Cessationism and Pentecostalism (Introduction)

 

This work is the beginning of a series that I intend to continue until I am satisfied I have said all I know to say. I have touched on this subject before, but I feel a need for a more comprehensive explanation to be offered. Several reasons are setting forth this effort. One is simply a need to put my thoughts down in writing for my own organization.  Another is my family, this has been something that has touched us all personally, so I want to get my thoughts down for them so they can understand the what and why of our religious thought throughout the years. Also, there are still family members as well as dear friends who continue to believe things I consider harmful to both our families and churches in general. I certainly intend to be as gracious and kind as I am able, yet because I do love them dearly, I must be straightforward to avoid any ambiguity. I am posting it here publicly because I am sure we are not the only ones who have been touched by these aberrant teachings that have moved through communities in recent decades. 

I will be presenting my thoughts from my own experiences while relying upon scripture as the basis for my arguments. I intend to appeal to both reason and logic, not so much to win an argument, but more to defend and promote a more true understanding of the Gospel and the Christian life. I believe most all those who believe these aberrant teachings do so in all sincerity with a love toward God. They defend them because they have become convinced it is an accurate understanding of the Gospel, and therefore, great respect and honor are due to them though we may hold the doctrines they believe in disrepute. 

What we are talking about is Pentecostalism and the many forms it has taken throughout the previous century. Whatever branches we may be talking about in this series, most will likely be traced back to California and the so-called revival that began in 1906 at the Azusa Street Mission. There were some small isolated groups holding meetings prior to that event, but generally, most Pentecostals point to Azusa as their roots. Historically speaking, this is relatively a new movement in Christianity. Back up 150 years and Pentecostalism does not exist nor had it existed within the Church for the previous 2000 years. Many Pentecostals refer to the movement as the Apostolic Renewal because it had not existed within the Church since the Apostolic era. 

As we consider these groups we need not question their sincerity nor their love for God; but we must question the doctrines they have embraced and induced into the Christian world as a new way of viewing God and understanding the Gospel. That in itself is no small matter and it should even provoke them to take a serious look at their history. Out of this one mission gathering in 1906 sprung over 800 new and varying belief systems that have brought division and confusion to the Christian world. I understand their zeal, I was one of them, and for over 25 years of my life, I gave time, money, and effort to its promotion. I educated my children in their doctrines and lived my life based upon their beliefs, at least to my particular branch, for their beliefs differ greatly from group to group. 

In its many forms, Pentecostalism is the fastest-growing sect of Christianity today. My first appeal in logic is whether we should accept a belief inserted into Christianity that fundamentally changes the way we view God and understand the Gospel when that belief has only been around 150 years? It is a great question, but it does not go without an answer, for I was told time and time again, "God is doing a new thing!" In my naive state of Christianity that was enough to stop my thinking and continue to confine me within the belief system. There are many forms of deception, methods that are used to stop you from thinking outside a particular range of beliefs or keep you from questioning certain behaviors. How do these things come about? 

Philosopher Neil Van Leeuwen suggests that "Once there is a desire to believe the metaphysical doctrines of the religion, the mind is ripe for self-deception. Self-deception has essentially two components. First, a person forms a belief in violation of his usual standards of evidence and judgment, what philosophers call epistemic norms. Second, a desire for content related to the content of the belief causes the deviation from the healthy belief formation process. Because vilification, fear, and desire bring about the religious credence, while that credence is at odds with usual standards of judgment, the process by which religious beliefs come about is one of self-deception." - Neil Van Leeuwen (adishakti.org)

In our thought processing, factors induced through rhetoric and or emotional experiences produce a desire to believe certain things. When strong enough, it seems we are tempted to override logic or rational thinking in favor of accepting that belief. In most cases, there are multiple factors at work influencing that thought process. "2Ti_3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." "Jas_1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" These scriptures caution us about deception, both from others and our own selves.

Looking back some 35 years now it is difficult for me to recall all that produced Pentecostal beliefs as desirable to my thinking. There was the influence of friends and family, which always play a huge part. The idea also was that there was more to be experienced in my religious faith than I had previously known. A desire to please God and the idea there was more to know and experience worked together to form a working desire in my mind to believe. Once we reach that point, we move from a state of resistance to a state of looking for reasons to believe a certain thing. Once affirmed, we are hooked. When questions do arrive, there are many thought-stopping processes that are able to keep you within the desired parameters. 

The degree of damage that is done through aberrant religious beliefs varies greatly. Some simply leave you in a state of error of a minor sort, if you can accept any error as acceptable. Others can take you so off track that you can find yourself in a cult or a system so unorthodox even one's salvation could be in question. A problem with this is, the one in the cult is no more aware of his state of deception than the one in a minor error. That should emphasize in our mind the importance of examining what it is we believe and why? In our Christian faith, that examination should be conducted through the lens of Scripture and sound Christian doctrine. Sound doctrine is that which has been received and believed throughout the centuries. If someone is teaching you something that has not been taught before in historic Christianity, they are probably not teaching you true Christian doctrine.  

How is it that we get drawn away into these different beliefs, one philosopher supposes, "A belief about reality is not reality itself. Furthermore, a belief is something that results from inferences drawn from the evidence/facts. That means a belief is person-related and is only true to the degree that it properly expresses the way things really are. Evidence/facts are not self-interpreting. Two people can examine the same evidence and draw different inferences from the evidence, leading to differing claims."

In other words, just because I may believe it is true, doesn't make it true. I may have examined the evidence and analyzed the facts, which has convinced me of what I believe. However, the evidence/facts don't interpret themselves, and we may view them for various reasons differently thereby coming to different conclusions which lead to different beliefs. And yes, we do this while looking at the same evidence/facts, all while the actual reality is escaping our understanding. 

One example is the Grand Canyon, an archeologist examining the fact there is a very large Canyon in front of him, if he is educated in the theory of evolution, will interpret the evidence/facts in a way that supports his understanding. 

Another archeologist educated in the Creation model will examine the same evidence/facts and interpret them in a way that supports his understanding. Then they both are engaged in the work of persuading others of their particular beliefs based upon the same evidence/facts using their various interpretations. Their success greatly depends not so much upon the evidence/facts as it does the persuasive qualities they possess. Many cult leaders are able to gain a large following simply by their charismatic personalities. 

The same philosopher suggests, "A belief is something that happens to us as information that we think to be credible exerts some influence on our mental complex, causing us to think in a certain way." All that has to be done for someone to misdirect us is to present the evidence/facts in such a way our minds are deceived into its credibility. How easily that is done depends on many variables within the personage themselves. 

Our philosopher would continue saying, "Belief formation, as indicated by the term ‘formation’, requires something from which a belief arises. This something is information or evidence, something on which or from which to construct a belief. The information can come in different ways. It can come by way of personal experience, through the senses, by rational thought process or by any combination of these." That explanation is certainly oversimplifying the complicated processes of our mind and the way we form our ideas. If the desire already exists for the belief, very little evidence/facts need to be presented before a belief is securely formed. However, it serves as an example as to why we are cautioned in scripture constantly to not be deceived. Next time we may look at some of the ideas that are presented in these groups and how persuasive they can be on our minds.   

David

"Space, Time, God and the Universe"

 

Some friends were texting each other one day, Greg was making his way back home from a long trip. Gene had cautioned him to be careful, as most accidents happen within 5 miles of home. To which Greg replied with something like this, "Good thing I had God as a copilot". Gene, not being a believer, jokingly replied, "I want pictures of your copilot." Then I got involved and replied, "If you could take a picture, he wouldn't be God!" As the friendly conversation proceeded, needless to say, various questions arose. I got to thinking about that conversation later and thought it might make a good blog subject, so why can't you take a picture of God? Before we get into what we can't comprehend, let's talk about a few things we do know a little about. 

As a Trekkie and a faithful fan of Star Trek from the original series as a child, I enjoy learning about the universe. Any good Trekkie is familiar with the Scientific term Space-Time or the fabric of space. We may not know what it is, but we like it when Captain Kirk or Spock talk about it. 

A working definition would be something like, "The fabric of space-time is a conceptual model combining the three dimensions of space with the fourth dimension of time. According to the best of current physical theories, space-time explains the unusual relativistic effects that arise from traveling near the speed of light as well as the motion of massive objects in the universe." - livescience.com  Hermann Minkowski, stated in 1908 "Henceforth space by itself, and time by itself, are doomed to fade away into mere shadows, and only a kind of union of the two will preserve an independent reality." I don't understand all the ramifications of that statement, If I were to postulate, if one has space, he must have time, which would be necessary to travel from one place to another. I suppose if you had time and no space, time would be irrelevant, it couldn't move. I suspect a non-believer would conclude it has something to do with a Big Bang, which seems to be to most current accepted understanding. However, my mind goes to Genesis 1:3 which I see as a possible beginning of space-time, for the Sun was not created until the 4th day.  

Genesis 1:3 ESV

(3)  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:5 ESV

(5)  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

I said, in the beginning, we would talk about what we knew a little about first, and it is very little compared to the vast mystery of space and time. Most people today talk about it as a rubber-like fabric,  but it remains difficult for most people to wrap their heads around. Although we can discuss space-time as being similar to a sheet of rubber, the analogy eventually breaks down. A rubber sheet is two-dimensional, while space-time is four-dimensional. It's not just warps in space that the sheet represents, but also warps in time. The complex equations used to account for all of this are tricky for even physicists to work with. As you can see, it gets really deep really quick, it's the same for the theologian when he is contemplating the nature of God, it gets really tricky very quickly. Nevertheless, man finds himself intrigued, and as the Athiest must try and wrap his mind around the understanding of the universe, the Christian tries to do the same with God.

The questions that arise from both contemplations are somewhat similar. If space-time is a fabric, where did it come from? For we are almost certain it had a beginning, if so, what was there before it existed? What could possibly be where there is no space or time? One might say nothing, but for goodness' sake, what's that? For that matter, (matter being a pun) what is outside of space-time?  One  Professor of physics, Ali Abdulla stated, "Nobody knows!! We are still trying to understand what is within space-time. All we are observing in this gigantic universe is only 5%, the illuminated part, and 24% is dark matter, and its structure is not well known, but it is recognized by the due suggested effect on the galaxies. 71% is dark energy, also because the accelerated expansion of the universe was proposed in 1998, we are still involved within space-time. The out-of-space-time in my own opinion is the eternal creator of the universe, which is too difficult for some cosmologists to understand."

Well, what about that picture of God? I must admit, the pictures of the universe, though not really pictures of the universe, just only what is visible to us, at least present a consistent view of reality. Pictures of God are nothing more than mere imaginations of the mind, and they vary with the proportion of those imaginations. They range from angry old men or a kind sweet Jesus to strange ladies with snakes or multiple arms. Man's view or understanding of God if he is religious takes on many forms and is presented in some of the most strange images. Most presentations of God abandon all concepts of logic, however, the descriptions of the God of the Bible actually invite you to apply logic by the mere nature by which God describes himself. 

Though there are in many churches various paintings of Jesus, I would not support the practice. The scripture in Leviticus 26:1 ESV seems it would forbid it stating, “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God" I know surely no one in our Christian churches is bowing down to their paintings of Jesus, but it just seems to me something we would do well to leave alone. One reason for this seems to stem from the fact the God of the Bible has no form, therefore, any representations of him would logically be false. Deuteronomy 4:15-18 ESV “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth." It is interesting in the movie "The Rob" the actor who portrayed Jesus in the movie was never allowed to show his face as a result of these warnings. 

There is no form to represent because God is spirit, John 4:24 ESV "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  Theologians speak of God as a simple being. An explanation of that distinction would require more space than we have here in this blog post. Hopefully, not to oversimplify, basically, it is stating God has no parts. He is pure Being, pure Spirit. He is spoken of anthropomorphically in scripture. That is, he is assigned human features as descriptive images to aid in explaining His acts and works. For example,  Proverbs 15:3 ESV states, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." He is also spoken of as having arms and hands, but He has none of these features, for He is Spirit. He is incorporeal, having no material body or form. Spirit has no form, no density, and no measurement, therefore, God is seen as being everywhere at once.  Jeremiah 23:24 ESV (24)  "Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD." Of His essence, His being is his seeing. 

Yet, He is still so much more, for He is not only present everywhere, He is present in time; past, present, and future, observing all in a single thought. Time has no construct upon Him, for He exists outside of time. Isaiah 57:15 KJV (15)  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. It would logically follow if time and space had a beginning, and God inhabits eternity, he is outside of all that exists as well as everywhere in all that exists, all time and all space.

When the Bible speaks of God's eternity, it speaks of Him as the only eternal being, He alone is eternal. Some suggest the universe is perhaps eternal, meaning it has always been and always will be. However, that is not how the Bible speaks of God's eternality. MALACHI 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Another attribute of God that theologians speak of is Immutability. His Immutability is directly tied to His Eternality.  Everything in the universe is in flux, it is changing as time itself changes. Nothing remains the same. So logically speaking, nothing is eternal, even though it should exist forever, as it changes it becomes something else other than what it was before. Even time, if it had no beginning, and were to continue as to have no end, would not be eternal. Yesterday is not today, and tomorrow is another time. Yesterday is gone, today is leaving, tomorrow is yet to come and all will pass into another time. Eternity is an ever-present immutable existence. Even the saints and angels in heaven do not possess eternality, for they all had a beginning and their existence depends upon another.  God alone is eternal, he cannot go anywhere, for there is no place he is not. He cannot learn something he does not know, for he knows all that can be known. If He were to learn something He did not know, that in itself would be a change and He would not be eternal, and if He is not eternal, then He is not the God of the Bible, for he cannot change in his eternity. I would suggest God is not a copilot, He alone is pilot!

I hope you enjoyed the read,

David 

"Aberrant Theology"

 

Aberrant

adjective

Deviating from what is considered proper or normal.

Deviating from what is typical for a specified thing.

Wandering; straying from the right way

There is much work being done today in the Christian Church to expose the heretical teaching of our time. Much of this confusion can be traced to some aberrant theology that found its way into a congregation and began the trek off the orthodox path and out into the unknown. It is genuinely subtle in the beginning and produces a gradual move from orthodoxy, but if not detected and addressed, the result will ultimately be a state of confusion or heresy. Aberrant theology does not necessarily make one a heretic, but it can lead a sincere Christian into error and disillusionment. 

I have found and been guilty of it myself, that in the west we have a tendency to be lazy Christians. America is a wonderful place of freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility. Responsibility is not something we are necessarily good at, and its neglect many times finds us in trouble. 

We like promise box Christianity, hey, I've had several myself. I loved pulling out that promise for the day and reading with the assurance of God's blessing. It was Christian life here in the United States. Life was good, provisions were plentiful, our homes were comfortable and our lives busy. Lest we misunderstand that statement, it is to be salted with the fact we have all had difficulties, sicknesses, and the effects of sin upon our lives even living here. But all must admit, a great opportunity was before us, and very many of us have had a life very well lived here. It is those blessings and comforts I fear that have put many of us to sleep in our Christianity.

We depended on our promise boxes during the week and our Pastors and Sunday School teachers on Sunday to sustain our spiritual life. However, the promise boxes promised soft promises and our Pastors and teachers gave us moral lessons and self-help. This in turn left us unprepared for unsound and even aberrant teaching when it arrived and arrived it did. We trusted it as we did our promise boxes and our Pastors and teachers, we knew not how to study the Scriptures for ourselves or the work required in defending the truth. The result today is a Christian Church in America that is weak in spiritual fortitude and full of self and personal ambition. We are not ready for the reality of life in a fallen world.

There are many examples to cite, too many for a short blog post, so I will point out only one. This is one that found its way into my understanding many years ago. It came with a train of other aberrant teachings, for when the train comes in, it brings all the cars with it. It was presented in the form of scripture, it was a promise from God, spoken in the words of Jesus. Let's take a look.

Mark 11:23-24 ESV

(23)  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

(24)  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

That is indeed a wonderful passage of scripture, but how are we to understand it? The aberrant teaching that found its way into my life came in the form of the Word of Faith teaching that is so prevalent today. It finds acceptance among Christians by way of our desire to be healthy and live comfortably in our world. It has taken on the form of the God-given American dream we have come to believe God desires for us all. That is not to make light of all our blessings in America, but the American way of life has provided an open door for a distorted view of life in a fallen world. We were all too ready to believe whatever we asked, would bring health and comfort into our lives, if we would only believe, it would be ours! It was the American dream and God had promised it!

The practice took root and our churches and they began to fill with testimonies of God's truth, ministries published wonderful testimonies of healing and prosperity miracles in their reports. The reality was, everyone who believed did not receive. Adding to their disillusionment, they were told it was because they did not believe, if they just had enough faith God would have given them their request. They were left to conjure up their faith somehow, or believe they somehow had displeased God and he was withholding his promise. Some have abandoned the faith altogether. A large portion of the Church today has lost sight of the Gospel and the wonder of Salvation, they are bogged down in the weight of their disappointments or distracted by the achievement of their successes. The actual Gospel has little effect on their lives. That is a major departure from the Christian faith, very destructive to the Christian Church, and it all stems from the aberrant teaching of two wonderful verses in the book of Mark. 

What about the verses in Mark 11? They simply must be understood correctly, which is achieved by applying some Bible Hermeneutics. It is something the Church at large simply has not been taught. Even when we read our bibles we have never been taught how to read our bibles. Someone can tell us some aberrant teaching based upon the fact it is in the Bible, and any good Christian will believe it. That is what Christians do, believe the Bible. 

I asked a missionary one time that we were supporting if he had a creed or statement of faith he held to. He replied somewhat offended saying the only creed he had was the Bible. The problem was, I didn't know what he believed the Bible actually taught. We eventually stopped supporting him, we could not define what he actually believed, thus what we were supporting. It is a necessity we know somewhat how to read our Bibles. 

One helpful hermeneutic to apply to our study is that scripture is to interpret scripture. Does Mark 11:23-24 say what it appears to say? Let's look at what scripture as a whole has to say. 

James 4:3 ESV

(3)  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

We just read in Mark whatever we ask if we will just believe we will receive, it will be ours. Here in James, we find we ask and don't receive, because we want to spend it on our passions. So we immediately discover some qualifications are in place. 

1 John 5:14-15 ESV

(14)  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

(15)  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Now we discover that when we ask as Mark indicates, John tells us it must be according to his will. So Mark must be read with the understanding whatsoever we ask (according to his will) believing we shall have. You might be told, it is always God's will to heal you, however, that is a statement no scripture ever makes. 

Another good hermeneutic to use is to look for the practice in scripture. Do we find anyone in scripture praying in the way we are told Mark prescribes? Of course, a little reading reveals the practice is found nowhere in scripture. When we find the Church praying we find quite the contrary. 

1 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV

(10)  as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

The word Paul uses for "pray" (δέομαι) means to beg (as binding oneself), that is, petition: - beseech, pray (to), make a request. Clearly, Paul is humbly requesting God to grant his petition leaving the determining factor upon God's will and purpose. 

Paul in Thessalonians was praying most earnestly night and day to be able to see them, yet it was a request based upon a desire in hope that God would be pleased to grant. Paul did not say "I am believing I have received my request", no, like all our prayers, we appeal to the great kindness of our father who is well pleased to care for us. 

1 Timothy 5:23 ESV

(23)  (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

When instructing Timothy concerning health issues relating to his stomach, Paul did not tell him it was always God's will for him to be in health. He did not instruct him to just believe he received his healing, and if he would hold on to his faith his healing would be his. With just two simple tools of interpretation, we can correctly understand Mark 11:23-24. Without the knowledge of those tools, the false teachers have come in and led a multitude of people away. Let us not only read our Bibles but learn how to read them so that we might know what to believe and not be drawn away by every wind of doctrine.

I hope this was helpful,

David

Textual eschatology "Matthew 24" Part III

 

As we begin a look at the Gospels to further our understanding of the end times, I want to start with Matthew Chapter 24 because it is considered probably the most comprehensive discourse given by Christ concerning the end times. However, because of the various views and interpretations that have been placed upon it, we must be very careful. For this reason, we will spend a considerable amount of time and space looking through the Chapter. We will move very slowly, a small block of scripture at a time as we examine it, trying our best not to go beyond what the text itself is actually saying. That being said, let us begin.

Matthew 24:1-2 ESV

(1)  Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

(2)  But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple on this day, it appears the disciples for some reason had become awe-struck by the magnificence of the Temple grounds. Mark and Luke's accounts convey the same thoughts. The great accomplishments of men and what they have erected do indeed strike a sense of awe in us sometimes, and this was one of those days. Jesus in his reply reminds them how quickly these great works of men can be brought to nothing. This brings curiosity into the minds of the disciples as to when these things will be. To more fully understand their question, let's look at all three Gospels.

Matthew 24:3 ESV

(3)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Mark 13:3-4 ESV

(3)  And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

(4)  “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Luke 21:7

(7)  And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

Here we need to remind ourselves our purpose is to look only at what is in the text and how they might have understood it, and not to place our own understanding from our current day perspective upon the text. Looking only at Matthew, we are tempted in our minds to go to the end of the world and the second coming. But that is not what the disciples asked, they would have had no concept of that reality as we have today. Looking at Mark and Luke we can better understand the question, when will the temple be destroyed, what will be the sign of its destruction, the end of the current age, and the beginning of the Messiah's earthly rule? In the minds of the disciples, a time in which the Temple would not exist would consititute the end of an age. There is simply nothing more to be seen in the text other than their question. Jesus answers their curiosity in great detail, yet not as they seem to expect, for he cautions them about such curiosity and being led away by false teachers taking advantage of those overly occupied in such things.

Matthew 24:4-5 ESV

(4)  And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.

(5)  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

In verse 5 we have the first sign Christ points his disciples to that will be indicative of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Many will come claiming to be the Messiah which was commonly expected and much talked about during this time period in their history. They were looking for one to arise and deliver them from the Roman yoke. Indeed, the disciples did see such claiming to be the Messiah before the destruction they were inquiring about. 

One was Theudas in the time of Claudius Caesar when Cuspius Fadus was governor of Judea. He persuaded a great number to follow him to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide, by a word of command, and give them a passage over; and thereby, as the historian observes, "he deceived many"; which is the very thing that is here predicted. But he and his company were routed by Fadus, and his head was cut off.

Another called the Egyptian, mentioned in Act 21:38 made an uproar, and led four thousand cut-throats into the wilderness; one historian states this same man persuaded thirty thousand men to follow him to Mount Olivet, promising a free passage into the city; but he being vanquished by Felix, then governor of Judea; fled, and many of his followers were killed and taken. One Dositheus the Samaritan, asserted himself to be Christ [Messiah]; and also one called Menander affirmed, that no man could be saved unless he was baptized in his name; these are instances all before the destruction of Jerusalem. 

 Matthew 24:6-8 ESV

(6)  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

(7)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

(8)  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Mark and Luke speak the same, this was the second sign Jesus gave to his disciples concerning the coming destruction. The disciples would witness various commotions, insurrections, and seditions, against the Romans, and their governors; and the intestine slaughters committed among them before the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Under Cureanus the Roman governor, sedition was raised on the day of the Passover, in which twenty thousand perished; after that, in another tumult, ten thousand were destroyed by cut-throats: in Ascalon two thousand more, in Ptolemais two thousand, at Alexandria fifty thousand, at Damascus ten thousand, and elsewhere in great numbers. 

Various famines were witnessed by the disciples before Jerusalem's destruction, one of these famines was in Claudius Caesar's time foretold by Agabus, mentioned in Act 11:28 the most dreadful ones there were, while Jerusalem was besieged, and before its utter ruin, related by Josephus.

Earthquakes were experienced at Crete, in cities in Asia, and in the times of Nero; particularly the three cities of Phrygia, Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colosse; which were near to each other, and are all said to perish this way, in his reign; and Rome itself felt a tremor, in the reign of Galba.

Matthew 24:8-9 ESV

(8)  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

(9)  “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

The disciples did indeed experience these things before the destruction.

 Matthew 24:10-14 ESV

(10)  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

(11)  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

(12)  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

(13)  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

(14)  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

From our perspective, our minds are tempted to go to the end of the world, but that is not what the disciples heard or what Jesus said to them. The Gospel was indeed preached to the whole known world before the destruction of the Jewish Temple. 

Colossians 1:5-6 ESV

(5)  because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

(6)  which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,

The end of the Jewish state, the end of the city and temple was to follow this universal preaching of the Gospel all over the world, it was the last criterion and sign, of the destruction of Jerusalem. I have presented these fulfillments to help us refrain from taking our minds away from what the disciples heard and understood that day, and our temptation to place other interpretations upon it. That is not to say, that in God's Sovereign Providence, all these events do not mirror Christ's second coming and the end of the world, they most certainly do. And they very well agree with world conditions and events presented by our earlier study in the epistles. However, we must not push them further than the text allows them to go. Jesus now moves on to the actual destruction of the city and Temple itself and the cause.

Matthew 24:15 ESV (15) 

 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

This abomination of desolation has taken on various interpretations, so for our focus here, Luke's account is helpful. 

Luke 21:20 ESV

(20)  But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

We have here a connection made by Jesus to Daniel, the most likely reading being referenced is Daniel 9:27. We will look at it in the ISV version, the ESV uses wings (כָּנָף) and the KJV uses overspreading (כָּנָף) as the cause, and the ISV seems to be more clear and in agreement with Luke when it renders the abomination of desolation as a destructive people. (כָּנָף)

Daniel 9:27 ISV

(27)  He will make a binding covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he will pause both the sacrifice and grain offerings. Destructive people will cause desolation on the pinnacle until it is complete and what has been decreed is poured out on the desolator.'"

The Roman armies were desolating ones to the Jews, and to whom they were an abomination; not only because they consisted of Heathen men and uncircumcised persons, but chiefly because of the images of their gods, which were upon their ensign the eagle. This seems to be most likely the pondering that would have been set upon disciple's minds as they heard about armies surrounding Jerusalem.  

 Matthew 24:16-20 ESV

(16)  then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

(17)  Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,

(18)  and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

(19)  And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!

(20)  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

The instructions here given by Christ were indeed followed by the disciples, Josephus in his writings takes notice with surprise, that Cestius Gallus having advanced with his army to Jerusalem, and besieged it, suddenly, without any cause, raised the siege, and withdrew his army when the city might have been easily taken. By which means a signal was made and an opportunity given to the Christians, to make their escape: which they accordingly did, and went over Jordan, as Eusebius says, to a place called Pella; so that when Titus came a few months after, there was not a Christian in the city, but they had fled as they are here told. The phrases concerning housetops and turning back to take his clothes all reference Jewish customs of the times. The statements concerning the women who were pregnant were a direction for prayer, concerning the timing of these events as all providences are in God's rule and command.

Matthew 24:21-28 ESV

(21)  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

(22)  And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

(23)  Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

(24)  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

(25)  See, I have told you beforehand.

(26)  So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

(27)  For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

(28)  Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

Mark's account is very similar, however, Luke's is phrased slightly differently.

Luke 21:23-24 ESV

(23)  For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.

(24)  They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Jesus is here describing the terrible conditions experienced in the fall of Jerusalem and its destruction. The historian Josephus's account will fully convince of this who was an eyewitness of it, when he says, "Never did any city suffer such things, nor was there ever any generation that more abounded in malice or wickedness.'' 

In verse 27 Jesus emphasizes how quickly its destruction would come, supporting his warnings in verses 16-20 to flee quickly. Verse 28 sounds a little strange to us, it has been interpreted several ways. Mark and Luke do not use the phrase, the KJV uses Eagles to translate (ἀετός) whereas the ESV chooses Vultures (ἀετός). It is interesting to note the ensign of the Roman Empire was an Eagle, this may have been upon the minds of the disciples as Jesus spoke. 

Matthew 24:29-31 ESV

(29)  “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

(30)  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(31)  And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Here we feel the greatest temptation yet in our minds to go to the second coming and the end of the world. But be patient with me here and remember our purpose, only what is in the text. It very well may be that Jesus jumps into a dialogue with his disciples speaking about his second coming.. If you want to read it that way, I see no problem presented. Just be aware, that nothing in the text indicates that any transaction has occurred. Jesus does not tell his disciples when he transitions into speaking of things far in the future, nor does any Apostolic writer point to any of these verses as meaning such. In context, Jesus is still speaking in response to their question concerning the destruction of the Temple. The symbolism Jesus uses in these verses of the Sun, the Moon, and the stares were not completely foreign to the disciples. We read in Genesis 37 concerning Joseph's dream:

Genesis 37:9 ESV

(9)  Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

The church began with the children of Israel, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars. His reference to the tribes of the earth seeing his coming on the clouds of heaven could be symbolic of his coming as the Jewish Messiah. This or any other conclusion is a human assumption and interpretation, all of which are fallible. Such human interpretation has given rise to much controversy. When the scriptures themselves do not clearly define our interpretation, a door of opportunity is opened for opposing views concerning the text. That is not to say we should not make those interpretations, we should just remain aware that is what they are, human conjectures. So for our purpose, we will remain in the context of Jesus still speaking about the destruction of the Temple and the disciples understanding his explanations. Matthew 24 is all in agreement with what has been described concerning the end-time events we have discovered so far in the epistles. That is true if you hold to a 70 AD fulfillment or want to allow Jesus to give prophetic instruction far into the future in the end time.

Conclusion: 

However you choose to read the Matthew 24 text, we still have the end-time event that will catch the world unprepared, they will be scoffing at the event itself and continue their everyday lives as usual. This coming will come upon them suddenly, and they will face judgment as the old world burns and melts away. Many will be caught up in a false system of worship, however, the true believers will not be caught unprepared, they will be looking for Christ's coming, at which those who have passed on will come with him, and those who are still alive are changed in a moment, a twinkling of an eye. This change ushers them and the resurrected dead into a new creation where they will forever be with the Lord with the wicked being cast into everlasting destruction. Less we become confused as to when this day occurs, we are assured it will not come until we see the powers of the world turn against the Gospel seemly led by a man of lawlessness. This man will be a religious man with a charismatic personality promoting himself as the answer to the world's problems. He will take his seat so to speak in what Paul calls or appears to be a "temple of God" and assumes all authority as though he were God himself. Then the day we are longing for will appear and this man along with his rule and authority and those who look to him will be destroyed and Christ will be glorified in his Church, the true "temple" and we shall be with him forevermore in a new heaven and new earth. Therefore we should comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

I do not present this very brief view of the end times as a replacement for the extensive schemes that have been offered which include all the symbolism in the Old Testament Prophecies and Revelations. However, I would caution against holding any of those views which would fundamentally alter the concise view that is presented in the Gospels and general epistles. I simply present this concise New Testament view for those like myself who want to have a sufficient understanding of the end times, yet without being compelled to spend the rest of our lives trying to understand the shadows of symbolism. I do not exaggerate that statement, men in the past have devoted their entire lives to that study only to pass and have their interpretation surpassed by another. The schemes of theology surrounding the end times are vast and complicated with divisions even among their own groups. The great mysteries of God revealed in the scriptures are beyond the capacity of men, even those with great minds. Only that which is revealed through Apostolic authority or Apostolic interpretation can we receive as infallible. The work of the men who have developed those large works of theology on the end time events is greatly appreciated, but they are received for what they are, the work of men.

This simple presentation of the end-time events is not intended to hinder your study of Old Testament Prophecy or perusing the book of Revelation. All of scripture is given to us to search out the mysteries of God. However, it is presented in the hope that you will be relieved from the weight of believing you must search out the mysteries of times and events as they are shadowed beneath symbolism and dark prophetic utterances to have a sufficient and adequate understanding of those events. Many great minds have attempted to plum the depths and reveal its secrets, but none have succeeded. Many interesting things have been presented, much to contemplate and busy the mind. But no fuller understanding has been brought forth which has not been challenged by another interpretation. However, the simple view God has given us in the New Testament epistles through Apostolic authority remains without challenge and sufficient for his people.     

This simple view concerning Christ's second coming has been believed and confessed by the Saints throughout Church history. I suggest it is still sufficient for our understanding today.  Here are the views presented by the church throughout history.

Apostles Creed: (4th Century) "Christ . . . sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and dead."

Nicene Creed: (381 AD) "And Christ shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end.

Athanasian Creed: (6th Century) "He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; at whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire."

Augsburg Confession (1530 AD) " . . . at the Consummation of the World Christ will appear for judgment, and will raise up all the dead; He will give to the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, but ungodly men and the devils He will condemn to be tormented without end."

Belgic Confession (1561 AD) "Finally, we believe, according to God's Word, that when the time appointed by the Lord is come (which is unknown to all creatures) and the number of the elect is complete, our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, bodily and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty, to declare himself the judge of the living and the dead. He will burn this old world in fire and flame in order to cleanse it. 

Then all human creatures will appear in person before the great Judge, men, women, and children, who have lived from the beginning until the end of the world. They will be summoned there by the voice of the archangel and by the sound of the divine trumpet. 

For all those who died before that time will be raised from the earth, their spirits being joined and united with their own bodies in which they lived. And as for those who are still alive, they will not die like the others, but will be changed in the twinkling of an eye from corruptible to incorruptible.

Then the books (that is, the consciences) will be opened, and the dead will be judged according to the things they did in the world, whether good or evil. Indeed, all people will give an account of all the idle words they have spoken, which the world regards as only playing games. And then the secrets and hypocrisies of men will be publicly uncovered in the sight of all.

Therefore, with good reason, the thought of this judgment is horrible and dreadful to wicked and evil people. But it is very pleasant and a great comfort to the righteous and elect, since their total redemption will then be accomplished. They will then receive the fruits of their labor and of the trouble they have suffered; their innocence will be openly recognized by all; and they will see the terrible vengeance that God will bring on the evil ones who tyrannized, oppressed, and tormented them in this world.

The evil ones will be convicted by the witness of their own conscience and shall be made immortal, but only to be tormented in the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

In contrast, the faithful and elect will be crowned with glory and honor. The Son of God will confess their names before God his Father and the holy and elect angels; all tears will be wiped from their eyes; and their cause, at present condemned as heretical and evil by many judges and civil officers, will be acknowledged as the cause of the Son of God. 

And as a gracious reward, the Lord will make them possess a glory such as the heart of man could never imagine. So we look forward to that great day with longing in order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord."

Westminister Confession of Faith (1647)

London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)  "God has appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. 

The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who do not know God, and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

 As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen."

Methodist Articles of Religion (1784) "Article 3: Of the Resurrection of Crist" Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he returns to judge all men at the Last Day."

New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833) "We believe that the end of the World is approaching; that at the Last Day Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final (reward and) retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness."

Baptist Faith and Message (1963) "God, in His own time and his own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in heaven with the Lord."   

David

 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ESV

(1)  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

(2)  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

(3)  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

(4)  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

(5)  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

(6)  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

(7)  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

(8)  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Textual Eschatology "Peter, James, & John" Part II

Previously, we looked at Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians concerning the end times. In this address, we want to look at another block of Scriptures written by the Apostles Peter, James, and John, and a section of Hebrews along with a few others. Our examination will primarily be to determine if Peter and the others are speaking of the same event and if so are they in agreement with Paul. Our text will be as follows: 

2 Peter 3:1-13 ESV

(1)  This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

(2)  that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,

(3)  knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

(4)  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

(5)  For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

(6)  and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

(7)  But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

(8)  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

(10)  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

(11)  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

(12)  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

(13)  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

Very quickly by verse 2, Peter brings to their remembrance the words of the prophets and those of the Lord as delivered through the apostles, placing them all on equal authority. He then moves into a description of society in general as the world approaches the last day. In verse 4 we find our answer, our discourse is concerned with events sounding the "coming" (παρουσία) of the Lord. This is the same word Paul used speaking of the same event.

 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ESV

(15)  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming (παρουσία) of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

In verses 5 and 6, Peter makes reference to the flood and God's judgment upon the world as a comparison for the coming event he is fixing to describe. In verse 10 Peter begins to move into his description of that day. He says that day will come as a "thief" (κλέπτης). This is in agreement with Paul in his instruction to the Thessalonians.

 1 Thessalonians 5:2 ESV

(2)  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief (κλέπτης) in the night.

Verse 10 goes on the explain this event will be accompanied by a great noise, which is also consistent with Paul's instructions.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV

(16)  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Peter then describes the heavens and earth being dissolved and their works exposed. This is also in agreement with Paul's instruction concerning sudden destruction and works being judged. 

 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ESV

(5)  This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—

(6)  since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

(7)  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

(8)  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

(9)  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

(10)  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

In verses 11,12, and 13 Peter describes the state of God's people during this time and how that impact should be reflected in our lives. He speaks of how we should be looking forward to that day, as it will usher in a time of new creation and righteousness. This is also conducive to Paul and his instruction to let these things be a constant encouragement among us, for we will be with the Lord forevermore. 

 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ESV

(16)  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

(17)  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

(18)  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Peter makes allusions to the coming of Christ in his 1st letter, let's see how those comments fit into our discourse.

1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

(6)  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

(7)  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation (ἀποκάλυψις) of Jesus Christ.

Here, Peter is addressing the fact the believers are in various trials of their faith, even severe persecution, but that they can use that occasion to rejoice, much like Paul's previous statement of encouraging themselves with those words. He points out that these tests and trials they are facing will bring praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The King James translators chose the word "appearing" instead of revelation. Both convey the meaning, but the King James rendering probably brings out the most clarity. It is the same word Paul uses in his letter to the Thessalonians. (ἀποκάλυψις)

2 Thessalonians 1:7 ESV

(7)  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed (ἀποκάλυψις) from heaven with his mighty angels

Peter seems to be saying the same thing as Paul, the troubles and trials we face in this life will be relieved and rewarded when Christ comes with his mighty angels to judge the world. They both seem to be pointing to one grand climatic event consummating in Christ's return.  As Peter continues his discourse in his first letter, he broadens this idea in more detail.

1 Peter 4:7-19 ESV

(7)  The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

(8)  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

(9)  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

(10)  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

(11)  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(12)  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

(13)  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (ἀποκάλυψις)

(14)  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

(15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

(16)  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

(17)  For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

(18)  And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

(19)  Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Peter's discourse supports Paul's assessment of the nature of the body of Christ as we are nearing that day in Thessalonians and the nature of the world and the judgment it will bring in Romans 2.

Romans 2:5-11 ESV

(5)  But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

(6)  He will render to each one according to his works:

(7)  to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

(8)  but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

(9)  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

(10)  but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

(11)  For God shows no partiality.

In Romans, Paul is again speaking of that day, in which he reveals God's judgment upon all who have stored up wrath with their impenitent hearts and mentions those who through patience in well doing will be rewarded on that day with eternal life. Paul speaking to the Corinthians concerning the resurrection supports Peter's assessment of the end times. Speaking of Christ coming (παρουσία) we see those in Christ receiving their glorified state and then comes the end of the age with God destroying every rule and authority with a new kingdom being delivered up to God.  

1 Corinthians 15:22-24 ESV

(22)  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

(23)  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming (παρουσία) those who belong to Christ.

(24)  Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

Paul would continue in the Corinthian discourse and speak again concerning believers who were still alive on that day. 

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 ESV

(50)  I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

(51)  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(52)  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

(53)  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

(54)  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

It is clear that Paul and Peter agree and support each other in their view of the end-time events, but what about the other writers of the New Testament? We find the writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 makes reference to events coming at the end of the age. He speaks of a day when one kingdom will be removed and another kingdom will remain. 

Hebrews 12:26-29 ESV

(26)  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

(27)  This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

(28)  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

(29)  for our God is a consuming fire.

The phrase, "Yet once more" implies only one more event to come. This seems to support the writer's beginning discourse where he states:

Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

(1)  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

(2)  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Here the writer seems to solidify the idea that these are the "last days," and this is the last age before the consummation.

James in his address in chapter 5 makes a reference to the coming of Christ. His statements affirm Peter and Paul's assessment of approaching judgment for some and the reward of mercy upon those who through patience remained steadfast on that day. 

James 5:7-12 ESV

(7)  Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming (παρουσία) of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

(8)  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming (παρουσία) of the Lord is at hand.

(9)  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

(10)  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

(11)  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

(12)  But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

The apostle John makes a couple of references in 1st John that will also lend support to Paul, Peter, and James. In chapter 2 verse 28, John uses the word "appears" (φανερόω) in connection with his coming (παρουσία). This identifies that when he again uses the term appear later in the letter he is still talking about the day of his coming. Both statements suggest that at Christ's coming on that day, two groups of people will exhibit shame and confidence. He also suggests a change in the believers which will occur on that day. 

1 John 2:28 ESV

(28)  And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears (φανερόω) we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

1 John 3:2 ESV

(2)  Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears (φανερόω) we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Last, we can observe a few things Jude says about that day in his letter warning about false teachers. In verse 17 he reminds them to remember things the apostles had said, so we will do exactly that as we consider these verses. In verse 18 he supports Peter concerning scoffers, so we can understand they are speaking of the same people and the condition of society approaching the last day. Then in verses 24 and 25, we see a people that are kept and presented blameless before the presence of his glory, which would be conducive to his coming and his people experiencing great joy. All of this supports the idea of a people looking to and hasting the coming of the Lord, a people that is not caught unprepared and unaware.

Jude 1:1-25 ESV

(1)  Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

(2)  May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

(3)  Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

(4)  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

(5)  Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

(6)  And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day

(7)  just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

(8)  Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

(9)  But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

(10)  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

(11)  Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.

(12)  These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;

(13)  wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

(14)  It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,

(15)  to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

(16)  These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

(17)  But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(18)  They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

(19)  It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

(20)  But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

(21)  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

(22)  And have mercy on those who doubt;

(23)  save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

(24)  Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

(25)  to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

This whole discourse of Jude reminds me of the condition of society Paul refers to which issues in the man of sin. It is just conjectured on my part here, but the Church falling away and a false system of worship arising are easily conceived being a reality in these verses. As the false teachers gather themselves a large following, one would expect someone from among them to arise and take a seat of authority. That seat of authority could be what Paul is talking about when he says the man of sin will sit in the temple of God (the false system of worship) and proclaim himself to be God. 

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 ESV

(3)  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

(4)  who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

The New Testament text has shown us that this event will catch many unprepared, they will be scoffing the event itself and continue their everyday lives as usual. This coming will come upon them suddenly, and they will face judgment as the old world burns and melts away. Many will be caught up in a false system of worship, however, the true believers who have passed on are reunited with their bodies, and those who are still alive are changed. This change ushers them all into a new creation where they will forever be with the Lord. Less we become confused as to when this day occurs, we are assured it will not come until we see the powers of the world turn against the Gospel seemly led by a man of lawlessness. This man will be a religious man with a charismatic personality promoting himself as the answer to the world's problems. He will take his seat so to speak in what Paul calls a "temple of God" and assumes all authority as though he were God himself. Then the day we are longing for will appear and this man along with his rule and authority and those who look to him will be destroyed and Christ will be glorified in his Church and we shall be with him forevermore in a new heaven and new earth. Therefore we should comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Next week, we will examine the Matthew 24 account of the end times using the same textual eschatological approach to see if it is consistent with what we have discovered in the epistles.

David

 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ESV

(1)  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

(2)  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

(3)  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

(4)  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

(5)  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

(6)  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

(7)  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

(8)  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.