Few would consider the reverse of what most perceive God’s meaning when He says, “as the manner of some is” in this verse:
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:25
The first thought that probably comes to mind is that this must mean people who quit attending ‘church.’ The last thought that would ever occur to most would be that this could mean that those who are meeting in a ‘church’ are the ones who are “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.”
Why do people foolishly assume that just because a building has a steeple and the ‘worshipers’ inside are gathering ‘in the name of Christ,’ that God is there. God never said he would follow the people. God always tells people to follow Him. What else could God be meaning when He says, “as ye see the day approaching,” if He wasn’t warning about this:
“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:
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:” — Matthew 24:15-16“But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:” — Mark 13:14
God sure isn’t the ‘abomination of desolation’ because He wouldn’t warn people to flee from Him. He does tell His children to flee to the mountains. Obviously this can’t be literal. Jesus spoke in parables for a reason and so does God. The mountains symbolize where God is.
God is not going to prevent ungodly people from desecrating His holy place and Satan always must act subtly since his only power is in deception so as to stop people from trusting and obeying God. Satan doesn’t attack people like Hollywood portrays in thriller movies. Evil comes in the form of goodness in disguise; a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Without God’s spirit, it’s impossible for anyone to discern scripture.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” — 1 Corinthians 2:14
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” — Matthew 24:24
Actually verses 17-28 in the 24th chapter of Matthew are all warning God’s people of eminent spiritual danger by continuing to stay in man-made tabernacles originally built for God. God’s tabernacle is within every one of His elect. God’s church walks. The counterfeit church plays ’show and tell’. His people should learn from history that God moves about and does not keep His people in one place forever on earth. A shepherd of sheep must keep the flock moving in order to keep them nourished. [There are too many verses in scripture for me to add here for expounding greater on the end of the church age. I would love to go on, but time doesn't permit it. I only touched on this topic with the hope that it provokes others to flee towards safe ground.]
The period of tribulation (spiritual testing/trial period of faith) is almost over, but once it is, then it will be too late to be salvaged from this world. The ark’s doors will be closed and then the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Immediately after the part of, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;” in Hebrews 10:25, comes the explanation of why we are not to neglect (meaning not to contain a spirit of: disregard, abandon, shun, leave alone, inattentiveness, carelessness, etc. towards) our brothers and sisters in Christ. The why to assemble follows “but” with, “exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
To exhort is prospective, looking to the future, to urge one to pursue some course of conduct. Exhortation is always a good thing because it is simply caring for others as you would have others care for you. Notice however emphasis is placed upon the urgency of, “so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This is a subtle urge in itself that compliments the importance of continuing to care for others through prayer and exhortation as times progress into greater tribulation and testing, especially so when having to undergo such a powerful transition as leaving a comfortably traditional church environment. It wasn’t an easy time for the Jews who began meeting in private homes instead of synagogues nor do people have it easy who go to meeting privately after having belonged to a church. By merely “coming out” of a corporate form of worship that church provides, those who are left behind will feel strongly affected by such an action (especially if it is between close family relatives). It would be easier to just forget about those who don’t want to consider something different as possibly being truth, but that doesn’t excuse someone from caring about others.
