History & Prophecy

"for the things concerning me have an end" Luke 22:37 The Greek telov or telos signifies "the end of some act or state but not the end of a period of time" (Dr Strong — word no. 5056). It refers to the issue, aim, goal or purpose of a matter and is the word from which the Greek teleo (Strongs 5055) translated "finished" in John 19:30, is derived. In Luke 22:37 our Lord prophesied His own death and its significance, and that everything would ultimately be consummated in Him — "For I say to you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end." Peter uses the identical Greek word when he writes: "But the end of all things is at hand: therefore be sober, and watchful in prayer" — 1 Peter 4:7. Significantly the Holy Spirit set this in the context of Christ on the cross (vs 1 & 2) with an appeal to sober living in contrast to "licentiousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries" (vs 3). Neither Peter nor Christ focuses on a time period but on purposes and consequences. What applied when Christ and Peter spoke applies now, as our Lord again made clear in Luke 21:34— "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with carousing, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." Christ's return will impact upon everyone throughout all history and not just upon those living when He comes, just as the Bride of Christ will be comprised of the saints of all ages, not just those of the last generation. Our privilege is to live in the days of the build up when so much is happening, which should direct our gaze upward, and our lives God ward. Sadly, at the time when sobriety and holy living should be in the forefront, many Christians, including high-level Church leaders, are engaging in frivolity, spiritual drunkenness, ecumenical compromise and 4th dimensional Buddhism. On our recent visit to Sydney it was reported that Brian Houston, President of Assemblies of God in Australia, appeared on his "Life is for Living" TV show both on the Optus Christian channel and the channel 10 network's early morning repeat, lying on his back with his feet in the air and saying "we should all be money magnets." His father, Frank Houston was reported in JOY, the official AoG magazine in UK, as claiming that he was healed of blood pressure while rolling on the floor in the Toronto Airport Church. I don't believe it! These same men are at the forefront of the new "Christian Churches of Australia" which is the consummate ecumenical compromise of the one time godly Assemblies of God movement. As you read the facts and teachings contained in this issue of CETF may you also hear the prophecy of scripture: "He who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" —Revelation 22:20. God bless you [ PLP ] [ TOP ] Appeared in Volume 6.1 April 2000

-Last revised-Thursday, 28 June 2001