Sunday, June 21, 2009

HJC - Matthew's Two Four - discussion cont'd.

Discussion of Verses Nine to Fourteen

“Sheep swing too widely when the shepherd steps .”


Original text from the New International Version

9”Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me . 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people . 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved . 14And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come .


Paraphrasing by David Foster

Section C

Step one : Persecution, death, hatred; loss of faith, fellowship, love; false prophets; standing firm saved; Gospel preached totally then end.

Step two:

·Participants and citizens of your old world will see your difference as incorrect and as a threat to their fruitful world so will seek to correct your variance.

·You will cause birth pains in some but not others and fellowship will decline, while weakness due to strain will withdraw love. Prophets are not appropriate because your relationship is with God alone at this time.

·If you repent you will repeat this again, so stand firm, and be born again. [John the Baptist gathered back those that had moved beyond repentance to fuel the flock of Jesus and increase the number baptized in the Spirit.] * [ Repentance provides a second chance, not a death and re-birth to new life. ] *

·All of your world will hear the Gospel before your world ends.

* [ a new idea added by David Foster – ie: not an idea in the original Gospel text ]

Step three : You're really going to get beat up over this by everybody. Everybody's going to be a—holes and jerks just because I (Jesus) put them in a sour mood. Some will try to cure the crisis like I (Jesus) would do. Extreme actions carried out in panic will lead to general hopelessness and lack of affect, but if you stand firm you'll benefit. Everybody will know about this.

Step four : Don't swing too wildly just 'cuz the shepherd acts / appears. to

Final step : Sheep swing too widely when the shepherd steps .

Basically, a lot will actually happen at the end of your world. People around you will spring to action or recoil back in rejection. Too much fuss over a natural occurrence. Who really cares will become apparent as some will withdraw from you and some will rush to aid you in any way they can think of . Some will offer strongly worded advice and other's will say “come this way – over here !” .Others will avoid you like the plague.

It is kind of like the James Dean cool kid at graduation. He is loved by all but not able to participate since he is incorrect. Sure some will hate him for what he stands for but aren't love and hate closely tied and both count as strong emotions. Not many people will casually overlook such a character. Rather, his very existence screams for a judgment .

Anyways, there's a new approach for these discussions of the paraphrasing of the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 .

Sunday, June 21, 2009 R David Foster

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