What name? The name of Jesus -- the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last! The same Jesus that the apostles stated, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) The same Jesus who invites us to believe in Him.
"Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with Me. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Then He said, "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:20-22)
Nowadays, it is not unusual to hear people talking about the latter days. The prophecies in the Bible that refer to the end times tells us of the earthly things that will transpire -- famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. (Matthew 24:4-51) But therein, Jesus also said that many false prophets would rise and deceive many who believe ... "and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12)
In this same chapter, we are forewarned that "when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place" the great tribulation will begin -- "such as was not [seen] since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:21) These end times are so serious that Jesus said, "Except those days should be shortened, there should be no flesh saved."
But this end time does not emerge without due notice. Hosea warned of this day when he wrote: "The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Hosea 4:1) This is why Hosea concluded: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. [And] because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me, seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God." (Hosea 4:6)
As a consequence of rejecting the Lord and Saviour, Hosea wrote that the people "shall eat and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom and shall not increase because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery ... the wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices." (Hosea 4:10-19)
Why does this happen? Because when the Lord desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings, men transgressed the covenant. "There have they dealt treacherously against Me." (Hosea 6:6-7)
Note that this message does not only apply to the old covenant. In the new testament, Jesus said that the knowledge of His Word would be replaced by false teachings and false prophets. Jesus warned us that "If any man shall say unto you, "Lo, here is the Christ or there"; believe it not, for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs, and wonders, insomuch that "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:23-24)
But the good news is that our Lord God and Saviour never fails those who believe in His name. Therefore, "come and let us return to the Lord for ... He will heal us ... He will bind us up ... He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3)
Therefore, return to the knowledge and wisdom that comes from knowing Jesus personally. Believe on our Lord who knew no sin -- but willingly became sin so that we could experience His abundant love and grace. Read the scriptures daily. Meditate on His Word. Know that whatever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus, including water baptism.
Most of all, trust in the Christ who "was once offered to bear the sins of man" who will in that day bring unto Him "them that look for Him [when] He appear[s] the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28) The one who will shorten the last days "for the elect's sake."
"Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever." (Revelation 1:5-6)
Stand in the offering plate.
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