The knowledge of God in The Last Days

If the whole purpose of life is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength (Mark 12:30), then it is obvious that any doctrine which is worth knowing, must have some relationship to this supreme purpose of knowing and loving God with all our being. Most Christians are convinced that we are living in the last days. Most Christians are also concerned that as we approach the last great crisis we should relate to it in a way that is pleasing to God and that the witness which we bear before the world is a correct one, in harmony with the purposes of God. What is the real problem with the world? "It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth." _ Christ"s Object Lessons, p.415

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jer 31:34)

In this verse we find a wonderful expression of the relationship which God desires to have with each human being. God promises that a day will come when the sins and iniquities of His people will be blotted out and entirely forgotten. In this day, men will not depend on others to come to God on their behalf. The priest and the pastor will not have a relationship with God which is unavailable to the common people. All God's people _ every single one of them _ will know Him. The emphasis of this verse is the idea that each person may, and ought to have a relationship with God in which there is personal intimacy and interaction. This is God's earnest desire and will for His people because He loves and saves us as individuals, not as groups or churches.

What statement by the redeemed multitude in Revelation Chapter 7 reveals that they have a true knowledge of the identity of God? Rev. 7:9,10

This statement reveals that the redeemed know two things. Firstly, they know that salvation is the work of God and Christ and that they are both to be glorified and praised for what they have done. Secondly, they know that there is only one God and that He is the one who sits on the throne. Jesus is given proper recognition as "the Lamb" of God.

What will be the main focus of the remnant as they proclaim the fall of Babylon and warn against receiving the Mark of the Beast? Rev. 14:7

Revelation 14:6_12 presents the great crisis of the last days. It shows us that the issues to be prepared for are (a) The hour of God's judgement (b) The fall of Babylon (c) The mark of the beast crisis. How are we to prepare to meet these tremendous issues? What should be our focus as we enter the last great conflict? Revelation 14:7 gives us the answer and it is interesting to note that this is the only place where we are given instructions as to what we are to do in light of the coming conflict. God's command to us is threefold: (1) Fear God (2) Give glory to Him (3) Worship Him. Notice that the focus is entirely upon God . This command can never be obeyed by people who have confused or false ideas as to who God really is.

In what critical respect must the work of God's people be similar to that of Christ? John 1:18

"Heaven, looking down, and seeing the delusions into which men were led, knew that a divine Instructor must come to earth. Men in ignorance and moral darkness must have light, spiritual light; for the world knew not God, and he must be revealed to their understanding. Truth looked down from heaven and saw not the reflection of her image; for dense clouds of moral darkness and gloom enveloped the world, and the Lord Jesus alone was able to roll back the clouds; for he was the light of the world. By his presence he could dissipate the gloomy shadow that Satan had cast between man and God. Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Through the accumulated misrepresentations of the enemy, many were so deceived that they worshiped a false god, clothed with the attributes of the satanic character. " . . . . the Son of God, came to earth to reveal the character of the Father to men, that they might worship him in spirit and in truth." _ Christian Education, p. 73

God's people must be growing more like Him every day as they learn more of His character. "By beholding we are changed." As we learn more of God and our understanding of Him becomes more accurate we shall grow more and more into His likeness. The last generation of God's people upon this earth will reflect the image of Jesus perfectly simply because they will have the most complete understanding of God of any generation. This understanding of God will not be just a dry theory, but something which affects our lives because we believe it. Faith must be mixed with our understanding of truth.

(Source: Restoration Ministry)