read and understand, there are no hidden agendas…there are no secret ‘Rapture’ escapes to Heaven…there are no people who are going to be ‘left behind’ to face ‘Hell on earth’…there are no 144000 now living in heaven…there are no references to any man or woman getting any extra revelation, other than what is written in the Holy Scriptures…they are sufficient unto salvation …Jesus did not die for only a chosen few…Jesus died for every man and woman that God has ever breathed life into… JN 3:15 "thatwhoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.… God loves His creation and those He created…Matt 18:14 "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. We perish because we don’t take up His offer, or we do and then return to our old lives…We must understand that being saved isn’t a magical ‘quick fix’ and we are saved immediately, forever …being saved is a difficult path and it is an ongoing process Matt7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
7:14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
We are initially saved by God’s Grace and Grace alone; but Paul reminds us PHIL 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Jesus’ brother James put it more succinctly James2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?...In a nutshell what is being conveyed by both Paul and James is that once you have committed your life to Christ Jesus put that faith into works…remember well what Jesus thought of the servant whom he gave one Talent to; and he did nothing with it …was he welcomed into the Kingdom ? No… he was caste into the outer darkness…Matt 25:30 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
If I am to believe “Once saved always saved” then why did Jesus insists MT 24:13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved…the obverse of this statement would surely imply"But he who does not endure to the end shall not be saved…
Over the last century there have been more secular books which lead people away from the truth of the Holy Bible, than those which lead us to the simple truth. But, humans being human (and sinful) just love to have there ears tickled…Paul saw us coming two thousand years ago2TM 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
To-day great deception is upon us; and we, en masse, are falling for the lies…I admit without hesitation that I was totally deceived myself… but I thank God that I was put on the correct track again…I was one of those elect whom Jesus talked of; and I say it unashamedly …I was deceived…but I am still under construction …clay in my Potter’s precious Hands …and teachable.
I had visited Jerusalem several times to do God’s work; and felt that it was a cursed city. I wrote a missive in 2001 on how I felt…God gave me a vivid vision on the old Roman streets of Jerusalem in an archeological dig below the via Delarosa. A daytime vision of Jews dying, woman being ravaged in the streets, and I stood amongst the carnage as if it were real and actually happening there and then, all around me… It is without doubt the most fearful experience I have ever had in my 68 years upon this earth…The people were in great tribulation and still it has taken nearly 10 years for me to at last say…Jerusalem is truly cursed and is Babylon; and that the present day Israel is the whore of Revelation…and Holy Scripture verifies the fact.
REV 18:20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" 18:21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.(Don’t be confused by the millstone and the sea; they are used metaphorically to represent judgment …remember what Jesus said about those who would cause His Children to falter and stumble? MK 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.)
Zech14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
14:2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
There are Jews in Israel…there are Palestinians in Israel, and they are all God’s creation…none was made better than the other...they all need the Gospel in order to be saved…we cannot choose which neighbor we must love…
JOHN 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Yours In His Name
Alf Hutchison
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I agree with Hutchison that "all need the Gospel in order to be saved" - whether Jew or Gentile, whether Palestinian or non-Palestinian. The Gospel of Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter: that all are sinners who need Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and for the certainty of eternal life. May the Lord continue to bless and exalt the ministry of Bro. Hutchison. Ruth
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