Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Introduction
I grew up in So. Cal. in a religion that only one man was good enough to read and interpret the scriptures. I have studied prophecy for years while at the same time having ministries pounding away at the novel Pretrib Linus blanket teaching. Now I want to enlighten Christians to the Posttrib rapture. Read on and see how strong the Pre-rapture is.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
ARMINIUS, EPISCOPIUS, THE REMONSTRANTS AND A PORTION OF CHURCH HISTORY
Jacobus Arminius was born at Oudewater, Holland on Oct. 10 1560 to middle-class parents. The Dutch form of his name is Jacob Harmensen [or Hermansz]. It was a common practice to Latinize ones Dutch name. And his became James Arminius. He lost his mother and siblings to Catholic Spaniards in the massacure of Oudewater. Theodore Aemilius [an Ex-Catholic Priest for Christ] adopted the child and provided for his schooling in Utrecht.
On the death of Aemilius in 1575, Rudolf Snellius [Snel van Roijen, 1546-1613], a professor at Marburg and native of Ouderwater, became the patron for Arminius' further education at the Universities of Leiden [1575-82] Basel, and Geneva [1582-86]. He entered the Univerity of Leiden at the age of fifteen.
The Merchants Guild of Amsterdam acknowledged Arminius' brilliance by financing his education, thus permitting him to study at Geneva with the eminent Calvinst Theodore de Beze as well at Basel and Padua. After brief stays at the University of Padua, in Rome, and in Geneva Arminius returned to Amsterdam Holland in 1588 where he was ordained and appointed as Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Amsterdam. He became the city's first native Dutch clergyman.
Arminius as Theodore de Beze disciple was asked to defend "suprapsarianism: the Calvinist theory of predestination, which holds that even before the Creation and the Fall, God elected some humans to be saved without concideration of their worthiness.
After careful consideration and Biblical resarch Arminius recoiled against a teaching that he could not reconcile with the love and justice of God and reversed his Theological views.
Arminius taught that human salvation is entirely to the grace of God in Christ whereby fallen humankind is enabled to respond in freedom to the divine call. Arminius proposed a "universial sufficient grace" or [Universial Atonement] in place of Calvin's "limited effective grace" or [Limited Atonement]. Further Arminius denied a predestination of particular persons to salvation on the basis of God's secret will. but Arminius affirmed a particular predestination on the basis of God's foreknowledge of human free choices.
For much that has come to be known as Arminianism, the central issue is "free will" verses "election". Arminius and Beza clashed. Despite some strong opposition, Arminius was awarded a professorship at the University of Leiden in 1603, having successfully cleared himself of charges of heresy.
At Leiden, Arminius and Francisus Gomarus a fellow professor and zealous Calvinist clashed on the question of predestination and free will and twice debated before the Netherland States-General. At the time the question of predestination was raging and Arminius under was fire for refusing to defend any of the Calvinist options and for interpreting Romans seven and nine in a manner different from Calvin. He was sustained in his office and position by the Amsterdam Merchant-oligarchy, to which he was allied by blood and marriage.
Theological issues were intertwined with policitical issues. The followers of Arminius' view of scripture sided with the civil offical: Johan van Oldenbarneveldt, who favored a truce with Spain and the Calvinists sided with military leader Maurice of Nassau who wanted to press for war. Arminius died in the midst of the conflict in 1609, being severly sick. Some have said of a broken heart.
Simon Episcopius, also called Simon Biscop, Bischop, or Bisschop [his Dutch name] was born on Jan. 8 1583 in Amsterdam in the Dutch Republic [now The Netherlands]. An Arminian Theologian, Episcopius also studied at the University of Leiden under both James Arminius and Franciscus Gomarus. In 1610 became Pastor at Bleiswyk. And in 1612 succeeded Gomarus in the chair of Theology.
Arminius' cause was taken up by the Remonstrants, his followers. The name comes from a five-point statement of Arminianism called: the Remonstrance. This statment was drawnup after the death of Arminius in 1610 by Joahnes Uyttenbogart, a close friend of Arminius and minster from Utrecht, Simon Episcopius, Hugo Grotius and others, signed by 45 minsters and addressed to the States of Holland and West Friesland. Episcopius was the prinical spokesman for the Remonstrants at the Synod of Dort protested against the prejudgement of their case.
This document, after asserting the primacy of Scripture over creeds, set forth a revision of Calvinism: Christ died for all, not only for the elect; Divine grace is not irrestible. Christians can fall from grace through free will and be lost. These affirmations constituted a rejection of the most extreme Calvinist interpretation of pre-destination.
The Synod of Dort opened November 13, 1618, and continued through 154 sessions, ending May 9, 1619. One hundred two Dutch Orthodox Calvinists were offical members of the conference together with 28 delegates from foreign countries. Thirteen Arminian representatives were present, but they were prisoners of state, condemed for treason because of their views about theology and tolerance in every area of church and state; hence they had no voice or vote.
As a result, the Five Points of Calvinism were unanimously declared to be the official Calvinistic postion, and the Remonstrants' Five Points heretical. The Remonstrants were condemned by the Dutch reformed Church at the Synod of Dort. As a result two hundred Arminian clergy were deprived of their position and Johan Oldenbarneveldt the civil official was executed. With twelve others, Episcopius was banished from the Netherlands. Episcopius spent his time of exile in Paris, Antwerpe, and Rouen. During his exile he composed "A Confessio" in 1622, a doctrinal statement of Arminianism. He also wrote many other books and articles.
After the death of the enemy of the Remonstrants, Prince Maurice of Nassau, [called Protector of the Gomarites] in 1626, Episcopius was later able to return to Holland. The Remonstrants were allowed to return to Holland in 1633. Fourteen years of persecution, exile, and services banned had gone by. Among the refugees arose a Remonstrant reformed brotherhood, which later became the Remonstrant Reformed Church community. They have a congregational polity, the Synod having no local authority over the church.
In 1634 Simon Episcopius became the head rector and professor of the College of Remonstrants Seminary in Amsterdam. In his "Institutiones Theologicae" (1650-1651, Vol 4), Episcopius did what Arminius had not done, namely presented a systematic exposition and defense of Arminianism, asserting that God's sovreighity and free will are compatible. Broad and tolerant in his views, Episcopius minimized the importance of speculative dogmas and insisted rather on the practical aspect of Christianity, stressing man's responsibility to such an extent that he was accused of Pelagianism. Like most Arminians at the time, he was also probably without foundation, accused of Socinianism. Simon Episcopius died in 1643 in Amsterdam, his own home town.
The Remonstrant Reformed Church continued as a small free church after 1793 when full toleration was established and influenced Evangelical theology in both the Netherlands and the United States. Arminianism survived in the Netherlands and strongly influenced theologicans everywhere, such as John Wesley in England [founder of Methodism] and others who were opposed to the Calvanistic teachings on predestination. John Wesley accepted the term "Arminian" for his theological position and published "The Arminian Magazine". The tension between the Arminian and Calvinist positions in theology was somewhat quiescent until Karl Barth sparked its revival in the twentieth century. Note: This is a combination of a number of outstanding articles from these great Encyclopedias: Academic Americana, Britannica, Colliers, and The Encyclopedia of Religion, also one paragraph from Mildred Bangs Wynkoop's "Foundations of Wesleyan-Arminian Theology". This combination is purely for personal study and edifcation and should probly have verbal or written permission for any extenisive distrabution.
POSTSCRIPT: It would seem that in some Calvinistic circles, it is believed that Arminianism was "snuffed-out" at the Synod of Dort. Nothing could be further from the truth. Arminianism is alive and well. Arminianism spread through England and America as Professor Carl Bangs has written "to such an extent that American culture has been designated as Arminian". Arminianism or Wesleyian-Arminianism has been the balance and foundation-theology of many demonations throughout England, America and the world. To name a few: The Church of God, The Nazerene Church, The Free Methodist Church, The Free-will Baptist Church, The General Baptist Church, The Christian Church, The Calvary Chapels and more. If the current members were tallied, their numbers would be a staggering. This would give a more accurate idea of the vast enfluence and outreach of Arminianism's more reasonible position over Calvinism. God Bless you in your further studies on this very important subject!
On the death of Aemilius in 1575, Rudolf Snellius [Snel van Roijen, 1546-1613], a professor at Marburg and native of Ouderwater, became the patron for Arminius' further education at the Universities of Leiden [1575-82] Basel, and Geneva [1582-86]. He entered the Univerity of Leiden at the age of fifteen.
The Merchants Guild of Amsterdam acknowledged Arminius' brilliance by financing his education, thus permitting him to study at Geneva with the eminent Calvinst Theodore de Beze as well at Basel and Padua. After brief stays at the University of Padua, in Rome, and in Geneva Arminius returned to Amsterdam Holland in 1588 where he was ordained and appointed as Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Amsterdam. He became the city's first native Dutch clergyman.
Arminius as Theodore de Beze disciple was asked to defend "suprapsarianism: the Calvinist theory of predestination, which holds that even before the Creation and the Fall, God elected some humans to be saved without concideration of their worthiness.
After careful consideration and Biblical resarch Arminius recoiled against a teaching that he could not reconcile with the love and justice of God and reversed his Theological views.
Arminius taught that human salvation is entirely to the grace of God in Christ whereby fallen humankind is enabled to respond in freedom to the divine call. Arminius proposed a "universial sufficient grace" or [Universial Atonement] in place of Calvin's "limited effective grace" or [Limited Atonement]. Further Arminius denied a predestination of particular persons to salvation on the basis of God's secret will. but Arminius affirmed a particular predestination on the basis of God's foreknowledge of human free choices.
For much that has come to be known as Arminianism, the central issue is "free will" verses "election". Arminius and Beza clashed. Despite some strong opposition, Arminius was awarded a professorship at the University of Leiden in 1603, having successfully cleared himself of charges of heresy.
At Leiden, Arminius and Francisus Gomarus a fellow professor and zealous Calvinist clashed on the question of predestination and free will and twice debated before the Netherland States-General. At the time the question of predestination was raging and Arminius under was fire for refusing to defend any of the Calvinist options and for interpreting Romans seven and nine in a manner different from Calvin. He was sustained in his office and position by the Amsterdam Merchant-oligarchy, to which he was allied by blood and marriage.
Theological issues were intertwined with policitical issues. The followers of Arminius' view of scripture sided with the civil offical: Johan van Oldenbarneveldt, who favored a truce with Spain and the Calvinists sided with military leader Maurice of Nassau who wanted to press for war. Arminius died in the midst of the conflict in 1609, being severly sick. Some have said of a broken heart.
Simon Episcopius, also called Simon Biscop, Bischop, or Bisschop [his Dutch name] was born on Jan. 8 1583 in Amsterdam in the Dutch Republic [now The Netherlands]. An Arminian Theologian, Episcopius also studied at the University of Leiden under both James Arminius and Franciscus Gomarus. In 1610 became Pastor at Bleiswyk. And in 1612 succeeded Gomarus in the chair of Theology.
Arminius' cause was taken up by the Remonstrants, his followers. The name comes from a five-point statement of Arminianism called: the Remonstrance. This statment was drawnup after the death of Arminius in 1610 by Joahnes Uyttenbogart, a close friend of Arminius and minster from Utrecht, Simon Episcopius, Hugo Grotius and others, signed by 45 minsters and addressed to the States of Holland and West Friesland. Episcopius was the prinical spokesman for the Remonstrants at the Synod of Dort protested against the prejudgement of their case.
This document, after asserting the primacy of Scripture over creeds, set forth a revision of Calvinism: Christ died for all, not only for the elect; Divine grace is not irrestible. Christians can fall from grace through free will and be lost. These affirmations constituted a rejection of the most extreme Calvinist interpretation of pre-destination.
The Synod of Dort opened November 13, 1618, and continued through 154 sessions, ending May 9, 1619. One hundred two Dutch Orthodox Calvinists were offical members of the conference together with 28 delegates from foreign countries. Thirteen Arminian representatives were present, but they were prisoners of state, condemed for treason because of their views about theology and tolerance in every area of church and state; hence they had no voice or vote.
As a result, the Five Points of Calvinism were unanimously declared to be the official Calvinistic postion, and the Remonstrants' Five Points heretical. The Remonstrants were condemned by the Dutch reformed Church at the Synod of Dort. As a result two hundred Arminian clergy were deprived of their position and Johan Oldenbarneveldt the civil official was executed. With twelve others, Episcopius was banished from the Netherlands. Episcopius spent his time of exile in Paris, Antwerpe, and Rouen. During his exile he composed "A Confessio" in 1622, a doctrinal statement of Arminianism. He also wrote many other books and articles.
After the death of the enemy of the Remonstrants, Prince Maurice of Nassau, [called Protector of the Gomarites] in 1626, Episcopius was later able to return to Holland. The Remonstrants were allowed to return to Holland in 1633. Fourteen years of persecution, exile, and services banned had gone by. Among the refugees arose a Remonstrant reformed brotherhood, which later became the Remonstrant Reformed Church community. They have a congregational polity, the Synod having no local authority over the church.
In 1634 Simon Episcopius became the head rector and professor of the College of Remonstrants Seminary in Amsterdam. In his "Institutiones Theologicae" (1650-1651, Vol 4), Episcopius did what Arminius had not done, namely presented a systematic exposition and defense of Arminianism, asserting that God's sovreighity and free will are compatible. Broad and tolerant in his views, Episcopius minimized the importance of speculative dogmas and insisted rather on the practical aspect of Christianity, stressing man's responsibility to such an extent that he was accused of Pelagianism. Like most Arminians at the time, he was also probably without foundation, accused of Socinianism. Simon Episcopius died in 1643 in Amsterdam, his own home town.
The Remonstrant Reformed Church continued as a small free church after 1793 when full toleration was established and influenced Evangelical theology in both the Netherlands and the United States. Arminianism survived in the Netherlands and strongly influenced theologicans everywhere, such as John Wesley in England [founder of Methodism] and others who were opposed to the Calvanistic teachings on predestination. John Wesley accepted the term "Arminian" for his theological position and published "The Arminian Magazine". The tension between the Arminian and Calvinist positions in theology was somewhat quiescent until Karl Barth sparked its revival in the twentieth century. Note: This is a combination of a number of outstanding articles from these great Encyclopedias: Academic Americana, Britannica, Colliers, and The Encyclopedia of Religion, also one paragraph from Mildred Bangs Wynkoop's "Foundations of Wesleyan-Arminian Theology". This combination is purely for personal study and edifcation and should probly have verbal or written permission for any extenisive distrabution.
POSTSCRIPT: It would seem that in some Calvinistic circles, it is believed that Arminianism was "snuffed-out" at the Synod of Dort. Nothing could be further from the truth. Arminianism is alive and well. Arminianism spread through England and America as Professor Carl Bangs has written "to such an extent that American culture has been designated as Arminian". Arminianism or Wesleyian-Arminianism has been the balance and foundation-theology of many demonations throughout England, America and the world. To name a few: The Church of God, The Nazerene Church, The Free Methodist Church, The Free-will Baptist Church, The General Baptist Church, The Christian Church, The Calvary Chapels and more. If the current members were tallied, their numbers would be a staggering. This would give a more accurate idea of the vast enfluence and outreach of Arminianism's more reasonible position over Calvinism. God Bless you in your further studies on this very important subject!
Salvation is Inseparable from Faith
Now giving the definition from Cruden's Complete Concordance for Faith: "Faith is the dependence on the veracity of another, firm belief or trust in another person, thing, doctrine or statement. And when is said to keep faith when he perform a promise made to another.
1. Historical faith is a belief in the truthfulness and accuracy of the Scriptures, Scriptural narrative and teachings. "James 2:17,24.
2. Saving faith is the acceptance by the intellect, affection, and will, of God's favor extended to men through Christ. This faith produces a sincere obedience in the life and conversation. The firm foundation of faith is the essential supreme perfection of God, His unerring knowledge, immutable truths, infinite goodness, and almighty power. And with this faith we are said to be justified. Romans 5:1.
Formerly, as if it were our righteousness before God, it is called the faith through which we are saved. Ephesians 2:8. Faith is, as it were, a condition on our part whereby we come to be partakers of the blessings of the new covenant. It is a faith which worketh by love. Ephesians 5:6. It is not an idle, inactive grace, but shows itself by producing love to God and our neighbor. Faith in Scripture is also taken for truth and faithfulness of God. Romans 3:3. Faith is also used for the doctrine of the Gospel which is the object of faith. Acts 24:24; Galatians 1:23.
For the Biblical definition of faith, Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel of John, likens faith to the vine and the branches in that we must abide in that relationship with God if we're going to be saved. Salvation is in separable from faith. I Peter 1:5: "Who {Christians} are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." This is a very strong statement in I Peter 1:5: " . . .kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."
Next we have I Peter 1:9: "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." Another very strong and powerful statement: " . ..receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Next verse is Hebrews 10:39: "The just shall live by faith, out if any man draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." A very strong statement to the necessity of abiding in the faith and not drawing back. Also along with that could be studied Ephesians 6:16, actually Ephesians 6:10 all the way, even unto the end of the chapter just for extra context and study. Titus 1:1: "Paul, a bondservant of God and and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and an acknowledging of the truth which is unto godliness." Here, the faith of God's elect, which is, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. II Tim 2:11-13: " It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him and if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”
And this, it's a foregone conclusion that there, it uses the word "faithful" more than once, that the necessity of having faith and also without faith it is impossible to please God. We must believe that God is and God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews {I don't know if I got the exact wording of that verse.}
Hebrews 10:2-25: "Let us draw near with a true heart and a full assurance of faith with out hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Here is that abiding in Christ!
And Galatians 2:8: "For by grace ye are saved by faith and not of yourselves. It is the gift of God." Here you're, for by grace ye are saved by faith . . .I cannot overemphasize the importance and the necessity of faith too much according to the Scriptures.
Here is I Tim 6:6-?: "{This is from the Revised Standard Version}"There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world, but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, for the love of money is the root of all evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, man of God, shun all this, aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good faith, take hold of eternal life to which you were called when you were made through the good confession and presence of many witnesses, in the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who for the testimony before Pontius Pilate, make the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here in Hebrews 4:1,2 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; did not profit them, not being mixed with faith." Here it's showing them that the profit of the Gospel did them no good because it was not mixed with faith. Here again, showing the necessity and the importance of faith.
In James 5:15 it says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." Collossians 2:5: "Beholding your order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ." Ephesians 6:16,17: "Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."
Here again we have faith mentioned hand in hand with salvation and especially the Word of God. Praise God. There are a few more verses that pertain to faith and the consequences of not holding to the faith that was once delivered to the saints, that "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews) "The just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back [ apostasize or wander away ], my soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews. Also in the Gospel: "If any man take his hand from the plow, he is not worthy of the kingdom."
This last quote [I don't think it's an exact quote--I need to get the reference, too] but when the Lord said "take his hand from the plow," also "looking back" or "drawing back," or going back into the world or wandering away from the way of understanding, other terms that are like these here.
In I Tim 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." This departing from the faith is an apostasy or one apostasizes or is an apostate and it's God the Holy Spirit that speaks expressly that in the latter times, or in the last days, or that some shall depart from the faith, we know from other Scriptures that there is one faith, one baptism, one Lord.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith! He is the Initiator and Perfecter of our faith. Our Lord, as the Good Farmer, nurtures our faith along it's way, to grow as seen in the parable of our Lord concerning the tree that hadn't yet bore fruit. But we also are to water and edify one another in the faith, as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We our exhorted to build ourselves up in the faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20.
Called to be faithful for our Lord is the Faithful and True One, Rev.19:11 We're within the pages of the Book! Some of you might have seen the movie " The Never Ending Story" a children's film that depicts the two main characters throughout the movie as laboring, fighting, struggling together side-by-side. The reader finds out that he himself is within the story even while being the reader and as being vitally important to the whole kingdom! We also are within the pages of the Book and have a vitally important mission. To bring others into the Kingdom.
1. Historical faith is a belief in the truthfulness and accuracy of the Scriptures, Scriptural narrative and teachings. "James 2:17,24.
2. Saving faith is the acceptance by the intellect, affection, and will, of God's favor extended to men through Christ. This faith produces a sincere obedience in the life and conversation. The firm foundation of faith is the essential supreme perfection of God, His unerring knowledge, immutable truths, infinite goodness, and almighty power. And with this faith we are said to be justified. Romans 5:1.
Formerly, as if it were our righteousness before God, it is called the faith through which we are saved. Ephesians 2:8. Faith is, as it were, a condition on our part whereby we come to be partakers of the blessings of the new covenant. It is a faith which worketh by love. Ephesians 5:6. It is not an idle, inactive grace, but shows itself by producing love to God and our neighbor. Faith in Scripture is also taken for truth and faithfulness of God. Romans 3:3. Faith is also used for the doctrine of the Gospel which is the object of faith. Acts 24:24; Galatians 1:23.
For the Biblical definition of faith, Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel of John, likens faith to the vine and the branches in that we must abide in that relationship with God if we're going to be saved. Salvation is in separable from faith. I Peter 1:5: "Who {Christians} are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." This is a very strong statement in I Peter 1:5: " . . .kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."
Next we have I Peter 1:9: "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." Another very strong and powerful statement: " . ..receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Next verse is Hebrews 10:39: "The just shall live by faith, out if any man draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." A very strong statement to the necessity of abiding in the faith and not drawing back. Also along with that could be studied Ephesians 6:16, actually Ephesians 6:10 all the way, even unto the end of the chapter just for extra context and study. Titus 1:1: "Paul, a bondservant of God and and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and an acknowledging of the truth which is unto godliness." Here, the faith of God's elect, which is, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. II Tim 2:11-13: " It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him and if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”
And this, it's a foregone conclusion that there, it uses the word "faithful" more than once, that the necessity of having faith and also without faith it is impossible to please God. We must believe that God is and God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews {I don't know if I got the exact wording of that verse.}
Hebrews 10:2-25: "Let us draw near with a true heart and a full assurance of faith with out hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Here is that abiding in Christ!
And Galatians 2:8: "For by grace ye are saved by faith and not of yourselves. It is the gift of God." Here you're, for by grace ye are saved by faith . . .I cannot overemphasize the importance and the necessity of faith too much according to the Scriptures.
Here is I Tim 6:6-?: "{This is from the Revised Standard Version}"There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world, but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, for the love of money is the root of all evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, man of God, shun all this, aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good faith, take hold of eternal life to which you were called when you were made through the good confession and presence of many witnesses, in the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who for the testimony before Pontius Pilate, make the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here in Hebrews 4:1,2 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; did not profit them, not being mixed with faith." Here it's showing them that the profit of the Gospel did them no good because it was not mixed with faith. Here again, showing the necessity and the importance of faith.
In James 5:15 it says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." Collossians 2:5: "Beholding your order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ." Ephesians 6:16,17: "Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."
Here again we have faith mentioned hand in hand with salvation and especially the Word of God. Praise God. There are a few more verses that pertain to faith and the consequences of not holding to the faith that was once delivered to the saints, that "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews) "The just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back [ apostasize or wander away ], my soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews. Also in the Gospel: "If any man take his hand from the plow, he is not worthy of the kingdom."
This last quote [I don't think it's an exact quote--I need to get the reference, too] but when the Lord said "take his hand from the plow," also "looking back" or "drawing back," or going back into the world or wandering away from the way of understanding, other terms that are like these here.
In I Tim 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." This departing from the faith is an apostasy or one apostasizes or is an apostate and it's God the Holy Spirit that speaks expressly that in the latter times, or in the last days, or that some shall depart from the faith, we know from other Scriptures that there is one faith, one baptism, one Lord.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith! He is the Initiator and Perfecter of our faith. Our Lord, as the Good Farmer, nurtures our faith along it's way, to grow as seen in the parable of our Lord concerning the tree that hadn't yet bore fruit. But we also are to water and edify one another in the faith, as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We our exhorted to build ourselves up in the faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20.
Called to be faithful for our Lord is the Faithful and True One, Rev.19:11 We're within the pages of the Book! Some of you might have seen the movie " The Never Ending Story" a children's film that depicts the two main characters throughout the movie as laboring, fighting, struggling together side-by-side. The reader finds out that he himself is within the story even while being the reader and as being vitally important to the whole kingdom! We also are within the pages of the Book and have a vitally important mission. To bring others into the Kingdom.
The Quick and the Dead
The whole question of whether there is going to be a pre-trib rapture or a post-trib rapture is, of course, a question of timing. Not whether there will be a rapture {a "catching up" of God's people}, but when this "taking up" of God's people will be. If the Holy Scriptures declare the timing of the "catching up" of God's people, which is commonly called the "rapture," then all other theological bordering doctrines must flow into a harmony with this fact that the Bible reveals.
Again, I'd like to repeat what you all know, that the word "rapture" is not in the Bible, yet they say that nether is the word trinity. Continually the Resurrection is the emphasis in the Bible. The "transformation" of the Living in Christ is an aspect of the Resurrection. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
Many must go to some lengths to fit this square peg into a round hole. They do this by saying that the Latin translation of the Bible contains the word "caught-up" which in Latin is raptura where we get our English word rapture which means: exaltation, elation, exhilaration, thrill, [slang] rush, ... yet throughout the Bible, the doctrines that are central are always: the Resurrection, translation, to be changed, transformed,... In Heb.11.5 ...
The Greek sheds some light on our end-time study. Strongs Concordance shows different Greek words are used for the words that are in the K.J.V. as "quick, quicken, quickenth, quickening". Here are the references for Quick- Strong's # 2198 Acts 10.42, 2 Timothy 4.1, Hebrews 4.12 and 1 Peter 4.5 . For Quicken, Quickenth, and Quickening - # 2227 at Romans 8.11, 1 Peter 3.18, John 5.21, John 6.63, Romans 4.17, 1 Timothy 6.13,14; 1 Cor. 15.45, and 1 Cor.15.36. In most translations these Greek words are rendered "living, made alive, gives life. What I'd like you to keep in mind is that in these key verses "quicken" means to make alive those already physically alive, which is obvious from the context and usage! David said in Psalms "Thy word has Quickened me O Lord" making king David spiritually alive while he was already physically alive! And in some of the passages that this Greek word [ Quick, Quicken, etc.] is used, the context seems to shout TRANSLATED, TRANSFORMED, RAPTURED!!!
This has deep meaning and far-reaching effects in the theological question of timing! In these passages I believe that the K.J.V. has more correctly translated the Greek words, although living, made alive, and give life, are correct.
My point is that if Quicken is understood as translated, made alive [spiritually alive], changed as transformed then the timing of these passages demands that this translating, this transformation, this rapture takes place at the Glorious Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation!!! Please re-read these passages where the words "quick and the dead" quicken your mortal bodies" and all the other verses quoted in this chapter carefully and prayerfully. In this case the K.J.V. has done Christianity a great service by retaining these in the English translation over from the Greek.
Again, I'd like to repeat what you all know, that the word "rapture" is not in the Bible, yet they say that nether is the word trinity. Continually the Resurrection is the emphasis in the Bible. The "transformation" of the Living in Christ is an aspect of the Resurrection. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
Many must go to some lengths to fit this square peg into a round hole. They do this by saying that the Latin translation of the Bible contains the word "caught-up" which in Latin is raptura where we get our English word rapture which means: exaltation, elation, exhilaration, thrill, [slang] rush, ... yet throughout the Bible, the doctrines that are central are always: the Resurrection, translation, to be changed, transformed,... In Heb.11.5 ...
The Greek sheds some light on our end-time study. Strongs Concordance shows different Greek words are used for the words that are in the K.J.V. as "quick, quicken, quickenth, quickening". Here are the references for Quick- Strong's # 2198 Acts 10.42, 2 Timothy 4.1, Hebrews 4.12 and 1 Peter 4.5 . For Quicken, Quickenth, and Quickening - # 2227 at Romans 8.11, 1 Peter 3.18, John 5.21, John 6.63, Romans 4.17, 1 Timothy 6.13,14; 1 Cor. 15.45, and 1 Cor.15.36. In most translations these Greek words are rendered "living, made alive, gives life. What I'd like you to keep in mind is that in these key verses "quicken" means to make alive those already physically alive, which is obvious from the context and usage! David said in Psalms "Thy word has Quickened me O Lord" making king David spiritually alive while he was already physically alive! And in some of the passages that this Greek word [ Quick, Quicken, etc.] is used, the context seems to shout TRANSLATED, TRANSFORMED, RAPTURED!!!
This has deep meaning and far-reaching effects in the theological question of timing! In these passages I believe that the K.J.V. has more correctly translated the Greek words, although living, made alive, and give life, are correct.
My point is that if Quicken is understood as translated, made alive [spiritually alive], changed as transformed then the timing of these passages demands that this translating, this transformation, this rapture takes place at the Glorious Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation!!! Please re-read these passages where the words "quick and the dead" quicken your mortal bodies" and all the other verses quoted in this chapter carefully and prayerfully. In this case the K.J.V. has done Christianity a great service by retaining these in the English translation over from the Greek.
Rest and Rewards
There are different definitions of "rest". And as Christians, we have a more complete understanding than a non-believer, who knows only what he or she experiences as a natural-man or natural woman. Everyone is familiar with sayings like "You need to take a rest, you've worked hard all day long. Meaning, a physical rest for the body. Or,"Put your mind at rest, everything is taken care of!" Meaning, Give your mind a rest! Or as the world and sometimes Christians say "Rest in Peace! [ R.I.P.]" It is this last phrase I'd like to elaborate on now. SOME CROSS REFERENCES: PS:37.7a "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him."
Rest for your soul. Heb.4.9,10,11 "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience." Matt. 11:28,29b "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...you will find rest for your souls."
And in Revelation 6:9-11 "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying,"How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them; that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." Here the dead in Christ were instructed to rest until the complete congregation was fulfilled!
This is a significant statement, for the meaning of the word "church" is "the called-out ones", a gathering, a group. These are in the presence of the Lord in heaven yet still waiting the final rest of being united with their resurrection bodies! When will this happen? Aren't you begging the question? Well, let me state that this will of course happen on Resurrection Day! The Last-Day!
Turn with me in your Bible first to 1 Thess. 4. 13- ***** to second Thessalonians chapter one and read with me verses one thru twelve "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Did you get those brethren? "... and to you who are troubled rest with us WHEN THE LORD JESUS IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS..." When Jesus comes back in power and glory at His glorious second coming we will receive rest with all the other saints in Christ ...in that Day! Elaborate...
A eternal rest that even the dead in Christ are waiting for, which is: the rest of being joined to resurrection bodies, like that of their Lord's. see the chapter on FOR AND WITH for more on this subject. Another area of Bible doctrine is that of "the Rewards of the saints". Those who teach the novel per-tribulational rapture, make a unique distinction the judgment [of the nations] when Christ comes in glory and a pre-trib. rapture judgment of believers referred to as "the Bema seat of Christ".
Here are some quotes from some respected teachers and Pastors to state this distinction: [Chuck Smith; Jeff Johnson; Hal Lindsay; John Walvoord; etc... So these say that this Bema seat of Christ is years before Christ comes in glory and is strictly for the rewards of believers!
Now let us turn to the New Testament and see how this Greek word "Bema" seat is used. The first occurrence of it is in Matthew 27.19-30 And here we find that Jesus stood before "the Bema seat of Pilate. Pilate washed his hands and handed Jesus over to the crowd to be mocked, crowned with thorns, ridiculed, spit upon, and struck on the head (all for us and are sakes, Praise God). The next set of verses is found in Acts 18:12, 16, 17. They brought Paul in before the Bema seat in Achaia and the Jews brought accusations against Paul and Gallio stood in Paul's defense and the Jews had Sosthenenes beaten in front of the Bema seat or Judgment seat. And in Acts 25:6,10,17 Paul stands before Festus and says he is now standing before "Caesar's Bema seat," Caesar's judgment seat! Then he goes in front of King Agrippa and Bernice. So we see from these few N.T. uses of the word "Bema seat or judgment seat that rewards in the good=sense are not the picture as pre-rib rapturists would have us believe! Now we'll look at how some other translations and paraphrases render Bema seat. In Matt 27:19 P.M.V. "sitting on the bench" the T.E.V. "judgment hall" the J.B. "sitting in the seat of judgment" the N.E.B. "sitting in the court" and N.I.V. "the judge's seat. John 19:13 L.B. "judgment Bench" the N.I.V. and the T.E.V. say "judge's seat" the J.B. "chair of judgment" and the N.E.B. "seat on the tribunal". Now for Acts 18:12, 16,17. Other versions like Greens's Greek N.T. the R.S.V. and J.B. say "tribunal" whereas the T.E.V. the P.M.V. and the N.E.B. say "Court". Now in Romans 14:10, the K.J.V. says "Judgment seat of Christ," whereas the R.S.V. the L.B. and the J.B. says "Judgment seat of God" and the N.I.V. says "God's judgment seat". The N.E.B. in this passage says "We shall all stand before God's tribunal." II Cor 5:10 the N.E.B. "For we must all have our lives laid open before the tribunal of Christ." In the J.B. it says, "in the law court of Christ," and T.E.V. "we must appear before Christ to be judged by him," and the N.I.V. says "judgment seat of Christ."
It needs to be stated that, frequently the Bible uses the word "rewards" in a "two-fold sense", for both good rewards and bad rewards! Here are some New Testament references for both its good and bad inferences [connotations!]:
for good for bad
Psalms 31.23 (both) Matt. 10.41,42
Acts 1.18 Luke 6.23,35
2 Tim. 4.14 1 Cor.3.8,14
2 Peter 2.13 1 Cor.9.17,18
Jude 11 Col. 2.18/3.24
Rev. 18.6 with Ps.137 1Tim.5.18
Heb. 2.2/10.35/11.26 Give more references!
2 John 8 Rev. 11.18 / 22.12
Sometimes reward is translated as [render]! Or render is translated as reward. Jesus, after He had given the parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matt.13 and saying that both are to grow together until the Harvest, three chapters later makes a strong statement concerning the timing of the rewards of believers. Matthew 16.27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and He will REWARD each person according to what he has done."
1 Corinthians 3.7,8 Paul is talking about winning souls for Christ and says "...and each will be REWARDED according to his own labor."
And please notice the incredible wording of Romans 2.5,6 "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath against yourself for the Day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will RENDER [or REWARD] to each one according to his deeds." And Rev. 11.18 "The nations were angry and your wrath has come and the time of the dead they should be judged, and that You should REWARD Your servants the Prophets and the saints,..." And in Rev. 22.12 "And behold, I am coming quickly and My REWARD is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."
The timing of this rewarding is clearly put forth in the Scriptures, when Jesus Christ comes in power and glory, at the end of the Great Tribulation! Now here are few references to REWARDS in the bad sense! Acts 1.18,20 "Now this man [Judas Iscariot] purchased a field with the wages of iniquitity [the margin note says: reward of unrighteousness] and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrils gushed out... let his habitation be desolate and let no one live in it, and let another take his office..."
2 Timothy 4.14 "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord REWARD him according to his works. You also must beware of him for he has greatly resisted our words." 2 Peter 2.13 "And will receive the wages [reward] of unrighteousness as those who court it pleasure to course in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you."
Some might say that [wages] refers only to the wicked and [reward] only to believers, the righteous. Just a couple more references should make the point clear. Proverbs 10.16 "The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin." 1 Timothy 5.17,18 "Those who labor in the word and doctrine...are worthy of their wages [reward]!"
Another area in which pre-tribers try to make a difference which has to do with rewards is Crowns! They try to make distinctions by saying that the crowns in the Bible are different... such as "A Crown of Life" an "Incorruptible Crown" a "Crown of Righteousness" a "Crown of Glory" and a "Martyr's Crown". Most of distinctions would almost be unimportant and only an issue hardly worth mentioning except when it comes to the area of Pre-trib. Theology! The implication that is brought out is, in so many words, a crown for Church Age Believers and Tribulation Believers. Some go to considerable lengths to describe or teach a distinction of many crowns for Believers. Here are some selected references to "Crowns" pertaining to Believers in the N.T. First is 1 Cor.9.25 ...they do it for a corruptible crown ...and we run the race for an incorruptible one! Philip. 4.1 "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so steadfast in the Lord, beloved." With 1 Thess.2.19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. _
Rest for your soul. Heb.4.9,10,11 "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience." Matt. 11:28,29b "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...you will find rest for your souls."
And in Revelation 6:9-11 "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying,"How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them; that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." Here the dead in Christ were instructed to rest until the complete congregation was fulfilled!
This is a significant statement, for the meaning of the word "church" is "the called-out ones", a gathering, a group. These are in the presence of the Lord in heaven yet still waiting the final rest of being united with their resurrection bodies! When will this happen? Aren't you begging the question? Well, let me state that this will of course happen on Resurrection Day! The Last-Day!
Turn with me in your Bible first to 1 Thess. 4. 13- ***** to second Thessalonians chapter one and read with me verses one thru twelve "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Did you get those brethren? "... and to you who are troubled rest with us WHEN THE LORD JESUS IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS..." When Jesus comes back in power and glory at His glorious second coming we will receive rest with all the other saints in Christ ...in that Day! Elaborate...
A eternal rest that even the dead in Christ are waiting for, which is: the rest of being joined to resurrection bodies, like that of their Lord's. see the chapter on FOR AND WITH for more on this subject. Another area of Bible doctrine is that of "the Rewards of the saints". Those who teach the novel per-tribulational rapture, make a unique distinction the judgment [of the nations] when Christ comes in glory and a pre-trib. rapture judgment of believers referred to as "the Bema seat of Christ".
Here are some quotes from some respected teachers and Pastors to state this distinction: [Chuck Smith; Jeff Johnson; Hal Lindsay; John Walvoord; etc... So these say that this Bema seat of Christ is years before Christ comes in glory and is strictly for the rewards of believers!
Now let us turn to the New Testament and see how this Greek word "Bema" seat is used. The first occurrence of it is in Matthew 27.19-30 And here we find that Jesus stood before "the Bema seat of Pilate. Pilate washed his hands and handed Jesus over to the crowd to be mocked, crowned with thorns, ridiculed, spit upon, and struck on the head (all for us and are sakes, Praise God). The next set of verses is found in Acts 18:12, 16, 17. They brought Paul in before the Bema seat in Achaia and the Jews brought accusations against Paul and Gallio stood in Paul's defense and the Jews had Sosthenenes beaten in front of the Bema seat or Judgment seat. And in Acts 25:6,10,17 Paul stands before Festus and says he is now standing before "Caesar's Bema seat," Caesar's judgment seat! Then he goes in front of King Agrippa and Bernice. So we see from these few N.T. uses of the word "Bema seat or judgment seat that rewards in the good=sense are not the picture as pre-rib rapturists would have us believe! Now we'll look at how some other translations and paraphrases render Bema seat. In Matt 27:19 P.M.V. "sitting on the bench" the T.E.V. "judgment hall" the J.B. "sitting in the seat of judgment" the N.E.B. "sitting in the court" and N.I.V. "the judge's seat. John 19:13 L.B. "judgment Bench" the N.I.V. and the T.E.V. say "judge's seat" the J.B. "chair of judgment" and the N.E.B. "seat on the tribunal". Now for Acts 18:12, 16,17. Other versions like Greens's Greek N.T. the R.S.V. and J.B. say "tribunal" whereas the T.E.V. the P.M.V. and the N.E.B. say "Court". Now in Romans 14:10, the K.J.V. says "Judgment seat of Christ," whereas the R.S.V. the L.B. and the J.B. says "Judgment seat of God" and the N.I.V. says "God's judgment seat". The N.E.B. in this passage says "We shall all stand before God's tribunal." II Cor 5:10 the N.E.B. "For we must all have our lives laid open before the tribunal of Christ." In the J.B. it says, "in the law court of Christ," and T.E.V. "we must appear before Christ to be judged by him," and the N.I.V. says "judgment seat of Christ."
It needs to be stated that, frequently the Bible uses the word "rewards" in a "two-fold sense", for both good rewards and bad rewards! Here are some New Testament references for both its good and bad inferences [connotations!]:
for good for bad
Psalms 31.23 (both) Matt. 10.41,42
Acts 1.18 Luke 6.23,35
2 Tim. 4.14 1 Cor.3.8,14
2 Peter 2.13 1 Cor.9.17,18
Jude 11 Col. 2.18/3.24
Rev. 18.6 with Ps.137 1Tim.5.18
Heb. 2.2/10.35/11.26 Give more references!
2 John 8 Rev. 11.18 / 22.12
Sometimes reward is translated as [render]! Or render is translated as reward. Jesus, after He had given the parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matt.13 and saying that both are to grow together until the Harvest, three chapters later makes a strong statement concerning the timing of the rewards of believers. Matthew 16.27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and He will REWARD each person according to what he has done."
1 Corinthians 3.7,8 Paul is talking about winning souls for Christ and says "...and each will be REWARDED according to his own labor."
And please notice the incredible wording of Romans 2.5,6 "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath against yourself for the Day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will RENDER [or REWARD] to each one according to his deeds." And Rev. 11.18 "The nations were angry and your wrath has come and the time of the dead they should be judged, and that You should REWARD Your servants the Prophets and the saints,..." And in Rev. 22.12 "And behold, I am coming quickly and My REWARD is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."
The timing of this rewarding is clearly put forth in the Scriptures, when Jesus Christ comes in power and glory, at the end of the Great Tribulation! Now here are few references to REWARDS in the bad sense! Acts 1.18,20 "Now this man [Judas Iscariot] purchased a field with the wages of iniquitity [the margin note says: reward of unrighteousness] and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrils gushed out... let his habitation be desolate and let no one live in it, and let another take his office..."
2 Timothy 4.14 "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord REWARD him according to his works. You also must beware of him for he has greatly resisted our words." 2 Peter 2.13 "And will receive the wages [reward] of unrighteousness as those who court it pleasure to course in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you."
Some might say that [wages] refers only to the wicked and [reward] only to believers, the righteous. Just a couple more references should make the point clear. Proverbs 10.16 "The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin." 1 Timothy 5.17,18 "Those who labor in the word and doctrine...are worthy of their wages [reward]!"
Another area in which pre-tribers try to make a difference which has to do with rewards is Crowns! They try to make distinctions by saying that the crowns in the Bible are different... such as "A Crown of Life" an "Incorruptible Crown" a "Crown of Righteousness" a "Crown of Glory" and a "Martyr's Crown". Most of distinctions would almost be unimportant and only an issue hardly worth mentioning except when it comes to the area of Pre-trib. Theology! The implication that is brought out is, in so many words, a crown for Church Age Believers and Tribulation Believers. Some go to considerable lengths to describe or teach a distinction of many crowns for Believers. Here are some selected references to "Crowns" pertaining to Believers in the N.T. First is 1 Cor.9.25 ...they do it for a corruptible crown ...and we run the race for an incorruptible one! Philip. 4.1 "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so steadfast in the Lord, beloved." With 1 Thess.2.19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. _
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Elect--Who are these Guys?
Many theologians have stated that the Elect are Israel,and none else! This is quite a bold statement for anyone to make, but a theologian of all people should know better! We shall look to the Holy Bible for this answer. Pastors have echoed these who have made such statements. Another statement that theologians and Pastors have made, when they have been cornered on the issue, of who the Elect are, is the answer : well there are two Elect groups! We shall also look at the Holy Scriptures for the answer to this bold statement!
First, let's look to the Epistles of the New Testament starting with Romans 8:31-34 Paul is speaking concerning the Christian's calling of God. "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's Elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Who can deny the Paul here is talking to and of Christians? Everything connected with the ones Paul is talking about here is completely belonging to Christians and Christians only. The Elect are falsely accused! they are justified by God! The Holy Father-God has freely given His Son to die for them! And He has risen for this same group of people, the Elect! Christ makes intercession for the Elect.
Let us look to Colossians 3.10-15 "And have put on the new man [ the one who is born again ] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, barbarian nor Scythian, bond or free, but Christ is all and in all. Put on, therefore, as the Elect of God holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, gentleness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. If any have any quarrel against any, just as Christ forgave you, so also ye do and above all these things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye also are called in one body. And be ye thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Who can deny that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is saying here that Christians, believers, are the Elect of God and they're called in one body. It's very obvious that the Elect of God is the Body of Christ.
I Peter 1:1-5: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Blythinia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time.”
Again, it's obvious that Paul is referring to the Elect or Christians because although he does refer to them as strangers, yet they're strangers that are Christians that he hasn't yet met that he has visited those cities. It's assured us that they're Christians because of the wording he uses. He says that we are begotten again by the Lord. It means that we are born again. Also Paul's used of the word "salvation" and "sanctification" here also identifies them as believers.
1 Thessalonians 1.1b-4 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved [ Christian ] brethren your Election of God." Paul, here is writing to Christians! "...your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus... all describe Christians and no one else!
1 Peter 4.13 " She who is ... Elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son." Again Paul is speaking to Christians as the Elect. This is confirmed by verse 10 "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." Notice how the word Called is used here in close connection with Elect!
Look at Titus 1.1-4 " Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's Elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness,in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior." The Word of God says "it is impossible to please God without faith." And we as believers know that there is only one true Faith! The Jews who have not recognized Jesus as Messiah do not have faith which is according to godliness. They do not acknowledge the Truth. Need I say more? **** there is a lot more to write on The Elect!!!
The title "Christians" is only used three times in the New Testament and not at all in the Old Testament. In Acts 11:25. . .then Barnabus departed for Tarsus to seek Saul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the Church and taught a great many people and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
And in chapter 26 of the book of Acts Paul is witnessing to Agrippa and in verse 9. . . "indeed I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem and many of the saints I shut up in prison having received authority from the chief priests and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”
And then down in verse 27, 28 Paul was still witnessing to King Agrippa. "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets. I know that you do believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Even King Agrippa understood that when Paul was with the saints that he had persecuted before he was converted, even King Agrippa that they were called Christians and understood that clearly that the saints were called Christians.
The third reference to Christians is in I Peter 4:12,13, 14, and 16: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial to try you as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you are partakers of Christ's sufferings that you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon you for He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. And down to verse 16: Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."
ELECT -- When you get right down to it, all are called of God! Called to belief in God and called to repentance. It's only those who respond to God's call that are Chosen [Elect]. " For God is not willing that any perish but all come to repentance!" You have elected to follow Christ. You have chosen to follow Christ. Make your calling and election sure... Make your calling and choosing sure... Yes God has Chosen you and you have Chosen God. God doesn't get anyone home to heaven against his or her will. The will of man is one of the supreme attributes that God has created in man from the beginning that in a smaller sense parallels that of God's Supreme will. God never created robots. Neither man nor angels has God created without a will. If angels didn't have a will, there would never have been a rebellion in heaven! God has created mankind with free will. [This I believe, is where Calvinism in the strictest sense, falls apart! You've heard "Many aspire but few attain." Well this saying applies well in Christianity.....Yes God is Soverign, He has decreed that all who put their trust in the finished atonement of Jesus are saved. God is not a man that He should lie, yet God doesn't release man of his respondsibility in the love relation between them.....] STUDY MORE!
Some zealous pre-tribers might look to the Dispersion as Elect Jews quoting John 7.35, 1 Peter 1.1,2 and James 1.1 as some solid ground that the Elect are exclusively Jewish. Yet the very foundation Epistle of Peter that is quoted also identifies the Elect as a : royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen [Elect] generation, His own special people... and belief or faith in Christ as the Elect Cornerstone as the only qualifying condition that makes people, God's special people 1 Peter 2.6-10!
Not only was a Jewish Remnant scattered or dispersed in the O.T. but also God's people in the N.T. were scattered or dispersed in what some scholars term the infancy of the Church, Acts 8.1-4/ 11.19 possibly Eucibius' Church History. Please remember what was prophesied in John 11.49-52 "And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad."
Christians many times directly or indirectly referred to as "the children of God" a few examples should suffice: John 1.12, Romans 8.16, 1 Cor. 4.14, Eph.5.8, Phil. 2.15, 1 John 3.2, 1 John 5.1,2. 3 John 1,2,3. Let these verses,especially John 11.49-52, be foundional every time you read or hear of the One body of Christ! Whether from the book of Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians or Colossians.
Like so many have been stressing we all have a Judeo-Christian heritage and as Paul the Hebrew of hebrews has said in Romans 2.29 "but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God!"
In O.T. times one book that stands out in my mind is The Book of Enoch. From the Book of Enoch there are aprox. 41 places where this word [elect] is used. About 15 references are to Jesus as The Elect One as in the Bible [Isa.42.1 with 1 Peter 2.6] and 35 referances as believers, Christians and referred to as saints, righteous, the holy]. MORE REFERANCES... In New Testament times from the Apostlic Fathers in the early writings of Hemas are 7 referances the the [elect]......MORE...._
WITH AND FOR THE ELECT
Here's a note to go along with the notes on Christ's coming with the saints and for the saints. Here's the note: God is sovereign. When God brings with Jesus the disembodied saints according to I Thess 4:13, it is His prerogative whether these things will be visible or invisible or semi-visible. But in Rev 19:11-21 when Jesus is coming as King of kings and Lord of lords with the armies of heaven accompanying Him, they [the saints] are riding white horses and this fact impresses upon the reader visibility. The angels at this time will be visible according to Bible references. The angels will be visible as they have been on important occasions throughout His story, history.
The important fact to remember is that God's Word definitely pronounces Jesus's coming with the saints and for the saints and this fact is irrefutable. It is clearly seen by any student of the Bible who is honest with himself, logic and the Scriptures. Hebrews 12:9B: "Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live?" Hebrews 12:22,23: "But you have come to Mount Zion and that city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusulem and an innumerable company of angels and the general assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven to God, the judge of all the spirits of just men made perfect."
Notice here that a large portion of the church is already up in heaven and that those that are departed with Christ are the spirits of just men made perfect. That's important to notice.
In I Peter 3: 18-20: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient. Once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared in which a few, that is, a few souls were saved through water." I'd like you to notice that here in verse 18, I think, that He, Jesus, will bring us to God in this same phrase or very similar phrases in I Thess 4:13,14 "that He might bring us to God." This same awesome event that is going on here but what I'm trying to bring out is to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord in that the dead in Christ are disembodied, the saints, they are spirits of just men made perfect.
Earlier in the study I made identifying who the Elect are, I mentioned in the study the qualifications and qualities or characteristics of the Elect and then I went on to list the many, if not all, the references that are used for "Elect." And in that study here this is to be given as further support of identifying who the Elect are. For the first example, I used I Peter 1:1, 2: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ our Lord to the strangers gathered abroad throughout Galatia, Pontius, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied."
Praise God that the Triune God is involved in the salvation of souls and in the salvation of the Elect Christians. What I'd like to bring out here is that in the same book in fact I Peter 2:11 Peter writing to Christians and it says: "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." Now we turn to the inspired writer of Hebrews 11:13: "All these died in faith, not receiving the promises, but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Here speaking of the Old Testament saints that lived by faith, that they pleased God by faith and that they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. Praise God. Nevertheless, they're saints and now they're in the presence of God.
Here in the Gospel of John, in going along with who are the elect, these strangers and pilgrims , are--these sojourners. In the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus said: "15:18-21: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own, but because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the Word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they have kept my sayings, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do unto you for my name's sake because they know not Him that sent me. "
When Jesus said," that I called you out from them," these are the words which are the very meaning of church, "eccesiastes," the called-out ones. Jesus is describing strangers and pilgrims of this present evil age. Christ is our example, and if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute you and I. He was a pilgrim and a sojourner just passing through and He had a mission to complete and in this manner, this is what makes believers, Christians, Chirst-like ones, Chirst-likeness. I want to expound on the qualifications of the Elect, or the standards, the characteristics of the Elect, as I have with this first example in I Peter, with other verses, bringing in other related verses that use the same terms, the same words in the very verses that talk about the Elect.
Now, I'm going to expound on some other verses, particularly one in the book of Revelation where Christ is coming in glory and in power. In chapter 19 in the book of Rev, we'll look at verse 7 and 8. Talking about the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready. "And it was granted unto her to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. Fine linen is the righteousness of the saints so here all are agreed that this is talking of the Church and the Bride of the Lamb is the Church and then down further in verse 14: "And the armies which were in heaven followed Him, meaning Jesus, upon white horses, clothed in white fine linen, clothed in fine linen white and clean. . . ." And then verse down to further down . . ."I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and the armies gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse and against His army.
So they're coming in glory to fight against Anti-Christ, the beast , and those who followed him. Praise God! And over into chapter 17 of the book of Revelation verse 13 and14: "And these have on mind and so give their power and strength over to the beast. They are the Anti-christ and the ten nations. Verse 14: "And these shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful."
The word here that is translated in the English version "chosen" is very much in the Greek "Elect." There are the pre-tribbers who insist that the elect, especially in the Olivet discourse in Matt. 24 and the synopsis of the Gospels, the parallels to that Olivet discourse insist tha the Elect is Israel and has nothing to do with the church, saying that the Church has already been raptured into heaven. This verse in Rev 17 along with 19 hits a devastating blow to the pre-trib lie because here those who are coming with Christ are the Elect, those who are coming at the end of the tribulation to do despite against the anti-christ and his followers are the Elect and this does damaging things to the pre-trib theory, the pre-trib lie.
If Christ is coming for the Elect, as Israel in Matt 24, then in Rev He's coming with them. This doesn't make any sense at all, because they'd already be with Him. If this is to make any sense at all in accordance with and in harmony with the other Scriptures, the Elect must be the Church, the Elect must be true Christians.
The Elect are both dead and living saints, the Called-Out Ones, the Holy Ones, the Church. When Christ gathers his elect and brings them from heaven where she's coming from, and He's gathering them from the, He's gathering all His holy ones unto Him whether dead in body or alive , the disembodied elect with the living elect that are on the earth are gathered together to Christ.
So we find that in Matt. 24, the Olivet discourse that Jesus is coming in glory at the end of the tribulation and He's gathering the Elect, the angels are doing the gathering, but He's coming back to the earth in glory, He's gathering the Elect. We turn to the book of Rev. and we find that in chapter 17 and 19 or in chapter 19 when Jesus is coming in glory and power to put an end to the Anti-christ and his followers or to punish the Anti-christ and his followers, we find that He is coming with His Elect, the armies of the heavens. We find that He's coming with the bride which we find out from Rev… is the Elect and He's coming in power and glory. Jesus doesn’t descend half way down from heaven, gather the Church and do a U-turn and return to heaven to party for seven years during the Great Tribulation as Pastors and Pre-tribulation theologians teach (see chapter…)
Often pretribbers try to say that in the Olivet discourse in Matt 24, that Jesus was talking of the Jews and that the disciples, being Jewish, represented the nation of Israel. I beg to differ. The disciples had already been called by Jesus, were sent out and were obedient to him, did special miracles, and were well on their way already, being the foundation of the Church. Not only that but Jesus referred to His disciples while during His earthly ministry as as the friends of the Bridegroom or even the Bride—Thus the Church.
Jesus repeatedly uses references of personal pronouns, you’ throughout the discourse to the disciples. Being present during the time of great persecution. The main verse of expression that is used in saying that these are Jews only and not the church is “and pray that your flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabbath.” This saying of Jesus is not hard to decipher. Jesus knowing the future and talking to the disciples as representatives of the church, looked forward, and was including the Elect Jewish Remnant along with the elect, the church and warning the newly converted elect Jewish remnant not to be overly orthodox so as not to flee as under Jewish law and breaking the Sabbath when the calamity of the Antichrist is upon them, and to flee into the desert, into the place God had prepared for them, the rock city of Petra.
First, let's look to the Epistles of the New Testament starting with Romans 8:31-34 Paul is speaking concerning the Christian's calling of God. "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's Elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Who can deny the Paul here is talking to and of Christians? Everything connected with the ones Paul is talking about here is completely belonging to Christians and Christians only. The Elect are falsely accused! they are justified by God! The Holy Father-God has freely given His Son to die for them! And He has risen for this same group of people, the Elect! Christ makes intercession for the Elect.
Let us look to Colossians 3.10-15 "And have put on the new man [ the one who is born again ] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, barbarian nor Scythian, bond or free, but Christ is all and in all. Put on, therefore, as the Elect of God holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, gentleness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. If any have any quarrel against any, just as Christ forgave you, so also ye do and above all these things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye also are called in one body. And be ye thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Who can deny that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is saying here that Christians, believers, are the Elect of God and they're called in one body. It's very obvious that the Elect of God is the Body of Christ.
I Peter 1:1-5: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Blythinia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time.”
Again, it's obvious that Paul is referring to the Elect or Christians because although he does refer to them as strangers, yet they're strangers that are Christians that he hasn't yet met that he has visited those cities. It's assured us that they're Christians because of the wording he uses. He says that we are begotten again by the Lord. It means that we are born again. Also Paul's used of the word "salvation" and "sanctification" here also identifies them as believers.
1 Thessalonians 1.1b-4 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved [ Christian ] brethren your Election of God." Paul, here is writing to Christians! "...your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus... all describe Christians and no one else!
1 Peter 4.13 " She who is ... Elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son." Again Paul is speaking to Christians as the Elect. This is confirmed by verse 10 "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." Notice how the word Called is used here in close connection with Elect!
Look at Titus 1.1-4 " Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's Elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness,in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior." The Word of God says "it is impossible to please God without faith." And we as believers know that there is only one true Faith! The Jews who have not recognized Jesus as Messiah do not have faith which is according to godliness. They do not acknowledge the Truth. Need I say more? **** there is a lot more to write on The Elect!!!
The title "Christians" is only used three times in the New Testament and not at all in the Old Testament. In Acts 11:25. . .then Barnabus departed for Tarsus to seek Saul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the Church and taught a great many people and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
And in chapter 26 of the book of Acts Paul is witnessing to Agrippa and in verse 9. . . "indeed I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem and many of the saints I shut up in prison having received authority from the chief priests and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”
And then down in verse 27, 28 Paul was still witnessing to King Agrippa. "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets. I know that you do believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Even King Agrippa understood that when Paul was with the saints that he had persecuted before he was converted, even King Agrippa that they were called Christians and understood that clearly that the saints were called Christians.
The third reference to Christians is in I Peter 4:12,13, 14, and 16: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial to try you as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you are partakers of Christ's sufferings that you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon you for He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. And down to verse 16: Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."
ELECT -- When you get right down to it, all are called of God! Called to belief in God and called to repentance. It's only those who respond to God's call that are Chosen [Elect]. " For God is not willing that any perish but all come to repentance!" You have elected to follow Christ. You have chosen to follow Christ. Make your calling and election sure... Make your calling and choosing sure... Yes God has Chosen you and you have Chosen God. God doesn't get anyone home to heaven against his or her will. The will of man is one of the supreme attributes that God has created in man from the beginning that in a smaller sense parallels that of God's Supreme will. God never created robots. Neither man nor angels has God created without a will. If angels didn't have a will, there would never have been a rebellion in heaven! God has created mankind with free will. [This I believe, is where Calvinism in the strictest sense, falls apart! You've heard "Many aspire but few attain." Well this saying applies well in Christianity.....Yes God is Soverign, He has decreed that all who put their trust in the finished atonement of Jesus are saved. God is not a man that He should lie, yet God doesn't release man of his respondsibility in the love relation between them.....] STUDY MORE!
Some zealous pre-tribers might look to the Dispersion as Elect Jews quoting John 7.35, 1 Peter 1.1,2 and James 1.1 as some solid ground that the Elect are exclusively Jewish. Yet the very foundation Epistle of Peter that is quoted also identifies the Elect as a : royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen [Elect] generation, His own special people... and belief or faith in Christ as the Elect Cornerstone as the only qualifying condition that makes people, God's special people 1 Peter 2.6-10!
Not only was a Jewish Remnant scattered or dispersed in the O.T. but also God's people in the N.T. were scattered or dispersed in what some scholars term the infancy of the Church, Acts 8.1-4/ 11.19 possibly Eucibius' Church History. Please remember what was prophesied in John 11.49-52 "And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad."
Christians many times directly or indirectly referred to as "the children of God" a few examples should suffice: John 1.12, Romans 8.16, 1 Cor. 4.14, Eph.5.8, Phil. 2.15, 1 John 3.2, 1 John 5.1,2. 3 John 1,2,3. Let these verses,especially John 11.49-52, be foundional every time you read or hear of the One body of Christ! Whether from the book of Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians or Colossians.
Like so many have been stressing we all have a Judeo-Christian heritage and as Paul the Hebrew of hebrews has said in Romans 2.29 "but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God!"
In O.T. times one book that stands out in my mind is The Book of Enoch. From the Book of Enoch there are aprox. 41 places where this word [elect] is used. About 15 references are to Jesus as The Elect One as in the Bible [Isa.42.1 with 1 Peter 2.6] and 35 referances as believers, Christians and referred to as saints, righteous, the holy]. MORE REFERANCES... In New Testament times from the Apostlic Fathers in the early writings of Hemas are 7 referances the the [elect]......MORE...._
WITH AND FOR THE ELECT
Here's a note to go along with the notes on Christ's coming with the saints and for the saints. Here's the note: God is sovereign. When God brings with Jesus the disembodied saints according to I Thess 4:13, it is His prerogative whether these things will be visible or invisible or semi-visible. But in Rev 19:11-21 when Jesus is coming as King of kings and Lord of lords with the armies of heaven accompanying Him, they [the saints] are riding white horses and this fact impresses upon the reader visibility. The angels at this time will be visible according to Bible references. The angels will be visible as they have been on important occasions throughout His story, history.
The important fact to remember is that God's Word definitely pronounces Jesus's coming with the saints and for the saints and this fact is irrefutable. It is clearly seen by any student of the Bible who is honest with himself, logic and the Scriptures. Hebrews 12:9B: "Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live?" Hebrews 12:22,23: "But you have come to Mount Zion and that city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusulem and an innumerable company of angels and the general assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven to God, the judge of all the spirits of just men made perfect."
Notice here that a large portion of the church is already up in heaven and that those that are departed with Christ are the spirits of just men made perfect. That's important to notice.
In I Peter 3: 18-20: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient. Once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared in which a few, that is, a few souls were saved through water." I'd like you to notice that here in verse 18, I think, that He, Jesus, will bring us to God in this same phrase or very similar phrases in I Thess 4:13,14 "that He might bring us to God." This same awesome event that is going on here but what I'm trying to bring out is to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord in that the dead in Christ are disembodied, the saints, they are spirits of just men made perfect.
Earlier in the study I made identifying who the Elect are, I mentioned in the study the qualifications and qualities or characteristics of the Elect and then I went on to list the many, if not all, the references that are used for "Elect." And in that study here this is to be given as further support of identifying who the Elect are. For the first example, I used I Peter 1:1, 2: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ our Lord to the strangers gathered abroad throughout Galatia, Pontius, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctification of the Spirit unto the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied."
Praise God that the Triune God is involved in the salvation of souls and in the salvation of the Elect Christians. What I'd like to bring out here is that in the same book in fact I Peter 2:11 Peter writing to Christians and it says: "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." Now we turn to the inspired writer of Hebrews 11:13: "All these died in faith, not receiving the promises, but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Here speaking of the Old Testament saints that lived by faith, that they pleased God by faith and that they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. Praise God. Nevertheless, they're saints and now they're in the presence of God.
Here in the Gospel of John, in going along with who are the elect, these strangers and pilgrims , are--these sojourners. In the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus said: "15:18-21: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own, but because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the Word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they have kept my sayings, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do unto you for my name's sake because they know not Him that sent me. "
When Jesus said," that I called you out from them," these are the words which are the very meaning of church, "eccesiastes," the called-out ones. Jesus is describing strangers and pilgrims of this present evil age. Christ is our example, and if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute you and I. He was a pilgrim and a sojourner just passing through and He had a mission to complete and in this manner, this is what makes believers, Christians, Chirst-like ones, Chirst-likeness. I want to expound on the qualifications of the Elect, or the standards, the characteristics of the Elect, as I have with this first example in I Peter, with other verses, bringing in other related verses that use the same terms, the same words in the very verses that talk about the Elect.
Now, I'm going to expound on some other verses, particularly one in the book of Revelation where Christ is coming in glory and in power. In chapter 19 in the book of Rev, we'll look at verse 7 and 8. Talking about the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready. "And it was granted unto her to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. Fine linen is the righteousness of the saints so here all are agreed that this is talking of the Church and the Bride of the Lamb is the Church and then down further in verse 14: "And the armies which were in heaven followed Him, meaning Jesus, upon white horses, clothed in white fine linen, clothed in fine linen white and clean. . . ." And then verse down to further down . . ."I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and the armies gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse and against His army.
So they're coming in glory to fight against Anti-Christ, the beast , and those who followed him. Praise God! And over into chapter 17 of the book of Revelation verse 13 and14: "And these have on mind and so give their power and strength over to the beast. They are the Anti-christ and the ten nations. Verse 14: "And these shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful."
The word here that is translated in the English version "chosen" is very much in the Greek "Elect." There are the pre-tribbers who insist that the elect, especially in the Olivet discourse in Matt. 24 and the synopsis of the Gospels, the parallels to that Olivet discourse insist tha the Elect is Israel and has nothing to do with the church, saying that the Church has already been raptured into heaven. This verse in Rev 17 along with 19 hits a devastating blow to the pre-trib lie because here those who are coming with Christ are the Elect, those who are coming at the end of the tribulation to do despite against the anti-christ and his followers are the Elect and this does damaging things to the pre-trib theory, the pre-trib lie.
If Christ is coming for the Elect, as Israel in Matt 24, then in Rev He's coming with them. This doesn't make any sense at all, because they'd already be with Him. If this is to make any sense at all in accordance with and in harmony with the other Scriptures, the Elect must be the Church, the Elect must be true Christians.
The Elect are both dead and living saints, the Called-Out Ones, the Holy Ones, the Church. When Christ gathers his elect and brings them from heaven where she's coming from, and He's gathering them from the, He's gathering all His holy ones unto Him whether dead in body or alive , the disembodied elect with the living elect that are on the earth are gathered together to Christ.
So we find that in Matt. 24, the Olivet discourse that Jesus is coming in glory at the end of the tribulation and He's gathering the Elect, the angels are doing the gathering, but He's coming back to the earth in glory, He's gathering the Elect. We turn to the book of Rev. and we find that in chapter 17 and 19 or in chapter 19 when Jesus is coming in glory and power to put an end to the Anti-christ and his followers or to punish the Anti-christ and his followers, we find that He is coming with His Elect, the armies of the heavens. We find that He's coming with the bride which we find out from Rev… is the Elect and He's coming in power and glory. Jesus doesn’t descend half way down from heaven, gather the Church and do a U-turn and return to heaven to party for seven years during the Great Tribulation as Pastors and Pre-tribulation theologians teach (see chapter…)
Often pretribbers try to say that in the Olivet discourse in Matt 24, that Jesus was talking of the Jews and that the disciples, being Jewish, represented the nation of Israel. I beg to differ. The disciples had already been called by Jesus, were sent out and were obedient to him, did special miracles, and were well on their way already, being the foundation of the Church. Not only that but Jesus referred to His disciples while during His earthly ministry as as the friends of the Bridegroom or even the Bride—Thus the Church.
Jesus repeatedly uses references of personal pronouns, you’ throughout the discourse to the disciples. Being present during the time of great persecution. The main verse of expression that is used in saying that these are Jews only and not the church is “and pray that your flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabbath.” This saying of Jesus is not hard to decipher. Jesus knowing the future and talking to the disciples as representatives of the church, looked forward, and was including the Elect Jewish Remnant along with the elect, the church and warning the newly converted elect Jewish remnant not to be overly orthodox so as not to flee as under Jewish law and breaking the Sabbath when the calamity of the Antichrist is upon them, and to flee into the desert, into the place God had prepared for them, the rock city of Petra.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Mystery of God
This is the greatest love story that mankind will ever know: that God humbled Himself by taking on the form of a Man and gave Himself as a ransom for sinful mankind, went back to His heavenly abode, and will return to be joined the Bride to the Bridegroom. This is the greatest love story and mystery mankind will ever know! Praise God! This ransom has been paid; Jesus declared this with His last breath from the Cross “It is Finished”. Yet the coming of the Bridegroom to claim His Bride –The Church, has not been finished. This chapter is about that Mystery what is the significance of this and when it will be finished!
Let’s look at Psalms 1.1- "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, who stands not in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. His delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water which brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither. And whatsoever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind blows away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." This is one of the earliest references of a separate gathering and judgment of the godly and the ungodly.
Jesus speaking to His disciples in Mark 4:11: "And He said unto them, "Unto you it is given to know the Mystery of the kingdom, but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables." In Romans 11:25: Paul says "For I would not, brethren, that you would be ignorant of this Mystery, unless you be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part has happened to Israel till the fullness of the Gentiles come in." I Corinth 2:7: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory."
I Corinth 15:51: "Behold, I show you a Mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trump will sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed." Ephesians 1:10: "Having made known to us the Mystery of His will according of His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of time He might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth." Ephesians 3:3,4,5,6,9,10: "How the Mystery was made known to me by revelation as I have written briefly when you read this, you can perceive my insight into the Mystery which was not made known to the sons of men and other generations which has now been revealed the Spirit of God's holy apostles and prophets. This Mystery is that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together with the promise in Christ Jesus. I am become a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me, preached to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make plain to everyone my administration of this Mystery, which for ages past, was kept hidden in God Who created all things." Ciaphas prophesied of what this was to accomplish by Jesus' atoning death in that which was revealed to Paul concerning the Mystery. John 11:9-52: "And one of them named Ciaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up saying, "You know nothing at all, not realizing it is necessary for you that one die for the people than that the whole nation perish. He did not say this on his own but as high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation and not for only that nation but also for the scattered children of God to bring them together and make them one." Colossians 2:2,3: "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and guided in love that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the Mystery of God, namely, Christ in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 4:2,3: "devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Pray for us, too, that God may open a door of our message so that we may proclaim the Mystery of Christ for which I am in chains." Here Paul equates the preaching of the Gospel with the preaching the Mystery! And in I Tim. 3: 8,9: " Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for gain, that they may hold the Mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." Isn't that something, Deacons are to keep themselves from these ungodly traits in order to "hold the Mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience". This is significant! We've kepted ourselves from these ungodly traits but it seems we've lost sight that we are doing this to hold forth the Mystery of the Faith and this is of course ultimately for God and man! That one would have integrity with God and man. Again integrity is brought out in verse 15 of I Timothy in connection with the Mystery of Godliness. I Tim 3: 15, 16: " But if I tarry long that thou mayest how I oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth. 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." Rev. verse 20: "The Mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand in the seven golden candlesticks, the seven stars are the seven angels, and angels are the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." This Mystery has to do with the churches, collectively! The term ***churches*** is used several times in the Letters to the Seven Churches and is intended as scriptural exhortations to the Church at large!!! Now let this sink deep into your spirit and be enlightened and shocked---In Rev.10:7;11:15,18: " But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when He shall begin to sound, The Mystery of God shall be Finished as He has declared to his servants, the prophets." Verse 15,18 of chapter 11: "And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ. And He shall reign forever and forever. And the nations were angry and Thy wrath is come, the time of the dead that they should be judged and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants, the prophets, and unto the saints, even to them that fear Thy name small and great and should destroy them which destroy the earth."
This is when God rewards His Church not at some secret coming at a secret rapture.The seventh trumpet is the Last trumpet. The very trumpet that is in Matthew 24.29-31
Ephesians 1:9,10: "Having made known unto us the Mystery of His will according of His good pleasure which He has proposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ , both which are in heaven and which are on earth." This gathering together into one is at the End of the Age, at the Last Day!!! Eph. 5.31-32 "For this reason a man will his father and mother and will be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh, this is a profound [Great - says the K.J.V.] Mystery but I am talking about Christ and the Church." In Gal. 4.26 "But the Jerusalem that is above is free and She is our Mother." The K.J.V. says "But Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of us all." Ephesians 6:19: "Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the Mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it [ the Mystery of the Gospel ] fearlessly as I should." Colossians 1:24-27: "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's sufferings for the sake of His Body which is the Church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the Word of God in its fullness--the Mystery that has been kept hidden for Ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen [has willed] to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this Mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." There are a few things we need to be reminded of: The saints comprise or make-up the Body of Christ which is the Church. Individually we are called saints, collectively we are called the Church, also called the Bride of Christ. Here I want you to notice The Mystery has been hidden for Ages and generations but now has been revealed to His saints. It is God's will according to verse 27 to know the Mystery. The scripture says that this is Christ in you the hope of glory!!! To be united with Christ, this is the Mystery fulfilled!!!
In contrast to the Mystery of Godliness which is awesome and beautiful and full of light, understanding and love ,in contrast is the Mystery of Iniquity, which is mentioned only one time by that title in the book of second Thessalonians "...that is already at work..." Most Theologians would agree that this has been going on since the Fall of man and even when Lucifer had iniquity rise up from within him and brought about the rebellion in heaven. Here is something to consider, when the Devil was in heaven before the fall at the inception of the first rebellion, he must have deceived the angels that sided with him, and he must have caused them believe that he, Lucifer would be able to pull off what he had contrived!!! The Mystery of Iniquity in contrast is dark, void of understanding. It is apparent that the Mystery of Iniquity is the other side of the coin, so to speak. The one, the Mystery of Godliness is of faith, of belief, of love, of life and a sure destiny!!! While the other, the Mystery of Iniquity is of unbelief, of doubt, of willfulness, of hate, of apathy, sinful and of an unsure destiny to those who don't believe!!! One of the great facets of the Mystery of Iniquity is that those who lives of sin believe not only their going to continue in it but that they are going to go unpunished! These have chosen not to keep God in their knowledge or acknowledge God as Lord and Creator!!! In contrast to the Mystery of Godliness that will unite God and His creatures, Christ and the Church, the Bridegroom with the Bride, the Mystery of Iniquity, unbelieving mankind, unbelievers will be separated permanently from God, forever! This separation means, away from everything good that man now understands in his everyday life. Like the old Christian saying " For the Christian this life is the most hell he'll ever have to experience but for unbeliever this is the most heaven he'll ever experience " The greatest single aspect of The Mystery of Godliness regarding God's people is that they will be joined to Him never to be separated again!!! And the Mystery of Iniquity is that sinful and rebellious mankind will be forever separated from God. Many say that when the Last Gentile is saved or converted to the that the Church is raptured! Then the Great Tribulation begins and all hell breaks loose; but that can't happen until the Church is raptured! Romans 11.25 is quoted as proof of this along with 2.6,7! And that God's dealings with Israel will only begin after the Church is raptured! Romans 11.25 says "For I do not desire, brethren that you should be ignorant of this Mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion [K.J.V. says -conceits] that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in!" Yet if you turn to Luke 21.24 the time of the Gentiles is still going on during the Great Tribulation and will wrapped-up at Christ's Glorious Second Coming!!! In Ephesians 1.7,8,9,10 -verse 10"...make known to us the Mystery, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ , both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him." N.K.J.V. Dear fellow Christians: Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Theologians and Laypeople, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, Christ will gather all those together both in Heaven and on Earth, God will gather the fullness of His People, this happens when the Mystery of God is Finished! Nowhere else is The Mystery exemplified [or personified or illustrated] better than in Christian Marriage!!! The Husband leaves His Father and Mother and is joined to His Bride! And the ones who understand this Mystery the clearest are Christian married couples that love the Lord having been filled with the Holy Spirit and are in love and committed to the Lord and each other! Signal Christians also can greatly understand The Mystery in that they are espoused or married to Christ! But I myself being married shall speak a little bias, and please pardon my bias here, "that Christian earthly marriage is the closest relationship to Christ and the Church on earth during the Millennium." A time of Heaven on Earth. The Marriage [The joining together, nuptial- union] is the joining point, the New Beginning in time that starts the rest of their joyful lives, eternity!
Let’s look at Psalms 1.1- "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, who stands not in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. His delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water which brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither. And whatsoever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind blows away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." This is one of the earliest references of a separate gathering and judgment of the godly and the ungodly.
Jesus speaking to His disciples in Mark 4:11: "And He said unto them, "Unto you it is given to know the Mystery of the kingdom, but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables." In Romans 11:25: Paul says "For I would not, brethren, that you would be ignorant of this Mystery, unless you be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part has happened to Israel till the fullness of the Gentiles come in." I Corinth 2:7: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory."
I Corinth 15:51: "Behold, I show you a Mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trump will sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed." Ephesians 1:10: "Having made known to us the Mystery of His will according of His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of time He might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth." Ephesians 3:3,4,5,6,9,10: "How the Mystery was made known to me by revelation as I have written briefly when you read this, you can perceive my insight into the Mystery which was not made known to the sons of men and other generations which has now been revealed the Spirit of God's holy apostles and prophets. This Mystery is that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together with the promise in Christ Jesus. I am become a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me, preached to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make plain to everyone my administration of this Mystery, which for ages past, was kept hidden in God Who created all things." Ciaphas prophesied of what this was to accomplish by Jesus' atoning death in that which was revealed to Paul concerning the Mystery. John 11:9-52: "And one of them named Ciaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up saying, "You know nothing at all, not realizing it is necessary for you that one die for the people than that the whole nation perish. He did not say this on his own but as high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation and not for only that nation but also for the scattered children of God to bring them together and make them one." Colossians 2:2,3: "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and guided in love that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the Mystery of God, namely, Christ in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 4:2,3: "devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Pray for us, too, that God may open a door of our message so that we may proclaim the Mystery of Christ for which I am in chains." Here Paul equates the preaching of the Gospel with the preaching the Mystery! And in I Tim. 3: 8,9: " Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for gain, that they may hold the Mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." Isn't that something, Deacons are to keep themselves from these ungodly traits in order to "hold the Mystery of the Faith with a clear conscience". This is significant! We've kepted ourselves from these ungodly traits but it seems we've lost sight that we are doing this to hold forth the Mystery of the Faith and this is of course ultimately for God and man! That one would have integrity with God and man. Again integrity is brought out in verse 15 of I Timothy in connection with the Mystery of Godliness. I Tim 3: 15, 16: " But if I tarry long that thou mayest how I oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth. 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." Rev. verse 20: "The Mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand in the seven golden candlesticks, the seven stars are the seven angels, and angels are the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." This Mystery has to do with the churches, collectively! The term ***churches*** is used several times in the Letters to the Seven Churches and is intended as scriptural exhortations to the Church at large!!! Now let this sink deep into your spirit and be enlightened and shocked---In Rev.10:7;11:15,18: " But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when He shall begin to sound, The Mystery of God shall be Finished as He has declared to his servants, the prophets." Verse 15,18 of chapter 11: "And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ. And He shall reign forever and forever. And the nations were angry and Thy wrath is come, the time of the dead that they should be judged and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants, the prophets, and unto the saints, even to them that fear Thy name small and great and should destroy them which destroy the earth."
This is when God rewards His Church not at some secret coming at a secret rapture.The seventh trumpet is the Last trumpet. The very trumpet that is in Matthew 24.29-31
Ephesians 1:9,10: "Having made known unto us the Mystery of His will according of His good pleasure which He has proposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ , both which are in heaven and which are on earth." This gathering together into one is at the End of the Age, at the Last Day!!! Eph. 5.31-32 "For this reason a man will his father and mother and will be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh, this is a profound [Great - says the K.J.V.] Mystery but I am talking about Christ and the Church." In Gal. 4.26 "But the Jerusalem that is above is free and She is our Mother." The K.J.V. says "But Jerusalem that is above is the Mother of us all." Ephesians 6:19: "Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the Mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it [ the Mystery of the Gospel ] fearlessly as I should." Colossians 1:24-27: "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's sufferings for the sake of His Body which is the Church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the Word of God in its fullness--the Mystery that has been kept hidden for Ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen [has willed] to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this Mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." There are a few things we need to be reminded of: The saints comprise or make-up the Body of Christ which is the Church. Individually we are called saints, collectively we are called the Church, also called the Bride of Christ. Here I want you to notice The Mystery has been hidden for Ages and generations but now has been revealed to His saints. It is God's will according to verse 27 to know the Mystery. The scripture says that this is Christ in you the hope of glory!!! To be united with Christ, this is the Mystery fulfilled!!!
In contrast to the Mystery of Godliness which is awesome and beautiful and full of light, understanding and love ,in contrast is the Mystery of Iniquity, which is mentioned only one time by that title in the book of second Thessalonians "...that is already at work..." Most Theologians would agree that this has been going on since the Fall of man and even when Lucifer had iniquity rise up from within him and brought about the rebellion in heaven. Here is something to consider, when the Devil was in heaven before the fall at the inception of the first rebellion, he must have deceived the angels that sided with him, and he must have caused them believe that he, Lucifer would be able to pull off what he had contrived!!! The Mystery of Iniquity in contrast is dark, void of understanding. It is apparent that the Mystery of Iniquity is the other side of the coin, so to speak. The one, the Mystery of Godliness is of faith, of belief, of love, of life and a sure destiny!!! While the other, the Mystery of Iniquity is of unbelief, of doubt, of willfulness, of hate, of apathy, sinful and of an unsure destiny to those who don't believe!!! One of the great facets of the Mystery of Iniquity is that those who lives of sin believe not only their going to continue in it but that they are going to go unpunished! These have chosen not to keep God in their knowledge or acknowledge God as Lord and Creator!!! In contrast to the Mystery of Godliness that will unite God and His creatures, Christ and the Church, the Bridegroom with the Bride, the Mystery of Iniquity, unbelieving mankind, unbelievers will be separated permanently from God, forever! This separation means, away from everything good that man now understands in his everyday life. Like the old Christian saying " For the Christian this life is the most hell he'll ever have to experience but for unbeliever this is the most heaven he'll ever experience " The greatest single aspect of The Mystery of Godliness regarding God's people is that they will be joined to Him never to be separated again!!! And the Mystery of Iniquity is that sinful and rebellious mankind will be forever separated from God. Many say that when the Last Gentile is saved or converted to the that the Church is raptured! Then the Great Tribulation begins and all hell breaks loose; but that can't happen until the Church is raptured! Romans 11.25 is quoted as proof of this along with 2.6,7! And that God's dealings with Israel will only begin after the Church is raptured! Romans 11.25 says "For I do not desire, brethren that you should be ignorant of this Mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion [K.J.V. says -conceits] that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in!" Yet if you turn to Luke 21.24 the time of the Gentiles is still going on during the Great Tribulation and will wrapped-up at Christ's Glorious Second Coming!!! In Ephesians 1.7,8,9,10 -verse 10"...make known to us the Mystery, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ , both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him." N.K.J.V. Dear fellow Christians: Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Theologians and Laypeople, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, Christ will gather all those together both in Heaven and on Earth, God will gather the fullness of His People, this happens when the Mystery of God is Finished! Nowhere else is The Mystery exemplified [or personified or illustrated] better than in Christian Marriage!!! The Husband leaves His Father and Mother and is joined to His Bride! And the ones who understand this Mystery the clearest are Christian married couples that love the Lord having been filled with the Holy Spirit and are in love and committed to the Lord and each other! Signal Christians also can greatly understand The Mystery in that they are espoused or married to Christ! But I myself being married shall speak a little bias, and please pardon my bias here, "that Christian earthly marriage is the closest relationship to Christ and the Church on earth during the Millennium." A time of Heaven on Earth. The Marriage [The joining together, nuptial- union] is the joining point, the New Beginning in time that starts the rest of their joyful lives, eternity!
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