Psalm 82

Psalm 82 describes God speaking to a congress of leaders of nations. He will take over....
And rule in Righteousness.....

http://www.knowinggodintheword.org/audio/Psalm%2082%20Paraphrase%20With%20Explanation.mp3

Know Your Savior and God The First and The Last

Who is your Savior and God...

The First and The Last....?
Take a few moments to see Who
Scripture says is your Savior and God....
http://www.knowinggodintheword.org/audio.html

Audio Messages - Knowing God in the Word

www.knowinggodintheword.org

Bible Study Website

The First and The Last Your Savior and Your God

Who does the Bible say is the First and the Last? Your Savior and God?
Take a few moments to hear and know the answers to these questions....in an
Audio Bible study.....  Enjoy!

Who is your Savior and God...
The First and The Last....?
Take a few moments to see Who
Scripture says is your Savior and God....
http://www.knowinggodintheword.org/audio.html

Audio Messages - Knowing God in the Word

www.knowinggodintheword.org

Bible Study Website

The Power of The Holy Spirit When Poured Out On All Flesh

When God sends His Spirit a Second time, much will start to turn around....!
This will happen BEFORE the Great Day of The Lord and the Second Coming...
Go to this link and SEE.....!

http://ia600404.us.archive.org/6/items/pa_archa/PA008-The-Return-of-the-Holy-Spirit-Part1.mp3

How Should We Treat Any Other Believer ?

Should a friend and brother shun another simply because he disagrees on a few points of Scripture
that has nothing to do with their Salvation?....
Just how should any believer in the Great I Am....the True Son of God treat one another?

Please go to this link to find out.......

http://ia601700.us.archive.org/13/items/psa_set10/PSA148-One-Another.mp3

THE APOSTLE PAUL’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY (As Found in the Word of God)

Christ appeared to Paul several times after His resurrection and gave him successive
revelation for us today...... Paul has information you need to really understand Scripture.
Take a look and see for yourself.....



THE APOSTLE PAUL’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
(As  Found in the Word of God)

One of the unique features about the Apostle Paul is the fact that the Word of God provides us with us with his autobiography. The text of this manuscript is the direct words from the Authorized King James Version. We have chosen not to use quotation marks, except, when using words which are descriptive of Paul. I have taken the liberty to insert headings throughout Paul’s words. The words he used about himself were inspired. Parenthesis is used only to list the Scripture text.

SAUL OF TARSUS

            I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day (Acts 22:3).
            And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished (Acts 22:4-5).
            My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee (Acts 26:4-5).
            I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities (Acts 26-9-11).
            For ye (Galatians) have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers (Galatians 1:13-14).
            Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless (Philippians 3:5-6).
            Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13).
            “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3).
            “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

SAUL’S CONVERSION

            And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 22:6-7).
            And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me (Acts 22:8-9).
            And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard (Acts 22:10-15)
            And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me (Acts 22:17-18).
            And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me (Acts 26:14-18).

SAUL NOW CALLED PAUL

            Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1).  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus (Galatians 1:15-17).

PAUL AND THE OTHER APOSTLES

            And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:8-10).
            According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (1 Corinthians 3:10).
            Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) (Galatians 1:1). As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:9-12). Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother… Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:17-24).
            Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, … But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision … But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (Galatians 2:1-16).
            I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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 (Galatians 2:20).
            For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body (2 Corinthians 4:5-10).

PAUL IS NOT A BIT BEHIND THE SUPER APOTSLES

            For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles (2 Corinthians 11:5). Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:22-28).
            And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong… for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds (2 Corinthians 12:7-12).
            According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation… But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon (1 Corinthians 3:10). I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office (Romans 11:13). ..I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, … But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:18-17).

PAUL OBEYED THE HEAVENLY VISION

            Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come (Acts 26:22). Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it (Acts 26:19-22).

THE NEW DISPENSATION—THE MYSTERY

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1: 25-27).
            I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; …Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:1-13).
            But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel (Philippians 1:12). … I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death (Philippians 1:19-20). That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:10-14).
            Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4). I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:12-13).
            Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, … Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:8-12). This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; … (2 Timothy 1:15).
            For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His Appearing                       (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

~~THE END~~

End Note:
         
            The first time I saw an article of Paul’s Autobiography was about 1963 or 1964 which was put together by C. R. Stam. I met him one night as he spoke at a local church in Mobile. He was a true gentleman and a splendid teacher. Although, he never saw the Dispensation of the Mystery as being a distinct revelation received by Paul after Israel was set aside.

Tom Ballinger
1031 Wilson Road
Lancaster, TX 75146
U.S.A.

PLAINER WORDS
No Subscription Price

We endeavor to put in print and in plainer words Bible Studies which we recommend to students and teachers alike. This is our 45th year of publishing Plainer Words. Plainer Words is emailed to anyone upon their personal request.

Visit our Web Site:
www.Plainerwords.com

Two Seeds

Two Seeds...One Lives On in Resurrection ...The Other Perishes

The Second Death

Universal reconciliation necessitates a resurrection from the second death. The proof text is here examined

A. -- I want to consider the teaching of the Word concerning the second death before we leave the subject of universal reconciliation.

26 THE SECOND DEATH

B. -- May I ask why you consider this subject so important?

A. -- Well, to be frank with you, were it not for the faith I have that those who are held by the second death shall one day be delivered from its power and be numbered with the redeemed, I confess that your arguments would prove too strong for me.

B. -- Will you state clearly what you believe as to this, so that we may not beat the air in our argument?

1 Corinthians 15:26 and the Second Death

A. -- I believe that at the consummation of the ages, beyond the great white throne, those who have been cast into the lake of fire shall come forth,

redeemed of the Lord, that the second death will, at the consummation, usher into life in Christ.

The word distinctly affirms that ‘the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death’ (1 Cor. 15:26). Actuated by the exigencies of a theory, some have attempted to limit this statement to the first death, but the attempt is futile. A comparison of 1 Corinthians 15:26 with the statement in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8 will show that the lake of fire is to be abolished at the consummation. It is the last enemy.

Is the Second Death in 1 Corinthians 15?

B. -- I observe that you do not pretend to discover this deliverance from the lake of fire in the book of the Revelation.

A. -- No, I will admit that apart from 1 Corinthians 15:26 Scripture is silent on the subject.

B. -- So then, your whole doctrine stands or falls with your interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:26. Now I believe that death as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15 always refers to the death brought in by Adam, and never to the second death. My beliefs, however, like your own, must stand the test of Scripture, or they must be renounced as false. Let us therefore seek afresh the scope of the word death as used in 1 Corinthians 15. Will you share in this search, and ‘prove all things’?

The Words Dead, Die and Death examined

A. -- I find that nekros, the word ‘dead’, occurs thirteen times. The verses are: 12,13,15,16,20,21,29,32,35,42,52. They speak of ‘the resurrection of the dead’, and I admit that Adamic death is intended in each case.

B. -- Perhaps you will find confirmation of your theory in apothnesko, ‘to die’.

A. -- This word occurs five times. The verses are: 3,22,31,32,36. The usage is limited to the death of Christ and the

first death of men. And again I confess that the second death is not in view.

B. -- Your last hope then is in the word thanatos.

A. -- This word meaning ‘death’ occurs five times. The verses are 21,26,54,55,56.

B. -- Perhaps you had better give these passages in full, and will you also take note of anything in the original that distinguishes one passage from another?

‘For since by man came death (Gk. ho thanatos)’ (21).

‘The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (Gk. ho thanatos)’ (26). ‘Death is swallowed up in victory (Gk. ho thanatos)’ (54).

‘O death, where is thy sting? (Gk. thanate)’ (55).

‘The sting of death is sin (Gk. tou thanatou)’ (56).

No Distinction in the Original

B. -- With the exception of verse 55, each verse uses the word with the article. The expression ‘O death’, being in the vocative, dispenses with the article. There is therefore one unbroken reference to some one thing called ho thanatos, ‘death’. How do you prove that verse 26 deals with the second death?

A. -- I must confess that the more closely we examine this chapter, the less I find to support my theory, yet I have been led to believe that those who saw only Adamic death in 1 Corinthians 15 were blinded by prejudice.

The Scope of the Subject examined

B. -- What is the scope of 1 Corinthians 15?

A. -- The scope of any passage is determined by its literary structure.

B. -- Shall we then seek the inspired structure of this chapter? I think we can omit verses 1-11 from our present discussion; they deal with the evidences and evangel of resurrection.

‘HOW?’ ‘HOW?’ ‘AWAKE’.

‘BE STEDFAST’.

The intervening verses, 13-33 and 36-57, which constitute the bulk of the chapter, both deal with:

ADAM and CHRIST

‘HOW?’

‘HOW?’

The predominance of Adam

You will see that the major sections are headed by the names Adam and Christ, and these sections contain the references to the destruction or swallowing up of death. The scope of the passage is defined for us, and it is not possible to introduce the second death without committing violence to the passage. Paul amplifies the statement concerning the destruction of the last enemy by the words, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’. That ‘swallowing up’ takes place at resurrection, and is the destruction of the last enemy -- death.

A. -- I agree with you as to the strong argument you have for the place of Adam in this chapter, but do not follow your meaning when you speak of Paul amplifying.

B. -- Paul follows a customary method. First he states his theme briefly, then follows with fuller details. There are at least four such amplifications:

1. Every man in his own order.

3. The destruction of death.

The structure may be set out as follows:

Exhortation. ‘AWAKE’. The manner of resurrection. Adam and Christ.

B 36-57.

Death swallowed up.

‘When’? ‘Then’.

C 58. Exhortation. ‘BE STEDFAST’.

28 THE SECOND DEATH

4. The answer to the question ‘when?’

Let us put this statement to the test.

1. Every man in his own order.

The amplification occupies verses 37-44. The words ‘celestial bodies’ and ‘terrestrial bodies’ and the differing glory of the sun, moon and stars, all bear upon the fact that in the resurrection every man will be in his own rank or order.

2. Adam and Christ.

In this amplification, which occupies verses 45-49, the relation of Adam to Christ and the resurrection is brought

out in the following passages:

‘The first man Adam

‘The last Adam

‘The first man

‘The second man

‘The image of the earthy’. ‘The image of the heavenly’.

a living soul’.

a life-giving spirit’ (R.V.). of the earth’.

the Lord from heaven’.

The next item is that of the destruction of the last enemy. Do you not feel that, with this evident amplification of the subject, those who introduce into this passage the second death are the ones who are obliged to do so by the exigencies of their own unscriptural theories?

Destruction of Death at the Resurrection

A. -- I must confess that the evidence seems all against any other death in 1 Corinthians 15 than that connected with Adam. Please proceed, as I want to see what the amplification is of the destruction of the last enemy.

B. -- (Reads 1 Corinthians 15:51-57):

‘Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when the corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ’.

This is Paul’s inspired commentary upon the destruction of the last enemy. Can this passage by any possibility

refer to the second death?

A. -- I cannot tell you.

B. -- ‘We shall not all sleep’. What place is there in that for the second death? It is ruled out. ‘At the last trump’; ‘We shall be changed’; ‘This mortal must put on immortality’. Not one of these statements can be made to fit the second death. Further, the amplification of the time period is included in the verses just read.

A. -- I begin to feel that there is not much of my position left, but there is one argument you have not met, viz., that the destruction of the last enemy takes place ‘at the consummation of the ages’.

B. -- I look in both the English, and the Greek Original, but I do not see such a passage.

A. -- I am sure it is there, for I have quoted it many times when proving the resurrection from the second death. (Looks for the passage, but fails to find it).

THE SECOND DEATH 29

B. -- I think I can explain. ‘The consummation of the ages’ is what your friends read into the words, ‘then cometh the end’.

The meaning of ‘The End’

There is no word for ‘cometh’ in the original of verse 24. It simply reads ‘Then the end’. Some understand the words to mean ‘Then the end rank’, but we can find no justification for such a rendering. Cremer, in his note on to telos, says that this word does not primarily denote the end, termination, with reference to time, but the goal reached, the completion or conclusion at which anything arrives, either as issue or ending; or as a result, acme, consummation, e.g., polemon telos, ‘victory’ (literally ‘the end of war’, end, not measuring time but object); telos andros, ‘the full age of man’ (not the end of man -- death), also of ‘the ripening of seed’. In Luke 1:33 and Mark 3:26 the idea of termination seems uppermost. The idea of issue, end, conclusion, is seen in Matthew 26:58, ‘To see the end’; James 5:11, ‘Ye have seen the end of the Lord’; 1 Peter 4:17, ‘What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?’

The idea of a goal reached is seen in Romans 6:21, ‘The end of those things is death’; Philippians 3:19, ‘Whose end is destruction’. So also 2 Corinthians 11:15; Hebrew 6:8. When the apostle wrote the words of 1 Corinthians 15:24, ‘Then the end’, what goal had he in view? What is the object of resurrection? Does it not take man back into the place intended for him in the Divine purpose, for which sin and death had for a while rendered him unfit? The goal, this end in view, is contained in the words of 1 Corinthians 15:28, ‘That God may be all in all’. Although ‘the end’ is mentioned immediately after the resurrection of those that are Christ’s at His parousia, it is not attained without a reign of righteousness and a rule of iron. The uninterrupted statement of the end is as follows:

‘Then the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father -- (with the object) that God may be all in all’ (1 Cor. 15:24-28 author’s translation).

This is ‘the end’. The ‘consummation of the ages’ is an invention, a false peg upon which to hang a false theory. Just notice how the destruction of death is one of a series of steps toward the goal.

A 15:24-. The end.

B a

15:-24-. WHEN He delivers up the kingdom. b 15:-24. WHEN He abolishes all rule.

c 15:25-. FOR He must reign.

d 15:-25. Till all enemies under foot.

d 15:26-. The last enemy; death abolished.

c 15:-26. FOR He hath put all things under His feet. b 15:27. WHEN. The one exception.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28

a 15:28-. WHEN. The Son Himself subjected. A 15:-28. That God may be all in all.

A. -- My position I feel is untenable, and I am informed that there is no other passage of Scripture, except 1 Corinthians 15:26, that teaches a resurrection from the second death, so I fear my theories have proved false. I should like to finish the matter though, and see what is said by way of amplifying the time period.

‘When . . . . . . . Then’

B. -- You will notice in each section the words ‘when’ and ‘then’.

The end is attained ‘when He shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father’, and this is not done until all enemies are abolished, and all the redeemed are placed in their proper rank under Christ. The abolishing of death is timed for us in 1 Corinthians 15:54 by the words, ‘When -- then’. Isaiah 25: 8 contains the verse quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:54. It is in a context of Millennial administration:

‘Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously’ (Isa. 24:23).

30

THE SECOND DEATH

‘And in this mountain shall the LORD of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it’ (Isa. 25:6-8). (See also Isa. 26:1 and 27:1).

A further note of time is given in 1 Corinthians 15:52 ‘At the last trump’. In Revelation 11, at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, ‘the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ’. Immediately there follows reference to the ‘great power’ and the ‘reign’ and the ‘time of the dead’, and the ‘destruction of them that destroy the earth’. These Scriptures therefore place the period in view as being before the second death.

Death was virtually destroyed when Christ rose from the dead:

‘Who hath abolished (katargeo) death’ (2 Tim. 1:10).

Death will be actually destroyed when the last of the dead stand before the great white throne. Death will be manifestly destroyed when it is cast into the lake of fire.

A. -- I have been led to make a comparison between the lake of fire and the flood.

A true and a false analogy

B. -- The comparison is justifiable, I believe. What makes you hesitate now in accepting it?

A. -- I had believed the following comment to be true. In Noah’s day He cleansed away abounding sin by means of water. And was not water a purifier well suited to the task? And if in preparation for the last aion He once more wishes to dispose of evil, what more effective agent can be found than fire? It is the most searching purifier known.

B. -- These observations are rather involved. First you say that the water of the flood cleansed away abounding sin; then you say that the fire was an effective agent to dispose of evil; then you say that fire is a purifier, so I suppose your thought is that just as the flood purified in part, the fire will purify completely.

A. -- Yes, that expresses my idea.

B. -- Well, your idea will not stand the test. Turn to Genesis 6, 7, and 8:

‘Behold, I will destroy them’ (6:13).

‘Behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh’ (6:17). ‘Every living substance was destroyed’ (7:23).

‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake’ (8:21).

Destruction and curse are what is written of the flood, not purifying.

A. -- Perhaps the passage I think of is in the New Testament.

B. -- Let us find it by all means. The Gospels speak of the flood coming and taking all away:

‘The flood came, and destroyed them all’ (Luke 17:27; see also Matt. 24:38,39). There is no writer left now other than Peter:

‘And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person -- bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly’ (2 Pet. 2:5).

That does not speak of purifying. The only reference that speaks of cleansing is 1 Peter 3:20,21, but the type of salvation or purifying is the ark that saved Noah, not the flood that destroyed the ungodly.

The Flood did not purify its Victims

A. -- It appears that I have been misled in believing the flood had a purifying effect.

THE SECOND DEATH 31 B. -- Yes, and your other idea of the purifying effect of the second death vanishes with it.

A. -- Perhaps the meaning was that the flood did not purify its victims, but the earth on which they lived.

B. -- In that case the analogy does not serve your purpose. I would readily agree that the burning up of the elements was a purifying of the earth, but what you have been trying to prove is that it purified or preserved its victims. I believe with you that the flood foreshadows the lake of fire, and the inspired words are ‘destroy’ and ‘curse’, not ‘purify’ and ‘vivify’. Our chief purpose at the moment is the question, Does Scripture warrant a resurrection from the lake of fire? I believe you must agree that it does not.

A. -- I am afraid I must. I am reluctant to give up the idea, for it is the last position left.

Second Death not Aionion Fire

A. -- You have said, however, in one of your articles that the second death was unrevealed at the time when 1 Corinthians 15 was written. There I think you are mistaken. An aionion fire prepared for the Devil and his angels was already the subject of revelation (Matt. 25:41).

B. -- Where do we read that the Devil and his angels are cast into the second death? A. -- In Revelation 20.

B. -- Will you read the passage.

A. --

‘And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever’ (Rev. 20:10).

B. -- But that lake of fire was burning at the commencement of the Millennium (Rev. 19:20). Aionion fire is Gehenna, as you can see by comparing Matthew 18:8,9, and is connected with Isaiah 66:24 (see Mark 9:48). This aionion fire must be local if it is burning right through the Millennium, and is accessible from Jerusalem, when all flesh come up to worship (Isa. 66:20,23).

The lake of fire, however, spoken of in Revelation 20:14,15 is:

(1). After the great white throne.

(2). Has no reference to the Devil and his angels, and

(3). Is specifically called the second death which Gehenna is not, and, by the parallel of 2 Peter 3:12, involves both the heavens and the earth.

A. -- I see that I am mistaken. You must pardon me if I am not easily convinced.

Who enter the Second Death?

B. -- We have not time to go into details as to other phases of the subject, but I should like to ask you who they are which die the second death.

A. -- I believe that everyone that appears before the awful light of the great white throne dies the second death. B. -- Will you read the literal translation of Revelation 20:15?

A. -- (Reads), ‘And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire’.

B. -- Do you not see how intensely individual the words ‘if anyone’ are?

A. -- Now that you point it out, I confess they do appear so.

B. -- The judgment here is twofold; one out of the books, the other out of the book; the books being a judgment of works, the book being a question of life or death. You have made two assumptions. First you have supposed that all 32 THE SECOND DEATH

who stand before the great white throne die the second death, and secondly, having plunged this vast multitude into the lake of fire, you have then entertained the unscriptural idea of a resurrection from it.

A. -- Is it possible then that only very few will be cast into the second death?

B. -- The question of the number of those who are thus judged hardly comes within the sphere of our enquiry, but I should not like you to draw a false conclusion from my remarks. While the words ‘if any one’ are very individual, and set aside your idea that all who stand before the great white throne must necessarily be cast into the lake of fire, nevertheless Scripture gives a very comprehensive list of those who merit this awful doom:

‘The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death’ (Rev. 21:8).

The Nature of the Second Death

Returning to the nature of the second death, perhaps you would say what death is, apart from resurrection.

A. -- Sleep.

B. -- No; death can only be called sleep with resurrection in view. If there be no resurrection, Paul says that they which have fallen asleep in Christ have perished (1 Cor. 15:18). Throughout Scripture, fire is spoken of as a destroyer, and often the agricultural figure of a fire for burning up weeds is used. Your theory would suggest that the husbandman gathers the thistles and the weeds together to burn them, in the hope that by some weird alchemy such weeds shall be transmuted into vines, figs, olives or wheat.

Let us summarize our findings before parting:

Summary All Things

When once we have seen that Scripture deals with two conflicting lines of purpose, we can then see that the words ‘all things’ embrace all within the limits of the original purpose. Perhaps 2 Corinthians 5:17,18 expresses the relation of ‘all things’ to God and the new creation as clearly as any passage:

‘If anyone be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; new things have come in; but the all things are of God, Who has reconciled us’ (Author’s translation).

All Things of God

Scripture categorically declares that some things are ‘not of God’ (1 John 3:8-12), and among them those things which are ‘of the Devil’. Anyone therefore who teaches that the ‘all things’ that are of God include the Devil and all his works is not only unscriptural, but antichristian and must be rejected.

A Scriptural Principle of Interpretation

There is no formal system of Divinity to be found in Scripture. The great principles of faith are taught in the recorded lives of men, and in the dealings of God with Israel. Israel’s history furnishes a digest of the greater purpose of the ages. The words ‘all in Adam’ are to be understood by the parallel words ‘all Israel’, and inasmuch as they are not all Israel which are of Israel, so they are not all in Adam which are of Adam. In both cases there is in operation the law that sets aside ‘Ishmael’ and reckons only such as are ‘in Isaac’ as children of the promise and the true ‘seed’.

The Present Interval of Bondage

A comparison of Genesis 15:5-16. Galatians 3:15-18 and Ephesians 1:3-14 reveals that underlying the purpose of the ages is a threefold development, viz.:

(1). An unconditional promise

(2). An interval of bondage

(3). The promise fulfilled

The will of the FATHER. The work of the SON. The witness of the SPIRIT.

The will of God shall be accomplished, but not without conflict. There is an enemy at work. And just as Israel’s bondage in Egypt was connected with the iniquity of the Amorite, so the bondage of the true seed is connected with Satan and the mystery of iniquity. Israel enter into the inheritance held by the Amorites and exterminate them. The true seed will enter into their particular inheritance, and the seed of the wicked one, the names of whom not being in the book of life, will be destroyed.

The Two Seeds

From the birth of Cain onward to the Giants of Noah’s day, the Canaanites of Joshua’s time, and the ‘tares’ sown by the enemy, there has existed side by side with the true seed ‘the children of the wicked one’. Not until these ‘tares’ are bound in bundles and burned can the ‘righteous shine forth in the kingdom of their Father’. The seed of the wicked one being ‘of the Devil’ cannot be ‘of God’ and are not included in the ‘all things’ that make up the new creation.

The Kinsman-Redeemer

Scripture reveals three outstanding features which are fundamental to a true conception of redemption:

The redeemer must be next of kin. The redemption touches:

(a) A forfeited inheritance,

(b) Bondage.

The redeemer is also the avenger.

Hebrew 2:14,15 reveals Christ as the great Kinsman-Redeemer (‘flesh and blood, He likewise -- ‘), exercising the twofold office of redeemer (‘deliver -- bondage’), and avenger (‘destroy -- the Devil’). The provision of the cities of refuge was not for a ‘murderer’. Satan was a murderer from the beginning.

The Deity of the Redeemer is abundantly testified in the Old Testament. His humanity is necessitated by the demand of kinship, and both aspects of His person are found in ‘Immanuel’, the child born who was nevertheless ‘the mighty God’.

The Mystery of His Will

God did not plan sin, but He provided against it. His original purpose is spoken of as His will; the provision against sin and death is spoken of as the ‘mystery of His will’. It was the will of God that Israel should be ‘head and not tail’, but upon their temporary failure the mystery of His will was put into operation, placing Nebuchadnezzar upon the throne, and giving dominion to the Gentiles until such time as ‘all Israel shall be saved’.

We most emphatically repudiate the horrible teaching that God definitely planned sin, and that the Devil was deliberately designed to be ‘a devil’, but we glory in the fact that in His matchless wisdom God has taken the wise in their own craftiness and overruled evil for good.

The Two Mysteries

Two mysteries run through the ages, viz., the mystery of godliness, and the mystery of iniquity. Both have relation to claims of Deity. The satanic mystery finds its goal in the man of sin, the son of perdition, who sits in the 

34 SUMMARY

temple of God, showing himself as God. The mystery of godliness finds its goal in the exaltation of the Son of man, the Son of God, with every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The one mystery ends in destruction and is called ‘the LIE’, the other ends in glory and is called ‘the TRUTH’. Scripture declares that ‘no lie is of the truth’, and the workers of iniquity, who have even cast out demons in Christ’s name, are repudiated by Him.

The Second Death

It is an absolute necessity to the doctrine of Universal Reconciliation that there shall be a deliverance from the second death. We look in vain for the slightest hint of such a deliverance in the only book that specifically deals with it by name (the Revelation), but we are told that such doctrine is not within its scope. There is however, we are assured, one passage of Scripture which does definitely teach deliverance from the second death, and that is 1 Corinthians 15:26, ‘The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death’. An examination of the chapter reveals that the only death that is in view is that brought in by Adam. This death is destroyed at the resurrection, as the amplification shows that ‘death is swallowed up in victory’. The new heavens and the new earth follow immediately upon the casting of death into the lake of fire (Rev. 21). This same sequence is found in 2 Peter 3 where the new heavens, the new earth, and the day of God follow the burning up of the earth and its works, and the passing away of the heavens. The end, that God may be all in all, i.e., ‘the day of God’, follows hard upon the destruction of the last enemy (1 Cor. 15:24-28). That last enemy is the death which came upon all men through one man’s sin.

There is no room in any of these passages for the resurrection from the lake of fire. If there be no deliverance from the second death, there can be no such thing as universal reconciliation. Not one whose name is found written in the book of life enters the second death. Satan’s seed, those who worship the beast and receive his mark, these we are distinctly told have not their names written in the book of life. Here is the final division of the two seeds. The ‘tares’ are burned in the fire; the ‘wheat’ are gathered into the barn. The very order is important. The tares are destroyed first. Those who teach a resurrection from the lake of fire at long last must either deny this order, teach that the burning of the tares changes them into wheat, or believe that the manifestation of the sons of God is indefinitely postponed.

Conclusion

Universal reconciliation is an attractive doctrine. Its attractiveness is its bait and its snare. The ‘comfort’ some receive from it is no more proof of its truth than is the ‘comfort’ received from the traditional idea that our loved ones who have died are now consciously in glory. Doubtless ‘Christian Science’ made the Bible a ‘new book’ to many, but it is nevertheless a doctrine of demons. We have but one test for truth; it must stand four-square with ‘all Scripture’.

In the pages of this booklet we have sought to indicate what we believe is the truth of God. We have no personal quarrel with individuals, and apart from answering any legitimate questions that may arise out of this treatise we shall take no further notice of either the erroneous doctrine or any who propagate it. Because this particular error compromised our own stewardship we felt obliged to deal with it and show our own position. We trust nevertheless that the truth may be seen all the clearer for the moment of conflict.

To all to whom this witness makes its appeal as truth we earnestly commend this booklet, trusting that many will be able to use it in the fight of faith.

‘I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH’ (1 John 2:21).

Hope: Which One Is Yours?Dan S...

Posted on May 18, 2012 by dsheridan

The Hope of Israel

The hope of Israel is to be resurrected and possess the land promised to their fathers. They were given circumcision, the law and ordinances that segregated them from the nations. There is nothing in the Old Testament about anyone going to heaven or having a hope in heaven. They have the “adoption” on earth – see Romans 9:1-5.

The Hope of the Church During Acts

The hope of the Church of God during Acts was to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Then they immediately come back with Him to the earth where He sets up His kingdom. This church was made up of both Jew and Gentile. The Jew had a priority. “The Jew first” was the order of that Church. There were two faiths and two gospels. The middle wall of partition was between them. They all observed baptism; but only the Jews observed the law and took part in the Passover. There is nothing in the Scriptures before Acts 28 about anyone going to heaven or having a hope in heaven. They have the “adoption” and look forward to the New Jerusalem – see Galatians 4 and Hebrews 12.

The Hope of the Body of Christ

The hope of the Church, which is His body, is to have an earlier resurrection. They will be manifested with Christ in the heavenly places where Christ now sits – Col. 3:1-4. This is the coronation of Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. This happens before both the hope of Israel and the hope of the Church of God in Acts. They have the “adoption” and will enjoy it in the heavenly places – See Ephesians 1.

What About Those Who Aren’t In Any Of These Groups?

The only people left are those among the nations from Adam onward who believe God. The malefactor, Naaman the Syrian, and the Syro-Phonecian woman are examples of those who are among this group. They will appear at the Great White Throne then enjoy the new earth. The malefactor asked for a place in the Lord’s kingdom. But the Lord promised him a place in paradise – see Luke 23:42-43. This Paradise is on the new earth. See Job 14:12 and Rev. 21:1, 24-26; 22:1-5

What About Unbelievers?

The first three groups listed above are partakers of a calling. The fourth group are people who have life but aren’t part of a special calling. But all four groups will be alive during the ages. Unbelievers however will not be made alive until Christ delivers up the kingdom to God. This takes place long after the new heavens and new earth have begun. How long? I have no clue. But why miss out? Believe in God’s Son as you Saviour and have life. Then, believe Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to take part of the highest calling God ever gave to people.

WHICH HOPE IS YOURS? It must be embraced by faith.

Some may wish for more “proof” of what I have written. Please be patient. I will develop this line of teaching in further audios and writings. Search and see. Please think about them before you judge.

This entry was posted in Writings and tagged Body, Church, Hope, Israel. Bookmark the permalink.

--------------------------

http://sheridanvoice.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/001TheKey.mp3

Hope: Which One Is Yours? →

The Key To Scripture: Acts 28:28

Posted on May 16, 2012 by dsheridan

It was a long time before I realized what my hope was; I was confused; Why was the church in Acts so different from the church today?; The last trump resurrection vs. The manifestation in glory; The Key: Acts 28:28; Stealing from the Jews; When you blend truth you nullify truth; Ashamed; Disqualified like Moses; Believing God; You can’t believe God if you don’t know what God said; Do you believe God?; The Scriptures are complete so we don’t need any other sources to learn about God; Paul’s last seven letters.

Untaught Wonderful Day Of Christ

Plainer Words Online

​by

Tom L. Ballinger

Plainer Words since 1968

No. 156

August 9, 2006

PLAINER WORDS …THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21).

The Apostle Peter, in Acts 3:19-21, was divinely enabled to speak concerning “the times of refreshing” which is to come from the presence of the Lord. He was talking about the “restitution of all things” which was, perhaps, the major theme of the Hebrew Bible because he stated thatGod spoke about it “by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” In Paul's writings, he was inspired to refer to this future time as the Day of Christ. This term is grossly misunderstood by most Bible students. Failure to “see” its’ significance results inmisunderstanding the plot of the Bible. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke about His Coming Day, but most Christians are unaware of Him having a Day. We’re not talking about a twenty-four hour day but a period of time marked by the Supremacy of Christ in all matters—the Day of Christ.

The Lord Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:56; “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.” Jesus Christ said that Abraham saw (i.e. perceived) His Day. Howdid Abraham “see” His Day? God revealed Christ’s Day to him; hence, Abraham saw the Day,by faith, and was “glad.”

   

Notice Paul's references to the Day of Jesus Christ:

1 Cor 1:8. “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor 5:5. “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

2 Cor 1:14. “As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our’s in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Phil 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Phil 1:10. “That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ:”

Phil 2:16. “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

The Day of Christ begins with the appearing (the epiphaneia) and kingdom (basileia ) of Jesus Christ (2 Tim.4:1) and the blazing forth of the glory of the great God, even our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This is when the hope of the calling of the Mystery is realized.  This is when our faith gives way to sight. This is the next event on God's prophetic clock. This is when Christ Jesus, in His role as the Head of the high calling, convenes [calls into session] His Ecclesia(Church) which is His Body.  As the Great Convoker, He, alone, calls His Ecclesia into session. This marks His assumption of sovereignty over the nations. Those who have been memberd into “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” will either be raised out from among the dead, or will be changed from mortal to immortal, and will take their place, or station, in His Government.

For two-thousand years, Christ has silently been building His Ecclesia (Church).  Ever since Acts 28, He has been calling and choosing those who are to be revealed as members of this present body of believers who are to be “called on high.” He is silently calling and building His Ecclesia on the grounds of Present Truth. The religious Christian world is unaware of this. Most Christians believe He is active in building the visible church, and they are unaware that the visible church is the work and contrivance of men.

The Lord is building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, “In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph.2:21-22). The hope of the present calling will be realized when 2 Timothy 4:1 and Titus 2:13 take place.

Most all Bible commentaries squeeze Truth which is related to the Kingdom of God into the Millennium.  To do so, overlooks one of the great dispensations found in all of Scripture; the dispensation of the Kingdom of God. This dispensation is referred to as:

The latter days (Jer.23:20; 30:24; Dan.2:28; 10:14. Hos.3:5).

The last days (Gen.49:1; Isa.2:2; Mic.4:1; Acts 2:17). These must not be confused with the “last days” (2 Tim. 3:1) of this present dispensation.

My Day, as previously pointed out in John 8:56.

The regeneration as found in Matthew 19:28. Regeneration means to generate again. This speaks of the restoration of the earth and mankind to their pristine state as it existed before the Flood.

The times of refreshing; Peter uses this expression in Acts 3:19 to highlight one aspect of the Kingdom of God when it comes. The refreshing times speaks of the “curse” being lifted which is intimately associated with the “manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19) and mankind being delivered from “the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21).

The times of restitution of all things, Peter declares in Acts 3:21, was a subject that all of God’s holy prophets spoke about “since the world began.” Literally, it is the “times of the restoration of all things.” The Lord Jesus Christ mentioned the fact that Elijah truly shall come first and restore all things (Matt. 17:11). This fact makes this restoration to precede the SecondComing of Christ.

Concurrently with the many events taking place when Christ Jesus assumes sovereignty over mankind and the nations, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) will actively and aggressively restrain evil (John 16:7-13). People who sin will die for their own sin (Jer. 31:30). The Spirit will hinder transgressions because man’s conscience will have been quickened (made alive).

The Day of Christ is synonymous with all of the above, including the Kingdom of God, and comes before the tribulation and the second coming (Parousia) of Christ.

During the Day of Christ, heaven and earth will be governed by Christ Jesus from His heavenly Throne. This dispensation is set in contrast to the Millennium or the Day of the Lord.  To say the two are the same is to say that “one-plus-one equals one.”

Most all Christians realize that the Day of the Lord (i.e. the Tribulation and the Millennium) begins with revolution, bloodshed and violence which will be an unprecedented event in all of human history. The Old Testament has a lot to say about this Day—the Day of the LORD. Isaiah speaks about the Lord's imposition upon the world of His Millennial Rule; “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with wrath, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh:  and the slain of the Lord will be many” (Isa. 66:15-16).

Psalm 50:3 says; “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.” Psalm 97:3; “A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about.” These verses relate to Jesus Christ Personallyreturning to earth to put an end to the nations’ revolt against His Rule from heaven (2 Thess. 2:1-12).

When the Kingdom of God comes to Israel, it comes silently, “without observation” (Lu.17:22). It will not come suddenly or dramatically.  Its’ coming is likened; “as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mk. 4:26-28).              

When the Kingdom comes, it comes without calamity with no harm being done to anyone.  Notice a much overlooked passage; “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory” (Matt.12:19-20). Matthew quotes from Isaiah 42:1-4 which informs us that the Kingdom (i.e., God’s Government) begins with the Gentile nations. Israelwill not be a nation at this time. They will still be scattered, or dispersed, among the nations. While ruling over the nations, the Lord begins His work of re-gathering the Jews. Over time, He leads them back to the Promised Land ─as believers. No unbelieving Jew will be brought back to Palestine; no, not one! The unbelieving will remain scattered among the nations. [This brings up the question; ‘What about the Israel that now is?’ All we’ll say for now is; the present Israel is not of God’s doing. When He brings them back, there will be no disputes regarding borders or whose land it is].

“And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezk.20:38).

If words have any meaning, then we must conclude that something begins silently, mysteriously, without observation, without strife, without Christ being heard, and without damage being inflicted.  On the other hand, something else begins (i.e. the Lord’s Day) with a colossal display of vengeance, wrath, and cataclysmic punishment which will be openly displayed.

It is a contradiction to insist that the two descriptions relate to the beginning of the same event. In plainer words, the Prophetic Word informs us that there is coming the Day of Christ which is another term for the coming Kingdom of God.  We are met with a non-Scriptural term, TheMillennium, which relates to the 1000 year reign of Christ upon the earth.  The Biblical term for this is the Day of the Lord.  It is essential to distinguish between the two. The Holy Spirit does. We should do so, also.

If we force all truths connected to the Day of Christ into the Day of the Lord, the result is utter confusion.  Not only that, but we rob the Lord Jesus Christ of His Day of Exaltation.

During the Day of Christ, He will draw, or compel, all men unto Himself.  He will be exalted from the earth as every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.  His Day begins with His “appearing and Kingdom,” and He begins to judge the quick and the dead. (2 Tim.4:1).  This is when the glory of the great God, even Jesus Christ our Savior, blazes forth (Titus 2:13). Isaiah speaks of this event in 40:5; “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” and at the same time.

What is seen is the glory of the LORD, not the LORD descending from Heaven; to this,Numbers 14:21 agrees; “But truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”  When the Kingdom comes, “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters covers the sea” (Hab.2:14). The Psalmist says; “And blessed be His glorious Name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory” (72:19).  The world will experience the revealing of His Glory without Christ Jesus leaving His Heavenly Throne. The shining forth of the glory of God takes place before the Day of the LORD. It is noted in Isaiah's vision that the seraphim see Christ's Day and say; “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Hosts: the earth is full of His glory.”

During the Day of Christ, the “times of refreshing comes from the presence of the LORD.” All things are rejuvenated while the Heavens retain Christ (Acts 3:19-21). The pristine, pre-Noah flood conditions will be re-created (Isa. 65:17; 66:22).​

When the Day of Christ begins, all of mankind will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and realize that Jesus Christ is LORD! Christ will begin His benevolent rule of the world. Then, He will begin converting His ancient people, Israel.  Read Ezekiel 20:23-33, and notice how the Lord begins a work in their hearts and will lead them back into the Holy Land as a Christ-believing people. As the Day of Christ draws to a close, the restraints of the Spirit are gradually withdrawn.

Then, there comes a “falling away” from the enlightenment.  Apostasy will set in which leads to the rise of the man of sin. Satan deceives the world except for the elect.  Nations conspire against the rule of Christ's Government and desire to overthrow His rule (Ps. 2). Because of the revolt,the Lord sends a strong delusion so that most people should believe “the Lie.” The Great Tribulation begins.  The “abomination of desolation” takes place in the re-built Temple. The Lord Jesus returns and destroys the Wicked One with the brightness of His coming, and He condemns all who chose to believe not the truth and had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This ends the Day of Christ, and the Day of the LORD begins. The Great Tribulation ends with the Parousia [the Second Coming] of Christ (1Thess. 4:16).

Satan will be bound and is cast into the bottomless pit. Christ will rule the nations “with a rod of iron;” sitting upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem for 1000 years.

The Lord Jesus Christ rules and governs the world from Heaven during the Day of Christ. But,He rules the world from Jerusalem during the Day of the Lord.

~END~

Tom Ballinger

P.O. Box 1302

Lancaster, TX 75146

PLAINER WORDS

No Subscription Price

We endeavor to put in print and in plainer words Bible Studies which we recommend to students and teachers alike. This is our 44th year of publishing Plainer Words. Plainer Words is emailed to anyone upon their personal request.

Visit our Web Site:

www.Plainerwords.com