Each generation has something to offer in the family of God

1 John 2:12-17

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• Each generation has something to offer in the family of God.
• Choose the love of God over the desires of this world.

Each generation has something to offer in the family of God.
“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” 1 John 2:12-17

The Apostle John writes to reveal that God’s plan is not to show preference to one generation over another, but rather to integrate the old with the new, and everyone in between. He speaks to the value of the little children, the youth, and the fathers. Within God’s family, the new generation and ancestors holds equal importance.

The little children, whose sins are forgiven for His sake, know the Father. Our Lord Jesus invites the little children to come to Him. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 “The little children” also refers to all who are born again through Jesus Christ by the forgiveness of sins.

The fathers are those who have known God from the beginning. When the Apostle John wrote these words, the fathers were those who knew from the Old Testament scriptures that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of prophecy, the Christ and Son of God. They were teaching to the little children and the youth these words, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” Hebrews 1:1-2 The “fathers” also refers to individuals who have spent years living for God through Jesus Christ, have felt the resurrection within their spirit and soul, and believe in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life.

The ‘young men’ refers to the youthful generation between the little ones and the fathers. They have been born-again through Jesus Christ, absorbed the wisdom of their elders, and have grown strong in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Word of God resides in their minds, spirits, and souls, having overcome sin and death.

Choose the love of God over the desires of this world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” i John 2:15-17

The Apostle John says to every generation, the little ones, the youth, and the fathers, not to love the world or the things in the world. The things of the world and flesh not only includes money and possessions, but also sexuality, physical needs, bodily health, safety, social inclusion, esteem, dignity, freedom of expression, etc. These are all the things that humanism offers, and humanism is the fig leaf worn by the atheistic entity that gives people what to think, feel, say, and do. This entity requires that people love the things of the world and not to focus on the spirit by living for God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. This entity replaces the conscience and spirit to enliven the image of the beast to live and speak through people. Today’s culture is groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

Our Lord Jesus says this about money and possessions: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Our Lord Jesus says this about our safety and security: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20 And also, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20

Our Lord Jesus says this about our social acceptance: “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30 We are not alone in this world, our brothers and sisters in Christ are with us in the body of Christ, and we have much more in store for us in the New Jerusalem.

Our Lord Jesus says this about our esteem, respect, and dignity: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Our Lord Jesus says this about expressing our identity: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

 “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

“How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” John 5:44

This world system is passing away and the presence of global warming is evidence of that. Global warming is the Fourth Plague of Revelation 16:8-9 and the more powerful the United Nations becomes as the one world government the hotter and more intense the burning heat of the sun becomes. Global warming is instrumental in bringing down the power center of the beast in the Fifth Plague of Revelation 16:10-11. This renders the world government and its global culture powerless as the entity will be powerless that once influenced the behaviors, words, feelings, and thoughts of people. In this powerlessness comes the Battle of Armageddon of the Sixth Plague in Revelation 16:12-17. Then comes the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11