JEWISH ACCEPTANCE OF THE ANTICHRIST

"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth" (Dan. 2:31-35).

The Stone = Jesus at His Second Coming (Mt. 7:24 w/ 1 Cor. 3:11; Mt. 21:42-44; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Pet. 2:4, 8; etc.).  Gold = Babylon (Dan. 2:38).  Silver = Medes and Persians (Dan. 5:28).  Brass = Greece (Dan. 8:20-21).  Iron = Rome (Dan. 7:7, 19).  Iron and clay = Revised Roman Empire and ? (Dan. 9:26).  So, what does the clay represent?

"Clay" is defined as "a heavy, sticky material, made from dirt mixed with small amounts of water, which can be formed into different shapes."  The word "clay" in Daniel, is the Hebrew חֲסַף , and, oddly enough, it is defined as "clay."  חֲסַף translated "clay," appears seven times in the Bible, all in Daniel 2:33-45.  

It would seem that "clay," as it is used by Daniel, could be interpreted as representing many things.  However, rather than go into all the possibilities, I would like to "take a guess!"  First, this evil empire will be a mixture of the Revised Roman Empire (Iron), and something made up of dirt and a water.  In Revelation 13, there are two "Beasts."  The first is said to "rise up out of the sea" (13:1), and the second is described as "coming up out of the earth" (13:11).  Most students of Bible prophecy believe that the "sea" represents all "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" (Rev. 17:15).  "Earth," as it is used here, has often been interpreted as "the land," or "the promised land":  Israel.

There are numerous Scriptures which describe the first "Beast," and most scholars agree that he is the soon-coming Antichrist, and that he will be a man from somewhere within the territory once controlled by the Roman Empire.  But the second "Beast" is a little more difficult to identify.  Will he be a Jew?  Perhaps.  Daniel, in writing of Israel's "seventieth week" (9:27), says the first "Beast" will reject "the God of his fathers" (Dan. 11:37).  The second "Beast" will do miracles and call fire down from heaven (Rev. 13:13-14), much like Jewish prophets of old!  He is from the "dirt," and he supports the one from the "water."  Together, they sure do sound like clay to me!  A false messiah accepted by a false high priest?  Sounds consistent with Israel living three and a half years in peace (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-15; Rev. 6-12)!

The Church will be gone! 

What religion is the focus of the first half of the Tribulation?

I SAY UNTO YOU

From the first word in the Book of Genesis, until the last word in the Book of Revelation, whenever a person claimed to represent and speak for God, the phrase "thus saith the Lord" was always stated or implied!  There is, of course, one exception:  Jesus!  Jesus is quoted by Matthew alone, as saying, "I say unto you," over fifty times!  And as one would expect, His Jewish audiences definitely noticed!  Following His "Sermon on the Mount" (Mt. 5-7), here is a sample of the people's reaction: 

"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine:  for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Mt. 7:28-29).

From the time He was a twelve year old boy, religious leaders heard a unique voice in the history of Israel.  Luke recorded their response: 

"And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Lk. 2:46-47).


As an adult, Jesus continued to amaze Israel's leaders.  They were familiar with Jesus' childhood, and His family were known to them, as well:

"And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary, and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Whence then hath this man all these things?" (Mt. 13:54-56).

I always find it interesting that skeptics say Jesus never claimed to be God.  And yet, the New Testament calls Him the Creator (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.).  He said that He and the Father are one (equal), and His audience knew He was claiming to be God (Jn. 10:30-33).  He worked miracles, including transforming water into wine, He healed the sick, He raised the dead, He calmed the weather, He multiplied a small lunch into enough food for 5000 men, and had leftovers!  And if that were not enough, He repeated referred to Himself as "I AM." the Old Testament name for God (Ex. 3:14)!

His enemies were astonished, and plotted His destruction!

His friends were persuaded, and believed unto salvation!

BELIEVE GOD, AND BE SAVED!

One of the most common complaints against Dispensationalism, is that it teaches there is more than one way to be saved.  That is not the case.  In every dispensation, faith in Almighty God is the basis for salvation.  After all, it was the opposite of faith, doubt, that brought about the spiritual downfall of humanity.  In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned even before they partook of the forbidden fruit!  They sinned the moment they no longer trusted God.  When Satan persuaded them God was not to be trusted, they believed Satan!  And so, sin entered into their hearts! 

Some may question this view, saying that the Scripture clearly teaches that it was the eating of the forbidden fruit opened the door to death, and as a result, death inevitably passed upon all of mankind.  I do not agree; the Word indicates Adam sinned, but there is no mention of a forbidden fruit:  "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12).  I "believe sin entered into the world" when Adam ceased to believe God. 

Jesus taught that sin is what goes on in a man's heart, even before he acts.  Notice that, while committing adultery is sin, in actuality, sin has already been committed when man lusts for the woman.  He said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Mt. 5:27-28).

Adam made a decision.  Because Satan cast doubt on God's credibility, and perhaps because Eve did not instantly drop dead, Adam defied his Creator (Gen. 3:1-6).  Adam was the first man to doubt God.  So, the question naturally follows, "How was Adam saved?"  The answer is so subtly presented in the Word, that most everyone misses it:  Adam was sorry, and he accepted God's gift of salvation.  How do I know?  He hid because he was sorry.  He accepted God's "clothing," which He provided Adam by grace; Adam did not earn it, and Adam certainly did not deserve it (Gen. 3:21; Eph. 2:8)!

Yes, throughout man's history, as it is presented in the Word of God, men and women trusted in God, and righteousness was provided unto them; a few examples are Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and even Rahab (Heb. 11:1-31)!  Throughout time, believing in God, believing in His provision for our salvation, has resulted in God declaring men and women of faith, to be righteous (Lk. 23:43; Rom. 4:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; etc.)!

 

Damnation results from doubting God; Salvation results from believing God!

THE BIBLE IS GOD'S "MAPQUEST" FOR LIFE

[This last article was copied from a tract published by American Tract Society]

One of the most widespread but unsound religious teachings of our day is that there are many roads to God. If men are sincere, we are told, it does not matter which path they travel—in the end they will all reach the same destination.
Speaking to a large audience on God's eternal purpose in relation to man, a nationally prominent educator quoted an Old Testament declaration that God created man for His own glory, and said that this purpose cannot be defeated. All men, he said, are brothers, and at the last great gathering not even the most erring ones will be missing. The speaker depicted a beautiful palace standing in a delightful garden. There was only one entrance to the castle, though there were many roads that led to it from all directions. On these roads throngs of pilgrims traveled. Many climbed over tortuous mountain trails; others followed less rocky paths; some, with songs and laughter traversed smooth and flower-bordered ways. But all, finally arrived at the palace gates, and then it mattered not that some had found the journey hard and painful, for all the sufferings of the way were forgotten in their complete and perfect joy.  A pretty picture, this—but not a true one!

Since by divine revelation alone we can discover the way to God, we must turn to the Bible, rather than to man's imagination, for our guidance. Jesus the Christ, describes the two roads open to men. One is a straight, narrow pathway leading to God and eternal life. The other is a broad and easy road leading to final destruction. On this broad road are many travelers, enjoying the fellowship of their comrades and thinking little about their destination. On the narrow way are fewer pilgrims, but a heavenly radiance lights their pathway.

Our Lord stated it this way: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mt. 7:13-14).

Jesus is the way (Jn. 14:6); the only way (Acts 4:12)!

            

BIBLICAL ORDINATION

The word "ordain" appears five times in the Bible, and all five are translated from different Hebrew and Greek words.  Here are the references, the original word, and their meanings:

1)  1 Chronicles 9:22 - Hebrew יָסַד (yacad) - "to establish or appoint."
2)  1 Chronicles 17:9 - Hebrew שׂוּם (suwm) - "to place or appoint."
3)  Isaiah 26:12 - Hebrew שָׁפַת (shaphath) - "to set or ordain."
4)  1 Corinthians 7:17 - Greek διατάσσω (diatassō) - "to arrange or appoint."
5    Titus 1:5 - Greek διατάσσω (diatassō) - "to appoint one to administer."

Here are some New Testament examples of those "ordained" to a specific ministry:

*  The Twelve as disciples - Mark 3:14.
*  Elders in all the churches - Acts 14:23.
*  Governments - Romans 13:1.
*  Pastors over churches - 1 Corinthians 9:14.
*  Born again believers to do good works - Ephesians 2:10.
*  The Apostle Paul - 1 Timothy 2:7.
*  Timothy as Bishop - 2 Timothy 4:22.
*  Elders in every city - Titus 1:5.
*  Titus as Bishop - Titus 3:15.
*  The High Priests - Hebrews 5:1.

Note:  Elder, Bishop, and Overseer, refer to the same office (Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1; Ti. 1:5-7; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; etc.).  "Deacon" in the Greek διακονέω (diakoneō), means a servant in the church.

There is no mention of an ordination council, at which a "candidate" is questioned by other ordained men.  However, there is evidence that ordained men evaluated the lives of the prospects (1 Tim. 3:1-13), and if they were found to have met the criteria for the office, they may be chosen, and prayed over with the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1 Tim. 4:14; etc.).

While it is not specifically stated in Scripture, the ordination of elders and deacons was carried out in the specific church in which they were to serve.  I find no evidence of pastors, elders, or deacons ever moving to another church and being recognized as pastors, elders, or deacons in a new locale.  It is not a "once ordained, always ordained" situation; each church must recognize and call a man as their Pastor, as an Elder or as a Deacon in their church.  I was ordained as Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, where I served, but I am not a Pastor in Charlestown Independent Church, where the Lord has led us to worship.

 

If a church says you are their Pastor, you are their Elder, you are their Deacon, you are! 

CLUES TO THE IDENTITY OF ANTICHRIST

In Revelation 1:19, the Lord told the Apostle John, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."  Students of the Book of Revelation have, for the most part, agreed in their interpretation of this verse.  Jesus was telling John to write about the things he had seen, about the things which currently existed (Ch. 2-3), and those things which would occur in the future (Ch. 4-22). 

There is some irony in John being told to write about the things he had seen in the past.  There stood Jesus in all His glory (Rev. 1:13-16), and while John had seen this before, he had not recorded it in his Gospel!  There were three disciples on the "Mount of Transfiguration," but none of them gave us a description of the Lord's appearance!  Only Peter wrote of what he had experienced with James and John, but he did not describe Jesus' appearance (2 Pet. 1:17-18). The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all record the event (Mt. 17:1-9; Mk. 9:2-10; Lk. 9:21-27), but none of them were there!  Here, Jesus was telling the one disciple who focused upon His deity, to describe Him to future readers!

At the time of John's vision, there were hundreds of churches throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, but the Lord wanted John (and us) to focus upon just seven churches, which existed in what is modern day Turkey.  There is absolutely no doubt that these seven, while in close proximity with one another, were each unique.  Two were praised, and received no rebuke from the Lord (Smyrna, the persecuted church - Rev. 2:8-11 - Philadelphia, known for its love of the brethren - 3:7-13).  The other five (Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) were all rebuked of the Lord for failing to operate in accordance to His will.  In fact, the last church, Laodicea, was described as operating with Christ standing on the outside knocking to get in!  

While there have been many articles written on the seven churches representing seven periods of Church History, I want to focus upon something else.  In Revelation 2:9, Satan is said to be in control of a local Synagogue.  And in Pergamos, the church has to deal with Satan's "headquarters" (Rev. 2:13)!  I wonder if this could be a clue telling us from where the Antichrist will come?  We know he will be from within the area of the Roman Empire (Dan. 9:26), but he will also be known as the Assyrian (Isa. 10:24; Ezek. 31:3), a man of peace (Mic. 5:5), and having a mortal wound (Hos. 5:13).  In addition, the Seleucid division of the Greek Empire, ruled there as well, and it was Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of the Antichrist, who committed the Abomination of Desolation when he was governor (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; etc.)!

Turkey is a Muslim nation; what was Assyria is Muslim today.

That is why I believe el Hassan bin Talal will be the Antichrist.

TESTIMONIES ARE TO GLORIFY GOD, NOT SELF

In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem, and his army captured King Jehoiakim's children, princes of Israel (v. 1-3). He decreed that they were to be taught the ways, the knowledge, and the language of Babylon (v. 4).  Because Nebuchadnezzar gave this responsibility to Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs, many theologians believe that the Jewish children were made eunuchs as well.  Since the Book of Daniel does not say that, some question this, but those who do, have forgotten a key step in interpreting the Scriptures:  comparing Scripture with Scripture.  For we read in 2 Kings 20:17-18, a prophecy that answers this question: 

"Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.  And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

Since all Bible prophecy is, or will be fulfilled literally, there is no doubt that Daniel and the others were mutilated by the Babylonians.  You would think that Daniel would have mentioned such a terrible experience, but in not doing so, he reminds us of Jesus, who was silent before His accusers (Isa. 53:7; Mt. 26:62-63; 27:12-14)!

Daniel did, however, write concerning his experience in the lion's den.  And that is, I believe, not because it was such an awful experience, but because of the effect of the event on Darius, the Median who conquered Babylon (Dan. 5:31).  Darius was tricked into sentencing Daniel to death, by those he had appointed a leaders in his Empire (Dan. 6:1-15).  Darius clearly did not want to cast Daniel to the lions, but by his own law, he was forced to do so (Dan. 6:14).  Before carrying out the sentence, Darius said to Daniel, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee" (Dan. 6:16).  Darius' faith was weak, but evident in his calling out to Daniel the next morning (Dan. 6:19-20).  And what was the final outcome of that horrible event?  Darius decreed: 

"Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end.  He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions" (Dan. 6:25-27). 

Daniel's testimony was not about what happened to him.

Daniel told of what Almighty God had done to Darius' heart! 

    

IS GOD REALLY "OUR FATHER?"

While listening to Pastor Brian's sermon on the Lord's (model) Prayer, I began noticing the many times phrases like "thy Father," or "your Father," surrounded the example of how to pray.  Within the same chapter of Matthew, they occur nine verses (6:1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 18, 32)!  So I began wondering what His audience thought when Jesus kept referring to God as their Father.  Was it a new concept to them? 

The answer is no.  In Psalm 68:5, He declares Himself to be "A Father of the fatherless."  Isaiah wrote of God:  "Doubtless Thou art our Father" (Isa. 63:16), and "But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father" (64:8).  As one writer pointed out, some Old Testament names mean God is Father:

"Some attention is given to certain theophoric names that exemplify the metaphor of fatherhood in the OT such as: Abiel = God is my father (1 Sam 9:1); Eliab = My God is father (1 Sam 16:6); Joab = Yahweh is father (2 Sam 8:16); Abijah = Yahweh is my father (2 Chron 29:1); Abimelech = My father is king (Judg 9:1) — Wright says that: “[t]he common occurrence of these names shows that the idea of God, or Yahweh, as father was well known and accepted." [Knowing God the Father Through the Old Testament, by Christopher J. H. Wright, p. 24].

However, the Jewish concept of God as Father had to do with Him being their Creator, and in that sense, He was Father to all mankind.  Malachi wrote, "Have we not all one Father?  Hath not one God created us?" (2:10).  And it is this sense, that Jesus repeatedly spoke of God as "Father."  Of course, Christians know that God is the Father of Jesus, but as He is God's only begotten Son, He was not referring to the Jews as having the same relationship that He had with God. 

So the question that dominates our thoughts is, What do we, as Christians, mean when we call God our Father?  The answer is found in John 1:11-13:

"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Born again believers, those who are the children of God Almighty, are those persons who have received the Lord Jesus, and His free gift of salvation (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 10:8-17; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.)!

If Jesus is your Lord, you have every right to call God "Father!"

PRAYER SHOULD FOCUS UPON THE GLORY OF GOD

The area in which I, and apparently many other born again believers struggle, is prayer.  I believe I have treated my wife with love, so I don't think that is the problem (1 Pet. 3:7).  I have acknowledged my sins, so it is not un-confessed sin that hinders my prayers (1 Jn. 1:5-10).  I know I am "praying right," because Jesus taught His disciples how to pray (Mt. 6:9-13; Lk. 11:1-4).  So why is prayer so difficult?

I believe it is because we are sensual beings; we relate to our community and environment through our senses.  I have never seen God, and have only experienced hearing Him on a handful of occasions, so when I pray, I very seldom receive feedback.  Prayer, at least for me, is a one-sided "conversation," and I long for God's voice to answer questions, give me directions, and comfort me.  After all, that is what I receive when I am with my brothers and sisters in Christ!  I cannot wait to be with Him!  In the mean time:

 

The Lord's Model Prayer

Our Father - "our" is plural; He is not "my" God, but "our" God!  Only born again believers have a right to call God Father (Jn. 1:12; 3:3-9; Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Jn. 3:1-2).
Which art in heaven - "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple" (Isa. 6:1; see also Mt. 23:22; Heb. 12:2).
Hallowed be Thy name - "Let them praise Thy great and terrible name; for it is holy" (Ps. 99:3).
Thy kingdom come - "And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end" (Lk. 1:33).  "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:16)!
Thy will be done (on) earth, as it is in heaven - He is our Lord, and when He returns, He will rule His kingdom with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9; Rev. 2:7; 12:5; 19:15; etc.).
Give us this day, our daily bread - He will meet the needs of His children on a daily basis (Ex. 16; Mt. 6:25-34; etc.).
And forgive us our (sins) AS we forgive (those who sin against us) - Mt. 18:15-35; 1 Jn. 1:8-10; etc.).
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from (the evil one) - Note that God's children are aware that we are to be led by our Lord!  Also compare Mt. 4:1 with 1 Cor. 10:13 and Jam. 1:13).
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen! - (Rev. 4:11; 16:6; etc.).

"Throne," "Lord," "Kingdom," "Lead us"; Do these words describe your view of Jesus?

  

 

THE POPE'S "GOSPEL" IS FALSE

Roman Catholicism and mainline Protestantism teach many of the same doctrinal truths. Both believe in the Holy Trinity as being one God existing in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Both believe in the Virgin Birth. Both believe in Christ's Crucifixion, His burial in a rich man's tomb, and His Resurrection from the grave. Both believe in His Ascension and His Second Coming. Both believe that all men are sinners in need of a Savior. Both believe that the Father offered Jesus, the Resurrected Lord, to be that Savior. Etc. etc. etc...

So how do the two "isms" differ, you might ask? Well, there are many doctrinal teachings which differ, from the less important, such as the religious leaders being priests, calling them "father," and requiring them to remain celibate; to the more serious differences, such as the priest being "able to change the communion elements into the literal flesh and blood of Jesus (Transubstantiation), and the Doctrine of Purgatory.

But the "deal-breaker," when it comes to reconciling Roman Catholicism with Evangelical Protestantism is over the Doctrine of Salvation! Here is what the Roman Catholic Catechism (IV. The Sacraments of Salvation) has to say on the subject:

#1127 "Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify." [In other words, one has to be a member of the Roman Catholic Church, in good standing, to receive the sacraments of the church, and thereby, earn or qualify for salvation.]

#1128 "This is the meaning of the Church's affirmation that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: "by the very fact of the action's being performed"), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all." [If the "action's being performed was the Crucifixion, then the word would not be plural, as the Lord died once for all - Hebrews 9:12.]

#1129 "The Church affirms that, for believers, the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation." [Again, one has to become a Roman Catholic in order to receive the sacraments of the church, and by so doing, qualify to be saved.]

Now let's look at what the Bible teaches on the subject of a person's salvation:

1) The Father and the Holy Spirit draw the lost individual to faith in Christ, not to a church (Jn. 6:44; 16:7-15).

2) Salvation is by grace (unmerited favor), and it is a gift from God; a gift that requires one to do something is not a gift, but payment for services rendered (Gal. 2:16; 3:2; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Heb. 4:3; etc.).

3) When Jesus or His disciples were asked what they must do to be saved, their answer had nothing to do with joining a church, but was a resounding "BELIEVE!" (Lk. 8:12; Jn. 1:12; 3:15-18, 36; 6:29, 47; 11:25-27; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9-10; etc.)!

 Any church that requires one to join in order to be saved, is a false church!
 Any Gospel that requires more than faith in Christ, is a false gospel!

THE COMFORT OF BELIEVING IN THE RAPTURE

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:1-3).

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thes. 4:13-18).

I recently watched a video of two young preachers doing their very best to discredit the teaching of the Doctrine of the Rapture.  They were quick to point out that until John Darby popularized the dispensational approach to "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Tim. 2:15), in the 1830's, none of the Apostles, nor any of the "great theologians" of the previous 1800 years, had any knowledge of Dispensationalism.  To that, I agree. 

But, what they apparently neglected to consider, was that the Book of Daniel, the source for Darby's new approach to Bible study, was to be sealed (kept a mystery) until a time when transportation was accelerated, and knowledge increased (Dan. 12:4). Until the early 1800's, the fastest mode of travel was the horse; passenger trains began transporting people in the early 1800's!  In the early 1800's, there began a rapid growth in the number of students attending colleges and universities;, and by the turn of the twentieth century, there were about 300,000 enrolled in the United States!

Dispensationalism is the only approach to the understanding of the Scriptures, that provides for a literal interpretation.  It keeps what was written concerning Israel, and what was written to the Church, in context.  It recognizes that God's dealing with Israel, was put on the "back burner" until the end of the Church Age (Pentecost - Rapture).  Followed by Daniel's Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:27), a.k.a. the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7); and the Tribulation (Mt. 24:3-29).  See also Romans 11.

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled."  Paul said, "Comfort one another with these words."  Obviously, the Rapture of the Church is GOOD NEWS!

TRUE MIRACLES HAPPEN RIGHT ON TIME!

I once heard a seminary professor make the statement that there are no such things as miracles.  I was not surprised.  Nearly all of the professors denied that the Bible was "as advertised."  They believe it was "messed with for years," until it said what the modernist theologian wanted it to say.  I spent four years respectfully disagreeing with them, which is an education in and of itself!  I found that very difficult to comprehend, since there are thousands of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek copies still in existence today.  When the Dead Sea Scrolls were compared to the ancient texts, they confirmed the authenticity of each other! 

Getting back to the subject of miracles, when a professor said that the Jordan River drying up so that the children of Israel could cross (Josh. 3:17) was not a miracle, but a landslide upriver that temporarily blocked the flow.  My question was, "Who caused the landslide at that precise moment?"  And when he could answer that one, I asked, "And how was the ground made dry so quickly?"  When he smiled and said nothing, I asked, "The same question applies to the Hebrew Exodus out of Egypt; not only did the water stop flowing, but the ground was dry; who did that?"  And while we are on the subject, "How was it that the "shallow marshes" turned dry, could drown the Egyptian army when the waters returned?"  I was not a popular student.

My salvation experience was a similar miracle.  I was an atheist when one man witnessed to me in Pensacola, one man sent me a pocket New Testament from San Diego, I read a single chapter on a fluke, my daughters turned on a Dolphin Way Baptist Church on TV, and the preacher preached on that very chapter:  the odds of all those things happening in order, and in a very short time span, had to be guided by someone or something!  I had no doubt that it was God, and God got my attention!

Today, some forty-three years later, my morning was "time controlled" by a doctors appointment.  After what seemed like an eternity, I left there to go get a haircut.  I had not eaten anything "all day," but still, I chose to go to the barbershop first.  I walked in and Brandon, the young owner, a man in his early forties, a man who had only accepted Christ a few months before, greeted me with unexpected enthusiasm.  He had been talking to a young, brand new convert, and wanted me to answer J.P.'s many questions.  After about an hour, J.P. was satisfied with the few question I could answer, and after taking my blog address, he left.  Brandon was amazed at the preciseness of my arrival, and I was delighted to have had the opportunity to share my faith with the two of them.

So, what I have said all this to say, not only does God still do miracles, He does them exactly when they are needed!  Jesus healed Lazarus, but He did it when He raised him from the dead!  The miracle was right on time; if Jesus had healed his sickness, we would not have the record that so blesses God's children today!  Water stops and the land is dry; water returns and drowns the enemy.  A Bible is sent, a chapter is read, a sermon is prepared, a witness takes place, and children turn on a preacher:  the miracle is in God's perfect timing!  What difference does it make if he uses a landslide; the point is, God is a God of miracles!

The greatest miracle I ever saw was God open my eyes and my heart!  

FORGET THE 144,000; FOCUS UPON JUST ONE!

Over the many years since Jesus saved me, I have been trying to follow His leading for two reasons:  first, because He is worthy and I am eternally grateful that He saved me; and second, because I have read Hebrews 12:5-11!  Unfortunately, I have a terrible track record when it comes to Bible reading, prayer, soul-winning, guarding my thoughts and my tongue, to name just a few of my inadequacies. 

However, as imperfect as I am, I am wise enough to believe every word of God's Word.  I do admit that it is a difficult book, but that is why the Apostle Paul said to be a workman and study it (2 Tim. 2:15)!  And so I have.  Still, after forty-three years, I am merely a beginner!  Every day, I read a familiar passage and something "new pops out" to amaze me.

What I do know, is that the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong.  Jesus is God (Jn. 1:1, 14; 20:28)!  I also know Jesus is God, because God created the Universe, and the Scripture says Jesus did it (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.)!  That means Jesus existed before Abraham (Jn. 8:58)!  The Creator's name, His name, was Jehovah (translated LORD in the KJV Old Testament over 6000 times).  Jesus voluntarily died to pay for the sins of the world (Jn. 10:18; Gal. 1:4; Phil. 2:5-8; 1 Jn. 2:2; etc.)!  Buried for three days and three nights, He was raised from death by His Father (Mt. 12:40; Gal. 1:1; etc.)!  His death, burial, and resurrection, all according to the Scriptures which prophesied of those thing, is the Good News, the Gospel, they very thing that has the power to save us (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; etc.)!

I also know that the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that 144,000 of their members will have worked hard enough to sealed by God as His.  And, they are wrong.  First, no one can work enough to be saved (Eph. 2:8-9)!  Second, the 144,000 listed in the Book of Revelation, are 12,000 Jewish males, from each of the twelve tribes, who are virgins (Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-5)!  They were sealed unto God's service until their work had been completed (they witness for Jesus during the first half of the seven-year Tribulation, just like the two witnesses of Revelation 11).  After the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13; etc.), they die and are seen following Christ in heaven (Rev. 14:4).  Like the Church before the Tribulation, the 144,000 were raised to heaven and they are also call the "first fruits unto God." 

Forget the 144,000 saved Jews; focus on making sure you are there with them!

Trust in Jesus Christ, call upon the Lord Jesus, and you will be! 

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

When one thinks of "weapons of mass destruction," he usually thinks of nuclear weapons, biological weapons, or chemical weapons.  That is logical, but it is far too narrow, far too limited, as to what kills massive amounts of people in a short time.  Murderous ideologies not only kill just as many people in a relatively short time, they are not limited to a "ground zero."  They are capable of killing thousands of people in many nations, all at the same time! 

Islam, repeated described as a "religion of peace" by those in power, is anything but!  The very name, "Islam," means "submission."  In other words, in order to be a Muslim, one must submit to the teachings of the Koran (Qur'an).  The penalty for refusing, regardless of one's reason, is to be put to death (ironically, the modern Jihadists who supposedly insist on total obedience to the Koran, fail to do so themselves; more often than not, they blow-up or shoot their "enemies," rather than behead them as the Koran demands)!

Unlike the teaching of the Old Testament of the Bible, where God ordered Israel to rid the "promised land" of all non-Jews, the teaching of the Koran is for all lands, and for all time.   Devout Muslims are to force non-Muslims to convert to Islam, or suffer death!  While for some that appears as a "mere technicality," it makes all the difference in the world!  God didn't tell the Jews to force non-Jews into converting to Judaism, or be slaughtered; He told them to drive all non-Jews out of a specific territory.  Had they left of their own accord, not a single inhabitant of that land would have been killed.  But, because they were, and many still are today, determined to eradicate the Jews, they were victims of the wars that followed.

Knowing that the Muslim goal is world domination, for someone to call Islam "a religion of peace" is absorbed!  Islam, according to its own teachings, is determined to make the entire planet Muslim.  Today, there are thousands of cells of Islamic terrorists throughout the world.  They are not only a threat to nations like France, England, Russia, and the United States, they are a threat to Islamic nations such as Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, as well.  Basically, every other nation on the planet is in danger, once they have conquered their primary targets.

One person on Facebook, in response to the news reports of the increasing Islamic insanity, posted the comment, "we are all doomed."  I do not believe that to be true.  While it is true that he Bible teaches there will be "wars and rumors of wars" world-wide, and that there will be a seven-year Tribulation period, it also promises born again believers, those who trust Christ for their salvation, will be removed prior to a hell breaking out (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 3:10; etc.)!  The Lord will return for His true believers prior to "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6-18; etc.)!  That is why the Gospel (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.) is called "The Good News!"

If this life was all there is, then fear is to be expected; but it isn't, praise God! 

 

LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE

In Titus 2:13, born again believers are told to be "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."  There are many verses which support the idea of looking for the return of Jesus (1 Cor. 1:7; 16:22; Phil. 4:5; Col. 3:4; 1 Thes. 1:9-10; 5:6; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 10:37; Jam. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:13; 1 Jn. 3:2-3; Rev. 22:20)!  There is even an Aramaic word for it:  Maranatha = "Come Lord Jesus!" 

First, let me state the most obvious:  Christians have been looking, longing for, the return of Jesus, since the day of His Ascension.  One might even surmise that the disciples were expecting Jesus to make a U-turn as He rose into the clouds.  Notice that they had to be told to quit looking up and to go do what He told them to do:  "And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:10-11).

But today, some criticize the Church for being more interested in the "signs of the things to come," than they are in His coming.  I believe the criticism is totally unfair.  Jesus told His disciples, in His Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24-25), that they were to look for the signs!  So, why is there even a debate about that for which we are to look?  I believe the answer is due to a failure to rightly divide the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15). 

The disciples, just as with the Jewish people, were looking for the return of their Messiah, their Christ, their world-governing leader.  They preached the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mt. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mk. 1:14-15; etc.).  What they had not yet learned, was that Jesus would return in clouds twice in the future:  once to receive the Church up to meet Him in the air (our blessed hope, the Rapture - Jn. 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 1Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 3:10; etc.), and a second time, His Second Coming to this earth to rule His Kingdom (Rev. 19:11 - 20:15).

Because the Bible teaches that, following the Rapture, there will be a seven year Tribulation (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6 - 18; etc.), followed by Christ's Second Coming to establish His 1000 year reign over His creation, called the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-15), born again believers are encouraged point out "the signs of the end," as a warning to those who have not accepted God's gift of salvation (Acts 20:31; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 1:28; Heb. 11:7; etc.)!  Those signs do not indicate when Jesus will Rapture His Church, but because the three events closely follow each other, born again believers know that if the signs of the second event, the Tribulation, have begun appearing, then it is obvious that the first event is imminent!

 

Signs are encourage believers, and are to warn unbelievers!   

    

DO YOU HUNGER TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WORD?

Anyone who has read my blog over the past five years, will be familiar with Middletown Bible Church, as I have often used their materials as a resource.  On a few occasions, I have actually copied their material verbatim, as I have found it to be sound doctrinally, and it often presents an issue in a concise and clear way.  Their materials are available in the form of correspondence courses, and I recommend them for both "seasoned theologians," and brand new "babes in Christ."

The Middletown Bible Church offers a Correspondence Bible Study Course for any person who is interested.  The subjects covered include the following:  the sinfulness of man, the work of Christ, God's way of salvation, the inspiration of the Scriptures, faith, redemption, justification, sanctification, holy living, eternal security, assurance of salvation, and many other topics.  It is titled, "Basic Doctrinal Worksheets for Believers."

 

If you enroll in this course, you will receive Bible study worksheets in six installments (the entire course is 100 pages).  You will need a Bible as  your only textbook (KJV version is recommended).   The purpose of the course is to help you to go to the Scriptures and see exactly what the Bible teaches.

 

After you complete the first lesson you will mail it back to us for correction in a stamped envelope that will be provided for you.   After it is corrected, it will be returned to you along with the next lesson.  After you have finished all 100 pages (6 lessons), then you will receive a certificate, and an additional Bible study course will be sent to you (a 138 page study on the Gospel of John, in four installments).

 

To enroll, you merely need to do the following:

Put a check in the mail for the amount of $22.00 payable to The Middletown Bible Church.  This will cover the cost of postage, envelopes, etc. for the entire course.   We are not making a profit.   On the memo line of your check write "Correspondence Course."  Mail to:

 

George Zeller
Middletown Bible Church
349 East St.
Middletown, CT 06457

 

Please make sure your address is clearly written on the envelope.

[Sorry, but this offer is only for those living in the United States.  Shipping these lessons overseas is very expensive.]

FAITH IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS OBJECT

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

The first thing I notice in that verse, is the word "now."  It is in the present that faith works!  The past is gone, and we may never have another day in this life, so faith only works now!  In this chapter, there are many examples of Bible characters who believed God:  Abel (v. 4), Enoch (v.5), Noah (v. 7), Abraham (v. 8), Sara (v. 11), Isaac (v. 20), Jacob (v. 21), Joseph (v. 22), the mother of Moses (v. 23), Moses (v. 24), Joshua (v. 30), and Rahab (v. 31).  I find it amazing that the writer of Hebrews mentioned Rahab, but "did not have time" to give the details for such famous people such as Gideon, Samson, David, and Samuel!  Truly, God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)!

"Faith," according to the dictionary, means "to trust in, or believe in someone or something."  Our verse tells us that faith is not merely wishful thinking, but it is "substance."  To the believer in Christ, He is real!  He came physically to die on a literal cross.  He was literally taken down from that cross and buried in a borrowed tomb.  And three days later, He was seen alive; His Father had raise Him from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-10)! 

The fact that I believe in Jesus Christ, according to the verse, also testifies to the reality of my relationship with God.  He has changed my life!  He has given me peace!  He has demonstrated that He can be trusted to do what He says He will do!  My very faith is "evidence" to His reality. 

Does that mean those who believe in false gods, the gods of religions, prove their gods exist?  Well yes, in a way it does.  Their gods exist in their minds; they really believe they are real.  In the Bible, the prophet Elijah had an encounter with 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kg. 18:1-40).  They really believed their god could and would demonstrate his power; he did not.  That is the difference:  the One in whom I trust has revealed Himself.  Over and over in the Bible, God has foretold what He would do, and hundreds, perhaps even thousands of times, He has done exactly what He said He would do!  There are more than 300 prophecies about the earthly life of Jesus, which were fulfilled to the letter, by His First Coming!

So, I would ask you:  "If God literally fulfilled all that He said concerning Christ's First Coming, isn't it a virtual certainty that He will do the same for the Bible's prophecies concerning His Second Coming?"  Because He has proven Himself to me, I KNOW that what lies ahead will be exactly what He said would occur!  I KNOW that I am now a child of God, and that one day real soon, I will be miraculously transformed into the likeness of His dear Son (1 Jn. 3:2)!  I can't wait!

Maranatha!  Come Lord Jesus! 

ARE WE THERE YET?

Anytime a family goes on a trip of over five minutes long, the kids usually begin their never-ending questioning:  "Are we there yet?"  It is so common that adults often ask the same question of a driver, just to be funny.  I honestly don't remember my kids asking that, nor do I remember me or my siblings doing so, but it probably happened, as the sit-coms' use of the "joke" seems very familiar.

The Christian life is sort of like a long journey, as well, and from time to time, born again believers ask their Father, "are we there yet?"  Of course, if we are asking that question, the answer is no.  But like any long trip, there are markers along the way that let us know how far we have travelled, and how much farther we have yet to go.  However, there is one ironic difference:  the longer a born again believer lives his or her life-long spiritual journey, our indicators often seem to be telling us that we are either off the right way, or that we are driving in reverse!

The newborn believer begins pure and clean and as righteous and holy as is Jesus.  We have received the Lord's righteousness:  "For He (our heavenly Father) hath made Him (Jesus, our Lord and Savior) to be sin for us, (Jesus) who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).  We, excited as a child on Christmas morning, have received God's gift of salvation (Eph. 2:8), and we have been adopted as God's child (Rom. 8:15); and we have been sealed (having God's stamp identifying us as His child) by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).  And so, the journey begins!

It is not long before we realize that following Jesus is not as easy as one would imagine.  For one thing, like all children, we are distracted by things and people around us; we take our eyes off of Jesus for a split second, and when we look back up, He has "disappeared over a next hill."  The distractions are described in the Parable of the Sower (Mt. 13:22).  There are also times when the "path" seems to be too difficult to trod; it is not easy (Mt. 13:21).  But like the loving Lord that He is, He left us a few "breadcrumbs" to mark His path:  the Bible!  And, we also have an "inner compass" to get us back on tract (the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Jn. 14:17).

The longer I have been a believer/follower of Christ, the more the "bread crumbs" reveal how unlike Jesus I am!  My nature and His nature are far from being the same.  And yet, this knowledge increases my awareness that my salvation if by the grace of God, and not because I deserve it!  And that knowledge causes me to love my Father, my Savior, and my inner Sealer/Guide!  The road is named GRACE!

 

I long for the day I arrive at my destination:  the City of Christlikeness!  (1Jn. 3:2)   

TRUSTING GOD FOR MORE THAN SALVATION

For those who have never given it much thought, becoming a born again believer is the easiest thing in the world!  God draws our attention to His Son (Jn. 6:44).  The Holy Spirit convinces us that we are sinners in need of a Savior; that Jesus was telling the truth as evidenced by His ascending to His Father following His death, burial, and resurrection; and that all of mankind will stand before God to be judged by Him (Jn. 16:7-15; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Heb. 9:27).  If we truly believe the Gospel, we will turn to follow the One who offers us the gift of salvation (Lk. 24:47; Acts 26:20; Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9).  It's that simple!  We hear - we believe - we call upon the Lord Jesus - and we are saved!

It is what follows salvation that is where the difficulty lies.  When we are born again, God begins the long, often painful process of changing us into the image of His dear Son.  Philippians 1:6 says, "...He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  The transforming of a born again believer into the image of Jesus is WORK, even for God! 

The Apostle Paul, followed up his statement about salvation being a gift (grace), with a description of what God does next.  He wrote:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).  Again, God has WORK to do in order for us to become like Jesus.

One familiar passage that believers often quote to someone else when they are facing difficulty (we seldom remember it when the difficulty is ours), is Romans 8:28, which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."  But what we usually fail to mention is WHY the believer is put through the ordeal.  The next verse tells us:  "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."  Again, we see God is at WORK, using circumstances to transform us!  God uses our difficulties to accomplish the WORK He intends to complete in us:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:1-5).

Notice that faith, peace, grace, and hope, in Jesus Christ, results in God WORKING on us through tribulations, which yield patience, which yields experience, which yields hope; hope that one day, we will be like Jesus Christ Himself (1 Jn. 3:2)!

 

Works won't save us, but salvation is the beginning of God's WORK in us!

TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ENEMIES

After more than seventy years of living as "a virtual nobody," (mostly by choice), I have discovered that I have "arrived" as the Patriarch of the Mutschler Family.  Oh, I know there are many Mutschler families around the globe, but none of them are the descendants of Horace John "Jack" Mutschler: just us.  Unfortunately, unlike the patriarchs of the Bible, I have rarely heard God's voice, and I have found most of my "clan" could care less about what I have to say.  Few if any will be reading this, but I am sure that if I say something embarrassing, they will all "look into it."  Maybe I should say something embarrassing just to insure they all read it.  LOL

 For years, I have told my wife and kids that I didn't expect to live past thirty, then forty, then fifty....  Now, here I am at seventy-one and three quarters (that's for the teens who might care about what embarrassing thing I have written about them), and I have to sleep in a recliner, I have a dozen or so damaged vertebrae so that I have to have my wife apply medication to my two swollen legs, which is the result of congestive heart failure.  I need cataract surgery on both eyes, I have few teeth, and the ones which remain are broken or chipped.  I get muscle cramps and extremely short of breath just walking to the mailbox.  But, I am still here!  I am still breathing.  God has a strange sense of humor! 

So why am I still here?  People tell me that He must still have a purpose for me, a job for me, in this horrible, corrupt, despicably-evil world.  And they must be right.  And fortunately, I know what it is!  I am still alive because people I love are racing through life on the fast track to hell!  Not all, but the majority.  How do I know that, you might ask?  The answer is simple:  Jesus Christ is not the focal point of their lives.  Some attend church, but not regularly, and those who do, more often than not, come away with a list of things they didn't like about members, the choir, the preacher, or the temperature, music selection, etc.  Oh don't get me wrong; unfortunately, born again believers often do that too; I know because I have. 

No, the thing that shows me who is who, when it comes to being a child of God, is how close they want to be to Jesus.  Do they want to live their lives like children who constantly want their parent to "come see what I have done," or do they want to live like children who would prefer that their parent "stay out of their business?"  Do they want to be close to Him, or do they want to know how far away from Him they can get and still consider themselves Christians?  Do they want to know the "rules" so that they can live as close to the edge, or do they want to know so they can please Him? 

I do not profess to be the ideal spiritual role model, and for that, I am ashamed.  I wish I could say as Paul and Peter, follow my example (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thes. 3:17; 1 Pet. 5:3), but I wouldn't dare.  My desire is that you care what Jesus wants from you; that you humble yourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you; that you forget about what you CAN do, and focus upon what you SHOULD do! 

This may be my last blog post, or it may not; I do not know.  But, as the oldest living Mutschler, the patriarch of the family, I beg you to consider what I have written, just in case it is my last!  I know this:  I will never have to worry as to whether or not I warned my family to accept Jesus Christ as the LORD of their lives; to submit to His will and to make every effort to live accordingly. 

HE IS WORTHY! 

THE SERPENT IS STILL SPEAKING TODAY

When Adam decided to believe only what his eyes told him (much like modern scientists), and he saw Eve did not die from eating the forbidden fruit, his action showed that he did not believe God is truly God, having authority over him (Gen. 3:1-6).  It was true irony that "the father of lies" (Jn. 8:44) convinced Adam that it was God who was lying!  The first knowledge Adam and Eve "gained," was that they were naked (Gen. 3:7)!  Immediately, they covered their nakedness and tried to hide from their Creator (Gen. 3:7-8)!

Here we are, a few millennia later, and nothing has changed.  Men prefer to believe "the liar," rather than believe the Gospel, the truth that Jesus was sent by God, His Father (Jn. 3:16), to die for us on a cross, to be buried for three days (Mt. 12:40), and to be raised from the dead to rule and reign over His creation (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Mt. 5:35; 22:44; Acts 2:35; 7:49; Heb. 1:13; 10:13; etc.).  And just as was the case with Adam's behavior, once he doubted God, the same has been true ever since.  Psalms 14 describes the way of life for those who deny God:

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? (Who eats) up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD" (Ps. 14:1-4).

Today, none seek God; even though God draws them to faith in His Son (Jn. 6:44)!  Today, religions have taken hold of most of humanity, with their "work your way to heaven" schemes.  Those who are caught up in religion, at least know that they need to be forgiven; they at least are aware of their sinfulness.  Agnostics may be aware, but they don't care enough to seek God.  Atheists are a god unto themselves.  I have always been amazed at how Atheists believe in evolution, with its "survival of the fittest" foundation, and yet they do not simply eliminate the religious so that they can be free to feed their own lusts!  Perhaps it is a numbers thing. 

The Word of God tells born again believers that we will not "fit in," we will not be accepted by the vast majority of people, including many who call themselves Christians, even apostles (Jn. 15:19; Rev. 2:2).  Even members of our own families will despise us (Mt. 10:36); perhaps because they mistakenly believe born again believers should be perfect, and they certainly see our flaws.  Oh well, if they are foolish enough to reject Jesus because they are looking at us instead of at Him, what can we do? 

Soon, we will all be gone to be with the Lord.  Then, the lost will not have either our testimony, or our imperfect behavior:  there will be no excuses!  Seeing a billion or so souls "disappear" will either wake them up, or it will "free them up" to do whatever they like (for seven years)!  The Rapture (our removal - Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; etc.) and the Tribulation (Daniel's Seventieth Week - Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6 - 18; etc.) are IMMINENT!
 

 

Today may be the last day one can saved by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ!

GOD'S CHILDREN STILL SIN

In addition to Romans 7:15-25, James 5:15-16, and 1 John 1:8-10, the Bible repeatedly indicates that God's children still sin.  Here are a few examples: 

"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee" (Deut. 8:5).

"I will be his father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men" (2 Sam. 7:14).

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:  For He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole" (Job 5:17-18).

"If his children forsake My Law, and walk not in My Judgments; if they break My Statutes, and keep not My Commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.  Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail" (Ps. 89:30-33).

"My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction:  for whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Prov. 3:11-12).

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:  for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons" (Heb. 12:5-8).

God has taken responsibility for transforming us into the likeness of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 1:6; 3:21; and my very favorite verse:  "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 Jn. 3:2).

Born again believers sin!  God is at work "fixing us!"

THE MESSAGE FROM GENESIS 4

I do not recall anyone preaching or teaching that after Adam and Eve were "booted out" of the Garden of Eden, human beings were still allowed to be in the very presence of God.  I have always believed that God's presence remained there, and that He continued there "walking in the coolness of the day" (Gen. 3:8).  Wrong!  In Genesis 4:16, we read:  "And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."  What difference does it make, you might ask?  It makes a great deal of difference! 

For one thing, God was apparently "walking in the coolness of the day" outside the Garden of Eden!  That means that Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, could still have had an ongoing relationship with their Creator.  They spoke to Him, and He to them (Gen. 4:3-15).  Notice that both Cain and Abel brought their offerings to the LORD.  They were face to face with Him!  [That is one of many reasons why I believe the word "LORD" did not mean the Father, but His presence was a Christophany, a pre-incarnation appearance of the Lord Jesus, as no man has ever seen God the Father (Jn. 1:18; 1 Jn. 4:12)].  So, Cain and Abel did not learn about God simply from the teaching of their parents, but they had their own relationship with Him.    

Have you ever wondered why God was displeased with Cain's offering?  Giving Cain the benefit of the doubt, let's assume that the "crops" Cain brought as a sacrifice were the finest of his harvest.  Since there was yet no written Law as to what man was to bring, and since we know God is just, we also have to assume that the LORD had given Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel instruction as to how they were to approach Him.  And, not only were Adam and Eve clothed with the skins of animals which were sacrificed to make them, Cain and Abel must have also had clothing of skins.

Knowing what the LORD required, for Cain to bring "fruits and vegetables" was wrong on two counts:  First, Cain was being rebellious rather than being repentant.  He decided he would give God what he wanted to, rather than what God required.  Second, his "offering" was the results of his "works."  He had labored to produce his produce!  Man cannot be made right with God by his works, but must humbly accept the grace of God provided to him (Eph. 2:8-9)!

Here we are 6000 years or so, give or take, and nothing has changed.  Man is still trying to offer his works (religion) to pacify God.  Just as the LORD had provided for the salvation of Adam and Eve by a death, He still offers forgiveness to any and all who will accept His provision.  God sent His Son, Jesus, to die in order to clothe us with righteousness, His righteousness (Isa. 61:10; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 3:25-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; etc.)!  Here is Isaiah 61:10.

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh Himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

 

BELIEVERS RISE BEFORE JUDGMENT FALLS BELOW

COMPARE

"And as it was in the days of (Noah)..." (Lk. 17:26).

WITH



"...the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth" (Gen. 7:17).

COMPARE

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot..." (Lk. 17:28).

WITH

"And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain..." (Gen. 19:30).

 

 

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:1-3).

 

 

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

 

 

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thes. 4:16-17). 

 

 

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."  "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (1 Thes. 5:9-10; Rev. 3:10).

 

 

The Rapture of the Church precedes the Tribulation of the Jews!

SONS OF GOD

Verse one:  "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Verse two:  that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 
Verse three:  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 
Verse four:  There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown" (Gen. 6:1-4).

For years, I have heard "expert theologians" debate this passage of Scripture, and more often than not, the discussions ended up with both sides believing the others were idiots.  Like most points of disagreement, I say that if it hasn't been settled in the past 2000 years, I would be an arrogant fool to assume I could resolve the issue.  And yet, here I am writing about the identity of the "sons of God."  Oh well, the "fool" label most likely fits this writer anyway. 

As I read this passage, I observe that:
     1)  men had daughters (v. 1).
     2)  the "sons of God" married the daughters of men (v. 2).
          *  biblical marriage is between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:18-25).
          *  angels do not marry (Mt. 22:30).
          *  God's Spirit does strive with man, not with angels (v. 3).
          *  man's lifespan is numbered; not that of angels (v. 3).
     3)  in addition to men, daughters, sons of God, there were ALSO giants (v. 4).
          *  "giants" is from the Hebrew נָפִיל (nĕphiyl), (plural -  Nephilim).
          *  the "giants" were the offspring of Anak (Num. 3:17-33).
             - Anak was a man who lived in Canaan AFTER the Exodus! 
             - perhaps that explains why there were no "giants" mentioned in Abraham's day.

Some have said that because of the passages in the Book of Job (1:6; 2:1; 38:7), that "sons of God" must always refer to angelic beings.  That is not necessarily true.  There are at least three kinds of "sons of God" which are identified in the Bible: 
     1)  angelic beings (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7).
     2)  God's only begotten Son (Ps. 2:7; Jn. 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; etc.).
     3)  born again believers in Christ (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:14, 19; Phil. 2:15; 1 Jn. 3:1-2; etc.).

An alternative view which seems more likely, at least to me, is that the line of Seth would be recognized as being "of God," while the line of Cain might well be viewed as being "of Satan." 

Does it really matter?  If not, then why argue about it? 

         

WORKS JUST WON'T WORK!

"Not every one that saith unto Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?'  And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity'" (Mt. 7:21-23).

The Lord's first recorded sermon, the "Sermon on the Mount" (Mt. 5 - 7), was given before an audience of Jews who had spent their entire lives trying to earn their way to heaven.  They had been taught all 613 laws of Judaism to the letter, but they had missed the whole point of the Law.  According to the Apostle Paul, the Law was not given as a means of achieving righteousness, but was given to teach man that righteousness was beyond his grasp (Gal. 3:21-24).  Paul went on to write, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26)!  We are saved, not by works of the Law, but by calling out to Jesus (Rom. 10:13; Eph. 2:8-9). 

Those who try to work their way into God's favor, fail to realize that God does not expect man to be righteous; He knows that we are incapable of living a holy life.  In fact, because He is fully aware of our inability, He has provided the source for us to become righteous:  Jesus!  The work of the Holy Spirit is to make us aware of our sinful state, and cause us to long to be cleansed (Jn. 16:8-11). 

Matthew's Gospel says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Mt. 5:6).  Even when we seem to be righteous, we are only fooling ourselves.  Isaiah 64:6 says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...."  The only righteousness that is acceptable to God, is His own, and He offers it to us freely.  Matthew wrote:  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt. 6:33).  Paul wrote:  "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21)!  True righteousness is only possible by faith in God's Son (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 4:5; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 11:7; etc.).

Works cannot make one righteous, but the righteous work out of gratitude! 

ISRAEL'S STRANGEST FEAST

Following Israel's miraculous exodus from Egypt, the Lord gave Moses instructions concerning the seven Feasts of the Lord (Lev. 23:1-44).  To Israel, the seven feasts had to do with the Lord wanting them to hold assemblies at seven specific times each year.  They did not see the feasts as prophecy, but as history, or religious tradition.  Just as the United States has holidays to remember and honor those who have gone on before us, the Jews were to remind their children of God's blessings on their nation. 

Of the seven Feasts of the Lord, one stands out as unique:  Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-22).  It stands alone on the Hebrew Calendar, fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits, the last of the Spring feasts (Lev. 23:1-14), and about five months before the beginning of the Fall feasts (Lev. 23:16-44).  It is also unique, in that, it is the only feast that is celebrated with leaven (a symbol throughout the Bible for sin and doctrinal corruption - for example, see Amos 4:4-5; Mt. 16:6, 11; 1 Cor. 5:6-9).

The Spring feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits, to the Christian, were clearly prophetic, and were literally fulfilled with the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus at His First Coming (1 Cor. 5:7; 15:3-4, 20).  Most Christians who hold to a literal interpretation of prophetic texts, view the Fall feasts, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, as having to do with the events involving Israel at Christ's Second Coming (the Tribulation - Dan. 9:24-27; Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. 6 - 18: and the Millennium - Rev. 20:1-15).

But Pentecost, standing alone between the "First Coming" and "Second Coming" prophetic feasts, has to represent something which takes place following Israel's Messiah being "cut off" (Dan. 9:26; Mt. 27:32-38; Mk. 15:21-28; Lk. 23:26-34; Jn. 19:17-24; etc.), and His "Second Coming."  It has been nearly 2000 years since the Crucifixion, and based upon the our nightly news programs, it is not going to be much longer until He returns (Mt. 24:4-8)! 

So what fulfills the Feast of Pentecost?  Well, the Church was birthed on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1)!  And although the Church is a mystery to the Jews (Eph. 5:32), the New Testament clearly explains that the Lord has temporarily put Israel on "the back burner" (Rom. 9 - 11), until "the times of the Gentiles" is complete (Lk. 21:24).  So Pentecost is a picture of the Church Age!  There were approximately 2000 years from Creation, until the choosing of Abraham's people (Israel); there were approximately 2000 years from the birth of Israel, until the birth of the Church, and there will be, in my humble opinion, 2000 years of God "tolerating" His "collection of sinning Jews and sinning Gentiles" known as the Church!

Today is Pentecost - a great time for the Rapture of the Church!

THERE'S SIN IN THE CAMP

I find it amazing that some born again believers are shocked when a brother or sister sins.  In fact, I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why they are so surprised; do they not have the "mirror of the Word" (Jam. 1:23-24), and see their own sin?  It is as though they fail to recognize that they are carrying around a huge "beam" in their own eye, and are mesmerized by the little "mote" in the eye of a brother (Mt. 7:3-5)!  Where did they get their theology?  Who has convinced them that they are sinless?

The Apostle Paul used several present-tense verbs to describe his struggle with sin in his own life (Rom. 7:15-25).  The Apostle James wrote that before the elders were to pray over a sick brother or sister, he or she was to confess his or her sins (Jam. 5:16)!  The Apostle John went so far as to say those who denied they still sinned, were calling God a liar (1 Jn. 1:7-10)!

I have written many times about how the Parables of the Kingdom, found in Matthew 13:1-52, are types or "pictures" of the Church Age.  The Lord showed His disciples that it would be impossible for them to determine who was a born again believer, and who was "planted" by Satan himself.  The "tares" (13:28-30), and the "bad fish" (13:47-50), are two examples.  The Church is also infiltrated by Satan's "birds" (13:31-32), and is "enlarged" by leaven, a biblical symbol for sin and corruption (13:33)!

Tomorrow, the Church celebrates its birthday, which occurred on the Feast of Pentecost, ten days after the Lord's Ascension (compare Acts 1:3 w/ 2:1).  If one studies the Feast of Pentecost, he is quick to discover that there is something very unique about it; it is the only feast that God specifically told the Jews to include leaven in the two loaves of bread (Lev. 23:15-22).  Because the Church is the fulfillment of the prophetic Feast of Pentecost, and because it is composed of two groups of sinners, the born again Jews and the born again Gentiles, it is clear that the Lord knew the members of the Body of Christ would still have to struggle against sin! 

Of course there is "sin in the camp!"  You and I are there!

AN END-TIME SCENARIO

Life on earth will be totally evil when Jesus returns.  He described it as being like it was in the days of Noah (Lk. 17:26).  Describing the world at that time, Moses wrote, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5).

As bad as things are today, it cannot be said that "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."  Even though the Church has a great many "tares," much "leaven," and loads of "unwanted fish" (Mt. 13:30, 33, 48), there still remains a "remnant" of faithful believers living today.  Yes, as bad as the world is, it could be a lot worse. 

Luke later quoted Jesus as saying in Luke 18:8, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"  So what has to happen before the Lord's statement here, and in Luke 17:26 will be true?  The faithful believers will have to be removed!   

Jesus promised He would remove His Church prior to the pouring out of God's wrath upon the world; He told the Church of Philadelphia (represents faithful believers), "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10).  Notice that there will still be a church operating when the believers are removed, but it will be a Christ-less church (Rev. 3:14-22)!

The removal of His faithful Church will occur prior to the Tribulation (Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. 6 - 18; also known as Daniel's Seventieth Week - Dan. 9:27; and the Time of Jacob's Trouble - Jer. 30:7).  Jesus will catch faithful believers up into the clouds prior to the destruction below, pictured in what He did for Noah (Gen. 7:17), and for Lot (Gen. 19:17).  The "removal" is known as the Rapture of the Church, and is described in John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Revelation 4:1.  Notice that the Church is not mentioned one time during the Tribulation, as it is described in Revelation 6-18.

There is one alternative theory as to why there are no believers left on earth at Christ's Second Coming, and based upon how many Christians are being slaughtered around the world today, I must agree that is seems quite likely to be true.  However, there is one giant flaw to the theory:  how could 1 Thessalonians 4:17 be true?  It reads, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  It cannot!  Praise God!

True believers cannot wait until they are transformed into Christ's likeness (1 Jn. 3:2)!

BUT I SAY UNTO YOU

Who is this Jesus?  He is:

•  The Creator (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.)!
•  The Son of God (Mt. 16:16; Lk. 22:70-71; Jn. 3:16; etc.)!
•  God (Jn. 1:1, 14; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; etc.)!
•  Lord (Jn. 20:28; Acts 4:33; Rom. 1:1; etc.)!
•  Savior (Lk. 2:11; Jn. 4:42; 2 Tim. 1:1; etc.)!

The Word says that Jesus spoke like no other man; "For He taught them as One having authority, and not as the scribes" (Mt. 7:29).  In John 7:45-46, we read, "Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought Him?  The officers answered, Never man spake like this Man."  He spoke and challenged the Jewish leadership's interpretation of the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings!  Here are a few examples from Matthew:

• [5:22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
• [5:28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
• [5:32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
• [5:34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
• [5:39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
• [5:44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
• [11:22] But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
• [11:24] But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
• [12:6] But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
• [12:36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
• [17:12] But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
• [26:29] But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.

The Father draws each of us to His Son (Jn. 6:44)!   The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn. 16:7-11)!   We then have the choice of rejecting Jesus, or accepting Him.  When I recognized my need for a Savior, and believed the Gospel that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures for me (1 Cor. 15:3-4), and when I called upon the Lord Jesus to save me, the Word says I was saved (Rom. 10:9-10)!

 

Jesus is His name; He offers the gift of salvation to those needing a Savior!