Did Jesus come as a radical saviour ?

No, Jesus did not come as a radical saviour; He came as a saviour who preach diligence and warnings to His disciples.

• Mat 24:42-44 KJV  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  ..  (44) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
  Mat 25:4-13 KJV  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps... (13)  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
• Mar 13:34-37 KJV  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  (35)  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  (36)  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  (37)  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
• Luk 21:33-36 KJV  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  (34)  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  (35)  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  (36)  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
• 1Th 5:6 KJV  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
• 1Pe 4:7 KJV  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
  Rev 3:2-3 KJV  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  (3)  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
• Act 20:31-32 KJV  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  (32)  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 

Like what I have said, We don't need to preach a radical God to show people that God is radically good by hiding His laws or twisting His commandments. Similarly, the name of Jesus is 'radical' enough for the world. We should not change His name or attach some kind of radical titles, promotional offers, or special 'promises', to His name. His name is sacred. Hence, if we don't preach a radical God, radical Jesus, or radical Holy Spirit, we will not preach radical grace or attach any kind of radical title to God's grace. Grace is sacred. Grace means a lot to the sinners who need the forgiveness of God.

• 2Co 12:9-10 KJV  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

Grace is different from Old Testament favour or blessing
Grace is different from favour which prospered the Jews and the Pharisees in the Old Testament. Many radical grace preachers today could have preached their Old Testament mentality when they confessed and boasted about God's favour or radical grace as their riches, their glory, their anointing, or their righteous standing before God. They would just love to boast about anything which they think it is from God. However, it is not the grace of Jesus Christ. Grace does not boast. Grace of Jesus Christ under the New covenant is given only to the humble sinners who repent through the baptism of Christ. It is given to those who are humble. If we are truly humble, we will not boast about God's favour, God's riches, God's blessings, God's prosperity, our success, our glory, and our reign in life. We will not boast about our blessings over others because of our righteous standing before God. We will not boast like the Pharisee in the following Bible verses:

• Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

If we use our righteous standing, favour standing, or 'radical grace standing' above others to bully others, accuse others, or humiliate others, we would not be any difference from the Pharisees even if we argue vehemently that we are different from them because we have always preach radical grace - it can only show that we do not have the grace of the Lord ultimately:

• Mat 18:31-34 KJV  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  (32)  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

a. justification by faith or by grace is only the beginning of a believer's forgiven life so that he can do more with the words and commandments of God in his life. The grace for cancellation of debts or forgiveness of debts is not given so that we can have more future debts or more future lawlessness. It is certainly not an excuse or license to have more future sins with no more repentance (or to sin wilfully). 

• Luk 13:2-10 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  (10)  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

b. Grace is not forever - it is given for the purpose of repentance, turning back to God's commandments, keeping God's laws, and doing His words. Grace is not given for the purpose of enjoying or living in lawlessness forever. Grace is not there forever if we are forever lawless in our hearts or minds. However, if we repent, keep the commandments of God, and live with the laws of God in our hearts and minds, God will remember all our lawlessness no more and He will be our God forever: 

• Heb 10:16-17 LITV  "This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My Laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds;"  (17)  also He adds, "I will not at all still remember their sins" and their lawlessnesses. ..  
• Heb 8:10 LITV  Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving My Laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 
• Luk 19:8-10 LITV  But standing, Zaccheus said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor. And if in anything I accused anyone falsely, I restore it fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for he also is a son of Abraham.  (10)  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the one being lost.

Hence, the cancellation of debt or forgiveness of debt is not given so that a believer can have more future debt or lawlessness forever. It is certainly not an excuse or license to have more future sin or lawlessness without any repentance. However, many preachers have deceived the believers into thinking that they can literally expect forgiveness of all their future sins, and even supernatural cancellation of all their future financial debts, if they will just radically believe or do and teach their 'holy communion's blood cleansing' ritual, 'pure grace' confession, 'supernatural' favour, 'mind changing' philosophy, or 'false repentance' to disregard and to 'repent' from all the laws and commandments of God. I did write about some preachers who have managed to quote the Bible out of context and capitalise on this 'supernatural' deception or 'cancellation of debts' to transfer effortless wealth to themselves. (see "Supernatural cancellation of debts - Is it really a supernatural transfer of wealth, a religious gimmick, or just a vain religious boasting?" in my previous post here.)

God is not radical; if He is radical, He is not God
Have you ever asked yourselves, "Why would a God like Jesus who is omniscience, omnipotent, and omnipresent tell His disciple not to be radical; but to be bound by the constraint of life.". You may ask, "What constraint?" I have already mentioned, Jesus would always ask His disciples to 'watch' or walk circumspectly. If Jesus were radical, He would preach like one of the radical grace preachers today. He could have said, "Don't listen to anyone who tell you to watch every step of your path. It's because if you are with me, you can never fall. You are always saved because I am all sufficient and all powerful. I will supply everything and make sure that you can never 'die'. Just enjoy my radical grace, radical power, radical blessings, radical prosperity, radical healing .. etc. You do not need to watch and pray. You do not need to save any money. You can just spend all the money from your banks, from your inheritance, or from your fathers, and STILL prosper by whatsoever you are blessed or favoured by me. You can live like the prodigal son, and yet my radical grace, anointing, blessings, and power will keep you from lacks. You don't have to worry about lacks. You just need to worry about how to spend all your money..." Yes, this is one form of radical grace but why didn't Jesus preach the goodnews or His goodness in this way? Why would He need the radical grace preachers to preach it like this? It doesn't make sense. If Jesus were to preach like this or tell us to preach like this:

1. Jesus would have preached like the Pharisees who preached the 'corban' to exalt themselves at the expense of God's word and God's commandment (Mk 7:11-13, Mat 15:5-6) 
2. Jesus would have contradicted against the word and the nature of God who wants all His children to be diligent with His words:

• Psa 119:9-11 RV  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  (10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  (11)  Thy word have I laid up in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Psa 119:105 RV  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path,
• Pro 4:18-27 RV  But the path of the righteous is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.  (19)  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.  (20)  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  (21)  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  (22)  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  (23)  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.  (24)  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.  (25)  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  (26)  Make level the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  (27)  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Jesus have commanded all His disciples to live diligent lives too
Do you know that Jesus do not like to waste money, waste food, waste bread, or waste resources, even He has the power to multiply money, bread, riches, and prosperity ?

• Mat 14:19-20 KJV  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  (20)  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
• Mat 15:37 KJV  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

Can you imagine, Why would Jesus, who have unlimited supply of bread or food, let His disciples collect all the fragments of food or leftover food? Does it mean that He is a stingy God ? No.
Hence, we should tell the serpent off if he will come again and tempt us by saying that he is a better God because he could prosper us with his words, open our eyes to more riches, and supply all our needs and desires without any constraint, demand, or commandments. He is lying !

• Gen 3:2-6 KJV  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  (3)  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  (4)  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  (6)  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

We should tell him, "No, serpent, God is not stingy when He gave us His commandment not to eat so much or not to eat from every tree. God would not want us to be radical or like you who would covet for everything or waste everything when you are in power. Your desire for self-glory is a bottomless bit. But God want us to be prudent and mindful of others who are in lacks and to live with self-constraint. I believe that, if a soldier (or servant) cannot constraint himself or learn to live a constraint life, he can never be a good general (or a good leader) who will constraint himself when he is in power. Lucifer is an example:

• Isa 14:12-15 KJV  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  (13)  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  (14)  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  (15)  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Hence, if anyone says that Jesus is a radical saviour or radical preacher of grace, prosperity, salvation, money, blessing, anointing, favour, wisdom, gospel, glory, or riches, I will question them, If you are a preacher of God, do you really know the things of God? You may not believe in God's judgement, but do you really believe that God will reward everyone in the end time, whether you are a believer (or non-believer) ?

• Mat 16:23-27 KJV  .. (24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. .. 27)  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
• Mat 25:1-13 KJV  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ..  (11)  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  (12)  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  (13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
   

The five wise virgins are the five diligent believers. The other five are foolish or ignorant believers who refused to listen to the word of God or to the light of God. The radical grace preachers could have interpreted the Lord's parables in Matt 25 as the obsolete parables or warnings for the Jews before the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, I would think that the parables in Matt 25 are for us. They are warnings for the churches too. Why do I say so?

1. The three parables were all about the end time and we are at the end time now. 
2. We are now at the end time as the Bride would prepare herself for the second coming of Christ in the end time. Hence, the Bride or the Church would become the focal point for the kingdom of God; not the Jews.  1Co 12:13 KJV  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
   2Co 11:2 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
   Rev 21:1-2 KJV  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. 1Co 12:13 KJV  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
   Rev 21:1-2 KJV  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
4. The three parables were not taught to the world or to the Jews, but to the disciples. The sinners would never know the parables and they are totally ignorant about buying oil for their lamps, serving God, and keeping God's commandment (to love others as thyself). Mat 24:3-4 KJV  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?  (4)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.. Matt 25 .. the ten virgin, the servants, and the sheep and goats .. 
5. The three parables could be interpreted clearly as three clear warnings to three different groups of believers in the kingdom of God: 

• Warning to the virgins (the churches). They must be diligent in knowing and having the light (or the word) of God, 
• Warning to the servants (the preachers or pastors). They must be diligent in multiplying or investing God's values and Bible values in people's lives.
• Warning to the goats and sheeps (the believers). They must be diligent in good works and God's works.

Are God's warnings still for us or the churches in the end time ?
Many radical grace preachers could have argued and said, "Why must we preach about the end time with glooms and dooms? In the last days, everyone in our churches are saved. We don't have to warn anyone. The watchman analogy to warn people or to tell people to repent is all nonsense. If we have believed in Jesus, we are forever saved. We can never die. That is a sure promise. It is yes and amen promise..."
I will tell them, If you think that you don't have to be a watchman, you are not fit to be God's preacher. If you think that you don't have to be a watchman, will tell others to sleep and relax instead? Well, it is your choice if you would still insist after reading Eze 3:2-27!

• 2Co 1:18-20 KJV  But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.  (19)  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.  (20)  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Did you read the whole Bible passage before you give the promises of God to the people? I would think that all the promises of God are yea and Amen because God never changes His words. Similarly God's prophets and the Apostles would never preach 'ding dong' promises or doctrine. However, it does not mean that all God's promises are yes to everyone who think radically, behave radically, or confess radically. We would know why we need to be diligent if we know the Lord warnings in His parables about the comparison between

1. the tares and the wheat (Matt 13), 
2. the fallen seeds and the good seeds (Matt 13)     
3. the wise virgins and the foolish virgins (Matt 25)
4. the wise servants and the foolish servant (Matt 25)
5. the goats and the sheep (Matt 25)
6. the wolves in sheep skin and the sheep (Matt 7:15-23)

In the end time, the Christians and non-Christians will live together very closely, and you may not know the difference between the Christians and non-Christians . If this is true, how can we argue that all the warnings of the Lord above are for the non-Christians only? No. The reasons for the Lord's warnings are very clear:

1. All these are warning for events which will happen in the end time
2. The comparison is obvious between the believers and non-believers who will live together very closely
3. It is very hard to tell the difference between a believer and non-believers.  

Many of you may ask, "Can it be possible? Can believers and non-believers lived so closely together that it is hard to know the different between them?" Please do not be offended if I say 'Yes' and that many of them are not saved too. The Bible has shown us many examples and warnings, but the false prophets could have blocked the following warnings from the Holy Spirit by telling the people with their 'smooth' interpretation:

• Mat 24:38-42 KJV  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
• Act 5:1-5 KJV  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,  (2)  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.  (3)  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  (4)  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.  (5)  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
• Act 8:9-24 KJV  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:  (10)  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.  (11)  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.  (12)  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  (13)  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. ..  (18)  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  (19)  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.  (20)  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  (21)  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  (22)  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  (23)  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.  (24)  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Radical grace preachers would say that we don't have to preach the above warnings to our churches because the above warnings are for the sinners and the people of the world, not for us. They argued that this will never happen to us because all of us in the churches are the true believers. I will tell them, I won't argue with you whether you are a true believer or not, if you are the only one in your church. However, if you have 20,000 people in your church and they always come to listen to you everyday, can you guarantee that all the 20,000 in your church are true believers. If Peter, Paul, or the Apostles could not guarantee that everyone in their churches were true believers, how can you give such guarantee? If you cannot guarantee that everyone of you in your church are true believers, you cannot lie and deceive them that God's warnings are not for them. Hence, you cannot just push away all your responsibility if you are really a God's preacher. (see "The death of Ananias and Sapphira is the clear evidence that there is still judgement in the church of God" in my another post).  


If grace is Jesus Christ, can we conclude that radical grace is radical Jesus Christ?
No, this is absurd. However, they will argue, "Why are you preaching against grace or radical grace? Grace is not a doctrine. Grace is Jesus Christ. Hence, if you preach against grace, you are preaching against Jesus Christ. And you would be law-conscious and you become the Pharisees.."
I will tell them, I won't argue with you if you insist that grace is not a doctrine and that grace is Jesus Christ, although I know that grace is a gift of God and it came from Jesus Christ based on the following Bible verse:

• Joh 1:17 KJV  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

I won't argue with you too if you would tell people to believe in grace. However, I would definitely question your interpretation or intention if you tell people to believe in radical grace. Do you know that when you argue that grace is Jesus Christ, your radical believers would also argue that radical grace is their radical Jesus too? Their radical Jesus is not our Jesus; it is lawlessness clothed with 'an outer layer of radical favour'. Hence, the sinners of the world can never receive the grace of Jesus Christ by merely hearing favour or the preaching of favour; they must receive the grace of Jesus Christ by hearing the preaching of repentance and doing the word of the Lord. Why do I say so? It's because the Lord had told us clearly to preach repentance and do repentance for the forgiveness of our sins; not the forgiveness of sins (or grace) for repentance in the reversed manner:

• Luk 3:3 KJV  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
• Luk 24:47 KJV  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Must God forgive us first before we repent or must we repent first before we receive God's forgiveness? 
Hence, I am not surprised to hear the world start telling us in the end time that they must reverse what God has told them to do, that is:

• God must forgive them first before they can repent and do His words (or commandments), when God has clearly commanded them to repent for the forgiveness of their sins. 

They have probably been influenced by the serpent to open their eyes to the riches of the world by following the sin of Adam. The Bible has clearly told us that Adam had also opened his eyes to the riches of the world by listening to the lawless advice of the serpent to reverse what God said or to rebel against what God had commanded him to do, that is:

• God must prosper him first, so that he would become like gods, before he needed to obey any God's command (Gen 2:16-17, Gen 3:4-6)

Like the prodigal son, Adam and the people of the world could have abandoned and forsaken the light of God because of their rebellion.

• Luk 15:12-31 KJV  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.  (13)  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living...  (25) Now his elder son was in the field: ... (29) And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  (30)  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  (31) And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
   

The blessings of the Father is not dependent on the enjoyment of the world or on our feelings
Both the prodigal son and the elder son could have been influenced by the world to think that there is more enjoyment:

1. when they were in the world or
2. when they could see clear favour or physical expression of love from their father

However, both of them were wrong ! They could experience the blessing of the father if they would never depart from him. The moral of the story is: We don't get eternal blessing from the world or from our feelings (eg. anger, jealousy, pride, satisfaction, or happiness); we get eternal blessing if we would never depart from God's word, His light, His kingdom, and His commandments:

• Psa 119:29-48 KJV  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.  (30)  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.  (31)  I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.  (32)  I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.  (33)  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.  (34)  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.  (35)  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.  (36)  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.  (37)  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.  (38)  Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.  .. (44)  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  (45)  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  (46)  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  (47)  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  (48)  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes... (130)  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.  (131)  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
• Joh 1:1-12 KJV  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  (6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (9)  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Thick darkness will come when every true believers will have to wake up and speak up
If we read John 1:5, we know that "the Light, the Word, or the Commandment shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not". The darkness will never keep the Light or God's commandment. As thick darkness starts to hover towards end time, we know that one day we may have to confront the king of the world, the Lawless one, or Lucifer. What shall we do ? We may need to declare the word of God boldly for our salvation in Christ to reject the philosophy of the lawless ones:

• Psa 119:44-48 KJV  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  (45)  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  (46)  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  (47)  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  (48)  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
• Rev 12:16-17 KJV  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  (17)  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (In the end time, the majority will be deceived and overcome by the 'flood' (by the false doctrines or lawlessness philosophies); only a remnant of the believers will keep God's commandments and refuse to take in the mark of lawlessness).
• Rev 14:11-12 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
• Rev 22:13-14 KJV  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
• Zep 1:8-18 KJV  And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. ..  (15)  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,  (16)  A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers ...   

 The day of the abomination of desolation will come as prophesied by the Lord
Many Bible scholars would tell us that the book of Zephaniah is a past prophecy about the physical desolation of Jerusalem or Israel. However, I would think that it could be a prophecy about spiritual desolation of the churches in the world today, before the second coming of Christ. The churches could become the spiritual abomination of desolation as many false prophets would rise and become well-established in the churches. They would twist the law of God with the spirit and the tongue of the frogs through the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. And they would invade all the churches with their doctrines like the flood that cover the earth:

• Rev 12:15-16 KJV  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  (16)  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
• Rev 16:13-14 KJV  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  (14)  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
• Mat 24:10-15 KJV  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  (11)  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  (13)  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (14)  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  (15)  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 
• Zep 2:10-15 KJV  This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.  .. (15)  This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand... 
• Zep 3:1-6 KJV  Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!  (2)  She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.  (3)  Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.  (4)  Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.  (5)  The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.  (6)  I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

::