THE ENTIRE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN FOR US!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (Greek theopneustos - "God breathed"), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man (child) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
BUT THE ENTIRE BIBLE WAS NOT WRITTEN TO US!
2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman (worker) that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
LET ME EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE:
When we "rightly divide" the Scriptures, we must take into consideration the context and audience for whom the text was written. From the time of Creation, to the calling of Abram, later called Abraham, was approximately two thousand years, based upon the total years between the birth of each generation in the lineage of Jesus. During that period, the entire world consisted of only Gentiles; there were no Jews. God's instructions to Adam were vastly different than those He gave Noah, and later, Abraham. You and I have no access to the Tree of Life while we sojourn here on earth. God has never instructed anyone else to build an ark, nor has He told us to sacrifice our firstborn to Him.
From the time of Abraham, to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was also approximately two thousand years. During that period, the world consisted of only Gentiles and Jews. God's instructions to believers during those years, was to abstain from eating certain foods, and that all males were to be circumcised. But following the Crucifixion, approximately two thousand years ago, the Lord established the Church, and believers are known as Christians. Because the pattern (2000 years of only Gentiles; 2000 years of only Gentiles and Jews; and 2000 years of Gentiles, Jews, and Christians; Bible believers expect another change, and many believe it will happen at any moment. The Bible teaches that Jesus will return in the clouds, and that genuine, born again believers will be removed to meet their Lord in the air: this event is known as the Rapture of the Church. This teaching is based upon these and like verses :
John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you 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 (precede) 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.
Following the removal of the Church, there will once again be only Gentiles and Jews on the earth. Following a seven-year attempt by God to bring mankind to repentance and faith in Him, a period known as the Tribulation (a.k.a. Daniel's Seventieth Week; and The Time of Jacob's Trouble), Christ will return and establish His kingdom on earth for one thousand years. His kingdom reign is known as the Millennium.
What I am trying to say is, those passages written to various people during one of the four periods or ages (2000 + 2000 + 2000 + 1000 years), may or may not apply to you and me. We need to "rightly divide" God's Word in order to understand what God's will is for us today. One thing is, and always has been true:
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (have a change of mind resulting in turning to God in faith).
MY HOPE IS THAT THIS POST WILL
HELP THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND
WHY THE SCRIPTURE APPEARS TO
CONTRADICT ITSELF; IT DOES NOT!
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