Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
I was listening to this Scripture this morning and verse 10 struck me. . . . ."Many shall be offended, betray one another, and hate one another."
Many have come in Christ's name and decieved many and because of this I believe folk are more leary of false doctrine but I don't see folk in the church becoming offended and betraying one another or hating one another or leaving their faith over it. As a matter of fact if a false prophet speaks to the church it seems to unite and inspire study of the Scripture as all come together to see truth manifest.
I don't see folk becoming offended and leaving the church over wars and rumors of wars. . . .Rather , we come together in prayer in hopes that God will bless our nation and other nations.
Famines and pestilances, earthquakes, also bring us together in prayer and outreach programs . . . .no ones offended or leaves the church over this.
Folk being persecuted, murdered, doing Christ's work in the missionary fields cause little offense to the church here in the states . . . .few leave the church, betray or hate one another because of these things.
So I wonder if verse 10 is a seperate sign, unrelated subsequently to the other signs. Could it be that folk becoming so easily offended is but another sign of the end times.
It seems to me that what folks become offended at are the little bitty nothings . . ."percieved infractions" such as "the preacher not speaking or shaking your hand", "Bro John Doe teaches sunday school but I saw him do something wrong the other day"," the preacher asked me to button another button on by blouse", "I believe the preacher was preaching directly toward me when he mentioned that pet sin".
My own self, I have learned that the Lord will use the Pastor or a visiting Evangelist, or another church member, to chastise me about something in my life . . . .or just to teach me to have grace when something is tossed at me that misses the mark. But these are the things that offend rather than the other signs mentioned in Mathew 24.
How much betrayal and hatred have we seen from folk who were offended with their "old church" exhibited in their conversations with their families and newfound brothers and sisters.
The commentaries don't agree with my musing, but rather say that the offense comes from the other prophesied events. From where I sit in this nation that explanation does'nt line up with reality.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
That does it!!!! I'm offended..Not really good message and right on target. you're right, people seem to be offended by the slightest of things. I think we are seeing more signs than ever before in history.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Is that Happening today ? YES
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
I see this happen whenever abortion comes up in Father's homily, or whenever my toddler child is a bit too vocal in mass. I had been accosted after mass (while collecting signatures for a petition against the FOCA bill) by this woman telling me my child had no business in the church. Mind you, my church was built without a "cry room" specifically because the parishioners involved in the design process agreed that children are a part of the congregation like the rest of us. That was a moment I decided to turn the other cheek as opposed to letting my immediate emotions get the best of me. But I ramble...
Anyway, I guess my point is that one needs to be flexible, so as not to get bent out of shape...
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Mostly my church experiances have been positive. I have a strong respect for Pastors, Preachers, and Elders. There have been times tho that my name has been called out during a sermon or a finger pointed my way and I don't enjoy that experiance.
If the man is right tho and I'm guilty I feel that "well, I've been hard headed for so long about this thing that maybe the Lord is using this person to rattle my cage".
If the person is wrong however then I take it as a test of my temper or humility. I do believe that it's a great opportunity to demonstrate graciousness to folk who would leave the church over such an unjust admonition. . . . .I'm certainly not being used and abused but if you stay anywhere long enough offensive things will happen occasionally. These things can destroy us or make us according to our reactions IMO.
Also, I don't always do the most intelligent thing as my history will attest . . .but I'm learning and I thank God that He's spared me long enough to grow.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
We small in a small town and no cry room. The priest normally says he knows how the kid feels when he cries, or some such thing . They go for some type of religious class during the liturgy and before communion.
Recently I visited Florida and they had this new fancy church and they have a room for the little guys. I sat with my grandson who it seems is allowed to roam, direct traffic,beat on the windows and roll on the floor with all the little girls. Not exactly the way I remember my childhood church days. etc. Some say, my wife, that he is a chip off the old block .
No I am not easily offended. I do try and defend against ignorance, but I know most of you and I know you will continue in you old misinformed ways. :
Many be offended
good message and right on target. you're right, people seem to be offended by the slightest of things. I think we are seeing more signs than ever before in history.
. They go for some type of religious class during the liturgy and before communion. 
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