Matthew 24 - Part 26

In our last study we left off at verse 17 of Matthew 24 which states: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house. We have discovered that verses 15-28 are focused on the Great Tribulation which began on May 21, 1988 - May 21, 2011. That time and season marked the beginning of God's judgment program which began at his own house first as we read in 1 Peter 4:17,  For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? We want to keep in mind that the chief characteristic of the Great Tribulation was unparalleled spiritual deception, as Satan infiltrated all churches and denominations worldwide, and without exception, as 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 acknowledge: Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away [apostasia:G646 - from which our English word, apostasy is derived] first, and that man of sin [i.e., Satan] be revealed, the son of perdition; 

{4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth [spiritually signifies ruling] in the temple of God [the holy place, i.e., the churches and denominations] shewing himself that he is God. 

How Does One Understand the Term Housetop [doma:G1430]?

The word housetop or doma refers to intense spiritual activity. The house were the churches and denominations that God used during the 1955 years (Pentecost, May 22, 33 AD - May 21, 1988) when God was using them as His divine organism. As a result we find passages like Matthew 10:27 and Acts 10:9 that respectively describe the importance of getting the Gospel into the world, in accordance with the Great Commission, as these citations refer to declaring the Word of God and praying:

What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the housetops. [doma:G1430]

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop [doma:G1430] to pray about the sixth hour: 

However, Matthew 24:17 commands: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house.  Please note that the directive is to stay on the housetop, and to continue to engage in spiritual activity. That command will never be rescinded as long as God's elect are on the earth. But notice the language that follows in verse 17, Let him...not come down to take any thing out of his house. This same warning to not abandon the spiritual work on the housetop by getting ensnared with that formerly divine organism that the Holy Spirit has departed from, is reiterated in the parallel verses in Mark 13:15 and Luke 17:31 respectively: 

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Not [me:G3361] Come Down [katabaino:G2597]

And let him that is on the housetop not [me:G3361]  go down [katabaino:G2597] into the house, neither enter [therein], to take any thing out of his house:

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not [me:G3361] come 

down [katabaino:G2597] to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 

Actually there is an Old Testament word that is also translated as go down or descend which is yarad [H3381/TWOT*:909]. The reason we know that it corresponds to katabaino or go down is because of the following two verses:

In Genesis 28:12 we find this term yarad rendered as descending: And he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending [H3381/TWOT:909] on it. 

A parallel account is found in John 1:51 as the Lord Jesus used this same analogy of the top of the ladder in reference to Himself as He was speaking to Nathanael: And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending [katabaino:G2597] upon the Son of man.

I mention this because yarad is also found in connection with the deceitful strange woman (who typifies God's house that came under His wrath first) in verse 5 of Proverbs 5:1-13, My son, attend unto my wisdom, [and] bow thine ear to my understanding: {2} That thou mayest regard discretion, and [that] thy lips may keep knowledge. {3} For the lips of a strange woman drop [as] an honeycomb, and her mouth [is] smoother than oil: {4} But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. {5} Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. [i.e., the grave] {6} Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, [that] thou canst not know [them]. {7} Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. {8} Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: {9} Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: {10} Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours [be] in the house of a stranger; {11} And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, {12} And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; {13} And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!  

To Take [airo:G142] Anything [tis:G5100]

The next two expressions, to take anything occur together again in the parallel account in Mark 13:15, as well as in the following three Scriptures which powerfully underscore why one is not to come down from the housetop to enter the house, under any circumstances: 

Mark 15:21 records: And they compel one [tis:G5100] Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear [airo:G142] his cross. (The cross represents being under the curse of God.)

Mark 16:18 reveals:  They shall take up [airo:G142] serpents; and if they drink any [tis:G5100]  deadly thing [tis:G5100], it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (The deadly poison of serpents is in view.)

And Acts 20:9 adds: And there sat in a window a certain [tis:G5100]  young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up [airo:G142]  dead. (God's formerly divine institution has no life in it because the Holy Spirit has departed.)

Did you notice that in each of these references the context has to do with be being under the curse of God, deadly poison, and death respectively? This is why one does not leave the housetop to enter into that house ever again, in the same manner that one would not consider going back to a synagogue. 

Lord willing, in our study we will investigate the last three words in verse 17: ...out of his house, which as we shall see, will further confirm this conclusion.  

* Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

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Meet The Board Members Of Bible Ministries International

Perhaps some of you are new to the ministry of Bible Ministries International. If so, we welcome you and trust that the enclosed BMI brochure will acquaint you with what the Lord has allowed us to do during the last 47 years. We also would encourage you to explore the contents of our website: www.bmius.org

E. Gunther von Harringa

President

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Gunther’s primary job is to study and  teach the Word of God.  He teaches an ongoing 30-min. study in the Book of Judges every Monday/ Wednesday/Friday at 4:30 PM (PST). On Sunday he hosts BMI’s Sunday Bible Study in the book of Hebrews from 1:00 - 2:00 PM (PST), in addition to a live Question & Answer Program, starting at 4:30 PM (PST). These studies can be heard live at those times on our website’s player, and on our YouTube Channel (www.YouTube.com/c/BibleMinistries International).  Gunther is also the writer and Editor-in-chief of this monthly.                                           newsletter, and all that BMI produces.

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Mark J. Hewitt

Vice-President/Consultant

‍Mark has worked with BMI since its inception in 2003 and has overseen  all of BMI’s audio and video programming over the years. His ability to troubleshoot and solve all kinds of technical issues has been invaluable. His ingenuity and creativity have been a great blessing and have impacted every aspect of our ministry.

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Karl J. von Harringa

Trustee

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Karl is our newest Board member following the death of Thomas J. Holt in 2017. Karl is responsible for the layout and  design of BMI’s new website and is involved in the day-to-day technical operations of all our audio and video programming, as well as any BMI publications that involve graphics. God has  gifted him with a keen artistic eye and multimedia talent that enhances and touches the various avenues of BMI’s ministry.

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‍Lindy L. von Harringa

Treasurer

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Lindy’s responsibilities are manifold. She handles all of BMI’s bookkeeping and  receipts and works very closely with our CPA in preparing all documentation necessary for BMI’s annual 990 tax return in compliance with the IRS and  BMI’s 501 (c) 3 status. Additionally she stays in touch  with as many of of BMI’s faith partners as possible to learn of their needs and to express BMI’s needs as well. She also coordinates BMI’s Children’s Ministries,  which historically involved writing and editing scripts  in both audio and video formats for our Children’s Program, Treasures From The Bible. She holds  a Masters in Education and Secondary Teaching credentials.  She continued in a Doctorate of Instruction, but had to stop to care for our daughter Maria.

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‍A Word About Finances

In case you are not aware, like most 501 (c) 3 non-profits there are but two times in the year when we are able to “get ahead” financially.  One of these is at Christmas with year-end donations, the other is at tax time. As the Lord leads, would you consider making an extra gift above your regular giving if at all possible. If you are not a monthly donor, would you pray about becoming one? Our monthly prayer and faith partners are the lifeblood of this ministry and enable us to “feed God’s sheep” worldwide. Each of our staff are also volunteers and we do not receive a salary. Because our home is also our global headquarters for all our studio programming and administrative departments, we do receive a housing allowance from BMI. From time to time individuals have asked us about naming BMI in wills, annuities, and trusts. If you are interested in something of this nature please check with your financial advisor.

Prayer And Praise

• We want to express our gratitude to the LORD and to each of you for your continued prayers on behalf of our daughter, Maria. We are deeply touched by your notes of encouragement, emails, and phone calls. Currently she is residing in a group home setting which she likes very much, and she continues to accept counseling from outside mental health organizations (including doctors and psychiatrists) that we are extremely grateful for. We believe that her schizophrenia is due in large part to being non-compliant with thyroid medication, as Graves can mimic schizophrenia if left untreated. She has stated that she would be open to take medication by monthly injection. Please pray for that and for an outside organization to be able to handle her SSI benefits, as she is incapable of doing so at the moment.

• Please pray for a special multimedia video series that we are working on titled the Treasure Of The Lamb - On The Road To Emmaus - based on the Resurrection and  the letters of the Greek alphabet.

We also covet your prayers for the following items that would help to expand our music ministry:

• BMI desires to obtain a series of music licenses in order to add to our music library, and create our own BMI app, which would play 24/7 God-glorifying spiritual songs and hymns, except for those times during the week when we broadcast live studies. The up front cost for this is approximately  $ 2000.00 

• BMI is also in the process of developing a prototype for a new Treasures From The Bible multimedia series. To do this we need a Yamaha CSP-170 digital piano that has the capability of adding a wide range of orchestral and individual instrument sounds that would be essential in creating such a program (since are 15 children are grown, and none of our 14 grandchildren live in this area). The cost for this piano is: $ 4700.00 .

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Link to our brochure: https://www.bmius.org/ourstory

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