Matt 24 Pt 6: Betrayal, False Prophets, Lawlessness, Gospel preached to the world

Okay, as you know, we're still in the Olivet discourse this week. We're gonna go over what Jesus talks about with the Apostles and the disciples being betrayed. We're gonna talk about false prophets lawlessness and the fact that the gospel has to be preached in all the world in order for Jesus to come back.

The Olivet Discourse and the Generation Jesus Addressed

So let's begin our study. And again, we've gone through this several times. So we've read the whole passage. We summarized it. We went through each verse individually we used the hermeneutic called the analogy of faith.

And now we're gonna address the larger key Points of the context. So like I said tonight we're gonna go through Betrayal false prophets lawlessness and the gospel preached in the whole world again if these Events that Jesus spoke about took place within that generation The generation that Jesus was talking to then Jesus's words will have proved true and We shouldn't be looking for another fulfillment of them.

Okay. So when Jesus says these things will take place within this generation and then they take place we should assume at that point That they were complete. So, let's see. Let's talk about betrayal and Jesus said in Matthew 24 9 They will deliver you meaning the disciples and the Apostles to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.

Once again, Jesus clearly identified his audience. He says then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated. So does anyone believe that those in Jesus's audience would have thought that he did not have them in mind or in view?

If Jesus had a distant or future audience in mind Then what other pronoun could Jesus have used to ensure that those in his presence? Audience wouldn't know that he was addressing them. If you didn't mean you or them I know that gets a little crazy starting talking to all the pronouns but if Jesus was talking to his disciples and wanted them to know that it wasn't them that we're gonna be killed but it would be a future or a Far-off generation he would have said they will be killed and they will be hated but he was addressing them Specifically saying that you will would be the ones that will be killed and you will be the ones that will be hated.

No one can doubt that tribulation followed the church soon after Pentecost in Acts 2. From its very inception the church underwent relentless tribulation by Jewish Religious and civil officials and later by the Romans under Nero who reigned from ad -54 until his suicide in 68.

When you read the history Nero was brutal to the early Christians to the point of dipping them in tar and lighting them up as torches on his His porch at night for light. He would feed them to the lions.

He would pour hot lead Into holes in the side of their heads in order to kill them. He was he was brutal. So this certainly could be would be considered tribulation. So were the disciples and apostles hated by the nation's.

I think we we know the answer immediately, but Yes, Peter and John were arrested and put in jail for preaching in the name of Jesus. They were warned not to speak to any man in the name of Jesus again.

This is persecution against the followers of Christ. They were flogged after their second arrest. The tribulation worsened with the death of Stephen who was stoned in the presence of what would become the Apostle Paul he was Saul at the time a great tribulation began against the church in Jerusalem and the Jewish Christian converts were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria all except the Apostles.

So the the book of Acts actually uses the term great tribulation. So again, we see an internal evidence within the scriptures Testifying to what Jesus said that there would be a tribulation. The Apostle John wrote that he was a fellow partaker in the tribulation in Revelation 1 9 and Paul described the tribulation Endured by Christians in Thessalonica.

He said we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and Afflictions and that word is the same word as tribulations which you endure.

So yes, the Apostles were hated by the nations. They were flogged put in jail and partakers in the tribulation. Peter said it like this in 1st Peter 4 12, and I think this is Really telling. He said beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as Though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice insofar as you share in Christ's sufferings that you also may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. But let him glorify God in that name for it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.

And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God? So here Peter is preparing the people who he's writing this letter to to not be surprised When trials and tribulations come upon you in fact, he says these trials and tribulations are a test.

Okay, so When when the early disciples and the Apostles went through that test they shared in Christ's offerings. They knew that this was a part of being a Christian at that time. It doesn't mean that future generations wouldn't Come under trial and have tribulations.

Many People have been martyred for the for the cause of Christ. In fact, we see people in Iraq and and India throughout the world being martyred for the for the sake of Christ. But again, he was addressing these early the early Christians that were in his immediate presence.

So the disciples heard Jesus's words recognized that he was talking to them were actually beaten jail and flogged and Didn't think it was something to be surprising. So let me ask you if this were you would you think that Jesus's words were being fulfilled?

I say absolutely, of course you heard Jesus's words. You heard him talking directly to you and then these things take place you would absolutely Understand that this was a fulfillment of what Jesus said.

False Prophets Rising Within the Church

So let's move on. We'll go to false prophets. Jesus said in Matthew 24 11 many false prophets will arise and mislead many. So did this happen? Yes Jesus's warning against false prophets proved true. The Apostle John wrote that many false prophets have gone out into the world past tense.

They have gone out into the world. He also wrote that many deceivers have gone out into the world those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

So early on in John's first epistle He says that many false prophets have gone out into the world not just one but many which again lines up with what Jesus said in his first epistle. John told his readers that it was the last hour and Just as they had heard that Antichrist is coming even now many Antichrist have appeared from this.

We know that it is the last hour and when he says the last hour again, he's talking about a time period the time period of the Old Covenant coming to an end and the the inauguration of the New Covenant.

So in this last hour as the Old Covenant is winding down the New Covenant is now instituted and they are walking in that. Now John indicated that the deceivers rose up in the midst of the church in his day.

So the deceivers actually originated from inside the church because he would say they went out from us, which means That they were in the congregation with him. So he said these false false prophets went out from us.

But they were not really of us for if they had been of us They would have remained with us, but they went out in order that they might be shown that they are all not of us. So sometimes there are people at that time.

Anyway, there were people inside the church who were not believers who may have professed the name of Christ. But at some point in time Decided that this is not for them. Maybe when it was when maybe when they came under persecution or they just It made a false profession of faith.

Anyway, the these false prophets and Antichrists rose up from within the church, which actually lines up with what Paul said also. So Paul described the Judaizing teachers as false apostles deceitful workers.

Disguising themselves as apostles of Christ and he instructed Timothy to stop certain men from teaching strange doctrines. So again, Paul's addressing people who claim to be Apostles. Okay, who were in within the congregation?

Such that Timothy who was the elder of a congregation Was commanded to tell them these guys to stop teaching certain false strange doctrines. So again, this was an internal problem within the church. The problem of false teachers was common enough even for Peter.

So he would write but false prophets also arose among the people. Just as there will also be false teachers among you who will secretly introduce destructive heresies. Even denying the master Jesus who bought them bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

Many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of truth will be maligned and in their greed. They will exploit you with false words. Their judgment from long ago is not idle and their destruction is not asleep.

So here we see Peter talking about false apostles and false prophets. We have Paul talking about false apostles deceitful workers. And we have John saying that false prophets have already gone out from among them.

So again, we see Jesus's words ringing true to the people. He spoke them to. Paul calls out the false brethren who were spying out their Liberty in order to bring them into bondage. This is out of Galatians and also in Philippians 1 15 and then Paul writes the following to Titus.

For there are many rebellious men empty talkers and deceivers. Especially those of the circumcision which which are Jewish people those of the circumcision who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families.

Teaching state things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. So again here we have another witness to false brethren coming out of the congregations. John describes evil men who call themselves Apostles, but are not.

These passages give a solid scriptural evidence that the words of Jesus were fulfilled in the days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. At the end of the age that closed the Old Covenant era. So again, the disciples heard Jesus's words about false prophets.

Witnessed them themselves and wrote and warned them About them to the other people. So again, if this were you would you think that Jesus's words were being fulfilled in your generation? Absolutely. I don't see how how you could possibly think that this was for a future generation as you see it happening Unfolding right before your very eyes.

Lawlessness, Hypocrisy, and the Traditions of Men

Okay, the next thing that Jesus talked about lawlessness Jesus said in Matthew 24 12 because lawlessness is increased. Most people's love will grow cold. Love of God. Okay. So the last warning Jesus gave in Matthew 24 9 was that there would be increased lawlessness.

Jesus indicated the religious leaders of his day because they were lawless while claiming the covering of their religious offices and Special status as leaders in Israel. He says it like this. That Jesus spoke to the crowds and said to his disciples saying the scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.

Therefore all that they tell you to do do and observe but that do not do according to their deeds. For they say things and do not do them. So you to outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

And this rings true in the in the book of James where We talk he talks about faith in works. He says you say you have faith show me your faith faith without works is dead. There are many people especially the Pharisees and And the scribes who said that they had faith and they would do things.

These traditions of men they would follow but outwardly they were not keeping the inwardly. They were not keeping law. They would do outward deeds, but inwardly their hearts were far from Christ. So this was evidence of lawlessness in in the disciple in Jesus's time and the disciples days.

They neglected Jesus as they neglected the commandments of God and substituted the tradition of men as a result. They became experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep their man-made traditions.

Again this is very very important because these were supposedly the religious leaders and teachers of the day and they were teaching part of the religious law. But again adding to it they were adding to the law things that God never told them to do such as Washing the inside of cups three times and washing your hands three times before you ate.

That was something that they made up and Pointed to Jesus's disciples and said why. They asked Jesus why your disciples not doing this and this is when Jesus Rebuked them and answered them and said you you're creating traditions that men need to keep but those are Neglecting the law of God those have nothing to do with what you've been commanded.

Okay, keeping in with lawlessness. The New Testament writers repeatedly addressed the sensual living that was prevalent in their time. Their worldliness destroyed relationships within the church and tore down the body of Christ.

Paul was shocked at the behavior of some in the Corinthian Church. He says it is actually reported that there is immorality among you an immorality of such a kind as does not even exist among the Gentiles that someone has his father's wife and you have become arrogant and have not mourned instead.

In order that the one who had done this deed might be removed from your midst. Now if you read the book of Corinthians, there was in addition to this there was lots of other sinful Activities going on.

It was a difficult church that Paul had to rebuke many times and if you read it, you'll see why. So there certainly was plenty of lawlessness going on in the early church in Corinth and We all we often think that our day is the epitome of lawlessness.

And you know when you turn on the TV and you look at what's going on outside. It's you could see why people think today is you know, the epitome of lawlessness. And in addition to that because of the adultery and homosexuality that's prevalent in our society today Paul was dealing with these sins in his day same as us.

In fact, he was also dealing with slavery which included kidnapped kidnapping or man-stealing and that was also widespread and condemned. By the early church slavery was very common back in the days of the Romans.

You could try to buy your way out or have one of your relatives buy you out of slavery. So again, the church had to deal with that and work to a point now where obviously we don't agree with slavery. It was much different than a chattel slavery that we see in in the south, but it was an issue that Paul had to deal with.

Okay again with lawlessness some of the churches in Asia Minor were called out by Jesus for their toleration of Immorality and they were told to repent or judgment would come now. This is addressed. John addresses this in the book of Revelation in Revelation 2 5.

He says remember therefore from where you have fallen repent and do the works that you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. So he's recalling writing down the words of Jesus who's warning the churches that they they've Forgotten their first love and if he if they don't repent and turn back he will come.

Jesus will come and remove their lamps. He says therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. Another warning remember that what you received and heard keep it and repent.

If you do not wake up I will come like a thief and you will not know what hour I will come against you. Again, he says those whom I love I reprove reprove and discipline. So be zealous and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come to him and eat with him and he with me.

So here's there's more but there's four quick warnings of Jesus. Telling the churches to repent to turn from their Whatever misdeeds they were doing to turn to him have faith in him or he would come back and judge them.

He would remove their lampstand. Removing their lampstand means that they would no longer become a church. They would no longer be considered a church. So this is in the New Testament. This is early on.

And Jesus is warning them if they don't do this, he will come back. Now does he mean he's gonna come back physically or does it mean that he's gonna come back spiritually in judgment upon them? Obviously, he's talking about him coming back in judgment upon them in a spiritual sense not in a physical sense.

Notice how Jesus threatens these local churches. He says I am coming to you. I am coming to you quickly. I will come like a thief. These comings are not described as a distant future personal physical coming of Jesus Jesus.

Their judgment comings reminiscent of the judgment comings found in the Old Testament. Okay. So again, here's my question to you at the end of each one of these. The disciples heard Jesus's work. Jesus's words about lawlessness.

They witnessed it and wrote and warned it about it themselves. So again, if this were you Would you think that Jesus's words were being fulfilled in your generation? Again, this is the third time the third topic.

Yes, absolutely. If you heard this you would recognize that this is to them for them. So let's go on to the next topic the gospel preached on in the whole world. And this one is really important because a lot of people get stuck.

And say well the gospel hasn't been preached to every person on the planet. The gospel has to go. Globally everyone in the world needs to hear the gospel in order for Jesus to come back. So what we're gonna do is we're gonna look at the words that Jesus uses in the book of Matthew and see what it really means.

So in Matthew 24 14 the gospel of the kingdom Jesus says the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a Testimony to all the nations and then the end will come. So it seems obvious, right?

Jesus uses that word whole world. Many who read Matthew 24 14 conclude that there is no way the gospel could have been preached in the whole world before the destruction of the temple in AD 70. Now remember.

My point of view is that the gospel was preached in the world. And Jesus came back in destruction of the temple in 70 AD. So the people who oppose that view are gonna say there's no way the gospel could have been preached in the entire world.

The whole in fact the whole world. There was nobody in The Americas North and South America. There was nobody in Australia that was part of the early church that went there to preach the gospel. So let's explore this.

We need to remember that Matthew 24 34 in Matthew 24 34 Jesus says this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. So one of the all these things is the gospel being preached on in the whole world to all the nations.

So, what does this mean? The word translated world in Matthew 24 14 is the Greek word and we've spoken about this before. Or too many. Rather than the more common word for world cosmos. Now if if Matthew would have used the word cosmos You could see maybe that in that might include the whole world.

But he didn't he used the word boy too many and this is the only time Matthew uses boy too many. So it's not like he uses it over and over. So this is a specific word in a specific context with a specific reason.

Is being now oikomeni is translated as inhabited earth or known world. Political boundary is what Gary DeMar says and is sometimes translated as the Roman Empire in Acts 11 28. In 17 6 the word oikomeni is no it is translated in the ESV and NASB as Roman Empire which is more of an interpretation rather than a translation because the translators understand what The author of Acts is trying to say.

So, let's see. The same Greek word is used in Luke 2 1 and it says now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus. That a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. It's the word oikomeni. Right.

Rome could only take a census of its own subjects those who lived within the political boundaries of the Empire. Caesar Augustus was not telling His guys to take a census of people who didn't belong to the Roman Empire.

He wasn't asking them to take a census of the people in Canada, North America, South America, Australia. He was telling them to take a census of everyone within the Roman Empire that that political boundary.

That is a clearer translation which help us understand that Jesus was saying that the gospel of the kingdom Would be preached throughout the whole world or the whole Roman Empire the known world at that time.

Before judgment would be poured out on Jerusalem. Look at the reaction of the Jews to the preaching of the gospel by Paul in a Synagogue of the Jews in Thessalonica and how it had an impact on this term.

We're going to use called the world. In Acts 17 5 Luke writes the Jews becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace. Formed a mob and set the city in an uproar and attacking the house of Jason.

They were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities shouting these men who have upset the world Have come here also and Jason has welcomed them and they act they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar.

Saying that there is another King Jesus. So now the Jews with the proclamation of the gospel and the Apostles going from city to city. Okay, the Jews are seeing this and saying these men upset the world.

Now did the Jews mean the entire inhabited planet the entire globe? Or did they mean that the The the Christians the disciples were affecting that area or that political boundary. Okay in context, this is the political boundary that they're talking about.

They're not talking about the entire inhabited world. So you can see when Jesus says that the gospel will be preached on in the whole world. In context Jesus is talking about the known world at that time or the Roman Empire.

Let's take another look in Acts 17 5. We just looked at this the Greek word translated world is again oikoumeni the NSB NASB translation notes in the margin that it's literally the inhabited earth and references Matthew 24 14 where it's translated world and Luke 21 where it's translated as inhabited earth.

See this the translation could be either of these. It's unfortunate that while many modern translations translate oikoumeni in Luke 2 1 as inhabited earth. Still some translate oikoumeni in Matthew 24 14 as world.

So that translation is going to lead people to believe that the gospel has to be preached in the entire world before Jesus comes back. Unfortunately that word I shouldn't say unfortunately. Contextually that word is used in several other places to mean Inhabited earth.

In fact in the appendix of the Companion Bible It offers a clear definition of the word oikoumeni as compared to cosmos. It says oikoumeni is used of the habitable world as distinct from the cosmos. Hence it is used in a more limited and special sense of the Roman Empire, which was then dominant.

So this term which was common at the time Meant again the inhabited earth or the political boundary of the Roman Empire. When ministers preach on Luke 2 1 they must explain that the word world Refers to the world of Jesus's day or the known world at that time.

But this would be unnecessary if oikoumeni had been translated literally. The NASB is also inconsistent. Matthew 24 14 oikoumeni is translated world, but in Luke 2 1 It's translated as inhabited earth and in the marginal note.

It adds that the it refers to the Roman Empire when we get to Acts 11 28 the NSB goes back to using the word world for oikoumeni as a Translation and adds in a marginal note that it literally means inhabited earth.

Now if it literally means inhabited earth Why not translate it that way and just it just adds confusion to the mix. So if you don't read Greek, you're not going to pick this up and many people today in the church don't read Greek.

And we rely on Translations. So this is a this is a big deal when we're looking to find out when did Jesus come did Jesus come back? And if he did why does this say world? So as you can see the word oikoumeni in context does not mean the entire globe or the entire planet.

It means the the inhabited earth or the political boundary of the Roman Empire. I Think I just did that. Yeah, that's that's a duplicate. Okay Paul wrote that the gospel has come to you the Colossian Christians just as in all the world.

So Paul recognizes that the gospel was preached on in the entire Roman Empire. He calls it the world. That is those living in other parts of the Empire. Interestingly Paul uses the Greek word cosmos. So even if Jesus had used the word cosmos in Matthew 24 14 Colossians 1 6 would be evidence that Jesus's words were still being fulfilled.

The same is true for Romans 1 8. Paul says first I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is being Proclaimed throughout the whole world. That is the world of Paul's day. Now Paul uses the word world.

Meaning again the inhabited political boundary of the Roman Empire. Otherwise if if if Paul really did mean The entire planet he is Affirming that the gospel has come to the entire planet. That's not what he's meet what he means.

But just for the people who would oppose this particular view that I'm taking that still would have fulfilled Jesus's words. Okay again, I think contextually the word means the inhabited Roman Empire.

The Bible often uses the word world cosmos similar to the way we use it. Paul goes so far as to state that the gospel was proclaimed in all creation under heaven. And now here Norman Geisler who is not a partial preterist.

He offers the following commentary on Colossians 1 23. He says to every creature under heaven. That's what Paul was saying. This is obviously a figure of speech indicating the universality of the gospel and its proclamation.

Not that every person on the globe heard Paul preach. In acts 2 5 this phrase describes countries without including for example anyone from North or South America. So here's a person Norman Geisler who I believe is pre-millennial.

He doesn't believe that Jesus came back in judgment upon Jerusalem and fulfilled the Olivet Discourse. He's noting that the words that Paul used do not mean Every single person on the planet because Paul says the the.

The gospel has come to every creature under heaven, okay? Paul quotes Psalm 19 for to confirm that the gospel had gone worldwide. He says but I say surely they have never heard. Have they indeed they have.

Their voice has gone out into all the earth or the land and their words to the end of the world. Again, there's that word oikomeni. Even the use of all the nations is confirmed by Paul when he declared that the gospel had been made known to all the nations a direct fulfillment of Matthew 24 14.

Notice the verb tense having been made known in other words. This was something that had been done already by the time Paul was writing the letter to the church at Rome. Then in 1st Timothy 3 16 He says by common confession great is the mystery of godliness.

He who was revealed in the flesh was vindicated by the Spirit seen by angels proclaimed among the nations. Believed on in the world the cosmos and taken up in glory. All the requirements of a pre AD 70 fulfillment are met when we let the Bible interpret itself.

All nations is not always a reference to every nation in the entire world. All nations meant all the nations that would come to the temple. To make their sacrifices during the Passover and Jews would come from all areas of the Roman Empire.

Every nation in the Roman Empire to come and make their sacrifices so the disciples understood Jesus and that the gospel would be preached throughout the world and to all the nations as as the Roman Empire.

This was accomplished before 70 AD. And again, my question to you would be if this were you would you believe that Jesus's words were being fulfilled? Okay. So now we're just about wrapping up to a quick little recap.

Jesus told the disciples that they would be betrayed hated and killed all of which happened before 70 a day as Per the Apostle John they were fellow partakers in the tribulation. So they experienced the trials that Jesus said that they would experience.

Jesus said that false prophets will arise and mislead many which did happen before 70 a day. In fact, the Apostle John wrote that many false prophets have already gone out into the world. Jesus said that because lawlessness is increased most people's love will grow cold.

Which the New Testament Continually described as happening and warns us against the book of Revelation at least five times. Warns the churches to turn back to their first love or else Jesus would come back in judgment upon them.

That's what we see the book of Revelation season warns the churches to change their behavior or he would come and remove their lampstand. Jesus then says the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations and then the End will come and all the nations did hear the gospel as per Paul.

And since the word oikomeni is translated inhabited earth the geographic region. Jesus was talking about did hear the gospel proclaimed. So that's a quick recap. I know this was a quick lesson, which is okay because it's my anniversary.

And I want to celebrate with my wife tonight. So next week. Which next week is the near future just a little pun for you. We're gonna learn more about the abomination of desolation, which is obviously very important.

So many people have misconceptions about that. Jesus also says to flee to the mountains and leave everything behind. We're gonna we're gonna explore all three of those different topics for next week. But for now, that's the end.

Not the end of the world. But just the end of the study in case you thought this was a sign that the end was way out in the distant future. So that's that let me.

You dare Jerry. Yes, sir. Any questions? Excellent. No, I just wanted to add that this is this question with the the world and the issues that Some have with it is is the same type of issue that many had When we looked in the book of John and when we talked about the many different Ways that the world could be.

You know the many words that could be used for world. Yes. This is the same the same issue. He did a very good job pointing out the different You know perspectives on that. It's Again, it's it's got to be taken in context.

Like you said, you know Everything has to be looked at in in context.

You know, I'm glad that you brought that up about the world because you know We have verses like John 3 16, right? The most popular verse God so loved the world. And then later on you have John saying do not love the world or the things in the world.

It's like well, which is it God do do am I supposed to love the world the way he told me to love the world. Well, I'm not supposed to love the world and Within the book of John alone. There's ten different ways to translate that word world.

And if you if you misunderstand what the context you're gonna You're gonna make some major blunders and come to a different conclusion than than what he wants you to come to so right. Yeah, thank you for pointing pointing that out because it's not just in the Olivet discourse that the word world Can be misunderstood.

It's throughout the New Testament. It's correct. No, so when Does does God love the world in one sense? Sure, he loves the world but you look at Psalm 7 Psalm 5 Psalm 7 Psalm 11. There are people that God hates God hates the wicked.

So again, which is it does God love the entire world or does he hate the wicked and it's only till you start grappling with These things and start digging a little bit deeper that you you understand what what's actually going on.

But thank you for bringing that up. You bet. Okay. Let me see Mr. Joe You out there Joe Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, Joe. I can't hear you unmute.

You turn your microphone on. Joe, there you go in the show.

All the best all the best to you guys, oh, thank you. Thank you. I do have a question. In the book of Revelation. It was a warning to the churches. Mm-hmm. If they didn't change their behavior, he would take away their lampstand.

Yes. Yes, the Catholics have been not behaving the way God would like them to behave. Yes. Come their lamp state lampstand is still. That's my question. I I mean how many hundreds of years have they been in existence, I mean since 2 ,000 years, right?