ONE LAST LOOK AT THAT JEALOUS HUSBAND IN NUMBERS FIVE
COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY – LESSON 264
Our study through the Book of Numbers continues!
So far in our summary of Numbers Chapter Five; we have spoken of how the test of the jealous husband effects the spiritual lives of individuals; both through the review of various scriptural stories and even with examples taken from the spiritual lives of all people who are living today.
We haven’t really discussed the corporate meaning of all of this very much, and I would like to do that today as one last step before we leave this section of The Book of Numbers, which I consider to be one of the most fascinating passages of the Old Testament.
THE GREAT APOSTASY
Each amazing story we’ve covered in this section of Numbers; (the original testing in the wilderness, the story of The Golden Calf, The Flying Scroll, The Vision of The Woman In A Basket, The Story of Susanna, The Samaritan Woman and The Woman Caught In Adultery;) speaks symbolically of the Great Apostasy of the church which is soon coming, and even possibly already exists.
Many religious scholars suspect that this time is already upon us.
ONE APOSTASY AFTER ANOTHER
Any believer who looks around with wisdom and insight might find it is pretty obvious that we ARE living right in the midst of one apostasy after another.
Are we possibly in the great apostasy spoken of by the prophets that will happen at the end of time?
This seems to be a high possibility.
DEFINE APOSTASY
Just what is the definition of apostasy anyway?
Apostasy is when the nature of the true God is falsely defined and the resulting effect is spiritual adultery.
Most teachings suggest that an apostasy is any time-period during history in which the followers of the early apostolic church fall away from the original faith and teachings that were founded by Jesus Christ and the Apostles.
NO FIDELITY TO THE ORIGINAL
Over the course of the history of mankind there have been several known and established historical apostasies; but the last and greatest of all is the one that will happen as one last end-time event.
The main defining factor of this particular apostasy will be deception.
Jesus warned us about this many times.
I can recall one scripture found in Matthew 24:10-12; At that time many people will fall away and betray and hate one another and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because of the multiplication of wickedness the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
DECEPTION WILL BE RAMPANT
The above scriptures are from the same scripture passage that speaks of sheep in wolves clothing. You will see that very descriptive passage if you keep reading a little further.
This will be a time of great deception, especially among God’s own church.
Matthew 24: 23 – 25 warns us: At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
The Great Apostasy will be a time of great deceptions.
THE PROPHETS AND THE SCRIPTURES HAVE WARNED US
This Great Apostasy has been predicted by many prophets for thousands of years. Several famous historians have written their thoughts about this in very popular books and preachers world-wide have preached the sermons.
Numerous godly men have had visions of end-times and the Great Apostasy.
Scriptures have repeatedly warned of this coming event.
One scripture that is often quoted is the passage found in 2 Peter 3:3: Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
HOW TO OVERCOME THE GREAT APOSTASY
I highly recommend that everyone interested in this subject just stop and thoughtfully absorb all of the words given in 2 Peter Chapter 3 as well as Matthew Chapter 24.
These wise words do apply to this whole situation of apostasy in the last days. It is a forewarning of the lawlessness which is to come and good advice on how to rise above it, not be deceived by it, and eventually even escape it by overcoming.
WHY STUDY END TIMES?
So why am I bringing up all of this end-times information in the middle of an Old Testament study of The Book of Numbers?
Does it seem out of place?
God has always existed outside of time. He alone knows everything that will happen. The beginning from the end are at his disposal and command. He planned it and he controls it. God can control these things much like you and I can control what our photography and videos record and erase.
Way back in the past, Our Father was already giving us information and warnings of these days that we would need to make it through in our future; even way back there in the times of Moses.
The test of the jealous husband found in Numbers Chapter Five speaks loudly into this prophetic end-times event of The Great Apostasy.
WHO WILL BE TESTED IN THAT DAY?
When the Great Apostasy comes; who will be the woman tested by her jealous husband?
It is the church.
The woman in the basket which we studied previously was clearly a picture of an apostate church.
A time of testing is coming.
It came in a very basic and physical way to the relationships of those of old living out in the wilderness, and it will come to us and our spiritual relationships with God too.
LOYALTY
God doesn’t waste his breath.
This is a test of loyalty.
It is a test to prove that you are a worthy and loyal servant of God. Perfection does not matter; but loyalty DOES matter. The eternal world is a godly world. There will be no more apostasy there. Complete loyalty to God will be the key requirement.
WHAT ABOUT THE MERCY OF JESUS?
Does this discount the cross?
Absolutely not!
There is mercy and forgiveness for all who ask. This is a free and abundant gift; but the same God who gives such amazing gifts then asks for our loyalty.
In the end that loyalty and faithfulness is all that really matters. It is most important that the Church is found to be loyal and true to the One God who gave his only begotten Son to save it.
Loyalty is everything.
FAITHFULNESS
Loyalty could be used simultaneously along with the word faithfulness. To be loyal means to be faithful.
Those who are faithful and loyal to the end, who do not serve false gods and do not practice things that God calls abominations; will be the residents of the new heavens and the new earth that will come at the end of the end-times following The Great Apostasy.
Are you ready?
Will God say to you in that day; “Welcome and well done; my good and faithful servant?”
CAN YOU SAY YES WITHOUT A DOUBT?
Most church attendees will quickly nod their heads and answer “yes” to this question.
Is this true though?
The IN SEASON Lifestyle (2 Timothy 4:2) that is constantly encouraged within this blog site is one that constantly promotes keeping the things that God desires first and constant and using the seasons and God’s Holy Days for conscious and continuing examination of our hearts and how we live our daily lives before a Mighty God.
This is extremely important; because without doing these things and considering these things we could fall into a trap called deception. We could even deceive ourselves into believing our own thoughts instead of responding to God’s thoughts.
In the end – this truly matters.
SYNCRETISM WILL PREVAIL DURING THE GREAT APOSTASY
Are many not already deceived?
If your church congregation, or you by yourself, are practicing syncretism (the combination of different forms of religious beliefs or practices) just as those who worshiped the Golden Calf were doing; you need to consider your loyalty to The One Great God of Heaven and Earth.
If your religious or daily existence has elements of Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, or any other religions outside of the religious practices followed by the early church and Jesus Christ; you are not being true or loyal to God.
INTENTIONS DON’T COUNT IN GOD’S CULTURE
Your INTENTIONS are not in question here but your ACTIONS are. Your true intentions are always shown in the very actions of your daily life.
Do you INTEND to consider what God wants and follow that pattern that he clearly spelled out in the commandments; or do you INTEND to go along with the crowd and follow the deceived?
Will you serve God or money?
Are you going to serve God or seek the acceptance of other humans?
Do you want to follow and honor God or will you follow and honor only what YOU want and set yourself up as your own idol?
Nothing you INTEND to do will matter.
Only what you actually DO will matter.
LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS OR THE WAYS OF THE WORLD?
You always have a choice and that choice all boils down to actions which are either, loyal and faithful to God; or not.
So; what exactly does that look like?
KEEPING SABBATH
Are you keeping a true Sabbath?
Are you sure?
Have you studied and prayed over that situation enough to KNOW that what you say and do before God in worship is correct and you are not deceived in any way?
Are you considering God’s Sabbaths or man’s ideas about Sabbath?
What did Jesus and the early Apostles do?
TRUTH CAN’T BE PRETENDED
I hope you are reading the right history books when you consider this fact.
You can’t rewrite history and pretend that it is truth.
The truth is always the truth.
When the Great Apostasy is over; only the truth will survive.
DO YOU FOLLOW GOD’S WAYS?
Are you worshiping The One True God in the way that he desires to be worshiped; the way he spelled out in the days of the scriptures?
Are you staying sexually pure? This means no adultery, no homosexuality, no fornication, no immoral acts of any type or kind.
Godly intimacy is packaged in the form of true matrimony between one man and one woman for life and nothing else. Period.
God created men and women to be husbands and wives and to be fruitful and bear children in a natural way. You can’t rewrite this book according to your own lusts. The definition of family has to be God’s definition; not yours or mine or anyone else’s.
Are you being fruitful; both in your childbearing practices, in sharing your faith and in distributing love and compassion to all other humans?
Understanding God’s ways as righteous does not ever translate to hate. Do not be deceived. You MUST show love and compassion to other sinners; but you MUST NOT join in or approve their sins. Rewording the bible will not make it truth.
Do you love your neighbor as yourself?
Do you love God more than anything?
FOLLOWING TRUE TEACHERS
Are you following teachers?
Remember; the wolves are out there and they are very clever and cunning.
Are you willing to give freely from your own blessings to help others be blessed too?
An unrepentant greedy person will not make it past The Great Apostasy.
Will you give up your own time and energy to do God’s work and do it with a cheerful heart?
You can’t buy or pay for righteousness. It must come from the heart.
Are you judging others instead of looking into your own flaws and moving toward more positive changes?
Do you covet material things?
Do you covet forbidden relationships?
Have you let addictions rule over you instead of accessing the power of God’s Holy Spirit and becoming an over-comer?
LIVING IN APOSTASY OR FOLLOWING GOD
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions; then you need to consider whether or not you are already living in apostasy. Any “yes” would point to the fact that you are not currently following God completely.
Why do I continue to harp on these things?
Because the writing is on the wall.
Time is drawing short.
It is God’s will for everyone to come into the flock and that all should be saved.
SALVATION IS A LIFESTYLE
Being “saved” is a lifestyle; not just words that you say or actions that last a few days then fade away as soon as you step out of the waters of the baptistery.
Salvation and sanctification are a long, winding, narrow road that Christians MUST keep traveling, no matter the circumstances or the consequences.
This is a life-time commitment to Your Beloved; Jesus Christ.
Christianity is a serious and committed marriage vow; and no Heavenly Groom should ever have to be made jealous because his Bride has temporarily forgotten to follow the way and committed spiritual adultery.
UNCONFESSED SPIRITUAL ADULTERY IS ETERNAL
Earthly adultery will always haunt you; you can’t escape the guilt or the memories it brings; but spiritual adultery will haunt you much longer.
Spiritual adultery has eternal consequences.
It lasts forever.
Loyalty and faithfulness; this is what truly matters all the way to the very end.
Loyalty and faithfulness.