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So this is part seven in our dispensational overview of the Bible. And last time in part six, part six, we had gotten into chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews. And I had commented on how chapter 11 is uniquely appropriate at that point in time for the future little flock of believers who will be going through the seven year tribulation, that prophesied 70th week of Daniel from Daniel chapter nine. Because Hebrews 11, which is often referred to as the Bible's hall of faith, that's the hall of faith, recounts the notable examples of faith that had been demonstrated by individuals and by groups of individuals throughout Israel's history. And that is why this is such an important reminder to the little flock of the future. The reason is that they will have to be able to maintain similar levels of faith if they want to have any chance of holding fast to the end of the tribulation, faith in all of the instructions that they are being given in these books of Hebrews through Revelation.

Now, in Hebrews 12, verse 4, which we'll be looking at in a minute, it's going to be pointed out to the little flock that they have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. In other words, none of them were being killed at that point because of their stance for God's truth or for living the righteous life which they were supposed to be striving for. And the implication there is that soon they will be, and we'll start to see that when we get into the book of James. So then to finish up with the book of Hebrews, turn with me to Hebrews 12.

And chapter 12 begins by saying in verse one, Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. So that great cloud of witnesses referred to here are all those saints who were just spoken of in chapter 11. All those saints in chapter 11 are there as an encouragement to the little flock.

Now, the sin which doth so easily beset us in verse one is the temptation to fall back into Israel's vain apostate religious system. The little flock must not succumb to that temptation. But they need to run with patience, the verse says. The race that is set before them, that is, they need to stand fast in the doctrines which they are being given, and they need to endure to the end.

Then what else is going to help the little flock to be able to do this. Look at verse two, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. You see, the Lord Jesus Christ would never have endured the cross and all of the shame and suffering associated with the cross if he had not known what the end result was going to be. And that is the same attitude, that is the same mindset which the little flock is going to have as they're going through this tribulation period. And then notice verse four, which says, ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin, because at this point the little flock has not been subjected to phase three of Satan's policy of evil against them.

The little flock is not yet being persecuted to the point of being put to death. But notice also that the verse says not yet. The point being that the time is coming when they will be put to death. Because they are striving against sin. The time is coming when they will be put to death as a result of their opposition to Israel's vain apostate religious system and to the false doctrines of the Antichrist, who will be attempting to establish his religion.

Now, when we get into the Epistle of James, we're going to see that the little flock will be experiencing this persecution unto death. The sins which the little flock are striving against are the escalating levels of the satanic policy of evil against them. So the writer of Hebrews has just introduced a doctrine which James is going to expand upon in his letter. The escalating persecution which the little flock can expect to see as the tribulation unfolds. And this is reminiscent of exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ had told his disciples was going to happen to them back in John chapter 16.

So turn with me back there for a minute and let's look at those verses, John 16 beginning in verse one, he says to them, these things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues. Yea, the time cometh that whoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning because I was with you.

All right, so let's go back to Hebrews chapter 13, and we're going to see some interesting things there. Chapter 13 then continues on with further exhortations for the little flock in light of the persecutions which they will be receiving from Israel's vain apostate religious system. And then we see this interesting verse, verse 13, there in chapter 13, which says, Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. The verse says, go forth without the camp. The exhortation here is that the little flock dissociate themselves completely from Israel's vain apostate religious system, at this point. There is an interesting passage back in Isaiah 66, which reveals a very enlightening look at the manner in which God will be viewing Israel's vain apostate religious system at this time in the future, when it is Christ's superior priesthood is what should be the focus of the little flock at that time, as we saw in the beginning parts of the book of Hebrews. I want you to see those verses back in Isaiah 66, verses 3 and 4.

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man. He that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck. He that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood. He that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and I will bring their fears upon them. Because when I called, none did answer. When I spake, they did not hear, but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. So this is a description of Israel's vain apostate religious system, which will be constantly doing everything contrary to the fact that Christ is now Israel's high priest. The little flock has been witnessing actually to these apostate Jews within the nation. But these apostate Jews will not hear it, and they will not abandon their vain apostate religious system.

Back to Hebrews 13, verses 20 and 21, which say now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. So the writer is exhorting the little flock through the writer of Hebrews to be perfect in every good work, to do his will.

Now, this is interesting in that these are the connecting transitional verses which introduce what James is now going to pick up on and elaborate in his Epistle. And here again is another marvelous example of how the books of the Bible are arranged in a manner which will facilitate the logical flow of doctrinal understanding and instruction which God's people will need to function optimally in the future. We saw this with Paul's epistles to us as members of the body of Christ, how they were all arranged in a certain order. And we're going to see it here for the little flock in the future. Each of these books for the Jew has a future connecting transitional verse or passage, like these two verses here in verse 20 and 21, which transitions the Jew of the future into the book of the next writer, who will then elaborate on that particular issue of doctrine.

And then the writer of Hebrews goes on to say in verse 22, and I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation, for I have written a letter unto you in few words. So the writer wants the little flock to acknowledge this final exhortation to be perfect in every good work. But the writer also acknowledges that he's only written but a few words on the subject. He's only introduced the topic, and James will now pick up on that subject. So we'll move on into the book of James.

And the book of James can generally be outlined chapter by chapter, with each chapter focusing on a certain issue of appropriate behavior or doctrine for those who will be part of the little flock in the future. Now, in James, we're not going to see issues pertaining to the priesthood or to Israel's vain, apostate religious system of sacrifices that will be going on in the temple. Because James instructions are directed primarily to members of little flock who are outside of the land. Look at verse one, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus christ to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad. Greeting.

So here we have this introduction to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad. So James is addressing those members of the little flock who are outside of the land of Jerusalem and Judea, a situation which we saw is really no different than was the situation when Israel's kingdom program was cut off in Acts chapter seven. And we said quite a bit about that when we were going into Hebrews. And in chapter one, we see James diving right into this issue of a righteous life and good works, which the writer of Hebrews had merely introduced back in verses 20 and 21 of Hebrews 13. Look at verses 2 and following here, my brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Almost sounds like Paul's exhortations to members of the body of Christ, doesn't it? To walk in a manner which is consistent with their standing in Christ.

Now remember, these members of the little flock are going to be living in a social and cultural environment among Gentile nations that will be walking like men were walking in the days of Noah, as Christ described to them. When every imagination of the thoughts of men's hearts will be only evil continually evil will be escalating exponentially. And the little flock is supposed to be an example to the rest of the world and especially to Israel's vain apostate religious system and the members who are part of that. Drop down to verse 12. James writes, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

More words of encouragement to the little flock. It's going to be more than worth it if they can just stand fast to the end. And then we come to those well known verses in the Bible describing the process in which a man is tempted away from the potential blessings which the Lord has in store for a believer. Verse 13. Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. And then when lust hath conceived it, bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. So James is warning them not to be drawn away by the things of the flesh, or by everything that will be going on around them. And then he gives them some further warnings and encouragements.

Verse 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning of his own will, begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. So Here in verse 18 we see this phrase, the word of truth. That probably reminds you of something.

What other passage does that phrase bring to mind in 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul instructs us to rightly divide the word of truth, that is, to be able to accurately separate those truths which pertain to us in this current dispensation of grace, to be able to separate those truths from the truths which pertain to Israel's prophetic kingdom program. And here these words of truth do refer to truths that pertain to Israel's kingdom program. Those words of truth will also have the power to accomplish something, because the verse says they will have the power to produce a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. So if these saints are able to endure to the end and to demonstrate the righteousness which is supposed to characterize the kingdom of God, then they will become brethren in the midst of the Lord's congregation, and they will be ushered immediately into the kingdom. And that's the sense in which they will be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures, in verse 18.

Continuing on in verse 19 wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive the meekness with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls. Some good advice and additional warnings for the little flock. They need to be able to control their anger.

Continuing on in verse 22 but be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers, only deceiving your own selves. For if any man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass, the verse says. Be ye doers of the word. That is the goal for these members of little flock. The writer of Hebrews had merely introduced this objective back in Hebrews 13, verse 21. And then James goes on to describe some of the characteristics of those who are and those who are not demonstrating the righteousness which God desires. And the writer ends the chapter with the instructions that the believer is to keep himself unspotted from the world in verse 27.

Now in chapter two, James will continue to dwell on this issue of a righteous life in the members of the little flock. And he summarizes the whole exhortation to do that with what he refers to as the royal law according to the Scripture. Look at verse 8.

If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, and what is that law? Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ye do well. On the contrary, look at verses 9 and 10 and say, but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. So the members of the little flock are exhorted to move on to perfection.

Now, back in the first chapter of James, in verse 23, James had just exhorted the little flock to be doers of the word, not just someone who hears the word. And now James takes up this very important issue of faith on the part of the little flock in the future, and he illustrates the relationship that works will have to that faith. Drop down to verse 14, where he writes, what doth it profit my brethren? Though a man say he have faith and have not works, can faith save him? Can faith save him? That is the question. Can faith without works save him?

Well, folks, we're getting into a section of Scripture here which contends that you cannot be justified by faith alone. And we're getting into a section of Scripture here where you better know how to rightly divide or you're going to run into all kinds of problems. So I want to read through the next section of chapter two here, and then we're going to come back and take it apart a little bit to get a little bit better understanding.

So let's continue in verse 15, it says, if a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace. Be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God. Thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our Father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works? And by works was faith made perfect. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then, how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

So then here is the passage in Scripture which contends that you cannot be justified by Faith, only your faith has to be accompanied by works. Well, it doesn't take any great Bible scholar to recognize that this is diametrically opposed to the gospel of the grace of God which God and Paul laid out for us today in Romans chapters three and four. And if there were no other reason in the world for being able to rightly divide the word of truth between those truths which pertain to believers today in this dispensation of grace and those truths which pertain to Israel's prophetic kingdom program in the past and in the future, right here is reason enough. Because if someone today believes that this passage in James is how a person receives justification unto eternal life, individual salvation from God today, then that person has the wrong gospel message and that person's eternal destiny is going to be that of eternal damnation. So then, what's going on here?

Well, once again, as usual, this is a dispensational issue. And the first thing you want to notice again, here is who this book is addressed to. You've got to appreciate whose mail you're reading. As we saw in the very first verse of chapter one, James is writing to members of the little flock who are scattered abroad outside of the land, and they're going to be subjected to tremendous trials and persecutions. Let's look at that again in James chapter one, verse two says, my brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.

These members of the little flock are in for a really rough time, and James is giving them information that they are going to need. Now let's go back to James 2 again, and we'll get into these verses in a little more detail. Verses 15 and 16 again, if a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace. Be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? So the question is, where are we here in Israel's program?

Here are some brothers and sisters who are naked and destitute of daily food. Well, this is Matthew, chapter 25, where the Lord is going to be saying to some people, inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And remember, works done in faith have always been associated with Israel's program. And God saw fit to use Abraham as an example here because of the dual nature of Abraham's justification. Drop down to verse 21.

It says, was not Abraham our Father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar. So God had told Abraham to slay his son, his only begotten son. And Abraham would have done it if the Lord hadn't stopped him. I mean, the knife was up and ready to come down and the Lord stops him. Now you talk about giving someone a test of works to do in faith. You can't ask for much more of a dramatic test than that. Verse 22, Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.

So God uses this example from Genesis 22, and that's very important how that Abraham in faith was willing to slay his beloved son and thus receive justification by faith associated with this tremendous test, this tremendous work of faith. But when did Abraham do that again? He did that in Genesis 22. Turn with me to Romans 4, beginning in verse 1, where Paul writes, what shall we say then, that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now the him that worketh is the reward, not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth thee, and Godly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

So verse two says that Abraham was not justified by works. Just the opposite of what the Bible just said about Abraham in James chapter 2, verse 3 which says that Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. That's all he did was to believe what God said. There were no works involved. But when did Abraham do this?

He did this in Genesis, Genesis 15. Verse 6, by the way, is the verse that is referred to having to do with Abraham's justification back in James 2:23. So God takes this man Abraham and essentially justifies him two different times in two different ways for two different purposes. So that Abraham can serve as an example of how we become justified according to the Gospel of the grace of God by faith alone, simply by believing.

Just like Abraham did in Genesis, chapter 15, verse 6. But God also demonstrates in James 2 how the Jew in Israel's prophetic program will become justified by demonstrating works of faith, just like Abraham did in Genesis chapter 22. And thus Abraham can legitimately be called the Father of us all, which he is called by Paul in Romans 4:16. So once again, these failures to appreciate the dispensational differences between Israel's prophetic kingdom program and the program for the body of Christ is the root cause of such erroneous teachings as works being necessary for salvation today. And of course, things like that just play into the hands of the lordship salvationists who are looking to see evidence of works in your life. Or they say, you're not saved, never have been.

Okay, let's go back to James, book of James again. And so Here in James 2 we see this issue of faith as it is to be played out in Israel's prophetic kingdom program when that program resumes again in the future. Now in James chapter three, we see how that the things which you hear a man saying is going to reflect the righteous character or the lack of righteous character in the man. And we see this by virtue of the tongue and what the man is saying.

The tongue is not supposed to be used in a negative manner driving people away from you, but rather in a manner which will attract people to you and to what you have to say. Let's begin here in verse 2. Says, for in many ways we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body. So here we have a perfect man.

Again, remember those transitional connecting verses from Hebrews, how that the writer of Hebrews was exhorting the little flock to be perfect in every good work to do his will. So controlling what you say is very important and would be one of the characteristics of a perfect man. In fact, the verse actually teaches that if the man who is able to control his tongue is going to be able to control his whole body. Verse 6, the tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.

So the things that are being spoken by the tongue is able to escalate sin tremendously. Look at verse 10. Out of the mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be, doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs. So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. So the words that come out of a person's mouth are eventually going to demonstrate that person's true character. Now, we're going to see that really clearly when we get into John's Epistles. First John especially when we look at those tests which the little flock are going to be able to use in order to determine who among them are the impostors, who among them are the Tares.

Drop down to verse 14. If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. So if bitter envying and strife are in the hearts of a man, his words are going to ultimately going to reveal those things. One of the tests which we're going to see in First John is going to be whether someone loves his brother or not. And what those impostors are going to be saying is going to reveal who they really are. They will not have love for their brothers.

And then chapter three ends in verse 18 by saying, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. So here we have righteousness sown in peace of them that make peace. Well, what does this bring to mind? How about the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter five?

Let's turn back there for a moment and look at why Christ said these things. Matthew 5:9. He said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. So here you have the fruit of righteousness sown in peace by the peacemakers. And again, that transitional verse from Hebrews into James was informing the little flock that James would be elaborating on this issue of how the Lord wants the little flock to be perfect in every good work, to do his will.

Now let's go back to James again and we'll move into chapter four. In chapter four, the warnings and exhortations focus on prohibitions against members of the little flock developing friendships and alliances with the world as a result of the lusts of their flesh. Let's begin in verse 1. From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust and have not ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain. Ye fight in war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask and receive not. Why? Because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts, the lusts of the flesh. That's the basic problem here. Ye adulterers and adulteresses. Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that the Scripture saith in vain, the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? So in verse 4 it says, Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. A pretty strong warning. Verse 5 says, the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy. There's the persistent problem, the lust of the flesh.

So what is the believer exhorted to do? Look at verse 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Verse 8 says, Purify your hearts. Well, this is what Christ was instructing the little flock to do in Matthew 6:32. You don't have to go there, but he said, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then all these other things are going to be given to you later. Drop down to verse 17 here.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. So we see all these doctrines and exhortations from James on how the little flock is supposed to be demonstrating these characteristics which are to be manifested in those who would desire to be members of the kingdom. And you can see by the way how all of this just plays right into the hands of the lordship salvationist, doesn't it? Just perfect.

We're going to go into James 5 now where we're going to see exhortations to the little flock to stand fast even in the face of significantly increasing persecution. And this chapter is interesting in that it begins with warnings to those who are responsible for that persecution. Let's begin in verse 1. Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth eaten, your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, that is the fields of these rich men which is of you kept back by fraud. In other words, he isn't paying them what they're supposed to be paid. They crieth, and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

So verse four is referring to righteous believers who have been defrauded of their rightful wages from those who have all the riches and are supposed to be paying them. The voices of those who have been defrauded, they're crying out. They're crying out to the Lord, and the Lord is going to hear those voices. Look at verse one again. Go now, go to now, ye rich men weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. So you can see why James has warned those members of Little Flock not to be enticed and drawn away towards the lust of the flesh. That would be a recipe for failure to endure to the end.

And looking at that first verse in James 5 here, James is referring to unrighteous rich men here. Now, maybe this is referring to Gentile men, Gentiles who are over the Jew at that point. Maybe it's referring to unrighteous fellow Jews. More than likely it's going to be a combination of both. But the point is that they are going to be slaughtered when the Lord returns, but the persecutions are going to escalate. And remember when Christ said that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven, in Matthew 19:24, well, that's the way it's going to be in the future as well, especially for those believers who are scattered abroad outside of the land. And then, now we come to verse six, which is the connecting transitional link for the doctrines which Peter will then develop more fully in his epistles. And what does it say?

It says, ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you. Notice that James is still addressing those unrighteous rich men in verse one. They are the ones who will be turning on the members of the little flock. Now, if you remember back in Hebrews 12:4, that was the verse where the writer wrote that the little flock had not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. But now the time has come when they are going to be resisting unto blood, They are now being killed for their stance.

Remember what Christ had said back in John 16:2, yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think he doeth God's service. So we are just being introduced here to phase three of the satanic policy of evil against the little flock during the tribulation. Members of Little Flock are going to be killed now because of their stance.

But now the next verses are directed towards that little flock. Verse seven, James says, be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient. Stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. So they just need to hang in there, because the coming of the Lord is drawing nigh.

That's why you have that interesting terminology back in verse four. Here it says that the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the Lord of Sabaoth. That term Lord of Sabaoth is associated with the Lord as Israel's avenger, one of those mandates of the Davidic covenant, Israel's avengers. So if they just hang in there, the Lord will be returning very soon. So in light of all this escalating persecution, you have continued encouragements and exhortations to the little flock? As the passage continues, look at verse 10.

Take my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. So the prophets are held up here as an example of those who have also suffered affliction in the name of the Lord. And then the little flock has given another example. Verse 11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. So here Job is held up as an example of someone who has gone through great suffering and affliction. And I tried to tell you when we were doing our overview back in the Old Testament, how that the whole book of Job was really a prophetic picture of the little flock during the tribulation. And look at what it says here in relation to Job and the suffering he had to endure. It says, ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord.

Well, the end of the Lord is what the Lord did in the end for Job. What did he do? After Job stood fast through all the trials and tribulations, the Lord restored double to Job everything that he had lost. And pitiful in this context here means compassionate. That's the compassion of the Lord. And so will it be for the little flock if they just have patience, stand fast, and endure to the end.

So then we come to Peter's epistles, where Peter will further elaborate on the intensification of Satan's phase three policy of evil against the little flock. And some of the insights which Peter will give to the little flock are designed to help them in their tribulations. These persecutions on the Little Flock will be coming from the influence of Israel's vain apostate religious system and from the Gentiles and from the satanic policy of evil which will be escalating in the regions outside the land where those members of the Little Flock will be at that time. So that then would transition us into the book of First Peter, which we're not going to really get into until the next time I teach.

The Seven Mystery Kingdom Parables

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But we have some time left today, and that was by design because I want to spend a few minutes on something I brought up at least once in some of the previous parts of this series, and that is the importance and the relevance of the seven mystery kingdom parables in Matthew chapter 13. Those seven parables which Christ had given to his disciples so that they would know what to expect during his delay in returning to set up the prophesied kingdom. Those seven parables of Matthew 13 and the parable of Matthew 20 are intimately connected with everything we see going on in Hebrews through Revelation. The Mystery Kingdom parables was a four part series four part series (link below) which I did some time ago. So I wanted to spend just a brief time reviewing the main thrust of those seven parables because if you understand those parables, it will greatly enhance your understanding of everything we are seeing in these epistles to the Little Flock of the future.

Now, the first parable is the parable of the Sower. And the mystery aspect of that parable is the fact that there is going to be a remnant among the remnant, so to speak. That is a very elite group of believers within the Little Flock who will stand fast to the end by following the doctrines which they've been given, just like the writer of Hebrews and James have been exhorting the little flock to do here.

This is that group of believers who will endure Israel's vain apostate religious system and the satanic policy of evil against God and his program. And they'll be doing that all the way to the end of the tribulation, to the second coming of Christ. Now, we also saw when we analyzed that parable how that there will be some members of the Little Flock who will not endure to the end of the tribulation. Some will drop off rather early during phase one of the satanic policy of evil against them. Some will drop off during phase two and some will drop off during phase three, where their lives are now in danger. As we saw the doctrines we're getting into in James, and the little flock is being killed because of their doctrinal stance, we saw that beginning in James.

In the Mystery Kingdom parable series, we also saw how that those who do fail to make it to the end may very well have been true believers within the little flock, and that they do have individual justification unto eternal life, but because they did not have the ability or the wherewithal to endure to the end, they will be cast out into outer darkness. And we saw that outer darkness had nothing to do with eternal damnation. Outer darkness is simply everything outside of the kingdom. And that because they did have individual justification unto eternal life, even those who were cast out into outer darkness could eventually be part of the kingdom. But they will have missed out on all of the tremendous blessings and honor like the crown of life that James refers to in chapter one, which would be given to those believers who did endure to the end. Those who are going to be cast out into outer darkness, but who eventually will be taken into the kingdom are those who Christ was referring to when he said, many that are first shall be last. In other words, they may have been believing members of the little flock from the very first, but they did not endure to the end, and therefore they will be the last ones to enter into the kingdom. And that was explained quite comprehensively when we analyzed the parable of the laborers in the vineyard in Matthew 20.

Now, the second parable is the parable of the wheat and tares. And the mystery aspect of that parable was the fact that the tares, the children of the devil, are supposed to be allowed to remain right there in the midst of the true believers all the way to the end of the tribulation. A truly shocking thing when you see how the ungodly influences of the tares will be continually working against the plan and purpose of God through the little flock. The tares will be constantly attempting to coerce members of the little flock back into Israel's vain apostate religious system.

The third parable is the parable of the mustard seed. And we saw that the mystery aspect of this parable is the fact that the Lord's doctrine for the little flock is going to be corrupted, first corrupted by the influence of Israel's vain apostate religious system, and then ultimately corrupted by the false religion of the Antichrist which he will be trying to establish.

The fourth parable is a parable of the woman leavening Three measures of meal. And we saw how that the Antichrist, we saw how he was going to establish his false religious system, and how that it will begin right there in Jerusalem, right there in the temple, in fact, with the abomination which Daniel spoke of. Christ talks about that in Matthew 24. We've gone into that a little bit. And how that will begin right there in Jerusalem, spread throughout all of Judea and then ultimately throughout the Middle east and probably even beyond that as the Antichrist is attempting to deceive and corrupt the thinking of everyone on the earth, actually.

Now, these second and third parables, they have a commonality, they all deal with the corruptive influences against God's doctrine, which is going to make the ministry of the little flock look like it's been a total failure. So the little flock needs to expect that they need to stand fast in the Lord's doctrine. And they are even supposed to be trying to convert members of Israel's vain, apostate religious system, those tares, they're supposed to be even trying to convert them all the way up until the end. And we'll see that when we get into the book of Jude.

Now, parables five and six are also related. These are the parable of the treasure hidden in the field, which pertains to those members of the little flock who are outside of the land. The prophets actually describe the field as the whole world. And the parable of the pearl of great price, which also pertains to members of the little flock who are outside of the land, but probably more specifically to those members of the little flock who will be in Babylon at the time. So if you remember, we had basically three groups of believers in the little flock at this point in Israel's history, those in the land and these two groups who are outside of the land.

And we saw how that the mystery aspect of both of these parables is the fact that Christ appears to have sold his inheritance over to the adversary. When you read those parables, you'll hear the statement, like a man who sold all that he had. Because when you read through Revelation 13, you see how that it is the Antichrist, indwelt by Satan himself at that time, who is going to be the one who has power over all kindreds and tongues and nations, and people will be worshiping him.

That should bring to mind something. Those were all things that were supposed to be Christ's inheritance as the Lamb who was slain. Revelation, chapter five, which we looked at the beginning of our Hebrews examination. Those were all things that were supposed to be Christ's inheritance as the lamb who was slain and yet it is the antichrist who appears to have inherited all these things. And finally the seventh parable is a parable of the net cast in the sea which illustrates how that Gentiles outside of the nation Israel will be held accountable for any interactions which they may have had with members of little flock during their time of great tribulation.

And that's where Matthew chapter 25 comes into play where Christ was teaching his disciples about the sheep and the goat nations which is really going to in my opinion filter down to individual sheep and goat individuals, not just nations. And also we saw a little bit of that right there in the book of James when we were looking at what what the rich men were doing to the little flock of believers. So you want to keep all those things in mind as we progress through these epistles for the little flock of the future.

Mystery Kingdom parables series
Parables Handout