What Role Does America Play in the End Times?

What role does America play in the end times described in the book of Revelation.

Best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram account and you can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com will Pastor Israel. How did Easter go at your church on Sunday.

I think it went spectacular and we had a wonderful time celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. I preached on Matthew 28 verses one through 10, with the women you know the Mary's. Go to the tomb. They find it empty date. They wanted to go and anoint Jesus's body with these fragrant smelling spices really interesting actually yelled Jesus had been telling his disciples over and over again throughout his ministry that he was going to rise again from the dead after the third day and yet, on Easter morning.

It seems like nobody believed in. The disciples were hiding behind closed doors that the women to go to the tomb. They're going with the spices to anoint Jesus's corpse and yet they quickly realize that's completely unnecessary. Jesus doesn't need my spices. He's risen from the dead.

Really, just a minute, an amazing thing for us to remember and to celebrate and so we had a great time Bill, how are you guys that we had an awesome service. In fact, our pastor focused on the Barabbas which was interesting and he basically explained that he had always thought Barabbas was some kind of an evil villain or crook and then he realized with more study that he was actually probably insurrectionist and he he speculated on what happened to Barabbas after he was no forgiven by Pilate and that he go on to become a follower because we don't know that but I thought it was an interesting way to look at the Easter story nice. Let's get to our first call of the day this is John from Bainbridge, Ohio. John what your question for Pastor Israel.

Thank you for my call. I enjoy the show and what my question is, God love everyone the same.

I know from Ephesians 289 that it is by grace that we are saved by faith and not our own doing, but is the gift of God not a result of work themes from sections of Scripture such as Romans chapter 9 I got it sovereign purpose of election. For example, choosing to love Jacob and hate God and have mercy and compassion on whom he will and gotten there. Spoken like a potter making wonderful audible use another dishonorable use, so does that mean� Love all the same people. If you like some on the salvation John had a really excellent question, and were dealing with a number of different passages in the Scriptures that we want to be faithful to anyone since I think we need to clearly affirm what what is affirmed in the Scripture that God loves the whole world. John 316.

Perhaps the most well-known verse in the entire Bible for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life, and in the context of the world is not the world of people who love and embrace God's truth.

It's it's the world the sinful and unbelieving world, many of whom rejected Christ were were shown God's love for sinners, we had the same time on what what we would say that because the Scripture says that we want to speak where the speak with the Scripture speaks clearly. We also know that God has a particular love John for his people, and you see this everywhere in the Bible as well. I love this passage in Deuteronomy chapter 7 that beginning in verse six.

Listen to what what we read there it says for you are a people holy to the Lord your God, the Lord has the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and shows you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery. This is Moses speaking to the people visually say look, here's why God set his love on you. It wasn't because you were great or special or more mighty than any of the other nations were actually the fewest, and yet God because of his promise because of his covenant faithfulness is Levy set his love on you and so the Bible also does speak John to this particular love that God has for his people for his children. This is this is a special thing. Paul also speaks of this particular love.

I would say in the book of Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 1 beginning in verse four.

I didn't get to thinking about that text in Deuteronomy 7 God choosing his people. Setting his love on them. Listen to what Paul said in Ephesians 1 for Ephesians 1. For even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, and so we need to affirm these two.

These two things.

John yes week. We can't speak to the fact that God loves the whole world. God loves sinners he sent his son into the world to redeem sinners, but then we also wanted one affirm what the Bible clearly says and that's that God has this particular love for his people. He sets his love on them in a unique redeeming way and so and so we affirm that as well.

That doesn't mean I would say that God doesn't love the whole world because we've Artie established and got God himself says that but there is this unique particular love that God has for his children for his bride, the church, and so Scripture says that that's what we affirm.

We want to believe what the Bible says thanks John for your question.

May the Lord bless you John, thanks so much for our calling and we appreciate you being a regular listener to core Christianity let's go to Val in Oklahoma City about what your question for Pastor Israel will start by God. What is our Lord will there are a number of passages. I think that we could go to. Certainly, you know, sometimes we get a question about what's referred to as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit where Jesus in the Gospels. He's is really speaking against the religious leaders and he says you know those who commit the blasphemy of of the Holy Spirit never have forgiveness neither in this age or in the age to come with so interesting about that passage in particular is he. He does say in that same context all manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. People is almost as if you say, look what there is forgiveness for everything and in first Corinthians chapter 6, you know it's it's really interesting.

The apostle Paul. He outlines we might call the device list all these various sins that the Corinthians had once been involved in, and he said to them, you you've experience the forgiveness of God about verse 20 is chapter 6 verse nine do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revile her's, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and such were some of you but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our guidance you this list of all these different kinds of sins and pulses to the printing that was some of you guys. Such were some of you but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were cleansed by the blood of Jesus. And so we have this great confidence valve, no matter what we've done it in the past we turn to Jesus by faith. He forgives us and in the Bible is full of stories, accounts of men and women who had done terrible things, denying even the Lord himself when they turned to him experienced his grace and his mercy see what we need to do is instead looking at our sins and meditating on how how bad they are beating ourselves up over over our failures. We need to look up at Jesus and trust in the power of his blood, to cleanse our sins, no matter how heinous they may be because Jesus's blood is all-powerful sufficient.

It's able and that's what gives us hope brother thank you so much for that question. Thank you Val, this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

If you have a question here's the number to call 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673.

By the way, you can also call and leave a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day, or record your question on our website at core, Christianity.com want to mention that for our international listeners. That's probably the easiest way to leave the question is, go to core Christianity.com. Click on that little microphone icon and record your question there. Let's go to Marsha in St. Louis, Missouri Marsha what your question for Pastor Israel are that the church and now is kind of about four not keeping up with your marital vows are like that has been providing or pornography areas. But as I studied the Scriptures from what I could see things explicitly stated in Scripture for divorce and abandonment and adultery.

So right that our church would it be expanding into those other areas as well. Marsha, thank you so much for that question very complex issue.

You know when Jesus spoke about divorce. In Matthew chapter 19 and he mentioned in one of the reasons for for divorcing sexual immorality, which doesn't mean that that when there is a case of infidelity that no couples are obligated that they have to get a divorce. I've seen many instances Marsha where where there has been marital unfaithfulness where the couple stays together and it's difficult but there's healing and restoration and and reconciliation.

All those things and it ends up being a beautiful picture of the power of the gospel to work in our relationships even even when there's been this this this great breach but some people say will that word that's used for sexual morality, and in Matthew 19 is the Greek report Neah. It's where we get the word pornography from that of course he didn't have pornography in the same way that we oftentimes think about it today. They didn't have the technology, but there was all sorts of I'm just in the culture sexually more immorality and pornographic imagery that that kind of thing. This really is sister like I said a complex issue and and I would say it sort of depends on the situation. Typically, I would.

I would stick with those two things that you mentioned you have the idea of abandonment in first Corinthians chapter 7 where the apostle Paul talks about a spouse and unbelieving spouse leaving essentially their believing spouse and and pulsing with that you're no longer bound to that person you're free and then you also have this. This instances of sexual immorality. I think of marital unfaithfulness there in Matthew chapter 19 11 thing I would caution is sometimes it's heartbreaking.

Sometimes I think that people are looking for an out. They want to find an out of their marriages of the sale might my husband was unfaithful. He was looking at this other woman that kind of a thing. That's that's porn he had. That's adultery. And I think we have to be really really careful God. God says in his word he hates divorce, and even when there are instances I think of marital unfaithfulness. Like I said, that doesn't mean that that a couple is obligated to get a divorce and so I I think we have to sort of way.

Each case on its own. I would I would want to sit down with the couple in question may be an and get some more background, more information to really understand what was going on. There are situations where there is this legitimate abandonment that takes place, and whether our seven serious cases of marital unfaithfulness and and somebody just basically bet may have a pornography addiction. That kind of a thing, a sexual addiction and so we have to be aware of that and and and also like I said, not just giving up hope right away and I think the sadly that's what you see a lot of these cases people looking for a way out of of the marriage covenant of the marriage relationship and so I I would agree with you Marsha that the the real clear ones that were given in Scripture are adultery and abandonment and so I would say that's a good starting point, but I wouldn't want to necessarily say that your church, you know. But why wouldn't I would say well they're wrong and what I don't know the situation that's been spoken of and so I would out one more information. Thank you so much for your question and I may Lord bless you complicated issue and of course your core Christianity.

We always want to support the sanctity of marriage and couples staying together, if at all possible, and certainly finding pastoral counselor counselor or therapist who can help them work on their marital issues. Yeah, absolutely. Billing and I think Wendy one of the big issues that we see in our society today is a devaluing of marriage. The other behavior sudden in Hebrews chapter 13 of the marriage bed is called to be undefiled that we should we should really treat it with dignity and end too often today. You know there's a sort of cheap view of sex cheap view of marriage, it doesn't have that same that same value. A mentor called cult of value marriage that that the Scripture gives to it. And so for all of us and me at work were called to treasure marriage in this gift that God has given to us. And so again one of my big concerns. Bill is that sometimes I've seen this happen.

People are just looking for a way out and and that's why try to counsel couples is a let's take a step back, let's think about what marriages and the fact that God is able to work in and through the situation now one thing bill that we both talked about before this really important is there are real legitimate cases of abuse and and so that they and that's just another another wrench in this whole discussion because I wouldn't ever want to encourage a woman to be in a situation where she was.

Not safe and so is this such a complex issue and I really requires the care and the love of the local church took to work through this is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez. We have some excellent Bible study resources here at the core and today would love to send you for free. Our new study on the book of Revelation. Yet, this is pretty exciting study. As Bill said it's it's a new one and we get all sorts of questions about the book of Revelation. It's called five things you should know about the Bible's final book and it really is going to help you understand what the book of Revelation is all about. Is it about the rapture is it about modern-day political events and what do the numbers and symbols throughout the book of Revelation mean this resources can help you answer those questions. So get a hold of five things you should know about the Bible's final book for free.

All you have to do is go to core Christianity.com/final book that's core Christianity.com/final book all one word.

You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting mad or any one of our offers we do receive emails here at core Christianity. You can call us anytime at 833 the core and leave us a voicemail or send us an email at questions at core, Christianity.com here's a voicemail we received yesterday and it kind of ties in with the Bible study that we just mentioned.

Whether you think United States will be. I mentioned in the Bible. Thank you. Yes, thank you for that question. I can I can state with 100% certainty that the United States will be present in the end times and actually that we we are currently present in the end times and that we have been present in the end times for quite a while because that's the Bible says in in first John, I'm thinking about first John chapter 4 in particular, I want you to listen to what John had to say their first John chapter 4.

Beloved verse one do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world by this you know the Spirit of God.

Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already secretly apostles the spirit of the antichrist is already at work in the world and he's been working in the world since since Christ's ascension into heaven, the spirit of God is also at work in the world, advancing the kingdom of God through the preaching of the gospel, but we know that the evil one does not like that, that he's against the church and her work and ultimately the work of Jesus in the world today and so we are and have been living in the end times is all the apostles themselves understood their their existence and one passage that I love to go to talking about this is what Peter says in first Peter chapter 4. Listen to what he said.

First Peter chapter 4 verse 7V and of all things is at hand.

The words were living in the last days we are in the end times the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, this is great. How should we live in light of the fact that were living in the end times is and what Peter says therefore be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling as each has received a gift use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever speaks is one he speaks the oracles of God. Whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ it's love that is Peter says look were living in the end times the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, you know what love each other be hospitable. He doesn't say hatefully the mountains and scrub ammunition and do the whole proper thing that's not that's not what he says. He says love your neighbor's.

Be sober minded for the sake of your prayers. We are living in the end times we been in the end time since Jesus ascended into heaven, and an accomplished redemption for us work awaiting his second coming out can be at any moment were called to be ready by loving one another. Thanks for the question I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez.

Let's go to Ron who was in St. Louis, Missouri Ron, welcome to the program and that my wife and I always run a little bit in Matthew, Jesus says that we should not judge the whole log in unearthing in the eye.

Paul tells us, and I can't remember which book is think it's just that he talks about not associating with brothers that are sending and questioning from her mind was a lot of churches are letting gay couples into the church openly and specifically says that morality sexual morality so I was just wondering how were supposed to deal with this run an excellent question, and some people point to those two passages you know Jesus said in the sermon on the mount about not judging and then the Scripture and in Paul's letters you're referring to is in first Corinthians chapter 5 were Paul very clearly says hey we should judge those who are in the church. Too often, when people take Jesus's command not to judge in the sermon on the Mount think they don't understand it in its context. Remember the sermon on the Mount Nina Jesus preaching before this crowd, and part of what he's doing is exposing the religious leaders who think they are righteous by the everybody they thought of eating out of their hands looking up to them. But Jesus knows the truth. He knows what's going on in their hearts and Ed as he's preaching.

Essentially, his his law he's exposing them they were hypocrites who would judge others when in reality inside.

They were, Jesus is later full of dead men's bones, and so it's really important that we understand the context of the of the sermon on the not too many people to say, hey, God said not to judge how dare you, you know say that what I'm doing is sinful or if what I'm doing is wrong, God said not to judge that Kathy will that's not the right way of understanding Jesus's words Ron there in the sermon on the mount because we also know that we are called as Christians to judge sin within the church.

First Corinthians chapter 5 verse nine I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, not all meaning the sexually immoral of this world are the greedier swindlers are idolaters since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I'm writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed or is an idolater revile her drunk work, drunkard or swindler, not even to eat with such a one for what have I to do with judging outsiders is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge God judges those outside the listen.

This is something that we often get backwards in the church too often within the church. We point to the outside and we do all our judging of you know the sinners out there and we don't deal with the sin in our own churches and frankly we often don't even deal with the sin in our own hearts. Here Paul is saying, look, God deals with those who are on the outside, yet we can see all of the problems in culture and society we could point the finger.

All we want, but look that should be our focus. Our focus should be on the sanctity and purity of the church.

We do preach the gospel and the law.

To the outside world but look, don't worry about judging outsiders. Paul says judge the sin here at home, deal with it when you we have someone in the church was living in this sinful way and it's open, they're not there not it that being addressed. You know you're not really loving that person there.

Engaging in behavior that's destructive. You need to deal with this in the context of first grade. It's five Paul was talking about an individual who is having an amoral relationship with their mother-in-law as you judge that you need to deal with it, brothers and sisters, we have to take sin seriously and not just the sin it's happening outside of the church. We have to take the sin, it's happening home within the church seriously and that the Senate having our own hearts. We take it to the Lord. We receive his grace we receive his forgiveness. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together