THEOLOGY LESSON 18

CHRIST: PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING

LESSON 18 – HIS COMING FOR HIS SAINTS

John 14:1-4
I Thessalonians 4:11-18
I Thessalonians 5:6-10

RAPTURE

INTRODUCTION

Christ is coming for His people. This has been a contentious issue since the start of the Church. In the early church they were living in the daily expectation of the return of Christ. This was the power and motivation behind the early church for the first three hundred years. This is a very practical doctrine of Scripture and not something to go overboard on. If you have a biblical view you will be practical rather than foolish. “Prophecy nuts” have not had a good result anywhere in the history of the church, but the practical application of prophecy always is beneficial!

It is important to realise that you cannot go to one place only in the New Testament to get a full explanation of the Second Coming. You should go through the New Testament in a chronological sense. For instance if the theme is mentioned in James you look at James

First, then Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and so on, in the order they were written, so that you see the revelation of truth as the earliest believers received it.

THE PROMISE

In John 14:1-4 we have the introduction of the Lord coming again. It is still future. The purpose of the knowledge of the Second Coming is that you might have peace of mind. It is that history has a purpose and that He is coming again. History is not going to end with a maybe or might but it will end with a definite coming of the Lord. The Lord's ascension was not a cause for sorrow but he went so that he can return in fulfillment of John 14.

The expectation that He would return was so strong in the earliest church that they all expected to be present at the return of the Lord. Because there was such an expectation there was great consternation in some of the churches when some of the believers started to die.

THE THESSALONIANS

The church at Thessalonica was a young and enthusiastic church but without a lot of understanding of God's Word, for they were young in faith. This is why Bible teaching is so important in the young church. Whilst some had died, others had been martyred and yet others had given up their jobs waiting for the return of the Lord. In 1 and 2 Thessalonians Paul gives them an answer. In chapter 4 verses 11 and 12 Paul tells them that as a part of their witness they should work honestly minding their own business. The Second Coming of Christ should not create people who have a bad witness. You should not stand in a white sheet waving a palm branch around as many people have over the centuries.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul says that he would not have them ignorant about this event. In verse 18 this news should bring comfort which ties in with John 14 where the Lord said that believers should not worry. As long as we have got it right we will receive comfort and not get upset. Conversely if you have not got comfort from the Second Coming you have got it wrong.

In God's plan you should act in conformity with 1 Thessalonians 5 rather than the so called Ten Commandments. We are going beyond the Mosaic Law to something greater because we are looking forward to something greater than Moses was. Moses was looking forward to the Cross; we are looking forward to the Second Coming. Moses had the concept that the Messiah would come. We have the knowledge that He has come and that He is coming again. If you understand that His coming is imminent then you will be keeping the commandments in chapter 5.

There is quite a lot of argument about this subject. Those who violently argue about this often do not measure up in their own lives to either 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 or chapter 5. If you come across people like this you should tell them that when they get their life in order you will sit down and discuss theology with them.

VIEWS OF THE SECOND COMING

There are many different ideas on the Second Coming. There are the pre-millennial, pre tribulation, post tribulation, mid tribulation and A-millennial. The one that does not require the spiritualizing of Scripture is the pre tribulation, pre millennial viewpoint, which is the most anciently held view of the church.

This was the view which was held by the Early Church and conforms best we believe with the Word of God. It can therefore be classified as the conservative/orthodox position. The doctrine of the Second Coming should have an impact on our life. If it does not we have misunderstood it.

In the first two hundred years nearly all the Christians believed in a literal coming again, Rapture, Millennium, and it was not until Origen, Clement, and Augustine of Hippo, in the later centuries that you get the figurative interpretation. It is to these men that the many ‘reformed group’ of theologians trace their origins to. However there is better evidence for the orthodox view than that proposed by the Reformed groups.

The Second Coming of Christ is said to be mentioned 318 times in 260 chapters of the Bible and occupies one in twenty five verses. Therefore if you think that the Second Coming is not important one in twenty five verses in the New Testament says that you are wrong.

It is not an optional extra although the entire liberal churches side step it and many evangelicals do not hold a stated position because it is controversial. As one in twenty five verses in the New Testament deals with this subject you should have at least two messages a year on this subject.

DIVISION OF THE SECOND ADVENT

This one doctrine is made up of two specific events; the first part is when He comes for his church, the second when He comes back with His people. This first event is quite often referred to as the Rapture whilst the second is known as the Second Advent.

At the Second Advent we know exactly where He is going to come to, as the Mount of Olives will split in two when He arrives. We can go to Israel and stand on the Mount of Olives and say to the Lord that I know this is where you will arrive on your return. Zechariah 14:4-5

There is a time gap of some duration between them and this is where the tribulation occurs. This is a cause of disagreement between the dispensationalists and the reformed theologians. It is essential with this subject that you teach something, thus it is important that you come to grips with it.

With unfulfilled prophecy you have to be guided by the Holy Spirit and what the Word of God says. Scripture must be compared with Scripture and find out what does fit together. There are a lot of good systems which are internally consistent but do not comply with the Word of God. The correct view will always get you out in evangelism, clam your doubts, and stimulate you to lead a holy life and do the Lord's will.

In Matthew 24 the disciples were totally unprepared for the statement recorded in John 14. In the former passage they had been prepared for the return of the Messiah to set up the kingdom, not that He was going away as stated in John 14. In the latter passage He is to prepare a place for them and return to take them to that place which was clearly heaven. There are therefore two separate events. The disciples, like most since, were confused by this.

CONTRAST BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND ADVENT

The progressive revelation of this doctrine is important. There is a contrast between the Lord coming for His saints and coming with His saints.

RAPTURE SECOND ADVENT

Christ comes for his saints to take them from the earth to heaven
Living saints are translated
The saints go to heaven
The world is unchanged and continues in sin
It is a deliverance from the day of wrath

It is imminent and could occur at any time
It is a truth revealed only in the New Testament
This relates to only those who are saved.
Satan is not bound and is very active on the earth
Saints leave the earth in their resurrection bodies
The Rapture relates to the Church

A time of comfort Christ returns to earth to set up His kingdom. No saints are translated

The saints remain on the earth.
The world is judged and righteousness is established.
Deliverance for those believers who have survived the day of wrath.
Preceded by many events. This is a prominent doctrine in both Testaments
Relates to both saved and unsaved.
Satan is bound for the Millennium.
Saints remain to repopulate the earth.

The Second Advent and Millennium relates to covenants with Israel - Davidic and Palestinian A time of terror for unbelievers
This is the pre tribulation view which contrasts with the post Tribulation view which has both items occurring at the same time. We believe the pre tribulation concept is correct as it is based on the literal acceptance of the prophecy contained in the Scriptures while the Post Tribulation concept relies on symbolic interpretation of the prophecies.

The Lord could come for us at any time, with nothing in Scripture requiring fulfillment before the Lord can come for His church. The last statement or prayer in the Bible says "Even so come Lord Jesus". They lived every day expecting the Lord to come and therefore the prayer was legitimate. There are also many verses in the Old Testament which deal with the Second Advent of Christ, thus those in the Tribulation will have a timetable for the Second Coming of the Lord. It will be an encouragement for them.

There will be more saved in the Tribulation period, not only due to the 144,000 witnesses, and the angels but also those to whom we have witnessed and leave messages for.

DOCTRINES

RAPTURE

1. The Rapture of the Church is the termination of the Church Age and is the taking of all genuine believers since Pentecost to Heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. General Scripture (John 1 4:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

3. The Rapture and the 2nd Advent should not be confused, they are 7 years apart being separated by the Tribulation and have different characteristics.

4. Rapture
a) Not revealed in Old Testament.
b) Promises to the Church fulfilled.
c) Judgment seat of Christ rewards (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11, 2 Timothy 2:11)
d) Christ the Bridegroom and Head
e) Believers body changed (not creation) (1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Philippians 3:21)
f) Church goes to heaven. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
g) Imminent - no signs to be fulfilled before the Church can be removed.
h) Time of comfort for believer. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
i) Christ will meet the Church in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
j) Private (only believers will see)
k) Before tribulation
l) Believers go out of the world. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
m) Removal of the Holy Spirit. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

5. Second Advent
a) Spoken of by all major Old Testament prophets. (Zechariah 14:4)
b) Promises to Israel fulfilled.
c) Great White Throne Judgment (after Millennium) - unbelievers. (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 20:12-15).
d) Christ the Messiah to Israel (Daniel 9:25)
e) Radical changes in nature. (Romans 8:19-22)
f) Church comes back to earth (1 Thessalonians 3:13) 4:17)
g) Many details of prophecy yet to be fulfilled. (Revelation Chapters 6-19)
h) Time of terror for unbeliever. (Revelation 6:15-17)
i) Christ will come back to earth (Zechariah 14:4)
j) Public - every eye shall see him (Revelation 1- 7)
k) After tribulation.
l) Unbelievers taken off the earth (Matthew 24:37-42)
m) Removal of Satan (Revelation 20:1-3)

6. The Rapture is before the Tribulation. Thus the Pre Tribulation Rapture position is shown by nine factors.
a) The worried Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:1-6)
b) The Restrainer removed (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)
c) The lack of the word 'Church' in (Revelation 13:9)
d) The verb Tereo in (Revelation 3:10)
e) Grace before judgment (John 14:3)
f) Resurrections in their order. (1 Corinthians 15:22-26)
g) The Covenant approach. The Abrahamic, Davidic and Palestinian covenant fulfilled at 2nd Advent.
h) The Church is in heaven before the Seal Judgments (Revelation 4, 5)
i) The contrast between the 2nd Advent and the Rapture

RAPTURE – PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE:

(Why the Church will not go through the Tribulation)

1. On the basis of the distinction between Israel and the Church:
a) God never deals with Israel and the Church at the same time.
b) Because of the promises to Israel, yet unfulfilled, Israel must have a future. Evangelistic and missionary responsibility of Israel will be completed in the Tribulation.

c) The nation of Israel has not been completed.
d) "Daniel's 70 weeks" not completed. (Jeremiah 25:11, 12, 29:10, Daniel 9:2, 24, 25)

2. Statement and Structure of Revelation:
a) The statement (Revelation 3:10) "Tereo ek" (to keep out), not "Aireo" (to take out) used in context.
b) The structure: Church Age/Tribulation/Millennium/Eternity. (Revelation 2-3, 7-19, 20, 21:1-8)

3. The Statement of Thessalonians:
a) Removal of the restraining presence of the Holy Spirit is impossible without removing the Church at the same time. 2 Thessalonians 2:6, 7.

b) In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 the incorrect translation in the A.V. confuses the entire passage. "Day of Christ" should read "Day of the Lord" (False teachers came with a forged letter supposedly from Paul which implied that the Day of the Lord, or the Tribulation, had already come).

c) In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 the phrase "in Christ" refers to believers in the Church Age. Verse 18 emphasises a comfort which could not exist if the Church went through the Tribulation.

4. Remnant of the Tribulation:
a) Christ returns to the earth with His saints (1 Thessalonians 3-13, Jude 1 4).
b) Jesus at the same time delivers saints at the Second Advent. (Zechariah 14:1-5)
c) Christ cannot come with saints and deliver saints unless there are two groups of saints - Church and Tribulation Saints.

Obviously, both groups exist and both groups of saints are separated.

5. Grace before Judgment: God gives grace before judging.
a) Warning - Noah was rescued by heeding God's warning.
b) Rescue - Lot was rescued by God.

6. Imminence of the Rapture:
a) No prophecy of Scripture has to be fulfilled before the Rapture can take place. (1 Corinthians 1:7, Colossians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Titus 2:13)
b) Hence, the Rapture can take place at any time.
c) Not so the Second Advent: much prophecy must be fulfilled before Second Advent.

7. Nature of the Tribulation:
a) Purpose of the Tribulation: to bring judgment on a Christ-rejecting world. God demonstrates that man cannot provide a perfect environment when Satan has full control and restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit is removed.

b) God completes His dealings with Israel, which allows the Jews to fulfil their missionary ministry begun after the Babylonian Captivity.
c) God prepares Israel for the fulfilment of the Unconditional Covenants by the return of Christ during Israel's darkest hour and the low point of human history Tribulation).

8. Activity of the Church in Heaven (Revelation 4, 5)
a) Before the Church returns to the earth with Christ, they must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ for evaluation of production in the Christian walk - rewards. (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
b) Hence, some interval is necessary (7 years) before the Bride of the Lamb can be prepared.

c) The marriage of the Lamb takes place in heaven. (Revelation 19:6-8) after which the Bride returns to the earth with the Groom. (Revelation 19:14). The wedding feast is held on earth. (Revelation 19:9)

THEOLOGY LESSON 17

LESSON 17 – THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST

His Ascension and Ministry Now John 14:1-4, 16-20

Acts 1:6-11
Luke 24:50-53
Hebrews 10:11-14
Jude 24-25 Ascension and Session
Prophet Priest and King
Rock

INTRODUCTION

The ascension is something that is not stressed at all today apart from it being an introduction to Pentecost. It is however very important, as it is the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. This begins the Ministry which we are enjoying today and will continue to enjoy until He comes for us or we go to be with Him.

STATEMENTS ABOUT THE ASCENSION

In the Old Testament - Psalm 68:18 Ephesians 4:8, Psalm 110:1 Acts 2:34

In the sayings of Christ - John 7:33, 14:12, 28, 16:5 in going to his Father and John 6:62, 20:17 in His ascension

In the New Testament - Luke 9:51, 24:51, Acts 1:6-11, Ephesians 4:10, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 3:22

The Christian life is in three phases, salvation, the life on earth, the life in heaven.

The ministry of Christ falls into four areas, the pre-incarnate ministry, the ministry of the first advent, His present ministry and His millennial ministry.

In John 14:1-4 the Lord ties the Second Advent of the Lord to the need to go away. He says that as certain as He is going He will return after He has prepared a place for us. Later in the chapter He says that He will send us another comforter. John 14:16,17 At this point He foretells enormous changes coming in the lives of the disciples after He has gone. The Lord's departure and the coming of the Church are inter related. The doorway to blessing was opened at the ascension.

The ascension marked the end of the period of Christ's humiliation and His entrance into the state of exaltation. Even the forty days between His resurrection and ascension involved some limitation as with respect to showing His glory. Notice that his post resurrection appearances did not startle the disciples as far as the appearance of His resurrection body was concerned.

ASCENSION

1. The resurrection body of Christ was capable of 'space travel' the humanity of Christ in resurrection traveled through all three heavens. (John 20:1 7) (The 1st Heaven – is the atmosphere, the 2nd Heaven – is Stellar Space, the 3rd Heaven – is the Throne Room of God).

2. The purpose of this space travel was to arrive in a human body at the throne room of God the Father. Although covered with no protective space suit, the resurrection body did not burn up as it traveled through the universe, it did not suffer fatigue but arrived in perfect condition (Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2). Upon his arrival, the Father said, "sit down at my right hand" (Psalm 110: 1, Hebrews 1: 13). Deity does not sit, only Christ's humanity sat down. This indicated the acceptability of the humanity of Christ (Ephesians 1:20) and guarantees the acceptability of regenerate mankind (Ephesians 2:6)

The seating or session of Christ declared Him superior to all angels, elect or fallen (1 Peter 3:22). Today believers are positionally higher than angels but in the resurrection body believers will be physically superior to angels. This is why God gives every believer at least one angelic servant - to some many more - a down payment that we will be one day superior to them (Hebrews 1: 14). Who made this possible? Jesus Christ through ascension and session.

3. The ascension and session of the humanity of Christ produced victory in the angelic conflict. (Hebrews 1:3-13).

4. The ascension begins a new stage of the angelic conflict (Ephesians 1:20-22), 4:7-10). Hence the believer of the Church age is involved in the intensification of the angelic conflict.

5. The ascension and session begins the subjection of his enemies (Psalm 110: 1) as quoted in (Luke 20:42-43, Acts 2:33-34, Hebrews 1: 13).

6. The second advent of Christ will conclude the subjection process (Daniel 7:13, 14, Zechariah 13:2, Colossians 2:1 5, Revelation 20:1-3)

7. The ascension and session also completes the glorification of Christ. (Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9, 1 Peter 3:22)

8. The ascension explains the uniqueness of the Church Age. (John 7:37-39)

The post ascension appearances of Christ to John described in Revelation 1 must have shown His glory much more vividly. The ascension having taken place, Christ was then ready to begin other ministries in behalf of His own and of the world.

The Lord has been exalted in heaven and is full of glory. The ascension was His graduation, going back to the Father and hearing Him say "well done". The mission is accomplished, everything is done; you now begin a new phase of the plan.

The Place - Towards Bethany - Luke 24:50 on the Mt of Olives Acts 1:12

The Method – will be a gradual movement upwards as if supported by a cloud. Acts 1:9

The Promise was that he would return in a similar way.

Acts 1:6-11 gives a description of the ascension. This immediately tells us that the Lord is coming again; the ascension is the guarantee of the second coming. It also tells us how He will come in exactly the same way He left us. It is an actual fact of history.

It is not a symbolic thing. Just as it happened on Ascension Day; so it will be at his Second Advent. From the past we have confidence in the present and assurance for the future. The ascension occurred near Bethany on the Mount of Olives. The Lord traveled as if He were supported by a cloud going up in a long upward movement. There is a companion passage in Luke 24:50-53. The disciples’ response was to praise God for the ten days until Pentecost. They had victory in their souls after witnessing the resurrection.

WAS THERE MORE THAN THE ONE ASCENSION?

The problem passage which the liberals bring up is in John 20:17 Did He ascend to heaven before the public ascension? Some think that John20:17, indicates one or more ascensions before the one detailed in Acts I. However, the verb translated as, "I ascend", is most likely a futuristic present referring to the coming public ascension of Acts I and referring to it with certainty. It is as if the Lord were saying to Mary, "Stop clinging to ME”. “There is no need for this, as I am not yet at the point of permanent ascension”. “You will still have the opportunity to see ME”. “However, there is no question that I will certainly ascend to be with My Father”.

It is the Lord's exaltation. The disciples watched as Christ was taken up and could see it as the beginning of the victory march. The Lord was glorified by the Father with the glory He had prior to the incarnation. He has been exalted above all principalities. The Lord was not only raised up from the grave but was raised bodily into heaven in praise and glory. In the ascension we have the beginning of the glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ who has won the victory in the angelic conflict.

SIX POINTS ON THE PURPOSE OF THE EXALTATION:

[a] He was glorified that He might glorify the Father.

[b] That He might be a Prince and a Saviour.

[c] That He might enter heaven as a forerunner for faithful humanity.

[d] That He might enter heaven for Himself

[e] That He might act as High Priest on our behalf.

[f] That He awaits the complete subjection of His enemies.

The purpose was to show that the victory on the Cross might be shown as complete, that the victory might win the glory and that it might be appropriated by us.

There is a purpose in the ascension which is integrated into us as believers as the Lord Jesus Christ is acting on our behalf now. The ascension tells us that He arrived in heaven in victory and glory.

The post ascension ministries of the Lord Jesus Christ are as follows as far as Chafer notes them:

POST ASCENSION MINISTRIES

[a] God's great power is shown towards us.

[b] We have a great high priest

[c] Our great high priest is in heaven

[d] In the blood of Christ we can be bold

[e] Glory is the Lord's now and will be ours later.

[f] Because of the ascension the Lord has received the promise of the Holy Spirit and poured it forth upon His obedient and believing disciples.

[g] He has gone to prepare a place for us.

[h] Because of His exaltation the believers will do greater works than Christ did in the days of His humiliation.

[i] The power of the glorified Christ is available through the power of the Holy Spirit.

[j] Jesus Christ has been exalted above the angels and received a name that is above every name, everything is subject to Him and has become His footstool.

The final triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ is at the Second Advent. The Rapture of the Church will be the victory march of believers to heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ is pictured at the right hand of the Father which is a position of power, authority and glory. The Lord has full glory now.

On earth His glory was shielded, now it is full. This is the difference of His appearances after He arose and after He ascended. This is shown by Paul's meeting with the Lord on the road to Damascus. John on the Island of Patmos gives another idea of this. Here he sees the risen and ascended Lord which causes him to faint. It would have been great to walk with the Lord on earth but it is even greater to anticipate being with Him in glory. The Lord has become King of Kings and Lord of Lords at His entry into heaven. The biggest change in heaven is that a man is now seated at the right hand of the Father, the God-man Jesus Christ.

God becomes man to be a Saviour. The Saviour is glorified through His victory and becomes our High Priest. The High Priest completes His job and takes up His crown to become forever King of Kings.

CHRIST’S PRESENT MINISTRY

[a] Head of the Church,

[b] He is the priest for His people

[c] He is preparing a place for us.

THE LORD'S FUTURE MINISTRY

[a] He will raise the dead,

[b] Reward those who believe in Him

[c] Rule.

IN HEAVEN

[a] He is High Priest,

[b] He bestows spiritual gifts

[c] He ever lives to make intercession for us

[d] He appears for His own in the presence of God.

ON EARTH

[a] He indwells His Church,

[b] He abides with His Church,

[c] He sent His Spirit to minister to the Church.

Hebrews 10:11-14 gives the plan behind this. We should be keen about thinking of the return of the Lord which was the motivation which sent the early believers throughout the world. He is awaiting his enemies becoming His footstool. The victor in the ancient world would sit on his throne on the battlefield and the conquered enemy would bow before him and become his footstool. The Lord has won the angelic conflict. The blood of Christ has dealt with sin. The Lord is waiting on His throne until the last enemy is brought in who will be subject to this sign of absolute total defeat. Satan, sin and death are the final enemies.

The writer to the Hebrews makes it clear that these things are certain. We must get a glimpse of the power of the Lord Jesus Christ every week. They must be aware that the victory has been won and we are involved in a mopping up campaign. The Lord is no longer on the Cross; he is seated in glory at the right hand of the Father. Our crosses are empty crosses in the churches, because the job is done. When we suffer pressure we should boldly approach the throne of grace where the Lord Jesus Christ is seated in glory, we are on the winning team. See yourself in the light of the ascension and draw on the power that the Lord has for you.

DOCTRINES

CHRIST: ASCENSION AND SESSION

ASCENSION

1. Jesus in His resurrection body travelled from earth to heaven. (John 20:17)
2. With Jesus Christ now in heaven, He has given His Spirit to indwell us on earth. (John 7:37-39)

SESSION

3. Upon his arrival in heaven, God the Father said "sit down at my right hand" (Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 1:3, 13).
4. The session of Christ indicates the acceptability of the first man, Jesus Christ, into heaven (Ephesians 1:20) and guarantees the acceptability of all believers (Ephesians 2:6)
5. The session of Christ declared Him superior to all angels (Hebrews 2:6-8, 1 Peter 3:22).
6. The session of Christ produced victory in the angelic conflict. (Hebrews 1:3-13).
7. The session begins the subjection of His enemies "under his feet" (Psalm 110:1), fulfilled at the Second Advent (Colossians 2:15, Revelation 20:1-3)
8. The session completes the glorification of Christ. (Acts 2:33, Philippians 2:9)

9. Seated at the right hand of the Father, Jesus now ministers as our great high priest (Hebrews 7:23-25)

CHRIST – THE ROCK

1. Christ is the rock of salvation. (Exodus 17:1-7, 1 Corinthians 10:4)

2. Christ is the rock of judgment. (Isaiah 8:1 4, 1 Peter 2:8)

3. Christ is the rock of provision. (Isaiah 26:3, 4) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because be trusteth thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever for in the Lord is the rock of ages.

4. Christ is the foundation rock. (Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22)

5. Christ is the foundation rock of the Church. (Matthew 16:16, 18, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20-22)

6. Christ is the destroying rock of the Second Advent. (Daniel 2:35)

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.”

THEOLOGY LESSON 14

LESSON 14 – JESUS CHRIST – HIS MINISTRY AND CHARACTER


His Ministry and Character

John 7:14-18, 37-49
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Philippians 2:8

Life of Christ
Kenosis
Blood Sacrifice
Christ: Prophet, Priest, King

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes the work of Christ is considered under the three offices that He held; that of Prophet, Priest and King. A connection can be made between the Messiah or Anointed One and the fact that prophets, priests and kings were all anointed.

In John 7 everyone knew that when they had seen the Lord Jesus Christ they had seen something very unusual. This is indicated by the frequent use of the words amazed and marveled in the New Testament. They knew they were listening to far more than a man - John 7:37-39.

Because of His presence the authorities could not arrest Him. He claimed to be more than just a man, people said is he that prophet referring to Deuteronomy 18 or is he the Christ. Jesus Christ caused a division. They had to make a decision regarding Him and they still do. What think ye of Christ? This is the central question for all humanity. People who do not want the truth will not recognize it even when they are confronted with it.

PROPHET

In Deuteronomy 18:15 -19 the thing that made them think that this was the prophet spoken of in verse 18 was the authoritative way the Lord spoke to them. He did not say as the teachers of those days said that Rabbi A had said this whilst Rabbi B said that.

He was a prophet, He spoke God's words. He was more than a prophet however. We however are a little bit hard on those who lived at the time of Christ as we now have the benefit of the whole New Testament.

He gave the prophecies, he gave great illustrations, and he made use of questions and turned the questions into a prophetic utterance. He was authoritative and he did it in a non systematic way taking opportunities as they arose.

The prophet was both a foreteller and a forth teller. This latter feature is a main function of the pastor who applies factors from the Bible to the present day in preaching.

There were three important discourses that were a part of his prophetic ministry,

[a] The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7

[b] The Olivet discourse - Matthew 24-25

[c] The Upper Room discourse - John 13-16.

The attitudes of people to these passages will divide theological schools up into good and bad fairly quickly. If you ask them where the Sermon on the Mount fits you will find that in the Liberal, Reformed and Fundamentalist camps views vary significantly.

[a] The liberals take this passage as the Christian way of life, if you keep the Sermon on the Mount you can satisfy God.

[b] In contrast the Reformed view is that the Sermon on the Mount is a policy which we are to bring into being by our own activities now and hasten the bringing about of Christ's kingdom on the earth.

[c] The fundamentalist viewpoint is that it is preached in relation to the kingdom. This discourse therefore seems mainly to emphasize getting ready for the kingdom. Some of the requirements to be practiced totally would necessitate the establishment of the kingdom with its righteous government temple worship system and practices, all though the principles may be followed at any time.

The sermon is a call to repentance for those who had refused to apply the scriptures to their thoughts and behaviour; and thereby left out the inner changes from the requirements for establishing the kingdom. Therefore it has relevance for any time when the kingdom is imminent such as during the Lord's ministry and in the Tribulation, but it may also be argued that it is relevant every day, as we do not know the date of the Lord’s return. It also pictures the conditions that will occur in the kingdom. It is therefore profitable for disciples in any age since it is one of the most detailed of ethical codes in the Bible building upon the Mosaic Law. It emphasizes the important truth that the heart and mind and body must be pure to serve the Lord.

The Olivet Discourse gives a prophetic introduction as to what will be happening on the earth during the Great Tribulation before the Kingdom whilst the Upper Room discourse gives the rules and the standards for the Church Age. One applies to the Church, one to the Tribulation and one to the Millennium. However all Scripture is for all of us to gain from with the principles of all the discourses having application to all ages.

In different ages however the emphasis or importance of a passage will vary. There are certain elements that are required to completely fulfill the Sermon on the Mount which we do not have today. There needs to be accurate teaching in this area as there are many devotional books which do not teach accurately on this especially in the area in the Sermon on the Mount.

For example, the Sermon on the Mount is not the primary passage of historic Christianity, the Upper Room discourse is.

PRIEST

Jesus Christ as Priest - He has a twofold priesthood, one after Aaron as He has a redemptive function but he is also a priest after the order of Melchizedec of Genesis 14

The prophet spoke to men from God; the priest speaks to God for men. Being of the tribe of Judah disqualified Christ from being an Aaronic priest; therefore, God arranged ahead of His coming for another order of priests, the order of Melchizedec, and Christ is a priest of that order with respect to His person and His work. Yet there are similarities between Aaronic priests and Christ as Priest both in His person and His work.

Levitical Priests

These priests had to be men chosen by God and qualified for His work (Hebrews 5:1-7). Our Lord was chosen, incarnate, and tested, thus being qualified in His person to be a ministering Priest.

These priests served by representing the people to God and especially in the offering of sacrifices. Their sacrifices were many, repeated, and not in themselves of eternal worth. The writer to the Hebrews makes it clear that had they been able to effect eternal satisfaction for sin there would have been no need for their repetition year after year.

In contrast, our Lord's sacrifice of Himself for our sins was a single sacrifice, once for all, and for all mankind. In this, His great work of redemption, He did a work which was foreshadowed by the work of the Aaronic priests, even though He was not a priest after the order of Aaron.

Melchizedec Priest

Features of the Melchizedec priesthood include

(a) It was a royal priesthood. Melchizedec was a king as well as a priest. The uniting of these two functions was unknown among Aaronic priests, though predicted of Christ in Zechariah 6:13.
(b) It was unrelated to ancestry. "Without father, without mother", does not mean that Melchizedec did not have parents, nor that he was not born or did not die, but only that the Scriptures contain no record of these events so that he might be more perfectly likened to Christ. Aaronic priests depended on their ancestry to qualify.
(c) It was timeless; having no recorded beginning or ending so Melchizedec might again be more like the Lord who is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedec.
(d) It was superior to the Aaronic order. Abraham, out of whom came the Aaronic order, acknowledged the superiority of Melchizedec when he gave tithes of the spoils of the war to him (Genesis 14:20).

Levi, though unborn, and all the priests that came from him were involved in this act which demonstrated the superiority of Melchizedec.

KING

The Lord Jesus Christ is also King; He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as well as being the legal king of Israel as the son of David. He is what could be classified in the ancient world as battlefield royalty. When Napoleon conquered an area he would often make one of his generals a king. The Lord becomes King of Kings and Lord of Lords because of his victory on the Cross. He was born a son of David and therefore royalty according to birth. He is king for ever and over all.

The fact that He is the King of Israel guarantees that He will return to set up His kingdom and rule over Israel fulfilling the Davidic and Palestinian Covenants. It also guarantees that the world will not self destruct due to such things as worldwide nuclear war or a giant asteroid striking the earth

KENOSIS

The first problem for the theologian as they approach Jesus Christ as prophet, priest, king and Saviour is that of kenosis. This Greek word comes from Philippians 2:7 where He became of no reputation and took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man. He emptied himself.

Theologians ask; what did he empty himself of? Was he still full deity or did He empty himself of some of the attributes when He became man? If He did not have all the attributes of deity He was not fully God. He is however both fully God and fully man. Kenosis states that He did not lose any of the attributes of deity but withheld the operation of those attributes. The false concept of kenosis is that Christ gave up being God, He gave up His omniscience. This concept is attractive because it states, He grew in knowledge and wisdom in His humanity. He had to learn in his humanity, but did He have to learn in His deity? The answer of course to the question of loss of all attributes of deity is “no”.

Did he give up His deity? The answer again is no! On one occasion people saw His deity; this was at the time of His arrest in Gethsemane. For a brief time he pulled the veil back and His deity caused the large army contingent to fall backwards. The veil was controlled by His will. John 18:6.

Secondly, the Lord did not call upon the deity that He had. When He was on the Cross He could have come down from the Cross at any time and called legions of angels to rout His enemies. With an ability to say no it brings out the wonder of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ dying for us.

Thirdly, as the great God He humbled himself that we might through Him be lifted up to glory as shown in Philippians 2:7-11 It wasn't the nails that held the Lord to the Cross it was His obedience to the plan of God and love for humankind.

THE LORD AND SIN

The second theological problem is whether the Lord sinned or not or whether He was capable of sinning. Could He be tempted? If Christ was able to be tempted and there was a possibility that He could sin; He would not be perfect say some theologians.

If the Lord is not sinless He is not a sacrifice. The sinless-ness of Christ is absolutely vital as without it you have not got an effective sacrifice. The liberals say that Christ sinned and do not believe He died for their sins. The liberal does not want a Saviour but a nice person in the sky who will let everyone off eventually. They want a great example, not a Lord whom you have to obey. This is not the picture of the Lord that the Bible gives us

As conservatives we are conserving the Biblical truth, the sinless-ness of Christ, the perfection of His character and His work on the Cross, the fact that we have a Saviour and a Lord, the Lord who will be the judge of the world. All conservatives agree that Christ is sinless.

If you are to teach impeccability it is something that needs to be prepared well in advance as it is a complex area of doctrine. The Lord was tempted, not to show that He could sin but to prove for all eternity that He could not sin. The testing of the Lord was real like ours but the testing proved His perfect character. He was tested in every way as we are yet without sin. He is therefore the one who we can depend on when we meet our tests. He could not fail and He did not fail and therefore we can have total confidence in the everlasting arms. He has grace and power to help us in times of need. He has proved to be able to help us in any circumstances.

DOCTRINES

LIFE OF CHRIST

1. The life of Jesus Christ can be divided into seven separate sections:-
a) The Virgin Birth.
b) The Lord's Ministry.
c) His Death.
d) Burial.
e) Resurrection.
f) Ascension.
g) Session.

2. The Virgin Birth. There are three reasons why Jesus had to be born of a virgin:-
a) To fulfil prophecy (Isaiah 7:14)
b) To fulfil the 'curse of Coniah' (Jeremiah 22:30) (also known as Jeconiah and Jehoiachin)
i) (Matthew 1:16) Joseph the legal but not real father of Jesus was descended from David through Solomon ... (Matthew 1:6) and Coniah (Matthew 1:11)
ii) Mary the real mother (Luke 3:23) of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ was descended from David. (Luke 3:31) through Nathan.
iii) In (2 Samuel 7:16) David is promised a son who will reign forever i.e. The Lord Jesus Christ.
iv) In (Jeremiah 22:28-30) Coniah is told that no descendant of his will reign over Israel.
v) By the Virgin birth a son, Jesus Christ, can reign forever over Israel (He has eternal life) being descended from David via Nathan.
c) To ensure Jesus was born without the imputation of Adam's sin. (l Timothy 2:14,15)
i) In (1 Timothy 2) we see that the woman was deceived but the man deliberately sinned. Thus the sinful nature comes from the man.
ii) In order to be our redeemer Jesus had to be born without a sin nature so that he can purchase those who have a sin nature.
iii) By the Virgin Birth Jesus was born without the imputation of Adam's sin.

3. The Lord's Ministry.
a) Reasons for his HUMANITY
i) Saviour-hood (Philippians 2:5-8)
ii) Mediator-ship (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
iii) Priesthood (Hebrews 10:10-14)
iv) Kingship (Psalm 89:29)
b) What was his means of operation?
i) Power-the Holy Spirit (John 3:34)
ii) He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11)
iii) He had free will (Matthew 26:39)
iv) Was perfect (2 Corinthians 5:21

4. His Trials and Death.
a) Trials
i) Annas (John 18:12, 13)
ii) Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57)
iii) Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66)
iv) Pilate (Luke 23:1)
v) Herod (Luke 23:8)
vi) Pilate (Luke 23:13)

b) Crucifixion:-
i) Jesus was crucified at 9 am. (Mark 15:25)
ii) Darkness covered the earth 12 noon (Mark 15:33)
iii) Jesus bore the sins 12-3 pm (Matthew 27:46)
iv) "My God My God" Psalm 22 (Romans 6:23)
v) Salvation is completed 3 pm (Luke 23:44-46, John 19:30) "Father into thy bands I dismiss my spirit".
vi) Prophetic (Isaiah 53:9)

5. Burial and In the Grave.
After the death of the Lord Jesus Christ several things happened:-
a) Signs
i) Temple veil rent from top (God) to bottom (man) (Matthew 27:51)

ii) A great earthquake (Matthew 27:51)
iii) Graves opened. (Matthew 27:52, 53)
iv) Breaking of the legs of the thieves (John 19:32-36 cf. Psalm 34:20

Exodus 12:46)
v) Side pierced (John 19:34, Zechariah 12:10)
b) Burial
i) Two pallbearers. Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus, both Pharisees, (John 19:38-39)
ii) Both rich men. (John 19:38-42)
iii) Laid in a rich man's tomb. (Isaiah 53:9, John 19:41)
iv) Guard on the tomb. (Matthew 27:62-66)
c) Jesus had three separate parts - Body, Soul, and Spirit.
d) At burial -
i) Body - in the tomb (Matthew 27:57-60)
ii) Spirit - to the Father in Heaven (Luke 23:46)
iii) Soul - Paradise or Abraham's Bosom (Luke 23:43)
iv) In Paradise Jesus met the soul of the penitent thief and preached to the fallen angels in Tartarus. (1 Peter 3:19, 20a, 2 Peter 2:4, Genesis 6:4)

6. Resurrection.
a) Jesus died on the Passover - the Paschal lamb.
b) Jesus rose on the Feast of the First Fruits. After 3 days the soul came from Hades (Luke 23:43) the Spirit from the Father (Luke 23:46) and joined the body in the tomb. With the involvement of the Holy Spirit the Lord Jesus Christ received a resurrection body. (Romans 8:11
c) Jesus predicted his resurrection (John 2:18-22)
d) He is the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:22, 23)
e) In the period between the resurrection and the ascension many people saw the risen Lord. The bribery of the Roman soldiers (Matthew 28:11-15) is additional proof of the resurrection as are the changed lives of the disciples.

7. Ascension.
a) Having risen the Lord ascended (Luke 24:50-53) to be able to take His place of honour at the right hand of God.
b) With the ascension paradise emptied, the Old Testament saints being transferred to Heaven.
c) In the "Church" age believers go to be with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:7-9)

8. Session - the seating of Christ at God's right hand.
a) Reaching the Father in heaven Christ sat at God's right hand. (Colossians 3:1)
b) The session is in order that the Father may make His enemies His footstool. (Hebrews 1:13)
c) Prophecy of the session. (Psalm 110:1)
d) The footstool will be completed initially at the Second Advent with the final judgment occurring at the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)


KENOSIS OF CHRIST

1. Kenosis is an expression which means to "empty oneself" or "to make oneself of no reputation."

2. Principle of Kenosis: (Philippians 2:5-8)

3. Jesus Christ from eternity past always has been God. As such he is all knowing, he is all powerful, has everlasting life and many other absolute qualities. He was not created because he is eternal.

4. Jesus Christ chose to become a little lower that the angels and took on the form of man.

5. Adam the first man aspired to be God, the second Adam who is God divested himself of his deity (Kenosis) and became man in order to save mankind.

6. During his earthly ministry, rather than using his own absolute power he used the power of the Holy Spirit.


BLOOD SACRIFICE

1. Ever since the earliest recorded time God has required a blood sacrifice for sin. It is implied by the coats of skin provided by the Lord in the garden after Adam and Eve had attempted to clothe their nakedness with leaves. Abel brought an acceptable animal sacrifice, unlike Cain's who brought an unacceptable bloodless offering.

2. The requirement for blood sacrifices was continued with Noah after the flood; (cf. the near sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham); and was established as a requirement not only by the Passover lamb but also in the Levitical offerings.

3. When recording the will of God for Israel in the matter of food and the abstinence from eating "any manner of blood" Moses states "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."

4. It is clear from the above that the life of an innocent victim (the animal sacrifice) acted as a shadow until the once and for all payment was paid with the true sacrifice of Christ.

5. There is an absolute necessity of the unique sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ as indicated by the phrase "the blood of Christ". (Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22)

6. Up to the time of the once and for all sacrifice the sins of believers were set aside adjacent to them (Greek word Para; means alongside) but since the cross they have been taken fully away.

7. The twelve elements of grace which involve the blood of Christ:

a) The New Covenant. (Hebrews 8:8, 9:20-21)
b) The blood is the life. (John 6:53)
c) Purchase and Redemption. (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
d) Propitiation. (Romans 3:25)
e) Justification. (Romans 5:9)
f) Sanctification. (Hebrews 13:12)
g) Cleansing. (Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 7:14)
h) Victory. (Revelation 12:11)
i) The blood of sprinkling. (Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 1:2)
j) Made nigh. (Ephesians 2:13)
k) Peace. (Colossians 1:20)
l) Boldness to enter. (Hebrews 10:19)

8. It is of interest that the resurrection body consists of flesh and bone but apparently no blood.

CHRIST: PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING

JESUS THE PROPHET

1. Moses predicted the coming of a perfect prophet, fulfilled in Jesus (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Acts 3:20-23)

2. Jesus claimed he was a prophet. (John 7:16, 8:28, 12:49-50)

3. Fulfilled predictions
a) His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21, John 2:19)
b) The destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2, Luke 19:41-44)
c) The Gentile domination of Israel (Luke 21:20-24)
d) The Jewish dispersion (Matthew 24:34)
e) That the scriptures would survive (Matthew 24:35)



JESUS THE PRIEST

1. A priest is a man who represents other men before God, so that sinful man can have relationship with a holy God (Hebrews 5:1). The priest made propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 10:12) and also made intercession for the people

2. As a high priest, Christ offered a perfect sacrifice to God to remove sin for all time - His own body (Hebrews 9:26).

3. He also offers intercessory prayer for us (Hebrews 7:23-25) at the right hand of the Father.

4. Characteristics:-
a) He was divinely appointed (Hebrews 5:4-10)
b) He is perfect (Hebrews 7:26-28)
c) He is merciful and faithful (Hebrews 2:17)
d) He is sympathetic (Hebrews 4:14-16)
e) He is everlasting (Hebrews 7:23-25)
f) He is our advocate (1 John 2:1)

5. Because of our union in the Body of Christ, every believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:9). We have direct access to God the Father (Matthew 27:51, Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, our lives are to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) of praise (Hebrews 13:15), giving (Hebrews 13:16) and obedience (Hebrews 13:17).

JESUS THE KING

1. At the Second Advent; Jesus Christ will come as King, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (1 Timothy 6:15)
a) His Kingdom - On earth (Jeremiah 23:5, Revelation 19:11-16). His kingdom is called the kingdom of heaven, because of its heavenly character, but it is clearly on earth.
b) His Capital - Jerusalem (Psalm 2:6)
c) Its Extent - The whole world. (Psalm 72:6-11, Isaiah 2:2-3, Daniel 7:13-14, Zechariah 8:20-23)
d) When - He will re-gather believing Israel after the Great Tribulation and will reign on earth for 1,000 years. (Revelation 19:11-16, Zechariah 14:1-4, 9. Revelation 20:4-6)

2. Characteristics of the Kingdom:
a) Universal Peace (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:2-3)
b) Universal Prosperity (Micah 4:4-7)
c) Righteous and Just rule (Psalm 72:2-7, Isaiah 11:9)
d) Worldwide in extent (Psalm 72:6-8)
e) Glorious (Psalm 72:17-19)
f) Everlasting (Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 1:32-33, Revelation 11:15)
g) Uplifting of the under privileged (Psalm 72:2-4,12-14)

3. Christ's rule on earth will terminate with the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). He delivers the kingdom to the Father, (1 Corinthians 15:24) thus commencing the eternal rule of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:28)