NOT EVEN THE ANGELS KNOW

Newsletter 179      February 6, 2010

Bob Mills

I remember a time when I was a young child, it must have been my birthday as my aunts and uncles were in our home, and that happened only on very rare occasions, such as our birthdays. My mother was the only one in her family of six siblings who had any children at all, and in ours there were only two surviving brothers. Our minister had preached a sermon in which he set that day as the day the Lord would return. One aunt and uncle, who had not heard that sermon, had very different opinions. Of course, that was not the day. Neither were the days that have been set over the years by various zealous church leaders. I recall one congregation in Johannesburg, South Africa in which many members sold their belongings and gathered in their worship center almost constantly so they would be together and ready when He came. I don’t know why they sold everything. They certainly could not carry cash with them. None of these were right. Not even the angels know. (Matthew 24:36)

But, we can, and do, know that he is coming again. We know, because He has promised to return, and He keeps His promises. Matthew takes two whole chapters to record many of Christ’s parables on the subject. Hopefully, you will read them.

Matthew 24:34-39 King James Version

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 10:23, Matthew 16:28, Matthew 23:36)

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33)

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7)

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 30:39, Genesis 6:5, Genesis t:6-23)

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, (Matthew 22:10, Genesis 7:7)

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 16:27, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:37)

Some of these parables bear witness of the undeniable truth of the whole in that they were fulfilled, even in the life time of the hearers (Matthew 24:34), when Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple worship came to an abrupt end in the year 70 AD. You can be certain that when that happened, the Christians looked for the rest also to be soon. They missed the clear fact, that we are always to live in readiness. All that we see, all the material world we know, will be gone, to be replaced with something infinitely better and eternal.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man,” (Matthew 24:36). Life continued as it always had. (Matthew 24:38)

However, it is just as certain to come even as the flood did come in the day of Noah. It came without warning and took away everyone and everything not in the safety of the ark. (Matthew 24:39).
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RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010

FEBRUARY

7th. Sunday – Job 37, 38, Matthew 25:24-46, Psalm 18:37-42

8th. Monday – Job 39, 40, Matthew 26:1-30, Psalm 18:43-50

9th. Tuesday – Job 41, 42, Matthew 26:31-56, Proverbs 4:10-19

10th. Wednesday - Exodus 1, 2, 3, Matthew 26:57-78, Psalm 19:1-6

11th. Thursday – Exodus 4, 5, Matthew 27:1-31. Psalm 19:7-14

12th. Friday – Exodus 6, 7, 8, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 20

13th. Saturday – Exodus 9, 10, Matthew 28, Proverbs 4:20-27


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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“…. 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.”

Matthew 24:7-8

Detective tests…

Three blondes were all applying for the last available position on the Texas Highway Patrol.

The detective conducting the interview looked at the three of them and said, "So y'all want to be cops, huh?"

The blondes all nodded.

The detective got up, opened a file drawer and pulled out a folder. Sitting back down, he opened it and pulled out a picture, and said, "To be a detective, you have to be able to detect. You must be able to notice things such as distinguishing features and oddities, such as scars and so forth." So saying, he stuck the photo in the face of the first blonde and withdrew it after about two seconds.

"Now," he said, "did you notice any distinguishing features about this man ?"

The blonde immediately said, "Yes, I did. He has only one eye!"

The detective shook his head and said, "Of course he has only one eye in this picture! It's a profile of his face! You're dismissed!"

The first blonde hung her head and walked out of the office.

The detective then turned to the second blonde, stuck the photo in her face for two seconds, pulled it back and said, "What about you? Notice anything unusual or outstanding about this man?"

"Yes! He only has one ear!"

The detective put his head in his hands and exclaimed, "Didn't you hear what I just told the other lady? This is a profile of the man's face! Of course you can only see one ear!! You're excused too!"

The second blonde sheepishly walked out of the office.

The detective turned his attention to the third and last blonde and said, "This is probably a waste of time, but..." He flashed the photo in her face for a couple of seconds and withdrew it, saying, "All right, did you notice anything distinguishing or unusual about this man?"

The blonde said, "I sure did. This man wears contact lenses."

The detective frowned, took another look at the picture and began looking at some of the papers in the folder.

He looked up at the blonde with a puzzled _expression and said, "You're absolutely right! His bio says he wears contacts! How in the world could you tell that by looking at his picture?"

The blonde rolled her eyes and said, "Well, Helloooo! With only one eye and one ear, he certainly can't wear glasses.

INDEX TO DATE

INDEX

SCRIPTURE           BLOG TITLE           NUMBER
_____________________________________________________________________



GENESIS

GENESIS 1:1-2 IN THE BEGINNING GOD 75

ISAIAH

ISAIAH 57:1-2 WHY DO THE GOOD DIE YOUNG? 60

NAHUM

NAHUM 1:2-7 WHY ARE WE READING NAHUM? 108

PSALMS

PSALM 106:1-3 THANKSGIVING 168

MATTHEW

MATTHEW 1:18-25 OUR SAVIOR IS BORN 118

MATTHEW 1:18-25 AND IT CAME TO BE 121

MATTHEW 2:1-11 THE CHRISTMAS STORY 172

MATTHEW 3:16-17 THE LIVING PARABLES, UNTIL HE COMES 81

MATTHEW 4:15-17 WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 122

MATTHEW 4:24-27 ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU 88

MATTHEW 6:9-13 LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY 96

MATTHEW 7:7-12 HERE ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE? 76

MATTHEW 7:13-16 THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE 78

MATTHEW 7:21-27 BUILD YOUR LIFE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION 175

MATTHEW 9:11-13 HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS 91

MATTHEW 10:16-22 DON’T EXPECT HONEY AND ROSES 176

MATTHEW 13:24-30 THE GOOD AND THE BAD SEED 177

MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43 THE PARABLE OF THE TARES 124

MATTHEW 16:13-19 WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM? 101

MATTHEW 16:26-27 ARE YOU A WINNER OR A LOSER? 126

MATTHEW 17:1-13 THE TRANSFIGURATION 178

MATTHEW 19:16-23 WHAT GOOD THING SHALL I DO? 125

MATTHEW 19:16- WHAT DOES “CHRISTIAN WORKS” MEAN?

MATTHEW 24:32-40 WATCH FOR SIGNS, HE IS COMING AGAIN 56

MATTHEW 24:34-39 NOT EVEN THE ANGELS KNOW 179

MATTHEW 24:35-44 DON’T INVITE DISASTER 95

MATTHEW 25:31-46 WHERE IS YOUR ROAD LEADING? 127

MATTHEW 28:20 MARCHING ORDERS 61

MARK

MARK 3:22-30 ONE SIN AN NOT BE FORGIVEN! 128

MARK 4:26-34 PARABLES ON HIS KINGDOM SEED 181

MARK 7:14-23 SIN ARISES FROM WITHIN THE HEART 129

MARK 8:34-38 THE COST OF BEING A CHRISTIAN 130

MARK 9:33-41 WHO SHALL BE THE GREATEST? 182

MARK 10:23-31 NEVER WISH FOR WEALTH! 131

MARK 10:23-31 WEALTH, SACRAFICE AND REWARDS 183

MARK 10:35-45 WHO IS GOING TO BE PRIME MINISTER? 132

MARK 14:27-31 LIKEWISE ALSO SAID THEY ALL  184

MARK 16:15-17 HIS LAST TWO COMMANDS 133

LUKE

LUKE 2:1-20 THE CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT 119

LUKE 2:1-20 + THE CHRISTMAS STORY 173

LUKE 3:1-13 HOW JESUS HANDLED TEMPTATION

LUKE 6:27-36 RULES OF KINGDOM LIFE 134

LUKE 9:23-27 THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP 136

LUKE 9:57-62 A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE

LUKE 12:22-34 TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE 137

LUKE 14:15-24 YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED 189

LUKE 16:19-31 WHY DID GOD MAKE HELL? 74

LUKE 18:1-8 DON’T STOP PRAYING 138

LUKE 24:1-12 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION 190

JOHN

JOHN 1:1-3 WEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES 80

JOHN 1:1-13 THE PRICELESS BUT FREE GIFT - LIGHT 191

JOHN 3:1-10 YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN 139

JOHN 3:16-21 THE LOVE OF GOD 140

JOHN 3:17-21 YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 58

JOHN 3:17-21 THE SEED OF FAITH DID NOT GROW 69

JOHN 4:27-42 THE WOMAN AT THR WELL 192

JOHN 6:31-51 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE 193

JOHN 10:1-10 I AM THE DOOR 194

JOHN 14:1-7 OUR PERMANENT HOME 67

JOHN 15:1-11 THE PARABLE OF THE VINE 195

JOHN 16:2-15 SAVED, ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD! 142

JOHN 17::20-26 THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE 114

JOHN 20:1-10 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 196

ACTS

ACTS 2:5-18 TO EVERY LANGUAGE ON EARTH 197

ACTS 2:37-42 WHY THESE, LORD? 105

ACTS 4:5-12 SALVATION ONLY THROUGH CHRIST JESUS143

ACTS 8:26-39 HOW CAN I EXCEPT SOME MAN GUIDE ME? 106

ACTS 9:17-22 THE CONVERSION OF A TERRORIST 144

ACTS 10:34-43 WHO WAS CORNELIUS,WHY IS HE IMPORTANT? 198

ACTS 10:34-48 ARE THERE A FAVORED PEOPLE? 145

ACTS 17:10-15 A GOOD EXAMPLE 199

ACTS 17:11-12 A MIXED RECEPTION 146

ACTS 18:24-19:1-5 THE MISSING FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT 200

ROMANS

ROMANS 1:16-21 I AM NOT ASHAMED 147

ROMANS 1:25-32 WORTHY OF THE DEATH SENTENCE

ROMANS 2:1-12 DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS 201

ROMANS 3:21-26 ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT 148

ROMANS 3:23-25 THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS 92

ROMANS 3:23-24 GRACE 83

ROMANS 5:6-14 CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY 149

ROMANS 6:11-12 THE RIGHT ORDER 87

ROMANS 6:15-23 THE WAGWES OF SIN IS DEATH 52

ROMANS 8:1-8 THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD 150

ROMANS 8:28-30 A PERFECT FIT FOR THE JOB AHEAD 90

ROMANS 12:3-15 YOUR TALENTS AND GODLINESS 151

1 CORINTHIANS

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 NOT MANY WISE AFTER THE FLESH 57

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25 THE WORD, THE POWER OF GOD 152

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-21 NOT WISE AT ALL 115

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-27 THIS FOOLISH WORLD NEEDS CHRIST 79

1 CORINTHIASN 6:15-20 NEVER ALONE! 85

1 CORINTHIANS 10:15-22 THE MAN GOD CALLS WISE 153

1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-26 THE MEMORIAL COMMUNION SERVICE 154

1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-10 BE MY VALENTINE 180

1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 PUPPY LOVE 64

2 CORINTHIANS

2 CORINTHIANS 4:14 & 16-18 WHAT YOU SEE IS TEMPORARY 117

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21 THANKS TO GOD, YOU CAN START OVER 157

GLATIANS

GALATIANS 1:3-9 ANOTHER GOSPEL? 59

GALATIANS 1:6-10 NO OTHER GOSPEL 112

GALATIANS 1:6-10 LOST FROM THE FAITH 158

GALATIANS 1:31 EVERYTHING GOD MAKES IS VERY GOOD 54

GALATIANS 5:15-21 A WISE MAN WALKS CAREFULLY 160

GALATIANS 6:6-10 YOU ARE A TEACHER…….. 98

GALATIANS 6:7-10 WHAT ARE YOU SOWING BROTHER? 62

EPHESIANS

EPHESIANS 4:11-16 ONE SPIRIT - DIFFERENT GIFTS 159

EPHESIANS 6:10-18 THE STRONG IN THE LORD 51

PHILIPPIANS

PHILIPPIANS 3:11-21 SET YOUR GOALS HIGH 120

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13 HOW WE OUGHT TO BE LIVING 103

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 THINK ON THESE THINGS 162

COLOSSIANS

COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 ONE ANT TO ANOTHER 93

COLOSSIANS 3:16-17 THE HEARTBEAT OF IT ALL 84

COLOSSIANS 4:1-5 HOW WE OUGHT TO PRAY 163

1 TIMOTHY

1 TIMOTHY 4:1-8 RECEIVE WITH THANKS 104

1 TIMOTHY 4:1-11 IN THE LATTER TIMES 100

2 TIMOTHY

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 WHY SHOULD I READ THE BIBLE? 86

2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 WHY WE READ THE BIBLE 71

2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17 WHY READ THE BIBLE 82

2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5 SPREAD THE WORD 156

HEBREWS

HEBREWS 4:12 THE WORD, THE SWORD OF LIFE 63

HEBREWS 4:12-16 THE AMAZING SWORD OF FAITH 165

HEBREWS 9:2-7 ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE PATTERN 66

HEBREWS 10:23-27 THE LAW OF MOSES,

OR THE GRACE OF CHRIST? 166

HEBREWS 12:1 1,2,3, YOU ARE DEAD! 55

HEBREWS 12:1-2 THE RACE OF FAITH 167

JAMES

JAMES 1:12-15 WHERE TEMPTATIONS CAME FROM 77

JAMES 1:12-13 TEMPTATION, HOW SHALL I ESCAPE? 53

JAMES 1:26-27 PUR RELIGION DEFINED 110

JAMES 3:13-18 TWO KINDS OF WISDOM 113

JAMES 4:1-6 WHEN GOD SAYS, NO! 94

JAMES 4:13-16 DO IT NOW! 109

1 PETER

1 PETER 2:4-13 CHRIST, THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 107

1 PETER 3:13-22 BE HAPPY WHEN YOU SUFFER 116

1 PETER 4:7-11 THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND 72

1 PETER 4:12-19 WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER TRIALS 73

1 JOHN

1 JOHN 1:5-2:2 FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD

1 JOHN 1:9-11 HOW TO SPOT A FALSE TEACHER 102

1 JOHN 2:1-6 KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS 68

1 JOHN 3:1-9 CHILDREN OF GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER

1 JOHN 3:22 ASK AND YE SHALL HAVE 70

1 JOHN 4:1-6 GOD GAVE YOU A MIND, USE IT! 164

REVELATON

REVELATION 1:1-8 UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE 169

REVELATION 3:14-22 IS THIS TODAY’S CHURCH? 99

REVELATION 5:5-10 THE SCROLL, OPENED BY CHRIST JESUS 170

REVELATION 13:7-9 THE SIGN OF THE BEAST 172

REVELATION 20:11-15 THE GRAND CLIMAX OF ALL TIME 174

REVELATION 21:1-4 DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING FEAST 97