Luke Chapter 21: 1-12

21 ¹And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

² And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

³ And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

⁴ For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet my husband’s family for the first time. My mother-in-law introduced me to her sister Helen, who was extremely glad to see her nephew and meet me. It was clear straight off that Helen was struggling financially. After my husband and I returned home to our home state, we found out that Helen was trying to find placement in a state funded home for people with disabilities because she had to give up her home and most of her things after she had surgery to replace her shoulder. So, I was surprised when we got a package in the mail from her that contained about 30 or so pine cones that she gathered and sent to us with a nice letter. At first, I didn’t understand why she sent them, but then my husband told me that Helen was trying to be nice, and because she didn’t have any money, she sent what she had. I was touched by that…. that she wanted so much to bless us, she picked and then mailed us pine cones. So, I made a wreath with them and whenever I hang it on the door I think of Helen and her wonderful gift. It wasn’t the pine cones… it was the love behind them and the desire to do something nice for us. I have gotten gifts in my life that cost a fair amount of money, bought out of a kind of social obligation….but Helen’s gift was one given from love.
The widow put in her 2 mites. She was so poor and when you are that poor every fraction of a cent counts, still she went all in. The others cast in some of their abundance and while it was more amount wise, it wasn’t backed by the same amount of Love and Faith as the widow’s mites were. We serve a God who examines our hearts and our spirits and who values those things more than the riches of this world… so with God’s value system, that widow gave a LOT more than those wealthy contributors.

⁵ And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

⁶ As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

This happened 70 years later when the the Assyrians invaded.

⁷ And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

⁸ And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

There are going to be false Christ and false prophets that have stories about who they are that challenge the sound doctrine of the Bible is a way that is so cunning….with miracle that confirm this false Christ…. that many are going to be deceived. I think the biggest mistake people in the church make today is thinking they won’t be deceived because as an act of their will they’re going to refuse deception or refuse to even consider the deception. Deception doesn’t work like that…. these people who end up being deceived won’t even realize it’s happening because they aren’t deeply rooted in the Word of God. They don’t know….what they don’t know. We must have something in place to challenge deception in real time….and that something is the Word of God.

The next few verses line up with the events in Revelation.

⁹ But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Revelation 6: 3-4³ And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.⁴ And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

¹⁰ Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

¹¹ And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Revelation6:12 ¹² And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

¹² But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

Take note of the fact that Jesus is giving a timeline of events here… he says “But BEFORE all these, they shall lay their hands on you……” So, before the great earthquakes in divers places, before the famines and pestilences and before the fearful sights and great signs from heaven, you will be delivered up, persecuted, jailed…. martyred. Also note, Jesus is talking to his disciples…who would have been raptured if we were to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, and yet Jesus is instead instructing them on what to do when they are brought up for persecution. I know that some argue this is for the saints who are saved after the rapture…but Jesus, who is a perfect teacher, never mentions that distinction between pre tribulation saints and tribulation saints. He doesn’t speak about it because it doesn’t exist. The saints who are alive at the end are going into the tribulation. What troubles me greatly is, those saints are going to go into it unprepared because they have been preparing for the rapture out instead. The verse that comes to mind is the one that says…
Matthew 24:24 ²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
The part if it were possible, that part refers to the elect who are prepared…. who know what they are facing and are reading and learning the word. Christians who haven’t taken time to study the word… who know only what is being taught to them at church… or a meme on facebook…. these Christians are going to be unprepared for what is coming… the level of deception that is coming for the people is like none other…. NOW is the time to get truth settled in your hearts and mind… so when you are standing before the judge the Holy Spirit can bring all things to remembrance.
John 14:26 ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
You can only remember something you have already learned. The Lord said not to think about what you should say, that he would rise up and testify from inside of you…. and the only way that is going to happen is if Jesus is inside of you…and Jesus is the Word of God. The word of God is a sharp two-edged sword. Think about that… think about how many people are going to be running in to battle against the antichrist and his army without the sword of the spirit because…they never studied the word. A person can pretend to put on the whole armor of God all they want, but if they have never invested into strengthening the armor (learning the Word)…. it won’t help.
Ephesians 6:11-18¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This armor has to be obtained….
Loins girt about with truth… YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS.
The Breastplate of righteousness… YOU NEED TO LIVE A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY ALLOWING JESUS TO LIVE THROUGH YOU.
Your feet shod (shoed) with the preparation of the gospel of peace…. YOU NEED TO KNOW THE GOSPEL.
The shield of faith…FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD.
The helmet of salvation……..RECEIVE JESUS
The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God……..KNOW THE WORD OF GOD.
There are a lot of Christians out there who will mentally put on armor, but have never obtained it… and your armor is only as strong as the metal it’s made with, and the craftsmanship used to make it. Now is the time to craft this armor by reading the word, learning the lessons, sitting with the great teacher the Holy Spirit who will lead you into all TRUTH and will also bring all things to remembrance. The word of God will have a running dialog in your mind…. because the Holy Spirit will keep the word flowing… and who is the WORD OF GOD…. John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus is the Word!

To summerize…. Now is the time to get your armor….

Revelation 6:11¹¹ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Even after you are fully armored you need to realize that the armor is to protect your eternal spirit and your relationship with Jesus, not your flesh. You need to count your flesh as crucified with Christ.

Continued tomorrow