God (through John) made the contrast between Moses and Christ:
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
God (through Paul) made the contrast between Moses and Christ:
Rom 10:4-13 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith (also Phil 3:9) speaketh on this wise,
Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven?
(that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep?
(that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? (What saith what?
What saith the righteousness which is of faith?
What saith the scripture?
What saith the law of Moses?
It is a quote from the OLD testament - Deut 30:14):
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:
that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(What word of faith do WE preach?
The same word that was near Israel in the OLD testament,
the same word that was in their mouth,
the same word that was in their heart?
THAT IS .... the same word of faith, which WE preach.
PAUL brought that OLD testament word of faith .... into his CURRENT epistle.
We are able ministers of the NEW covenant (2 Cor 3:6), not the OLD one.
We preach Jesus and the resurrection - like Acts 4:2,33, 17:18; 1 Pet 1:3):
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. ('Mid-Acts-ers' won't use this verse for salvation. They say it pertains to ISRAEL, not us. "Well, 'mid-Acts-ers', what about the 'no difference' issue? Does that not apply to salvation through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection? Sure, it does!")
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, (Paul quoting the OLD testament? .... and applying it in the dispensation of grace? Yes!)
Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (another OLD testament quote - Joel 2:32)
Did the law end for good?
The OLD covenant of the law could not perfect the saints ....
so Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and kept the law perfectly;
then He died to pay the penalty of sin, bring in the NEW covenant of grace,
and give His perfect righteousness to all who believe:
Rom 8:2-4 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The NEW testament blood of the cross is what brings us close to God (Col 1:20).
The OLD testament law could not do that .... but the NEW testament did .... with its better hope:
Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect,
but the bringing in of a better hope did;
by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Look how much better .... in so MANY ways .... the NEW covenant is, than the OLD:
The NEW covenant has better things:
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
The NEW covenant is a better testament:
Heb 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety (certainty, guarantee, assurance) of a better testament.
The NEW covenant is a better covenant .... based on better promises:
Heb 8:6 But now (a favorite phrase of the ‘mid-Acts-ers’, except they don’t want any Hebrews’ ‘but now’ .... they only want Paul’s ‘but now’) hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
The NEW covenant has the better sacrifice, Jesus Christ:
Heb 9:23-26 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
The NEW covenant has reserved better goods (wealth, possessions, property) in heaven:
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
The NEW covenant has a better country .... a better city .... in heaven now (Gal 4:26) .... but will one day come to earth (Rev 21:2-4):
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (also see John 14:2-3)
The NEW covenant has a better resurrection .... never to die again:
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (also see Rev 2:11, 20:6 and Matt 24:9)
The NEW covenant has a better thing .... being made perfect.
The OLD covenant could not do that (Heb 7:19):
Heb 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The NEW covenant of grace has Jesus Christ in the middle, making peace:
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The OLD testament gave an idea of the better NEW testament, but its continual sacrifices could never remove sins.
So Jesus Christ came and sacrificed Himself (Eph 5:2, Heb 7:27, 9:26) one time, for all time:
Heb 10:1-14 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.
He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Since Jesus Christ took away the OLD covenant .... to replace it with the NEW covenant.
Why would He go back to the OLD one? He won’t!
Why not? His sacrifice was good to sanctify all who believe .... one time, for all time:
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Jesus’ sacrifice was good forever.
There is never any need to go back to the OLD sacrifices:
12 But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (also see Psa 110:1, Matt 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:43, 1 Cor 15:23-25, Heb 1:13)
Surely by now, this issue should be clear.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ perfected those who are sanctified forever. Why would He return to OLD testament sacrifices .... ANYTIME .... even in a "future millenial reign"? He won’t!
The ONE sacrifice He made .... was good forever:
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
What blessed truths to know about the NEW testament, which GOD (through PAUL) said that WE are able ministers of (2 Cor 3:6)! Yet ‘mid-Acts-ers’ DIVIDE them AWAY because they are in Hebrews. Because of their extreme and hyper-dividing, they refuse nearly 80% of the Bible (53 of 66 books) .... everything that PAUL did not write. They constantly cry, ‘Mystery, mystery, mystery’. But they are what is mysterious with their extreme and hyper-dividing. They will be ashamed for disregarding God’s word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) .... that they took a chart and a man’s word instead. How tragic! I know what I’m talking about since I did it for nearly 30 years. Thank God my eyes are now open.
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;
as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Since .... "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Rom 10:4) .... then, why would God ever go back to an OLD covenant of LAW that could not perfect the saints .... AFTER we have had ALL these BETTER things? He won’t!
Jesus Christ made the law unable to judge us believers as guilty .... because HE bore the penalty of our sin:
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Why would God reinstitute the law, after Jesus annulled it? He won’t!
Jesus Christ wiped away the law that condemned us, and got RID of it:
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Why would God bring the law back into effect after Christ took it away? He won’t!
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
How do all these scripture verses effect the ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensational’ doctrine that Christ will reinstitute OLD testament sacrifices in the temple, and the Levitical priesthood, and circumcision, for 1,000 years?
Did the law end for good?
It was abolished and blotted out!
God said it; that settles it! I believe it! Do YOU?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A Mansion Just Over the Hilltop?
I listened Sunday evening to a ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensational’ preacher ‘dividing away’ John 14, where Jesus told about His ‘Father’s house’ (which the preacher said was the temple) .... and .... lots of ‘mansions’ (which the preacher called apartments) there. That gave me a ‘daily’ thought.
I think this man tells impressionable people things they do not normally get from reading the verse .... and quite frankly, things that are NOT IN the verse. Rather than question HIS opinion, they are easily influenced to believe everything he says.
We will hold the context in John 14 as we reference other verses. Jesus assured His disciples so they would not be worried about the future. He wanted them to have an inner calmness of mind, without anxiety as they faced death for His sake (Matt 24:9, Mark 13:11-12, Luke 12:4, John 16:2, Acts 26:10, 1 Cor 4:9, 2 Cor 4:11, Phil 1:20, 3:10; James 5:6, Rev 2:10, 12:11):
John 14:1a Let not your heart be troubled:
Jesus guaranteed them of His peace:
John 14:27a Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Paul also taught the saints that they had the peace of God (Rom 5:1, 14:17, 15:13; Eph 2:14-15,17, 6:15; Phil 4:7; Col 3:15):
2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Back in John 14, the disciples were reminded not to be fearful (Matt 10:26-31; Luke 12:4,7,32):
John 14:27b Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Believers, in general, have always been encouraged to be brave in the face of adversity (Psa 118:6, 2 Thess 1:4-10, 2 Tim 1:7, Heb 13:5-6):
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:
and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Go back in John 14. Faith in the God of the Old Testament .... had to be transferred over ....
to faith in the Christ of the New Testament:
John 14:1b ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ change the words in the hymn ‘When We All Get to Heaven’ from being what the VERSE actually says:
"In the mansions bright and blessed, He’ll prepare for us a place" ....
to be "In the heavens bright and blessed, Oh to see His loving face,"
because they think they’re going to heaven .... but not to any mansions there. Although God broke down the middle wall of partition here on earth (Eph 2:14) .... ‘mid-Acts-ers’ stay outside the great wall surrounding the city up in heaven .... so that the saints from what-they-call ‘Israel’s prophecy program’ .... will not get INFILTRATED by or MIXED up with .... who-they-think is ‘the body of Christ’. They do not acknowledge that ‘Jerusalem, which is above, is the mother of us all (Gal 4:26), even though PAUL wrote it (for God). They think they have no part in the new Jerusalem, which has a wall great and high (Rev 21:12). That’s enough for them to keep the Gentiles divided OUT! One ‘mid-Acts’ preacher told me the (deceased) body of Christ was up in, like, the ‘SKY’ of heaven .... on a ‘higher plane’ .... higher than those ‘Israel-prophecy-program saints’ .... who could look out the windows of their heavenly mansions .... way up higher .... to see the body of Christ up there higher. How absurd!
Back in John 14, Jesus told His disciples:
John 14:2a In my Father's house are many mansions [mone]:
When a preacher tells you that you don’t need to look at the Greek .... consider that he may be slighting you to trust whatever he says.
When I researched the Greek word for ‘mansions’ .... I found that is was used in one other verse, and translated ‘our abode’. We could understand that Jesus and His Father come unto those that love Him, and make their ‘mansions’ with them. Hmmmmm:
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode [mone] with him.
Why .... even our apostle PAUL taught that same truth .... and to beat all .... he got it from the OLD testament (a ‘mid-Acts’ horror!):
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Yes, BELIEVERS are God’s spiritual house now:
1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry,
ye are God's building.
Was Peter teaching that, too? He sure was:
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The preacher I heard Sunday also said that when Jesus spoke of preparing ‘a place’ ....
He was really talking about a position of ruling.
That is not what I get from reading the verse, back in John 14:
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
That sounds more like a ‘location’ to me .... not a ‘position’:
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am (LOCATION), there ye may be also.
Paul explained that when Jesus comes back, His saints will rise to ‘gather .... assemble .... congregate’ in the sky (where the clouds are --- location). Wherever Christ goes .... we will go with Him.
In fact, whereever He IS .... we will be WITH Him forever.
If He rules in God’s kingdom on the earth without end .... so shall we ever be with the Lord. What a comfort from trouble and fear:
1 Thess 4:16-18 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Back in John 14, Jesus gave His followers directions to their heavenly mansions. The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher said "a chart is a map, so you’d better get yourself a chart." Jesus reminded Thomas of ‘the way’ to mansions in glory. He didn’t give him a chart, nor a map .... it was belief in Him:
John 14:4-6 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Now that I’m no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ ....
I’ll sing joy what they disdain and change:
"I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold!"
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
I think this man tells impressionable people things they do not normally get from reading the verse .... and quite frankly, things that are NOT IN the verse. Rather than question HIS opinion, they are easily influenced to believe everything he says.
We will hold the context in John 14 as we reference other verses. Jesus assured His disciples so they would not be worried about the future. He wanted them to have an inner calmness of mind, without anxiety as they faced death for His sake (Matt 24:9, Mark 13:11-12, Luke 12:4, John 16:2, Acts 26:10, 1 Cor 4:9, 2 Cor 4:11, Phil 1:20, 3:10; James 5:6, Rev 2:10, 12:11):
John 14:1a Let not your heart be troubled:
Jesus guaranteed them of His peace:
John 14:27a Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Paul also taught the saints that they had the peace of God (Rom 5:1, 14:17, 15:13; Eph 2:14-15,17, 6:15; Phil 4:7; Col 3:15):
2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Back in John 14, the disciples were reminded not to be fearful (Matt 10:26-31; Luke 12:4,7,32):
John 14:27b Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Believers, in general, have always been encouraged to be brave in the face of adversity (Psa 118:6, 2 Thess 1:4-10, 2 Tim 1:7, Heb 13:5-6):
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:
and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Go back in John 14. Faith in the God of the Old Testament .... had to be transferred over ....
to faith in the Christ of the New Testament:
John 14:1b ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ change the words in the hymn ‘When We All Get to Heaven’ from being what the VERSE actually says:
"In the mansions bright and blessed, He’ll prepare for us a place" ....
to be "In the heavens bright and blessed, Oh to see His loving face,"
because they think they’re going to heaven .... but not to any mansions there. Although God broke down the middle wall of partition here on earth (Eph 2:14) .... ‘mid-Acts-ers’ stay outside the great wall surrounding the city up in heaven .... so that the saints from what-they-call ‘Israel’s prophecy program’ .... will not get INFILTRATED by or MIXED up with .... who-they-think is ‘the body of Christ’. They do not acknowledge that ‘Jerusalem, which is above, is the mother of us all (Gal 4:26), even though PAUL wrote it (for God). They think they have no part in the new Jerusalem, which has a wall great and high (Rev 21:12). That’s enough for them to keep the Gentiles divided OUT! One ‘mid-Acts’ preacher told me the (deceased) body of Christ was up in, like, the ‘SKY’ of heaven .... on a ‘higher plane’ .... higher than those ‘Israel-prophecy-program saints’ .... who could look out the windows of their heavenly mansions .... way up higher .... to see the body of Christ up there higher. How absurd!
Back in John 14, Jesus told His disciples:
John 14:2a In my Father's house are many mansions [mone]:
When a preacher tells you that you don’t need to look at the Greek .... consider that he may be slighting you to trust whatever he says.
When I researched the Greek word for ‘mansions’ .... I found that is was used in one other verse, and translated ‘our abode’. We could understand that Jesus and His Father come unto those that love Him, and make their ‘mansions’ with them. Hmmmmm:
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode [mone] with him.
Why .... even our apostle PAUL taught that same truth .... and to beat all .... he got it from the OLD testament (a ‘mid-Acts’ horror!):
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Yes, BELIEVERS are God’s spiritual house now:
1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry,
ye are God's building.
Was Peter teaching that, too? He sure was:
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The preacher I heard Sunday also said that when Jesus spoke of preparing ‘a place’ ....
He was really talking about a position of ruling.
That is not what I get from reading the verse, back in John 14:
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
That sounds more like a ‘location’ to me .... not a ‘position’:
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am (LOCATION), there ye may be also.
Paul explained that when Jesus comes back, His saints will rise to ‘gather .... assemble .... congregate’ in the sky (where the clouds are --- location). Wherever Christ goes .... we will go with Him.
In fact, whereever He IS .... we will be WITH Him forever.
If He rules in God’s kingdom on the earth without end .... so shall we ever be with the Lord. What a comfort from trouble and fear:
1 Thess 4:16-18 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Back in John 14, Jesus gave His followers directions to their heavenly mansions. The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher said "a chart is a map, so you’d better get yourself a chart." Jesus reminded Thomas of ‘the way’ to mansions in glory. He didn’t give him a chart, nor a map .... it was belief in Him:
John 14:4-6 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Now that I’m no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ ....
I’ll sing joy what they disdain and change:
"I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold!"
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Was John Elijah?
While John was in jail, he received news about the things Jesus was doing. John wanted to know ‘if Jesus was "The Anointed One" (the Messiah, the Christ) .... or would there be another one coming?’
Matt 11:1-6 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come,
or do we look for another?
Jesus did not answer, "Yes," or "No." He responded to John’s questions by sending him a message to ‘read the signs.’
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Then Jesus spoke of who John was. He told the crowds of people that John was Elijah. Obviously, John was John, and not Elijah reincarnated. But the point is, that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy that was written about Elijah .... which begs the question,
"Must prophecy be taken literally?"
Matt 11:7-15 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Mal 3:1)
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it,
this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
After Jesus appeared on the mountain in glory, talking with Moses and Elias (Matt 17:1-9), in the sight of Peter, James, and John his brother ....
His disciples questioned Him about Elijah’s coming .... before His coming. He answered them the same way about John the Baptist. John was Elijah that would come before Christ. John was not Elijah in the flesh, literally .... but John was Elijah that the prophecy was written about:
Matt 17:10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying,
Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them,
Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you,
That Elias is come already, and they knew him not,
but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.
Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood
that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
When Zacharias was executing the priest’s office before God in the order of his course (Luke 1:8), while he was burning incense in the temple of the Lord (Luke 1:9) .... an angel of the Lord, Gabriel (Luke 1:19), appeared to him, and foretold that he and his wife Elisabeth, both ‘well-stricken-in-years’ (Luke 1:7) would have a son whose name would be called John (Luke 1:13). The angel also prophesied:
Luke 1:16-17 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he (John) shall go before him (the Lord) in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
The angel showed Zacharias that his son John was the SPIRITUAL fulfillment of the prophecy that was written about Elijah:
Mal 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
John himself explained that he was not Elijah .... physically:
John 1:19-21 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then?
Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.
Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ have a problem here. They focus on not knowing Christ (Messiah) ‘after the flesh’ .... what about Elijah? What about John? John was Elijah .... but not in the flesh:
2 Cor 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:
yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Paul taught that Abraham’s children ‘in the flesh’ .... were not really Abraham’s children (also see Luke 3:8-9):
Gal 4:22-31 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons,
the one by a bondmaid,
the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh;
but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants;
the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
(Now who does that apply to? Us? Paul applied it to the churches where there is neither Jew nor Greek - Gal 3:28.)
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture?
(Israel ‘after the flesh’ .... physical Israel .... is cast out.
Israel ‘after the Spirit’ .... spiritual Israel .... is the true heir.)
Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. (also see Acts 26:18, Eph 3:6)
(Now again, who does that apply to? Us? Paul applied it to the churches that are ‘in Christ’ .... they are Abraham’s seed - Gal 3:29.)
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman,
but of the free.
Interpreting prophecy ‘spiritually’ instead of ‘literally’?
Jesus did it. Gabriel did it. Paul did it. Would YOU do it?
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Who is now a Jew? It is not the ‘literal, physical, fleshly’ Jew:
Rom 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Who is now circumcised?
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Who is now the circumcision? In time past, we were called Uncircumcision, but now we are the circumcision (Eph 2:11-12):
Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Was John Elijah? Or should we look for another?
Jesus said he was. The angel of the Lord Gabriel said he was.
If YOU will receive it .... yes, he was.
Do you have ears to hear?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Matt 11:1-6 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come,
or do we look for another?
Jesus did not answer, "Yes," or "No." He responded to John’s questions by sending him a message to ‘read the signs.’
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Then Jesus spoke of who John was. He told the crowds of people that John was Elijah. Obviously, John was John, and not Elijah reincarnated. But the point is, that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy that was written about Elijah .... which begs the question,
"Must prophecy be taken literally?"
Matt 11:7-15 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Mal 3:1)
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it,
this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
After Jesus appeared on the mountain in glory, talking with Moses and Elias (Matt 17:1-9), in the sight of Peter, James, and John his brother ....
His disciples questioned Him about Elijah’s coming .... before His coming. He answered them the same way about John the Baptist. John was Elijah that would come before Christ. John was not Elijah in the flesh, literally .... but John was Elijah that the prophecy was written about:
Matt 17:10-13 And his disciples asked him, saying,
Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them,
Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you,
That Elias is come already, and they knew him not,
but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.
Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood
that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
When Zacharias was executing the priest’s office before God in the order of his course (Luke 1:8), while he was burning incense in the temple of the Lord (Luke 1:9) .... an angel of the Lord, Gabriel (Luke 1:19), appeared to him, and foretold that he and his wife Elisabeth, both ‘well-stricken-in-years’ (Luke 1:7) would have a son whose name would be called John (Luke 1:13). The angel also prophesied:
Luke 1:16-17 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he (John) shall go before him (the Lord) in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
The angel showed Zacharias that his son John was the SPIRITUAL fulfillment of the prophecy that was written about Elijah:
Mal 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
John himself explained that he was not Elijah .... physically:
John 1:19-21 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then?
Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.
Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ have a problem here. They focus on not knowing Christ (Messiah) ‘after the flesh’ .... what about Elijah? What about John? John was Elijah .... but not in the flesh:
2 Cor 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:
yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Paul taught that Abraham’s children ‘in the flesh’ .... were not really Abraham’s children (also see Luke 3:8-9):
Gal 4:22-31 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons,
the one by a bondmaid,
the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh;
but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants;
the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
(Now who does that apply to? Us? Paul applied it to the churches where there is neither Jew nor Greek - Gal 3:28.)
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture?
(Israel ‘after the flesh’ .... physical Israel .... is cast out.
Israel ‘after the Spirit’ .... spiritual Israel .... is the true heir.)
Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. (also see Acts 26:18, Eph 3:6)
(Now again, who does that apply to? Us? Paul applied it to the churches that are ‘in Christ’ .... they are Abraham’s seed - Gal 3:29.)
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman,
but of the free.
Interpreting prophecy ‘spiritually’ instead of ‘literally’?
Jesus did it. Gabriel did it. Paul did it. Would YOU do it?
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Who is now a Jew? It is not the ‘literal, physical, fleshly’ Jew:
Rom 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Who is now circumcised?
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Who is now the circumcision? In time past, we were called Uncircumcision, but now we are the circumcision (Eph 2:11-12):
Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Was John Elijah? Or should we look for another?
Jesus said he was. The angel of the Lord Gabriel said he was.
If YOU will receive it .... yes, he was.
Do you have ears to hear?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Tribulation or Wrath?
Paul encouraged the church at Thessalonica .... to imitate the churches at Judaea ....
as they were all ‘of the same body’ .... ‘in Christ’ (Eph 3:6):
1 Thess 2:14-16 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus:
Even though the Thessalonian saints were persecuted by the Gentiles ....
and the Judaean saints were persecuted by the Jews ---
they were all believers ‘in Christ’ .... suffering at the hands of unbelievers:
for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen,
even as they have of the Jews:
The Jews were responsible for crucifying their Messiah.
They also put to death all the preachers of Christ,
throughout time past who testified of Him.
They persecuted the apostles of the Lord.
They were hostile against anyone who would be saved:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus,
and their own prophets,
and have persecuted us;
and they please not God,
and are contrary to all men:
They tried to stop the gospel from going to the Gentiles, which made God angry at them. The UNBELIEVERS are the ones who will get God's wrath .... NOT His saints that are ‘in Christ Jesus’ (vs.14):
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved,
to fill up their sins alway:
for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Those Jews were blind to the truth .... just like a false prophet that Barnabas and Paul had a run-in with some time earlier:
Acts 13:6-12 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man;
who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Paul had some harsh words for him:
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief,
thou child of the devil,
thou enemy of all righteousness,
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Then Paul cursed him with blindness:
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Whew! Sergius Paulus was amazed, but rejoicing:
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Paul tried to get back to Thessalonica, but the devil blocked his way:
1 Thess 2:17-20 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again;
but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Continue in the next chapter to stay in the context.
Paul had Timothy to go in his stead and help the saints there ....
so they would not be overswept by all the opposition against them:
1 Thess 3:1-4 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother,
and minister of God,
and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ,
to establish you,
and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions:
for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you,
we told you before that we should suffer tribulation;
even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Paul said they would suffer tribulation ....
and suffer tribulation they did.
Peter told "all that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Pet 5:14) not to be surprised because they were suffering for Christ’s sake, but to be happy anyway:
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Peter wanted them to realize they are not alone in suffering afflictions.
It happens to all the faithful ‘in Christ’:
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples .... the same story .... to expect persecution:
John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. (see Matt 10:24)
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake,
because they know not him that sent me.
Jesus said they would be persecuted ....
and persecuted they were.
‘Mid-Acts-pre-tribulation-hyper-dispensationalists’ think they are a ‘special’ kind of saint that God will deliver from persecution and tribulation. They divide ‘Jesus’ words to His disciples’, as ‘earthly’ and for ‘Israel’s prophecy program’ .... thus, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ separate them from what-they-call the ‘risen, glorified Lord’s words to Paul’ which-they-think are the only words that apply to them. But they are mistaken.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace. (also see Rom 5:1, Eph 2:14)
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus said they would have tribulation ....
and tribulation they had.
'Mid-Acts-ers' believe that God is going to swoop them up and away off the planet before the time of great tribulation comes .... but they are wrong, and they will be unprepared to stand in the evil day (also see Amos 6:3), as instructed by Paul:
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Tribulation or wrath?
BELIEVERS get TRIBULATION.
UNBELIEVERS get WRATH.
But when the Lord Jesus Christ returns from heaven in flaming fire (2 Thess 1:7-10), a blaze of glory, HE will give tribulation back to the ones who caused tribulation upon His saints:
2 Thess 1:4-6 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is 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;
In the day of wrath and judgment, GOD will give both tribulation and wrath to those that are EVIL.
But those that are GOOD will have glory, honour, and peace:
Rom 2:5-11 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Tribulation or wrath? In the END ....
UNBELIEVERS get WRATH --- AND --- TRIBULATION!
BELIEVERS get GLORY, HONOUR, and PEACE!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
as they were all ‘of the same body’ .... ‘in Christ’ (Eph 3:6):
1 Thess 2:14-16 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus:
Even though the Thessalonian saints were persecuted by the Gentiles ....
and the Judaean saints were persecuted by the Jews ---
they were all believers ‘in Christ’ .... suffering at the hands of unbelievers:
for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen,
even as they have of the Jews:
The Jews were responsible for crucifying their Messiah.
They also put to death all the preachers of Christ,
throughout time past who testified of Him.
They persecuted the apostles of the Lord.
They were hostile against anyone who would be saved:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus,
and their own prophets,
and have persecuted us;
and they please not God,
and are contrary to all men:
They tried to stop the gospel from going to the Gentiles, which made God angry at them. The UNBELIEVERS are the ones who will get God's wrath .... NOT His saints that are ‘in Christ Jesus’ (vs.14):
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved,
to fill up their sins alway:
for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Those Jews were blind to the truth .... just like a false prophet that Barnabas and Paul had a run-in with some time earlier:
Acts 13:6-12 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man;
who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Paul had some harsh words for him:
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief,
thou child of the devil,
thou enemy of all righteousness,
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Then Paul cursed him with blindness:
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Whew! Sergius Paulus was amazed, but rejoicing:
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Paul tried to get back to Thessalonica, but the devil blocked his way:
1 Thess 2:17-20 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again;
but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Continue in the next chapter to stay in the context.
Paul had Timothy to go in his stead and help the saints there ....
so they would not be overswept by all the opposition against them:
1 Thess 3:1-4 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother,
and minister of God,
and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ,
to establish you,
and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions:
for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you,
we told you before that we should suffer tribulation;
even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Paul said they would suffer tribulation ....
and suffer tribulation they did.
Peter told "all that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Pet 5:14) not to be surprised because they were suffering for Christ’s sake, but to be happy anyway:
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Peter wanted them to realize they are not alone in suffering afflictions.
It happens to all the faithful ‘in Christ’:
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples .... the same story .... to expect persecution:
John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. (see Matt 10:24)
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake,
because they know not him that sent me.
Jesus said they would be persecuted ....
and persecuted they were.
‘Mid-Acts-pre-tribulation-hyper-dispensationalists’ think they are a ‘special’ kind of saint that God will deliver from persecution and tribulation. They divide ‘Jesus’ words to His disciples’, as ‘earthly’ and for ‘Israel’s prophecy program’ .... thus, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ separate them from what-they-call the ‘risen, glorified Lord’s words to Paul’ which-they-think are the only words that apply to them. But they are mistaken.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace. (also see Rom 5:1, Eph 2:14)
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jesus said they would have tribulation ....
and tribulation they had.
'Mid-Acts-ers' believe that God is going to swoop them up and away off the planet before the time of great tribulation comes .... but they are wrong, and they will be unprepared to stand in the evil day (also see Amos 6:3), as instructed by Paul:
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Tribulation or wrath?
BELIEVERS get TRIBULATION.
UNBELIEVERS get WRATH.
But when the Lord Jesus Christ returns from heaven in flaming fire (2 Thess 1:7-10), a blaze of glory, HE will give tribulation back to the ones who caused tribulation upon His saints:
2 Thess 1:4-6 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is 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;
In the day of wrath and judgment, GOD will give both tribulation and wrath to those that are EVIL.
But those that are GOOD will have glory, honour, and peace:
Rom 2:5-11 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Tribulation or wrath? In the END ....
UNBELIEVERS get WRATH --- AND --- TRIBULATION!
BELIEVERS get GLORY, HONOUR, and PEACE!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
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