A Tale of Two Last-Days Believers

Both Redeemed in Christ — Yet Two Different Last Days Perspectives on His Appearing

The Watchful Believer — Living in the Light of His Coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1–8; Titus 2:13). This believer, agape loves the Lord Jesus Christ, abides in His Word, agape loves the whole counsel of God, and faithfully serves Him while eagerly anticipating Jesus' glorious appearing for His bride (1 John 3:1-3). This one personally understands and comprehends the Last Days times and seasons through the prophetic Scriptures, recognizing the EXPONENTIAL global increase of darkness, deception, lawlessness, and spiritual blindness of a fallen world. Yet his hope is not in political solutions or the signs of the times themselves, but in the ETERNAL promises and ETERNAL future found in his precious Savior! He knows that this world is not his home and that his citizenship is in heaven as he walks his last days' pilgrimage journey, looking for His Lord's trump to sound (Philippians 3:20–21). He watches hourly and daily, prays, evangelizes, and serves with ETERNITY in view, knowing that his labor and ETERNAL calling in the Lord is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). He does not claim to know the day or hour of the trumpet sound, but lives in full joyful expectation of Christ's return and tells others of it (1 John 3:1-4). He finally sees the present world through the lens of Almighty God's ETERNAL Word, and his blessed hope motivates him to live for God's ETERNAL glory in his pilgrim Last Days journey! (1 John 3:2–3).

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. 4:8

The Unwatchful Believer — Faithfully Serving, Yet Clouded by This Present World (Luke 21:34–36; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15). This believer also belongs ETERNALLY to Jesus Christ, phileo/ agape loves the Lord, and may faithfully serve in his church, family, and community. Yet unlike the watchful believer, this one's spiritual vision concerning the last days has become clouded by the cares, responsibilities, traditions, and attractions of this present world. He may know the gospel of salvation while giving little attention to Almighty God's prophetic Word, Israel's promises and future, the coming Day of the Lord, or the blessed hope of the Church. He lives as though tomorrow will simply continue like yesterday, seldom considering that Christ could come for His Church at any moment in light of the growing EXPONENTIAL signs at hand. Though ETERNALLY secure in Christ (John 10:28–29), he risks losing the joy, urgency, and ETERNAL perspective that accompany watchfulness. At Christ's judgment seat, the quality of every believer's service will be examined (2 Corinthians 5:10). What a solemn thought: Two believers, both ETERNALLY redeemed by the same Savior, yet one eagerly looking for His appearing while the other is so occupied with this passing world that he scarcely thinks of it! Beloved, may we faithfully serve our Lord while eagerly awaiting Him, remembering His promise: “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20, ESV).

The heart of the lesson: We are not watching to become saved, nor are we watching to remain saved. We are watching because we are saved, because we love our Savior, and because He is coming for us! (John 14:1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18).

Beloved, which one are you? In such days, are you looking to be with Jesus and His appearing, or are you not really looking for Him based on your earthly, temporal plans?

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Maranatha!

David

The Three Must Be One - Abiding, Wearing His Armor and Displaying His Life! In Images

Beloved, in this fallen world, we are up against the principalities and powers of the demonic spiritual realm, and as we stand against them in Christ, there is a proper order and balance of how we dress in this holy fray (Eph. 6:10-201 John 4:4). When we are abiding in Christ, our ETERNAL Life and Foundation, there has to be a commited stance in truth, doctrine and sanctifcation to ever begin to stand against our greatest enemies (Matt. 11:28-30, John 15:4–5; Colossians 3:1–4). The Christian life is not lived by or in our own strength, wisdom, or righteousness, but through our living and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ in Spirit and Truth (John 15:1-9, Gal. 2:20). Jesus is our ETERNAL foundation, our life, and the source of all spiritual fruitfulness and victory. Jesus declared, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, ESV). As we abide in Him, allowing His Word to abide in us (John 15:7), we walk in fellowship with the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), standing firmly in His truth, righteousness, salvation, faith, and the gospel of peace, wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. All these pieces of the armor of God are the Life and spiritual attributes of Christ! He is our all in all, in our all in all, for His all in all! Our spiritual armor is not for advancing our own will, but for standing faithfully in Christ's ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS against the schemes of OUR MOST FIERCE enemy, the devil (1 Peter 5:8). Beloved, Christ is our life! His Word is our truth! His strength is our victory! (Col. 3:1-4).

Beloved, if you seek to put on, by faith, the armour of Almighty God without abiding and allowing Him to produce His life and fruit in you, you will be dressed inadequately for the raging spiritual war before you!

Beloved, bearing the Fruit of the Spirit, for our Heavenly Father's ETERNAL Glory, is the greatest glory that we can seek on our pilgrim journey (Galatians 5:22–25; John 15:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31)! As we abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit produces His life and fruit within us! One beautiful fruit is expressed through nine characteristics: agape love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These are not merely human virtues we manufacture, but the supernatural evidence of God's transforming work in His redeemed children. The armor of God enables us to stand against evil, while the fruit of the Spirit reveals the character of Christ through our lives. Together, they demonstrate a life surrendered to Almighty God's RIGHTEOUS will, bringing ETERNAL glory to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. As members of Christ's body, redeemed from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Revelation 5:9), we are called to bear lasting fruit, faithfully serving Him until we stand before Christ at His judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). Beloved, the fruit of the Spirit is the visible manifestation of the Life and attributes of God in the child of God, outworked by the Spirit of God for His ETERNAL glory of God here in time! We are to be an army of faithful and abiding soldiers in the spiritual war here in time. Beloved, in closing, our ETERNAL salvation is ETERNALLY secured in Christ, and our faithful service is to be obedience to our Faithful Shepherd, which will bring Him glory now and FOREVER! (Ephesians 2:8–10; Revelation 22:3–5).

The armor of God enables us to stand against evil, while the fruit of the Spirit reveals the character of Christ through our lives. Together, they demonstrate a life surrendered to Almighty God's RIGHTEOUS will, bringing ETERNAL glory to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved, as we look in these last EXPONETIALLY lawless growing days for Jesus' return, may we in obedience stay abiding and fighting the good fight! Our labour is NOT in vain! 

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” — John 15:8, ESV

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Maranatha!

David

Safe Am I - Unto the Chief Musician Music Song Devotional

 

SAFE AM I

SONG DEVOTIONAL

Beloved, no matter what battles we face, the child of God is ETERNALLY safe and secure in Jesus’ RIGHTEOUS agape love. Though we live in a fallen world, face opposition from sinful man, and experience the attacks of Satan and his hosts, our ETERNAL Shepherd will never leave us. O dear friend, how wonderful is that blessed truth! Jesus’ agape love is ETERNALLY stronger than every fear, His ETERNAL promises never fail, and nothing in all ETERNITY can EVER separate us from the ETERNAL agape love of God found in Jesus our precious Lord. Do you believe that, dear friend, or are you doubting, insecure, and lost in fear's maze?

This song, beloved, is a declaration of one’s personal faith in Jesus’ abiding ETERNAL security. This song is a song of a believer’s ETERNAL hope and stability, and rather than giving in to the fears and dreads of this age, the child and pilgrim of God chooses by faith to trust in the Lord and rest in His ETERNAL promises and security. The God who ETERNALLY saved us is the God who ETERNALLY keeps us. Our precious Jesus goes before us, walks beside us, strengthens us in every trial, and will one day bring us safely into His glorious presence. Because of our Shepherd's unfailing ETERNAL agape love, we can confidently say, while in the valleys of the shadows of death, "Safe am I." ”Safe am I!”

KEY SCRIPTURES

• Romans 8:29–39

• Joshua 1:9

• Psalm 41:10

• John 10:27–30

• Isaiah 41:10

• Psalm 23

• 2 Timothy 1:7

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What fears do you need to surrender to the Lord and replace with faith in His ETERNAL promises?

2. How does knowing that nothing can EVER separate you from Christ's ETERNAL agape love give you security and peace today?

3. How can your confidence in Jesus encourage others who are facing fear and this world's persecutions and uncertainties?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You that we are FOREVER safe in You. Help us, dear Father, to walk by faith and not fear. Help us to trust in Your unfailing ETERNAL promises, and rest in the full assurance that nothing can EVER in FOREVER separate us from Your ETERNAL love.

We thank You and ask this in Your precious Name, Lord Jesus; even so come Amen.

Unto the Chief Musician Music Song Devotional for All for Thee, Thy Will be Done CD!

WHAT BIBLICAL ETERNAL SECURITY and SEATED IN CHRIST LOOKS LIKE in IMAGES - John 10:28-30/Eph. 2:1-10

Beloved, ETERNALLY rejoice in our ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Savior! We are ETERNALLY His FOREVERMORE, and seated with the Father in Jesus, as Almighty God works out His good pleasure for His ETERNAL glory in us till we are changed FOREVER!

Occupy for the Father's ETERNAL glory!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Maranatha!

David

What Happen to Me When I Trusted Jesus as My ETERNAL Savior in the Grace and Mercy of Almighty God - - Eph. 2:1-10 in an Image!

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course[a] of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:1-10

Beloved, who can even begin to comprehend the ETERNAL agape love of the Father towards us, when we were ETERNALLY dead in our trespasses and sins, under the demonic tyranny of Satan and sin, and prisoners in his ETERNAL death concentration camp! Beloved, may these powerful images convey to you what took place in one moment when, by faith in the ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Character of Almighty God, you trusted Jesus Christ as your ETERNAL Savior! May we serve Him faithfully in light of His wondrous ETERNAL agape love towards us, till He comes!

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Maranatha!

David

THE WAR OF TWO AGAPE LOVES IN IMAGES - 1 JOHN 2:15-17

Beloved, 1 John 2:15-17 is one of the most misunderstood bible passages in the Holy Scriptures because the word " love " is often sought to be understood in the English and not the Greek. When we understand the Greek use of this word, it unlocks the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and truly sets us free - John 8:32!

15 Do not agape love the world or the things in the world. If anyone agape loves the world, the agape love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides FOREVER. - 1 John 2:15-17

We Are At War!

The War of Two Agapē Loves

A Brief Bible Study — 1 John 2:15–17

Theme: The agape love of the fallen world versus the ETERNAL agape love of Almighty God.

Central Truth: The great spiritual conflict is not simply between agape love and hate, but between two opposing objects of agape love: the fallen world and that of Almighty God. One is governed by sinful desires, fallen subjective reasoning, and self-gratification; the other by biblical objective reasoning and faith in Almighty God's ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, and Character in Jesus Christ.

1. The Greek Word Agapē — What Do We Love?

Greek: ἀγάπη (agapē) — Love

Greek verb: ἀγαπάω (agapaō) — To love

In 1 John 2:15, John uses the verb agapaō both for loving the world and for the Father's love. This reveals an important truth: the Greek word itself does not automatically mean holy, righteous, or unconditional love. Its moral character depends on the object and nature of that love.

• John 3:16 — God loved the world and gave His Son.

• John 3:19 — Men loved darkness rather than light.

• 1 John 2:15 — Do not love the world or the things in the world.

• 1 John 4:10 — God's love is revealed through Christ's sacrifice for sin.

Lesson: The question is not merely, "Do I love?" but "What do I love, and is my love governed by God's righteousness?"

2. The World's Agapē — A Love Directed Toward Darkness

1 John 2:15–16

John identifies three characteristics of the fallen world's desires:

The World's Desires	Biblical meaning
Desire of the flesh	Seeking satisfaction apart from Almighty God's will
Desire of the eyes	Coveting what the world offers
Pride of life	Self-exaltation and independence from Almighty God

Supporting Scriptures:

• Genesis 3:6 — Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was desirable.

• John 3:19–20 — Humanity's agape love for darkness.

• 2 Timothy 3:2–4 — Lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than God.

• James 4:4 — Friendship with the fallen world is enmity (hostility) with God.

Lesson: Fallen humanity can love deeply and passionately, yet direct that agape love toward things contrary to Almighty God's ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS.

3. Almighty God's ETERNAL Agapē — Love Rooted in Almighty God's ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Character

1 John 4:7–12

Almighty God's agape love is not merely affection. It perfectly aligns with His ETERNAL, HOLY, and RIGHTEOUS Character and Nature.

• Romans 5:8 — Christ died for us while we were sinners.

• 1 Corinthians 13:6 — Agape love rejoices with the truth, not wrongdoing.

• Galatians 6:1 — Agape love seeks the restoration of the fallen.

• Ephesians 4:15 — We are to speak the truth in agape love.

• 1 John 4:9–10 — Almighty God's ETERNAL agape love is revealed through His Son and His propitiatory sacrifice.

Lesson: God's agapē love seeks our eternal good, not merely our temporary happiness. His love never compromises His righteousness.

4. The Battlefield — The Believer's Heart

Galatians 5:16–17

The believer experiences a real conflict between the desires of the flesh and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

• Romans 7:22–23 — The inward struggle with sin.

• Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

• Colossians 3:1–4 — Set your mind on things above.

• 1 John 2:17 — The world passes away, but whoever does God's will abides forever.

Lesson: We do not overcome worldly desires simply by trying harder. We walk by the Spirit, abide in Christ, and allow God's eternal truth to govern our hearts.

5. The ETERNAL Outcome — Two Opposing Directions

Agape Love directed toward the fallen world	Agape Love directed toward God
Self-gratification	God's ETERNAL glory
Darkness and deception	Light and truth
Pride and independence	Humility and dependence
Temporary satisfaction	ETERNAL treasure
The world is passing away	Almighty God's will endures FOREVER

Important distinction: ETERNAL life is received through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by loving God sufficiently. The believer's agape love and obedience are the fruit of that relationship, not the purchase price of salvation (Ephesians 2:8–10).

What Almighty God's ETERNAL Agape Love Did for Us!

 

 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course[a] of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Discussion Questions

1. Why does John use the same Greek verb for loving the world and the Father's agape love?

2. How can something we agape love become spiritually destructive?

3. What are the three desires John identifies in verse 16?

4. How does Almighty God's agape love differ from the world's self-centered agape love?

5. Why must agapē love always be guided by ETERNAL TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS?

6. How does the Holy Spirit help believers overcome worldly desires?

7. What does it mean to live for what is ETERNAL rather than what is passing away and dying?

Closing Thought — 1 John 2:17 (ESV)

“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides FOREVER.”

The great question for every believer is: Is my agape love being directed by the passing desires of this demonic and fallen world, or by the ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS of Jesus Christ?

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Maranatha!

David