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We are "children of the day" we can know!
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thes. 5:2-6)
1. "Brethren"- These are Christians!
"That, that day" is the Second Coming. (1 Thes. 5:2-6) The "thief"
in the night does not apply to "the children of the day." (i.e. Christians)
a. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me" (John 10:27-28)
b. "Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they
hear."(Matt 13:16-17)
2. Noah knew when to get on the Ark.
Noah did not know when the flood would come, but he did
know when to get on board the Ark. The "Lord said unto Noah,
Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen
righteous before me in this generation." (Gen 7:1-2)
a. What was Noah's key to understanding his time?
(1) Noah found "grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Gen.6:8) "For
by grace are ye (you) saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
man should boast." (Eph.2:8-9) "That no flesh should glory in
his presence" (1Cor.1:29)
Note: This "grace" continues throughout our walk before the Lord (Acts.4:33; 11:23;
13:43; 14:3, Rom.11:6, 1Cor.3:10, Gal.2:21, Eph.3:2) as we grow to maturity (perfection -
Eph.4:11-16) as the Bride of Christ.
(Review: Phase 10, Phase 12 for explanation of Chart below)
b. Noah's understanding was a "gift" from God.
Understanding God's timing, His voice, and pattern for the last days is also a gift of grace
from God that we do not deserve. (Eph.2:8-9) Noah found grace that he did not deserve.
(Gen.6:8) He was given a warning that he did not deserve, (Gen.6:13) and was given a plan
to would protect him that he did not not deserve. (Gen.6:14-22)
Look at the "ensample" (type) of the "church in the wilderness." (1Cor.10:1-11,
Acts.8:38) They were lead by a "silver" redemptive (Exod.30:11-16; 38:25, 1Peter.1:18-19)
trumpet sound into God's fullness. (Num.10:1-36, Deut.12:1-12) They did not deserve this.
God was protecting them, providing for them, watching over them because of His Covenant
that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Exod.2:24-25)
(Click here for explanation of how God is leading His God with a "Trumpet Sound)
(3) Nothing was left to Noah's imagination! Our mind is still being renewed. (Rom.12:1-2)
Our imaginations are "evil continually" (Gen.6:5) We are to "cast down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2Cor.10:5)
(4) All that was required of Noah was obedience to God's pattern. (Isa.55:8-11, Eph.3:20,
Rom.12:1-2) Be available, a willing vessel.
(5) God found Noah. "for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." (Gen 7:1-
2, 2Chron.16:9, Heb.4:13) God will find you! "But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thes. 5:2-6)
(6) Noah was humble. God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1Pet.5:5)
Are we "humble" enough to build what God wants, even though it looks foolish to man.
(1Cor.1:18-29; 2:1-14)
b. The world "knew not until the flood came."
They chose not to know. If they had walked humbly before the Lord, God would have
warned them also, because "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts.10:34) He is "not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
They did not have a love for the truth of the Word of God (2Thes.2:10) and rejected the pattern.
The Ark was being built in front of their eyes and still refused see what God was
doing. (Matt.24:36-39)
(Review: Phase 12)
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3. Abraham was told about Sodom. (Gen.18:1-33)
4. Even lot was warned. (Gen.19:1-14, 2Peter.2:7-8)
Lot separated (Gen.13:1-13) himself from Abraham and the purpose of God. (Gen.12:1; 15:1-
21; Exod.12:1-15; Deut.6:10-12; 12:1-12, Heb.11:8-9, 1Chron.17:1-15; 22:1-19) Lot was
"seeing and hearing" the conversation (behaviour, lifestyle) of Sodom and Gomorrha, instead of
having a seeing eye and a hearing ear for the things of God. (Matt.13:11, 16) This was God's
mercy and grace going the extra mile. God only promised Abraham that He would not destroy
Sodom if there were ten righteous in that city. (Gen.18:23-33) God preserved Lot, his wife and
two daughters. A total of four people.
5. Moses was warned about the the death of the firstborn. (Exod.12:1-15)
6. The children of Issachar "had understanding of the times." (1Chron.12:32)
7. Daniel understood his time
Daniel “understood by books the number of years, whereof the Word of the Lord came to
Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem”.
(Dan.9:1-2, Jer.25:12; 29:8-11, 2 Chron.36:1-23, Lev.25:1-13; 26:33-34) Daniel took the
pattern from the Word of the Lord, matched it to his civil calendar and concluded that the House
of Judah was about to be released. He realized his time frame for his generation. (Note:
Acts.13:36) The same is true today! When the pattern of God's Word is compared with Church
History, we to can realize that God is not finished yet. There is still more! "Things not as seen yet"
(Heb.11:7, 1Cor.2:9-10, Matt.24:36-37)
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his
secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7, Eph.3:5)
The Church has completed approximately 60% of the pattern (Blueprint) and is in transition
towards 100%. Jesus said, "
some sixty, some thirty." (Matt 13:23-24) As the Spirit of God has lead the Church into "all truth," (John.16:13-15, 1Cor.2:9-11) some have stopped at 30 fold, some at 60, but God wants the Bride for His Son to be 100 fold. The Church is NOT there yet! There is still more!
(Review: Phase 2, 4, 8, 9, 11)
This is why Jesus has not come back yet!
Jesus will not be back until the "mystery" of God is finished. (Rev.10:7, Acts.3:19-24) This why He (Jesus) has not returned yet. (It has been 2,000 years!) Don't get anxious. "
Up to our present day, the illumination of the pattern for the Bride of Christ (typified by Solomon's Temple) has not been the focus (or the "present truth"- i.e. the truth that is near 2Peter.1:12) However, now is the time! Look at the blueprint.
1. Up to the time of David. (where we are in the blueprint today! Review: Phase 2)
When Israel left Egypt until the time of David, the pattern was the Tabernacle of Moses. (Exod.25- Josh.18:1) When David became king he expanded God's pattern concerning God's presence,
(1Chron.13-16:1-43) and received the pattern for the Temple, which was not known to Moses.
a. The pattern was already in the Word of the Lord. (Gen.12:1; 15:1-15, Exod.12:1-5, Deut.12:1-
12, 1Chron.17:1-15; 22:1-19) Note: David was not doing something that was outside of
the written Word.
b. All the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses knew was they would be brought into the
Land. (Gen.15:18-21; 50:22-26) Solomon's Temple was not revealed until David.
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2. Apply this to the 1st.Century Church (Review: Phase 2 for full explanation of a - d)
a. Jesus was crucified as the true Passover Lamb and the Church came out as a Holy Nation.
a kingdom of Priests. (Exod.12:1-15; 19:6, 1Cor.5:7-8, 1Peter.2:5-9)
b. 50 days later the Church arrived at the day of Pentecost (Mt. Sinai) after going through the
Red Sea. (Exod.12:1-15, Exod.19:3,16, Acts.1:1-4; 2:1-4)
c. On the third attempt, the 1st.Century Church entered into God's purpose and progressed
as far as the Tabernacle of David. (Acts.8:5-13; 10:1-48; 15:1-16)
d. After this, came the revelation that the Church is to be built a Holy Temple. (Eph.2:1-22,
1Peter.2:5)
(1) God gave the pattern to Paul, the "wise master builder" as He did to David. (1Cor.3:10)
(2) Paul "prepared (building material) in abundance, (as David did) according to the blueprint
(3) Paul knew he would not see the finished building, just as David was told he would
not see the finished building. (Phil.3:1-16, 1Chron.22:1-19)
the Church began to spiritually decline down to the "Dark Ages." (500 A.D. approx?) They
came as far as the Tabernacle of David, turned around and went back to Egypt)
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3. Apply this to the restoration of the Church out of the dark ages
(Review: Phase 2 for full explanation of a - d)
a. The Reformation began. (1517 A.D.) God is beginning to restore His Church according to the
same pattern that He used for the 1st.Century Church. Luther preached Jesus as the true
Passover Lamb and coming out as a Holy Nation, and a kingdom of Priests
b. Next the restored Church arrives at Pentecost (1906 A.D.- Baptism in the Holy Spirit / Mt.
Sinai) after God had restored the truth of Water Baptism (Red Sea) 1800's A.D?
c. After the 1900's A.D. the Church entered into God's purpose and progressed as far as the
Tabernacle of David. "Where we are today in the blueprint!"
d. Today there are those that "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matt 5:6-7; 6:25-34)
to build God a house as David did, (1Chron.17:1-15; 22:1-19) because it is that time. It is the
present truth!
(1) This is why the Church needs the "wise master builders" (apostles / architects / reader's
of blueprints) today.
(2) This is why there needs to be an "abundance" of building material prepared according to
the blueprint to buiuld the House of God.
(3) Paul knew he would not see the finished building, just as David was told he would
not see the finished building. We need to be good stewards of
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