God’s Promise to David
“'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
This Sunday, CDC had the privilege of hearing from our own Captain Merrill Leong on the subject of God’s promise to David taken from 2 Samuel Chapter 7.
Focusing on King David, we see how the king of Israel Israel
The Lord was pleased that David had this desire in his heart, but told him it was not for him to build God’s great temple. However, the Lord promised David that God Himself will build him a house, and raise up for him an offspring who will reign in a kingdom that will last forever. We know the name of David’s offspring of course – our Lord Jesus Christ! God loves those who honor Him and love Him deeply, and He prepares great blessings and rewards for them, much more than anyone can ever hope for or imagine! Thus, we would certainly do well to stay close to God and learn to love Him deeply.
Captain Merrill then proceeded to bring us into a brief summary of the events that will happen pending the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His kingdom which will last forever.
Drawing from various Scriptures throughout Old and New Testament, we were told how many signs will occur as the end approaches, like birth pains before the coming of a baby. Some of these signs include increasing wars and rumors of wars, more and more famines and natural disasters, increasing numbers of false prophets claiming to be the Christ, and widespread deadly diseases.
In the midst of these happenings, a time will come when the Anti-christ appears and Christians will be persecuted to a degree like never before, causing many to turn away from the faith. Indeed, many must renounce the faith or be faced with immediate death. This time is called the Great Tribulation, and it is a time of testing that will expose who really will be loyal to God and who will not.
There is a teaching that claims that true Christians will be “raptured” before the Tribulation, but this does not agree with the general teaching of the gospels which repeatedly warns that Christians will be persecuted for their faith.
22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22
Jesus warns us to expect the Tribulation and not be surprised when it does happen. If we believe we will be “taken up” before then, we will be devastated when it does not happen, and in all likelihood, abandon the faith.
The Anti-Christ will force all to worship him, small and great, and force everyone to receive the mark of the Beast, on his forehead or on his right hand. Without the mark, no one will be able to buy or sell. Many believe that this mark could be a bar coded chip placed on an individual’s forehead or right hand. Beware of any system which involves placing something on our forehead or right hand.
After the three and a half years, when the tribulation is over, the Lord will return on the clouds in blazing glory, and the elect will be gathered from the four corners of the earth. This is where the Rapture happens, and all who have died for Jesus in the Great Tribulation will be caught up in the air to join Him. This is the first resurrection, and blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. Remember, those who die or suffer for Jesus in the Great Tribulation will be greatly rewarded.
Revelation 19:4-6 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
In conclusion, God’s promise to David is also for us, for He invites all who believe in Jesus Christ to be part of this eternal kingdom. However, we are warned that we must stay loyal to Christ to the end, even at the cost of our lives. We need to be prepared for the end times, and accept the fate that God has meant for us, whether it be captivity, death or loss of all earthly possessions. May the Lord give us strength to stay true to Jesus till the very end, and receive the great reward that God has planned for us in an everlasting kingdom.
In Jesus name,
Amen
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