1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Some say that the "last trumpet" here refers to the last trumpet of the seven trumpets mentioned in the book of Revelation. That would place the Church in the Tribulation Period. Other portions of Scriptures, however, when considered, are clear on the fact that the Church will not go through the Tribulation Period.
I believe that the "last trumpet" mentioned here refers to the marching-away trumpet so commonly known in the 1st century among Roman soldiers. There were three trumpet calls for Roman soldiers.
The first trumpet was a call for them to rise and stand on their feet. The second trumpet was a call for them to fall in line. While the third and last trumpet was a call for them to march away.
1 Corinthians 15:52 is closely connected to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, the famous Rapture passage of the Bible.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The last trumpet of 1 Cor. 15:52 is the trumpet of God in 1 Thes. 4:16. At the Rapture, our Commander will order the trumpet call to be made which would signal the Church of God to march away into heaven with the Lord.
It is called the "last" trumpet not because there will be preceding trumpet calls. No, rather it is a technical term that specifically pertains to the widely-known marching-away trumpet call. The term "last trumpet" was used to make it clear and plain that the call would not be for rising up and getting ready (as in the first trumpet call) or falling in line (as in the second trumpet call) but to march away.
It is not surprising that the Church of God is treated like soldiers because they ARE. Ever heard of the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers?" Read Ephesians 6 and acquaint yourself with the Christian's battle armor.
The Rapture is the Christian's march to headquarters for rewards for his service down here.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Monday, July 25, 2016
What Does The Bible Say About Getting Into Debt?
The Bible does not condemn a person getting into debt. However, it contains warnings concerning it. Scripture recognizes its potential dangers. Far too many people get unwise in relation to debt. They don't know how to handle it wisely. Furthermore, debt could be habit-forming.
When the Bible says "Owe nothing to anyone..." (RO 13:8) it means to pay one's debt as it becomes due and demandable. It does not refer to an absolute across-the-board prohibition about getting into debt. If debt is sinful and wrong then so does lending. But lending in Scripture is not prohibited.
De 24:10 "When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.
11 "You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.
Since lending in Scripture is not prohibited then getting into debt could not be viewed as sinful. And so, again, when the Bible says "Owe nothing to anyone..." (RO 13:8) it means to pay one's debt as it becomes due and demandable. It does not refer to an absolute across-the-board prohibition about getting into debt since the lending of one which leads to debt in another is not frowned upon by Scripture.
Realize, however, that getting into debt is akin to a slave-master relationship.
PR 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
Though such a state is not viewed as sinful, it is not viewed as the ideal in Scripture.
DT 28:12 “The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
I have seen the flood of tears in many people's eyes concerning the financial ruin that they have brought upon themselves because of debt. It is my opinion that unless getting into debt secures for you a bigger and reliable financial gain in return as in a good business deal, debt should be avoided, if possible.
When the Bible says "Owe nothing to anyone..." (RO 13:8) it means to pay one's debt as it becomes due and demandable. It does not refer to an absolute across-the-board prohibition about getting into debt. If debt is sinful and wrong then so does lending. But lending in Scripture is not prohibited.
De 24:10 "When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.
11 "You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.
Since lending in Scripture is not prohibited then getting into debt could not be viewed as sinful. And so, again, when the Bible says "Owe nothing to anyone..." (RO 13:8) it means to pay one's debt as it becomes due and demandable. It does not refer to an absolute across-the-board prohibition about getting into debt since the lending of one which leads to debt in another is not frowned upon by Scripture.
Realize, however, that getting into debt is akin to a slave-master relationship.
PR 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
Though such a state is not viewed as sinful, it is not viewed as the ideal in Scripture.
DT 28:12 “The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
I have seen the flood of tears in many people's eyes concerning the financial ruin that they have brought upon themselves because of debt. It is my opinion that unless getting into debt secures for you a bigger and reliable financial gain in return as in a good business deal, debt should be avoided, if possible.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
What Can You Say About Visions of Jesus In Our Times?
There are people reporting about seeing the Lord Jesus in dreams and visions who then claim to have believed in Him as a result of it. What does the Bible have to say about it?
Joh 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
The normative experience of Christians during the time of the apostles after the Lord ascended into heaven even when visions were still given as a part of God's continuing revelation back then was something like this:
Joh 16:16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
1Pe 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Joh 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
The normative experience of Christians during the time of the apostles after the Lord ascended into heaven even when visions were still given as a part of God's continuing revelation back then was something like this:
Joh 16:16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
1Pe 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Why Did The Lord Jesus Forbid Mary Not To Cling To Him And Yet Allowed Thomas To Do So?
JN 20:17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”
Joh 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
Mary was forbidden but Thomas was allowed. What do we make of this? Some say that between Mary in John 20:17 and Thomas in John 20:27, the Lord Jesus ascended to the Father and offered Himself there and went back to earth to meet with His disciples.
They say that Mary was forbidden because the Lord Jesus was yet to ascend to heaven but Thomas was allowed because He already ascended to the Father by this time and returned back to earth. They say that it was to fulfill the type of the First-fruits offering in Leviticus 23. That just as the First-fruits was first offered to God so the Lord Jesus did not allow Mary to touch Him because He must first offer Himself to God. God first, then Man.
This interpretation is possible and there is nothing heretical about it. But I think the simplest way to look at this event is this:
He was correcting two attitudes here. It appears that Mary wanted to have the physical presence of the Lord Jesus permanently. She would never let Him go from her ever again. Notice that Mary was "clinging" to Him. It's in the present tense in the Greek. Mary was continually clinging, fastening and binding herself to Him.
And so the Lord Jesus had to correct her attitude expressed in her actions: "Stop clinging to Me Mary with an attitude like that. I must go to the Father and present Myself to Him for you, for your brethren and for all the world. There I will physically present Myself to Him for your benefit. Mary, you will never lose Me again even though you may not see me physically for a time. I will be with the Father for you, and there I will prepare a place for you that you maybe with Me forever (John 14:3) when the time comes."
With Thomas' case, it is different. It was unbelief as to His physical resurrection. And so He allowed him to touch Him to prove His physical resurrection.
Joh 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
Mary was forbidden but Thomas was allowed. What do we make of this? Some say that between Mary in John 20:17 and Thomas in John 20:27, the Lord Jesus ascended to the Father and offered Himself there and went back to earth to meet with His disciples.
They say that Mary was forbidden because the Lord Jesus was yet to ascend to heaven but Thomas was allowed because He already ascended to the Father by this time and returned back to earth. They say that it was to fulfill the type of the First-fruits offering in Leviticus 23. That just as the First-fruits was first offered to God so the Lord Jesus did not allow Mary to touch Him because He must first offer Himself to God. God first, then Man.
This interpretation is possible and there is nothing heretical about it. But I think the simplest way to look at this event is this:
He was correcting two attitudes here. It appears that Mary wanted to have the physical presence of the Lord Jesus permanently. She would never let Him go from her ever again. Notice that Mary was "clinging" to Him. It's in the present tense in the Greek. Mary was continually clinging, fastening and binding herself to Him.
And so the Lord Jesus had to correct her attitude expressed in her actions: "Stop clinging to Me Mary with an attitude like that. I must go to the Father and present Myself to Him for you, for your brethren and for all the world. There I will physically present Myself to Him for your benefit. Mary, you will never lose Me again even though you may not see me physically for a time. I will be with the Father for you, and there I will prepare a place for you that you maybe with Me forever (John 14:3) when the time comes."
With Thomas' case, it is different. It was unbelief as to His physical resurrection. And so He allowed him to touch Him to prove His physical resurrection.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Did The Lord Jesus Have Brothers And Sisters?
Yes, He had flesh and blood brothers and sisters.
Mt 12:46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.
47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."
* Ps 69:7 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face.
Mt 13:55 "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56 "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"
The Roman Catholic Church contend that the Greek word used here for brothers and sisters can mean relatives, and that it could be rightly applied to cousins or remote relatives. Yes, all that is admittedly true.
However, in another portion of Scripture this question is settled clearly once and for all. Psalm 69 is a Messianic Psalm. Notice the following:
* Ps 69:4 says: "Those who hate me without a cause..."
* Joh 15:25 "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
.
As you can see, Psalm 69: 4 is applied to the Lord Jesus Christ in John 15:25.The Roman Catholic Church contend that the Greek word used here for brothers and sisters can mean relatives, and that it could be rightly applied to cousins or remote relatives. Yes, all that is admittedly true.
However, in another portion of Scripture this question is settled clearly once and for all. Psalm 69 is a Messianic Psalm. Notice the following:
* Ps 69:4 says: "Those who hate me without a cause..."
* Joh 15:25 "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
.
* Ps 69:7 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother's children;
9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up (see John 2:16 below), And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me (see Romans 15:3 below).
Joh 2:16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
Ro 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
You see, Psalm 69: 9 is applied to the Lord Jesus in John 2:16 and Romans 15:3 respectively. In Psalm 69:7-9 we clearly have the words of the Lord Jesus. And what does He say in verse 8? "I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother's children."
This shows that the words "brothers" and "sisters" we read in the New Testament in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ do not mean cousins or remote relatives. They are, in fact, His mother's children---His flesh and blood brothers and sisters.
Ro 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
You see, Psalm 69: 9 is applied to the Lord Jesus in John 2:16 and Romans 15:3 respectively. In Psalm 69:7-9 we clearly have the words of the Lord Jesus. And what does He say in verse 8? "I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother's children."
This shows that the words "brothers" and "sisters" we read in the New Testament in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ do not mean cousins or remote relatives. They are, in fact, His mother's children---His flesh and blood brothers and sisters.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
What's Fellowship?
Fellowship is actively and consciously sharing something in common with another. A Christian can have fellowship with another Christian because they both have Christ as their Lord, Savior and their Life.
A Christian can have fellowship with God by being occupied with Christ. You must realize that God is Christ-centered. He has His sights on His Son. And if you are occupied with Him as God has Him in focus then both you and God have fellowship with each other in the person of Christ.
A Christian can have fellowship with God by being occupied with Christ. You must realize that God is Christ-centered. He has His sights on His Son. And if you are occupied with Him as God has Him in focus then both you and God have fellowship with each other in the person of Christ.
Explain Matthew 4:7 About Not Tempting God
Mt 4:7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"
Prior to this, Satan told the Lord Jesus these words: "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"
To deliberately and intentionally put ourselves in harm's way just to see if God would fulfill His Word is tempting or testing God. The word "tempt" in the Greek carries the idea of testing or putting to test thoroughly.
To test God is to doubt His character. It is to insult and put into question His integrity and trustworthiness. It is a subtle way of saying: "God, you're not credible. I need proof. Do this and demonstrate to me your credibility."
That's sin. That's the unbelief and sinful audacity of a creator questioning the Creator!
Prior to this, Satan told the Lord Jesus these words: "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"
To deliberately and intentionally put ourselves in harm's way just to see if God would fulfill His Word is tempting or testing God. The word "tempt" in the Greek carries the idea of testing or putting to test thoroughly.
To test God is to doubt His character. It is to insult and put into question His integrity and trustworthiness. It is a subtle way of saying: "God, you're not credible. I need proof. Do this and demonstrate to me your credibility."
That's sin. That's the unbelief and sinful audacity of a creator questioning the Creator!
Monday, July 4, 2016
Does Matthew Chapter 24 Describe The Tribulation Period?
Yes, the events presented in the 24th chapter of Matthew refer to the Tribulation Period. The context, the theme and its details all point to the Tribulation Period.
It began with a question in verse 3: "As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
As you can see, the disciples were asking about eschatology, about end-time events. If you continue reading the entire chapter, there are details that specifically pinpoint to the Tribulation Period.
MT 24:8 “ But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Birth pangs elsewhere in Scripture is associated with the Day of the Lord. Notice:
1TH 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1TH 5:3 While they are saying, “ Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Isa 13:6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
Joe 2:1 Blow a ram's horn in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble. For the day of the LORD comes, for it is near at hand;
2 a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,
As you can see, the distress of the Day of the Lord is likened to a woman in labor and it is a day of wrath from God.
As we continue reading Matthew 24, we further read the following:
MT 24:9 “ Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
MT 24:21 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
There are other details in Matthew 24 which point to the Tribulation Period as the scene described in this chapter. But all these should suffice for now.
It began with a question in verse 3: "As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
As you can see, the disciples were asking about eschatology, about end-time events. If you continue reading the entire chapter, there are details that specifically pinpoint to the Tribulation Period.
MT 24:8 “ But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Birth pangs elsewhere in Scripture is associated with the Day of the Lord. Notice:
1TH 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1TH 5:3 While they are saying, “ Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Isa 13:6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
Joe 2:1 Blow a ram's horn in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble. For the day of the LORD comes, for it is near at hand;
2 a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,
As you can see, the distress of the Day of the Lord is likened to a woman in labor and it is a day of wrath from God.
As we continue reading Matthew 24, we further read the following:
MT 24:9 “ Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
MT 24:21 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
There are other details in Matthew 24 which point to the Tribulation Period as the scene described in this chapter. But all these should suffice for now.
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