INTRODUCTION
"Let us return to the Lord. Let us seek again to be baptized into the Holy Spirit and into the fire, and we shall yet again behold the wonderful works of the Lord," Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening.
The Bible describes three different relationships of the Holy Spirit with men. In the Gospel of John, Jesus Himself describes two of these relationships. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18).
In the book of Acts, Jesus Himself describes for us the third relationship, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8).
We believe that all men, in order to know the salvation that is offered through Jesus Christ and experience the full life promised in the Bible, must experience these three relationships with the Holy Spirit Jesus spoke of.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Spurgeon on God's Help
1 Samuel 7:12: Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto." But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesu's likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for-
He who hath helped thee hitherto
Will help thee all thy journey through.
When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvelous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye!
The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto." But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesu's likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for-
He who hath helped thee hitherto
Will help thee all thy journey through.
When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvelous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Bill Bright on Being Used by God
God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise (1 Corinthians 1:27, NLT).
Do you sometimes feel as though your looks, personality or abilities limit you from accomplishing anything significant with your life?
You see the "beautiful people" paraded on television, with their charming personalities, or the brains of the world featured on talk shows. You may think, "If I could just be like him or her, then I too could make something of my life."
When we first began the ministry at UCLA in 1951, I met a young man who was not at all attractive in appearance, and you could say that he had zero personality. But he was on fire for Christ and regularly God used him to introduce others to the Lord. He would call me on the telephone and share the wonderful experiences that he had and I would rejoice with him. It was truly a remarkable experience.
One day a mutual friend said to me, "If Joe didn't have the Lord, he wouldn't have anything, would he?" That is really true for all of us. Joe had no personality and no real abilities, except that he was consumed with the most important thing in life. He lived to share God's love and forgiveness in Christ with everybody who would listen and, in the process, he probably led more people to Christ than all the rest of the students together because he was so single-minded.
I am reminded that our Lord selected mostly a bunch of unlearned, ordinary people to be his disciples and to later turn the world upside down with the gospel after they were anointed for service.
This also reminds me of the apostle Paul, who obviously lacked much in human ability, but he was effective in his single-mindedness. He said, "I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (! Corinthians 2:1-5, NIV).
The Bible says, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, NIV).
If Joe could be an effective witness for Christ, and Peter, John and Paul, so can you!
Do you sometimes feel as though your looks, personality or abilities limit you from accomplishing anything significant with your life?
You see the "beautiful people" paraded on television, with their charming personalities, or the brains of the world featured on talk shows. You may think, "If I could just be like him or her, then I too could make something of my life."
When we first began the ministry at UCLA in 1951, I met a young man who was not at all attractive in appearance, and you could say that he had zero personality. But he was on fire for Christ and regularly God used him to introduce others to the Lord. He would call me on the telephone and share the wonderful experiences that he had and I would rejoice with him. It was truly a remarkable experience.
One day a mutual friend said to me, "If Joe didn't have the Lord, he wouldn't have anything, would he?" That is really true for all of us. Joe had no personality and no real abilities, except that he was consumed with the most important thing in life. He lived to share God's love and forgiveness in Christ with everybody who would listen and, in the process, he probably led more people to Christ than all the rest of the students together because he was so single-minded.
I am reminded that our Lord selected mostly a bunch of unlearned, ordinary people to be his disciples and to later turn the world upside down with the gospel after they were anointed for service.
This also reminds me of the apostle Paul, who obviously lacked much in human ability, but he was effective in his single-mindedness. He said, "I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (! Corinthians 2:1-5, NIV).
The Bible says, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, NIV).
If Joe could be an effective witness for Christ, and Peter, John and Paul, so can you!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Spurgeon on The Birth of Jesus
Isaiah 7:14
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to His human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note His humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King! Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to His human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note His humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King! Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Let’s Put the “X” in Everything!
Let’s do it right. I mean, if we are going to start “x”ing everything lets don’t stop with Christmas.
New Year’s Day should be X-day (after all we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the “New Year”).
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday should be X-Luther King, Jr. (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the name “Martin”).
St. Valentine’s Day should be X-Valentine’s day (God forbid we should offend those who are offended by the religious term “Saint”).
Ash Wednesday should be X-Wednesday (the whole “Ash” thing and all).
St. Patrick’s Day should be X-Patrick’s Day (see St. Valentine’s day above).
Passover should be X-Over (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by “pass or fail”).
Good Friday should be X-Friday (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by our favoring this particular Friday over other Fridays’- after, what are all the other Fridays to think?).
Easter should be X-ter (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by Eas).
Mother’s Day should be X-ther’s Day (we don’t want to offend those out there whose name doesn’t start with Mo).
Memorial Day should be X-Day (after all most Americans have forgotten what the day means anyway).
Father’s Day should be X-ther’s day (same reason as X-ther’s Day, but substitute “F” for “M”. Now altogether, “Arnold, Arnold bo barnald, bananna fanna fo farnald, me my mo marnald, Arnold).
Independence Day should be X-dependence Day (since we don’t want to offend anyone who is offended by the word “In”).
Labor Day should be X-or Day (since all we do is sit around all day anyway – what’s up with labor anyway?).
Rosh Hashanna should be X Hashanna (since most Americans are not Jewish and have no idea what this holiday is after all).
Yom Kippur should be X-Kippur (see X-Hashanna).
Columbus Day should be X-umbus day (since revisionist history is teaching the he really was a bad guy and not the good guy we thought he was for over 300 years).
Election Day should be X-election day (we should eliminate this day altogether; just look what we got this year – I rest my case).
Veterans Day should be X-erans Day (since we don’t want to offend those who are offended by our veterans of Foreign wars, who fought and died bravely for our freedoms which those who are offended have the right to vocalize their offense because of their sacrifice – better quit before I “offend” someone).
Thanksgiving should be X-giving (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the giving of “thanks”).
Hanukkah should be X-ukkah (since we don’t want to offend those who are offended by those who are named “Han”).
Christmas should be…well you know since this is the big one that started it all (after all we wouldn’t want anyone to be offended by Christ, the Saviour of the world, who gave Himself a sacrifice for all, including those who offended Him by their rebellion and rejection of His sacrifice for their sins).
Jesus Christ should be replaced with “X X” as in, “X X, why doesn’t this thing work?”
God Dammit should be replaced with X-Dammit (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the “G” word – so we will also need to stop saying, “What’s up g?” because some might confuse “g” for “G”).
Well, there you have it, my contribution to the use of “X” to replace all things offensive. You’ve got to admit, it’s no stupider than replacing the “Christ” of “Christmas” with “X” now is it?
New Year’s Day should be X-day (after all we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the “New Year”).
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday should be X-Luther King, Jr. (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the name “Martin”).
St. Valentine’s Day should be X-Valentine’s day (God forbid we should offend those who are offended by the religious term “Saint”).
Ash Wednesday should be X-Wednesday (the whole “Ash” thing and all).
St. Patrick’s Day should be X-Patrick’s Day (see St. Valentine’s day above).
Passover should be X-Over (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by “pass or fail”).
Good Friday should be X-Friday (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by our favoring this particular Friday over other Fridays’- after, what are all the other Fridays to think?).
Easter should be X-ter (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by Eas).
Mother’s Day should be X-ther’s Day (we don’t want to offend those out there whose name doesn’t start with Mo).
Memorial Day should be X-Day (after all most Americans have forgotten what the day means anyway).
Father’s Day should be X-ther’s day (same reason as X-ther’s Day, but substitute “F” for “M”. Now altogether, “Arnold, Arnold bo barnald, bananna fanna fo farnald, me my mo marnald, Arnold).
Independence Day should be X-dependence Day (since we don’t want to offend anyone who is offended by the word “In”).
Labor Day should be X-or Day (since all we do is sit around all day anyway – what’s up with labor anyway?).
Rosh Hashanna should be X Hashanna (since most Americans are not Jewish and have no idea what this holiday is after all).
Yom Kippur should be X-Kippur (see X-Hashanna).
Columbus Day should be X-umbus day (since revisionist history is teaching the he really was a bad guy and not the good guy we thought he was for over 300 years).
Election Day should be X-election day (we should eliminate this day altogether; just look what we got this year – I rest my case).
Veterans Day should be X-erans Day (since we don’t want to offend those who are offended by our veterans of Foreign wars, who fought and died bravely for our freedoms which those who are offended have the right to vocalize their offense because of their sacrifice – better quit before I “offend” someone).
Thanksgiving should be X-giving (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the giving of “thanks”).
Hanukkah should be X-ukkah (since we don’t want to offend those who are offended by those who are named “Han”).
Christmas should be…well you know since this is the big one that started it all (after all we wouldn’t want anyone to be offended by Christ, the Saviour of the world, who gave Himself a sacrifice for all, including those who offended Him by their rebellion and rejection of His sacrifice for their sins).
Jesus Christ should be replaced with “X X” as in, “X X, why doesn’t this thing work?”
God Dammit should be replaced with X-Dammit (we don’t want to offend those who are offended by the “G” word – so we will also need to stop saying, “What’s up g?” because some might confuse “g” for “G”).
Well, there you have it, my contribution to the use of “X” to replace all things offensive. You’ve got to admit, it’s no stupider than replacing the “Christ” of “Christmas” with “X” now is it?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
A cry for meaning, 2...
Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me, oh.
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me, oh.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A cry for meaning...
When i was young
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees
Well they’d be singing so happily
Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible ,practical
And they showed me a world
Where i could be so dependable
Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical
There are times when all the world’s asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am
Now watch what you say
Or they’ll be calling you a radical
A liberal, oh fanatical, criminal
Oh won’t you sign up your name
We’d like to feel you’re acceptable, respectable, oh presentable, a vegetable!
At night when all the world’s asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won’t you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am, who I am ,who I am.
"The Logical Song" by Supertramp
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees
Well they’d be singing so happily
Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible ,practical
And they showed me a world
Where i could be so dependable
Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical
There are times when all the world’s asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am
Now watch what you say
Or they’ll be calling you a radical
A liberal, oh fanatical, criminal
Oh won’t you sign up your name
We’d like to feel you’re acceptable, respectable, oh presentable, a vegetable!
At night when all the world’s asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won’t you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am, who I am ,who I am.
"The Logical Song" by Supertramp
Holliness
I stole this from Defending. Contending. (http://defendingcontending.com/)
While some are satisfied with a miserably low degree of attainment, and others are not ashamed to live on without any holiness at all—content with a mere round of churchgoing and chapel-going, but never getting on, like a horse in a mill—let us stand fast in the old paths, follow after eminent holiness ourselves, and recommend it boldly to others.
- J.C. Ryle
1816 - 1900
While some are satisfied with a miserably low degree of attainment, and others are not ashamed to live on without any holiness at all—content with a mere round of churchgoing and chapel-going, but never getting on, like a horse in a mill—let us stand fast in the old paths, follow after eminent holiness ourselves, and recommend it boldly to others.
- J.C. Ryle
1816 - 1900
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wives...
Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him.
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry
The Christian and the Atheist Professor
Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible !" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student: "From...God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student: "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice is confident: "Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him"
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith ," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet.
The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him and says, "This is going to be a good semester... So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never been seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do"
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncert ain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible !" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student: "From...God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student: "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice is confident: "Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him"
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith ," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet.
The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him and says, "This is going to be a good semester... So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never been seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do"
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncert ain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
For those who wait...
Isaiah 30:18: Therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you.
God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture.
Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it.
The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while.
Paul besought the Lord thrice that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him.
If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if He keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that He may the more fully display the riches of His grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.
Charles Spurgeon
God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture.
Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it.
The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while.
Paul besought the Lord thrice that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him.
If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if He keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that He may the more fully display the riches of His grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.
Charles Spurgeon
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sunday Spurgeon
1 John 4:14, “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father's permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father, that He might be the Saviour of men.
We are too apt to forget that, while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honor. We too frequently ascribe the honor of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, more to Jesus Christ than we do the Father. This is a very great mistake.
Did not His Father send Him? If He spoke wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips, that He might be an able minister of the new covenant? He who knows the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit as he should know them, never sets one before another in his love; he sees them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary, all equally engaged in the work of salvation.
O Christian, have you put your confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Have you placed your reliance solely on Him? And are you united with Him? Then believe that you are united unto the God of heaven.
Since to the Man Christ Jesus you are a brother, and hold closest fellowship, you are linked thereby with God the Eternal, and "the Ancient of days" is your Father and your friend.
Did you ever consider the depth of love in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy? If not, let this be your day's meditation. The Father sent Him! Contemplate that subject. Think how Jesus works what the Father wills. In the wounds of the dying Savior see the love of the great I AM. Let every thought of Jesus be also connected with the Eternal, ever-blessed God, for "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief."
Charles Spurgeon
It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father's permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father, that He might be the Saviour of men.
We are too apt to forget that, while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honor. We too frequently ascribe the honor of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, more to Jesus Christ than we do the Father. This is a very great mistake.
Did not His Father send Him? If He spoke wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips, that He might be an able minister of the new covenant? He who knows the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit as he should know them, never sets one before another in his love; he sees them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary, all equally engaged in the work of salvation.
O Christian, have you put your confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Have you placed your reliance solely on Him? And are you united with Him? Then believe that you are united unto the God of heaven.
Since to the Man Christ Jesus you are a brother, and hold closest fellowship, you are linked thereby with God the Eternal, and "the Ancient of days" is your Father and your friend.
Did you ever consider the depth of love in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy? If not, let this be your day's meditation. The Father sent Him! Contemplate that subject. Think how Jesus works what the Father wills. In the wounds of the dying Savior see the love of the great I AM. Let every thought of Jesus be also connected with the Eternal, ever-blessed God, for "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief."
Charles Spurgeon
Friday, December 5, 2008
Christian
Stop your conversation when he passes on the street
Hope he falls upon himself, oh, won’t that be sweet
Because he can’t be exploited by superstition anymore
Because he can’t be bribed or bought by the things that you adore.
He’s the property of Jesus, Resent him to the bone
You got something better, You’ve got a heart of stone.
You can laugh at salvation, you can play Olympic games
You think that when you rest at last, you’ll go back from where you came
But you’re picked up quite a story and, you’ve changed since the womb
What happened to the real you, you’ve been captured but by whom?
Bob Dylan
Hope he falls upon himself, oh, won’t that be sweet
Because he can’t be exploited by superstition anymore
Because he can’t be bribed or bought by the things that you adore.
He’s the property of Jesus, Resent him to the bone
You got something better, You’ve got a heart of stone.
You can laugh at salvation, you can play Olympic games
You think that when you rest at last, you’ll go back from where you came
But you’re picked up quite a story and, you’ve changed since the womb
What happened to the real you, you’ve been captured but by whom?
Bob Dylan
The Fear of God
I guarantee that any man who does not have the fear of God will be a corrupt ruler: he will be crooked and dishonest. No man can exercise leadership over others unless he is conscious that he, himself, is ruled. No man can rule who is not ruled himself.
Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Inability to Receive Admonition
Churches and Religious Organizations have shown a tendency to fall into the same error that destroyed Israel: inability to receive admonition. After a time of growth and successful labor comes the deadly psychology of self-congratulation. Success itself becomes the cause of later failure. The leaders come to accept themselves as the very chosen of God. They are special object of the diving favor; their success is proof enough that this is so. They must therefore be right, and anyone who tries to call them to account is instantly written off as an unauthorized meddler who should be ashamed to dare to reprove his betters.
A. W. Tozer
A. W. Tozer
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Excusing Obedience...
We evangelicals also know how to avoid the sharp point of obedience by means of fine and intricate explanations. These are tailor-made for the flesh. They excuse disobedience, comfort carnality and make the words of Christ of none effect. And the essence of it all is that Christ simply could not have meant what He said. His teachings are accepted even theoretically only after they have been weakened by interpretation.
A. W. Tozer
A. W. Tozer
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Luke 17:17: "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?"
I spoke on this passage last night at our home fellowship. The five of us were overwhelmed by the grace of our God in loving us even though we too often fail to express our thankfulness. The point of this verse is that Jesus expects us to be thankful and misses it when it is not expressed.
Let's be thankful people everyday, not just one day a year. Let's have thanksgiving everyday!
I am thankful for my Saviour, Jesus, who was called the Friend of sinners; and I'm so glad He is this sinners friend.
What are you thankful for?
I spoke on this passage last night at our home fellowship. The five of us were overwhelmed by the grace of our God in loving us even though we too often fail to express our thankfulness. The point of this verse is that Jesus expects us to be thankful and misses it when it is not expressed.
Let's be thankful people everyday, not just one day a year. Let's have thanksgiving everyday!
I am thankful for my Saviour, Jesus, who was called the Friend of sinners; and I'm so glad He is this sinners friend.
What are you thankful for?
Monday, November 24, 2008
What the Bible says about God creating man in His own image, pt. 5
GOD IS NOT A MAN
Some cults teach that God was once a man, and obtained Godhood. However, the Bible clearly teaches against such a false idea. Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
The Bible declares that God has existed from everlasting, Genesis 21:33, “Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” Psalms 93:2 declares, “Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.” God has always existed, Psalms 90:2 declares, “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
The Bible does not teach that God is a man. However the Bible does teach that God became a man and dwelt among us in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The following passages teach that God would become a man and dwell among us. Isaiah 9:6-7 declares, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Matthew 1:20-23 declares, “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’" II Corinthians 5:19 declares, “that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” And I Timothy 3:16 declares, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” All these passages clearly teach that God indeed became a man and lived among us.
Jesus himself referred to Himself as the Son of Man and the Son of God, John 3:14-17, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” In using the title Son of Man, Jesus was identifying Himself with mankind and also declaring Himself to be the Messiah prophesied of by Daniel, Daniel 7:13-14, “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, one like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”
MAN IS NOT A GOD
There are those within the so-called “Faith Movement” that teach that since man was created in the image of God, men are in reality, little gods. The often refer to themselves as “little gods.” One even went so far to say that, “When you see me, you see Jesus.”
They often quote John 10:34 and Psalms 82 in an attempt to justify their position. Let’s look at these two passages and see if we can understand there meaning. In John 10:31-37 John declares, “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?’ The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, 'I said, You are gods"'? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If Jesus was not the Son of God His words would have been blasphemous. However, since He is the Son of God His words are true and just. Jesus question was simple and straightforward: If God called human judges "gods," then why should they stone Him for applying the same title to Himself?
Lets look as Psalms 82:1, “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.” Notice that it is God who calls human judges “gods.” They were called this by God because as judges they held in their hands the power of life and death. Instead of dispensing justice in equity and righteousness, they had perverted justice and taken bribes. They thought of themselves as “gods.” However, as we read on we see what God thought of them, Psalms 82:6-7, “I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.’” Clearly they were mere men who thought that they were gods but were not. Men are not “little gods,” nor will they ever be gods. This was the lie that began in the garden and is being perpetuated by many in the so-called “Faith Movement.” Those that teach that they are “little gods” are at the least mistaken and at the worst, liars seeking to deceive others. They never were gods and they never will be gods.
CONCLUSION
God made man in His own image reflecting some of His own characteristics. God was not once a man, for there were no gods before him and there will be no gods after Him. Additionally, to see God in a person is not their attaining a status as a “little god,” but rather is only possible as they allow the Holy Spirit to conform them to the image of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 declares, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” And I John 3:2 declares, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
It is only in Jesus Christ whereby we can have forgiveness of sins and be conformed into the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Some cults teach that God was once a man, and obtained Godhood. However, the Bible clearly teaches against such a false idea. Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
The Bible declares that God has existed from everlasting, Genesis 21:33, “Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” Psalms 93:2 declares, “Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.” God has always existed, Psalms 90:2 declares, “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
The Bible does not teach that God is a man. However the Bible does teach that God became a man and dwelt among us in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The following passages teach that God would become a man and dwell among us. Isaiah 9:6-7 declares, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Matthew 1:20-23 declares, “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’" II Corinthians 5:19 declares, “that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” And I Timothy 3:16 declares, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” All these passages clearly teach that God indeed became a man and lived among us.
Jesus himself referred to Himself as the Son of Man and the Son of God, John 3:14-17, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” In using the title Son of Man, Jesus was identifying Himself with mankind and also declaring Himself to be the Messiah prophesied of by Daniel, Daniel 7:13-14, “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, one like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”
MAN IS NOT A GOD
There are those within the so-called “Faith Movement” that teach that since man was created in the image of God, men are in reality, little gods. The often refer to themselves as “little gods.” One even went so far to say that, “When you see me, you see Jesus.”
They often quote John 10:34 and Psalms 82 in an attempt to justify their position. Let’s look at these two passages and see if we can understand there meaning. In John 10:31-37 John declares, “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?’ The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, 'I said, You are gods"'? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If Jesus was not the Son of God His words would have been blasphemous. However, since He is the Son of God His words are true and just. Jesus question was simple and straightforward: If God called human judges "gods," then why should they stone Him for applying the same title to Himself?
Lets look as Psalms 82:1, “God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.” Notice that it is God who calls human judges “gods.” They were called this by God because as judges they held in their hands the power of life and death. Instead of dispensing justice in equity and righteousness, they had perverted justice and taken bribes. They thought of themselves as “gods.” However, as we read on we see what God thought of them, Psalms 82:6-7, “I said, ‘You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.’” Clearly they were mere men who thought that they were gods but were not. Men are not “little gods,” nor will they ever be gods. This was the lie that began in the garden and is being perpetuated by many in the so-called “Faith Movement.” Those that teach that they are “little gods” are at the least mistaken and at the worst, liars seeking to deceive others. They never were gods and they never will be gods.
CONCLUSION
God made man in His own image reflecting some of His own characteristics. God was not once a man, for there were no gods before him and there will be no gods after Him. Additionally, to see God in a person is not their attaining a status as a “little god,” but rather is only possible as they allow the Holy Spirit to conform them to the image of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 declares, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” And I John 3:2 declares, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
It is only in Jesus Christ whereby we can have forgiveness of sins and be conformed into the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
What the Bible says about God creating man in His own image, pt. 4
MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
The pattern for man’s creation was determined by God, “…Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” The Hebrew word here for image is defined as a representative figure; it is used in the sense of essential nature.
In Genesis 5:3 we are told, “And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” Here human nature and external characteristics is what is meant rather than an exact duplicate. Likewise, God made man reflecting some of His own characteristics, possessing similar elements of personality to that of Himself – specifically, thinking, feeling, and will.
God created man, “…a living being,” Genesis 2:7. The same distinction is used of animals; Genesis 1:21, “…living thing;” Genesis 1:24, “…a living creature…;” Genesis 2:19, “…living creature.” However, since man was created in the image of God, there exists a clear distinction between the animals and man. One example is found in Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 where it is declared that the spirit of the animal returns to the dust, whereas the spirit of the man goes upward returning to the One who gave it (see also Ecclesiastes 12:7).
MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, ACCORDING TO HIS LIKENESS
The Hebrew word for likeness used here for likeness means, resemblance and is translated, likeness, shape, figure, form and pattern. The following passages declare that God has indeed created man according to His likeness. I Corinthians 11:7 declares, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.”
However, while God made man in His image and in His likeness, that nature became corrupted when man sinned by rebelling against God. The Christian, the one who has received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, is a new creation and is being made into the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 declares, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” I Corinthians 15:49 declares, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” II Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Colossians 3:10, “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” I John 3:2 declares, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
God created mankind male and female. Genesis 1:27 is a statement of generality, an overview of God’s creation of mankind. Genesis 2:7 details the creation of the man. Genesis 2:21-23 details the creation of the woman. Just as with the man, the woman was also created in the image of God. She is no less that the man and the man is no greater than the woman. God created her to be a helper, not a doormat or a slave. In Christ she has been elevated to equality with the man, Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
To be created in the image of God also means to be a living being. This was Paul’s message on the Areopagus, Acts 17:28-29, “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.” Paul was declaring that inanimate objects could not represent the living God; and since man is the offspring of God, and since man is a living being, God therefore must be a living being.
Further, man is not only a living being, he also has intelligence and will, that give him the ability to make decisions that enable him to have dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28).
The pattern for man’s creation was determined by God, “…Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” The Hebrew word here for image is defined as a representative figure; it is used in the sense of essential nature.
In Genesis 5:3 we are told, “And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” Here human nature and external characteristics is what is meant rather than an exact duplicate. Likewise, God made man reflecting some of His own characteristics, possessing similar elements of personality to that of Himself – specifically, thinking, feeling, and will.
God created man, “…a living being,” Genesis 2:7. The same distinction is used of animals; Genesis 1:21, “…living thing;” Genesis 1:24, “…a living creature…;” Genesis 2:19, “…living creature.” However, since man was created in the image of God, there exists a clear distinction between the animals and man. One example is found in Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 where it is declared that the spirit of the animal returns to the dust, whereas the spirit of the man goes upward returning to the One who gave it (see also Ecclesiastes 12:7).
MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, ACCORDING TO HIS LIKENESS
The Hebrew word for likeness used here for likeness means, resemblance and is translated, likeness, shape, figure, form and pattern. The following passages declare that God has indeed created man according to His likeness. I Corinthians 11:7 declares, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.”
However, while God made man in His image and in His likeness, that nature became corrupted when man sinned by rebelling against God. The Christian, the one who has received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, is a new creation and is being made into the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 declares, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” I Corinthians 15:49 declares, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” II Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Colossians 3:10, “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” I John 3:2 declares, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
God created mankind male and female. Genesis 1:27 is a statement of generality, an overview of God’s creation of mankind. Genesis 2:7 details the creation of the man. Genesis 2:21-23 details the creation of the woman. Just as with the man, the woman was also created in the image of God. She is no less that the man and the man is no greater than the woman. God created her to be a helper, not a doormat or a slave. In Christ she has been elevated to equality with the man, Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
To be created in the image of God also means to be a living being. This was Paul’s message on the Areopagus, Acts 17:28-29, “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.” Paul was declaring that inanimate objects could not represent the living God; and since man is the offspring of God, and since man is a living being, God therefore must be a living being.
Further, man is not only a living being, he also has intelligence and will, that give him the ability to make decisions that enable him to have dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28).
Saturday, November 22, 2008
What the Bible says about God creating man in His own image, pt. 3
MAN WAS CREATED BY GOD
The creation of man by God was based upon the deliberate counsel of God, “…Let Us make man…”. Man was no afterthought, but rather deliberate forethought on the part of the Godhead. Creation was incomplete without the man. All that God created up to that point was pronounced as “good.” Upon the creation of the man, God pronounced that everything he had made, including the man, was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
Genesis 2:7 details how God created man, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The following passages teach that God created man from the dust of the earth. Psalms 103:13-14 declares, “As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Isaiah 29:16 declares, “Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, ‘He did not make me’? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding?’” Romans 9:20-21 declares, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” Like a potter who makes his clay from the dust of the earth, God fashioned and formed man from the dust of the earth.
And just as man was created by God from the dust, he shall return to the dust from which he was made, "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return," Genesis 3:19.
There is not one passage in the whole of scripture that would indicate that man evolved from sub-human, non-human, or pre-human life forms. Additionally, the appearance of man did not involve any evolutionary process. The creation of man was direct; there was no pre-human life form in-between the animals and man as he is today. The creation of man was a special act of creation as his creation was markedly different from all other organic life forms. The creation of man was immediate as it did not involve a process; God created man and man was. The creation of man was direct, specific, and immediate.
The scriptures dispel the notion of theistic evolution as well since they declare that God created man on a specific day, Deuteronomy 4:32, “…since the day that God created man on the earth…” To teach that the creation of man was the result of God breathing life into some non-human life form that evolved into what we see today as man is to teach evolution and not creation.
The creation of man by God was based upon the deliberate counsel of God, “…Let Us make man…”. Man was no afterthought, but rather deliberate forethought on the part of the Godhead. Creation was incomplete without the man. All that God created up to that point was pronounced as “good.” Upon the creation of the man, God pronounced that everything he had made, including the man, was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
Genesis 2:7 details how God created man, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The following passages teach that God created man from the dust of the earth. Psalms 103:13-14 declares, “As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Isaiah 29:16 declares, “Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, ‘He did not make me’? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding?’” Romans 9:20-21 declares, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” Like a potter who makes his clay from the dust of the earth, God fashioned and formed man from the dust of the earth.
And just as man was created by God from the dust, he shall return to the dust from which he was made, "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return," Genesis 3:19.
There is not one passage in the whole of scripture that would indicate that man evolved from sub-human, non-human, or pre-human life forms. Additionally, the appearance of man did not involve any evolutionary process. The creation of man was direct; there was no pre-human life form in-between the animals and man as he is today. The creation of man was a special act of creation as his creation was markedly different from all other organic life forms. The creation of man was immediate as it did not involve a process; God created man and man was. The creation of man was direct, specific, and immediate.
The scriptures dispel the notion of theistic evolution as well since they declare that God created man on a specific day, Deuteronomy 4:32, “…since the day that God created man on the earth…” To teach that the creation of man was the result of God breathing life into some non-human life form that evolved into what we see today as man is to teach evolution and not creation.
Friday, November 21, 2008
What the Bible says about God creating man in His own image, pt. 2
MAN WAS CREATED
The Bible well documents the creation of man. Genesis 1:26-27 declares, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Man is first introduced into the biblical record as being made by God, “…Let us make man…”. The Hebrew word for make is asha, and means, to assemble existing materials into an order. (We shall see that this word is used when God created man from the dust of the earth. The other Hebrew word used for make is bara and means to create out of nothing, as in Genesis 1:1, where God spoke the world into existence from nothing).
The following passages teach the creation of man as absolute fact. Deuteronomy 4:32 declares, “For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard." Isaiah 45:12 declares, “I have made the earth, And created man on it. I — My hands — stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.” Colossians 1:16 declares, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Revelation 4:11 declares, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." The Bible clearly teaches that man was created by God; he did not evolve over a period of millions and millions of years; he did not come into being by accident, or by a series of fortuitous circumstances.
The Bible well documents the creation of man. Genesis 1:26-27 declares, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Man is first introduced into the biblical record as being made by God, “…Let us make man…”. The Hebrew word for make is asha, and means, to assemble existing materials into an order. (We shall see that this word is used when God created man from the dust of the earth. The other Hebrew word used for make is bara and means to create out of nothing, as in Genesis 1:1, where God spoke the world into existence from nothing).
The following passages teach the creation of man as absolute fact. Deuteronomy 4:32 declares, “For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard." Isaiah 45:12 declares, “I have made the earth, And created man on it. I — My hands — stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.” Colossians 1:16 declares, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Revelation 4:11 declares, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." The Bible clearly teaches that man was created by God; he did not evolve over a period of millions and millions of years; he did not come into being by accident, or by a series of fortuitous circumstances.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
What the Bible says about God making Man in His own image, pt. 1
INTRODUCTION
The Bible declares that God has made man in His own image. There is much confusion in the church today at to exactly what this means. One cult teaches that God was once a man, who has been exalted to the status of Godhood and now rules over the planet earth. Additionally some of those in the so-called “Faith Movement” teach that God is a man with a hand span of about nine inches and is about six feet tall. They also teach that since God made man in His own image, to see them is to see God.
We believe that when the Bible declares that God man in His own image it means that God made man reflecting some of His own characteristics. Man, in the image of God, possesses the element of personality similar to that of God, i.e., thinking, feeling, and will. Man was created by God as an intelligent, free moral agent. He was created with moral integrity. He was created to have dominion over the creation of God.
We shall see that man was originally created to reflect the character and characteristics of God, but that he fell from that position into the place were he has become corrupted by sin.
The Bible declares that God has made man in His own image. There is much confusion in the church today at to exactly what this means. One cult teaches that God was once a man, who has been exalted to the status of Godhood and now rules over the planet earth. Additionally some of those in the so-called “Faith Movement” teach that God is a man with a hand span of about nine inches and is about six feet tall. They also teach that since God made man in His own image, to see them is to see God.
We believe that when the Bible declares that God man in His own image it means that God made man reflecting some of His own characteristics. Man, in the image of God, possesses the element of personality similar to that of God, i.e., thinking, feeling, and will. Man was created by God as an intelligent, free moral agent. He was created with moral integrity. He was created to have dominion over the creation of God.
We shall see that man was originally created to reflect the character and characteristics of God, but that he fell from that position into the place were he has become corrupted by sin.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Spurgeon on obedience...
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." 1 Samuel 15:22
Saul had been commanded to slay utterly all the Amalekites and their cattle. Instead of doing so, he preserved the king, and suffered his people to take the best of the oxen and of the sheep. When called to account for this, he declared that he did it with a view of offering sacrifice to God; but Samuel met him at once with the assurance that sacrifices were no excuse for an act of direct rebellion. The sentence before us is worthy to be printed in letters of gold, and to be hung up before the eyes of the present idolatrous generation, who are very fond of the fineries of will-worship, but utterly neglect the laws of God. Be it ever in your remembrance, that to keep strictly in the path of your Saviour's command is better than any outward form of religion; and to hearken to His precept with an attentive ear is better than to bring the fat of rams, or any other precious thing to lay upon His altar. If you are failing to keep the least of Christ's commands to His disciples, I pray you be disobedient no longer. All the pretensions you make of attachment to your Master, and all the devout actions which you may perform, are no recompense for disobedience. "To obey," even in the slightest and smallest thing, "is better than sacrifice," however pompous. Talk not of Gregorian chants, sumptuous robes, incense, and banners; the first thing which God requires of His child is obedience; and though you should give your body to be burned, and all your goods to feed the poor, yet if you do not hearken to the Lord's precepts, all your formalities shall profit you nothing. It is a blessed thing to be teachable as a little child, but it is a much more blessed thing when one has been taught the lesson, to carry it out to the letter. How many adorn their temples and decorate their priests, but refuse to obey the word of the Lord! My soul, come not thou into their secret.
Saul had been commanded to slay utterly all the Amalekites and their cattle. Instead of doing so, he preserved the king, and suffered his people to take the best of the oxen and of the sheep. When called to account for this, he declared that he did it with a view of offering sacrifice to God; but Samuel met him at once with the assurance that sacrifices were no excuse for an act of direct rebellion. The sentence before us is worthy to be printed in letters of gold, and to be hung up before the eyes of the present idolatrous generation, who are very fond of the fineries of will-worship, but utterly neglect the laws of God. Be it ever in your remembrance, that to keep strictly in the path of your Saviour's command is better than any outward form of religion; and to hearken to His precept with an attentive ear is better than to bring the fat of rams, or any other precious thing to lay upon His altar. If you are failing to keep the least of Christ's commands to His disciples, I pray you be disobedient no longer. All the pretensions you make of attachment to your Master, and all the devout actions which you may perform, are no recompense for disobedience. "To obey," even in the slightest and smallest thing, "is better than sacrifice," however pompous. Talk not of Gregorian chants, sumptuous robes, incense, and banners; the first thing which God requires of His child is obedience; and though you should give your body to be burned, and all your goods to feed the poor, yet if you do not hearken to the Lord's precepts, all your formalities shall profit you nothing. It is a blessed thing to be teachable as a little child, but it is a much more blessed thing when one has been taught the lesson, to carry it out to the letter. How many adorn their temples and decorate their priests, but refuse to obey the word of the Lord! My soul, come not thou into their secret.
Swindoll on Restriant...
"The best restraint is self-restraint that comes from the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit through the person and presence of Jesus Christ in each individual life." Chuck Swindoll
Sunday, November 16, 2008
You have the right, David Guizk
"God did something special when He called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees and promised Abram all of the land of Canaan. But when Abram brought his nephew Lot with him into the land, it wasn’t long until there was conflict. (Genesis 13:8-9) Abram and Lot each had considerable herds of livestock, and their herdsmen fought over the choice grazing lands. Abram and Lot each claimed to serve the Lord God instead of the local Canaanite idols, and their conflict made them look like hypocrites. The logical solution was to separate the flocks and give them different grazing lands. But who would go where? That is when Abram exercised his right to lay down his rights.
“If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” God gave all the land to Abram (not to Lot), so it was pure generosity on the part of Abram that caused him to make this offer to Lot. We are almost tempted to think that it was weakness. But Abram was quite able to fight when he had to; he did not yield to Lot out of weakness but out of love and trust in God. A few acres of grazing land didn’t seem worth fighting for to this man of eternal perspective.
This giving up of our rights is theme throughout the Bible. God was glorified when Paul, out of love, waived his right to be supported by the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14-18) God was glorified when Jesus, out of love, waived his right to an existence that knew no human suffering or trial by experience. (Philippians 2:5-11) In fact, here Abram fulfilled the New Testament principle of love: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
But if we give up our rights, who will look out for us? Abram knew that whatever Lot chose, God would make sure Abram came out all right. In previous experience in the land of Egypt, Abram thought he had to take his fate into his own hands. Abram thought he had to look out for his own rights. Now being wiser, he was willing to let God look out for his interests. Right or left, it didn’t matter to Abram, because God would be there.
Because he trusted in God, Abram did not have to be obsessed with his own “rights” and neither do we. Of course there may be a time and place to stand on principle and claim a right; and sometimes doing so is good for others and not only ourselves. Yet we never forget the bigger principle: Everything else is the free gift of God, and has nothing to do with our “rights.” We can do what is right by committing our “rights” to God."
If you haven't read any of David's commentary, it is great. His writings are simple and straightforward. They are available on the Internet through the Blue Letter Bible and on www.enduringword.com
“If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” God gave all the land to Abram (not to Lot), so it was pure generosity on the part of Abram that caused him to make this offer to Lot. We are almost tempted to think that it was weakness. But Abram was quite able to fight when he had to; he did not yield to Lot out of weakness but out of love and trust in God. A few acres of grazing land didn’t seem worth fighting for to this man of eternal perspective.
This giving up of our rights is theme throughout the Bible. God was glorified when Paul, out of love, waived his right to be supported by the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14-18) God was glorified when Jesus, out of love, waived his right to an existence that knew no human suffering or trial by experience. (Philippians 2:5-11) In fact, here Abram fulfilled the New Testament principle of love: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
But if we give up our rights, who will look out for us? Abram knew that whatever Lot chose, God would make sure Abram came out all right. In previous experience in the land of Egypt, Abram thought he had to take his fate into his own hands. Abram thought he had to look out for his own rights. Now being wiser, he was willing to let God look out for his interests. Right or left, it didn’t matter to Abram, because God would be there.
Because he trusted in God, Abram did not have to be obsessed with his own “rights” and neither do we. Of course there may be a time and place to stand on principle and claim a right; and sometimes doing so is good for others and not only ourselves. Yet we never forget the bigger principle: Everything else is the free gift of God, and has nothing to do with our “rights.” We can do what is right by committing our “rights” to God."
If you haven't read any of David's commentary, it is great. His writings are simple and straightforward. They are available on the Internet through the Blue Letter Bible and on www.enduringword.com
Humor from Galye Erwin...
If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed. -- Mark Twain
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself. -- Mark Twain
I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. -- Will Rogers
No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. -- Mark Twain
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw
Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. -- James Bovard
Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it. -- Unknown
The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. -- Mark Twain
There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress. -- Mark Twain
What this country needs is more unemployed politicians. -- Edward Langley
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. --Thomas Jefferson
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself. -- Mark Twain
I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. -- Will Rogers
No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. -- Mark Twain
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw
Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. -- James Bovard
Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it. -- Unknown
The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. -- Mark Twain
There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress. -- Mark Twain
What this country needs is more unemployed politicians. -- Edward Langley
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. --Thomas Jefferson
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The best definition of legalism I ever heard...
"Legalism is an attitude, a mentality based on pride. It is an obsessive conformity to an artificial standard for the purpose of exalting oneself." Chuck Swindoll
Friday, November 14, 2008
Just flew back from Houston and boy are my arms tired...
Actually, I drove back (a small attempt at humor - I'm tired, so forgive me). One thing I noticed was how rude the drivers were. And sadly, many had the Christian "fish" on their car. Made me think about how I drive; so I made a concerted effort to be polite (even though I don't have a "fish" on the back of my truck; so who would know? God would!).
As Christians, lets agree together to bring back politeness. What a wonderful thing that would be; and those "fish" on the back of our car? Perhaps people would say good things about us?
As Christians, lets agree together to bring back politeness. What a wonderful thing that would be; and those "fish" on the back of our car? Perhaps people would say good things about us?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Musings from the road...
This is from Mike Macintosh's daily devotional:
"Don't add to the Gospel and make Christianity a bunch of religious jargon and nonsense. Read the Word of God and live by what it says. If you don't have a red-letter Bible, go buy one and start reading all of the words in red; these are the words that Jesus Himself said. Start there in your daily reading and start taking to heart what Jesus is saying to you. When you start falling in love with the Bible, you fall in love with Jesus. It’s all about Him. The Scriptures bring the heart of God to us and bring our heart to God. They open us up and they speak to us. And today more than ever we need the Word of God in our hearts, stirring us up to live our lives with purpose and meaning. Don’t be like the Pharisees who acted religiously but didn't even see Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, right in front of them. We have God’s revelation right here in front of us. Take full advantage of that wonderful and precious gift. Get into His Word and meditate on it every day." Mike Macintosh
"Don't add to the Gospel and make Christianity a bunch of religious jargon and nonsense. Read the Word of God and live by what it says. If you don't have a red-letter Bible, go buy one and start reading all of the words in red; these are the words that Jesus Himself said. Start there in your daily reading and start taking to heart what Jesus is saying to you. When you start falling in love with the Bible, you fall in love with Jesus. It’s all about Him. The Scriptures bring the heart of God to us and bring our heart to God. They open us up and they speak to us. And today more than ever we need the Word of God in our hearts, stirring us up to live our lives with purpose and meaning. Don’t be like the Pharisees who acted religiously but didn't even see Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, right in front of them. We have God’s revelation right here in front of us. Take full advantage of that wonderful and precious gift. Get into His Word and meditate on it every day." Mike Macintosh
Sunday, November 9, 2008
On the road again....
I'll be in Houston all this week. Appreciate your prayers God keep you all and bless you bunches!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Change is coming...
I believe that many changes are coming to America.
1. Religious liberties are going to be restricted. The line between the true believer and the "poser" is only going to grow sharper as the church will be forced by the State to accept homosexuality.
2. It will be harder and harder to be a faithful witness for Jesus Christ. Our ability to openly profess our faith will be restricted to within the four walls of the church.
3. Pressure will be put on Christians in the workplace to be "tolerant." Companies will (under force of government) force employees to agree with lifestyles long held to be sinful under threat of firing.
4. Abortion on demand will be expanded to include any time up to and including birth and beyond.
5. Euthanasia will become the law of the land. Those deemed "unfit" or "no longer viable" or "unproductive" or those suffering from a "diminished" life will be candidates.
So what shall we do about this?
First and foremost we need to pray, 1 Timothy 2:1-4: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Second, we need to keep working, John 4:35: "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"
Third, we need to keep watching, Luke 21:28: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
1. Religious liberties are going to be restricted. The line between the true believer and the "poser" is only going to grow sharper as the church will be forced by the State to accept homosexuality.
2. It will be harder and harder to be a faithful witness for Jesus Christ. Our ability to openly profess our faith will be restricted to within the four walls of the church.
3. Pressure will be put on Christians in the workplace to be "tolerant." Companies will (under force of government) force employees to agree with lifestyles long held to be sinful under threat of firing.
4. Abortion on demand will be expanded to include any time up to and including birth and beyond.
5. Euthanasia will become the law of the land. Those deemed "unfit" or "no longer viable" or "unproductive" or those suffering from a "diminished" life will be candidates.
So what shall we do about this?
First and foremost we need to pray, 1 Timothy 2:1-4: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Second, we need to keep working, John 4:35: "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"
Third, we need to keep watching, Luke 21:28: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
Dog on a Hunt
When a dog sits in the kennel he tends to bark alot thinking about his fleas; But when that same dog is on the hunt, he doesn't seem to notice them"
-Charles Spurgeon
(shamelessly stolen from Reflections on the Mission)
-Charles Spurgeon
(shamelessly stolen from Reflections on the Mission)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Gone again...
Well, this week I am leaving for New Mexico (Tuesday through Thursday). Next week, Houston (Monday through Friday). I'm finding out that being bi-vocational has it's challenges. Study time is diminished with work demands, home demands, spending time with my bride, etc.
Please pray for me as I am away. I'm praying for those of you you post here.
Please pray for me as I am away. I'm praying for those of you you post here.
Monday, October 27, 2008
The "Confessing Church"
There seems to be a new fad among those who are "reinventing church," mainly that of "apologizing to the culture for being the church," writes Paul Edwards (WLQV Detroit, posted at crosswalk.com/pastors/11583323).
Apparently, the church needs to apologize for:
...being hypocritical (this coming from those who watch wrestling on a regular basis and think hypocrisy is limited to the church);
...being intolerant (teaching that homosexually is sinful, the orthodox position of the historical church for over 1,600 years);
...condoning slavery (even though the Underground Railroad was started by Christians, of whom are my ancestors, at great peril to their physical being).
...ordering the Crusades (no one talks about the Crusades centuries earlier that slaughtered millions of Christians, Jews, and non-believers and enslaved the Holy Land);
...being ignorant in insisting that the world was created in defiance of so-called science that insists upon Darwinian Evolution (not realizing that the theory of Evolution has never been proved, that transitional fossils that Darwin said would validate his theory have never been discovered, and not one shred of proof supporting Evolution has ever been put forth).
Edwards writes, "...a dozen or more churches across the country that have discovered the latest fad sure to increase your worship attendance created by the psychologically-driven church growth movement: be sorry — be very sorry — for preaching a gospel that rubs the culture the wrong way." He goes on to write, "...most of these so-called “sins” are nothing more than liberal media stereotypes of conservative, evangelical, gospel-preaching churches whose real sin is offending the sensitivities of the culture by maintaining their faithfulness to the Word of God." Well said.
It is true that there are hypocrites in the church - no one denies that. But what about hypocrites in government, business, the stock market (what a reminder we got just recently!), banks - you name it, there are hypocrites everywhere. So why is it that just the ones in the church are constantly pointed out?
It is true that many Christians have reacted poorly to the sin of homosexuality, treating homosexuals poorly.
It is true that slavery was a dark spot on the canvas of this great nation. What has been done cannot be undone, and even today the descendants of slavery still suffer.
It is also true that the Crusades were ordered in order to clear a path to the Holy Land for Christians to go and worship; and that history has been grossly exaggerated by those who despise Christianity for the purpose of condemning all Christians and the Christian faith.
So what shall we do? Water down the truth in order not to offend? Or do we continue to declare the truth even though there are those who do not want to hear and will be offended?
Edwards writes, "Our mandate is to preach the Word, not waste our time apologizing for it to a self-obsessed culture under the guise of “humble orthodoxy.”"
He is right. While I do not seek to offend anyone, I will not apologize for telling you the truth even if it does offend you.
Apparently, the church needs to apologize for:
...being hypocritical (this coming from those who watch wrestling on a regular basis and think hypocrisy is limited to the church);
...being intolerant (teaching that homosexually is sinful, the orthodox position of the historical church for over 1,600 years);
...condoning slavery (even though the Underground Railroad was started by Christians, of whom are my ancestors, at great peril to their physical being).
...ordering the Crusades (no one talks about the Crusades centuries earlier that slaughtered millions of Christians, Jews, and non-believers and enslaved the Holy Land);
...being ignorant in insisting that the world was created in defiance of so-called science that insists upon Darwinian Evolution (not realizing that the theory of Evolution has never been proved, that transitional fossils that Darwin said would validate his theory have never been discovered, and not one shred of proof supporting Evolution has ever been put forth).
Edwards writes, "...a dozen or more churches across the country that have discovered the latest fad sure to increase your worship attendance created by the psychologically-driven church growth movement: be sorry — be very sorry — for preaching a gospel that rubs the culture the wrong way." He goes on to write, "...most of these so-called “sins” are nothing more than liberal media stereotypes of conservative, evangelical, gospel-preaching churches whose real sin is offending the sensitivities of the culture by maintaining their faithfulness to the Word of God." Well said.
It is true that there are hypocrites in the church - no one denies that. But what about hypocrites in government, business, the stock market (what a reminder we got just recently!), banks - you name it, there are hypocrites everywhere. So why is it that just the ones in the church are constantly pointed out?
It is true that many Christians have reacted poorly to the sin of homosexuality, treating homosexuals poorly.
It is true that slavery was a dark spot on the canvas of this great nation. What has been done cannot be undone, and even today the descendants of slavery still suffer.
It is also true that the Crusades were ordered in order to clear a path to the Holy Land for Christians to go and worship; and that history has been grossly exaggerated by those who despise Christianity for the purpose of condemning all Christians and the Christian faith.
So what shall we do? Water down the truth in order not to offend? Or do we continue to declare the truth even though there are those who do not want to hear and will be offended?
Edwards writes, "Our mandate is to preach the Word, not waste our time apologizing for it to a self-obsessed culture under the guise of “humble orthodoxy.”"
He is right. While I do not seek to offend anyone, I will not apologize for telling you the truth even if it does offend you.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Carolyn
During my trip to Houston this week I was able to go and visit Ralph and Carolyn. As I walked in I saw that she had lost all her hair and had a bandanna on her head. I hugged her and told her that she was still as beautiful as ever. It was wonderful to pray for her in person.
For those of you men who have lost your hair (like me) you get over it (unless your vain enough to go the "comb over" route or you have indoor/outdoor carpet installed :), which is equally bad!). However, for a woman, losing her hair is traumatic. Yet I was overwhelmed by the love that came forth from her heart and the hospitality she showed me. (I told Ralph that I did not want them to fuss over me...if you know Ralph and Carolyn, you know that they would anyway, which they did. Carolyn's gift is hospitality).
Not once did Carolyn express a "why me" attitude nor was there any feeling sorry for herself. Her courage shames me and certainly most people I know. They want you all to know that her progress against cancer is due to the wonderful prayers of God's people - especially those of you who read this blog and faithfully pray. Her progress is blowing the doctor's away!
Early on, Ralph had the chance to sit down with the team of doctors (and Carolyn) to discuss her treatment. Now Ralph is a evangelist - it is his primary gift. He loves to tell people about Jesus and has led many to faith in Christ. When the doctors told him that Carolyn's prognoses was not good, he told them, "God told me He was going to make a way." He then when on to share his testimony withe them and his unwavering confidence in His heavenly Father. I understand it left quite an impression on the doctors.
So God has made a way, she is doing better than the doctors could ever of imagined and Jesus Christ is getting the glory that is due Him.
Ralph and Carolyn are my friends - they have seen me at my best and at my worst - and they still desire my friendship. Wow...
Thank you all for praying for them. I am indebted to you for that which I cannot repay, but for which I an eternally grateful. God bless you all. Thank you for praying for my friends...
For those of you men who have lost your hair (like me) you get over it (unless your vain enough to go the "comb over" route or you have indoor/outdoor carpet installed :), which is equally bad!). However, for a woman, losing her hair is traumatic. Yet I was overwhelmed by the love that came forth from her heart and the hospitality she showed me. (I told Ralph that I did not want them to fuss over me...if you know Ralph and Carolyn, you know that they would anyway, which they did. Carolyn's gift is hospitality).
Not once did Carolyn express a "why me" attitude nor was there any feeling sorry for herself. Her courage shames me and certainly most people I know. They want you all to know that her progress against cancer is due to the wonderful prayers of God's people - especially those of you who read this blog and faithfully pray. Her progress is blowing the doctor's away!
Early on, Ralph had the chance to sit down with the team of doctors (and Carolyn) to discuss her treatment. Now Ralph is a evangelist - it is his primary gift. He loves to tell people about Jesus and has led many to faith in Christ. When the doctors told him that Carolyn's prognoses was not good, he told them, "God told me He was going to make a way." He then when on to share his testimony withe them and his unwavering confidence in His heavenly Father. I understand it left quite an impression on the doctors.
So God has made a way, she is doing better than the doctors could ever of imagined and Jesus Christ is getting the glory that is due Him.
Ralph and Carolyn are my friends - they have seen me at my best and at my worst - and they still desire my friendship. Wow...
Thank you all for praying for them. I am indebted to you for that which I cannot repay, but for which I an eternally grateful. God bless you all. Thank you for praying for my friends...
Home again, home again...
Well, I made it back home today. Thanks to all of you for praying for me, I really felt your prayers. To quote Dorthy: "There's no place like home."
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Great quote...
"Waiting is a common instrument of providential discipline for those to whom exceptional work has been appointed." James Stalker (British Author)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Going out of town...
Well, tomorrow I will be flying to Houston. For those of you who have never been there, it is like living in a sauna bath. Even in the Winter, it is humid. I am starting my new job, so I will officially join the ranks of the bi-vocational, which is no problem for me. I am actually looking forward to it!
So I leave you with a few quotes that bless and challenge me.
God wants worshippers before workers; indeed, the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the art of worship. A. W. Tozer
What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as the know they must do at the last day. A. W. Tozer
Actually, I do find Christians these days who seem to have largely wasted their lives. They were converted to Christ but they have never sought to go on to an increasing knowledge of God. There is untold loss and failure because they have accepted the whole level of things around them as being normal and desirable. A. W. Tozer
Before the Spirit of God can work creatively in our hearts he must condemn and slay the “flesh” within us; that is, He must have our full consent to displace our natural self with the Person of Christ. A. W. Tozer
So I leave you with a few quotes that bless and challenge me.
God wants worshippers before workers; indeed, the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the art of worship. A. W. Tozer
What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as the know they must do at the last day. A. W. Tozer
Actually, I do find Christians these days who seem to have largely wasted their lives. They were converted to Christ but they have never sought to go on to an increasing knowledge of God. There is untold loss and failure because they have accepted the whole level of things around them as being normal and desirable. A. W. Tozer
Before the Spirit of God can work creatively in our hearts he must condemn and slay the “flesh” within us; that is, He must have our full consent to displace our natural self with the Person of Christ. A. W. Tozer
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Quotes I wish I had said...
Your big ministry plans often turn out to be training ground designed by God for ministry yet to be discovered - Unknown
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic - Anonymous
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers - Unknown
People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church - Unknown
We don’t change the message, the message changes us - Unknown
The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close - Unknown
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic - Anonymous
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers - Unknown
People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church - Unknown
We don’t change the message, the message changes us - Unknown
The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close - Unknown
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
PASTORAL CANDIDATES
The following is a confidential report on several candidates being considered.
Adam: Good man but problems with his wife. Also one reference told of how his wife and he enjoy walking nude in the woods.
Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. Prone to unrealistic building projects.
Abraham: Though the references reported wife-swapping, the facts seem to show he never slept with another man's wife, but did offer to share his own wife with another man.
Joseph: A big thinker, but a braggart, believes in dream-interpreting, and has a prison record.
Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.
David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor's wife.
Solomon: Great preacher but our parsonage would never hold all those wives.
Elijah: Prone to depression. Collapses under pressure.
Elisha: Reported to have lived with a single widow while at his former church.
Hosea: A tender and loving pastor but our people could never handle his wife's occupation.
Deborah: Strong leader and seems to be anointed, but she is female.
Jeremiah: Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river.
Isaiah: On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.
Jonah: Refused God's call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
Amos: Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people--might fit in better in a poor congregation.
Melchizedek: Great credentials at current work place, but where does this guy come from? No information on his resume about former work records. Line about parents was left blank and he refused to supply a birth date.
John: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn't dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper-even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.
Paul: Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with younger ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
James & John: Package deal preacher & associate seemed good at first, but found out they have an ego problem regarding other fellow workers and seating positions. Threatened an entire town after an insult. Also known to try to discourage workers who didn't follow along with them.
Timothy: Too young!
Methuselah: Too old...WAY too old!
Jesus: Has had popular times, but once his church grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all, and then this church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he's single.
Judas: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday. Possibilities here.
Adam: Good man but problems with his wife. Also one reference told of how his wife and he enjoy walking nude in the woods.
Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with not even one convert. Prone to unrealistic building projects.
Abraham: Though the references reported wife-swapping, the facts seem to show he never slept with another man's wife, but did offer to share his own wife with another man.
Joseph: A big thinker, but a braggart, believes in dream-interpreting, and has a prison record.
Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.
David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor's wife.
Solomon: Great preacher but our parsonage would never hold all those wives.
Elijah: Prone to depression. Collapses under pressure.
Elisha: Reported to have lived with a single widow while at his former church.
Hosea: A tender and loving pastor but our people could never handle his wife's occupation.
Deborah: Strong leader and seems to be anointed, but she is female.
Jeremiah: Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river.
Isaiah: On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.
Jonah: Refused God's call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
Amos: Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people--might fit in better in a poor congregation.
Melchizedek: Great credentials at current work place, but where does this guy come from? No information on his resume about former work records. Line about parents was left blank and he refused to supply a birth date.
John: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn't dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper-even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.
Paul: Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with younger ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
James & John: Package deal preacher & associate seemed good at first, but found out they have an ego problem regarding other fellow workers and seating positions. Threatened an entire town after an insult. Also known to try to discourage workers who didn't follow along with them.
Timothy: Too young!
Methuselah: Too old...WAY too old!
Jesus: Has had popular times, but once his church grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all, and then this church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he's single.
Judas: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday. Possibilities here.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What the Bible Says about the Rapture, pt. 5
CONCLUSION
We have seen that the Tribulation is the wrath and judgment of God. We have also seen that it is impossible for those who are in Christ to be brought into the judgment of the Tribulation, John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” And Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”
The judgment of the believer is impossible because of our union with Christ, I John 4:17, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” The judgment which the believer faces is that which has motivated our works, a judgment of rewards, II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
If the Church is subject to the judgment of the Tribulation then the promises of God are of no effect and the death of Christ is ineffectual. Who would dare to profess or to teach that the promises of God are of no effect? Who would dare to profess or to teach that the death of Christ is ineffectual? We can have the utmost confidence in the promises of God towards us, II Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
The Rapture of the Church is the event promised by Jesus whereby He will remove His Church out of this world to the place He has prepared for us, John 14:1-4, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus told us in Luke 21:36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Our worth comes from knowing Jesus. To pray to be worthy is to be in Him, trusting Him alone for your righteous standing before the Father.
WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?
The Rapture of the Church will take place suddenly and without warning, I Corinthians 15:52, “…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” Jesus Himself said, Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” To presume to know is to presume to know more than Jesus knew when He dwelt here on earth. Many have predicted the Rapture of the Church only to be proven wrong. To do so is either pride or ignorance; either way it is dangerous, as to do so is to mark yourself a false prophet. Although we do not know the exact time of the Rapture of the Church, we are able to recognize the times and the seasons preceding the Rapture. We see in our world the explosion of technology and knowledge, prophesied by Daniel, Daniel 12:4, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” We see in our world the formation and establishment of a European super state, the European Union (EU), the precursor to the final world government prophesied by Daniel (the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision, Daniel 2).
But perhaps the most startling thing we have seen in our lifetimes has been the re-establishment of Israel back into their home land after almost 2,000 years, an event foretold by Jesus, Matthew 24:32-35, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Isaiah prophesied of Israel, Isaiah 27:6, “…Israel shall blossom and bud, And fill the face of the world with fruit.” Today fruit from Israel is shipped all over the world, literally fulfilling this prophesy. Again, Isaiah prophesied, Isaiah 35:1, “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” Flowers from Israel are shipped all over the world, literally fulfilling this prophecy. These are but a few of the glorious prophecies fulfilled in our lifetime concerning Israel.
The Psalmist declared, Psalm 102:16, “When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” (KJV). The Lord has indeed built up Zion. Israel has once again become a nation and is re-established back into the land given to them by God. And Jesus said that the generation that witnessed this event would not pass until they also witnessed His coming for His Church. We are living in exciting times. Maranatha! “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
We have seen that the Tribulation is the wrath and judgment of God. We have also seen that it is impossible for those who are in Christ to be brought into the judgment of the Tribulation, John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” And Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”
The judgment of the believer is impossible because of our union with Christ, I John 4:17, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” The judgment which the believer faces is that which has motivated our works, a judgment of rewards, II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
If the Church is subject to the judgment of the Tribulation then the promises of God are of no effect and the death of Christ is ineffectual. Who would dare to profess or to teach that the promises of God are of no effect? Who would dare to profess or to teach that the death of Christ is ineffectual? We can have the utmost confidence in the promises of God towards us, II Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
The Rapture of the Church is the event promised by Jesus whereby He will remove His Church out of this world to the place He has prepared for us, John 14:1-4, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus told us in Luke 21:36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Our worth comes from knowing Jesus. To pray to be worthy is to be in Him, trusting Him alone for your righteous standing before the Father.
WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE TAKE PLACE?
The Rapture of the Church will take place suddenly and without warning, I Corinthians 15:52, “…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” Jesus Himself said, Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” To presume to know is to presume to know more than Jesus knew when He dwelt here on earth. Many have predicted the Rapture of the Church only to be proven wrong. To do so is either pride or ignorance; either way it is dangerous, as to do so is to mark yourself a false prophet. Although we do not know the exact time of the Rapture of the Church, we are able to recognize the times and the seasons preceding the Rapture. We see in our world the explosion of technology and knowledge, prophesied by Daniel, Daniel 12:4, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” We see in our world the formation and establishment of a European super state, the European Union (EU), the precursor to the final world government prophesied by Daniel (the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision, Daniel 2).
But perhaps the most startling thing we have seen in our lifetimes has been the re-establishment of Israel back into their home land after almost 2,000 years, an event foretold by Jesus, Matthew 24:32-35, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Isaiah prophesied of Israel, Isaiah 27:6, “…Israel shall blossom and bud, And fill the face of the world with fruit.” Today fruit from Israel is shipped all over the world, literally fulfilling this prophesy. Again, Isaiah prophesied, Isaiah 35:1, “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” Flowers from Israel are shipped all over the world, literally fulfilling this prophecy. These are but a few of the glorious prophecies fulfilled in our lifetime concerning Israel.
The Psalmist declared, Psalm 102:16, “When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” (KJV). The Lord has indeed built up Zion. Israel has once again become a nation and is re-established back into the land given to them by God. And Jesus said that the generation that witnessed this event would not pass until they also witnessed His coming for His Church. We are living in exciting times. Maranatha! “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
Monday, October 13, 2008
What the Bible Says about the Rapture, pt. 4
PRE-TRIBULATIONAL VIEWPOINT
The Pre-Tribulation viewpoint teaches that the Church will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation begins. As stated previously, it is our view that true believers will be raptured from the earth to heaven before the Tribulation period begins.
The Pre-Tribulational viewpoint is based upon the literal interpretation of the Scriptures. We know that the Bible speaks both literally and figuratively. When we speak of a literal interpretation of the Scriptures, we are not eliminating the use of figures or types in Scripture, such as Revelation 13:1, “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” Here, rather than being a literal description of the Antichrist, we see the nature of the Antichrist and his kingdom described.
When we speak of the literal interpretation of Scripture we are contrasting the literal view of scripture with that which is known as spiritualizing. The spiritualizing of Scripture is the reading into a passage much more that was ever intended and has led to many unbiblical teachings and doctrines (such as Replacement Theology, i.e., the United States being portrayed as the new Israel).
The doctrine of the Pre-Tribulational return of Christ for His Church is the outcome of the literal method of interpretation. It is only correct therefore, that we apply the same method of interpretation to the question of the Rapture, the Tribulation, and to the Millennial Reign of Christ as well.
In I & II Thessalonians we see believers suffering for their faith in Christ. Paul address their suffering in I Thessalonians 2:14, “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,” and in I Thessalonians 3:3-4, “that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.” They were being persecuted for the Name of Christ, they were suffering for their testimony for Jesus Christ.
Because this suffering was so intense, some taught that the Rapture had taken place and that their loved ones, having missed out on the Rapture, would miss out on the Kingdom Age. So Paul was writing to correct this false teaching. Although they were suffering exceedingly for their faith, they were not in the Tribulation, but rather suffering even as he had told them that they would and even as Jesus predicted, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world," (John 16:33).
Paul offered the Thessalonian believers hope, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Those who are asleep in Jesus will go with Him; they will not be left behind. In fact, those that are asleep in Jesus have a place of privilege, as they will be the first to rise at the Rapture, ”…the dead in Christ will rise first.” The dead have not been forgotten. That gives the believer hope because many have been laid to rest in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection of the dead. Having this hope, we have assurance from the Lord that they will rise from the dead and that we will see them in His Kingdom.
Paul declared that Jesus Himself is coming to the clouds, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven…” Jesus is coming for His Church just as He said He would, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also,” (John 14:33). This is the Blessed Hope that the believer has, that the Savior is coming for us, to receive us for Himself and we will be with Him forever. When He comes at the Rapture of the Church, He will not come to earth as at His Second Coming; rather, we will meet Him in the clouds, Paul said, “…And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Paul concludes, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” What comfort does it provide the believer if he is to endure the Tribulation? None. No, our comfort is knowing that Jesus is coming back to claim us as His own, at the Rapture of the Church, just as He said He would, before the judgment of God is poured out at the Tribulation, not during or after, but before. Now that is of great comfort! Paul writes in I Thessalonians 5:1-2 of the Rapture of the Church, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”
Jesus, in His teachings, made a careful distinction between the Rapture of the Church and His Second Coming. He spoke of the Rapture of the Church in Luke 17:34-36, "I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." He spoke of His Second Coming in Matthew 24:27, "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." At the Second Coming, every eye will see Him. At the Rapture of the Church, only believers will see Him.
Paul recognized this distinction, declaring that Jesus at the Rapture of the Church would come as a thief in the night, unexpected and without warning, even as Jesus had said, Matthew 24:43-44, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” The thief only surprises those who are unaware; however, the believer has been warned to watch and wait for the Lord’s return and will not be caught unaware.
God has not left us in spiritual darkness regarding His plan, I Thessalonians 5:3-4, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” Sudden destruction will come upon the unsaved, not upon the Church. We are not in darkness so that Day will not overtake us. They will be saying, ”…Peace and safety!’…” We are saying, Jesus is coming soon and with Him, Judgment. The Rapture of the Church will overtake the world, not the believer in Christ, as He has not left us in darkness regarding His plan.
It is interesting that when Titus surrounded the city of Jerusalem with the armies of Rome in 70AD and subsequently destroyed the city and the Temple, only the Church escaped the destruction. That is because the Church heeded the warning of Jesus, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled,” (Luke 21:20-22). God never leaves His people in darkness. Just as Jesus warned His people in the first century, so He has warned His people in subsequent centuries what to look for and how to escape.
At the Rapture of the Church the unsaved will be surprised because they will not hear nor heed the warning of our testimony of the Word of God. The world historically has ignored the signs of coming judgment. How many times has the world mocked the Church for it’s warning of the judgment to come upon the earth? Peter wrote of the attitude and the ignorance of the world towards the message of the coming of Christ to judge the world as a sign of the Last Days, II Peter 3:3-7, “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.“ They are willingly ignorant of the fact that all things have not continued as they have from the beginning. God destroyed the world in judgment through a flood; He will destroy the world once again, this time by fire.
Noah warned that the Flood was coming, yet only eight souls were saved (II Peter 2:5). Lot warned his sons-in-law that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was coming, but they would not listen (Genesis 19:14). Yet Jesus Himself used the examples of Noah and Lot to depict the times subsequent to the Rapture of the Church, Luke 17:26-30, “ And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Lot warned his sons-in-law, yet they thought he was joking. Noah warned the world, yet they no doubt mocked him. People mock the Church for its testimony of the coming judgment. And yet, here we see a world going about their regular activities not knowing that judgment is imminent, just as in the days of Noah and Lot, even as Jesus said.
No doubt, when fire began to fall on Sodom and Gomorrah, the people were terrified. No doubt when the rain began and the water began to rise the people were terrified. Perhaps they even began to pound on the Ark, begging to be let inside. They had the testimony of righteous Noah, for 120 years, yet they chose to ignore his testimony to their own peril. It was too late.
The Rapture of the Church will be a catastrophic event that will impact the entire world as the graves of Christians are opened and Christians all over the world disappear from the face of the earth. It will take the world by complete surprise and no doubt terrify many as they realize that the testimony of the Christians was true and they are too late.
I believe that on the day of the Rapture of the Church, churches will fill to overflowing with those who have ignored the testimony of Christian loved ones and friends seeking to be taken in the Rapture. Many will be filled with a regret that we can only imagine as they bemoan their decision to reject or put off their decision to receive Jesus and follow Him. Yet it will be too late for them and they will endure the suffering of the Tribulation because they refused to believe.
However, there is some good news. It will be possible to be saved during the Tribulation period. In fact, the Bible tells us the that the greatest evangelistic work in history will take place during the Tribulation as millions and millions come to know Jesus. John writes of them in Revelation 7:9-17, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’ Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’" Those that teach that the Church will endure the Tribulation also teach that God will protect the Church from the effects of the Tribulation, just as He protected Israel from the plagues that came upon Egypt. However, we notice here in these verses that those that come out of the Tribulation were affected by hunger, thirst, sun and heat. Thus the argument of protection is invalidated by the testimony of Scripture.
Paul tells us that we, in these Last Days, are to be alert and self controlled, I Thessalonians 5:5-8, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” Sleep is used here metaphorically to indicate religious carelessness. Paul is telling us not to be careless with our faith, caught up in the world and in the things of this world. Alert here speaks of spiritual alertness. We are to be spiritually alert, on watch, waiting for Jesus to come for His Church.
Paul offers one of the strongest proofs for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church in, I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Tribulation is the wrath of God and God has not appointed us to wrath. Jesus Himself promised us that we would not come into judgment, John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” And Paul declared the same thing in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” The believer is not condemned; the believer’s sins were judged at the cross, and because of his faith in Jesus he has passed from death to life and shall not come into judgment.
Paul encourages all believers in I Thessalonians 1:10, "…to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." Another strong proof for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church.
We have seen that Revelation 6 (set in the first 3-1-2 years of the Tribulation) speaks of the seals being broken on the book and the results being the wrath of the Lamb. In verse 16-17, those on the earth declare, “…to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Clearly the first 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation as well as the last 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation are the wrath of God being poured out on those who dwell upon the earth.
Another very strong proof of a Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church is made to the faithful Church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
In II Thessalonians Paul writes again to strengthen his first letter as the believers were continuing to suffer and needed encouragement, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come,” (II Thessalonians 2:1-2).
Paul goes on to write that the Day of the Lord cannot occur until the falling away occurs and the lawless one (the Antichrist) is revealed, II Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Paul tells them that the Antichrist will set up his image in the Temple declaring himself to be God and demanding worship as such.
Now this word of falling away is the Greek word, apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah) which means a departure or removal. It is used correctly of an apostate, one who has departed from the true faith. It can also be used correctly of a departure from one place to another. What is this falling away? It can be a massive defection from the Church (which we are currently seeing in America today). It can also refer to the Rapture of the Church as a departure.
There is a massive defection from the faith prophesied in Scripture promised in the Last Days, I Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” In their teachings they are departing from the true faith and teaching doctrines of demons, i.e., teachings inspired by Satan.
We have seen this come to pass in our lifetime as men continue to reject the orthodox teaching of the Scriptures and substitute the teachings of men for the truth of God. Those who teach these doctrines became callused to the truth with the result being that their conscience becomes insensate, unable any longer to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Paul continues in II Timothy to write of the rise of those who would follow these teachers in the Last Days, II Timothy 3:1-7, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Never in history has there been more resources available to men of the things of God and never in history has there been so much ignorance of the things of God. These here are lovers of themselves and money, lovers of pleasure and entertainment. And that is just what these false teachers are giving them, all the while enriching themselves at the expense of those that follow them.
Paul here is speaking of those who claim to be Christians but are not, declaring of them that they have, “…a form of godliness but denying its power…” They are religious, but do not know Christ. There is no power in what they are being taught to produce real change in their lives. And true believers are told to turn away from such who teach and who follow such teachings.
We are indeed living in perilous times, times that the Prophet Amos wrote of, Amos 8:11-12, “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.’” We live in a time where it has become increasingly difficult to find true, orthodox teaching from the Scriptures. We live in a time in which men have replaced the Gospel and the Word of God with feel good books that address felt needs instead of dealing with the problem of sin and the need for genuine repentance and faith in God.
The Apostle Peter also wrote of the rise of false teachers in the Last Days, II Peter 2:1-3, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” Peter tell us that they will secretly bring in heresy under the guise of truth, even to the point of denying Christ and His redemptive work.
One of the so-called faith teachers has declared that God spoke to him and told him that he could of done what Jesus did, that any born again man armed with the Word of God could do what Jesus did. Not only is this heresy, this is blasphemy of the worst kind. An yet this is what is being taught in the so-called faith movement as truth, literally fulfilling the words of the Apostle Peter.
The great tragedy is that they have no shortage of followers as they appeal directly to the covetous nature of the people who follow them. Yet the truth is that the only one’s who are getting rich is the false teachers who are using their teachings to mask a covetous lifestyle. Paul said of them that they were, “…men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself,” (I Timothy 6:5). Their end is to be condemned in judgment from the Lord.
Consider carefully what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” These are very sobering words from Jesus. These are those who think that they are serving Him, but are not. They think that they know Him, but He does not know them! (This reminds me of the words of the Demon possessed man to the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, Acts 19:15, “And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’” The demons know who Jesus is and they tremble, James 2:19, “…Even the demons believe — and tremble!” Yet these in Matthew 7 who profess to know Him, do not know Him). They have a passion, “…'Lord, Lord.” They have works, “…have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'” Yet they have no relationship with Jesus. All that they do is in reality, not for Jesus, but rather for themselves, to satisfy themselves.
Peter goes on to describe their methods and motives, II Peter 2:18-19, “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” They use religious jargon as a profession, but they in reality say nothing to profit their hearers. They use words which are of excessive weight and unrestrained or arrogant speech, with the result being emptiness. Their allure is to catch the unstable by enticement, appealing to the fleshly desire of their audience. Lewdness refers to their absence of restraint in teaching and in their lifestyles. They promise liberty, but they themselves are in bondage to the desires of the flesh and seek to entice others to the same.
The question for many is if these were ever of the true faith? I believe, from Scripture, that the answer to that question is an unequivocal no, they weren’t. John writes in I John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” They came out of the true Church because their false teachings were recognized as false by the Church. Just as it is a sign of a healthy body to repel disease, so it is the sign of a healthy Church to repel false teaching. Which makes one wonder at the health of the Church in America with so much false teaching readily being accepted into the Church without question. These false teachers were never really a part of the Church. If they were they would have continued in the Church. Their departure demonstrates that they were never part of the true Church and their teachings, which are a departure from the truth, clearly demonstrate such.
Paul goes on in II Thessalonians 2 to speak of a present restraining influence at work in the world holding back the flood of evil, II Thessalonians 2:6-7, “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” The use of the masculine pronoun “He” indicates that “He” is a person. He will continue His work of restraining evil until He be taken out of the way. It is evident that “He” is the Holy Spirit working in the world though the Church.
The Church historically has had a purifying, restraining effect on the world. The Holy Spirit has worked through the proclamation of the Gospel by the Church to reach the lost, turning them to faith in Christ. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11).
However, the time will come, Paul tells us, when He will be taken out of the way, i.e., that He will no longer be restraining evil through the Church. Then and only then will the Antichrist be revealed, II Thessalonians 2:8, “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” Notice that He will be taken out of the way, not taken away.
Two questions now need to be addressed. #1. If God does indeed move His Spirit out of the way, no longer restraining evil through the Church, what then will the ministry of the Holy Spirit be? #2. What will happen to the Church, when the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining evil through it?
Let’s look at question #1. If God does indeed move His Spirit our of the way, no longer restraining evil through the Church, what then will the ministry of the Holy Spirit be?
The Scriptures declare that God will once again pour out His Spirit upon the nation Israel. Paul writes of a partial blindness that has come upon Israel, Romans 11:25, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." After Israel had rejected Jesus as Messiah, God turned away from dealing exclusively with the nation Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles would come in. And so, the Holy Spirit is going throughout the world calling out a bride for Christ from the Gentile nations (Matthew 21:43).
Jesus said, Luke 21:24, “And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." In 1967, during the Seven Day War, Israeli forces recaptured the City of Jerusalem, so that the city is now no longer under Gentile occupation, i.e., is no longer trampled by the Gentiles. So the time of the Gentiles has indeed been fulfilled.
Then why hasn’t the Rapture occurred? II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” We are living in a time of unprecedented grace, whereby Jesus could come at any moment, but the Father has chosen not to send him.
God is still working among the Gentile nations, giving them an extended opportunity to come to Jesus. However, His patience is not unlimited.
God has not cast off His people as those who teach Replacement Theology declare. There remains one final seven year period of God’s dealing with the nation Israel, according to Daniel 9:24-27. 69 seven year periods have been completed. The Temple was rebuild in 49 years (seven weeks). 434 years later, Jesus came and was crucified (sixty two weeks). 62 weeks + 7 weeks = 69 weeks, leaving one week yet unfulfilled.
At the end of 69 weeks (7+62) the Messiah was cut off, Daniel 9:26, “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself…” Rejected and crucified, Jesus died for the sins of the world. Soon thereafter (70AD), Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel ceased to be a nation on the face of the earth, Daniel 9:26, “And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.”
So there remains one final week (a final 7 year period) to be fulfilled. Daniel tells us of that week, Daniel 9:27, “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." The Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel, allowing them to remain in the land and allowing them to rebuild the Temple.
It is interesting that in order for this prophecy to be fulfilled, Israel had to become a nation once again. May 15, 1948 Israel became a nation once again, a nation born in a day, as prophesied by Isaiah, Isaiah 66:8, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.”
However, in the middle of this week (3-1/2 years) the Antichrist will bring an end to the sacrifices and offerings in the rebuilt Temple, set up his image in the Temple, and demand that he be worshipped as God. Jesus foretold this, Matthew 24:15, “Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand).”
Now, in Ezekiel 39, God has destroyed the enemies of Israel and, as a result, has been shown holy through them in the sight of the nations. Ezekiel tells us, Ezekiel 39:27-29, “When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,' says the Lord GOD.” After bringing them back into the land and destroying their enemies, there will be a tremendous revival in Israel, as the nation turns back to God once again. At that time, God will have poured out His Spirit on the house of Israel once again, turning to them and dealing with them for the final seven year period prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 9:27). The purpose for this final seven year dealing with Israel was outlined by Jesus almost 2,000 years ago, when He declared to Israel, “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Matthew 23:39). At the end of the Tribulation the nation Israel will be ready for the return of their Messiah, declaring to Him when He comes, “…‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
Let us now look at question #2. What will happen to the Church, when the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining evil through it?
John was told in Revelation 1:19, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this." The word for after this is the Greek word, meta (met-ah') tauta (tow'-tah), hereafter, lit., after these things. After what things? In Revelation 4:1, we read, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’" Again, the word for after this is the Greek word, meta (met-ah') tauta (tow'-tah), hereafter, lit., after these things. And again, the question is, after what?
John wrote of seeing a picture of Jesus in His glory (Revelation 1:12-18). He had just wrote of the things of the Church (Revelation 2-3), and now he was to write the things after the Church, the Tribulation (Revelation 6-18).
In Revelation 4:2, John is caught up to heaven (just as the Church will be), “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” Some scholars believe that he was witnessing the Rapture as a event yet future to him. Notice that in verse 1 a door is open in heaven and a voice spoke to him like a Trumpet, saying “Come up here.” Compare this with I Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." Many see Revelation 4:2 and I Thessalonians as one in the same event, the Rapture of the Church.
John tells us that he saw a throne with someone sitting on it surrounded by 24 Elders, clothed with white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads. Only the Church can wear white, Revelation 19:14, "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." And Revelation 19:8 declares, “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” The fine linen represents the righteousness of the saints. Only the Church can wear crowns, I Peter 5:4, "and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (Throughout the New Testament crowns are promised to those who believe: an incorruptible crown, I Corinthians 9:25; a crown of rejoicing, I Thessalonians 2:19; a crown of righteousness, II Timothy 4:8; a crown of life, James 1:12, Revelation 2:10; a crown of glory, I Peter 5:4; a crown of Gold, Revelation 4:4; which will all eventually be cast before Christ, Revelation 4:10).
The 24 Elders sing a new song before the Lamb, Revelation 5:9-10, “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." Only the Church can sing this song, and only the Church is promised to reign with Jesus (II Timothy 2:12, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 22:5).
What will be the order of these things? It would appear that several events will take place at once or almost simultaneously. The Church is Raptured and God takes His Spirit out of the way (II Thessalonians 2:7). Russia and the states confederated with her will attack Israel and be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:27). And God will have once again poured out His Spirit upon the Nation Israel (Ezekiel 39:27).
What of the Church until these things come to pass? Revelation 3:7-13, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Jesus knows our works. He has set before the Church a door that no one can shut. That door is the door of opportunity for us to witness for Him with our lives and with our words, to share the Gospel with others. He says, “…you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Paul asked, “…And who is sufficient for these things?” (II Corinthians 2:16). In and of ourselves, we are not sufficient. Paul wrote of the secret of our sufficiency, “…our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant…” (II Corinthians 3:5-6).
If we would be like the Church in Philadelphia we must stay on their foundation. They studied the Word; they kept the Word; they gave the Word great place in their lives. They would not deny the Name of Jesus; they remained faithful to Him. He has written His name upon you because you are His and He will come for His own, even as He has promised, “…I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
I believe that it is going to become increasingly difficult for the Church to teach and proclaim the true Gospel, the true Word of God. I believe that pressure is going to be placed upon us, upon you and I, to compromise the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The pressure in the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Australia is already there. It is only going to get worse as the end comes.
Already the Church is being pressured into accepting lifestyles as normal that have long been held as sinful by the Church. Already the Church has caved in to the pressure to water down the Word of God and to recognize that all roads lead to God (which they do not). Political correctness is destroying the Church as the Church continues to compromise in order to accommodate the world and the philosophies of the world. And if we are going to remain faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we may very well find ourselves increasingly alone and under pressure.
We do not fear what man can do to us. Jesus told us who to fear, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” (Matthew 10:28). Will we have the strength to do what is right? Certainly for, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13).
The Pre-Tribulation viewpoint teaches that the Church will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation begins. As stated previously, it is our view that true believers will be raptured from the earth to heaven before the Tribulation period begins.
The Pre-Tribulational viewpoint is based upon the literal interpretation of the Scriptures. We know that the Bible speaks both literally and figuratively. When we speak of a literal interpretation of the Scriptures, we are not eliminating the use of figures or types in Scripture, such as Revelation 13:1, “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” Here, rather than being a literal description of the Antichrist, we see the nature of the Antichrist and his kingdom described.
When we speak of the literal interpretation of Scripture we are contrasting the literal view of scripture with that which is known as spiritualizing. The spiritualizing of Scripture is the reading into a passage much more that was ever intended and has led to many unbiblical teachings and doctrines (such as Replacement Theology, i.e., the United States being portrayed as the new Israel).
The doctrine of the Pre-Tribulational return of Christ for His Church is the outcome of the literal method of interpretation. It is only correct therefore, that we apply the same method of interpretation to the question of the Rapture, the Tribulation, and to the Millennial Reign of Christ as well.
In I & II Thessalonians we see believers suffering for their faith in Christ. Paul address their suffering in I Thessalonians 2:14, “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,” and in I Thessalonians 3:3-4, “that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.” They were being persecuted for the Name of Christ, they were suffering for their testimony for Jesus Christ.
Because this suffering was so intense, some taught that the Rapture had taken place and that their loved ones, having missed out on the Rapture, would miss out on the Kingdom Age. So Paul was writing to correct this false teaching. Although they were suffering exceedingly for their faith, they were not in the Tribulation, but rather suffering even as he had told them that they would and even as Jesus predicted, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world," (John 16:33).
Paul offered the Thessalonian believers hope, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Those who are asleep in Jesus will go with Him; they will not be left behind. In fact, those that are asleep in Jesus have a place of privilege, as they will be the first to rise at the Rapture, ”…the dead in Christ will rise first.” The dead have not been forgotten. That gives the believer hope because many have been laid to rest in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection of the dead. Having this hope, we have assurance from the Lord that they will rise from the dead and that we will see them in His Kingdom.
Paul declared that Jesus Himself is coming to the clouds, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven…” Jesus is coming for His Church just as He said He would, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also,” (John 14:33). This is the Blessed Hope that the believer has, that the Savior is coming for us, to receive us for Himself and we will be with Him forever. When He comes at the Rapture of the Church, He will not come to earth as at His Second Coming; rather, we will meet Him in the clouds, Paul said, “…And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Paul concludes, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” What comfort does it provide the believer if he is to endure the Tribulation? None. No, our comfort is knowing that Jesus is coming back to claim us as His own, at the Rapture of the Church, just as He said He would, before the judgment of God is poured out at the Tribulation, not during or after, but before. Now that is of great comfort! Paul writes in I Thessalonians 5:1-2 of the Rapture of the Church, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”
Jesus, in His teachings, made a careful distinction between the Rapture of the Church and His Second Coming. He spoke of the Rapture of the Church in Luke 17:34-36, "I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." He spoke of His Second Coming in Matthew 24:27, "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." At the Second Coming, every eye will see Him. At the Rapture of the Church, only believers will see Him.
Paul recognized this distinction, declaring that Jesus at the Rapture of the Church would come as a thief in the night, unexpected and without warning, even as Jesus had said, Matthew 24:43-44, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” The thief only surprises those who are unaware; however, the believer has been warned to watch and wait for the Lord’s return and will not be caught unaware.
God has not left us in spiritual darkness regarding His plan, I Thessalonians 5:3-4, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” Sudden destruction will come upon the unsaved, not upon the Church. We are not in darkness so that Day will not overtake us. They will be saying, ”…Peace and safety!’…” We are saying, Jesus is coming soon and with Him, Judgment. The Rapture of the Church will overtake the world, not the believer in Christ, as He has not left us in darkness regarding His plan.
It is interesting that when Titus surrounded the city of Jerusalem with the armies of Rome in 70AD and subsequently destroyed the city and the Temple, only the Church escaped the destruction. That is because the Church heeded the warning of Jesus, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled,” (Luke 21:20-22). God never leaves His people in darkness. Just as Jesus warned His people in the first century, so He has warned His people in subsequent centuries what to look for and how to escape.
At the Rapture of the Church the unsaved will be surprised because they will not hear nor heed the warning of our testimony of the Word of God. The world historically has ignored the signs of coming judgment. How many times has the world mocked the Church for it’s warning of the judgment to come upon the earth? Peter wrote of the attitude and the ignorance of the world towards the message of the coming of Christ to judge the world as a sign of the Last Days, II Peter 3:3-7, “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.“ They are willingly ignorant of the fact that all things have not continued as they have from the beginning. God destroyed the world in judgment through a flood; He will destroy the world once again, this time by fire.
Noah warned that the Flood was coming, yet only eight souls were saved (II Peter 2:5). Lot warned his sons-in-law that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was coming, but they would not listen (Genesis 19:14). Yet Jesus Himself used the examples of Noah and Lot to depict the times subsequent to the Rapture of the Church, Luke 17:26-30, “ And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Lot warned his sons-in-law, yet they thought he was joking. Noah warned the world, yet they no doubt mocked him. People mock the Church for its testimony of the coming judgment. And yet, here we see a world going about their regular activities not knowing that judgment is imminent, just as in the days of Noah and Lot, even as Jesus said.
No doubt, when fire began to fall on Sodom and Gomorrah, the people were terrified. No doubt when the rain began and the water began to rise the people were terrified. Perhaps they even began to pound on the Ark, begging to be let inside. They had the testimony of righteous Noah, for 120 years, yet they chose to ignore his testimony to their own peril. It was too late.
The Rapture of the Church will be a catastrophic event that will impact the entire world as the graves of Christians are opened and Christians all over the world disappear from the face of the earth. It will take the world by complete surprise and no doubt terrify many as they realize that the testimony of the Christians was true and they are too late.
I believe that on the day of the Rapture of the Church, churches will fill to overflowing with those who have ignored the testimony of Christian loved ones and friends seeking to be taken in the Rapture. Many will be filled with a regret that we can only imagine as they bemoan their decision to reject or put off their decision to receive Jesus and follow Him. Yet it will be too late for them and they will endure the suffering of the Tribulation because they refused to believe.
However, there is some good news. It will be possible to be saved during the Tribulation period. In fact, the Bible tells us the that the greatest evangelistic work in history will take place during the Tribulation as millions and millions come to know Jesus. John writes of them in Revelation 7:9-17, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’ Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’" Those that teach that the Church will endure the Tribulation also teach that God will protect the Church from the effects of the Tribulation, just as He protected Israel from the plagues that came upon Egypt. However, we notice here in these verses that those that come out of the Tribulation were affected by hunger, thirst, sun and heat. Thus the argument of protection is invalidated by the testimony of Scripture.
Paul tells us that we, in these Last Days, are to be alert and self controlled, I Thessalonians 5:5-8, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” Sleep is used here metaphorically to indicate religious carelessness. Paul is telling us not to be careless with our faith, caught up in the world and in the things of this world. Alert here speaks of spiritual alertness. We are to be spiritually alert, on watch, waiting for Jesus to come for His Church.
Paul offers one of the strongest proofs for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church in, I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Tribulation is the wrath of God and God has not appointed us to wrath. Jesus Himself promised us that we would not come into judgment, John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” And Paul declared the same thing in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” The believer is not condemned; the believer’s sins were judged at the cross, and because of his faith in Jesus he has passed from death to life and shall not come into judgment.
Paul encourages all believers in I Thessalonians 1:10, "…to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." Another strong proof for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church.
We have seen that Revelation 6 (set in the first 3-1-2 years of the Tribulation) speaks of the seals being broken on the book and the results being the wrath of the Lamb. In verse 16-17, those on the earth declare, “…to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Clearly the first 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation as well as the last 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation are the wrath of God being poured out on those who dwell upon the earth.
Another very strong proof of a Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church is made to the faithful Church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
In II Thessalonians Paul writes again to strengthen his first letter as the believers were continuing to suffer and needed encouragement, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come,” (II Thessalonians 2:1-2).
Paul goes on to write that the Day of the Lord cannot occur until the falling away occurs and the lawless one (the Antichrist) is revealed, II Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Paul tells them that the Antichrist will set up his image in the Temple declaring himself to be God and demanding worship as such.
Now this word of falling away is the Greek word, apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah) which means a departure or removal. It is used correctly of an apostate, one who has departed from the true faith. It can also be used correctly of a departure from one place to another. What is this falling away? It can be a massive defection from the Church (which we are currently seeing in America today). It can also refer to the Rapture of the Church as a departure.
There is a massive defection from the faith prophesied in Scripture promised in the Last Days, I Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” In their teachings they are departing from the true faith and teaching doctrines of demons, i.e., teachings inspired by Satan.
We have seen this come to pass in our lifetime as men continue to reject the orthodox teaching of the Scriptures and substitute the teachings of men for the truth of God. Those who teach these doctrines became callused to the truth with the result being that their conscience becomes insensate, unable any longer to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Paul continues in II Timothy to write of the rise of those who would follow these teachers in the Last Days, II Timothy 3:1-7, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Never in history has there been more resources available to men of the things of God and never in history has there been so much ignorance of the things of God. These here are lovers of themselves and money, lovers of pleasure and entertainment. And that is just what these false teachers are giving them, all the while enriching themselves at the expense of those that follow them.
Paul here is speaking of those who claim to be Christians but are not, declaring of them that they have, “…a form of godliness but denying its power…” They are religious, but do not know Christ. There is no power in what they are being taught to produce real change in their lives. And true believers are told to turn away from such who teach and who follow such teachings.
We are indeed living in perilous times, times that the Prophet Amos wrote of, Amos 8:11-12, “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.’” We live in a time where it has become increasingly difficult to find true, orthodox teaching from the Scriptures. We live in a time in which men have replaced the Gospel and the Word of God with feel good books that address felt needs instead of dealing with the problem of sin and the need for genuine repentance and faith in God.
The Apostle Peter also wrote of the rise of false teachers in the Last Days, II Peter 2:1-3, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” Peter tell us that they will secretly bring in heresy under the guise of truth, even to the point of denying Christ and His redemptive work.
One of the so-called faith teachers has declared that God spoke to him and told him that he could of done what Jesus did, that any born again man armed with the Word of God could do what Jesus did. Not only is this heresy, this is blasphemy of the worst kind. An yet this is what is being taught in the so-called faith movement as truth, literally fulfilling the words of the Apostle Peter.
The great tragedy is that they have no shortage of followers as they appeal directly to the covetous nature of the people who follow them. Yet the truth is that the only one’s who are getting rich is the false teachers who are using their teachings to mask a covetous lifestyle. Paul said of them that they were, “…men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself,” (I Timothy 6:5). Their end is to be condemned in judgment from the Lord.
Consider carefully what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” These are very sobering words from Jesus. These are those who think that they are serving Him, but are not. They think that they know Him, but He does not know them! (This reminds me of the words of the Demon possessed man to the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, Acts 19:15, “And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’” The demons know who Jesus is and they tremble, James 2:19, “…Even the demons believe — and tremble!” Yet these in Matthew 7 who profess to know Him, do not know Him). They have a passion, “…'Lord, Lord.” They have works, “…have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'” Yet they have no relationship with Jesus. All that they do is in reality, not for Jesus, but rather for themselves, to satisfy themselves.
Peter goes on to describe their methods and motives, II Peter 2:18-19, “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” They use religious jargon as a profession, but they in reality say nothing to profit their hearers. They use words which are of excessive weight and unrestrained or arrogant speech, with the result being emptiness. Their allure is to catch the unstable by enticement, appealing to the fleshly desire of their audience. Lewdness refers to their absence of restraint in teaching and in their lifestyles. They promise liberty, but they themselves are in bondage to the desires of the flesh and seek to entice others to the same.
The question for many is if these were ever of the true faith? I believe, from Scripture, that the answer to that question is an unequivocal no, they weren’t. John writes in I John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” They came out of the true Church because their false teachings were recognized as false by the Church. Just as it is a sign of a healthy body to repel disease, so it is the sign of a healthy Church to repel false teaching. Which makes one wonder at the health of the Church in America with so much false teaching readily being accepted into the Church without question. These false teachers were never really a part of the Church. If they were they would have continued in the Church. Their departure demonstrates that they were never part of the true Church and their teachings, which are a departure from the truth, clearly demonstrate such.
Paul goes on in II Thessalonians 2 to speak of a present restraining influence at work in the world holding back the flood of evil, II Thessalonians 2:6-7, “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” The use of the masculine pronoun “He” indicates that “He” is a person. He will continue His work of restraining evil until He be taken out of the way. It is evident that “He” is the Holy Spirit working in the world though the Church.
The Church historically has had a purifying, restraining effect on the world. The Holy Spirit has worked through the proclamation of the Gospel by the Church to reach the lost, turning them to faith in Christ. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11).
However, the time will come, Paul tells us, when He will be taken out of the way, i.e., that He will no longer be restraining evil through the Church. Then and only then will the Antichrist be revealed, II Thessalonians 2:8, “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” Notice that He will be taken out of the way, not taken away.
Two questions now need to be addressed. #1. If God does indeed move His Spirit out of the way, no longer restraining evil through the Church, what then will the ministry of the Holy Spirit be? #2. What will happen to the Church, when the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining evil through it?
Let’s look at question #1. If God does indeed move His Spirit our of the way, no longer restraining evil through the Church, what then will the ministry of the Holy Spirit be?
The Scriptures declare that God will once again pour out His Spirit upon the nation Israel. Paul writes of a partial blindness that has come upon Israel, Romans 11:25, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." After Israel had rejected Jesus as Messiah, God turned away from dealing exclusively with the nation Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles would come in. And so, the Holy Spirit is going throughout the world calling out a bride for Christ from the Gentile nations (Matthew 21:43).
Jesus said, Luke 21:24, “And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." In 1967, during the Seven Day War, Israeli forces recaptured the City of Jerusalem, so that the city is now no longer under Gentile occupation, i.e., is no longer trampled by the Gentiles. So the time of the Gentiles has indeed been fulfilled.
Then why hasn’t the Rapture occurred? II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” We are living in a time of unprecedented grace, whereby Jesus could come at any moment, but the Father has chosen not to send him.
God is still working among the Gentile nations, giving them an extended opportunity to come to Jesus. However, His patience is not unlimited.
God has not cast off His people as those who teach Replacement Theology declare. There remains one final seven year period of God’s dealing with the nation Israel, according to Daniel 9:24-27. 69 seven year periods have been completed. The Temple was rebuild in 49 years (seven weeks). 434 years later, Jesus came and was crucified (sixty two weeks). 62 weeks + 7 weeks = 69 weeks, leaving one week yet unfulfilled.
At the end of 69 weeks (7+62) the Messiah was cut off, Daniel 9:26, “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself…” Rejected and crucified, Jesus died for the sins of the world. Soon thereafter (70AD), Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel ceased to be a nation on the face of the earth, Daniel 9:26, “And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.”
So there remains one final week (a final 7 year period) to be fulfilled. Daniel tells us of that week, Daniel 9:27, “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." The Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel, allowing them to remain in the land and allowing them to rebuild the Temple.
It is interesting that in order for this prophecy to be fulfilled, Israel had to become a nation once again. May 15, 1948 Israel became a nation once again, a nation born in a day, as prophesied by Isaiah, Isaiah 66:8, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.”
However, in the middle of this week (3-1/2 years) the Antichrist will bring an end to the sacrifices and offerings in the rebuilt Temple, set up his image in the Temple, and demand that he be worshipped as God. Jesus foretold this, Matthew 24:15, “Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand).”
Now, in Ezekiel 39, God has destroyed the enemies of Israel and, as a result, has been shown holy through them in the sight of the nations. Ezekiel tells us, Ezekiel 39:27-29, “When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations, then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer. And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,' says the Lord GOD.” After bringing them back into the land and destroying their enemies, there will be a tremendous revival in Israel, as the nation turns back to God once again. At that time, God will have poured out His Spirit on the house of Israel once again, turning to them and dealing with them for the final seven year period prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 9:27). The purpose for this final seven year dealing with Israel was outlined by Jesus almost 2,000 years ago, when He declared to Israel, “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Matthew 23:39). At the end of the Tribulation the nation Israel will be ready for the return of their Messiah, declaring to Him when He comes, “…‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
Let us now look at question #2. What will happen to the Church, when the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining evil through it?
John was told in Revelation 1:19, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this." The word for after this is the Greek word, meta (met-ah') tauta (tow'-tah), hereafter, lit., after these things. After what things? In Revelation 4:1, we read, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’" Again, the word for after this is the Greek word, meta (met-ah') tauta (tow'-tah), hereafter, lit., after these things. And again, the question is, after what?
John wrote of seeing a picture of Jesus in His glory (Revelation 1:12-18). He had just wrote of the things of the Church (Revelation 2-3), and now he was to write the things after the Church, the Tribulation (Revelation 6-18).
In Revelation 4:2, John is caught up to heaven (just as the Church will be), “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” Some scholars believe that he was witnessing the Rapture as a event yet future to him. Notice that in verse 1 a door is open in heaven and a voice spoke to him like a Trumpet, saying “Come up here.” Compare this with I Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." Many see Revelation 4:2 and I Thessalonians as one in the same event, the Rapture of the Church.
John tells us that he saw a throne with someone sitting on it surrounded by 24 Elders, clothed with white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads. Only the Church can wear white, Revelation 19:14, "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." And Revelation 19:8 declares, “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” The fine linen represents the righteousness of the saints. Only the Church can wear crowns, I Peter 5:4, "and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (Throughout the New Testament crowns are promised to those who believe: an incorruptible crown, I Corinthians 9:25; a crown of rejoicing, I Thessalonians 2:19; a crown of righteousness, II Timothy 4:8; a crown of life, James 1:12, Revelation 2:10; a crown of glory, I Peter 5:4; a crown of Gold, Revelation 4:4; which will all eventually be cast before Christ, Revelation 4:10).
The 24 Elders sing a new song before the Lamb, Revelation 5:9-10, “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." Only the Church can sing this song, and only the Church is promised to reign with Jesus (II Timothy 2:12, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 22:5).
What will be the order of these things? It would appear that several events will take place at once or almost simultaneously. The Church is Raptured and God takes His Spirit out of the way (II Thessalonians 2:7). Russia and the states confederated with her will attack Israel and be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:27). And God will have once again poured out His Spirit upon the Nation Israel (Ezekiel 39:27).
What of the Church until these things come to pass? Revelation 3:7-13, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Jesus knows our works. He has set before the Church a door that no one can shut. That door is the door of opportunity for us to witness for Him with our lives and with our words, to share the Gospel with others. He says, “…you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Paul asked, “…And who is sufficient for these things?” (II Corinthians 2:16). In and of ourselves, we are not sufficient. Paul wrote of the secret of our sufficiency, “…our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant…” (II Corinthians 3:5-6).
If we would be like the Church in Philadelphia we must stay on their foundation. They studied the Word; they kept the Word; they gave the Word great place in their lives. They would not deny the Name of Jesus; they remained faithful to Him. He has written His name upon you because you are His and He will come for His own, even as He has promised, “…I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
I believe that it is going to become increasingly difficult for the Church to teach and proclaim the true Gospel, the true Word of God. I believe that pressure is going to be placed upon us, upon you and I, to compromise the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The pressure in the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Australia is already there. It is only going to get worse as the end comes.
Already the Church is being pressured into accepting lifestyles as normal that have long been held as sinful by the Church. Already the Church has caved in to the pressure to water down the Word of God and to recognize that all roads lead to God (which they do not). Political correctness is destroying the Church as the Church continues to compromise in order to accommodate the world and the philosophies of the world. And if we are going to remain faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we may very well find ourselves increasingly alone and under pressure.
We do not fear what man can do to us. Jesus told us who to fear, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” (Matthew 10:28). Will we have the strength to do what is right? Certainly for, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13).
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