THEOLOGY LESSON 16

LESSON 16 – RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

The Resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah

1 Corinthians 15:12-23
John 5:28,29
Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15
1 Corinthians 15:23-26
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Job 19:25-27 Mediatorship
Resurrection
Immortality

INTRODUCTION

This is the centrality of the Christian faith and a major part of the gospel message. If there is no bodily resurrection there is no Christianity. The liberals attack the doctrine of the bodily resurrection vigorously.

Most of the denominations nowadays do not hold to the bodily resurrection and therefore exclude themselves from the name Christian. If you deny the physical resurrection you deny the critical doctrine of the Christian faith.

RESURRECTION

In 1 Corinthians 15:12 -23, Paul explains that there is a resurrection for both the saved and unsaved, some to everlasting bliss, and some to the eternal Lake of Fire. In John 5:28-29 it is stated that all are not going to be raised to glory. This gives a resurrection for both the saved and the lost whilst 1 Corinthians gives the mechanics of the resurrection.

Revelation 20:4-6 gives the first resurrection whilst Revelation 20:11-15 shows the Last Judgment or the second resurrection.

In 1 Corinthians 15:23 it is explained that the resurrections are in their own order with the first-fruits being the Lord Jesus Christ, this setting a pattern. The resurrection of Christ is not an isolated incident but an integral part of the plan of the Father as are the virgin birth, perfect life, substitutionary death and session of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 15:23-26 it says, “Each in their own order”. The Greek word for order means battalion thus there is a battalion review as it were in view there. There are three battalions in the review, the first being the Lord Jesus Christ, the second are the saved whose destiny is eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ whilst the third comprise unbelievers who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. The Lord's resurrection is critical for all this activity in the future.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

1. Without the resurrection it is impossible for Christ to be glorified. Jesus Christ has to have a human body for his glorification. The humanity of Christ is glorified higher than the angels. (John 7:39, John 16:14)

2. Resurrection indicates completion of justification. (Romans 4:25, 2 Corinthians 5:2 1)

3. Resurrection is a guarantee of ultimate sanctification. (1 Corinthians 1 5:20-23)

4. Without resurrection there is no priesthood. (Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 7:28, Hebrews 10:5, 10:10-14)

5. Without resurrection there is no fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. (2 Samuel 7:8-1 6)

6. Without resurrection there is no mediator-ship. (Job 9:33)

7. Historical proof of the resurrection:

(a) An empty tomb. (Matthew 28)

(b) The competency of the witnesses. Many of the witnesses died rather than change their testimony.

(c) Subsequent changes to the disciples after the resurrection.

(d) The day of Pentecost.

(e) The observance of the first day of the week as the worship day over 19 centuries.

(f) The historic existence of the church.

If the Lord is not raised we will not be raised and neither will the unbelievers. If the unbelievers are not raised there is no judgment, no lake of fire and therefore it does not matter what you believe in. Those who reject the resurrection reject the second coming and the Last Judgment. Most liberals who reject the resurrection reject almost everything else.

CONTRAST BETWEEN THOSE INVOLVED IN THE FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTIONS

1. The first resurrection is to commendation. The second resurrection is to condemnation.
2. The first involves witnesses of Jesus. [Revelation 20:4] The second involves those deceived by Satan. [Revelation 20:8]
3. The first are those that live. [Revelation 20:4] The second are the dead. [Revelation 20:12]
4. The first become priests and rulers with God and Christ. [Revelation 20:6] The second are tormented day and night. [Revelation 14:10, 11]
5. The first are God's sons. [Revelation 21:7] The second there was found no place for them. [Revelation 20:11]
6. The first are not subject to the second death. [Revelation 20:6] The second are subject to the second death. [Revelation 20:14, 15]
7. The first enjoy life eternal. [Matthew 25:46] The second suffer everlasting punishment. [Matthew 25:46]
8. The first are happy and holy. [Revelation 20:6] The second weep and gnash their teeth. [Matthew 25:30]

In 1 Corinthians 15 we have the creed of the early church. What Paul is saying is that Christ rose from the dead and that this doctrine combined with the substitutionary efficacious sacrifice is the foundation of the Christian life. The resurrection proves who the Lord Jesus Christ was, that He is the God-man the unique person of the universe. He was not a dead martyr or a ghost, He is the God-man who died and rose again from the dead. If there is no resurrection, there is no faith, no hope, no truth no eternal life. When you have no hope you have no gospel. John 14:6 is a hollow lie unless it is confirmed by the resurrection. Praise God he spoke the truth; we serve a living Saviour, not a dead hero!

He prophesied his own death and resurrection many times. If Christ did not rise you have proved that He was not what He claimed to be and you have not got a Saviour. You can claim that the Bible is trustworthy as you have the Scriptures saying that Christ is going to rise from the dead, He did rise and the early church believed He rose.

Some liberals believe that Christ rose from the dead spiritually in the disciples hearts on Easter Sunday morning. Where the liberal talks about the Easter faith that is probably what they mean. They believe that the disciples sat round after the crucifixion and said that Christ's statements were still important, that his concepts live on and that he has risen spiritually.

Rudolf Bultmann who was a liberal said that every time he preaches Jesus came alive, which is not unlike an English teacher saying that every time he read Shakespeare he came alive. It intimates that Christ is still dead. If it takes a minister to bring Christ back to life every time he preaches on a Sunday, Christ is dead. Paul blows this liberal philosophy away in 1 Corinthians 15.

TWO CONCEPTS OF RESURRECTION

Very few people understand the ancient Jewish and Greek concepts of resurrection which were very different to each other and the views of modern man.

Greeks

[a] The Greeks believed that man was of two parts, the body and the soul - this is the belief called dualism. When the Greeks talked about resurrection they did not mean the resurrection of the body which was anathema to them.

The sooner they could die and get rid of their bodies the better. The Greeks looked forward to being released from their bodies so that they might be just pure spirit. The concept of the after life for the Greeks was the spirit life or “shades”. The Europeans have carried this concept through and most people think that that is what the Bible teaches. It is not but this has been brought into Westernized Christianity.

Hebrews

[b] The Hebrews looked on man as being made up of three parts, body, soul and spirit, and that you cannot split man up into parts; that humans are a true unity.

For the Hebrew mind to think about the resurrection it must involve the body, the Hebrew mind reasoned that man was a unified being, not able to be split up, except for discussion purposes. When Paul is talking about the resurrection he is talking about a bodily resurrection.

The Corinthian’s were Greeks by culture and they did not believe in the resurrection. They were spiritualizing the resurrection very much like the liberals of today because they did not want to have a physical resurrection. They were in the Greek Platonic and Aristotelian tradition that looked forward to a spiritual existence after death freed you of your body.

Paul says to the Corinthians that, ‘whether you like it or not Christ rose from the dead and whether you like it or not you will rise physically from the dead’. In addition the unbeliever will go with a body into the lake of fire. You will have a body like Christ's resurrection body. If you have not got a physical resurrection in your belief system you have not got a biblical and apostolic faith.

OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES WHICH REFER TO THE RESURRECTION

It was the expectation of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that they would be resurrected at the end. The concept of being buried with the family was that it would also involve choosing with whom you are going to be resurrected with. You chose your company which is still a tremendous concept to have.

The resurrection passages are the ones you read when you are burying a believer - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15, John 14:1-3, Philippians 3:21.

When the Lord calls the people at the Rapture all these people are going to be together. Job 19:25-27 gives a clear concept of bodily resurrection. Job is perhaps the most ancient of the books of the Bible going back to the time of the Patriarchs. He says that he knows that his redeemer lives, and that he will see him in his flesh in the latter days upon the earth. After death our bodies goes back to the minerals which is no problem for the Lord. He can re-gather them and reorganize them in a new way.

When we look at the Lord's resurrection body we are looking at a picture of ours in the future. The structure of the Lord's body was such that it could walk through walls, even though the wall and his body was solid. People could recognize Christ who could eat, teach, breathe and be touched and had abilities which He did not have in His pre cross body.

God's plan for man was that he would live forever. Physical death came into existence due to sin. The last enemy that is destroyed is death. Man is going to live forever. The question is; where are you going to spend eternity in heaven or in the Lake of Fire? In Creation man was created to live forever and he will. Their personal rejection of the gospel is why unbelievers spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is a living death where they wish they could die but cannot. The concept of a spiritual resurrection is not new but is a satanic lie from the beginning.

This is what you are facing all the way through from the Gnostics to the Hare Krishna’s. The resurrection was one of the first doctrines to be attacked with the Greeks re interpreting resurrection in 52 AD. In the Talmud the Jews who rejected Jesus as Messiah also reject the concept of resurrection.

Evidence of the Resurrection

The Bible records 17 appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ including one in which there were 500 witnesses most of whom had survived until the writing of 1 Corinthians. Paul is saying that, ‘if you do not believe my testimony get on a boat, go to Palestine and check it out with the hundreds of witnesses there’. In those days no one doubted because the evidence was overwhelming. There is supporting evidence by unbelievers of that day such as Tacitus, Seutonius and Pliny who all wrote about the Christians who were always talking about the resurrection. Christos Anastasias - Christ is risen!

THE CHURCH AND THE RESURRECTION

Every church in the ancient world was seen to be represented by Christ, the Cross and the resurrection. There was not a meeting in which the resurrection was not mentioned. The early church was for the first twenty years mainly Jewish and they met with other Jews at Sabbath services and shared worship as long as they could, until they were expelled by their unbelieving fellow Jews. For their worship of the Lord however, they met before dawn on Sunday rather than Saturday. Then, later in the first century in Palestine, then met in homes or Christian synagogues on a Sunday rather than a Saturday, for which they were vigorously attacked in the Talmud [written between 70 and 90 AD].

They met on the resurrection day and at the dawn service they would sing a resurrection hymn. The response of "He's risen - truly He's risen" was used at these services as it still is in the Orthodox churches today. Nowadays we do not stress the resurrection as we should. If you look through the preaching of the apostles what do they say in the market places Christ died for our sins and He rose again and stressed the resurrection even ahead of the Cross. The reason is clear to see; the resurrection proves the reality of the success of the sacrifice of the cross. This is why Satan has attacked the resurrection message as he has during the last 100 years or so and has corrupted the preaching of this important doctrine. If the resurrection is removed from the Christian message the church that allows it to happen dies. Look at the last two hundred years of church history and you will see it littered with church buildings no longer in use for genuine worship. Without a resurrection there is nothing to worship or follow!

God who keeps the promise of the resurrection can obviously keep all the other promises in the Bible. Resurrection power is live power. We have the living Lord Jesus Christ in us. It is based on a physical, historical reality.

You need to stress the resurrection every week as where believers do not know their faith Satan will take what little they know away from them. As pastors we should get excited about what the Lord has done, will do and is doing and enthusiastic about teaching the Word. The Lord raised Himself, the Holy Spirit raised Him and God the Father raised Him from the dead. The Godhead broke the bands of death.

RESURRECTION OF OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS

1. This resurrection takes place at the Second Advent.

2. The body of David was still in his tomb according to Peter on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:25-29) David's body could not have then been resurrected in the scene of Matthew 27:51, 52.

3. Under the concept of Daniel 1 2:1 3, Isaiah 26:19, 20 the resurrection of the Old Testament saints is related to the second advent of Jesus Christ.

4. The dispensation of Israel is not yet completed, the resurrection occurs at the end of a dispensation, the end of the dispensation of Israel - Second Advent. The Age of Gentiles ended with Abraham's call but the saints from that era did not get their resurrection bodies because Jesus Christ had not received his, the first fruits. (1 Corinthians 1 5:20)

5. The two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-13 are Moses and Elijah and they could not be killed if they had received resurrection bodies. (Revelation 11:7, 8). Moses and Elijah therefore have not received their resurrection bodies by the middle of the Tribulation. Matthew 27:52-53 is a transfer scene not a resurrection scene. The transfer is one of saints from paradise to the third heaven of Ephesians 4-8. Some were given resuscitated bodies to witness to the Jews, but later died.

6. The Abrahamic, Davidic, Palestinian and New Covenants are not fulfilled till the second advent of Christ. The resurrection of Israel corresponds to the fulfillment of these four unconditional covenants.

DOCTRINES

MEDIATORSHIP

1. Greek word is mesites which has as its root meaning, to have a neutral group/nation to stand between two warring nations to arbitrate and judge between them. The two concepts are judgement and peacemaking.

2. The mediator had to be equal to both parties and acceptable to each.

3. Old Testament usage of this concept is found in Job 9:9, 32, 33. Job calls for an umpire between man and God.

4. The Hypostatic Union of the Lord Jesus Christ qualifies the Lord to be the mediator between man and God as he alone is equal with both parties. 1Timothy 2:5.

5. The Lord's work on the cross forms the basis of his mediator-ship as he removes the sin barrier between man and God. Hebrews 9:12 1-5.

6. The Mosaic Law pre-figured the Lord's mediator-ship. Hebrews 8:6, 12:24, Galatians 3:19, 20.

RESURRECTION

1. The resurrection of Christ is central to the gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
a) Had there been no resurrection then we would all still be in our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17).
b) Resurrection indicates completion of justification. (Romans 4:25, 2 Corinthians 5:2 1)
c) Resurrection is a guarantee of ultimate sanctification. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
d) The resurrection is the Father's seal on Christ's completed work, and the public declaration of its acceptance.
e) Without the resurrection it is impossible for Christ to be glorified. The humanity of Christ is glorified higher than the angels. (John 7:39, John 16:14)

2. Historical proof of the resurrection:
a) The empty tomb. (Matthew 28)
b) Many of witnesses died rather than change their testimony.
c) Subsequent changes and confidence of the disciples after the resurrection.
d) The day of Pentecost. The reality of the resurrection was so well known that when Peter preached the first two sermons in Jerusalem over 8000 people were saved. (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:3-4)
e) The observance of the first day of the week as the worship day. (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Revelation 1:10)
f) The historic existence of the church. The church worships a literal risen Saviour, and not merely the memory of a dead martyr . (Romans 5:12,14,17, 6:3-9, 8:2, 1 Corinthians 15:26,54-55, Hebrews 2:14)

3. Baptism is a sign of the new resurrection life. (Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12).

4. The Lord's Supper is a reminder of the expected return of the risen Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

5. Order of the resurrections:-
a) The first for believers only including Jesus Christ which is divided into four parts.
i) The resurrection of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:23, Romans 1:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Peter 1:3)
ii) The Rapture of the church (1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
iii) The Old Testament saints and tribulation martyrs at the end of the Tribulation. (Daniel 12:13, Isaiah 26-19-20, Revelation 20:4)
iv) The Millennial saints and those who survive the Tribulation to enter the Millennium in their physical bodies.
b) The second resurrection occurs at the end of the Millennium and is for unbelievers only. They are judged and cast into the lake of fire forever. (1 John 5:28, 29, Revelation 20:12-15, 2 Peter 3:7, Matthew 25:41)
c) Jesus; who must be the first eternally resurrected human, was not raised until three days after the crucifixion.
d) People in the Old Testament who were "raised from the dead" were merely resuscitated, and later died.
e) Matthew 27:52-53 is a transfer scene not a resurrection scene. The transfer is one of saints from paradise to the third heaven (Ephesians 4:8). Some were given resuscitated bodies to witness to the Jews.

6. The sequence of events at the Lord's resurrection is as follows:-
a) Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James and Joses head towards the tomb followed by other women carrying embalming spices.
b) The three find the stone rolled away. Mary Magdalene goes back to tell the disciples. (Luke 23:55-24:9, John 20:1-2)
c) Mary the mother of James and Joses draws near to the tomb and sees the angel. (Matthew 28:2)
d) She goes back to the women carrying the spices.
e) Peter and John who have been advised by Mary Magdalene arrive, look inside the empty tomb and go away (John 20:3-10)

f) Mary Magdalene returns weeping, sees two angels and then Jesus.(John 20:11-18)
g) As instructed by the Lord she goes to tell the disciples.
h) Mary the mother of James and Joses meets the women with the spices and returning with them they see the two angels. (Luke 24:4-5, Mark 16:5)
i) They also receive advice from the angels and, going to seek the disciples, are met by Jesus. (Matthew 28:8-10)

IMMORTALITY

1. Immortality means exemption from physical death and should not be confused with eternal life.

2. Immortality is used only with reference to the body (Romans 6:12; 8:11).

3. At this time only Jesus Christ has immortality as He alone has a resurrection body (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16).

4. All men are currently mortal (Job 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22).

5. At the Rapture, our mortal body will put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

6. Death is then conquered and mortality is "swallowed up of life" (2 Corinthians 5:4).

THEOLOGY LESSON 15

The last post was a TRACT that can be used for witnessing, so now we are back to regular lessions for those who are keeping up with the Bible College Course in Theology

LESSON 15 – CHRIST'S SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH

Ephesians 2:1-10
Leviticus 16:20-22
John 3:16-211 Unlimited Atonement
The Cross and Satan
Crucified with Christ

SALVATION

Salvation is the greatest theme in the Bible and centers on the Lord Jesus Christ. It involves bringing people from condemnation to justification, death to eternal life and from being an enemy to being a friend. This is an extremely important area to get right; as it is here that the cults attempt to attack the Christian faith.

Ephesians 2:1-9 - "but God" in verse 4 is a great contrast to where we were in the fact that we were spiritually dead. By the grace of the Lord; he found us while we were spiritually dead and brought us to newness of life. His purpose was to lift us up to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus v 6 that we should walk in him.

WHY DID HE DO IT?

[a] To show His love - John 3:16, Romans 5:8
[b] To show his grace in eternity Ephesians 2:7,
[c] That we should represent God on earth - Ephesians 2:10

When God found us we were a dead branch on a dead tree, the tree of sin but God found us and brought us new life. Salvation is in three tenses, past - in the past we were saved, at present we are being saved from sin and evil some of which we are oblivious to and in the future we are saved forever and will be delivered from this body of death.

WE ARE SAVED FROM

[a] The condemnation of sin Ephesians 2:8, Titus 3:5,
[b] Dominion of sin in the Christian life Hebrews 7:25,
[c] The presence of sin in heaven Romans 5:9-10

ATONEMENT

The Day of Atonement is the holiest day in Israel - Yom Kippur - it is the day of the substitution or atonement which speaks of the day when the Lord became our substitute on the Cross. 1 John 2:2. The atonement has its roots very deep in Old Testament ritual. Leviticus 16: 20-22 - he becomes the scape-goat, the person who is blamed even though he is not guilty and takes the consequence of the sins.

The procedure was that the hands are placed on the head indicating transference or delegation. Here the sinner is transferring symbolically his sins to the animal. In this specific case Aaron is placing the sins of the whole people on the goat and that goat is sent out into the wilderness to be set apart to die in the wilderness. The guilty parties should die for their own sins but they have a substitute.

The Lord Jesus Christ was not only a substitute but also a perfect substitute. He was an efficacious substitute which means that what He did worked perfectly. The Lord's sacrifice was perfect and solved sin for all men.

To atone is to completely blot out the consequences.

The substitutionary sacrifice - did he die for the sins of all mankind or only for the elect? This is the difference between the evangelical and the hard Calvinist. This is an area of conflict between conservative Christians.

The death of Christ represents on His part as an act of obedience to the law which the sinners have broken as, a propitiatory sacrifice, satisfying God's righteous demands on the sinner. It is important that the people understand in depth the death of Christ on the Cross. You should teach them the large words but give an explanation for each.

The death of Christ removed all moral hindrances to the mind of God to the saving of sinners seeing that the penalty of sin has been paid through the blood of Christ. God has been propitiated and man has been reconciled, the barrier is down.

LIBERAL FALLACIES INVOLVING THE DEATH OF CHRIST

[a] The substitutionary death is immoral and God could not be righteous and still lay the sins of a guilty person on an innocent one. From the Old Testament however we see that God has constantly done this and that it is a means of teaching grace. God's love is pure and He has concern and cares for you.

[b] That Christ died as a martyr but it was not efficacious so that it did not solve sin but it is a good example of how man can die. He died as an example to us.

[c] Another fallacy is that he died to reject evil even if it costs your life. This is what a lot of the theological institutions teach. When they talk about the importance of the cross this is what they mean.

[d] The liberals do not believe in the physical resurrection. What they believe is that there is a spiritual presence in our life if we believe what he believed and that He died as an example rather than a sacrifice. They use familiar language but they do not mean what we do. It is therefore critical to discern what is going on so that you can smell the wolf in sheep's clothing.

The word Vicar is the Latin for substitute from which we get the word vicarious. The Lord Jesus Christ is a true vicar as he stands between God and man.

BEFORE AND AFTER THE CROSS

The cross is the watershed in history; it divides history into two areas. The payment in full of sin is shown by the release of those in Paradise to heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prior to the Cross it was quite appropriate to pray as the tax collector did, “God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13.

Prior to the Cross there was no completed provision made under the law for sin so this person could not rely on a finished sacrifice to the sin, as this only occurred at the Cross. Since the cross there has been no need to ask God to be satisfied. He is satisfied eternally by the death of Christ. WE have received the Saviour who received the wrath of God.

The Cross shows that God has been merciful to us. Mercy is no longer needed because grace has already been provided. You can now bow before Him and thank Him for the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin. The door has been opened as the book of Hebrews says through the veil which is His flesh. You need to be precise in what you are preaching. You are post Cross and not in the Old Testament. This puts us in a different position to the Old Testament and this is focused on by the epistles and letters.

What was prayed for prior to the cross does not need to be prayed for after the cross because it has been done. You name your sin to the Lord rather than begging for forgiveness. Our guide is 1 John 1:9. We have to be obedient and name our sin and recognize that it is an affront to the righteousness of God. Many of the prayers that are offered today are an affront to God as it is not in conformity with His Word.

DOCTRINES

ATONEMENT: UNLIMITED ATONEMENT

1. Definition:
a) The totally effective work of Christ on the cross to pay the penalty of sin on behalf of mankind.
b) Atonement as a noun means reconciliation after enmity and includes reparation made for wrong or injury.
c) The verb has several related meanings such as to be at one, to be in accordance, to make reparation or amends, to make up for errors or deficiencies, to reconcile.
d) In the Old Testament, the true meaning of atonement is related to the Hebrew verb "to pass over, to cover" - it is also the word for 'pitch' used to seal Noah's Ark.

2. In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were used to cover sin.
a) God forgave and restored where sin was covered by the blood of animal sacrifices.
b) However, the true basis for atonement was not found in these animal sacrifices. This is why the sacrifices needed to be repeated time and time again.
c) Animal sacrifices were used as a cover for sin until the true sacrifice, Jesus Christ, could be offered on the cross.

d) Atonement in the Old Testament refers to the use of animal sacrifices to picture the saving work of Christ.
e) The two concepts of atonement (Old and New Testament) are brought together in Romans 3:23-26)

3. Atonement is unlimited
a) When Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for sins he paid for the sins of the entire human race, not just the elect. (Romans 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 1 Timothy 2:6, 4:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:2)
b) "Limited Atonement", the concept that Christ died for believers only is incorrect.

4. Unlimited Atonement eliminates sin in the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgment.
a) When Christ died on the cross, He was judged for all sins of the human race.

b) Therefore the issue in salvation is not sin, but faith in Christ. People choose either to accept the work of Christ (John 3:18, 36), or their own "good" works to gain the approval of God.
c) Therefore, human ‘goodness’ will be the basis of the unbelievers' indictment at the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:12)

THE CROSS AND SATAN

1. With His death on the Cross Christ dealt with sin as a whole. (Colossians 1:15-22, 1 John 2:2)

2. With the removal of the sin barrier Satan's power was negated. (John 12:31, 16:11, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 2:14,)

3. Judgment upon Satan has been pronounced but the sentence has not been executed, he is still prince of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2)

4. He is still the deceiver and liar who seeks to ensnare foolish believers (1 Peter 5:8-9)

5. The cross is God's grace provision for the salvation of all who will believe in the Lord. Satan's attack is the philosophy of works, promoting the idea that man can do without the need of a Saviour. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

6. Satan's judgment has been progressively revealed:
a) In the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:15)
b) At the Cross. (John 12:31)
c) In the Tribulation. (Revelation 12:7-12)
d) At the Second Advent. (Revelation 20:1-3)
e) At the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:10)

7. Satan's rebellion centers on two sins, pride and lying. (Isaiah 14:12-24, Ezekiel 28:17, John 8:44)

8. God's plan calls for sin to be removed and with it Satan's power. The victory on the Cross will lead to the glory of God and the proclamation throughout all eternity of the perfect justice of God. (1 John 3:8)

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

1. SCRIPTURE (Galatians 2:20) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me"

2. Evaluation or Literal Translation

a) "I am crucified with Christ". I have been crucified with Christ in the past with a result that I keep on being crucified with Christ forever identification with Christ in His death). Passive voice - I have received this crucifixion (this occurs at the point of salvation). We are dead to the law after crucifixion with Christ because Christ fulfilled the law. (Matthew. 5:17). We are over-comers (1 John 5:4, 5)

b) "yet not I" - I no longer live - my old life of sin and self has died
c) "But Christ lives in me" - Christ keeps on living in me. (Galatians. 4:19). Christ lives in us for fellowship as well - (Revelation. 3:20, John 14:20, 2 Corinthians. 13:5, Romans. 8:10, Colossians. 1:27)

d) "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith (or power) of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

3. The only way to fulfil the law is through the character of Christ formed in the believer through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2-4). In our own strength we are unable to keep the law because we have a sinful nature.

KNOWING THE FUTURE AND ESCAPING WHAT IS COMING UPON THIS EARTH

THIS POST IS A BROCHURE THAT CAN BE DOWNLOADED AND USED TO EVANGELISE

WE ARE LIVING IN THE VERY END TIMES


INTRODUCTION

Most people at some time have asked themselves “What is going to happen in the future?” In 2011 as the threat of war in the Middle East and global instability looms large this question is foremost in men’s minds.

In the past people have sought guidance from mystics such as Nostradamus and others. Our magazines and many of our newspapers have major sections on your stars and predicting what is going to happen to you. Is there however a reliable source of information on future events? Does anyone know?

As Christians we know that the only one who really knows what is going to happen is God. He has outlined the future in detail so that we can know what it holds for us both individually and as the human race. The information has been given to us in the Bible in the form of prophecy.

How well does God know the future? God is outside time and so He knows it perfectly for He is All Knowing. How likely is it that the prophecy in the Bible will be fulfilled literally? Because God is not only All Knowing but also All Powerful the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy is absolutely sure!

In order to test the accuracy of Biblical prophecy we can see how well the prophecies of the Bible have been fulfilled so far in history. From this we will find that we can have confidence in what the Bible says will happen in the future and therefore predict what is going to happen in the future.

History has been rightly called His Story, the story outlined by the Plan of God. Let us remember that tomorrow the events of today will be history. We have through the Bible the privilege of seeing His Story unfold before our eyes and understanding the divine plan for humanity.

THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE BIBLE IN PROPHECY AND ITS FULFILLMENT

The Bible is full of prophecy. The first prophecies are in the Book of Genesis and repeatedly predictions of what is going to happen in the future is given through the Bible to perhaps the greatest of all of the prophetic books, the last book in the Bible, the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A review of the Bible shows about 1 verse in 25 deals with prophecy thus God thinks that this subject is very important for man to know about.

FULFILLED AND UNFULFILLED PROPHECIES

The prophecies are divided into two categories, those that have been fulfilled and those which are still to be fulfilled. There are several categories of prophecy that have already been fulfilled. They include prophecies regarding the Lord Jesus Christ, some prophecies about Israel and others dealing with the future of cities such as Babylon, Petra, Tyre and Sidon.

At least 83 prophecies were fulfilled literally by the Lord Jesus Christ at His first coming, 15 prophecies involving the Jews and 11 relating to cities of the ancient world. These 100 or so prophecies are but a part of those which have been literally fulfilled to date. There is therefore very sound evidence on which to base our review and our confidence.

In this review we will take a sample of 16 of the 83 prophecies fulfilled in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ at his first advent. This therefore represents but 20% of those stated in my book.

SOME PROPHECIES FULFILLED AT CHRIST’S FIRST ADVENT

Many prophecies were fulfilled during the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us see from statistics what is the statistical chance of one person fulfilling these prophecies so totally?

Leaving aside Isaiah 7:14 and his prophecy of the Virgin Birth and the prophecy of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Psalms, which would have almost infinite odds I have selected the prophecies fulfilled by the Lord during His ministry together with the proposed odds of this occurring by chance.

As an example in the table below the chances of the prophet Micah in 710 BC guessing Bethlehem of Judea by chance to be the village in which the Lord Jesus Christ was to be born was one in 2400 as there were that some 2400 villages in Judea at that time.

THE STATISTICAL CHANCES OF 16 PROPHECIES BEING FULFILLED BY ONE PERSON

Born in Bethlehem – 1 in 2400 Gambling for his garments – 1 in 100
No bones broken – 1 in 20 Darkness over the earth at midday – 1 in 1000
Crucified with thieves – 1 in 50 His side pierced – 1 in 100
Hands and Feet Pierced – 1 in 50 Entering Jerusalem on a colt – 1 in 50
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver - 1 in 50 Betrayed by a friend – 1 in 10
Betrayal money to buy a potters field - 1 in 200 Silent before his accusers – 1 in 100
Buried in a rich man’s tomb – 1 in 100 Body would not decay – 1 in 10,000
Wounded by his enemies – 1 in 10 Preceded by a messenger – 1 in 20

WHAT IS THE STATISTICAL CHANCE

From a statistical viewpoint that the chances of a single person fulfilling all of the above 16 prophecies fulfilled by our Lord at His first coming would be literally astronomical being 10 to the 28th power. To show the huge size of the numbers involved there are only 10 to the 15th seconds in the history of the universe if you assume the universe is 15 billon years old.

It would be equivalent of the chance of a blindfolded person finding by chance a grain of sand that had been painted blue which had been placed at random somewhere in the Milky Way. The fulfilment of these Biblical prophecies is therefore clearly seen to be statistically certain. Bearing in mind the other 80% of prophecies that the Lord fulfilled literally at His First Advent the odds are infinite.

ACCURACY OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY

Looking at this from a Biblical viewpoint, with God being All Knowing, obviously the blue grain of sand does not exist. This shows conclusively that Biblical Prophecy can be relied on entirely.

We can therefore be absolutely confident that what God predicts will come to pass. Now let us see what God says through the Bible what the future History has in store for us.

THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE

God tells us that the history of the human race has over 1007 years to run. The Bible tells us that the earth is not going to end in a nuclear winter in the near future. At the end of time the final destiny of our world is a fiery inferno which will herald in the commencement of eternity. 2 Peter 3:10-12

The Bible divides the remaining period of human history into four steps. These steps are the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ and His 1000 year reign or Millennium.

STEP 1. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

At the Last Supper the Lord Jesus Christ in John 14:1-3 told His disciples not to worry, that He would in the future come back for them so that where He was there they would also be. Here He was talking to believers.

The Apostle Paul amplified this promise to all true believers in Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In these passages Paul made it clear that there would be a generation of believers who would not see death but would go to be with the Lord at a future point in history.

This is called the Rapture or taking away of the Church. [It should be noted that the term Church means the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and not a building]. In the Rapture of the Church incident the Lord Jesus Christ does not set foot on the earth but believers meet Him in the air. In order to do so they will have a resurrection body exactly like that of the Lord Jesus Christ – Philippians 3:21

STEP 2. THE TRIBULATION

This is a period of seven years which commences with the signing of a treaty between Israel and a world dictator and ends at the physical return to the earth by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a time of great turmoil on the earth which is controlled by a one world government comprising ten regions overseen by a Dictator whose number is 666. He will enforce his rule by a financial cashless society based on a mark and sworn allegiance to his regime. [Revelation 13:16-18]

The fact that this time of great peril is after the removal of the believers from the earth at the Rapture is shown by the fact that the World Dictator or Antichrist is not revealed until the Holy Spirit which is restraining evil is removed 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10. As all believers are eternally indwelt by the Holy Spirit [John 14:16,17], all believers are therefore removed when the Holy Spirit is removed., thus the removal of the Church to be with the Lord predates the Tribulation.

STEP 3. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

By the end of the seven year Tribulation the situation is desperate. Just before total destruction of the world is accomplished the Lord Jesus Christ returns with the Church, He overthrows and destroys the Antichrist and his ally the False Prophet, the Dictator of Israel.

STEP 4 THE MILLENNIUM

After a period of examination and judgment of mankind the Lord Jesus Christ commences a literal 1000 year reign on a refurbished earth. This is called the Millennium. Believers from the post Rapture period who have survived the Tribulation form the basis of repopulating the earth by entering the Millennium in their physical bodies. However unbelievers will not be allowed to enter into this golden age where the Lord Jesus Christ reigns as King from Jerusalem The main passage in the Bible for this period in Revelation 20. The conditions during this time is also outlined in the book of Isaiah

At the end of the 1000 year period eternity commences with the Believers from all time spending eternity with God and the elect angels while all unbelievers share the Lake of Fire with Satan and the fallen angels.

PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE

While there are many prophecies relating to Steps 2-4 there are no prophecies required to be fulfilled before the Rapture of the Church. This means that the removal of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. It could happen at any time. It is also true that no one other than God knows the specific time when this will occur.

There are however many prophecies regarding the Tribulation period which follows the Rapture. Therefore if we are near that time we should be seeing certain prophecies either fulfilled or able to be fulfilled from a political or technological viewpoint.

It is therefore the prophecies of Step 2 we will examine bearing in mind that if God has predicted something will happen, it will happen, even if we do not know when.

PROPHECIES RELATED TO THE TRIBULATION

There are prophecies related to the time of Tribulation but there are also a number of events prophesied to take place prior to that time such as a significant number of Jews in Israel. Some of these prophecies we have already seen. Others, we as believers may see, others we will not see. Let us now consider these prophecies.

FULFILLED EVENTS OF THE COMING TRIBULATION

EVENT 1. WORLD WARS – Matthew 24:1-8 [Prophecy 32 AD]

In verses 7-8 Christ revealed the single event that will indicate the end of the age has begun “ Nation shall rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom" coupled with famines and earthquakes. This is said to be the beginning of travail or birth pangs.

This idiom, taken in a Jewish context, means World War or a total conflict in the area in view. The idiom is found in two O T passages Isaiah 19:1-4 which speaks of conflict all over the land of Egypt and 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 which speaks of conflict over all the Middle East. In the case of the Olivet Discourse the whole world is in view hence World War is prophesied as the birth pangs of the Tribulation. We have seen World War!

EVENT 2 - THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL [Prophecy 570 BC]

This happens in two stages, the return in unbelief in preparation for judgment which occurs in the form of the Tribulation. This is followed by a spiritual awakening and at the Second Advent a world wide regathering in faith in preparation for blessing in the Millennium The fact that the unbelief stage is followed by the believing stage and the return to the land is given in Ezekiel 37:1-8 in the picture of the dry bones which rise up as a body but initially without spiritual life which occurs as a second stage Ezekiel 37:9-10]. Israel is back in the land [stage 1] but the spiritual life at this time is limited. The dry bones have been clad in flesh but the full action is yet to be completed.

It is noted that those returning are from all the tribes of Israel and not just the two in captivity in Babylon with Assyria having taken the 10 tribes into captivity some 150 years before Ezekiel’s ministry. Ezekiel 37:15-20. After this the Lord will bring them home from the nations from where they have gone and Christ will reign as King of the Jews Ezekiel 37:21-25.

It is of note that the Tribulation period of seven years starts with the signing of a covenant between the World Dictator and the Leader of Israel. This shows that there must be a nation Israel in place at that time for that to occur. Israel came into existence in 1948.

EVENT 3 JERUSALEM UNDER JEWISH CONTROL [Prophecy 570 BC]

Part of the treaty requirements between the Antichrist and Israel is for the recommencement of animal sacrifices. This item requires the building of the third temple. There are 4 passages showing the relation between the Temple and the Tribulation. They are:-Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Revelation 11:1-2.

The control of Jerusalem by Israel is therefore seen as a major prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple on Temple Mount. This occurred in 1967 and is currently under major conflict with the proposed formation of a Palestinian state in September.

EVENT 4. INCREASE IN EARTHQUAKES [Prophecy AD 32]

There has been a great increase in earthquakes. It has been stated that between 63 and 1896 there were only 26 major recorded earthquakes. There have been a huge number of deadly earthquakes since then In addition famines have increased especially since the mid 1970’s

EVENT 5. INCREASE IN FAMINES [Prophecy AD 32]

The world population has increased from 1 billon in 1830 through 3 billion in 1960 to over 6 billion now. Famines and food shortages are now seen in many countries and with increasing population this is increasing. The Ethiopian famine of 2003 is said to be worse that that of the 1970’s which caused such suffering. Currently there is a famine in the Horn of Africa.

EVENT 6. INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE [Prophecy 534 BC]

Daniel 12:4 But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

There is no doubt that in the last six decades there has been a unique knowledge boom. Knowledge is doubling in the scientific area every ten years. Discoveries in the areas of electronics, genetics, computers, communications and physics have been so phenomenal that no one can keep up with them all. We now have smartphones that are more powerful than computers were only 15/20 years ago.

It is said that a man in the 18th Century boasted that he knew everything there was to know about the mathematics and science of his day. A statement like that today would be unthinkable even when related to a very specialised field. Such a knowledge boom is a definite sign of the end times.

The boom in knowledge is also illustrated by the fact that 75% of all scientists and technologists in the whole of human history are alive at this time.

EVENT 7. INCREASE IN TRAVEL [Prophecy 534 BC]

Daniel 12:4 But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The period since the late 1950s has been the age of the travelling common man. Prior to this period it was only the rich who could afford to travel or had sufficient leisure time to travel. The frequency of travel and the speed of travel illustrate the prophecy “many shall run to and fro” With the advent of the package tour, travel by the common man has boomed.

EVENT 8 ECONOMY AND IDENTIFICATION [Prophecy AD 96]

The world is now compatible from a technology viewpoint for a One World Government controlling mankind using a monetary system based on markings on a person’s body as outlined in Revelation 13:16-18. Since the rise of the first plastic credit card some 25 years ago the proportion of the use of cards for electronic fund transfer rather than cash has accelerated enormously. In addition the need for the citizen to produce ID for the opening of bank accounts and access to driver’s licences has proliferated.

EVENT 9 COMMUNICATION [Prophecy AD 96]

In Revelation chapter 11 two witnesses in Jerusalem during the first half of the Tribulation who are divinely protected and broadcast the truth are eventually murdered by the World Dictator and their bodies will lie in Jerusalem for three and a half days for the whole world to see. How does the whole world see this? They see it by satellite and television, a technology which has only been available for the last 20 years or so.

EVENT 10 THE THIRD TEMPLE [Prophecy 550 BC]

That a third Temple will be operating in the Tribulation is clear. Whether it will be built before the Tribulation or during the first few months of the Tribulation is not clear.

It is clear however that the Jews are ready to build this Temple. In addition they have already trained priests from the tribes of Levi to function once the Temple is a reality.

FUTURE EVENTS OF THE COMING TRIBULATION WHICH WE MAY SEE

EVENT 11 THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT [Prophecy 550 BC]

In Daniel 7:23-24 we see the fourth beast devouring the whole world to form a One World Government. Out of this will eventually come the Antichrist. We see many trends towards one world systems nowadays especially after the events of 11 September 2001 where we are told we must unite against terrorism. Even as far back as the Gulf War in 1991 world leaders were saying that this was the start of a New World Order.

EVENT 12. THE TEN KINGDOMS [Prophecy 550 BC and AD 96]

Daniel 7:24a says” And out of the kingdom shall ten kings arise” This shows that from the one world government 10 regions covering the world will be formed. It is of interest that the Club of Rome divided the world into ten regions in the early 1970’s with North America being region 1, Western Europe region 2 and Japan region 3, Australia part of region 4 etc. It is interesting that the division was ten not six or twelve.

FUTURE EVENTS WE WILL NOT SEE

EVENT 13 – THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST [Prophecy 550 BC]

Daniel 7:24b says ‘and another shall arise after them and he shall be diverse from the former and shall put down three kings”

This is the Antichrist rising to power. His identity and status must be known prior to the Tribulation as the start of the Tribulation is the signing of the covenant with the Jews for the seven year period. We will not know his identity as outlined above as the Church is taken out of the world before he is revealed.

EVENT 14 – SEVEN YEAR COVENANT [Prophecy 550 BC]

The signing of this covenant between the Antichrist and the Jews will start the Tribulation period. As the Antichrist will not be revealed prior to the removal of the Church, the signing of this treaty will not be seen by us.

SUMMARY OF THE ABOVE

PROPHECIES ALREADY FULFILLED OR SEEN TO BE POSSIBLE
1. World Wars
2. The Rebirth of Israel
3. Jewish control of Jerusalem
4. Increase in Earthquakes
5. Increase in Famines
6. Increase in Knowledge
7. Increase in Travel
8. Economy and Identification
9. Communication

PROPHECIES WHICH WE MAY SEE FULFILLED PRIOR TO THE RAPTURE
10. One World Government
11. The World Divided into Ten Regions
12. A New Temple in Jerusalem

EVENTS WE WILL NOT SEE FULFILLED PRIOR TO THE RAPTURE
13. The Identity of the Antichrist
14. Signing of the Seven Year Covenant of the Antichrist with Israel

A FINAL PROPHECY

Let us look at a final prophecy to see how these prophetic events affect our generation.

THE FIG TREE AND THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Luke 21:29-33 (32 AD): And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The fig tree is a symbol of the nation Israel. The fig tree had long been barren. In fact, Israel had not existed as a country since 70 AD. The fig tree started shooting forth its leaves on 14 May 1948 when modern Israel was founded.

Likewise, the growth of the list of nations has exploded since that time with the independence of many former colonies. The number of independent nations has almost quadrupled in the last fifty years. This shows the shooting forth of the other trees pictured in this parable.

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that when we see all these nations come into being, the Kingdom of God, or the Millennium, is very near. Indeed, He states that the generation that sees this happen will be the generation which will see the Kingdom come. As the Rapture of the Church precedes the Millennium, our present generation appears to be the Rapture generation.

2000 YEARS OF THE CHURCH

It is of interest that from old the Jewish Rabbis held the view that there would be a period of six thousand years of history for man followed by a golden age of 1000 years. This last 1000 year period we know as the Millennium.

Biblical time has always been on the Jewish year of 360 days rather than the modern year of 365.25 days. In his book, The Coming Prince” the great Christian Sir Robert Anderson dated Pentecost, which is accepted as the start of the Church, as occurring in June 32 AD.

I think it is of interest that in 2011 we have had over 2000 Biblical years since the commencement of the Church according to Jewish years. We do not know when the Rapture of the Church may be but time appears to be running out.

CONCLUSION

In 2011 we live in what is called a global village, we are heading more and more towards a one world government. The current fight against terrorism strengthens globalisation. We know that too much power corrupts and a global government will provide ultimate power to the person in charge.

Yet the world is yearning for such a person to solve the obvious problems that this world has be it political, economic, or environmental, The person who is destined to become the World Dictator [The Antichrist] is almost certainly alive on this earth at the moment waiting in the wings to be called onto the centre stage. He is to take his part in History just prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to set up Christ’s promised kingdom on earth.

As one studies the book of the Revelation and other prophecies in the Old and New Testaments the following years will be ones of unmitigated catastrophe with untold suffering. Billions will not survive this period.

We therefore need to think about those things we see around us and understand the outline that God has so clearly given to us in the Bible. Remember Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” The Word of God is more durable than the universe!

THE CULMINATION OF HISTORY

On the past performance of the Bible these things will certainly come to pass, The questions we need to address include - What is our response going to be to this evidence? Are you ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you related to Him? Have you personally trusted in Him? Will you go to be with the Lord when He comes for His church or will you be left behind?

THE PROBLEM FOR MAN

From the Bible it is clear that God is perfect. It is also clear that man is imperfect. Even the most noble of mankind is fatally flawed. Therefore God and man can have no relationship together as nothing flawed mankind can do can satisfy the Holiness of God. The Bible tells us that even our best deeds are dirty rags in His sight. We cannot please God with our works. Man is helpless.

GOD’S SOLUTION – SALVATION BY FAITH

What hope is therefore for flawed mankind? Man cannot do the work so God provided a solution to man’s problem. He provided His perfect only Son the Lord Jesus Christ to come to this earth and pay the penalty for all our shortcomings or sins. He died on the Cross in Jerusalem and rose physically from the dead having conquered the ultimate enemy, death. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God, the hand of honour, waiting for the time of His return for His Church and ultimately the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.

What is the Lord Jesus Christ to you? He is either your Saviour of your Judge. Which will it be? The decision is yours. Are you going to do it your way or God’s way?. This is the most important decision that you will ever make.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Acts 16:31

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16

THE BELIEVER AND THE FUTURE

For those of us who are in the Body of Christ, those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, let us encourage one another as we expectantly await His promised return and share the good news with the lost.

We are said to be ambassadors for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20

We are in this world but not of the world. Our task is to represent the Lord Jesus Christ up to the time when we are withdrawn from the earth either by physical death or the Rapture of the Church

Let us be encouraged and challenged by these prophecies because they will be fulfilled literally in the future.

Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”