We saw yesterday that the 70th week of Daniel is often called the tribulation period, and because the weeks in Daniel’s prophecy were each 7 years long, we say that the tribulation period will last 7 years. However, we do not refer to the 70th week as the tribulation period because of Daniel’s description. He simply said that in the middle of the week the antichrist would break his treaty with the Jews, and he would destroy Jerusalem and the temple. We refer to the 70th week of Daniel as the tribulation period because of the Lord’s description of the 70th week in Matthew 24.
Matt 24:21
21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (NKJ)
Daniel said the antichrist will rise to power through a promise of peace and prosperity.
Dan 8:23-25
23 "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.
24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.
25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. (NIV)
Though the antichrist will rise to power with a promise of peace and prosperity, his promises will prove to be lies. In the middle of this 7 year period of tribulation, he will turn fierce and will try to destroy all who do not worship him.
Rev 13:5-8
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (KJV)
The antichrist will consolidate his power on earth to such an extent that no human power will be able to oppose him. He will rule unopposed until Jesus Christ returns with the clouds of heaven, followed by his army of immortal saints (Revelation 19:11-14). When Christ returns at the end of the last 3 and ½ years of the tribulation period, He will destroy the antichrist and cast him into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Monday, March 31, 2003
Friday, March 28, 2003
A little more than 2500 years ago, a man named Nebuchadnezzar ruled what was then the greatest empire in the world. He ruled from the city of Babylon which was about 30 miles south of present day Baghdad, Iraq. The prophet, Daniel, had been captured in Jerusalem and taken to Babylon. According to Daniel 9:2, Daniel was aware of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning the return of the Jews to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity (Jeremiah 25:11). Daniel must have also known about Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning the promise of Israel’s future New Covenant Kingdom (Jeremiah 31:31) because he asked God when that kingdom would come. In Daniel 9:24 the answer came.
Dan 9:24-27
24 "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (NKJ)
It would be 70 weeks from the Jews’ return to Jerusalem to the New Covenant Kingdom. Daniel also found out that it would be a total of 69 weeks before the Messiah would come and be killed. After 69 weeks and the “cutting off” of the Messiah, a dark prince would come who would destroy Jerusalem and the temple. This evil prince would make a treaty with the Jews for one week and rule until the consummation or until the kingdom was established.
Did Daniel know how long each week would be? We do not know. But from the time Cyrus the Persian made the decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem until Jesus Christ was killed was 483 years. This would make 69 weeks with each week being 7 years. Following the same time scale, the evil prince (the antichrist) would make a treaty with the Jews for 7 years before the New Covenant Kingdom would be established.
This 7 year period is known as the 70th Week of Daniel, and it is the only scriptural reference to indicate that the tribulation period will last 7 years. As John wrote about the tribulation period in the book of the Revelation, he never mentioned the seven year period, but in three different ways, he referred to a 3 and ½ year period of tribulation. He referred to “time, times and a half time” (Rev 12:14). He referred to 42 months (Rev 11:2, Rev 13:5). And he referred to 1260 days (The Jewish calendar had 360 days per year.)(Rev 11:3, Rev 12:6). Daniel said the antichrist would break his treaty with the Jews in the middle of the 70th week, and it seems that the Apostle John’s prophecies in the Revelation concentrate more on those last 3 and ½ years of Daniel’s 70th week.
As one reads Daniel’s prophecy, it is clear that the 70th week is set apart from the other 69 weeks, but there is no indication of a break in time between the 69th and the 70th week. It has now been nearly 2000 years since Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was killed and neither the antichrist nor the kingdom has appeared. It is obvious that Daniel did not see the age in which we now live. Our present age is a parenthetical age and was kept secret by God from the Old Testament prophets. The truth about our present age of grace was never revealed until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul.
Eph 3:2-5
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Dan 9:24-27
24 "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." (NKJ)
It would be 70 weeks from the Jews’ return to Jerusalem to the New Covenant Kingdom. Daniel also found out that it would be a total of 69 weeks before the Messiah would come and be killed. After 69 weeks and the “cutting off” of the Messiah, a dark prince would come who would destroy Jerusalem and the temple. This evil prince would make a treaty with the Jews for one week and rule until the consummation or until the kingdom was established.
Did Daniel know how long each week would be? We do not know. But from the time Cyrus the Persian made the decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem until Jesus Christ was killed was 483 years. This would make 69 weeks with each week being 7 years. Following the same time scale, the evil prince (the antichrist) would make a treaty with the Jews for 7 years before the New Covenant Kingdom would be established.
This 7 year period is known as the 70th Week of Daniel, and it is the only scriptural reference to indicate that the tribulation period will last 7 years. As John wrote about the tribulation period in the book of the Revelation, he never mentioned the seven year period, but in three different ways, he referred to a 3 and ½ year period of tribulation. He referred to “time, times and a half time” (Rev 12:14). He referred to 42 months (Rev 11:2, Rev 13:5). And he referred to 1260 days (The Jewish calendar had 360 days per year.)(Rev 11:3, Rev 12:6). Daniel said the antichrist would break his treaty with the Jews in the middle of the 70th week, and it seems that the Apostle John’s prophecies in the Revelation concentrate more on those last 3 and ½ years of Daniel’s 70th week.
As one reads Daniel’s prophecy, it is clear that the 70th week is set apart from the other 69 weeks, but there is no indication of a break in time between the 69th and the 70th week. It has now been nearly 2000 years since Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was killed and neither the antichrist nor the kingdom has appeared. It is obvious that Daniel did not see the age in which we now live. Our present age is a parenthetical age and was kept secret by God from the Old Testament prophets. The truth about our present age of grace was never revealed until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul.
Eph 3:2-5
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 27, 2003
I just heard that my father, James Roberts Sr., is in the hospital with pneumonia, and I would really appreciate your prayers for him. He has been going full speed ahead lately, and it may be that he tried to push it a little too hard. He and my mother drove from Oklahoma to Georgia for Jennifer’s wedding and then drove to Indianapolis to see a long time friend. The Lord willing, he will respond well to antibiotics and be home from the hospital soon.
Those of you who know him know what an amazing man he is. Even at 75 years old, he is still faithfully preaching the word of God several times each week as a full time pastor. He loves to meet people and get to know them. At Jennifer’s wedding, I think he met everyone at the reception and will probably remember every one of them by name. People kept coming up to me saying, “I met your Dad. He’s amazing.” He is also amazingly generous, but some may not know that because most of his generosity takes place behind the scenes.
As I thought about his generosity, I thought about what the Lord Jesus said about fathers who are inclined to give good gifts to their children.
Matt 7:9-11 says,
9 "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (NKJ)
As much as a good father loves to give good gifts to his children, our heavenly Father loves to do so even more. Those who are fortunate enough to have a really good father can more readily understand the goodness of God. Through a loving father, a child can begin to understand how our heavenly Father could love people so much that He would give His only begotten Son to die so that those who believe could live.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
If God gave His only Son so we could be saved, would He hold back any good thing?
Rom 8:32
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (KJV)
Even today, there is no spiritual blessing that God keeps from those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Those of you who know him know what an amazing man he is. Even at 75 years old, he is still faithfully preaching the word of God several times each week as a full time pastor. He loves to meet people and get to know them. At Jennifer’s wedding, I think he met everyone at the reception and will probably remember every one of them by name. People kept coming up to me saying, “I met your Dad. He’s amazing.” He is also amazingly generous, but some may not know that because most of his generosity takes place behind the scenes.
As I thought about his generosity, I thought about what the Lord Jesus said about fathers who are inclined to give good gifts to their children.
Matt 7:9-11 says,
9 "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (NKJ)
As much as a good father loves to give good gifts to his children, our heavenly Father loves to do so even more. Those who are fortunate enough to have a really good father can more readily understand the goodness of God. Through a loving father, a child can begin to understand how our heavenly Father could love people so much that He would give His only begotten Son to die so that those who believe could live.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
If God gave His only Son so we could be saved, would He hold back any good thing?
Rom 8:32
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (KJV)
Even today, there is no spiritual blessing that God keeps from those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
We saw yesterday that the disciples may have thought the world, as they knew it, was about to end when they ask the Lord Jesus the question in this verse:
Matt 24:3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (KJV)
One has to wonder why the disciples would ask about the Lord’s coming when the Lord was already there. It seems obvious they understood that the coming of the Son of Man was going to be a grand a glorious event which was yet to come. The Lord had told them in Matthew 10:
Matt 10:23
23 "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (NKJ)
The disciples may have known what Daniel said about the coming of the Son of Man. In Daniel chapter 7, Daniel gave very specific information about the tribulation period and the fact that it would end with the coming of the Son of Man with the clouds of heaven.
Dan 7:13-14
13 "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. (NKJ)
The Lord used similar terms as He described the coming of the Son of Man in Matthew 24.
Matt 24:29-30
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (NKJ)
Knowing about this glorious coming of the Son of Man may have helped to ease the pain when the Lord revealed that He was going to be killed and raised again.
Matt 17:22-23
22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,
23 "and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Matt 24:3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (KJV)
One has to wonder why the disciples would ask about the Lord’s coming when the Lord was already there. It seems obvious they understood that the coming of the Son of Man was going to be a grand a glorious event which was yet to come. The Lord had told them in Matthew 10:
Matt 10:23
23 "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (NKJ)
The disciples may have known what Daniel said about the coming of the Son of Man. In Daniel chapter 7, Daniel gave very specific information about the tribulation period and the fact that it would end with the coming of the Son of Man with the clouds of heaven.
Dan 7:13-14
13 "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. (NKJ)
The Lord used similar terms as He described the coming of the Son of Man in Matthew 24.
Matt 24:29-30
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (NKJ)
Knowing about this glorious coming of the Son of Man may have helped to ease the pain when the Lord revealed that He was going to be killed and raised again.
Matt 17:22-23
22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,
23 "and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Shortly before the Lord Jesus was crucified, the disciples ask Him the question recorded in Matthew 24:3.
Matt 24:3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (KJV)
The word translated world is aion which means age. The disciples knew that, if the kingdom was to be established, the age they were in would end and the glorious age of the kingdom would follow. However, they may have also thought that the coming kingdom would bring about a new heaven and a new earth. Isaiah spoke of the kingdom and said,
Isa 65:17
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (KJV)
The Apostle John revealed in Revelation 20 that before the new heaven and new earth is established the Lord Jesus will rule the present earth for one thousand years.
Rev 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (NKJ)
John goes on to say that at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ, the nations will mount one final rebellion. At that time the enemies of the Lord will surround Jerusalem and the saints of God, but God will sent fire from heaven to destroy them.
The Great White Throne judgement will then take place, and all unsaved people from the beginning of time will stand before the Lord and be judged. God will open the Book of Life, and they will be cast into the lake of fire because their names will not be found therein. Immediately thereafter, the new heaven and new earth will appear.
As John wrote the book of the Revelation, he revealed for the first time in all of scripture that Christ would rule the earth for one thousand years before the new heaven and new earth. Therefore, as the disciples asked about the end of the age, they may have thought that the earth as they knew it was about to end.
It also needs to be noted that the disciples did not know about the age or dispensation we live in today. The Apostle Paul said that our dispensation of grace was revealed to him but was kept secret even from the prophets of other ages.
Eph 3:2-5
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery ...
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Matt 24:3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (KJV)
The word translated world is aion which means age. The disciples knew that, if the kingdom was to be established, the age they were in would end and the glorious age of the kingdom would follow. However, they may have also thought that the coming kingdom would bring about a new heaven and a new earth. Isaiah spoke of the kingdom and said,
Isa 65:17
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (KJV)
The Apostle John revealed in Revelation 20 that before the new heaven and new earth is established the Lord Jesus will rule the present earth for one thousand years.
Rev 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (NKJ)
John goes on to say that at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ, the nations will mount one final rebellion. At that time the enemies of the Lord will surround Jerusalem and the saints of God, but God will sent fire from heaven to destroy them.
The Great White Throne judgement will then take place, and all unsaved people from the beginning of time will stand before the Lord and be judged. God will open the Book of Life, and they will be cast into the lake of fire because their names will not be found therein. Immediately thereafter, the new heaven and new earth will appear.
As John wrote the book of the Revelation, he revealed for the first time in all of scripture that Christ would rule the earth for one thousand years before the new heaven and new earth. Therefore, as the disciples asked about the end of the age, they may have thought that the earth as they knew it was about to end.
It also needs to be noted that the disciples did not know about the age or dispensation we live in today. The Apostle Paul said that our dispensation of grace was revealed to him but was kept secret even from the prophets of other ages.
Eph 3:2-5
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery ...
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Monday, March 24, 2003
We got back to Huntsville last night after having a wonderful time in Americus, Georgia. Jennifer is now Mrs. Jason Adams. We are so thankful for Jennifer and Jason, and we ask for your prayers for them as they begin their new life together.
While we were gone, I was reminded of the blessings we experience as members of God’s heavenly Church. When a person accepts, by faith, that Christ died for their sins, a spiritual union takes place between that person and Jesus Christ. At that moment of faith, the believer is spiritually raised and seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6).
God’s earthly program, on the other hand, has always been administered by the nation of Israel, and they have always been required to perform certain earthly rituals in their worship of the Lord. Circumcision was given through Abraham in Gen 17, and the Passover was given through Moses in Exodus 12. As the children of Israel prepared to eat the Passover and leave the land of Egypt, God instructed them that no uncircumcised male could partake of the Passover.
Three months after leaving Egypt, the nation of Israel came to the foot of Mt. Sinai. There Moses received the Old Covenant Law, and the practice of circumcision and the Passover were both required observances of the law. Ten months after they arrived at Mt. Sinai, they partook of the second Passover feast, and one month later, the nation of Israel left for the promised land.
The Lord led them to the border of the land of Canaan, and there at Kadesh Barnea the nation of Israel refused to enter the land. Their lack of faith brought the judgement of God, and they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years. After forty years, they came back to the land of Canaan, crossed the Jordan River, and, by faith, entered the promised land.
While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they did not practice circumcision.
Josh 5:5
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised (KJV)
There on the plains of Jericho, the men were circumcised, and they were able to partake of the Passover once again.
Josh 5:10
10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. (KJV)
Israel’s Old Covenant Kingdom was set aside as she wandered in the wilderness, and the rituals which were designed for kingdom worship were not observed.
From the time of John the Baptist to the end of the book of Acts, the nation of Israel was offered the New Covenant Kingdom. Israel was at that time on the border of an even greater promised land. Again, they refused to enter because of their unbelief.
God set aside Israel’s New Covenant Kingdom, and Israel has been wandering in the wilderness from that time until now. All of the earthly rituals associated with the New Covenant have been set aside. There is no purpose for earthly church membership, water baptism, communion with wine and bread, feast days, and so forth and so on.
Even as Israel was rejecting the earthly kingdom in the Acts period, God was building the Church to which we belong in the heavens. As God’s program for Israel was set aside, only God’s program for His heavenly Church has remained in effect. Each person who accepts Christ by faith is automatically added to that Church . Each believer is spiritually circumcised as the flesh is crucified with Christ. Each believer is spiritually baptized into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Each believer has the opportunity for constant, spiritual communion with Christ as a member of His Body.
Someday, after our present age of the Church, God will offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel once again. At a certain time known only to God, Christ will return and catch believing Israel up into the clouds. Christ will remarry Israel in accordance with the New Covenant, and Israel will enter the promised land. The blessings of the earthly kingdom will flow through Israel to the rest of the world, and the earthly rituals will become a very meaningful part of the New Covenant Kingdom.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
While we were gone, I was reminded of the blessings we experience as members of God’s heavenly Church. When a person accepts, by faith, that Christ died for their sins, a spiritual union takes place between that person and Jesus Christ. At that moment of faith, the believer is spiritually raised and seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6).
God’s earthly program, on the other hand, has always been administered by the nation of Israel, and they have always been required to perform certain earthly rituals in their worship of the Lord. Circumcision was given through Abraham in Gen 17, and the Passover was given through Moses in Exodus 12. As the children of Israel prepared to eat the Passover and leave the land of Egypt, God instructed them that no uncircumcised male could partake of the Passover.
Three months after leaving Egypt, the nation of Israel came to the foot of Mt. Sinai. There Moses received the Old Covenant Law, and the practice of circumcision and the Passover were both required observances of the law. Ten months after they arrived at Mt. Sinai, they partook of the second Passover feast, and one month later, the nation of Israel left for the promised land.
The Lord led them to the border of the land of Canaan, and there at Kadesh Barnea the nation of Israel refused to enter the land. Their lack of faith brought the judgement of God, and they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years. After forty years, they came back to the land of Canaan, crossed the Jordan River, and, by faith, entered the promised land.
While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they did not practice circumcision.
Josh 5:5
5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised (KJV)
There on the plains of Jericho, the men were circumcised, and they were able to partake of the Passover once again.
Josh 5:10
10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. (KJV)
Israel’s Old Covenant Kingdom was set aside as she wandered in the wilderness, and the rituals which were designed for kingdom worship were not observed.
From the time of John the Baptist to the end of the book of Acts, the nation of Israel was offered the New Covenant Kingdom. Israel was at that time on the border of an even greater promised land. Again, they refused to enter because of their unbelief.
God set aside Israel’s New Covenant Kingdom, and Israel has been wandering in the wilderness from that time until now. All of the earthly rituals associated with the New Covenant have been set aside. There is no purpose for earthly church membership, water baptism, communion with wine and bread, feast days, and so forth and so on.
Even as Israel was rejecting the earthly kingdom in the Acts period, God was building the Church to which we belong in the heavens. As God’s program for Israel was set aside, only God’s program for His heavenly Church has remained in effect. Each person who accepts Christ by faith is automatically added to that Church . Each believer is spiritually circumcised as the flesh is crucified with Christ. Each believer is spiritually baptized into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Each believer has the opportunity for constant, spiritual communion with Christ as a member of His Body.
Someday, after our present age of the Church, God will offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel once again. At a certain time known only to God, Christ will return and catch believing Israel up into the clouds. Christ will remarry Israel in accordance with the New Covenant, and Israel will enter the promised land. The blessings of the earthly kingdom will flow through Israel to the rest of the world, and the earthly rituals will become a very meaningful part of the New Covenant Kingdom.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
This is going to be a great week for the Roberts family. The Lord willing, our daughter, Jennifer, is getting married this weekend in Georgia. That means that Joan and I will be leaving for Georgia tomorrow, and I will not have access to my computer until next week. So, over the next few days I will not be able to publish new messages on this website. I am already looking forward to resuming this daily meditation when we get back. I pray that it has been as meaningful to you as it has been to me. We trust that you will be praying for us as we travel and praying for Jennifer and Jason as they establish their new home. We are so thankful that Jason and Jennifer both have a strong relationship with Christ, and they are trusting Him to lead them in this very exciting time in their lives.
In today’s message, I want to compare the Lord’s description of the end times in Matthew 24 with Paul’s thoughts concerning the last days of the Church age in II Timothy 3. In Matthew 24, the Lord is clearly describing the tribulation period. He said that believers of that time should be looking for the abomination of desolation.
Matt 24:15-16
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (KJV)
Daniel taught that the “vile person”, the antichrist, will make a treaty with Israel during the 7 year period that immediately precedes the kingdom. He also taught that in the middle of that 7 year period, the antichrist will break that treaty, capture the Jerusalem temple and prevent the daily sacrifices from being offered. The temple will, therefore, become desolate, and this will be an abomination to the Lord. In Matthew 24, the Lord said that this period of time would include the greatest tribulation the world has ever or will ever see. Therefore, we call this period of time the tribulation period.
However, in 2 Tim 3:1-5, Paul speaks of the last days but does not include any mention of the antichrist, the abomination of desolation or the extreme tribulation that the Lord Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24..
2 Tim 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)
In this passage, Paul was actually speaking of the last days of the Church age. This is clear evidence that the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ is separate and apart from God’s program for Israel and that the Church age will end before God resumes His dealings with Israel in the tribulation period.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
In today’s message, I want to compare the Lord’s description of the end times in Matthew 24 with Paul’s thoughts concerning the last days of the Church age in II Timothy 3. In Matthew 24, the Lord is clearly describing the tribulation period. He said that believers of that time should be looking for the abomination of desolation.
Matt 24:15-16
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (KJV)
Daniel taught that the “vile person”, the antichrist, will make a treaty with Israel during the 7 year period that immediately precedes the kingdom. He also taught that in the middle of that 7 year period, the antichrist will break that treaty, capture the Jerusalem temple and prevent the daily sacrifices from being offered. The temple will, therefore, become desolate, and this will be an abomination to the Lord. In Matthew 24, the Lord said that this period of time would include the greatest tribulation the world has ever or will ever see. Therefore, we call this period of time the tribulation period.
However, in 2 Tim 3:1-5, Paul speaks of the last days but does not include any mention of the antichrist, the abomination of desolation or the extreme tribulation that the Lord Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24..
2 Tim 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)
In this passage, Paul was actually speaking of the last days of the Church age. This is clear evidence that the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ is separate and apart from God’s program for Israel and that the Church age will end before God resumes His dealings with Israel in the tribulation period.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Monday, March 17, 2003
The Lord told Martha that He, Himself, is the resurrection and the life. He said that those who believe and then die, shall live again, while those who are alive at the time of the resurrection will never die.
The Lord Jesus said and Paul confirmed that their will be a resurrection and rapture of believers toward the end of the tribulation period just before the Lord comes to rule the earth.
Paul taught that there will be a catching up of believers toward the end of this dispensation when Christ shall appear in the glory of heaven, and believers will in an instant appear with Him in glory.
In each case, those caught up and those resurrected will be given an immortal body, a glorious body like that of the Lord Jesus. But what happens to the believer between the time of death and the resurrection? Paul talked about that in his epistle to the believers at Corinth.
2 Cor 5:1-8
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (KJV)
He said that if we die and this body returns to dust, God has prepared for us a new, eternal body which will be waiting for us in the heavens. When we die, our spirits go to be with God, but we go as a spirit without a body. Paul essentially said he would much rather go to be with God in the rapture because then he could go into heaven with a body (being clothed upon). However, Paul said that he was more than willing to go to heaven without a body if that was God’s will, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Later, Paul wrote the believers at Philippi and seemed much more at home with the idea of entering glory without a body.
Phil 1:21-24
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
The Lord Jesus said and Paul confirmed that their will be a resurrection and rapture of believers toward the end of the tribulation period just before the Lord comes to rule the earth.
Paul taught that there will be a catching up of believers toward the end of this dispensation when Christ shall appear in the glory of heaven, and believers will in an instant appear with Him in glory.
In each case, those caught up and those resurrected will be given an immortal body, a glorious body like that of the Lord Jesus. But what happens to the believer between the time of death and the resurrection? Paul talked about that in his epistle to the believers at Corinth.
2 Cor 5:1-8
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (KJV)
He said that if we die and this body returns to dust, God has prepared for us a new, eternal body which will be waiting for us in the heavens. When we die, our spirits go to be with God, but we go as a spirit without a body. Paul essentially said he would much rather go to be with God in the rapture because then he could go into heaven with a body (being clothed upon). However, Paul said that he was more than willing to go to heaven without a body if that was God’s will, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Later, Paul wrote the believers at Philippi and seemed much more at home with the idea of entering glory without a body.
Phil 1:21-24
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Friday, March 14, 2003
That day when Christ returns to defeat the antichrist and rule the earth is, throughout scripture, often called the "Day of the Lord". In II Thessalonians 2, the Apostle Paul instructed the believers that the antichrist has to be revealed before the Day of the Lord can occur. As he speaks of the rule of the antichrist, he says that something is holding the antichrist back until God's appointed time.
II Th 2:6-8
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (NKJ)
Yesterday, I mentioned that I think this is referring to the power that civil laws have to restrain the efforts of the devil. The devil resists any authority other than his own selfish will. The terrorism, pestilence and disease of the early years of the tribulation period will make people more than willing to give up the liberties that are guaranteed by law in exchange for the security that is offered by a leader who promises to eliminate their suffering.
Some have suggested that it is the taking away of the Church which is the Body of Christ which will allow the antichrist to be revealed. However, this epistle was written about 52 A.D., and Paul did not reveal the institution of the Church which is the Body of Christ until about 62 A.D. The first hint of the Body of Christ was in I Corinthians 12 which was written about 57 A.D. With this point in mind, Paul said in verse 6 of II Thess 2 that whatever was restraining the devil was something they already knew about. Therefore, Paul can not be talking about the Church.
Is it possible that Paul was referring to the catching up of the believers of the tribulation period? That is not likely because that rapture will occur after the antichrist is revealed. Paul in this passage and the Lord Jesus in Matt 24:15 said that believers of the tribulation period should look for the abomination of desolation which is the time the antichrist is revealed. That would mean they can not be caught up before the antichrist is revealed. It is also true that the Jewish believers will be the primary target of the wrath of the antichrist after he is revealed.
It has also been suggested that it is the taking away of the Holy Spirit which will allow the antichrist to be revealed. But we know the Holy Spirit will be very active in the lives of the believers of the tribulation period especially after the antichrist is revealed.
Therefore, it seems most reasonable that Paul is referring to the power of civil law. In their Bible commentary, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown quote Olshausen who said:
. . . the power that has restrained the man of sin from his full and final
development, is the moral and conservative influence of political states.
They also quote Alford who said:
. . . He who (now restrains) refers to those who rule those (political states) by which
the great upbursting of godlessness is kept down.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III's link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
II Th 2:6-8
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (NKJ)
Yesterday, I mentioned that I think this is referring to the power that civil laws have to restrain the efforts of the devil. The devil resists any authority other than his own selfish will. The terrorism, pestilence and disease of the early years of the tribulation period will make people more than willing to give up the liberties that are guaranteed by law in exchange for the security that is offered by a leader who promises to eliminate their suffering.
Some have suggested that it is the taking away of the Church which is the Body of Christ which will allow the antichrist to be revealed. However, this epistle was written about 52 A.D., and Paul did not reveal the institution of the Church which is the Body of Christ until about 62 A.D. The first hint of the Body of Christ was in I Corinthians 12 which was written about 57 A.D. With this point in mind, Paul said in verse 6 of II Thess 2 that whatever was restraining the devil was something they already knew about. Therefore, Paul can not be talking about the Church.
Is it possible that Paul was referring to the catching up of the believers of the tribulation period? That is not likely because that rapture will occur after the antichrist is revealed. Paul in this passage and the Lord Jesus in Matt 24:15 said that believers of the tribulation period should look for the abomination of desolation which is the time the antichrist is revealed. That would mean they can not be caught up before the antichrist is revealed. It is also true that the Jewish believers will be the primary target of the wrath of the antichrist after he is revealed.
It has also been suggested that it is the taking away of the Holy Spirit which will allow the antichrist to be revealed. But we know the Holy Spirit will be very active in the lives of the believers of the tribulation period especially after the antichrist is revealed.
Therefore, it seems most reasonable that Paul is referring to the power of civil law. In their Bible commentary, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown quote Olshausen who said:
. . . the power that has restrained the man of sin from his full and final
development, is the moral and conservative influence of political states.
They also quote Alford who said:
. . . He who (now restrains) refers to those who rule those (political states) by which
the great upbursting of godlessness is kept down.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III's link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Yesterday, I mentioned that during the tribulation period there will be a great religious apostasy which will allow a religion from the depths of hell to rise to power while the protections of human government are obliterated. We saw that these things do not apply directly to those of us in this dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. Before the tribulation period begins, our dispensation will end with the appearing of the Lord in heaven and the catching up of those who believe.
However, there is every reason for us to be on guard for these same dangers. Paul wrote to Timothy about the last days of the Church age and said,
2 Tim 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)
Obviously, this is not as extreme as the evil of the tribulation period, but things are heading in that direction.
Paul wrote Timothy about the seducing spirits of the latter times of the Church age.
1 Tim 4:1-2
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (KJV)
Again, this is but a foreshadowing of what will happen in the tribulation period when God will send “strong delusion” upon the people (II Thess 2:11).
To combat this evil in our own dispensation, we are to study God’s word (II Tim 2:15), preach God’s word (II Tim 4:2), and turn away from all that is not consistent with the truth of God’s word (II Tim 3:5).
In keeping with this we should be mindful of the fact that, in the tribulation period, people will stop believing in the power of law. The antichrist will be very popular at first even though he is described as the “lawless one”. The other day I read a letter to the editor of USA Today. The letter was from a lady who said it is more important to protect our families than it is to protect the civil liberties of those who are accused of terror related crimes. We all know how important it is to protect our families, but sometimes we may forget how important it is to live in a society that is governed by law.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
However, there is every reason for us to be on guard for these same dangers. Paul wrote to Timothy about the last days of the Church age and said,
2 Tim 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)
Obviously, this is not as extreme as the evil of the tribulation period, but things are heading in that direction.
Paul wrote Timothy about the seducing spirits of the latter times of the Church age.
1 Tim 4:1-2
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (KJV)
Again, this is but a foreshadowing of what will happen in the tribulation period when God will send “strong delusion” upon the people (II Thess 2:11).
To combat this evil in our own dispensation, we are to study God’s word (II Tim 2:15), preach God’s word (II Tim 4:2), and turn away from all that is not consistent with the truth of God’s word (II Tim 3:5).
In keeping with this we should be mindful of the fact that, in the tribulation period, people will stop believing in the power of law. The antichrist will be very popular at first even though he is described as the “lawless one”. The other day I read a letter to the editor of USA Today. The letter was from a lady who said it is more important to protect our families than it is to protect the civil liberties of those who are accused of terror related crimes. We all know how important it is to protect our families, but sometimes we may forget how important it is to live in a society that is governed by law.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians were among his first epistles. During the time he wrote these letters, he was preaching the gospel of the grace of God to Gentiles as God was offering the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel through Peter and the other apostles. Paul knew from Daniel’s prophecies that there would be a period of great tribulation before the kingdom was established. He encouraged the Thessalonians that their tribulation did not escape the notice of God for Jesus Christ would return to earth with great vengeance on those who cause this suffering.
II Th 1:5-8
5 (Your persecution and tribulation are) a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV)
However, Paul instructed these believers that the antichrist would have to be revealed before Christ’s return.
II Th 2:3-4
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (NKJ)
Paul indicated that the antichrist would rise to power during a time of great religious apostasy which he called “the falling away”. The Apostle John described in Revelation the murderous religion of the antichrist.
Rev 17:5-6
5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (NKJ)
Paul said that the forces which now restrain this murderous religion will be taken out of the way, and the true character of the antichrist will be revealed.
II Th 2:7-8
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (NKJ)
The devil has such great opportunity within the realm of religion because he can hide his sinister deeds behind a veil of piety and self-righteous works. From an historical perspective, human government has often protected God’s people from religious tyranny. Martin Luther was protected by a German chancellor while the Catholic Church sought to kill him for preaching the grace of God. The Constitution of the United States was written to ensure, amoung other things, that no injustice such as the Salem witch trials would ever again take place in our country. It is likely that society’s commitment to the rule of law is what will hinder the devil in the early years of the tribulation period.
Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians were written to those of us in our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. In these epistles there is no discussion of the antichrist or the return of the Lord to the earth to punish the ungodly and exalt the righteous. Our present dispensation will someday end, and God will once again offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel. When that happens, the scenario of II Thessalonians will become very real to the believers of that time.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
II Th 1:5-8
5 (Your persecution and tribulation are) a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV)
However, Paul instructed these believers that the antichrist would have to be revealed before Christ’s return.
II Th 2:3-4
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (NKJ)
Paul indicated that the antichrist would rise to power during a time of great religious apostasy which he called “the falling away”. The Apostle John described in Revelation the murderous religion of the antichrist.
Rev 17:5-6
5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (NKJ)
Paul said that the forces which now restrain this murderous religion will be taken out of the way, and the true character of the antichrist will be revealed.
II Th 2:7-8
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (NKJ)
The devil has such great opportunity within the realm of religion because he can hide his sinister deeds behind a veil of piety and self-righteous works. From an historical perspective, human government has often protected God’s people from religious tyranny. Martin Luther was protected by a German chancellor while the Catholic Church sought to kill him for preaching the grace of God. The Constitution of the United States was written to ensure, amoung other things, that no injustice such as the Salem witch trials would ever again take place in our country. It is likely that society’s commitment to the rule of law is what will hinder the devil in the early years of the tribulation period.
Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians were written to those of us in our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. In these epistles there is no discussion of the antichrist or the return of the Lord to the earth to punish the ungodly and exalt the righteous. Our present dispensation will someday end, and God will once again offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel. When that happens, the scenario of II Thessalonians will become very real to the believers of that time.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Not long before the Lord Jesus was crucified, His friend, Lazarus, died. Jesus went to Bethany to comfort Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and as the Lord arrived, Martha went out to greet Him and said,
John 11:21-26
21 . . . "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (NKJ)
It is interesting that Martha was aware of the fact that the Old Testament scriptures teach that there is life after death. I have heard secular scholars say that the Old Testament says nothing about life after death. Although the resurrection of the dead is rarely talked about in the Old Testament, the fact of the resurrection is certainly taught.
One of the most famous resurrection verses is found in one of Job’s discourses.
Job 19:25-27
25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him with my own eyes-- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (NIV)
As you will recall, the subject of the resurrection was one of the hotly debated topics of Jesus’ day. The Sadducees said there would be no resurrection, while the Pharisees believed in the resurrection. Apparently the Pharisees were more conservative and interpreted the scriptures more literally. Clearly, Martha had been given the benefit of exposure to a literal interpretation of the scriptures.
However, Martha is a good example to us all that we should never become complacent in our understanding of the scriptures in that regardless of our knowledge of the scriptures, we always have a lot to learn. In John 11, the Lord Jesus shared with Martha something that would not become general knowledge for another 20 years or so.
In verse 25, the Lord confirmed the resurrection of the dead, but in verse 26, He taught that there would be some believers who would never die. About twenty years later, the Apostle Paul taught the church at Corinth what the Lord Jesus had told Martha in this private conversation.
1 Cor 15:51-52
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (NKJ)
The Apostle Paul hoped that he would be among those who would never die. All believers in our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ can rejoice in the fact that they may be one of those who never taste of death.
Phil 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
John 11:21-26
21 . . . "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (NKJ)
It is interesting that Martha was aware of the fact that the Old Testament scriptures teach that there is life after death. I have heard secular scholars say that the Old Testament says nothing about life after death. Although the resurrection of the dead is rarely talked about in the Old Testament, the fact of the resurrection is certainly taught.
One of the most famous resurrection verses is found in one of Job’s discourses.
Job 19:25-27
25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him with my own eyes-- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (NIV)
As you will recall, the subject of the resurrection was one of the hotly debated topics of Jesus’ day. The Sadducees said there would be no resurrection, while the Pharisees believed in the resurrection. Apparently the Pharisees were more conservative and interpreted the scriptures more literally. Clearly, Martha had been given the benefit of exposure to a literal interpretation of the scriptures.
However, Martha is a good example to us all that we should never become complacent in our understanding of the scriptures in that regardless of our knowledge of the scriptures, we always have a lot to learn. In John 11, the Lord Jesus shared with Martha something that would not become general knowledge for another 20 years or so.
In verse 25, the Lord confirmed the resurrection of the dead, but in verse 26, He taught that there would be some believers who would never die. About twenty years later, the Apostle Paul taught the church at Corinth what the Lord Jesus had told Martha in this private conversation.
1 Cor 15:51-52
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (NKJ)
The Apostle Paul hoped that he would be among those who would never die. All believers in our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ can rejoice in the fact that they may be one of those who never taste of death.
Phil 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Monday, March 10, 2003
At the end of our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, Christ will appear in heaven and believers will instantaneously appear with Him in glory.
Col 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (KJV)
After the tribulation period, at the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ will again gather His elect. This gathering will include all believers from the time of Adam who were not caught up at the appearing of the Lord.
Matt 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (KJV)
At the second coming, Christ will descend to the clouds above the earth rather than appearing in glory.
1Thes 4:15-17
15 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.
16 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:
17 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. (KJV)
The second coming will occur at the sound of the last trump.
1 Cor 15:52
52 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. (KJV)
The events of the last trump at recorded in Rev. 11.
Rev 11:15 and 18
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." . . .
18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great-- and for destroying those who destroy the earth." (NIV)
At this time all Israel will be saved, and Israel will accept Christ as her King. There will be a great banquet in the clouds above the earth. This celebration is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Rev 19:7 and 9
7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." . . .
9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Col 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (KJV)
After the tribulation period, at the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ will again gather His elect. This gathering will include all believers from the time of Adam who were not caught up at the appearing of the Lord.
Matt 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (KJV)
At the second coming, Christ will descend to the clouds above the earth rather than appearing in glory.
1Thes 4:15-17
15 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.
16 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:
17 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. (KJV)
The second coming will occur at the sound of the last trump.
1 Cor 15:52
52 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. (KJV)
The events of the last trump at recorded in Rev. 11.
Rev 11:15 and 18
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." . . .
18 The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great-- and for destroying those who destroy the earth." (NIV)
At this time all Israel will be saved, and Israel will accept Christ as her King. There will be a great banquet in the clouds above the earth. This celebration is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Rev 19:7 and 9
7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." . . .
9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Friday, March 07, 2003
As I have mentioned before, the Old Covenant was actually a marriage contract between God and the nation of Israel. Israel was an unfaithful wife, and God sent her away into captivity in Babylon. God brought Israel back to the promised land but the marriage was never reconciled. John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus came to Israel preaching “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. This was actually an offer to reconcile the marriage according to the New Covenant which was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament scriptures.
I often mention that the nation of Israel as a whole rejected the offer of this new marriage covenant with its associated kingdom. However, even a casual reading of the gospels and the book of Acts will reveal a considerable number of Jews who did believe that Jesus was the messiah, and who did believe that Jesus had come to establish the New Covenant Kingdom. That raises the question of how many Jews had to believe before the Lord Jesus would actually take the reigns of government and establish the kingdom.
First of all, the Lord Jesus was not a revolutionary. He would never overthrow the existing government by force. All of scripture teaches the importance of submission to the existing authorities. David would not overthrow Saul by force. Paul and Peter both instructed believers to be in submission to political authorities. When Peter drew his sword to defend the Lord Jesus, the Lord said to him,
Matt 26:52
52 . . . "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (NKJ)
This would imply that at least the Jewish leadership would have to accept Jesus Christ by faith and voluntarily relinquish their power to Christ before Jesus could reign as king. However, God actually has a much better plan for His ascension to power. Paul gave us a glimpse into that perfect plan in Romans 11.
Rom 11:26-27
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (KJV)
During the tribulation period, the antichrist will dedicate himself to destroying every single Jew on the face of the earth. The anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany was but a hint of the hatred and annihilation the Jews will face under the antichrist. Even many believing Jews will be killed during that time, but God will protect 144,000 Jews from the terror of the antichrist. At a certain time, God will gather his elect from the four winds of heaven.
Matt 24:30-31
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (KJV)
Believers, living and dead, will be caught up and united with Christ in the clouds above the earth. They will be given new, immortal bodies, and they will accept Christ as their king. At that time all Israel will be saved, and Christ will rule according to the unanimous consent of His new bride, the born-again nation of Israel.
Rom 11:27
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
I often mention that the nation of Israel as a whole rejected the offer of this new marriage covenant with its associated kingdom. However, even a casual reading of the gospels and the book of Acts will reveal a considerable number of Jews who did believe that Jesus was the messiah, and who did believe that Jesus had come to establish the New Covenant Kingdom. That raises the question of how many Jews had to believe before the Lord Jesus would actually take the reigns of government and establish the kingdom.
First of all, the Lord Jesus was not a revolutionary. He would never overthrow the existing government by force. All of scripture teaches the importance of submission to the existing authorities. David would not overthrow Saul by force. Paul and Peter both instructed believers to be in submission to political authorities. When Peter drew his sword to defend the Lord Jesus, the Lord said to him,
Matt 26:52
52 . . . "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (NKJ)
This would imply that at least the Jewish leadership would have to accept Jesus Christ by faith and voluntarily relinquish their power to Christ before Jesus could reign as king. However, God actually has a much better plan for His ascension to power. Paul gave us a glimpse into that perfect plan in Romans 11.
Rom 11:26-27
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (KJV)
During the tribulation period, the antichrist will dedicate himself to destroying every single Jew on the face of the earth. The anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany was but a hint of the hatred and annihilation the Jews will face under the antichrist. Even many believing Jews will be killed during that time, but God will protect 144,000 Jews from the terror of the antichrist. At a certain time, God will gather his elect from the four winds of heaven.
Matt 24:30-31
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (KJV)
Believers, living and dead, will be caught up and united with Christ in the clouds above the earth. They will be given new, immortal bodies, and they will accept Christ as their king. At that time all Israel will be saved, and Christ will rule according to the unanimous consent of His new bride, the born-again nation of Israel.
Rom 11:27
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (KJV)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 06, 2003
Sometimes it is not enough to follow the culture of your religion. Jonah is a great example of a man caught between the corrupt Jewish culture of the Old Covenant Kingdom and the call of God. God told Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Besides his own personal prejudice against gentiles, he, being a prophet, may have known that the Assyrian Empire would in a couple of hundred years destroy the nation of Israel. And almost certainly Jonah had heard that the King of Assyria was just beginning his military conquest of the Middle East. In Jonah’s eyes and the eyes of his fellow countrymen, preaching to Nineveh could be seen as an act of treason. Jonah thought he would rather die.
He bought a ticket to board a ship headed for Spain, the end of the known world. After God miraculously saved Jonah from the belly of the whale, Jonah finally agreed to preach to Nineveh. It is interesting that after the city repented, Jonah went to the east side of the city. It is interesting because Israel was on the west side. Maybe Jonah did not want to go home. What if his fellow citizens heard about his ministry to Nineveh? Maybe he thought he would not be the most popular prophet in Israel.
The first lesson for us is that we must be careful about putting our patriotism above the Word of God. Jonah’s fellow countrymen would have considered him a hero if he had been willing to die rather than save Nineveh. But Jonah was willing, after some gentile persuasion from God, to be a hero for the cause of Christ. Not only did he bring the entire city of Nineveh to its knees before God, but his time in the belly of the fish became the greatest picture in all of the Bible of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees of His day:
Matt 12:39-41
39 . . . “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (NKJ)
The second lesson for us is that we must be careful about valuing our religion above the word of God. The people of Nineveh were not just saved from physical destruction, but they were saved for all of eternity. We know they were saved in a spiritual since because Jesus said they will one day rise up in judgement against the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus. It is also true that the people of Nineveh will rise up in judgement against the Jews of Jonah’s day too, because the Jews of Jonah’s day and the Jews of Jesus’ day were victims of their own religion. Their religion made the false assumption that God hated other people as much as they did. If they had known God’s Word, they would have known about God’s love for the gentile nations. They would have known that God intended for the nation of Israel to be a testimony to the nations concerning God’s love and grace.
The Jews of Jonah’s day were destroyed by the Assyrians and the Jews of Jesus’ day were destroyed by the Romans, but there is a greater judgement that is yet to come. It is a judgement which will bring eternal separation from God to those who refused to study and faithfully follow God’s Word.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
He bought a ticket to board a ship headed for Spain, the end of the known world. After God miraculously saved Jonah from the belly of the whale, Jonah finally agreed to preach to Nineveh. It is interesting that after the city repented, Jonah went to the east side of the city. It is interesting because Israel was on the west side. Maybe Jonah did not want to go home. What if his fellow citizens heard about his ministry to Nineveh? Maybe he thought he would not be the most popular prophet in Israel.
The first lesson for us is that we must be careful about putting our patriotism above the Word of God. Jonah’s fellow countrymen would have considered him a hero if he had been willing to die rather than save Nineveh. But Jonah was willing, after some gentile persuasion from God, to be a hero for the cause of Christ. Not only did he bring the entire city of Nineveh to its knees before God, but his time in the belly of the fish became the greatest picture in all of the Bible of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees of His day:
Matt 12:39-41
39 . . . “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (NKJ)
The second lesson for us is that we must be careful about valuing our religion above the word of God. The people of Nineveh were not just saved from physical destruction, but they were saved for all of eternity. We know they were saved in a spiritual since because Jesus said they will one day rise up in judgement against the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus. It is also true that the people of Nineveh will rise up in judgement against the Jews of Jonah’s day too, because the Jews of Jonah’s day and the Jews of Jesus’ day were victims of their own religion. Their religion made the false assumption that God hated other people as much as they did. If they had known God’s Word, they would have known about God’s love for the gentile nations. They would have known that God intended for the nation of Israel to be a testimony to the nations concerning God’s love and grace.
The Jews of Jonah’s day were destroyed by the Assyrians and the Jews of Jesus’ day were destroyed by the Romans, but there is a greater judgement that is yet to come. It is a judgement which will bring eternal separation from God to those who refused to study and faithfully follow God’s Word.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 05, 2003
Abraham believed what God told him, and God counted Abraham as righteous. Paul said that this is a principle upon which God deals with all of mankind.
Rom 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
It is not enough to follow cultural standards of good and evil. Many times Muslims in Muslim communities simply follow the customs taught by their Muslim leaders. Many Hindus just follow the teachings of their Hindu leaders. Many Christians base their lives on the doctrine of the Christian religion. On judgement day, God will not judge individuals on the basis of their compliance with their religion. He will judge on the basis of their faithfulness to the Word of God.
That is why the Apostle Paul told Timothy,
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
It is obvious that God deals with people differently in different times. How will we find out what God expects from us. We must study; we must diligently seek to know the will of God. This will require us to rightly divide the word of truth. In the Old Testament, God gave the nation of Israel a kingdom which would bring great blessings to its citizens. To live in this kingdom, the Jews were required to live according to the Old Covenant Law.
The dispensation of the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom began with John the Baptist and continued through the end of the book of Acts. During that dispensation, God did many miracles as a sign to the nation of Israel that Jesus Christ was the promised messiah. During that dispensation, Jewish believers continued practicing the Old Covenant Law which included the circumcision of all male children. Jews and Gentiles alike practiced water baptism as a sign of their faith. Water baptism was especially important for the Jewish believers because, in the New Covenant Kingdom, the nation of Israel will function as a nation of priests. As such, they will perform the priestly duties for the nations of the world just as the Levites did for the nation of Israel in the Old Covenant Kingdom. The priests of both kingdoms were to be set apart by ceremonial washings in water.
In our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, we do not have an earthly kingdom, and we have no physical ceremonies or rituals to bind us to this earth. Paul said,
Phil 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ)
At the end of this dispensation the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the heavens, and believers will instantaneously appear with Him in heaven.
Col 3:1-4
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJ)
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Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Rom 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
It is not enough to follow cultural standards of good and evil. Many times Muslims in Muslim communities simply follow the customs taught by their Muslim leaders. Many Hindus just follow the teachings of their Hindu leaders. Many Christians base their lives on the doctrine of the Christian religion. On judgement day, God will not judge individuals on the basis of their compliance with their religion. He will judge on the basis of their faithfulness to the Word of God.
That is why the Apostle Paul told Timothy,
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
It is obvious that God deals with people differently in different times. How will we find out what God expects from us. We must study; we must diligently seek to know the will of God. This will require us to rightly divide the word of truth. In the Old Testament, God gave the nation of Israel a kingdom which would bring great blessings to its citizens. To live in this kingdom, the Jews were required to live according to the Old Covenant Law.
The dispensation of the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom began with John the Baptist and continued through the end of the book of Acts. During that dispensation, God did many miracles as a sign to the nation of Israel that Jesus Christ was the promised messiah. During that dispensation, Jewish believers continued practicing the Old Covenant Law which included the circumcision of all male children. Jews and Gentiles alike practiced water baptism as a sign of their faith. Water baptism was especially important for the Jewish believers because, in the New Covenant Kingdom, the nation of Israel will function as a nation of priests. As such, they will perform the priestly duties for the nations of the world just as the Levites did for the nation of Israel in the Old Covenant Kingdom. The priests of both kingdoms were to be set apart by ceremonial washings in water.
In our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, we do not have an earthly kingdom, and we have no physical ceremonies or rituals to bind us to this earth. Paul said,
Phil 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ)
At the end of this dispensation the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the heavens, and believers will instantaneously appear with Him in heaven.
Col 3:1-4
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJ)
Write me a note at the bottom of this website if you would like to. Your message will be posted in the top space of the message center for a while. Just enter your name and e-mail address (optional), write in the message area and press tag.
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
In John 4 the Lord Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman. He offered her living water, of which, if she drank, she would never thirst again. She was very interested, but then the devil distracted her with one of the political issues of the day. Was it acceptable to worship God without going to Jerusalem? Jesus said,
John 4:23-24
23 . . . the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
I have heard interpretations of this verse which assert that God wants true believers to worship in a spiritual and a physical way. This would equate spiritual with spiritual and physical with truth.
This is an unfortunate interpretation in that it goes against the context of the passage. The Lord Jesus was emphasizing that it really does not matter to God where a person worships in the physical world. The spiritual reality of the heart is where real truth lies. Therefore, “in truth” does not stand in contrast to “in spirit”, but “in truth” simply gives further definition to “in spirit”.
In John 4, the Apostle John was in the process of developing the concepts which the Lord Jesus expressed to Nicodemus in John 3. As you may recall, the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again because
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
The physical world will always have a tendency to draw believers away from the Spirit of God. The natural human body is at war with the Spirit of God. Paul wrote:
Rom 7:23
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (NKJ)
The Spirit of Christ is the only hope believers have of overcoming the destructive pull of the physical body.
Rom 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)
Even the things of the physical earth have a tendency to draw the believer away from God.
Col 3:1-2
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (KJV)
Write me a note at the bottom of this website if you would like to. Your message will be posted in the top space of the message center for a while. Just enter your name and e-mail address (optional), write in the message area and press tag.
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
John 4:23-24
23 . . . the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
I have heard interpretations of this verse which assert that God wants true believers to worship in a spiritual and a physical way. This would equate spiritual with spiritual and physical with truth.
This is an unfortunate interpretation in that it goes against the context of the passage. The Lord Jesus was emphasizing that it really does not matter to God where a person worships in the physical world. The spiritual reality of the heart is where real truth lies. Therefore, “in truth” does not stand in contrast to “in spirit”, but “in truth” simply gives further definition to “in spirit”.
In John 4, the Apostle John was in the process of developing the concepts which the Lord Jesus expressed to Nicodemus in John 3. As you may recall, the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again because
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
The physical world will always have a tendency to draw believers away from the Spirit of God. The natural human body is at war with the Spirit of God. Paul wrote:
Rom 7:23
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (NKJ)
The Spirit of Christ is the only hope believers have of overcoming the destructive pull of the physical body.
Rom 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)
Even the things of the physical earth have a tendency to draw the believer away from God.
Col 3:1-2
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (KJV)
Write me a note at the bottom of this website if you would like to. Your message will be posted in the top space of the message center for a while. Just enter your name and e-mail address (optional), write in the message area and press tag.
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Monday, March 03, 2003
The first time the word righteous is used in the Bible is in the Lord’s description of Noah in Gen 6:9.
Gen 6:9
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. (NIV)
Hebrews says that Noah’s righteousness was the righteousness of faith.
Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV)
The first time the word righteousness is used in the Bible is in Gen 15:6.
Gen 15:6
6 And (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and (the LORD) counted it to him for righteousness. (KJV)
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 as he wrote to the believers in Galatia.
Gal 3:5-7
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (KJV)
Paul wrote Galatians during the dispensation of the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom during which time many miracles were done as a sign to the nation of Israel. Paul’s point is that these miracles were not done through the power of the law but through the power of faith. His proof of the power of faith lay in the fact that the scriptures teach that Abraham’s righteousness was a result of his faith in the Lord before the law was ever given.
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 again as he wrote to the Romans.
Rom 4:1-5
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
From the very beginning of the Bible we see that righteousness is a gift from God and is given in response to faith.
Write me a note at the bottom of this website if you would like to. Your message will be posted in the top space of the message center for a while. Just enter your name and e-mail address (optional), write in the message area and press tag.
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
Gen 6:9
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. (NIV)
Hebrews says that Noah’s righteousness was the righteousness of faith.
Heb 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV)
The first time the word righteousness is used in the Bible is in Gen 15:6.
Gen 15:6
6 And (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and (the LORD) counted it to him for righteousness. (KJV)
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 as he wrote to the believers in Galatia.
Gal 3:5-7
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (KJV)
Paul wrote Galatians during the dispensation of the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom during which time many miracles were done as a sign to the nation of Israel. Paul’s point is that these miracles were not done through the power of the law but through the power of faith. His proof of the power of faith lay in the fact that the scriptures teach that Abraham’s righteousness was a result of his faith in the Lord before the law was ever given.
Paul quoted Gen 15:6 again as he wrote to the Romans.
Rom 4:1-5
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)
From the very beginning of the Bible we see that righteousness is a gift from God and is given in response to faith.
Write me a note at the bottom of this website if you would like to. Your message will be posted in the top space of the message center for a while. Just enter your name and e-mail address (optional), write in the message area and press tag.
Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com
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