‘Mid-Acts-ers’ go to this one verse (1 Tim 1:16) as a ‘proof-text’ that Paul was the first member of a ‘new’ church .... that BEGAN with HIM .... called ‘the church, the body of Christ’. However, there is no mention of a church in the context .... not a NEW church, not a PAULINE church, not a body of Christ church, not ANY church:
1 Tim 1:12-17 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:
but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;
of whom I am chief (Greek [protos]).
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,
that in me first (Greek [protos])
Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,
for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King (NOTICE: Paul called Jesus ‘King’ .... which I have NEVER heard any ‘mid-Acts-er’ do. They make all references to Jesus being King as King of the JEWS, not us.) eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
POINT # 1: In verse 16, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach that Paul was the FIRST person to be saved into a DIFFERENT church. But the same Greek word [protos] translated ‘first’ in verse 16, is translated ‘chief’ in verse 15. If the same ‘mid-Acts’ formula was used in verse 15 (like they use in verse 16), they would have to say that Paul was the FIRST sinner.
POINT # 2: Paul said he was the chief of sinners .... NOT because of "the works of the flesh" as in Gal 5:19-21, since "as touching the law" he was "a Pharisee" and as "touching the righteousness which is in the law" he was "blameless" (Phil 3:4-6). Paul was the ‘main’ sinner .... because he was the ‘main/principal’ opponent of the church (also see 1 Cor 15:9, Gal 1:13).
POINT # 3: A insightful key in 1 Tim 1:12-17, can also be seen by the repetitive words, "I obtained mercy," (1 Tim 1:13,16). Paul also applied the issue of ‘obtaining mercy’ to the Gentiles because of Israel’s unbelief (vs. 30) .... then he spread it back on Israel (vs. 31) .... and then over all without distinction (vs. 32):
Rom 11:30-32 For as ye in times past have not believed God,
yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed,
that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all.
Peter likewise referred to the same old testament prophecy as Paul did and Peter used much of the same language as Paul did:
1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; (also see Titus 2:14) that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness (also see Col 1:13) into his marvellous light: (also see Phil 2:15)
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: (also see Hosea 1:10, 2 Cor 6:15) which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
POINT # 4: Another important topic in 1 Tim 1:12-17, is that Jesus Christ showed all longsuffering (1 Tim 1:16) to the ‘chief/first’ of sinners. Paul expressed the same principle in Romans:
Rom 9:22-26 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only,
but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, (Paul quoting the old testament, and applying it to the Gentiles also) I will call them my people, which were not my people;
and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people;
there shall they be called the children of the living God.
POINT # 5: The Greek word translated ‘pattern’ (1 Tim 1:16) is also translated ‘form’ in 2 Tim 1:13. It is an outline, a sketch, a summary exposition, an example that the same grace and mercy Paul was given, would not be wanting to others who would believe. ‘Jesus showing longsuffering’ was the pattern .... not Paul. He was just the recipient of it:
1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,
for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
There are several doctrines taught in 1 Tim 1:12-17, but ‘Paul being the first member of a new church’ is certainly not one of them.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The ‘Old-Time Religion’?
Religion, in the Biblical sense, is defined as the Jewish faith and worship. It is also known as Judaism. Saul was well known for his zeal. Before he came to his own personal faith in Christ, he thought people who followed Jesus should be stamped out. He actively chased them down:
Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Paul addressed the message of salvation, not only to Israel, but to anyone else that feared God:
Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
People who followed ‘the old time religion’ needed to move to faith in Christ:
Acts 13:42-47 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up,
many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas:
who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Those who didn’t believe on Christ felt contentious rivalry:
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
God charged Paul and Barnabas with an old testament quote from Isa 49:6:
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
After Saul/Paul’s conversion, the Jews hunted him with intent to kill him because they thought he was preaching against their OLD testament religion:
Acts 21:27-31 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
When Paul was allowed to defend himself before them, and they heard him speak in the Hebrew tongue, they got silent and listened:
Acts 22:3-5 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
Paul told king Agrippa that he observed the strictest, most precise precepts of the Mosiac laws and traditions:
Acts 26:2-5 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Jesus indicated that those who felt righteous needed to see themselves as sinners, and not trust in their heritage (John 8:33,37,39):
Luke 5:29-32 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus gave an example of a Pharisee and a publican. Pharisees recognized a standard of belief and life in oral tradition, who sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and forms of piety, such as ceremonial washings, fastings, public prayers, and alms giving. They were a faction of a larger group and possessed great influence with the common people. Publicans were tax collectors, ill-regarded of the Jews:
Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Paul was also a Pharisee .... who had been confident in his flesh:
Phil 3:4-7 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But he had to repent (change his mind) about those things and trust Christ:
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
When Saul was on the warpath against believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, he even chased them when they fled his persecution:
Acts 26:9-11 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ('Mid-Acts-ers' make that 'another Jesus'.)
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Paul did not sugar-coat his personal history. He acknowledged what he had done against the disciples of the Lord. When he was a part of the Jew’s religion, he excelled more than anyone else, like we would think of a valedictorian at the very top of his class:
Gal 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Even ‘mid-Acts-ers’ acknowledge, that God gave only one religion, which was for the Jews. However, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ make a point to say that they (the 'mid-Acts-ers') "are not religious" .... as if religion was some awful thing. The Jews’ religion was their OLD testament, which was good:
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
The law is spiritual (Rom 7:14), and we become dead to it when we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 7:4). The law does not 'cease' from being good; it is just that the believer is no longer under it (Rom 6:14):
1 Tim 1:8-11 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel [euaggelion] of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
When announcing the birth of Christ, the angel of the Lord told the shepherds that the joyous gospel would be for everyone:
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings [euaggelizo] of great joy, which shall be to all people. (not just the Jews)
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The ‘old time religion’ was to show men their sinfulness, until Christ came, Who is the end of the law to every one that believeth (Rom 10:4):
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed (that is, Christ, in Gal 3:16) should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The law pointed the way to faith in Christ:
Gal 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (just like Abraham our father, Rom 4:11,16)
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Now that Christ has come and taken away the law for the believer (Col 2:14) .... we serve God in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Rom 7:6).
The ‘old time religion’ has been changed into ‘the new time religion’ which is pure and, before God, undefiled. We are able ministers of the new testament (2 Cor 3:6) because of Christ's blood (1 Cor 11:25, Heb 9:15). We have the inheritance now (Gal 3:29):
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (also 1 Tim 5:3), and to keep himself unspotted from the world (also Eph 5:27, 1 Tim 6:14, 2 Pet 3:14).
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t want to be religious? Frankly, I’m not surprised.
When I observed the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ haughtiness toward what-GOD-called ‘a good work’ .... that is, ‘the office of a bishop’ (1 Tim 3:1) .... the title of the very ministers they claim to be .... written by God through the very apostle they claim is THEIR apostle, whom they claim to follow .... in the very KJV Bible they claim is the final authority, as preserved in the English language .... when I saw that pride excercised against a plain, straight-forward verse of scripture .... it cracked the door and light came in. They substituted The Living Bible’s word ‘pastor’ for the KJV word ‘bishop’. Then I realized they WOULD be unfaithful to God’s word, and though it discouraged me to discover their unfaithfulness, it encouraged me to look closer to see what other verses they may be changing. It saddens me to say that I found many. So very many, in fact, that I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’. My desire is to stand against that, and help others before they fall into that trap. I am a Bible-believing, grace preacher, with no influence from any 'isms' or other theology. All my studies come from the KJV, and the only study tools I use are a dictionary and a lexicon. Do you know what I mean? "Maranatha!" Next Sunday’s message will expose some of their false doctrines, and I will continue to do so in the future.
Those 'mid-Acts' preachers, who claim to be KJV, cannot claim 2 Tim 2:2 with honesty and faithfulness. My desire is to be faithful and to gladly take all of God's word. I am truly KJV.
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
How many times must one cheat on their spouse to be an adulterer? Every time they substitute 'pastor' for 'bishop' they are unfaithful to the KJV. You can read it all over their websites. Substituting 'teaching elder' or 'brother' for the office does not cut it either. They gave sorry excuses, saying they did not want to use 'bishop' because of 'false religions' that use it, and because of demographics - those 'false religions' that are in their local area - and they did not want to be associated with them. The 'mid-Acts-ers' have tried to make this a personal issue of mine instead of a KJV issue, to try to divert attention away from their lack of faithfulness. One of the men they look up to (now saying he is a 'teaching elder') said from the pulpit at the conference in Tennessee, that 'bishop' was correct. Then he said something different when he went back up north, and he even went so far as to say that "the apostles and prophets today .... are your Bible" (from Eph 4:11). I wish the 'mid-Acts-ers' were as faithful with the word 'bishop' as they are with the word 'dispensation' in the KJV 4 times (1 Cor 9:17; Eph 1:10, 3:2; Col 1:25) .... even though the same Greek word [oikonomia] is translated 'stewardship' in the KJV 3 times (Luke 16:2,3,4).
'Mid-Acts-ers' who claim to be KJV are constantly striking at mainline denominations (although I do not agree with their teaching either) .... however, those denominations call themselves SHEEP, unlike 'so-called KJV mid-Acts-ers'. Sheep have pastors/shepherds.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Paul addressed the message of salvation, not only to Israel, but to anyone else that feared God:
Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
People who followed ‘the old time religion’ needed to move to faith in Christ:
Acts 13:42-47 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up,
many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas:
who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Those who didn’t believe on Christ felt contentious rivalry:
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
God charged Paul and Barnabas with an old testament quote from Isa 49:6:
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
After Saul/Paul’s conversion, the Jews hunted him with intent to kill him because they thought he was preaching against their OLD testament religion:
Acts 21:27-31 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
When Paul was allowed to defend himself before them, and they heard him speak in the Hebrew tongue, they got silent and listened:
Acts 22:3-5 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
Paul told king Agrippa that he observed the strictest, most precise precepts of the Mosiac laws and traditions:
Acts 26:2-5 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Jesus indicated that those who felt righteous needed to see themselves as sinners, and not trust in their heritage (John 8:33,37,39):
Luke 5:29-32 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus gave an example of a Pharisee and a publican. Pharisees recognized a standard of belief and life in oral tradition, who sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and forms of piety, such as ceremonial washings, fastings, public prayers, and alms giving. They were a faction of a larger group and possessed great influence with the common people. Publicans were tax collectors, ill-regarded of the Jews:
Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Paul was also a Pharisee .... who had been confident in his flesh:
Phil 3:4-7 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But he had to repent (change his mind) about those things and trust Christ:
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
When Saul was on the warpath against believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, he even chased them when they fled his persecution:
Acts 26:9-11 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ('Mid-Acts-ers' make that 'another Jesus'.)
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Paul did not sugar-coat his personal history. He acknowledged what he had done against the disciples of the Lord. When he was a part of the Jew’s religion, he excelled more than anyone else, like we would think of a valedictorian at the very top of his class:
Gal 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Even ‘mid-Acts-ers’ acknowledge, that God gave only one religion, which was for the Jews. However, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ make a point to say that they (the 'mid-Acts-ers') "are not religious" .... as if religion was some awful thing. The Jews’ religion was their OLD testament, which was good:
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
The law is spiritual (Rom 7:14), and we become dead to it when we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 7:4). The law does not 'cease' from being good; it is just that the believer is no longer under it (Rom 6:14):
1 Tim 1:8-11 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel [euaggelion] of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
When announcing the birth of Christ, the angel of the Lord told the shepherds that the joyous gospel would be for everyone:
Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings [euaggelizo] of great joy, which shall be to all people. (not just the Jews)
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The ‘old time religion’ was to show men their sinfulness, until Christ came, Who is the end of the law to every one that believeth (Rom 10:4):
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed (that is, Christ, in Gal 3:16) should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The law pointed the way to faith in Christ:
Gal 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (just like Abraham our father, Rom 4:11,16)
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Now that Christ has come and taken away the law for the believer (Col 2:14) .... we serve God in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Rom 7:6).
The ‘old time religion’ has been changed into ‘the new time religion’ which is pure and, before God, undefiled. We are able ministers of the new testament (2 Cor 3:6) because of Christ's blood (1 Cor 11:25, Heb 9:15). We have the inheritance now (Gal 3:29):
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (also 1 Tim 5:3), and to keep himself unspotted from the world (also Eph 5:27, 1 Tim 6:14, 2 Pet 3:14).
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t want to be religious? Frankly, I’m not surprised.
When I observed the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ haughtiness toward what-GOD-called ‘a good work’ .... that is, ‘the office of a bishop’ (1 Tim 3:1) .... the title of the very ministers they claim to be .... written by God through the very apostle they claim is THEIR apostle, whom they claim to follow .... in the very KJV Bible they claim is the final authority, as preserved in the English language .... when I saw that pride excercised against a plain, straight-forward verse of scripture .... it cracked the door and light came in. They substituted The Living Bible’s word ‘pastor’ for the KJV word ‘bishop’. Then I realized they WOULD be unfaithful to God’s word, and though it discouraged me to discover their unfaithfulness, it encouraged me to look closer to see what other verses they may be changing. It saddens me to say that I found many. So very many, in fact, that I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’. My desire is to stand against that, and help others before they fall into that trap. I am a Bible-believing, grace preacher, with no influence from any 'isms' or other theology. All my studies come from the KJV, and the only study tools I use are a dictionary and a lexicon. Do you know what I mean? "Maranatha!" Next Sunday’s message will expose some of their false doctrines, and I will continue to do so in the future.
Those 'mid-Acts' preachers, who claim to be KJV, cannot claim 2 Tim 2:2 with honesty and faithfulness. My desire is to be faithful and to gladly take all of God's word. I am truly KJV.
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
How many times must one cheat on their spouse to be an adulterer? Every time they substitute 'pastor' for 'bishop' they are unfaithful to the KJV. You can read it all over their websites. Substituting 'teaching elder' or 'brother' for the office does not cut it either. They gave sorry excuses, saying they did not want to use 'bishop' because of 'false religions' that use it, and because of demographics - those 'false religions' that are in their local area - and they did not want to be associated with them. The 'mid-Acts-ers' have tried to make this a personal issue of mine instead of a KJV issue, to try to divert attention away from their lack of faithfulness. One of the men they look up to (now saying he is a 'teaching elder') said from the pulpit at the conference in Tennessee, that 'bishop' was correct. Then he said something different when he went back up north, and he even went so far as to say that "the apostles and prophets today .... are your Bible" (from Eph 4:11). I wish the 'mid-Acts-ers' were as faithful with the word 'bishop' as they are with the word 'dispensation' in the KJV 4 times (1 Cor 9:17; Eph 1:10, 3:2; Col 1:25) .... even though the same Greek word [oikonomia] is translated 'stewardship' in the KJV 3 times (Luke 16:2,3,4).
'Mid-Acts-ers' who claim to be KJV are constantly striking at mainline denominations (although I do not agree with their teaching either) .... however, those denominations call themselves SHEEP, unlike 'so-called KJV mid-Acts-ers'. Sheep have pastors/shepherds.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Friday, July 16, 2010
What's Mine Is Mine!
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ make a DIVISION between what-they-call ‘PAUL’s gospel’ .... and ‘any other’ gospel mentioned in the scriptures. They tout the 3 times Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ as ‘proof’ that he had a unique revelation from God that was different from all other messages of God’s good news.
Firstly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context the day of judgment:
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
A few verses earlier (Rom 2:7-15), Paul was more specific about ‘the day’ when God will judge the soul of every man, whether good or evil:
Rom 2:5-6 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:
Paul was not the only one who prophesied that God will expose what is hidden on judgment day. Solomon did:
Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Matthew did (Matt 6:4,6,18). Mark did (Mark 4:22). Luke did:
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Neither was Paul the only one who prophesied about Jesus Christ being the Judge. John did also:
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Peter (Acts 10:44) also prophesied that God appointed His Son as Judge, as he preached faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for anyone who believed to be cleansed from their sins:
Acts 10:38-43 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Secondly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context of being stablished in Christ:
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
James taught the saints to be stablished, as they wait for Christ’s return:
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Peter also instructed believers to be stablished, as they endure suffering for Christ’s sake:
1 Peter 5:10-11 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ preach that Paul was saying he had distinctive information of salvation, and in order to be saved, a person must trust Christ through Paul’s writings. But the scriptures don’t teach that. In fact, Paul gave a list of men who preached the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection .... just as he did:
1 Cor 15:3-8, 11 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas,
then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James;
then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
11 Therefore whether it were I (Paul)
or they (Cephas = Peter, the 12, over 500 brothers, James, all the apostles),
so we preach, and so ye believed.
Thirdly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context of Christ being from David, and of His resurrection:
2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
This was not, as 'mid-Acts-ers' contend, part of PAUL's distinctive message. Peter also testified of the same thing at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-28) .... saying that David knew of God’s promise concerning Christ, too (Psa 132:11):
Acts 2:29-32 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (see Psa 132:11)
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Matthew taught that Jesus Christ was the son of David (Matt 1:1).
John the Baptist’s father Zacharias also related Christ to David (Luke 1:69).
Luke recorded the birth of Christ in the house and lineage of David (Luke 2:4).
Isaiah prophesied of Christ Who would rule on David’s throne (Isa 9:6-7).
Paul scolded the saints at Corinth for DIVIDING because of which preacher led them to faith in Christ .... yet that is an offense where ‘mid-Acts-ers’ excel:
1 Cor 1:10-13 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith,
I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Though Apollos only knew the water baptism of John, Aquila and Priscilla expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Then he helped those that had believed through grace (also see Acts 15:11), and mightily convinced the Jews publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:24-28). In Christ, there is ‘no difference’ (Acts 15:9 - Peter said it first; Rom 3:22, Rom 10:12) .... and it makes ‘no difference’ which preacher anyone heard to introduce them to faith in Christ:
1 Cor 3:5-8 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth (Paul) and he that watereth (Apollos) are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Clearly, Paul ‘was one’ with Apollos.
They were both ‘one’ in Christ (Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 10:17, Eph 2:16, Col 3:16):
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
There is only ONE faith .... and everyone who is Christ’s is in it:
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when Paul penned the words ‘my gospel’ .... he wasn’t being selfish, as the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ are on his account. Paul included other preachers, as Apollos and Peter, to show the unity of believers who belong to Christ:
1 Cor 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas (that’s Peter - John 1:42), or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
When Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ .... he did not mean he had the only message of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection .... as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ unashamedly make Paul’s 'my doctrine’ phrase be a DIFFERENT doctrine than other men’s doctrine:
2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
With that method of what-they-call ‘rightly dividing’ .... then Jesus had His own separate 'My doctrine’ too:
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ already have 2 Jesus’. They say ‘the earthly Jesus’ is ‘another Jesus’ (2 Cor 11:4) from ‘the risen, glorified Lord’ who spoke to Paul. If they realized that Paul used the phrase ‘my God’ 7 times .... they’re liable to make Paul’s God be a DIFFERENT God than all the other Biblical writers’ God .... just like they do with Paul’s term ‘my gospel’:
Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (also Rom 1:8; 1 Cor 1:4, 14:18; 2 Cor 12:21; Phil 1:3, Phile 1:4)
When Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ .... he did not mean he had the only message of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection .... as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach.
Paul didn’t have the attitude, ‘what’s mine is mine’.
Neither should anyone teach, ‘what’s Paul’s is Paul’s’ and no one else’s.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Firstly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context the day of judgment:
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
A few verses earlier (Rom 2:7-15), Paul was more specific about ‘the day’ when God will judge the soul of every man, whether good or evil:
Rom 2:5-6 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:
Paul was not the only one who prophesied that God will expose what is hidden on judgment day. Solomon did:
Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Matthew did (Matt 6:4,6,18). Mark did (Mark 4:22). Luke did:
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Neither was Paul the only one who prophesied about Jesus Christ being the Judge. John did also:
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Peter (Acts 10:44) also prophesied that God appointed His Son as Judge, as he preached faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for anyone who believed to be cleansed from their sins:
Acts 10:38-43 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Secondly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context of being stablished in Christ:
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
James taught the saints to be stablished, as they wait for Christ’s return:
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Peter also instructed believers to be stablished, as they endure suffering for Christ’s sake:
1 Peter 5:10-11 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ preach that Paul was saying he had distinctive information of salvation, and in order to be saved, a person must trust Christ through Paul’s writings. But the scriptures don’t teach that. In fact, Paul gave a list of men who preached the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection .... just as he did:
1 Cor 15:3-8, 11 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas,
then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James;
then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
11 Therefore whether it were I (Paul)
or they (Cephas = Peter, the 12, over 500 brothers, James, all the apostles),
so we preach, and so ye believed.
Thirdly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context of Christ being from David, and of His resurrection:
2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
This was not, as 'mid-Acts-ers' contend, part of PAUL's distinctive message. Peter also testified of the same thing at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-28) .... saying that David knew of God’s promise concerning Christ, too (Psa 132:11):
Acts 2:29-32 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (see Psa 132:11)
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Matthew taught that Jesus Christ was the son of David (Matt 1:1).
John the Baptist’s father Zacharias also related Christ to David (Luke 1:69).
Luke recorded the birth of Christ in the house and lineage of David (Luke 2:4).
Isaiah prophesied of Christ Who would rule on David’s throne (Isa 9:6-7).
Paul scolded the saints at Corinth for DIVIDING because of which preacher led them to faith in Christ .... yet that is an offense where ‘mid-Acts-ers’ excel:
1 Cor 1:10-13 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith,
I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Though Apollos only knew the water baptism of John, Aquila and Priscilla expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Then he helped those that had believed through grace (also see Acts 15:11), and mightily convinced the Jews publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:24-28). In Christ, there is ‘no difference’ (Acts 15:9 - Peter said it first; Rom 3:22, Rom 10:12) .... and it makes ‘no difference’ which preacher anyone heard to introduce them to faith in Christ:
1 Cor 3:5-8 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth (Paul) and he that watereth (Apollos) are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Clearly, Paul ‘was one’ with Apollos.
They were both ‘one’ in Christ (Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 10:17, Eph 2:16, Col 3:16):
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
There is only ONE faith .... and everyone who is Christ’s is in it:
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when Paul penned the words ‘my gospel’ .... he wasn’t being selfish, as the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ are on his account. Paul included other preachers, as Apollos and Peter, to show the unity of believers who belong to Christ:
1 Cor 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas (that’s Peter - John 1:42), or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
When Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ .... he did not mean he had the only message of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection .... as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ unashamedly make Paul’s 'my doctrine’ phrase be a DIFFERENT doctrine than other men’s doctrine:
2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
With that method of what-they-call ‘rightly dividing’ .... then Jesus had His own separate 'My doctrine’ too:
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ already have 2 Jesus’. They say ‘the earthly Jesus’ is ‘another Jesus’ (2 Cor 11:4) from ‘the risen, glorified Lord’ who spoke to Paul. If they realized that Paul used the phrase ‘my God’ 7 times .... they’re liable to make Paul’s God be a DIFFERENT God than all the other Biblical writers’ God .... just like they do with Paul’s term ‘my gospel’:
Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (also Rom 1:8; 1 Cor 1:4, 14:18; 2 Cor 12:21; Phil 1:3, Phile 1:4)
When Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ .... he did not mean he had the only message of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection .... as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach.
Paul didn’t have the attitude, ‘what’s mine is mine’.
Neither should anyone teach, ‘what’s Paul’s is Paul’s’ and no one else’s.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Jesus is the Rock of My Foundation
.... His banner over me is love (Song of Solomon 2:4)
Moses knew that after his death Israel would corrupt themselves and turn aside from the way which he commanded them to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and to provoke Him to anger (Deut 31:27,29). So Moses reminded all the elders of their tribes, and their officers (Deut 31:28-30) that the LORD was their Rock:
Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Israel angered the LORD to jealousy with strange gods (Deut 32:16). They were taught by Moses that ‘the Rock’ brought them forth and formed their nation:
Deut 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
God was provoked and judged them according to their works:
Deut 32:20-21 And he said, I will hide my face from them,
I will see what their end shall be:
for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God;
they have provoked me to anger with their vanities:
and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Israel’s God was not like the strange gods of the heathen:
Deut 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Since I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ applying only Paul’s epistles .... now I can enjoy all the Bible .... rather than always saying, "That was just for Israel," when reading OLD testament scriptures:
1 Sam 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
2 Sam 22:2-3 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Now I can be comforted by passages that praise the Lord. Rather than constantly dividing them away from me, now I sing the old hymn "Constantly Abiding":
2 Sam 22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? (also Psa 18:31)
2 Sam 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. (also Psa 18:46)
Now that my ‘mid-Acts’ BARS have been removed, I am free to appreciate verses other than those Paul wrote:
Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psa 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Psa 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
The last words of David recounted that God was Israel’s Rock (2 Sam 23:3).
Isaiah prophesied that Israel would stumble and be offended by their Rock:
Isa 8:14-15 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
In the context of the Gentiles attaining the righteousness of faith, and Israel stumbling at their Rock (Rom 9:30-32), Paul used ‘OLD testament’ prophecy to show ‘NEW testament’ fulfillment:
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah taught this truth. Paul taught it. The Psalmist taught it:
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
.... and Peter taught it:
1 Peter 2:6-10 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (also see Isa 28:16)
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (also see Matt 21:42)
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (also see Titus 2:14); that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (also see Acts 26:18, Rom 13:12, Eph 5:8, 1 Thess 5:5):
10 Which in time past were not a people (Eph 2:11-12), but are now the people of God (1 Cor 15: Rom 9:24-26, 2 Cor 6:16): which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (Rom 11:30-32)
Israel stumbled and fell on their Rock. Isaiah said so:
Isa 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Paul said so, too:
Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Paul identified the ‘OLD testament’ Rock personally as Jesus Christ, and told the ‘NEW testament’ church of God which was at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor 1:2) to take a lesson from the church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38):
1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them:
and that Rock was Christ.
1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples,
to the intent we should not lust after evil things,
as they also lusted.
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
In the context (Matt 16:13-17), when Jesus asked His disciples about Who they thought He was, Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then He told Peter that He the Christ was the foundation ROCK, the corner stone, of the ‘NEW testament’ church:
Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ think they have nothing to do with ‘that’ church. They assign it as being ‘Israel’s prophecy-program church’, even though PAUL wrote that we are ‘able ministers of the new testament’ (2 Cor 3:6).
Peter knew the Rock was the only means of salvation:
Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
In the context (1 Cor 3:10), that Paul laid the foundation, where Christ had not been named (Rom 15:20), Paul assured the saints that Jesus Christ was the ONLY foundation:
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul explained that we Gentiles are not shut out anymore, but now we ALL, as saints of God, as the people of God, grow TOGETHER upon the ONE solid foundation, upon the SAME Rock, Jesus Christ, laid by God’s apostles and prophets:
Eph 2:19-21 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Isaiah wrote to Israel of ‘the Rock’ that begat them and of Abraham their father .... but now Christ is also our Rock, and Abraham is also our father (Rom 4:11,16; Gal 3:26,29):
Isa 51:1-3 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you (also see 1 Pet 3:6): for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Unlike the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ .... I am prepared to be there. Are you?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Moses knew that after his death Israel would corrupt themselves and turn aside from the way which he commanded them to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and to provoke Him to anger (Deut 31:27,29). So Moses reminded all the elders of their tribes, and their officers (Deut 31:28-30) that the LORD was their Rock:
Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Israel angered the LORD to jealousy with strange gods (Deut 32:16). They were taught by Moses that ‘the Rock’ brought them forth and formed their nation:
Deut 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
God was provoked and judged them according to their works:
Deut 32:20-21 And he said, I will hide my face from them,
I will see what their end shall be:
for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God;
they have provoked me to anger with their vanities:
and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Israel’s God was not like the strange gods of the heathen:
Deut 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Since I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ applying only Paul’s epistles .... now I can enjoy all the Bible .... rather than always saying, "That was just for Israel," when reading OLD testament scriptures:
1 Sam 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
2 Sam 22:2-3 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Now I can be comforted by passages that praise the Lord. Rather than constantly dividing them away from me, now I sing the old hymn "Constantly Abiding":
2 Sam 22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? (also Psa 18:31)
2 Sam 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. (also Psa 18:46)
Now that my ‘mid-Acts’ BARS have been removed, I am free to appreciate verses other than those Paul wrote:
Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psa 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Psa 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
The last words of David recounted that God was Israel’s Rock (2 Sam 23:3).
Isaiah prophesied that Israel would stumble and be offended by their Rock:
Isa 8:14-15 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
In the context of the Gentiles attaining the righteousness of faith, and Israel stumbling at their Rock (Rom 9:30-32), Paul used ‘OLD testament’ prophecy to show ‘NEW testament’ fulfillment:
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah taught this truth. Paul taught it. The Psalmist taught it:
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
.... and Peter taught it:
1 Peter 2:6-10 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (also see Isa 28:16)
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (also see Matt 21:42)
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (also see Titus 2:14); that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (also see Acts 26:18, Rom 13:12, Eph 5:8, 1 Thess 5:5):
10 Which in time past were not a people (Eph 2:11-12), but are now the people of God (1 Cor 15: Rom 9:24-26, 2 Cor 6:16): which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (Rom 11:30-32)
Israel stumbled and fell on their Rock. Isaiah said so:
Isa 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Paul said so, too:
Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Paul identified the ‘OLD testament’ Rock personally as Jesus Christ, and told the ‘NEW testament’ church of God which was at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor 1:2) to take a lesson from the church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38):
1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them:
and that Rock was Christ.
1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples,
to the intent we should not lust after evil things,
as they also lusted.
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
In the context (Matt 16:13-17), when Jesus asked His disciples about Who they thought He was, Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then He told Peter that He the Christ was the foundation ROCK, the corner stone, of the ‘NEW testament’ church:
Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ think they have nothing to do with ‘that’ church. They assign it as being ‘Israel’s prophecy-program church’, even though PAUL wrote that we are ‘able ministers of the new testament’ (2 Cor 3:6).
Peter knew the Rock was the only means of salvation:
Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
In the context (1 Cor 3:10), that Paul laid the foundation, where Christ had not been named (Rom 15:20), Paul assured the saints that Jesus Christ was the ONLY foundation:
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul explained that we Gentiles are not shut out anymore, but now we ALL, as saints of God, as the people of God, grow TOGETHER upon the ONE solid foundation, upon the SAME Rock, Jesus Christ, laid by God’s apostles and prophets:
Eph 2:19-21 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Isaiah wrote to Israel of ‘the Rock’ that begat them and of Abraham their father .... but now Christ is also our Rock, and Abraham is also our father (Rom 4:11,16; Gal 3:26,29):
Isa 51:1-3 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you (also see 1 Pet 3:6): for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Unlike the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ .... I am prepared to be there. Are you?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Last Days or The Last Day?
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ divide nearly everything! Several years ago, as I sat at lunch with a main leader of the ‘grace movement’ (as they call it) .... I mentioned that both Peter and Paul wrote of ‘the last days’. He immediately took charge of that issue, and told me that there were 2 sets of ‘last days’ .... and that Peter’s ‘last days’ were different than Paul’s ‘last days’. He said Peter wrote about ‘the last days’ for Israel’s program, just before the 2nd coming of Christ to set up His earthly kingdom .... and Paul wrote about ‘the last days’ for the body of Christ, just before the rapture of the church and before the tribulation and Daniel’s 70th week. At the time, I nodded my head and smiled. But I had already been wondering WHY ‘we’ always made the same phrases and the same words -- be different things. Privately I had begun to question ‘mid-Acts’ doctrines of 2 appearings, 2 comings, even 2 Jesus’.
Both the prophets Isaiah and Micah wrote almost the exact same words about blessings ‘in the last days’:
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Mic 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
At Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel’s prophecy about both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ events that will happen ‘in the last days’:
Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera], saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(FYI: When we reference Joel (Joel 2:28-32), the phrase ‘in the last days’ is the word ‘afterward’.)
Joel 2:28-32 And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Paul warned about fierce, troublesome times ahead. If ‘the body of Christ’ was NOT going to be on Planet Earth during ‘the last days’ .... why would God prepare the saints, to whom Paul wrote, for them? He wouldn’t! That’s why the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ invented 2 sets of ‘last days’. They don’t want to ‘endure’ ‘the last days’ .... they don’t ‘want’ to be here then .... so they make 1 set of ‘last days’ for Peter, James, and John (together) .... and they create a completely different set of ‘last days’ for Paul:
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera] perilous times shall come.
This context also shows the persecution of the righteous:
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
In the very next chapter, the context near ‘the last days’ is the appearing of the Lord to judge and reward in His kingdom .... when He raises the dead and changes the alive (1 Cor 15:50-54):
2 Tim 4:1,8 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at [en] that [ekeinos] day[hemera]: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
James wrote about ‘the last days’, in the context just before the coming of the Lord. His writings also reveal the approaching danger when the wicked will persecute the righteous and put them to death, just as Jesus also prophesied (John 16:2, Matt 10:21, Mark 13:12, Luke 21:16). James’ context is also about the Lord’s judgment when He comes:
James 5:3-10 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera].
(FYI, notice that the same Greek word [en] which was translated ‘in’ in Paul’s 2 Tim 3:1, was translated ‘for’ in James 5:3.)
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (see Jer 12:3)
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Peter wrote about 'the last days', also in the context about the coming of the Lord and His judgment of the wicked, and the bringing of new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet 3:13):
2 Peter 3:3-4,7 Knowing this first, that there shall come in [epi] the last [eschatos] days [hemera] scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Last night I heard a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher make a division between ‘the last day’ (singular) and ‘the last days’ (plural). He said, "The last day has to do with the resurrection and judgment .... but the last days is something else."
Interestingly, the Greek words are the same .... whether ‘day’ is singular or ‘days’ is plural.
John also wrote about ‘the last day’ (singular). It had to do with judgment .... which we already saw about ‘the last days’ (plural) in Joel, by Peter in Acts, by Paul to Timothy, by James, and by Peter in his epistle:
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him
in [en] the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
When John prophesied about ‘the last day’ (singular), it also had to do with resurrection .... which we already saw in the context of ‘the last days’ (plural) by Paul to Timothy.
(FYI, in these next 2 verses, there is not a Greek word for the word ‘at’. It was added and included with the words ‘the last’.)
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up at the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up at the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
(FYI, in this next verse, the same Greek word [en] that has been translated ‘in’ was translated ‘at’.)
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again
in the resurrection at [en] the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
‘The last days’ or ‘the last day’ .... of persecution before the Lord returns, and when Christ appears with resurrection and judgment .... the point is, not to think you can divide yourself apart .... but, to be ready, come what may!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
Both the prophets Isaiah and Micah wrote almost the exact same words about blessings ‘in the last days’:
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Mic 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
At Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel’s prophecy about both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ events that will happen ‘in the last days’:
Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera], saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(FYI: When we reference Joel (Joel 2:28-32), the phrase ‘in the last days’ is the word ‘afterward’.)
Joel 2:28-32 And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Paul warned about fierce, troublesome times ahead. If ‘the body of Christ’ was NOT going to be on Planet Earth during ‘the last days’ .... why would God prepare the saints, to whom Paul wrote, for them? He wouldn’t! That’s why the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ invented 2 sets of ‘last days’. They don’t want to ‘endure’ ‘the last days’ .... they don’t ‘want’ to be here then .... so they make 1 set of ‘last days’ for Peter, James, and John (together) .... and they create a completely different set of ‘last days’ for Paul:
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera] perilous times shall come.
This context also shows the persecution of the righteous:
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
In the very next chapter, the context near ‘the last days’ is the appearing of the Lord to judge and reward in His kingdom .... when He raises the dead and changes the alive (1 Cor 15:50-54):
2 Tim 4:1,8 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at [en] that [ekeinos] day[hemera]: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
James wrote about ‘the last days’, in the context just before the coming of the Lord. His writings also reveal the approaching danger when the wicked will persecute the righteous and put them to death, just as Jesus also prophesied (John 16:2, Matt 10:21, Mark 13:12, Luke 21:16). James’ context is also about the Lord’s judgment when He comes:
James 5:3-10 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera].
(FYI, notice that the same Greek word [en] which was translated ‘in’ in Paul’s 2 Tim 3:1, was translated ‘for’ in James 5:3.)
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (see Jer 12:3)
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Peter wrote about 'the last days', also in the context about the coming of the Lord and His judgment of the wicked, and the bringing of new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet 3:13):
2 Peter 3:3-4,7 Knowing this first, that there shall come in [epi] the last [eschatos] days [hemera] scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Last night I heard a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher make a division between ‘the last day’ (singular) and ‘the last days’ (plural). He said, "The last day has to do with the resurrection and judgment .... but the last days is something else."
Interestingly, the Greek words are the same .... whether ‘day’ is singular or ‘days’ is plural.
John also wrote about ‘the last day’ (singular). It had to do with judgment .... which we already saw about ‘the last days’ (plural) in Joel, by Peter in Acts, by Paul to Timothy, by James, and by Peter in his epistle:
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him
in [en] the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
When John prophesied about ‘the last day’ (singular), it also had to do with resurrection .... which we already saw in the context of ‘the last days’ (plural) by Paul to Timothy.
(FYI, in these next 2 verses, there is not a Greek word for the word ‘at’. It was added and included with the words ‘the last’.)
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up at the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up at the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
(FYI, in this next verse, the same Greek word [en] that has been translated ‘in’ was translated ‘at’.)
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again
in the resurrection at [en] the last [eschatos] day [hemera].
‘The last days’ or ‘the last day’ .... of persecution before the Lord returns, and when Christ appears with resurrection and judgment .... the point is, not to think you can divide yourself apart .... but, to be ready, come what may!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
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