July 2013
In This Issue:
Religious Freedom in 1976 & Beyond Fanning the Flames the Destruction of Syria? Unmasking Islam Journey of Faith E-Mails to the Seven Churches And More..
DEDICATED TO SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF GODS COMING KINGDOM TO BE ESTABLISHED WHEN CHRIST RETURNS
Unmasking Islam
Fred DeRuno
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Journey of Faith
Jeff Fletcher
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Heritage Conference
Page 39
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Editors Note
Co-Editors: Kent H. Ross Wally Winner
This Issue Offers You So Much One article focuses on the celebration of the freedom this land has so enjoyed, but challenges us to consider how much longer it can survive. Knowing her family from way back when (never mind how long ago), Sara Jane (nee Peters) McLaughlin, it was a joy to reconnect with her and her sisters. Her article is a major challenge and encouragement. Then we have four prophetic articles - one on Syria and its role today, then how Islam is driving Christians out of the Middle East, then a call to pray for the Persecuted believers, especially in the Middle East, and a final article on Unmasking Islam. But there is more. An article on our Spiritual Journeys, by Jeff Fletcher, whose own story conveys to us our own spiritual challenges. And then Co-Editor Wally Winner begins a series of articles on the Seven Churches, from the 2nd & 3rd chapters of Revelation. It is not just about those churches back in Asia Minor, but what those churches may represent for us today. Our concluding article for this issue is another chapter by W.H. Wilson, from his book, the Pinewoods Bible Class, Chapter 5. These pages are worthwhile copying and studying, maybe in your own class. Heritage Conf. - Sept. 19-21 Finally there is news on the Heritage Conference coming in September. This is a Gathering of the people of God to appreciate our heritage of faith. Some of the featured speakers will be Paul & Dolena Shaw, early leaders of our Youth Conferences, plus others who have led our Youth, but more too, with Looking at 40 Years of Christian Worker's Seminar, an overview of the Missouri Conference, and then Mildred Dennis, an author with her own history in the Church of God, then reports fresh from Africa, and also the Philippines. It's held at the North Hills Church of God, near Springfield, Ohio. There is no fee to attend the sessions which begin Thursday after lunch on Sept. 19 and then concludes with lunch on Saturday, Sept. 21. It will be the Ninth Annual one, sponsored by the Church of God History Committee. It's well worth your visit if you're able. Our Annual Gathering In a week of so delegates from our churches across the land, will gather in South Carolina to consider the business of how we might better "do together what we can't do alone." It's called our "General Conference," and has been meeting regularly since 1921.
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Though by virtue of my serving in ministry for nearly fifty years I have a right to cast a vote in the delegate business sessions, I can't work up the enthusiasm to make the trip. I haven't yet seen a program schedule, though I presume there is one. I'm unsure who the speakers will be. I don't know of specific business that needs transaction. In recent years there hasn't been too much. Middle of a Muddle. At least that's the way it seems to be to me. One of the significant things will to elect "directors" to our national seven member Board of Directors. Each year people are asked to consider running for election. Some significant names refused this year, and the Board, who responsibility it is to ensure a slate of candidates, was struggle to find the requisite number. They finally did find three Young Leaders to run. In fact, I am impressed with the three that are running and any of them, or all of them, will do , I am sure, a very fine job, but I wonder where the strong voices are. The three running are fine candidates, but far younger than in the past . . . and maybe that has it's advantages. The three include: Chris James - a fine young man in his own right, son of a former chairman of the same Board. He is from South Carolina. Dan Knowlton - another fine young man, though I don't know him too well, but know his wife and family better, and that speaks volumes for him. From Indiana. Valerie Sharp - an excellent prospect. A young nurse now from Indianapolis, I've gotten to know her from the past Theological Conferences, that she has attended and that recommends her. Three very fine candidates. It will be most interesting to find which are elected. Lord, Can It Happen Again? Middle of a Muddle, Part 2, we might call it. Our churches seem to decline in number, in attendance and in conversions here in the U.S. Our missions in Africa seem to be prospering wonderfully, as well as the work in the Philippines. For at least those two fields God seems to be blessing, but not as much here in this country. We need to focus our attention on the loss of people from our churches, Can God, through His Son, directing the Holy Spirit bring revival to us? Can we anticipate His looking on us with His favor? Those are two separated questions and the difference is significant! 1) Can the Lord again bring revival? The answer is "Yes! Of course!" 2) Can we anticipate it? That answer is dependent on our response. Again the challenge is before us, not just the Conference, but before our churches across the world, and frankly needing our individual responses: 1) Does God still want lost people found? Resoundingly, "Yes." 2) Has Jesus rescinded His promise to build His Church? Of course not ! 3) Thus it is dependent on us responding to His call to be His witnesses. Yes in our Jerusalem's, on to our Samaria's and to the utmost parts of the globe. This needs to be a priority for us as it is for Him and His Father!
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independent, can save us. Unless he returns to God, Uncle Sam may die at age 200, or shortly thereafter. With all our greatness, we have failed to learn this truth: "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). World Conditions in the Last Days "The final age of this world is to be a time of troubles. Men will love nothing but money and self. . . . They will be men who put pleasure in the place of God. . . . Keep clear of men like these" (2 Tim. 3:1-5, NEB). The prophets and apostles reveal that the closing days of this age will be stormy. Our world is on its way to a bad end: it's in a mess! People don't like to hear that. I DON'T LIKE TO HEAR IT EITHER! People prefer to be optimistic. As a physician who has examined a patient declares what he has found, we, as students of God's Word, must declare what we find- "knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts" (2 Pet. 3:3). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3,4). From the "In the beginning" of Genesis 1 to the "Amen" of Revelation 22:21, the Bible is God's Word. It speaks of our day and beyond. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). We are no longer free to walk the streets of our cities without fear, even in broad daylight. The "Murder Capital of the World" is not Red China or Russia, but our own "land of the free and home of the brave." Over 20,000 persons were murdered last year in the United States. Apparently we have not yet learned that criminals are made, not born. By our permissiveness, we have invited this trend. All of this is preparing the way for the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2; the beast of Revelation 13:1-10; and the great tribulation period of Matthew 24:21,2 2 and Daniel 12:1. This period, described in detail in Revelation chapters 6-19 will witness the climax of man's rebellion against God. This man will come on the scene and fulfill his prophetic destiny. Make no mistake about it! Moreover, the apostate church will be destroyed (Rev. 17:16, 17) in the middle of the weekthe seven-year period of Daniel 9. Then great tribulation and wrath will come upon the whole earth. Whether the church as we know it will escape this period is controversial. In the opinion of the writer, God's church will escape this terrible time of God's wrath. The United States in Prophecy Where will our nation stand in the last days? It should be pointed out that the United States is not mentioned specifically in prophecy. Why? The focus of God's prophetic Word is on the Middle East, the stage on which the final scenes of this age will be enacted. That is where civilization began and that is where it will end. Consequently, areas remote from the center of Biblical interest do not figure largely in prophecy. No specific mention of any country in North America or South America can be found in the Bible. It would appear, however, that the English-speaking peoples of earth will exert great force during the closing days of this age. I feel sure that they are included in the general term "all nations" in the following texts: Zechariah 14:2; Joel 3:2; Matthew 25:32 (see also Rev. 16:14).
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What kind of future our country has, moreover, depends on our youth-their basic beliefs and commitments. "The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted" (Isa. 60:12). Again, this general prophecy would include the good old U.S.A. The vital need of our bicentennial year is a revival of gospel preaching. Furthermore, bills have been and are being introduced in Congress which, if adopted, would limit family life as we know it, allowing the state to educate and rear our children in some cases. I am speaking specifically of the "Child and Family Service Act of 1975." House Bill 2966 and Senate Bill 626 were introduced simultaneously in the Congress. Regrettably, the bill passed both houses but, fortunately, was vetoed by the President. If you are not familiar with these bills, ask your pastor, or someone else, to get you a copy. Then write to each of the senators and representatives from your state, expressing your concern. Perhaps some misinformation has been circulated regarding this legislation, but it should be defeated. Because some overreact is no reason for us to stick our heads in the sand. Act now! So, in the religious realm we see apostasy; in the political realm, unrest and confusion as never before. From an economical standpoint, things look little better in the world as a whole. The Bible announces that we can expect perplexity with distress, so that people will not keep their mental and emotional balance. Hearts will faint for fear (Luke 21:25, 26). Where will our nation stand in the last days? Our place, it appears to me, will be in the middle of these activities, in the midst of the nations which are "at their wit's end" (Psa. 107: 27). True freedom is a controlled privilege, not a license to do exactly what one pleases. "There are two freedoms: the false, where man is free to do what he likes; the true, where man is free to do what he ought." Today, people are bothering less and less with rules. It is reflected in the way that they drive, litter streets, break their marriage vows, and cheat in business in this "dog-eat-dog" world. Consequently, we've reaped a crop of youngsters who rebel against the very things that have made this nation great. They insist that real freedom consists in "hanging loose" and "doing one's thing." If that is freedom, they can have it. The writer found freedom when he took the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Someone said: "We Americans have boasted so much freedom that lately we almost expect it to make a living for us." Edward Gibbon, in his work, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, gives five main reasons for its collapse. 1. The breakdown of the family and the rapid increase of divorce. 2. The spiraling rise of taxes and extravagant spending. 3. The mounting craze for pleasure and the brutalization of sports. 4. The expanding production of armaments with which to fight ever-increasing threats of enemy attackswhen the real enemy was the decay of society from within. 5. The decay of religion into myriad and confusing forms, leaving the people without a uniform guide. Many thinking people of our time feel that we are in a similar situation. Are we the modern Romans? Is history repeating itself? Has history come full circle? Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona) said recently: "No nation ever survived which taxed its people above forty percent." "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psa. 11:3.)
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Miscellany for Bible Study Though not always in agreement, these citations are to stimulate our thinking. Anthony F. Buzzard Dr. James Dunn in his celebrated work on Christology makes a startling admission: "There is always of course the possibility that popular pagan superstition became popular pagan Christianity" (Christology in the Making, p. 251). That is exactly what was beginning to happen in the 2nd century. The historical Jesus, begotten in Mary by miracle, was assimilated to a pagan "second god" who came into the womb of Mary from outside and became a man. This is the origin of the Jesus of the later Church. C.J. Dull One of the underlying problems with the "divine action" in the major theological writers, both East and West, in the fourth and fifth centuries is that God is often a projection of the Emperor into the theological realm. The Emperor was inaccessible generally and thus to get close to God required someone close to him. As Augustine knew from his time in Milan, access to the Emperor often required a gratia (politically a favor, theologically grace). That also made the cult of saints much more of a necessity. The idea that someone could approach the emperor directly was of course unrealistic in the extreme, even though the Scriptures often mention such in regard to God. Some of us don't happen to believe that God is as authoritarian or arbitrary as the Roman and Byzantine emperors were. The idea that we have to attach a legal tag to some action--especially the western church, from Tertullian on, often interprets Christianity in legal terms--seems to be what the NT was moving away from, not what its writers were moving toward. Anthony Buzzard Disobedience to Jesus is the fatal flaw which will prove disastrous. "He who hears my word and believes Him who commissioned me has the Life of the Age to come" (Jn 5:24). Jesus ends his ministry in 12:44ff with a summarizing, impassioned plea for our obedience. A refusal to accept water baptism is a signal example of outright disobedience to Jesus who commands it in the Great Commission. C J Dull Context is king in Greek, and styles are what matter. Luke quotes Euripides and has allusions to Homer and Hesiod, not to mention Thucydides; Revelation is almost more like Hebrew in Greek letters. Plutarch, who is slightly later than the NT, has stylistic variations all over the place, based on his sources, although his use of psalms is more like a dinner party practice than a part of scripture. Page 8
I take very seriously. I recognize that Jesus lived a life of prayer. He stayed in touch with His Father by communicating with Him at all times. Its called abiding! Jesus was a model of prayer. I believe He showed us how to be a prayer-focused church. Paul as well was dedicated to prayer. In his letters to the believers he was consistent in telling them that he remembered them in prayer, giving thanks for them. He also instructs us to pray for one another and encourage each other by prayer. Sometime ago I ran across this statement: Even if we remain but embers, the Holy Spirit can fan us into a flame. From 1 Timothy 1:8 we read Fan into flame the gift of God. I pondered this and asked God what He would have me do. As a result I felt led to pray for my own revival and also for the Church of God. I have chosen to support the Church of my youth and what I believe to be Biblical truths. First I started praying for the Minnesota Pastors and Congregations. I then started praying for the corporate Church of God. Many years ago when I was a freshman student at OBC sitting in Brother Otto Dicks English class he shared something that I follow. He said that when he didnt sleep at night he prayed geographically for the churches. I thought that was amazing. So that is how I pray. I start at one end of the country and travel to the other end. I do this using the letter E. I pray that the embers of the Church of God would be fanned into a flame by the Holy Spirit. I pray that the church would exalt God and His Son Jesus. I pray that the church would be empowered by the Spirit. I pray that the Pastors and members would be encouraged. I pray that the churches would be excited about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that the churches would have a new excitement about the work we have been called to do. I pray that the vision of the Pastors and congregation would be enlarged. I pray that Pastors and members would endure their hardships and not give up. I pray that the Pastors and the congregation would be equipped by the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Pastors and the congregation would be established in the Word of God. I pray that the Pastors and the congregation would embrace the Word of God. I pray that the Pastors and the congregation would experience repentance, `` ` restoration, renewal, refreshment and even resurrection if need be. I Pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he
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exerted in Christ when he raised him from thee dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:18-20) This is an old, old hymn but this prayer needs to be sung by our congregations. There was power, O Lord, in the days of old, to kindle a fire in hearts grown cold; That we on Thy word may now lay hold, Lord, send that power again. There was power by which every tongue could speak, New life-giving power unto the weak. That sent them the wandering ones to seek-Lord, send that power again. There was power to set every captive free and give to Thy servants liberty To speak and to pray and work for Thee-Lord, send that power again. There was power, O Lord, in the old-time prayer, It thrilled every heart and lingered there, Till we in Thy glory seemed to share-Lord, send that power again. Lord, send the power again, Amen! O send the power again! Amen! We believe on Thy name, And Thy promise we claim, Lord, send the power again. (W.C. Poole-1911) Because our Gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) The church in Acts was persecuted, had divisions, and had theological disagreements. There were churches that had large membership and churches that were just a few. This has been pretty consistent with church history down through the centuries to the present day. It is apparent we are living in end times and are seeing the Godlessness that Paul instructs Timothy would occur (1 Timothy 4:1-9). Is that the reason we dont see the number growth of our churches? Is it possible that the reason the church is not growing is because the individual members are not growing. That is what the Spirit does. God works in believers so there will be spiritual growth. And when individuals have spiritual growth there seems to follow numerical growth. We can only do what we are gifted to do and leave the results up to God. One day we will be the Church Triumphant when we meet Jesus at His return. In the meantime we are to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. God designed us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He knew that our human weakness was insufficient and so we are to be strong in the strength of the Lord! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 2 Cor. 13:4) The church began when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. The church will continue until Jesus comes to receive His bride (the church). We have received the Great Commission. The Spirit continues to empower us to accomplish this commandment. We have the promise in Hebrews 13:5: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy love; May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Hallelujah! Amen; Hallelujah Thine the glory revive us again.
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They have been conquered, but it has never been obliterated and uninhabitable even though it was conquered in the past it was a livable city and it is today, he explained. One begins to watch this mounting carnage and you start to wonder, look at the horrific cruelty of the Assad regime and the radical Islamists who are battling Assad. The Bible expert said he doesnt see clean hands in the fightand he wonders if its possible that the judgement of Damascus is not only coming but that it could also be coming in our lifetime. Rosenberg believes its important for people to get involved and help Syrians by feeding the hungry and providing water for the thirsty, especially considering what he believes could be impending Biblical judgement on the city. Most Christians dont realize that there is not just one, but two [chapters] about the destruction of Damascus drawing attention to its importance, not because were sure, but because we dont know, he said, urging that it is important for believers to pay attention to what happens in that city. Rosenbergs General Take on Biblical Prophesy Prior to delving into the Syria question, Rosenberg responded to a more general and a monumentally-loaded curiosity: What does the Bible say about the End Times? Quipping that its not only a question that has massive scope, but also one that could be a doctoral dissertation, the famed author focused mainly on the second coming of Christ a central Biblical teaching. His worldview, in this regard, helped put his Syria views into perspective. The disciples asked Jesus, Would you give us one sign of the End Times when is this all coming to an end [Matthew 24]. Jesus could have said, No comment. Next question, but he didnt, Rosenberg said. He actually walked through a whole list of signs to watch for that will be indicators that will culminate in the second coming of Christ [Mark 21 and Luke 14]. With this, the author explained that Jesus noted dozens of times that he would be back again something that was widely documented and explained by the apostles. The Bibles elements of prophesy, Rosenberg argues, are intended to give believers some idea surrounding what might happen before Jesus returns. Does the Bible Predict Gods End Times Destruction of Syria and Is Prophesy About to Unfold Before Our Eyes? A Syrian man crosses a street in Damascus on June 17, 2013. Russia said it would not permit a no-fly zone to be implemented over Syria, following reports that plans for such a measure were being drawn up by the United States. Credit: AFP/Getty Images He does want us to be aware that hes coming and [that] were getting close so that were ready you dont know when hes coming, but hell come like a thief in the night, he continued, noting, though, that not everyone buys into these contentions. Theres obviously skeptics and critics. The author further explained these elements, describing the notion that Jesus would come back quickly (found in the first chapter of Revelation). At the time, some interpreted this to mean that Christs return would be imminent, but that obviously wasnt the case. And, yes, this was interpreted that he would come near to the end of the first century it gave a sense of immanency, Rosenberg said. Quickly has been interpreted as soon when he comes, hes coming fast he uses the expression of a flash of lightening. The author explains that this language was employed to urge people to be ready, as they would not know exactly when the Christian savior was returning. In what he called an understandable disagreement, some assumed that, since Christ didnt return, that the so-called prophesies were actually not meant for the 20th and 21st centuries, but, instead, for people living in earlier centuries. While Rosenberg explained that it is understandable why some would hold these views, once Israel was re-established as a state, the notion that the Bible wasnt predicting what would come centuries after its contents were penned was turned on its head. The re-birth of the state of Israel predicted in the Book of Ezekiel he claims, solidified this. In the End Times, the Bible describes that the Jews will be coming back to the land in Ezekiel 36 Page 13
and 37, he told TheBlaze. For many, many, many centuries basically for 19 centuries even most of our church fathers did not understand that God literally meant the physical, geopolitical birth of the state of Israel. These Christian leaders apparently thought that the Israel mentions were symbolic, but Rosenberg claims that the states re-creation forces believers to pause and re-read other portions of the Bible that were once also viewed as symbolic. Hanegraaffs Wildly Different Take on Christian Prophesy Despite Rosenbergs confidence in Biblical prophesy and its application to modern-day living, Hanegraaff has a wildly different take on the matter. In a phone interview with TheBlaze, he rejected the notion that Revelation and other alleged predictions apply to todays world. However, there is one point on which the two experts agree: That Jesus Christ will return. When asked that same loaded question about what the Bible says about the End Times, Hanegraaff was candid. Noting that paradise lost becomes paradise restored, he highlighted that those who want a relationship with Christ will have it, while those who have denied the savior will not enjoy this benefit. Well, the Bible says that Jesus is going to appear a second time, he said. Those who have lived on the planet Jesus said, do not be amazed by this there will be the ultimate judgement that takes place, which those who have a relationship with God in this time-space continuum are given that relationship in eternity and those who did not want a relationship will have that validated in eternity as well. From there, though, Rosenberg and Hanegraaff couldnt be more theologically separated at least when it comes to the End Times. As for the latter Bible expert, well, he simply doesnt believe that the books writers were looking so fervently into the future. In fact, he contends that they were speaking about prophesy that would unfold in the immediate and that has already come to pass. In Revelation, Hanegraaff argued that John wasnt speaking about the 21st century. While he was clear that his opinion is no better than anyone elses, the theologian outlined where he stands on the prophesy matter. When Jesus says that the apocalypse will soon take place and that the time is near his words are meant to convey the events in the future, he said. If he wanted to say that 2,000 years later he could easily do that, but instead, he said the time is soon and the time is near so it has to do what is happening to the Seven Churches that God is circulating the letters to (heres more on the Seven Churches). These literal churches, Hanegraaff contends, are being told by John what they will face an apocalypse of unparalleled proportions. Through Revelation, he argues that John is telling the churches to be faithful and that their vindication would be eternal. While the Bible expert didnt speak about Damascus explicitly (and we did not ask him about the verses that Rosenberg mentioned), his view on the Bible is clear: Its not talking at all about the 21st century. I think the point we have to probably recognize is that all of the Bible was written for us, but none of it was written to us, he contended. This book of Revelation was written to seven churches. Hanegraaff said that End Times prophesy has been touted for centuries, but that none of it ever comes to pass. Rather than reading the scriptures for what they are, he believes that these theologians are reading into the scriptures their own eschatological views. While its clear that Rosenberg and Hanegraaff have very different views on the Bible and its prophetic application, the debate surrounding Syria and its role in the Bible is a fascinating one. After all, one can certainly patently reject the applicability of the Old Testament verses that Rosenberg mentions. However, it is entirely interesting to note that Damascus is still a viable city, unlike many of the other localities in the Bible that have since vanished. It could be by chance that Damascus is still around or it could be part of a broader theological plan. Regardless of where one stands, considering these elements is certainly intriguing. Page 14
A century ago, more than 20% of the regions population was Christian and as recently as the 1980s, places like Lebanon had a Christian majority. Now, with Christian numbers fading, its split between brawling Shia Hezbollah and Sunni fanatics. Estimates put the Christian population in the Middle East at under 5% and sinking rapidly and the figure only remains that high because of the Coptic Christians who remain, for now, in strife-torn Egypt. All are part of the largest and most widely spread faith in the world. Christianity has an estimated 2.2 billion followers or 32% of the world population, according to a report by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Despite these numbers, Christianity faces restrictions and hostility in 111 countries around the world, ahead of the 90 countries limiting or harassing the second-largest faith, Islam, another Pew report reveals. Father Preble laments the plight of followers caught up in war-torn states has been little remarked in the wests mainstream media. It seems to be very much out of sight, out of mind, Preble said. Followers have to tolerate a host of restrictions in many countries that include but are not limited to laws prohibiting conversion to Christianity under penalty of death, state destruction of churches even when they have been approved, torture of Christian dissidents and often socially sanctioned vigilante violence. The latter has been most widely seen in Egypt where Coptic Christians have been targeted by gangs eager to drive them from a land they have lived for almost 2,000 years. In an effort to raise public awareness of the plight of the faithful, Father Preble has written to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and asked him to work for the release of the captive priests. So far he has heard no response but warns the fate of Christians in the Syrian city of Homs may be one that awaits all followers in the area. Opposition fighters have driven out 80,000 Christians from the Homs region alone and they know they can never return, Preble said. Their churches have been destroyed, businesses taken and their future denied. What if this pattern is repeated across all of Syria and the persecution of the Copts in Egypt goes on? These are the very places that gave birth to Christianity and sheltered Jesus when His family was on the run. Now they are a killing field for Christians.
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the world through propaganda, subversion, and even physical force when it is deemed necessary, one area of the world at a time. It should be understood that the main ideology of Islam is that it is essentially a theocracy. This means that its followers do not separate their religion from their politics and those two areas come together under the government they wish to establish. Muslims generally believe that there should be no government in the world other than the government guided by Islam via Allah. In other words, Muslims believe that government is to be Allahs government; therefore no other government is legitimate. All governments except Islam should be overthrown. This is the reason for jihad (see below paragraph on jihad). According to the beliefs of Islam, the world is divided into two groups of people. All people fall into one group or the other. Which one are you? ` Dar al-Islamthe house of Islam or house of submission to God Muslims. Dar al-Harb, or house of warthose who are at war with God non-Muslims. If you are in the second group, you need to know that there are millions of Muslims who believe it is their mission to war against you. You will either give into their demands recognizing Islams noble rule, you will become a Muslim yourself, or you will die. Of course, the other possibility is that in their attempt to force you to become a servant in Allahs government, the Muslim himself might die. It is still a win-win situation for him because in that case, he believes in death he will be rewarded with virgins aplenty. I cannot imagine what the shock is like of realizing that this is simply not true once they get into the afterlife! Islam teaches that Allah will win in the end and everyone will be brought under the yoke of Islam, willingly or unwillingly. Everything will be ruled by the Muslim government and Sharia law will be the rule of law. We will talk more about Sharia law in an upcoming article. Jihad Jihad is an often misunderstood term because it is almost always downplayed by Muslims to hide its true meaning. In essence, it is a religious obligation and mandatory, but there is disagreement over its definition. If you ask someone from CAIR, you will receive one answer. If you ask a known radical Muslim, you will receive another (provided you live through the ordeal of talking with a radical Muslim). As defined by so-called moderates, Jihad is often defined as the inner struggle that the Muslim goes through to become perfected in righteousness. For the radical Muslim, jihad is defined as the physical combat that Muslims undertake on Allahs behalf against infidels (unbelievers; non-Muslims). Jihad can be physical warfare or even verbal or written propaganda. In a civilized country such as the United States, the latter is preferred, though I have no doubt that we will begin seeing more and more physical jihad taking place throughout America as well. So-called moderate Muslims deny that jihad is physical conflict, but unfortunately the radicals never received that memo. Because they understand jihad as physical war against unbelievers for the advancement of Gods Islamic kingdom, they believe that what they are doing is the correct thing Allah wants them to do against unbelievers. Moderates like to say that these individuals are few and far between. The facts do not support that. If only moderates would spend as much time trying to convince radical Muslims that jihad is merely an inner struggle, as they do trying to convince us, I wonder how many fewer terrorist events the world would experience. Instead, the moderate Muslims prefer to try to get us to believe something that even radicals do not believe. Page 19
To the radical Muslim, moderates are sinners. Radicals will kill moderates just as easily as they kill unbelievers because they see moderates as working against Allah. One Government (Caliphate) Islam teaches that all Muslims must seek to come under the auspices of one central theocratic government. This is referred to as a caliphate and though this has never been worldwide at any point in history, Muslims believe that there will be a one-world, global caliphate at some point in the future. The closest that Islam has come to this is with the Caliphate of Crdoba (929 to 1031). This caliphate was centered in Spain (as seen on the illustration) and eventually broke apart due to civil war (called fitna) between descendants of the last legitimate Caliph Hisham II and the successors of his prime minister (hayib) Al-Mansur. Ultimately, though outwardly denied by many Muslims (and Islamic apologists of today), Islam is moving toward what they believe to be a final world government or caliphate. They believe it will be ruled by the Final Madhi who will bring peace to the world. Everyone will either be Muslim or what is known as a dhimmi in an Islamic state. Thats their belief and theyre sticking to it, folks. A dhimmi is a non-Muslim who is allowed to live in the Islamic state by paying certain taxes (dhimmitude) to the Islamic government. I guess you could say you pay and youre allowed to live. As one person notes, Dhimmitude is the direct outcome of jihad, which is the military conquest of non-Islamic territory mandated by Allah as a spiritual obligation for every individual Moslem and Moslem nation. In other words, as Muslims use jihad to engage their perceived enemy and as they become victorious over those enemies, the results for the remaining captives of Islamic forces is either death or dhimmitude. These are the two options. Of course, a person can always become a Muslim as well. In the early years of the Islamic conquests, the tribute or jizya was paid as a yearly poll tax, which symbolized the subordination of the dhimmi. Later, the inferior status of Jews and Christians was reinforced through a series of regulations that governed the behavior of the dhimmi. Jews and Christians were awarded a different status than other faiths. They were considered to be under protection as people of the book. People of non-monotheistic faiths, pagans, or atheists were simply to be exterminated. Christians (and Jews) are referred to as people of the book and this is not considered a compliment. It is denigration and even though Muslims will say that they believe in Jesus and respect Him and the Bible, in fact, neither is really true. When push comes to shove, the Quran is believed over the Bible and Muhammad is seen as being far greater than Jesus. If you go inside the Dome of the Rock mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, there are some rather unflattering things stated about the people of the book. This has been a basic introduction. We will get into more depth with some of these topics beginning with our next article. I want to take the time to open up the Quran to expose exactly what is being taught that Muslims do not want us to know. It will also be important to also understand why governments throughout the world appear to be turning a blind eye to Islam. Its not simply America that allows Islam privileges that are denied to Christians here in America. Please join me then.
He was MODELING the Journey for others to replicate. Paul recognized that it was necessary and normal for people on the journey to have guides. He told them to follow my example and to keep your eyes on those who live as we do Lets add a Second Witness to Pauls. the writer of Hebrews. Hebrews 5 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of Gods word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. There is a process from infancy to maturity. There is some instruction that is appropriate for infancy. There is some instruction that is appropriate for maturity. Maturity comes through training and constant use it comes by putting our learning into action. Those who are advancing on their faith journey are expected to become guides who help others to advance on their faith journey. Is Faith a NOUN or is faith a VERB? We often think of faith primarily as a NOUN (Person, Place or Thing) We believe facts about people: God, Jesus, Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul. We learn facts about places: Eden, Babylon, Canaan, Egypt, Jerusalem, Rome, The Kingdom of God, Gehenna (Lake of Fire). We learn about things: Theology, Soteriology (salvation), Ecclesiology(the Church), Hamartiology (sin), Eschatology (last things). These are things that we think about what we study Systematic Theology. In our paradigm when a person believes the correct doctrines we are satisfied that they are people of faith. This is partially true. Faith is a noun, but that is only part of the truth. Faith is also a VERB (Action) James 2 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe thatand shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called Gods friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. James teaches us that knowledge without corresponding action is the same as a body without breath, dead! When it comes to faith, I think our Churches in the Church of God do an exceptionally good job of imparting knowledge. We are excellent at sharing the CONTENT of faith. Where I and Im afraid man others often struggle and fall short is in the imparting of the PROCESS of growing in our faith. Suppose I ask you to say this sentence aloud: "What are you doing today?" using a flat intonation, notice the effect. Now, without changing the content, keeping it the same, and changing "where" in the sentence you would place more emphasis where the word is bolded, notice how easily you can change the meaning of the sentence: The content is What are you doing today? Page 22
"What are you doing today?" "What are you doing today?" "What are you doing today?" "What are you doing today?" "What are you doing today?" The process is how it is being said.- the volume, tone, inflection, emphasis on the word. We could add to that facial expressions, body language etc. In Group Theory, when a group is engaged in a discussion, there is the content of what is being shared and the process of how that content is shared. I observe similarities between communication and group theory and faith development. We have a certain content in our faith, what we call beliefs. We tend to give a lot of attention to communicating those beliefs through sermons, Bible studies, books, conversations and witnessing. Most of us can probably have a good discussion on the Nouns of faith: God is one, Jesus is the Son of God, The Kingdom of God will be on the earth, baptism is a requirement for salvation, the dead sleep in the ground until the resurrection, Christians should worship God, and we should use our gifts to build up the Church. Those are all important and true, but we tend not to give the same kind of attention to understanding and communicating the process of how faith grows. How does one transition from unbelief to belief? Why do I feel close to God but distant from my Church? Is there something wrong with me? Is it normal to go through periods of time when we doubt? Why do many children who grown up in Church seem to leave the Church during or immediately after college/adult employment? Are there people in Church who appear to be strong believers on the outside, but deep inside have lost their connection to God? Is it normal for peoples faith to ebb and flow? Why do long time believers sometimes appear to lose their faith? We are looking at the Journey of Faith. Faith is dynamic, not static. We are focusing on faith as a Verb, as an action. As Solomon said: There is Nothing New Under the Sun We will be learning from the revealed word of God, but we will also learn from other elements of Gods creation. Gods Word often uses the world of creation as Metaphors. Solomon said: Consider the ant, you sluggard to teach the importance of industry and the dangers of sloth/laziness. Jesus said: Consider the lilies and consider the sparrows to demonstrates Gods care of creation and the need to trust Him. We will see how faith bears many similarities to other aspects of human development and can be observed and follows a normal progression in fairly predictable stages. Some Examples. Cognitive (thinking) Development- Jean Piaget Piaget's four stages of intellectual (or cognitive) development are: Sensorimotor. Birth through ages 18-24 months. Preoperational. Toddlerhood (18-24 months) through early childhood (age 7). Concrete operational. Ages 7 to 12. Formal operational. Adolescence through adulthood. Piaget acknowledged that some children may pass through the stages at different ages than the averages noted above and that some children may show characteristics of more than one stage at a given time. But he insisted that cognitive development always follows this sequence, that stages cannot be skipped, and that each stage is marked by new intellectual abilities and a more complex understanding of the world. You dont go from being born to immediately being able to do abstract thinking. There is a process of growth and development and changes occur at each stage of development. When we understand this it enables us to asses and assist others in their developmental journey. Psycho/Social Development- Erik Erickson Page 23
Erik Erikson described development that occurs throughout the lifespan. At each stage the developing person deals with a crisis that will help determine the course of the life. Here is a list of the various stages and crises that are dealt with at that stage. Infancy (birth to 18 months) Trust vs. Mistrust Early Childhood (2 to 3 years) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Preschool (3 to 5 years) Initiative vs. Guilt School Age (6 to 11 years) Industry vs. Inferiority Adolescence (12 to 18 years) Identity vs. Role Confusion Young Adulthood (19 to 40 years) Intimacy vs. Isolation Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years) Generativity vs. Stagnation Maturity(65 to death) Ego Integrity vs. Despair How people experience these conflicts will have a strong influence upon them for the remainder of their lives. They build upon one another. It is a process. Another example of development is Moral Development- Lawrence Kohlberg Heinz Steals the Drug In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $ 1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said: "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug-for his wife. Should the husband have done that? (Kohlberg, 1963, p. 19) Kohlberg is not really interested in whether the subject says "yes" or "no" to this dilemma but in the reasoning behind the answer. The interviewer wants to know why the subject thinks Heinz should or should not have stolen the drug. Process over Content. Pre-Conventional Morality Stage 1 - Obedience or Punishment Orientation This is the stage that all young children start at (and a few adults remain in). Rules are seen as being fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is important because it means avoiding punishment. Stage 2 - Self-Interest Orientation As children grow older, they begin to see that other people have their own goals and preferences and that often there is room for negotiation. Decisions are made based on the principle of "What's in it for me?" For example, an older child might reason: "If I do what mom or dad wants me to do, they will reward me. Therefore I will do it." Conventional Morality Stage 3 - Social Conformity Orientation By adolescence, most individuals have developed to this stage. There is a sense of what "good boys" and "nice girls" do and the emphasis is on living up to social expectations and norms because of how they impact day-to-day relationships. Page 24
Stage 4 - Law and Order Orientation By the time individuals reach adulthood, they usually consider society as a whole when making judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and order by following the rules, doing one's duty and respecting authority. Post-Conventional Morality Stage 5 - Social Contract Orientation At this stage, people understand that there are differing opinions out there on what is right and wrong and that laws are really just a social contract based on majority decision and inevitable compromise. People at this stage sometimes disobey rules if they find them to be inconsistent with their personal values and will also argue for certain laws to be changed if they are no longer "working". Our modern democracies are based on the reasoning of Stage 5. Stage 6 - Universal Ethics Orientation Few people operate at this stage all the time. It is based on abstract reasoning and the ability to put oneself in other people's shoes. At this stage, people have a principled conscience and will follow universal ethical principles regardless of what the official laws and rules are.
Summary At stage 1 children think of what is right as that which authority says is right. Doing the right thing is obeying authority and avoiding punishment. At stage 2, children are no longer so impressed by any single authority; they see that there are different sides to any issue. Since everything is relative, one is free to pursue one's own interests, although it is often useful to make deals and exchange favors with others. At stages 3 and 4, young people think as members of the conventional society with its values, norms, and expectations. At stage 3, they emphasize being a good person, which basically means having helpful motives toward people close to one At stage 4, the concern shifts toward obeying laws to maintain society as a whole. At stages 5 and 6 people are less concerned with maintaining society for it own sake, and more concerned with the principles and values that make for a good society. At stage 5 they emphasize basic rights and the democratic processes that give everyone a say, and at stage 6 they define the principles by which agreement will be most just. These are not simply determined by chronological age. There are adults who never arrive at the higher stages, in fact, its assumed that many or even most do not. Often whole societies get stuck in a certain stage, similar to Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Stage 2) How might we apply stage theory to some of todays moral issues? Homosexual Marriage? Abortion Rights? Reflect on your understanding of these and other key issues of morality. What do you believe and how did you arrive at that belief. Has it always been the same as it is now or have you experienced changes in what you believe or why you believe it? In this first article weve seen examples of developmental theory at work in Cognitive (Brain/thinking) Psycho-social (Emotions in Relationship) Moral (behaviors). These provide models or roadmaps for how human being develop in these areas. Is there a roadmap for the Journey of Faith? No and Yes. In the next article we will explore several different models of the journey of faith and see some possible ways of understanding our journey of faith more clearly.
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is to contradict this. It is not a sealed book. In fact, it may be the best organized book in the Bible. The first two rules of interpretation really apply to the Book of Revelation. The first rule is always context: What understanding can we get from the verses before and the verses after? The second rule is parallel passages: The opening of the understanding of the Book of Revelation can come from free exercise of comparing the corresponding passages from the Old Testament. Of the 404 verses in the Book of Revelation, 278 of them make some allusion to the Old Testament. That is 68.8% of the verses! Some of these verses contain two or three allusions to the Old Testament. We can understand that most of them come from the prophetic books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah. For example, the vision of the seven golden lampstands, here in Revelation one is similar in language to Zechariah chapter four. The vision of the new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21 finds the Old Testament reference of Isaiah 65 and 66. The more we know about the Bible and the Old Testament in particular, the more comfortable we will be with idioms found in the Book of Revelation. In fact, of the 39 Old Testament books, Revelation alludes to 24 of them. Yahweh gave the message of Revelation to His son Jesus. Jesus gave it to an angel and the angel gave it to John, who gave it to the church. (Rev. 1:1, 2) The Book contains both a blessings and a cursing. God will bless everyone who reads this prophecy to others, and he will bless everyone who hears and obeys it. (Rev. 1:3 CEV) Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If you add anything to them, God will make you suffer all the terrible troubles written in this book. If you take anything away from these prophecies, God will not let you have part in the life-giving tree and in the holy city described in this book. (Rev. 22:18, 19 CEV) The order of events is laid out for us in Revelation 1:19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. This is a major organization verse.
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Revelation 4:1 marks the beginning of the things which must be hereafter. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. The word for hereafter is the Greek word metatauta. It is the same word in Revelation 1:19 and Revelation 4:1. Traditionally, the book of Revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around A.D. 96. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist (from a Latin word meaning that which is past) view, contending that the Apocalypse was penned around A.D. 68 or 69, and thus the thrust of the book is supposed to relate to the impending destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70). A few prominent names have been associated with this position (e.g., Stuart, Schaff, Lightfoot, Wallace Jr.), and for a brief time it was popular with certain scholars. However, recent criticism has reverted to the traditional date of near A.D. 96. In fact, the evidence for the later date is extremely strong. In view of some of the theories that have surfaced in recent times (e.g., the notion that all end-time prophecies were fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70), the following is offered: The external evidence for the late dating of Revelation is of the highest quality. Irenaeus (A.D. 180), a student of Polycarp (who was a disciple of the apostle John), wrote that the apocalyptic vision was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian (Against Heresies 30). The testimony of Irenaeus, not far removed from the apostolic age, is first rate. He places the book near the end of Domitians reign, and that ruler died in A.D. 96. Irenaeus seems to be unaware of any other view for the date of the book of Revelation. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 155-215) says that John returned from the isle of Patmos after the tyrant was dead (Who Is the Rich Man? 42), and Eusebius, known as the Father of Church History, identifies the tyrant as Domitian (Ecclesiastical History III.23). Even Moses Stuart, Americas most prominent preterist, admitted that the tyrant here meant is probably Domitian. Within this narrative, Clement further speaks of John as an old man. If Revelation was written prior to A.D. 70, it would scarcely seem appropriate to refer to John as an old man, since he would only have been in his early sixties at this time.
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Victorinus (late third century), author of the earliest commentary on the book of Revelation, wrote: When John said these things, he was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the mines by Caesar Domitian. There he saw the Apocalypse; and when at length grown old, he thought that he should receive his release by suffering; but Domitian being killed, he was liberated (Commentary on Revelation 10:11). Jerome (A.D. 340-420) said, In the fourteenth then after Nero, Domitian having raised up a second persecution, he [John] was banished to the island of Patmos, and wrote the Apocalypse (Lives of Illustrious Men 9). To all of this may be added the comment of Eusebius, who contends that the historical tradition of his time (A.D. 324) placed the writing of the Apocalypse at the close of Domitians reign (III.18). McClintock and Strong, in contending for the later date, declare that there is no mention in any writer of the first three centuries of any other time or place (1969, 1064). Upon the basis of external evidence, therefore, there is little contest between the earlier and later dates. The contents of the book of Revelation also suggest a late date, as the following observations indicate. The spiritual conditions of the churches described in Revelation chapters two and three more readily harmonize with the late date. The church in Ephesus, for instance, was not founded by Paul until the latter part of Claudiuss reign: and when he wrote to them from Rome, A.D. 61, instead of reproving them for any want of love, he commends their love and faith (Eph. 1:15) (Horne 1841, 382). Yet, when Revelation was written, in spite of the fact that the Ephesians had been patient (2:2), they had also left their first love (v. 4), and this would seem to require a greater length of time than seven or eight years, as suggested by the early date. Another internal evidence of a late date is that this book was penned while John was banished to Patmos (1:9). It is well known that Domitian had a fondness for this type of persecution. If, however, this persecution is dated in the time of Nero, how does one account for the fact that Peter and Paul are murdered, yet John is only exiled to an island? (Eusebius III.18; II.25). Then consider this fact. The church at Laodicea is represented as existing under conditions of great wealth. She was rich and had need of nothing (3:17). In A.D. 60, though, Laodicea had been almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake. Surely it would have
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required more than eight or nine years for that city to have risen again to the state of affluence described in Revelation. The doctrinal departures described in Revelation would appear to better fit the later dating. For example, the Nicolaitans (2:6, 15) were a full-fledged sect at the time of Johns writing, whereas they had only been hinted at in general terms in 2 Peter and Jude, which were written possibly around A.D. 65-66. Persecution for professing the Christian faith is evidenced in those early letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor. For instance, Antipas had been killed in Pergamum (2:13). It is generally agreed among scholars, however, that Neros persecution was mostly confined to Rome; further, it was not for religious reasons (Harrison 1964, 446). If the Apostle John recorded this on Patmos at or near the year A.D. 95, as most commentators agree, then from Revelation 4:1 to the conclusion of the book would contain prophetic information to happen AFTER A.D. 95. The letters here to the seven churches would be part of the things which are (Rev. 1:19). The theme of Revelation is given is given in verse seven of chapter one. Look! He is coming with the clouds. Everyone will see him, even the ones who stuck a sword through him. All people on earth will weep because of him. Yes, it will happen! Amen. (CEV) The voice said, "Write in a book what you see. Then send it to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." (Rev. 1:11 CEV) Although these were real New Testament churches, the question is why these seven churches? Why these 7 churches? This is 63 years after Pentecost. Over 100 churches now existed. Why not Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Colossae, Galatia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Miletus, Hierapolis, Troas or any of the others? Maybe it was the seven messages to THE church and not the just the seven churches. There are four ways to view these selected churches. 1. Local: These are actual churches. There is a personal message for each church. 2. Admonitory: hear...churches What is said to one church is beneficial to each of the other seven churches. 3. Homiletic; personal: He that hath an ear.... It applies to you and me personally. We should receive a spiritual instruction from each message.
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4. Prophetic: In their particular order, they lay out the entire story of the church Whereas the Book of Acts the first 30 years of the church, the Book of Revelation takes from Acts to His Second Coming (covering about 2000). The description of Jesus standing in the midst of these churches (lampstands) is far different than the picture hanging on your wall. When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. There with the lampstands was someone who seemed to be the Son of Man. He was wearing a robe that reached down to his feet, and a gold cloth was wrapped around his chest. His head and his hair were white as wool or snow, and his eyes looked like flames of fire. His feet were glowing like bronze being heated in a furnace, and his voice sounded like the roar of a waterfall. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword was coming from his mouth. His face was shining as bright as the sun at noon. (Rev. 1:12-16 CEV) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead person. But he put his right hand on me and said: Don't be afraid! I am the first, the last, and the living one. I died, but now I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys to death and the world of the dead. Write what you have seen and what is and what will happen after these things. I will explain the mystery of the seven stars that you saw at my right side and the seven gold lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the lampstands are the seven churches. (Rev. 1:20 CEV) These are lampstands (not candlesticks) = luchina. The local church is the bearer of Gods light in this dark world. I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12 9:5); Ye are the light of the world. (Mt 5:14; Phil 2:15,16). This scene should remind us of the tabernacle. The high priest had the sole oversight of the menorah. He lighted the lamps, trimmed the wicks, poured the oil. If one of them was unsatisfactory, he would snuffed it out and replace it (Jn 15; 1 Jn 5:16). The seven churches have often been viewed as seven different ages in church history. Some divide by personages (angels/messengers) and others by vents. Compare the charts here. They are typical or that effort.
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We find an interesting format in the mail to the seven churches when we compare it to the epistle format. In the epistle format, the writer (Paul, Peter, John, etc.), use the formula: 1. Author and recipient named 2. Formal greeting 3. Prayer 4. Main message 5. Formal conclusion In the messages to the seven churches a different formula is used: 1. Salutation - each name has a meaningname summarizes the letter. 2. The Person Writing Jesus with a title appropriate to his burden for each church. Each title is from chapter one. 3. Good News (if any) two churches have no good news Sardis & Laodicea. Two churches have no derogatory comments .. Smyrna & Philadelphia. 4. Failing Grade 5. Correction code phrase Hear that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. It is almost at the end with a promise to the overcomers which different in each letter. The name, title and promise of each church all have a theme. The last four promises are included in the body of the letter. The first three promises at the end. Now that we have some background about the Book of Revelation and the Seven Churches, we will travel the circuit of churches in Asia Minor. We will stop first at Ephesus next time.
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LESSON V.
Teacher. What a blessed privilege it is to have the opportunity of meeting together in harmony, to engage in the delightful study of Gods Holy Book. Has anyone a subject which they would like to submit for examination? Carrie. Yes, I have. Teacher. Please state it. Carrie. I would like to have an investigation of Phil. i. 20-24, which is frequently called: PAULS DESIRE TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST. Teacher. What is the prevailing opinion as to the time when the departure takes place? Carrie. At death. Q. What is supposed to take its departure at that time? A. The immortal soul of the deceased. Q. What does the text say about immortal souls? A. Not one word.
This is lesson three from the book The Pine Woods Bible Class by W.H. Wilson. They are the result of many years of careful and critical study, being an honest endeavor to arrive at a more accurate understanding of Holy Scripture, unbiased by the creeds and opinions of men. These lessons were prepared more especially for the instruction of YOUNG PEOPLE. An effort has been made to make the lessons very simple and plain. For more information on W.H. Wilson and the first lessons , see previous issues of the eHerald.
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Q. In what portion of Gods Word do we find the phrase, immortal soul? A. It is not a Bible phrase; it is an expression altogether foreign to Holy Scripture. Q. If the Scriptures are silent about the existence of immortal souls, what evidence have we that the departure spoken of in the text under consideration means the exit of an immortal soul from the body at death? A. We have nothing stronger than a mere supposition. Q. Is it a proper way to arrive at an accurate exposition of any Scripture to read in our suppositions and the thinking of the fleshly mind? A. It is not; such a procedure will certainly lead to erroneous conclusions. Teacher. I will ask Lud, in your reading of history, have you ever read anything about a man named William Tyndale? A. Yes, I have. He lived in the fifteenth century. Q. What great work did he accomplish? A. He was the first man who translated the Scriptures into the English language. Q. Was he a Bible student as well as a translator? A. He certainly was. Q. Were there people in his day who taught that departure meant going to heaven at death? A. Yes. Q. What did Tyndale think about such a teaching? A. He said: In putting departed souls in heaven, hell and purgatory, you destroy the arguments wherewith Christ and Paul proved the resurrection. Q. Did he give what he considered to be the true Bible faith? A. He did. He said: The true faith putteth the resurrection.
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Q. Did he say who it was that denied that the resurrection is the set time for the departed to meet Christ? A. He did. He said: The heathen philosophers denying that, did put that the souls did ever live. Q. Did he say that these heathen philosophers had some company in their belief? A. He did. He said: And the Pope joineth the spiritual doctrine of Christ and the fleshly doctrine of philosophers togetherthings so contrary that they cannot agree. Q. Did he say what the Pope did with the Scriptures in order to establish the heathen doctrine? A. Yes. He said: nd because the fleshly-minded Pope consenteth unto the heathen doctrine, therefore he corrupteth the Scriptures to establish it. Q. Did he say that this heathen doctrine, sustained by corrupted Scriptures, rendered unnecessary the resurrection? A. Yes. He said: If the souls be in heaven, tell me why they be not in as a good a case as the angels be? And then what cause is there of the resurrection? Q. Did William Tyndale have confidence enough in his faith to die for it? A. He did. He suffered as a martyr in 1536. Teacher. I will request Lucy to state whether or not Paul gave the time when the departed could be permanently with Christ? Lucy. Yes. See 1 Thess. Iv. 16, 17: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to MEET THE LORD in the air; and so shall we EVER BE WITH THE LORD. Q. Paul and Tyndale seem to agreed exactly? A. Yes, but heartily disagree, both with the heathen philosophers, and also with the fleshly-minded Pope.
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infinitive with the article is in all cases, equivalent to a substantive; as ton lego, the act of speaking. Hence, to analusai,.literally the return.is the act of returning and should distinctly be the returning. In addition to the verb return; there is the verb to be; this is also in the infinitive, and preceded by the article, it therefore, and ought to be understood as a substantive.the beign. Both phrases are preceded by the preposition eis,for.from which it allows that Pauls desire was for the returning and the being with Christ. The verse translated in strict accordance with the original, would stand as follows: For I am straitened by the two, having the earnest desire for the returning and the being with Christ, FAR BETTER by much. Q. Have we other translations which are in strict harmony with the one which is given above? A. Yes, we have. Q. Please quote one? A. I will give a quotation from the Diaglott, as follows: I am indeed hard pressed by the two things:.I have an earnest desire for the returning and being with Christ, since it is very much to be preferred. Q. Preferred to what? A. To a choice between death and the frail mortal life. Teacher. Wont it be glorious thing to depart and be with Christ? What do you say, Albert? Albert. It would, indeed, be a desirable thing to leave behind this present groaning condition of things and experience blessings and joys, which as yet has not fully entered into the heart of man to comprehend of their greatness. The half has never yet been told. Q. How can these blessings be obtained? A. By yielding a heart obedience to the glorious Gospel of the Kingdom and then continue to be firm in the faith. Refuse all solicitations of compromise with the apostasy. Live a godly life in harmony with the gospel, cut loose from every worldly abomination. Be pure as he is pure. Only the pure in heart shall see God.
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Q. A person could not be a disciple of the heathen philosophers, and of the fleshly-minded pope, which corrupteth the Scriptures, and a disciple of the Lord Jesus at the same time, would he? A. No, sir; things which differ so materially, cannot agree. Q. If Paul was given his choice between either life or death, which do you think he would select? A. If the teaching of heathen philosophers be correct, he would doubtless select death. Q. Why so? A. Because the aforesaid philosophers and their modern disciples teach that death is the avenue by which the departed can instantly be with Christ. Q. Well, what did he say would really be his choice, anyway? A. He said: Yet what I shall choose I wot not, for I am in a strait betwixt two.LIFE AND DEATH.having a desire to depart and be with Christ: which is FAR BETTER than a choice between death and this mortal life. Q. Then death could not be the departure Paul had in mind? A. No, it certainly was not. Teacher. Will Arloa please give the Greek for the word depart? Arloa. It is analusai. A. Parkhurst says: It signifies in the New Testament, to return or depart. Q. Give a Scripture where the word analusai is found? A. See Luke xii. 36: Be like unto men who wait for their Lord when he shall RETURN.analusaifrom the wedding. Q. Please give the study of scholars with regard to the use of the word analusai, in the text under examination? A. There is a feature which the Common Version ignores, the infinitive analusai is preceded by the article to. The significance of the word will be perceived in the light of the following rule of Greek grammar. The
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