In the name of ‘rightly-dividing the word of truth’ .... ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach that the ‘earthly Jesus’ was ‘another Jesus’ .... a ‘different Jesus’ from the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ Who appeared to Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. But that is WRONG-DIVISION:
1 Cor 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him;
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Christ is not divided:
1 Cor 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
The KJV scripture verses would "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" .... but not so for the ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ who are KJV in name only -- not in practice (see 1 Tim 3:1):
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
What Would It Take to Shut You Up .... Or Are You Even Talking?
There are some things we ought to ‘open up’ about! Paul requested the saints at Ephesus to pray for him to ‘speak out’ the mystery revelation God gave him. He was already imprisoned for it .... but he still did not want to cease and desist, even in jail:
Eph 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Many of us quit defending every word of God in the KJV or we stop talking about sound doctrine, if we just suspect others are whispering about us. At even the slightest hint we may be ruffling some feathers, how quickly we drop the sword of the Spirit and retreat! But not so with Paul. He and Silas may have been 'disturbing the peace' .... but they were preaching peace:
Acts 16:19-25 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Being cheerful during great distress and persecution (bodily harm) is certainly noble, and entirely possible, when walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. In the context of writing about a bishop’s responsibility, Paul described some folks that should keep their mouths closed:
Titus 1:9-11 (vs. 7, "A bishop must be" ....) Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Paul told ‘who’ needs to shut up. It is certainly not the bishops!
What does it take to shut you up? Or are you even talking?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Eph 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Many of us quit defending every word of God in the KJV or we stop talking about sound doctrine, if we just suspect others are whispering about us. At even the slightest hint we may be ruffling some feathers, how quickly we drop the sword of the Spirit and retreat! But not so with Paul. He and Silas may have been 'disturbing the peace' .... but they were preaching peace:
Acts 16:19-25 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Being cheerful during great distress and persecution (bodily harm) is certainly noble, and entirely possible, when walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. In the context of writing about a bishop’s responsibility, Paul described some folks that should keep their mouths closed:
Titus 1:9-11 (vs. 7, "A bishop must be" ....) Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Paul told ‘who’ needs to shut up. It is certainly not the bishops!
What does it take to shut you up? Or are you even talking?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Thursday, September 9, 2010
1+1=1
In Paul's first epistle to the saints at Corinth, he (by inspiration of God) continually scolded them for arguing over which minister brought them to the Lord. He expressed the UNITY of the body of Christ .... regardless of who the minister was that led them to faith in Christ:
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; (Today, these are the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ .... ‘Paul followers’. They believe that people are only saved by what-they-call "Paul’s gospel" .... which they see as a DIFFERENT, UNIQUE gospel, from the gospel message by EVERY OTHER preacher in the Bible, including John the Baptist, JESUS Himself, and ANY of the apostles and prophets.)
and I of Apollos; (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ say he was in "Israel’s program" because at first, he knew only the water baptism of John - Acts 18:24-25. They do not allow for any believer that would be ‘of Apollos’ to be in what-they-call the ‘body of Christ’. They nicknamed one of their own Apollos, because they think he is "an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures" .... but they exclude any saints who would follow Apollos’ teaching as "not being in the body of Christ".)
and I of Cephas; (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ claim Peter preached ‘another gospel’ from the gospel PAUL preached. If that were REALLY the case, then Peter would be accursed, according to Gal 1:9)
and I of Christ. (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ won’t even classify a follower ‘of Christ’ to be in the ‘body of Christ’. That, in itself, is very weird. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ look down on anyone, call them ugly names, and say they don’t understand the scriptures (rightly-divided) who claims to follow Jesus. They think anyone who says they are ‘of Christ’ .... is following ‘another Jesus’ .... Jesus in His ‘earthly ministry’ .... who they also think preached ‘another gospel’ .... being, the gospel of the kingdom .... in what-they-call "Israel’s program".)
13 Is Christ divided? (No, He is not, and neither should His body be.)
was Paul crucified for you?
or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
The saints at Corinth were arguing about which minister brought them to faith in Christ. GOD’s answer was that it did not matter. The carnal ‘mid-Acts-ers’ need to get that. The example is given over Paul and Apollos. Paul was one minister, Apollos was one minister .... yet 1 + 1 = 1 .... Paul and Apollos are ONE:
1 Cor 3:3-8 For ye are yet carnal:
for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith,
I am of Paul;
and another, I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul,
and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed,
even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted,
Apollos watered;
but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing,
neither he that watereth; (Which minister is irrelevant)
but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: (Do you believe God? Paul -- who 'mid-Acts-ers' think started a NEW program called the 'body of Christ -- and Apollos -- who 'mid-Acts-ers' say was in 'Israel's program' -- ARE ONE! They are 'all' in ONE BODY!)
and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
In the same letter, for yet a third time .... Paul, by inspiration of God, showed that it did not matter WHO preached the gospel of Jesus Christ .... the point was, they believed it! We will see this in 1 Cor 15:1-11.
Paul plainly expressed the gospel he preached was that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the 3rd day. He testified that THIS gospel was already written in the scriptures:
1 Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 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:
Then Paul named many others who witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Cor 15:5-7 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.
Then Paul named himself also .... to be included in the group:
1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul felt unworthy, and he worked harder than anyone else to make up for wasting God’s church in time past (also see Gal 1:13). He was thankful for the grace of God:
1 Cor 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Then Paul showed that it did not matter WHICH preacher gave the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection .... whether it was PAUL .... or ANY of the rest of the men he mentioned .... the Corinthians believed the gospel that they preached:
1 Cor 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they,
so we preach, and so ye believed.
A few chapters earlier, Paul taught them that they were ALL one:
1 Cor 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Whether Paul’s disciples, or Apollos’ disciples, or Peter’s disciples, or Christ’s disciples, or the 12's disciples, or James' disciples, or all of the apostles’ disciples, or more than 500 other brothers' disciples .... it did not matter .... because they were ALL ONE in the body of Christ!
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.
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
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; (Today, these are the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ .... ‘Paul followers’. They believe that people are only saved by what-they-call "Paul’s gospel" .... which they see as a DIFFERENT, UNIQUE gospel, from the gospel message by EVERY OTHER preacher in the Bible, including John the Baptist, JESUS Himself, and ANY of the apostles and prophets.)
and I of Apollos; (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ say he was in "Israel’s program" because at first, he knew only the water baptism of John - Acts 18:24-25. They do not allow for any believer that would be ‘of Apollos’ to be in what-they-call the ‘body of Christ’. They nicknamed one of their own Apollos, because they think he is "an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures" .... but they exclude any saints who would follow Apollos’ teaching as "not being in the body of Christ".)
and I of Cephas; (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ claim Peter preached ‘another gospel’ from the gospel PAUL preached. If that were REALLY the case, then Peter would be accursed, according to Gal 1:9)
and I of Christ. (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ won’t even classify a follower ‘of Christ’ to be in the ‘body of Christ’. That, in itself, is very weird. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ look down on anyone, call them ugly names, and say they don’t understand the scriptures (rightly-divided) who claims to follow Jesus. They think anyone who says they are ‘of Christ’ .... is following ‘another Jesus’ .... Jesus in His ‘earthly ministry’ .... who they also think preached ‘another gospel’ .... being, the gospel of the kingdom .... in what-they-call "Israel’s program".)
13 Is Christ divided? (No, He is not, and neither should His body be.)
was Paul crucified for you?
or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
The saints at Corinth were arguing about which minister brought them to faith in Christ. GOD’s answer was that it did not matter. The carnal ‘mid-Acts-ers’ need to get that. The example is given over Paul and Apollos. Paul was one minister, Apollos was one minister .... yet 1 + 1 = 1 .... Paul and Apollos are ONE:
1 Cor 3:3-8 For ye are yet carnal:
for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith,
I am of Paul;
and another, I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul,
and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed,
even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted,
Apollos watered;
but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing,
neither he that watereth; (Which minister is irrelevant)
but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: (Do you believe God? Paul -- who 'mid-Acts-ers' think started a NEW program called the 'body of Christ -- and Apollos -- who 'mid-Acts-ers' say was in 'Israel's program' -- ARE ONE! They are 'all' in ONE BODY!)
and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
In the same letter, for yet a third time .... Paul, by inspiration of God, showed that it did not matter WHO preached the gospel of Jesus Christ .... the point was, they believed it! We will see this in 1 Cor 15:1-11.
Paul plainly expressed the gospel he preached was that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the 3rd day. He testified that THIS gospel was already written in the scriptures:
1 Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 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:
Then Paul named many others who witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Cor 15:5-7 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.
Then Paul named himself also .... to be included in the group:
1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul felt unworthy, and he worked harder than anyone else to make up for wasting God’s church in time past (also see Gal 1:13). He was thankful for the grace of God:
1 Cor 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Then Paul showed that it did not matter WHICH preacher gave the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection .... whether it was PAUL .... or ANY of the rest of the men he mentioned .... the Corinthians believed the gospel that they preached:
1 Cor 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they,
so we preach, and so ye believed.
A few chapters earlier, Paul taught them that they were ALL one:
1 Cor 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Whether Paul’s disciples, or Apollos’ disciples, or Peter’s disciples, or Christ’s disciples, or the 12's disciples, or James' disciples, or all of the apostles’ disciples, or more than 500 other brothers' disciples .... it did not matter .... because they were ALL ONE in the body of Christ!
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.
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Saturday, September 4, 2010
One Greek Word, Aphesis
The Greek word [aphesis] is written 17 times in the scriptures.
It is translated:
remission - 9 times
forgiveness - 6 times
deliverance - 1 time
liberty - 1 time.
[Aphesis] is a release from bondage or imprisonment, forgiveness or pardon, remission of the penalty. It is linked with repentance, and with Jesus, and with His blood.
In the synagogue at Nazareth, when Jesus read the prophecy written by Isaiah, it showed remission and forgiveness of sins .... through HIM:
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance [aphesis] to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty [aphesis] them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus indicated to the audience that HE was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, and that they were eye-witnesses of it:
Luke 4:20-21 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
When Jesus ate the Passover Supper (Luke 22:15) with His disciples, He taught them that HIS blood would be the atonement for their sins .... as the blood of the NEW testament:
Matt 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission [aphesis] of sins.
After Jesus’ sacrificial death as the Lamb of God (John 1:29,36), and after He rose again from the dead .... He appeared to His disciples, and encouraged them to start at Jerusalem, as home base, and spread the gospel of His death and resurrection EVERYWHERE. They were eye-witnesses of His death and resurrection, as well as the expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1) to the Gentiles:
Luke 24:46-48 And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer,
and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission [aphesis] of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Peter preached to Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5). Israel needed to ‘change their mind’ (repent) about Who Jesus truly was, and accept Him as their Christ (John 1:11,12):
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [aphesis] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Again Peter preached the death and resurrection of Jesus. He also presented the glorification of Christ. Israel could repent and be forgiven of their sins, when they placed their faith in Jesus Christ:
Acts 5:30-32 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness [aphesis] of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When Peter offered forgiveness through Jesus Christ, he also included the Gentiles. Peter said that ALL the prophets prophesied of Him:
Acts 10:42-45 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 [aphesis] of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Paul (Acts 13:16) was talking about how the people that lived at Jerusalem and their rulers fulfilled prophecy by demanding the death of Christ. Paul was a witness of the Lord’s resurrection. He, too, extended the gospel of Jesus Christ, with remission / forgiveness under the NEW testament, to everyone for justification that was not available under Moses’ OLD testament:
Acts 13:37-39 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Paul warned his listeners of prophecies (Isa 29:14, Hab 1:5) that would come upon them, if they didn’t believe on Jesus Christ:
Acts 13:40-41 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
When Jesus commissioned Saul on the Damascus Road, He informed him to preach to the Gentiles, so they also could be forgiven:
Acts 26:15-18 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (the SAME Jesus, not 'another Jesus')
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness [aphesis] of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Paul’s epistles show forgiveness / remission .... in Christ’s blood, the blood of the NEW testament (2 Cor 3:6) of which we are able ministers:
Eph 1:7 In whom (the Beloved) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Col 1:14 In whom (the Father’s Dear Son) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins:
God the Father accepted the sacrifice of Jesus the Son. Jesus’ blood paid for all the sins that were being ‘held’ for payment under the OLD testament. The animal sacrifices were only temporary, until the Better Sacrifice came:
Rom 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission [paresis] of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God applied the blood of Jesus back over the OLD testament sin, because the required animal sacrifices, could never cleanse from sin:
Heb 9:15-22 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission [aphesis].
In the OLD testament, God required animal sacrifices. They ‘held back’ God’s judgment against sin, but animal blood could never offer complete release:
Heb 10:2-4 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.
Only One, Jesus’ blood, can bring remission / forgiveness for sins:
Heb 10:14-18 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission [aphesis] of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ divide between remission and forgiveness .... even though one Greek word [aphesis] is translated both ways.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
It is translated:
remission - 9 times
forgiveness - 6 times
deliverance - 1 time
liberty - 1 time.
[Aphesis] is a release from bondage or imprisonment, forgiveness or pardon, remission of the penalty. It is linked with repentance, and with Jesus, and with His blood.
In the synagogue at Nazareth, when Jesus read the prophecy written by Isaiah, it showed remission and forgiveness of sins .... through HIM:
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance [aphesis] to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty [aphesis] them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus indicated to the audience that HE was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, and that they were eye-witnesses of it:
Luke 4:20-21 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
When Jesus ate the Passover Supper (Luke 22:15) with His disciples, He taught them that HIS blood would be the atonement for their sins .... as the blood of the NEW testament:
Matt 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission [aphesis] of sins.
After Jesus’ sacrificial death as the Lamb of God (John 1:29,36), and after He rose again from the dead .... He appeared to His disciples, and encouraged them to start at Jerusalem, as home base, and spread the gospel of His death and resurrection EVERYWHERE. They were eye-witnesses of His death and resurrection, as well as the expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1) to the Gentiles:
Luke 24:46-48 And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer,
and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission [aphesis] of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Peter preached to Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5). Israel needed to ‘change their mind’ (repent) about Who Jesus truly was, and accept Him as their Christ (John 1:11,12):
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [aphesis] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Again Peter preached the death and resurrection of Jesus. He also presented the glorification of Christ. Israel could repent and be forgiven of their sins, when they placed their faith in Jesus Christ:
Acts 5:30-32 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness [aphesis] of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When Peter offered forgiveness through Jesus Christ, he also included the Gentiles. Peter said that ALL the prophets prophesied of Him:
Acts 10:42-45 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 [aphesis] of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Paul (Acts 13:16) was talking about how the people that lived at Jerusalem and their rulers fulfilled prophecy by demanding the death of Christ. Paul was a witness of the Lord’s resurrection. He, too, extended the gospel of Jesus Christ, with remission / forgiveness under the NEW testament, to everyone for justification that was not available under Moses’ OLD testament:
Acts 13:37-39 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Paul warned his listeners of prophecies (Isa 29:14, Hab 1:5) that would come upon them, if they didn’t believe on Jesus Christ:
Acts 13:40-41 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
When Jesus commissioned Saul on the Damascus Road, He informed him to preach to the Gentiles, so they also could be forgiven:
Acts 26:15-18 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (the SAME Jesus, not 'another Jesus')
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness [aphesis] of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Paul’s epistles show forgiveness / remission .... in Christ’s blood, the blood of the NEW testament (2 Cor 3:6) of which we are able ministers:
Eph 1:7 In whom (the Beloved) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Col 1:14 In whom (the Father’s Dear Son) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins:
God the Father accepted the sacrifice of Jesus the Son. Jesus’ blood paid for all the sins that were being ‘held’ for payment under the OLD testament. The animal sacrifices were only temporary, until the Better Sacrifice came:
Rom 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission [paresis] of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God applied the blood of Jesus back over the OLD testament sin, because the required animal sacrifices, could never cleanse from sin:
Heb 9:15-22 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission [aphesis].
In the OLD testament, God required animal sacrifices. They ‘held back’ God’s judgment against sin, but animal blood could never offer complete release:
Heb 10:2-4 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.
Only One, Jesus’ blood, can bring remission / forgiveness for sins:
Heb 10:14-18 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission [aphesis] of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ divide between remission and forgiveness .... even though one Greek word [aphesis] is translated both ways.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Friday, August 27, 2010
Record Harmony?
During Sunday Evening Story-Time on July 25, 2010, with the ‘teaching elder’ of Illinois (AKA the Cunning Royal Jester), in his continual struggle to divide the second coming of Jesus Christ into 2 great installments .... he proposed that ‘the events are similar, but the distinctions don’t match.’ He acclaimed people who ‘understand the distinctive ministry of Paul’. He was attempting to separate THE appearing of Jesus Christ .... by saying that Paul wrote of a DIFFERENT coming .... than the 4 gospels record. To test the validity of the ‘teaching elder’s supposition, let’s begin among Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
1. Matthew and Mark say He will come ‘in’ the ‘clouds’ (plural) .... but the Greek words that were translated ‘in’ are different.
2. John wrote He will come ‘with’ ‘clouds’. So would the IL ‘teaching elder’ make a distinction here? Will His coming ‘in’ clouds be different than His coming ‘with’ clouds?
3. Luke records that He will come ‘in’ ‘a cloud’ (singular). Does the IL ‘teaching elder’ think His coming in plural clouds is different than His coming in a single cloud?
Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in [epi] the clouds [nephele] of heaven with power and great glory.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with [meta] clouds [nephele];
and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in [en] the clouds [nephele] with great power and glory.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in [en] a cloud [nephele] with power and great glory.
Oh, the IL ‘teaching elder’ says THESE ‘distinctions that don’t match’ are all talking about the SAME event. But when PAUL shows Jesus will come from heaven, and the dead and alive are taken up in the clouds to meet the Lord .... then the IL ‘teaching elder’ teaches that 'that coming' (he calls the 'rapture') is an entirely different coming, more than 7 years BEFORE the coming recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What extreme denial .... to protect his paradigm!
1 Thess 4:16-17 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 [en] the clouds [nephele], to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now, let’s consider more verse abuse from the IL ‘teaching elder’.
Matthew and Mark both say His angels will be sent to gather together His elect from the four winds. However, Matthew says it will be from one end of HEAVEN to the other .... but Mark says it will be from the end of the EARTH to the farthest bounds of HEAVEN. So would the IL ‘teaching elder’ create 2 separate gatherings here .... one from heaven to heaven, and the other from earth to heaven? Oh no, he would say THIS ‘distinction that doesn’t match’ are is talking about the SAME event.
Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
But when PAUL wrote about the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto Him .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ makes THIS a different coming and a different gathering of a different group of elect.
The IL ‘teaching elder’ also makes a point to say that in Matthew and Mark, it is the ANGELS that gather together the elect .... whereas, in Paul's writings, he says that the LORD Himself will give His personal attention and He does the gathering. But he is wrong, because NEITHER of the VERSES in Paul's writings say WHO will do the gathering:
2 Thess 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
1 Thess 4:16-17 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.
Next, we read about the sound of a trumpet at the Lord’s coming.
Matthew wrote about it and so did Paul. But the IL ‘teaching elder’ says Matthew’s trumpet is an angel’s trumpet, not God’s. Well, the angel is God’s angel, and the trumpet is God’s trumpet. Just like the IL ‘teaching elder’ teaches that Moses’ law (Heb 10:28), the law of Moses (Acts 28:28 and 21 other times) .... is actually God’s law, the law of God. But the IL ‘teaching elder’ is not even consistent with his own principles, when he then says, Paul’s trumpet is God’s trumpet, not an angel’s trumpet:
Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels
with [meta] a great [megas] sound [phone] of a trumpet [salpigx],
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [en] the last [eschatos] trump [salpigx]: for [gar] the trumpet shall sound [salpizo], and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In the previous verse, the Greek word [en] was translated ‘at’ .... and in the next verse, the same Greek word [en] was translated ‘with’. Do you think the IL ‘teaching elder’ would consider THIS ‘distinction that doesn’t match’ important enough to make 2 different trumps of it? Well, he doesn’t. But he does make 1 instrument sounding 2 times, so he can have a last trump (albeit, invented) and not have to take the last trump in the scripture, in Revelation, because the time of its sound does not fit his paradigm:
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with [en] the trump [salpigx] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Since the Cunning Royal Jester has changed from years of teaching 3 toots to currently teaching just 2 toots, his Jokers are following suit.
When the 7th angel sounds the 7th (last) trumpet, God’s kingdom will come:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
When the 7th angel sounds the 7th (last) trumpet, the mystery of God (also see Col 2:2, Eph 3:3-9, Col 4:3) will be over:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice [phone] of the seventh angel, when he shall begin [mello] to sound [salpizo], the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
There is also the issue about both the dead and the alive.
Jesus taught His disciples that not everyone will be dead when He comes:
Luke 9:26-27 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
But when PAUL wrote that not all believers will be dead .... that some will still be alive, when the Lord comes .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ says THIS was previously UNKNOWN information:
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
My point is, that God REVEALED His secrets to the prophets (which includes Saul/Paul in Acts 13:1) .... and they harmonized His revelation to His righteous saints that fear Him:
Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Prov 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
Dan 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Matthew wrote that Jesus said He will judge in His kingdom when He comes:
Matt 16:27-28 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Matt 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory,
and all the holy angels with him,
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Yet when PAUL wrote of the judgment of the Lord of both the alive and the dead .... at His coming and His kingdom (even in the one sentence) .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ takes a quantum leap by dividing ‘Paul from Paul’ when he teaches that Christ’s appearing will be a ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ (the 1st great installment?!) that will occur more than 7 years prior to the Lord’s 2nd coming (for Israel) when He will establish His kingdom on earth:
2 Tim 4:1 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;
John also described the Lord’s coming in judgment and vengence:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
When PAUL recorded prophecy about the Lord’s coming in judgment to make war against His enemies and be glorified and admired in His elect .... both "in that day" .... AND 'with His angels' (like Matt 25:31) .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ splits apart this ‘distinction that doesn’t match’, too:
2 Thess 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us,
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints,
and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed)
in that day.
The IL ‘teaching elder’ said ‘The 2nd coming was a man-made term’.
Hmmmm .... maybe it could be ‘the 2nd appearing’ instead?
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Are you one of them who looks for the Lord’s appearing? Looking for it does not necessitate that it is imminent, any day now .... but that you have a stedfast hope, knowing He will come:
Phil 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Peter also wrote about looking for the day of the Lord to come (2 Pet 3:12-14).
Many times I have heard the IL ‘teaching elder’ preach, "Things that are different are not the same!" He uses that whenever HE wants to, then whenever he doesn’t want to use it, he flips it and goes the other way, to say that all the records don’t have the same information about the same event, but they give different facts.
Later in his message, as the IL ‘teaching elder’ attempted to link several passages, with different information, about the same event. There he did an ‘about-face’ and said the scripture ‘sort-of sprinkles stuff through .... a little information here and there’. What double-talk!
I have documented 83 times where at least 2 of the 4 gospel accounts record the same events, without the exact same details, but God’s records are in complete harmony. The IL ‘teaching elder’ teaches that the coming, appearing, trumpet, gathering, judgment, kingdom, last days, grace, mystery, revelation, etc. of which PAUL wrote .... were all separate things from the same things that anyone ‘outside of Paul’ wrote.
With all this evidence in scripture that proves the IL 'teaching elder' is wrong, no wonder he threw his arms and hands up in the air during this past Sunday evening's message, and bewailed, "So what if I'm wrong?"
1 Cor 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
I would rather be prepared. How about you?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
1. Matthew and Mark say He will come ‘in’ the ‘clouds’ (plural) .... but the Greek words that were translated ‘in’ are different.
2. John wrote He will come ‘with’ ‘clouds’. So would the IL ‘teaching elder’ make a distinction here? Will His coming ‘in’ clouds be different than His coming ‘with’ clouds?
3. Luke records that He will come ‘in’ ‘a cloud’ (singular). Does the IL ‘teaching elder’ think His coming in plural clouds is different than His coming in a single cloud?
Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in [epi] the clouds [nephele] of heaven with power and great glory.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with [meta] clouds [nephele];
and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in [en] the clouds [nephele] with great power and glory.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in [en] a cloud [nephele] with power and great glory.
Oh, the IL ‘teaching elder’ says THESE ‘distinctions that don’t match’ are all talking about the SAME event. But when PAUL shows Jesus will come from heaven, and the dead and alive are taken up in the clouds to meet the Lord .... then the IL ‘teaching elder’ teaches that 'that coming' (he calls the 'rapture') is an entirely different coming, more than 7 years BEFORE the coming recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What extreme denial .... to protect his paradigm!
1 Thess 4:16-17 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 [en] the clouds [nephele], to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now, let’s consider more verse abuse from the IL ‘teaching elder’.
Matthew and Mark both say His angels will be sent to gather together His elect from the four winds. However, Matthew says it will be from one end of HEAVEN to the other .... but Mark says it will be from the end of the EARTH to the farthest bounds of HEAVEN. So would the IL ‘teaching elder’ create 2 separate gatherings here .... one from heaven to heaven, and the other from earth to heaven? Oh no, he would say THIS ‘distinction that doesn’t match’ are is talking about the SAME event.
Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
But when PAUL wrote about the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto Him .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ makes THIS a different coming and a different gathering of a different group of elect.
The IL ‘teaching elder’ also makes a point to say that in Matthew and Mark, it is the ANGELS that gather together the elect .... whereas, in Paul's writings, he says that the LORD Himself will give His personal attention and He does the gathering. But he is wrong, because NEITHER of the VERSES in Paul's writings say WHO will do the gathering:
2 Thess 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
1 Thess 4:16-17 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.
Next, we read about the sound of a trumpet at the Lord’s coming.
Matthew wrote about it and so did Paul. But the IL ‘teaching elder’ says Matthew’s trumpet is an angel’s trumpet, not God’s. Well, the angel is God’s angel, and the trumpet is God’s trumpet. Just like the IL ‘teaching elder’ teaches that Moses’ law (Heb 10:28), the law of Moses (Acts 28:28 and 21 other times) .... is actually God’s law, the law of God. But the IL ‘teaching elder’ is not even consistent with his own principles, when he then says, Paul’s trumpet is God’s trumpet, not an angel’s trumpet:
Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels
with [meta] a great [megas] sound [phone] of a trumpet [salpigx],
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [en] the last [eschatos] trump [salpigx]: for [gar] the trumpet shall sound [salpizo], and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In the previous verse, the Greek word [en] was translated ‘at’ .... and in the next verse, the same Greek word [en] was translated ‘with’. Do you think the IL ‘teaching elder’ would consider THIS ‘distinction that doesn’t match’ important enough to make 2 different trumps of it? Well, he doesn’t. But he does make 1 instrument sounding 2 times, so he can have a last trump (albeit, invented) and not have to take the last trump in the scripture, in Revelation, because the time of its sound does not fit his paradigm:
1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with [en] the trump [salpigx] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Since the Cunning Royal Jester has changed from years of teaching 3 toots to currently teaching just 2 toots, his Jokers are following suit.
When the 7th angel sounds the 7th (last) trumpet, God’s kingdom will come:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
When the 7th angel sounds the 7th (last) trumpet, the mystery of God (also see Col 2:2, Eph 3:3-9, Col 4:3) will be over:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice [phone] of the seventh angel, when he shall begin [mello] to sound [salpizo], the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
There is also the issue about both the dead and the alive.
Jesus taught His disciples that not everyone will be dead when He comes:
Luke 9:26-27 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
But when PAUL wrote that not all believers will be dead .... that some will still be alive, when the Lord comes .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ says THIS was previously UNKNOWN information:
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
My point is, that God REVEALED His secrets to the prophets (which includes Saul/Paul in Acts 13:1) .... and they harmonized His revelation to His righteous saints that fear Him:
Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Prov 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
Dan 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Matthew wrote that Jesus said He will judge in His kingdom when He comes:
Matt 16:27-28 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Matt 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory,
and all the holy angels with him,
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Yet when PAUL wrote of the judgment of the Lord of both the alive and the dead .... at His coming and His kingdom (even in the one sentence) .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ takes a quantum leap by dividing ‘Paul from Paul’ when he teaches that Christ’s appearing will be a ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ (the 1st great installment?!) that will occur more than 7 years prior to the Lord’s 2nd coming (for Israel) when He will establish His kingdom on earth:
2 Tim 4:1 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;
John also described the Lord’s coming in judgment and vengence:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
When PAUL recorded prophecy about the Lord’s coming in judgment to make war against His enemies and be glorified and admired in His elect .... both "in that day" .... AND 'with His angels' (like Matt 25:31) .... the IL ‘teaching elder’ splits apart this ‘distinction that doesn’t match’, too:
2 Thess 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us,
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints,
and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed)
in that day.
The IL ‘teaching elder’ said ‘The 2nd coming was a man-made term’.
Hmmmm .... maybe it could be ‘the 2nd appearing’ instead?
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Are you one of them who looks for the Lord’s appearing? Looking for it does not necessitate that it is imminent, any day now .... but that you have a stedfast hope, knowing He will come:
Phil 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Peter also wrote about looking for the day of the Lord to come (2 Pet 3:12-14).
Many times I have heard the IL ‘teaching elder’ preach, "Things that are different are not the same!" He uses that whenever HE wants to, then whenever he doesn’t want to use it, he flips it and goes the other way, to say that all the records don’t have the same information about the same event, but they give different facts.
Later in his message, as the IL ‘teaching elder’ attempted to link several passages, with different information, about the same event. There he did an ‘about-face’ and said the scripture ‘sort-of sprinkles stuff through .... a little information here and there’. What double-talk!
I have documented 83 times where at least 2 of the 4 gospel accounts record the same events, without the exact same details, but God’s records are in complete harmony. The IL ‘teaching elder’ teaches that the coming, appearing, trumpet, gathering, judgment, kingdom, last days, grace, mystery, revelation, etc. of which PAUL wrote .... were all separate things from the same things that anyone ‘outside of Paul’ wrote.
With all this evidence in scripture that proves the IL 'teaching elder' is wrong, no wonder he threw his arms and hands up in the air during this past Sunday evening's message, and bewailed, "So what if I'm wrong?"
1 Cor 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
I would rather be prepared. How about you?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wait a Minute .... or Wait 2,000 + Years?
John the Baptist preached the kingdom was near:
Matt 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus Himself preached the kingdom was nigh:
Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus commissioned His disciples as the 12 apostles (Matt 10:1-2) and sent them out with the message of the kingdom being close:
Matt 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The phrase "at hand" from the Greek word [eggizo] means ‘to bring near, to join one thing to another, to draw or come near to, to approach’.
The Greek word [eggizo] is used 43 times. It was translated ‘draw nigh’ 12 times, ‘be at hand’ 9 times, ‘come nigh’ 8 times, ‘come near’ 5 times, ‘draw near’ 4 times, and miscellaneous 5 times.
Obviously, the ‘birth’ Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about was a ‘spiritual birth’ .... and the ‘kingdom’ one would ‘see’ (know, perceive, behold, look) was a ‘spiritual kingdom’:
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus taught that the kingdom could not be seen with physical eyes:
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there!
for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
In fulfillment of prophecy (Zech 9:9), Jesus was celebrated as Israel’s King:
John 12:12-13 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
In the judgment hall, Pilate asked Jesus what He had done that the chief priests of His own nation had delivered Him to him. He was accused of being a political king .... but He wasn’t:
John 18:33-36 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:
if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight,
that I should not be delivered to the Jews:
but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Jesus was also charged with being a threat to Caesar’s throne .... but He wasn’t:
John 19:12-15 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Before He was crucified, Jesus already indicated that His kingdom was there:
Matt 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God
is come [phthano] unto you.
The Greek word [phthano] means ‘to come before, precede, anticipate’. Just to show you how that Greek word [phthano] is also used .... examine this next verse:
1 Thess 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall [phthano] not prevent [phthano] them which are asleep.
God raised Jesus from the dead, and gave Him all authority. For now, His kingdom rule is not over a physical territory, but over men’s hearts:
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Many verses contain evidence that the fulfillment of the Messianic Psalms 2 and 110 prophecies began with the resurrection, ascension, and heavenly seating of Jesus as King (Acts 2:29-36, 4:25-28, 8:12, 13:32-33; Heb 5:5; Rev 2:26-27).
Jesus said the kingdom belonged to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Paul and Barnabus encouraged the churches as they entered the kingdom:
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Ask yourself, do you believe God's word? The Acts of the Apostles is part of the Holy Bible. Paul preached the kingdom of God about Jesus, from Moses and the prophets:
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him (Paul) a day, there came many to him (Paul) into his lodging; to whom he (Paul) expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him (Paul),
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
There is nothing about God having 'different kingdoms' .... or that says Paul preached a 'different kingdom of God' than everyone else.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Col 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1 Thess 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
2 Thess 1:5 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:
If God had ‘postponed’ the kingdom, as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach ....
then, from reading these verses, He obviously did not inform Paul of its delay.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Matt 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus Himself preached the kingdom was nigh:
Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus commissioned His disciples as the 12 apostles (Matt 10:1-2) and sent them out with the message of the kingdom being close:
Matt 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The phrase "at hand" from the Greek word [eggizo] means ‘to bring near, to join one thing to another, to draw or come near to, to approach’.
The Greek word [eggizo] is used 43 times. It was translated ‘draw nigh’ 12 times, ‘be at hand’ 9 times, ‘come nigh’ 8 times, ‘come near’ 5 times, ‘draw near’ 4 times, and miscellaneous 5 times.
Obviously, the ‘birth’ Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about was a ‘spiritual birth’ .... and the ‘kingdom’ one would ‘see’ (know, perceive, behold, look) was a ‘spiritual kingdom’:
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus taught that the kingdom could not be seen with physical eyes:
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there!
for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
In fulfillment of prophecy (Zech 9:9), Jesus was celebrated as Israel’s King:
John 12:12-13 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
In the judgment hall, Pilate asked Jesus what He had done that the chief priests of His own nation had delivered Him to him. He was accused of being a political king .... but He wasn’t:
John 18:33-36 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:
if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight,
that I should not be delivered to the Jews:
but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Jesus was also charged with being a threat to Caesar’s throne .... but He wasn’t:
John 19:12-15 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Before He was crucified, Jesus already indicated that His kingdom was there:
Matt 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God
is come [phthano] unto you.
The Greek word [phthano] means ‘to come before, precede, anticipate’. Just to show you how that Greek word [phthano] is also used .... examine this next verse:
1 Thess 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall [phthano] not prevent [phthano] them which are asleep.
God raised Jesus from the dead, and gave Him all authority. For now, His kingdom rule is not over a physical territory, but over men’s hearts:
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Many verses contain evidence that the fulfillment of the Messianic Psalms 2 and 110 prophecies began with the resurrection, ascension, and heavenly seating of Jesus as King (Acts 2:29-36, 4:25-28, 8:12, 13:32-33; Heb 5:5; Rev 2:26-27).
Jesus said the kingdom belonged to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Paul and Barnabus encouraged the churches as they entered the kingdom:
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Ask yourself, do you believe God's word? The Acts of the Apostles is part of the Holy Bible. Paul preached the kingdom of God about Jesus, from Moses and the prophets:
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him (Paul) a day, there came many to him (Paul) into his lodging; to whom he (Paul) expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him (Paul),
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
There is nothing about God having 'different kingdoms' .... or that says Paul preached a 'different kingdom of God' than everyone else.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Col 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1 Thess 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
2 Thess 1:5 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:
If God had ‘postponed’ the kingdom, as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach ....
then, from reading these verses, He obviously did not inform Paul of its delay.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Friday, August 13, 2010
A Tangled Web
I wanted to share a reply from a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher to this question I sent to several people:
"Where in scripture do we find the last trump spoken of in 1 Cor 15:52, so we can get a time for its sound?"
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In response to the question, I had a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher write to me about 1 Cor 15:23, and say that, "The coming of the Lord here at the end of the 70th week of Daniel is not well received by the nations. No problem, as He will deal with them in wrath." I could say that I agree with that. I believe that the Lord will come at the end of the 70th week of Daniel.
The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher also said that, "The last trump of 1 Cor 15:52 is spoken of in 1 Thess 4:16-17. The time of its sound is 1 Cor 15:23 "they that are Christ’s at his coming" This is where 1 Thess 4:16-17 occurs." Hey, I agree with that, too .... but as we go on, you will see that the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher does not agree with himself. He double-talks!
Now let’s read the passage:
1 Cor 15:23-28 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end,
when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
He also wrote, "It’s my position that the series of trumps in the book of Revelation do not occur in the dispensation of grace. They are part of the Prophetic Program John records in the book of Revelation." I do not agree with that. Here is where he begins to tie himself in a knot.
He wrote, "1 Cor 15:52 does not refer to the 1st resurrection of the dead (at the beginning of the 1000 years) nor the 2nd resurrection of the dead (after the 1000 years are finished). 1 Cor 15:52 pertains to the resurrection in 1 Thess 4:16-17. This resurrection ends the dispensation of grace." Right there he just ‘invented another resurrection’ .... ‘a different resurrection’ .... to end the dispensation of grace .... that he does not count .... that he says comes BEFORE the 1st resurrection.
He wrote, "The resurrection of when they reign with Christ in the 1000 years occurs at the end of 1 Cor 15:24. This is the resurrection of Rev 20:5 referred to as the 1st resurrection. It is the first one in the time frame covered (the 70th week of Daniel) - it occurs at the end of the 70th week."
He wrote, "Paul covers the order of the resurrection for us, the body of Christ, in 1 Cor 15:23, 1 Thess 4:16-17, and 1 Cor 15:52. This resurrection ends the dispensation of grace and then God will resume the prophetic program."
He wrote of 1 Cor 15:23, "they that are Christ’s at his coming" (See Thess 4:16-17 and 1 Cor 15:52, which ends the dispensation of grace and triggers God’s resumption of His Prophetic Program.)
1 Cor 15:23-24 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher thinks ‘this coming’ is a ‘non-counted’ resurrection at the ‘rapture’ that ends the dispensation of grace. Then AFTER ‘this secret coming’ .... he inserts ‘7 plus’ years .... for what-’mid-Acts-ers’-call a ‘prophesied GAP’ of ? number of years, PLUS the 70th week of Daniel’s 7 years. THEN .... AFTER THAT, he says it will be the end .... and AFTER 'THE END' .... there will be a totally DIFFERENT resurrection (even though the VERSE does not mention one) at the END of verse 24:
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (Here he puts the ‘first’ resurrection of Rev 20:5)
Of 1 Cor 15:24, he wrote, "Note this is the time frame for Rev 19:19 through Rev 20:5 and the first resurrection. The book of Revelation pertains to the 70th week of Daniel and occurs after the end of the dispensation of grace."
I quoted the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher’s exact words, because I printed his e-mail. Now, in the words of Sir Walter Scott, I quote,
"Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive."
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Whether ‘mid-Acts’ preachers are deceiving people knowingly (realizing how irrational and unsupported their ridiculous claims are) or unknowingly (they themselves are deceived) .... either way .... they are teaching deception!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
"Where in scripture do we find the last trump spoken of in 1 Cor 15:52, so we can get a time for its sound?"
1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In response to the question, I had a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher write to me about 1 Cor 15:23, and say that, "The coming of the Lord here at the end of the 70th week of Daniel is not well received by the nations. No problem, as He will deal with them in wrath." I could say that I agree with that. I believe that the Lord will come at the end of the 70th week of Daniel.
The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher also said that, "The last trump of 1 Cor 15:52 is spoken of in 1 Thess 4:16-17. The time of its sound is 1 Cor 15:23 "they that are Christ’s at his coming" This is where 1 Thess 4:16-17 occurs." Hey, I agree with that, too .... but as we go on, you will see that the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher does not agree with himself. He double-talks!
Now let’s read the passage:
1 Cor 15:23-28 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end,
when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
He also wrote, "It’s my position that the series of trumps in the book of Revelation do not occur in the dispensation of grace. They are part of the Prophetic Program John records in the book of Revelation." I do not agree with that. Here is where he begins to tie himself in a knot.
He wrote, "1 Cor 15:52 does not refer to the 1st resurrection of the dead (at the beginning of the 1000 years) nor the 2nd resurrection of the dead (after the 1000 years are finished). 1 Cor 15:52 pertains to the resurrection in 1 Thess 4:16-17. This resurrection ends the dispensation of grace." Right there he just ‘invented another resurrection’ .... ‘a different resurrection’ .... to end the dispensation of grace .... that he does not count .... that he says comes BEFORE the 1st resurrection.
He wrote, "The resurrection of when they reign with Christ in the 1000 years occurs at the end of 1 Cor 15:24. This is the resurrection of Rev 20:5 referred to as the 1st resurrection. It is the first one in the time frame covered (the 70th week of Daniel) - it occurs at the end of the 70th week."
He wrote, "Paul covers the order of the resurrection for us, the body of Christ, in 1 Cor 15:23, 1 Thess 4:16-17, and 1 Cor 15:52. This resurrection ends the dispensation of grace and then God will resume the prophetic program."
He wrote of 1 Cor 15:23, "they that are Christ’s at his coming" (See Thess 4:16-17 and 1 Cor 15:52, which ends the dispensation of grace and triggers God’s resumption of His Prophetic Program.)
1 Cor 15:23-24 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher thinks ‘this coming’ is a ‘non-counted’ resurrection at the ‘rapture’ that ends the dispensation of grace. Then AFTER ‘this secret coming’ .... he inserts ‘7 plus’ years .... for what-’mid-Acts-ers’-call a ‘prophesied GAP’ of ? number of years, PLUS the 70th week of Daniel’s 7 years. THEN .... AFTER THAT, he says it will be the end .... and AFTER 'THE END' .... there will be a totally DIFFERENT resurrection (even though the VERSE does not mention one) at the END of verse 24:
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (Here he puts the ‘first’ resurrection of Rev 20:5)
Of 1 Cor 15:24, he wrote, "Note this is the time frame for Rev 19:19 through Rev 20:5 and the first resurrection. The book of Revelation pertains to the 70th week of Daniel and occurs after the end of the dispensation of grace."
I quoted the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher’s exact words, because I printed his e-mail. Now, in the words of Sir Walter Scott, I quote,
"Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive."
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Whether ‘mid-Acts’ preachers are deceiving people knowingly (realizing how irrational and unsupported their ridiculous claims are) or unknowingly (they themselves are deceived) .... either way .... they are teaching deception!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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