You know it does us well to pay attention to the teachings of Christ because he slips little things in on us sometimes. I think, probably, one of the most famous questions since the beginning of time is "When’s it going to be ?". Well, if you haven’t really searched out and understood all the signs and then have a fixed time when certain things happen so that it jogs your memory and you say "Ah Ha! That’s it".

So, I want you to open your bibles to the great book of Luke, good old medical doctor he was, and let’s see what Christ said there. I want to pick it up about the twentieth verse of that 17th Chapter of Luke and it has to do with Christ’s return. He tells you how things will be…let’s pick up on it. And reading with verse 20:

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

What it’s really saying is, that it happens almost unnoticed to some. Because they don’t know. If you don’t know the word of God you’re not going to notice it because it happens so subtle, the overall, that is to say, the consummation. All the things he warned you about. Example, Matthew 24’s seven signs. They happen so gentle and without observance that a lot of people don’t even notice it so that’s why you don’t want to be caught short.

Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

This is your house, the kingdom is in here, because the King is, Christ. When you’re in him and he’s in you, that’s where it’s at. And as you let that seal in your mind grow, I’m talking about the seal of God, your faith, as you let that grow then certainly the kingdom knowledge comes within you and no one else can observe it, necessarily.

And unfortunately, there is a great lack of communication oftentimes that when you rise to a higher level of thinking you can’t communicate with some people because you can’t quite reach them. They’re not going to understand what you’re saying is what I’m saying. They’re not quite going to be able to fathom it.

So you got to learn to be gentle, very gentle. Never try to show people how much you know. Reach down where they are and speak on a level where they can understand you and bring them up gradually. Don’t try to impress them with how much you know.

you see you can’t help them that way. Especially if you’re going to teach, if you can’t communicate with your students I’m sorry you won’t be a teacher. True wisdom is to be able to take that which is complicated and bring it down at whatever level it needs to be taught to, to the group you’re teaching. But when you’re teaching, teach on the level that they can hear and bring them up to it,   Alright lets go to Luke

Luke 17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come,

Now grab hold of that…not maybe but WILL come…

when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

In other words, you’ve got me with you know and I can help you through the hard places but you better get set. You’re going to be on your own.

Luke 17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

And actually that talking, that’s a play from Mark 13… he’s in the desert… the antichrist when he appears you know you’ve heard that call. Don’t…go…with them. Christ gives you kind of a hint there of how much he’ll tolerate of you chasing strange religions and superstitions.

It’s about zilch. He said, I don’t care, when they say it you say "Bug off!". Don’t want nuthin’ to do with it. And if it doesn’t align with God’s word why would you want to ? I’m speaking of religion, now, not fellowship. So,

Luke 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven;

Let me say that a different way…As sure as the sun goes down and comes up tomorrow morning and goes down in the west so shall also the Son of man be in his day. You can just count on his coming , it is going to happen as well as you can count on the sun coming up tomorrow morning. In other words, you can count on it, he’s coming back.

Luke 17:25-27 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, (to whom ? the Nephilium, the fallen angels) until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Hey, anybody outside of that boat, it happened, they didn’t have any questions as to whether it happened or not. The question was, how long can YOU tread water ? This is why we came here…

Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, (bought what? Well think about it…it was Sodomy) they sold, they planted, (they planted what? Deception…false religions, false worship) they builded; (what did they build? I’m going to teach you what they builded.

Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

You can count on it. That’s the way it’s going to happen. When it happens, it happens. He’s not going to destroy you because you’re his friend but his enemies are going to be hard-pressed if they are doing what they were doing in Lot’s day. You got it?

Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

When he appears, it’s very, um, you know there’s little things that my mind will not let slide. The word, the son of Man revealed ? The word Lot means to veil, to cover, to veil, to hide.

It was just the opposite with Christ or the book of Revelation which means to make known or reveal but he uses Lot as an example and it can’t slide by my mind that we have a little opposite here, Lot means to hide. Sometimes it pays to lift the cover back a little bit and look. Okay, might be something there.

Luke 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

The reason that I’m covering these verses is that I want you to be certain that you know what time we are talking about. We’re talking about the return of Christ. You recognize these scriptures instantly from Mark 13 and Matthew 24. And he jogs your memory again:

Luke 17:32-33 Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Those that try to save their life in this world of frills, thrills and religions, superstitions, mythology are going to lose. No doubt about it, they’re going to lose it, they’ll be deceived. For as we studied yesterday the mind is a very deceitful thing and you’re own mind is a very deceitful thing if you put up with it. That’s why you must discipline yourself.

Luke 17:34-37 For I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. (In other words we know that the first one is taken by the false messiah, of course) Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

In other words that six people, three are deceived and three aren’t… that’s a fifty-fifty draw. And when I look around us today I wonder if that standard would hold up today. I don’t think so. I don’t think we’d draw fifty-fifty. When you have too many teachings that come short…

And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

In other words, where was the body crucified? It was Jerusalem. And the eagles happened to be vultures in the manuscripts. So, that’s where you will find the vultures. So. He says it’s going to be just like it was in the days of Lot.

What was going on there ? That makes it absolute that we must find out because it’s going to give us a sign that when our present day likens itself to that, that we’re getting close. So it’s important that we know what he have reference to here.

Lot means covered, veiled and he’s talking about the kingdom being unveiled and here you sit in-between. So he gives us a fixed time. The time of Lot to look at. Turn with me to the book of Genesis. We’ve just covered this in the Television studies but we’re going to do it again so you know what he was talking about, what Lot’s time is.

And you’ll remember that time, that two angels appeared at Lot’s house. The angel of the Lord has already stopped and visited with these two at Abraham’s house and then he sent them on to make preparations to destroy.

But what was it like in Lot’s time, what were they building and what were they selling and what were they peddling ?

Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

He could tell that they were his kind of people because he was paying respect.

Gen 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

Now Lot knew that wouldn’t work in Sodom.

Gen 19:3-4 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. (Interesting that he baked unleavened bread) But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

They all participated. You want to know what it was like in the days of Lot ? This is it.

Gen 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Now, I want you to know, how was it, well there were Sodomites there. But there’s something in the Hebrew, the word Sodomite means, qadesh, in the Hebrew tongue. It means, believe it or not, a sacred person.

It’s a Hebrew word that can really throw you for a loop if you’re not careful. I can even go as far as saying a very sacred person who sells themselves, as in prostitution for the temple. But don’t you ever think that they are religious for God’s behalf. It’s just the opposite. So within the name itself you learn a great deal of what it was like in Lot’s day.

Now, if I can read and absorb what was said, Jesus told us that it’s going to be like that again. Just before he returns, or basically when he’s at the door. So, it gives one something to ponder as one looks around at this nation and the world today when we have these awful diseases. Such as aids and so forth. That somebody’s telling us something.

Gen 19:6-8 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Now this is something that as you know I always have a great deal of trouble with. War would already be started and there would be a lot less Sodomites standing when we got through. But, it was the custom of the day, and maybe Lot knew that they wouldn’t bother the girls. And they probably wouldn’t have because they were Sodomites. They had no taste for girls. Think about it. Just something to think about.

Gen 19:9-10 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, (this Lot, he moved in here as a stranger) and he will needs be a judge: (and even sets himself up as a judge) now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. ( They were giving him a hard time.) But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

(I’m mean, we’re dealing here with angels of God and they’re going to do a Godly thing here in a moment. Gentle, of course, like good church people do).

Gen 19:11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, (Just like that. Very Christian thing to do. ) both small and great: (They did that to those little old boys ? You bet. ) so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Still trying…even knocked, by God, blind and they still scratched for the door. And you know the rest of it. He saved Lot and the daughters and don’t forget Lot’s wife. Naturally, she looked back and we know what happened to her. Now this tells us a little bit about what was happening there.

But I’m going to teach you now what they were building and what they were doing. It’s not a real pleasant study, Sodomy, or what they did in their temples or what they did to God’s temple. But if you want to know what it’s like when Christ returns, I’m sorry, we’re going to have to delve into it a little bit.

This is going to be rather short but this is something I felt that it was paramount that you know so that it would give you another sign as to what it would be like when Christ returns. So that your time clock with current events and God’s word are in conjunction with each other. Let’s see , we’re going to start in 2nd Kings , verse 4. We’re going to have to go into some Hebrew a little bit. I will help you and you can double-check me later.

II Ki 23:4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, (what was he? he was a priest) and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove (underline the word grove in your mind, I want you to research it when you get home), and for all the host of heaven: (that’s angels) and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, (that’s the little creek that runs between the East gate and the Mt. Of Olives) and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.

II Ki 23:5-6 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah (Who ?) had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

You want to be real careful. God has a chart in the heavens but you’ll find more false religion in the heavens than you’ll find anywhere else. We’ve seen recent examples of that.

6 And he brought out the grove (there that word is again, underline it) from the house of the LORD,

Well how in the world…you know if you usually consider a grove to be a little strip of timber or peach trees or orange grove…how do you bring that out of the house of God ? So it’s not what you think it is if you think it’s a peach orchard! It might be more fitting if we were in Chapter 3 of Genesis being an apple grove, okay.

But there’s no apple grove in Genesis nor is there a peach grove in God’s House. There’s something in there though and it’s important that you note it, it said IN GOD’S HOUSE. That’s how it was in the days of Lot.

II Ki 23:6 without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. 7 And he brake down the houses of the sodomites (now that’s why you’re here, so you can learn about them. So you’ll know what it’s like when the Lord returns), that were by the house of the LORD, (Where were they? Right by the house of the Lord, as well as in it) where the women wove hangings for the grove.

Now, what is this grove ? And, if you check it out, you find, that it’s not Ashereth, feminine. It’s Asheroth, masculine basically. And what were these veils that the women were sewing to place over it? Asheroth, in the Hebrew tongue, which is grove, means to stand upright and very erect.

Now come with me, you gotta know… it was usually whittle or carved from wood and it was nothing other than a phallic symbol. That they worshipped. The masculine, phallic idol. Made an idol of it.

And women even veiled and covered it until it was time to worship it. Rather than worshipping the Creator they worshipped what they thought was creation but it was simply the reproduction of life, alright ? Very religious about this. Now this is kind of sad when you stop and think about it but it was a common practice. They had one put up in the house of God.

How would you feel today if we were having a church service and we had a great covering and I pulled the cover off of it (and I would probably immediately grab a broad axe…you know.) But that was it. That’s what they did, and they came to that. And you might say, well, there’s nobody putting one of those up in their church.

Well, like Christ told you, you’ve gotta be very careful because the kingdom comes in without a whole lot of notice for some people. And that’s why we must never hide our heads. For as Lot means to cover or hide, we can’t afford that. So We have to take everything in it stride.

I say again, can you understand why God was unhappy ? Because it was right in HIS TEMPLE. Right in the house of the Lord. And that’s why he got fed up with Sodom and Gomorrah and it’s satellites. Because of they’re qadesh.

Now there’s nothing new about this. Christ tells us…I want to go to a couple of other places that you might think of. I want to throw this to the spiritual just a little bit. Lock in mind and maintain what we’ve covered here. Do your research well.

I want to go to the book of Jude right before the book of Revelation. It’s going to be really short and brief, this lecture, but don’t worry it’ll get the point made, alright. It’ll get it said for you. I want to show you that it didn’t just happen in Lot’s time. It was from long ago. Because concerning those fallen angels that we read about in verse 6:

Jude 1:6-8 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh(now this is what causes aids, you understand that?), are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Hey…Father doesn’t like it. He’s not the least bit happy about it. Now, some would say to me…well you’re teaching hate against some people. No I’m not. I don’t care what they do. What they do in their bedroom…hey, you know, lock the door, but don’t bring it in front of my family. That’s their business.

If they want to kill themselves with aids, have a good trip! But now would I rather they converted ? Beloved, San Francisco is one of our strongest areas and I don’t want you to read any hate into what I just said. Because That is our strongest city. There are more people studying with Pastor Murray in San Francisco and San Jose , in number, than in any other part of the country.

Don’t ask me to explain that it’s just a fact. There are many good people there hungry for the word and you’d be surprised how many people that have written to me saying I wish I’d heard you ten years ago and I wouldn’t be dying with the aids today.

Or, I’ve totally had a life change and I thank God for it. So, don’t read hate into what I’m saying. I am a realist, okay. I’m not very good with flowers but if that one’s red - it’s red. There’s no need in our having a discussion about it It’s red.

And that’s why, as a realist, if something is a fact and it’s something we’ve got to deal with - hit it head on. Don’t go making excuses, or trying to go out around the back part where it doesn’t offend somebody or something of that nature.

You’ve got to hit it head on and get to God’s Word or you’re going to be deceived by even what Jesus would tell you , that it’s going to be just like it was in Lot’s day, okay. So it wasn’t a new thing.

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Well, it’s true. You might say how do they do that. Qadesh. It’s a religion, it’s a worship. Very religious, though false and that can be very dangerous. And many young people can be pulled away. We going to go right to the two witnesses, Chapter 11 in this great book of Revelation. And I’m going to close here other than summing this up in talk which will take a few minutes here.

Rev 11:7-8 And when they shall have finished their testimony, (That’s the two witnesses. We know that is the end, right?) the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually (I repeat, spiritually) is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

So Jesus brings this all back to a full circle there. Now when does it happen ? You’ll find it, what is it , the 15th verse.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying

In other words that happens at the close of the sixth. And you might say Pastor Murray why are you laying this Sodom trip on us ? I’m going to tell you why. In this generation, in this past year we have had a strong attempt to honor with holy matrimony same-sex marriages.

What happens when you honor holy matrimony same-sex marriages in God’s house ? That’s where it’s supposed to take place. That’s where most weddings take place. Get a religious man… so what’s the difference ? You’re bringing it right back into God’s house the same as if they had a phallic symbol sitting in the middle of the altar.

And it has already happened in Hawaii and they’re going to try it here. Now again, are you just angry at these people ? No, I’m telling you Christ’s teaching about what it’s going to be like in the end. And friend, you might be a lot closer to the end than you might think you are. Because it’s not a whole lot different than it was in the days of Lot if this moves into the house of God to give sanction to such actions.

But then, really, when our present President had his inauguration, he threw several balls. Now, I wasn’t there so I don’t know just what kind of balls he threw but…I know one of them was for homosexuals. Period. And celebrated it.......

So, what’s the difference ? If you bring sanction into the White House, the capitol of our Christian Nation, where…you know it really upsets some people for you call this a Christian Nation anymore but you know and I know and our founding fathers knew.

That this was established as a free Christian Nation…freedom of religion where any religion could practice and enjoy. But basically it was Christian and when we allow this sort of thing, I can only say to you, that we have move the Asheroth a lot nearer to something that’s being worshipped … that’s man being worshipped in a very satanic way.

So, what can I say. I don’t have to say anything. You’re supposed to look at facts. It’s only my job as a student to bring those facts to you. Never take for granted what I say … I told you that word grove, boy, that’s putting a lot into that one little old grove, isn’t it. Hey, they do. Check it out. Asheroth. Not a good thing at all. A male, phallic, idol.

That doesn’t surprise me because we find them in archeology all the time. Baal worshippers and others that moved across the country. Jesus said, as it was in the days of lot. We’re getting there friends.

And that’s another sign of his coming. It’s a strong sign. Observe very closely this spring. Watch very closely as you see these things as they all begin to boil and abscess…and someday God’s going to have had all that he can handle and it’s going to pop and he’s going to pop it.

So there are many signs on the front. I hope that you really train yourself to watch set times. Now you understand what I mean by set times, right ? Otherwise you’d be playing guessing games all the time. Christ doesn’t teach that way.

So with the set times that we have seen in the heavens, the comet and so forth, you have many things to mull over and absorb. Most of all love him because he gave you this word. And in that word he gave you that warning the difference in the unveiling and those that would try to veil it and try to slip it right into your pulpit.

This is really a very religious thing, we want to be holy about this - qadesh, in the Hebrew tongue was not a popular thing. You know, this is why that Esau, in Hebrews was called a male prostitute because he sold himself.

So what were they building ? Asheroths, groves. And women were sewing veils, very religious veils to cover them with. This is written in secular history also, so you won’t have any problem documenting that. And Christ said, when it’s like that you’d better get ready because I’m coming back.

So again, from the signs that are in this world today, I don’t think we have all that long to wait. Now it may be a few years and it may be a few days. I’m content. Whenever God wants it to be, I wouldn’t have it any other time. He knows, we don’t. But we will always observe and we will watch with wisdom. But when we watch do it like he tells you to.

How did he tell us ? Like Lot, like Noah. Now naturally when it gets back like Noah we’re going to know because the fallen angels will be booted to earth again doing their things. So, Christ tells you how to look…do it his way and you’ll never be deceived.

Note

Grove is haa-Asheeraah, according to my Interlinear Bible (PC Study Bible). The Strong's for haa-Asheeraah is given as 842 'asherah (ash-ay-raw'); or 'asheyrah (ash-ay-raw'); from 833; happy; Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same: (KJV-- grove. Compare 6253.)

6253 'Ashtoreth (ash-to'reth);probably for 6251; Ashtoreth, the Phoenician goddess of love (and increase): (KJV-- Ashtoreth.)

833 'ashar (aw-shar'); or 'asher (aw-share'); a primitive root; to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest, proper: (KJV-- (call, be) bless (-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve.)

Sodomite is qaadeesh, according to my Interlinear Bible (PC Study Bible). The Strong's for qaadeesh is given as 6945 qadesh (kaw-dashe'); from 6942; a (quasi) sacred person, i.e. (technically) a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry: (KJV-- sodomite, unclean.)

6942 qadash (kaw-dash'); a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): (KJV-- appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied oneself,), X wholly.)

Another verse of similar interest is Deut 23:17-18 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (KJV)

The word whore from that same verse Deut 23:17 is 6948 qedeshah (ked-ay-shaw'); feminine of 6945; a female devotee (i.e. prostitute): (KJV-- harlot, whore.)

And the word dog is 3611 keleb (keh'-leb);from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute: (KJV-- dog.)

The word sodomite is the same as above.