-------Cain, Scoffers, and Christ-------

What does the first murderer, today's mockers of Christ's return, and Christ have to do with each other?

Cain was a religious man who made offerings to God but Cain was doing the work of the devil. Cain believed in God (who we now know is Jesus Christ) but he rejected God's authority. Cain tried to worship God in his way instead of the way God required. After God had rejected Cain's offering, God gave Cain the opportunity to do it right. "6 So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Gen. 4

Why was Cain's offering not acceptable while God accepted Abel's offering? What was the difference? God had said that the sacrifice offering of the animal was acceptable but the fruit offering was not. All Cain had to do was obey God and offer a sacrifice like Abel and Cain would have been blessed of God, yet Cain refused. Cain refused God. In other words, Cain was telling God how he wanted to be blessed. This is the sin of pride and arrogance coming into play. In effect, Cain was saying he was a good person and did not need his sins to be covered. Cain was a victim of self deceit. The reason the gospel of Christ is rejected today is people believe they are basically good when the fact of the matter is that there is no good in us. We need help.

God said in His word that the only way to heaven was through His son Jesus Christ. Yet the world refuses to believe in Christ and invents their own religions then deceive themselves into thinking they are going to heaven when what they really have done is purchased one way tickets to the dark place.

The Hebrew word for Cain comes from the verb Kanah which means "to acquire". It is very possible that Cain was too preoccupied with "acquiring" earthly things to be obedient to God's command. Is this same spirit of "acquiring" earthly things in our churches today?

Cain believed in God and made offerings to God. But his works were of the devil. There are many people who go to church today who believe in God and make offerings to God but their works are of the devil. They haven't given their hearts to God and are trying to earn their way by works. All religions except Christianity teach that you can get to heaven by works. This is a lie and lies come from the wicked one.

How does this relate to the Scripture that says, "3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."? 2 Peter 3

Who are these scoffers mentioned above? They are people who attend church. People who don't attend church don't care about things such as the return of Christ so they would not be the ones mocking and scoffing the subject of Christ's return. They don't waste their time with it. The Lord told us to comfort one another with the promise of His return yet people get angry and impatient with you if you bring the subject up.

Why is Bible Prophecy not taught in our churches today? The world doesn't want to acknowledge that this world system controlled by Satan is coming to an end. They would rather stick their heads in the sand and hope nothing changes. When we participate in communion, we are commemorating the Lord's death until He returns. This communion service is in every Christian church. Every time communion is served, the church is acknowledging the return of Christ. Every time a church says the Lord's prayer, they ask, "Thy Kingdom Come". They are praying for His return.

The fastest growing churches in the world are the one's that promise its members earthly blessings here and now. All you have do is make an offering. It is these same churches that shy away from teaching about the return of Christ. They are saying, "It's been over 2,000 years since Christ. It's been too long. Let's face it, He ain't coming back. If He is, then where is He? Where is the promise of His coming? Our fathers and forefathers have all died, and He still ain't here! This prophecy thing is a joke."

The spirit of Cain is in the church. They are making offerings to God without submitting themselves to God's authority. What did God say about His return? "44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24. The church will be too busy carrying on with the world system when Christ returns. They are practically asleep now. The church is no longer subjecting to themselves to God's authority. They are changing the word of God to suit their own desires. When Christ calls His people home, the church will be caught with their pants down. Like Cain, they think they can worship any way they want to and expect to be blessed.

What happened to Cain? He was forced to wander in the wilderness for the rest of his life. Don't let that happen to you.

Copyright 2007 by Gary Goodworth