Month: January 2007

Fulfilled Promises

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

GOD’S FULFILLED PROMISESMatthew 1:18-25

This part of the study in Matthew’s Gospel has to do with one of the most controversial subjects concerning the birth of Jesus. That is the fact that He was virgin born. There is much importance to be placed upon this truth. The deity of Jesus Christ and His very own character hang on this truth. To doubt this truth is to doubt the very words of Jesus Himself, because if He was not virgin born, then He was not and is not deity; He is not the Son of God; His death is no different than the thieves who died along side of Him and He was most deserving of His death.

We could ask the question, “Why is the virgin birth so important?” I believe that question is answered in the paragraph above. It is important because it gives us evidence of the truth of who Jesus is. If He was born of a virgin, then, He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14; and since He fulfilled that one He also fulfilled all the others concerning His first coming, and will fulfill all those concerning His return.

We do know that there have been myths of other religions which claimed someone was virgin born, but those prove to be nothing more than myth. These are attempts to deify their heroes or heroines. Within Roman Catholicism there is a teaching of Mary’s being virgin born; often referred to as “Immaculate Conception”, thus putting her in the level of deity. The thought is that Mary must be sinless, perfect, pure, clean, in order to bear the Son of God who is in fact “God with us’ – ‘Immanuel”. If you take that conclusion then, Mary’s mother would have to be “Immaculately born”, and her mother, and her mother, all the way back to Eve, before they fell. That did not happen. Mary, the mother of Jesus Immanuel, Son of God, was not without sin, she was not born of a virgin, and she herself recognized Jesus as her Savior (Luke 6:46-48). There is no Scriptural evidence to prove anything, but that Mary needed a Savior, she went on and became the mother of other children (v. 25; 12:46). There is no veneration due unto Mary. She is not a co-redemptrix. She is a sinner who has been saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Should we admire her? Yes! She obeyed God and became the mother of our Savior. O, that more of us had the heart of Mary, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” Luke 1:38.

There are some who profess to be Christians but do not believe the virgin birth of Christ to have been possible. Can one be a Christian, and not believe that Jesus Christ was born of Mary who was a virgin at the time of His birth? It would seem that an individual who is coming to Jesus by faith at the early stages of faith would not necessarily know of this doctrine, but as they grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, they would learn of it and believe it. They would believe it because the virgin birth of Immanuel was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, and fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23 and Luke 1:26-37. As evidence of one’s salvation they will believe the Word of God, and God says Jesus was born of Mary who was a virgin at the time of His birth. Jesus was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the Spirit of God, and she remained a virgin until after His birth. Argue against the virgin birth of Jesus Christ all you want. Say, “Well that is just not possible.” With the technology we have today it is possible for a young woman to have a child without ever having sexual intercourse with a man. In the physical act she could still be considered a virgin (I guess), but the very fact of the implanting of the seed, or the embryo it would still be the seed of a man, not God. All things are possible with God.

When Mary told Joseph of her encounter with God he did not believe her. He loved Mary, and was going to divorce her privately. Divorce was necessary, because in that culture ‘betrothel’ was as binding as the actual marriage. It was much more than the “engagements” our culture knows here in the United States which can be broken off with a moments notice. Joseph, “Being a just man…” knew the child was not his. He was not going to embarass her, nor did he desire to bring harm to her, but his first thought was ‘Divorce’ but privately. She had betrayed him – so he thought – so he could do this according to law. It was not to be. God sent His angel to Joseph to confirm everything Mary had said. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (vv. 20-23).

It is great to know that He is still with us.  He is always with us, and will never forsake those who trust in Him.

Ancestry of Sinners

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

ANCESTRY OF SINNERS

Matthew 1:1-17 continued…

There is evidence of Jewish Royalty in an ancestry of sinners. This genealogy is evidence of divine lineage of Jesus, and succession of God’s establishment of

a people. It is given so that man may have proof of Jesus’s true identity. You could call this Gospel ‘The Identity Papers of Jesus the King’ It is proof positive that Jesus is the King of kings. For those who will not believe these papers, they would not believe my birth certificate either. I have much more confidence in God’s Birth Certificates than I do those that are manmade.

There are five people who are included in the genealogy of Jesus that most noble people would not want to claim, but here they are in the lineage of our Lord Jesus who is King of all kings, Lord of all lords, and He rules the Universe, and all that is within it. There is Tamar who deceived her father in law and committed an act of harlotry (Matthew 1:3; Gen. 38:13-30). Tamar is a representation of sin. The second person we see is Rahab, and she was a prostitute in the city of Jericho who was delivered from Jericho’s destruction because of her faith in the God of Israel (Matthew 1:5; Joshua 2:1-21; 6:23); Rahab is the representation of faith; she later married a Jew by the name of Salmon, and these were the proud parents of Boaz. And that leads us to the third woman and her name is Ruth – a Moabitish woman who was forbidden by law to enter the congregation; she represents the principle of grace (Matthew 1:5; Deut. 23:3-6; Ruth 1:16; 3:19; 4:18-22). These three women were Gentile women, and Tamar was a Canaanite (Gen 38:2) one of the peoples who were to be driven from the land of Promise and killed. The next woman on the list is not even named; she is instead called, “of her that had been the wife of Uriah” (v.6). We know her as Bathsheba – the partner in David’s great sin of adultery and murder, and she represents the principle of forgiveness. It is possible that Bathsheba was also a Gentile woman. How is all this possible? It shows that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. He is a God of grace and mercy, and made a way for all to trust Him and be eternally saved.

The fifth and final woman mentioned in this kingly genealogy is Mary. A woman loved, respected, and admired by many. It is so sad however to see some who hold her in an attitude of worship, and to go through her to Jesus. That is pure idolatry and forbidden. Jesus alone is worthy of our worship and we need no mediator to get to Jesus. He is the Mediator for us to the Father. Mary is to be loved, respected, admired and we should follow her in the willing example of faith that she displayed when the angel came and told her that she would bear a Son. Luke recorded, by the breath of God, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” O, that we had a heart like Mary.

When it came to the moment of the conception and birth of the King, the Son of God, the mother must be as pure as is possible, and God chose Mary; a virgin – not just a young woman, which she probably was, but a virgin who had never had sexual intercourse with a man. God protects His purity. Matthew spares nothing to proclaim the virgin birth of Jesus.

Mary does have something in common with the other four women of this genealogy. They are all guilty of , or accused of sexual immorality. It is certain that people of Mary’s and Joseph’s town knew they were “Betrothed” which in that culture was much more than engagement for our culture. It would have taken Joseph to write a legal letter of divorcement for the marriage to cease, but he did not do that. There must have been suspicious, gossiping tongues, as they were seen together before there wedding became official. Mary was not without sin. She was a sinner, in need of a Savior, and she gave birth to her own Savior and ours. What a wonderful lady. We have much to thank Mary for.

Jesus is the only Jew, since 70 A.D., who know His genealogy, and can prove it. “Providence is God’s control of circumstances so that His will prevails in spite of the disobedience of man.” W.W. Wiersbe EXPOSITION OUTLINE pg. 9.

The genealogy of Jesus still continues today. NO! It is not like Dan Brown in THE DIVINCI CODE says which is nothing but purly fiction, and the thoughts of a warped mind. Who is in this genealogy today? All sinners who confess their sin, repent, and trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; those who believe God and act on their faith that He gives; those whom God has chosen by His grace; those who have received God’s forgiveness; those who have surrendered to God’s will for their lives. Those who have been born into the family by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, His body buried – carrying our sins away; and by His being raised to life again after three days. He ascended into Heaven. He will come again, and set up His kingdom.

Reason # 12

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REASON # 12 – There Are No Signs That Point To the Rapture – So Be Ready

We have come to the conclusion of this series of messages in looking at why we should believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church. Here is a list of the previous eleven; 1) The Unfulfilled Promises of God to Israel, 2) Scriptural/Historical Evidence of Previous Raptures, 3) The Scoffers Who Disclaim the Promise of Christ’s Return, 4) Jesus Said He Would Come Again and Take Us To a Prepared Place, 5) The Church Has Not Been Appointed to Wrath, 6) This View Maintains the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ, 7) Because of The Stronger Emphasis on Evangelism and Missions, 8) Because Israel is Put Aside for a Time; The Lord is Working In the Church Today, 9) The Scriptures Refer to “The Blessed Hope”, 10) Causes Us to Look for Jesus, 11) The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, Who Restrains Evil.

 

“ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.  The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here” Matthew 12:38-42

 

If that generation did not need a sign, but the sign of an empty tomb, then, those who are in Christ today do not need any sign to be ready for the sudden appearing of the Lord Jesus to take us to Himself.

 

It seems that all the signs that the Scriptures give are for the coming Tribulation – Wrath of God – upon the people of the earth, and/or the Glorious Appearing of our Savior and His one thousand year reign on the restored earth.

 

I. ALL SIGNS WHICH HAVE BEEN GIVEN ARE SIGNS FOR THE DAY OF WRATH, OR THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF JESUS TO RULE AND REIGN ON EARTH.

A. What about the preaching of the gospel being throughout all the earth?

1. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” Matthew 24:14.

2. Even the signs given for the period Jesus speaks of in the Sermon on Olivet; or the Olivet Discourse as it is called; are signs for the period of the Tribulation [This includes chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew’s gospel].

B. When the apostle Paul is writing of the Rapture in the Thessalonian letters he mentions nothing about signs being fulfilled, but rather awaiting the return of Jesus. “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” 1 Thes. 1:10. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” 1 Thes. 2:19. “ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words” 1 Thes. 4:13-18. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ…” 1 Thes. 5:9. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Thes. 5:23.

II. PAUL AND THE CHRISTIANS AT THESSALONICA WERE EXPECTING THE RAPTURE IN THEIR DAY, AND LIFETIME.

A. There were some who were concerned about their loved ones who had died and the Lord had not returned before.

1. There was concern that the rapture had already happened; IT HAD NOT.

2. In 2 Thessalonians Paul assures them that it had not already occurred.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” 2 Thes. 2:1-2.

B. That expectancy is seen in the verses read previously in the first letter chapter 4 and verses 13 through 18.

 

III. SINCE THERE ARE NO SIGNS GIVEN FOR THE RAPTURE WE MUST CONSTANTLY BE READY FOR OUR LORD’S RETURN FOR HIS BRIDE.

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” Matthew 24:44.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” 1 John 3:2-3.

A. As Believers in Christ we should not spend our time gazing into Heaven, but ever be vigilant to the task to which we have been called.

B. The strongest drive in the heart of the Christian will be to glorify our Lord and Savior, and do that by telling others of His greatness, majesty, power and glory, and of what He has done and is doing for us.

C. We must always be ready, always alert, always watchful, always thankful – for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us who are in Him

 

As Jesus ascended into heaven there were angels standing by and asked the disciples the question, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” It seems the call of these messengers is go to the task and the call you have been given.

God’s Faithful Providence (1)

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

This is the beginning of a new series.  I pray that God will speak to your heart as He has to mine in its preparation.  It is a study in the Gospel of Matthew.  I know the Modern Day Magi spent most of 2006 writing on this same Gospel, and he did a wonderful job.  With me it will just be coming from a different thought, because I am a different person.  The final chapter of the TWELVE REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE will be posted on Monday – the Lord willing.

JESUS THE KING

 

GOD’S FAITHFUL PROVIDENCE

Matthew 1:1-17

The Gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy of the King of the Hebrews. Matthew’s Gospel was written to the Hebrew. It is written so they might know that Jesus is their King. At the time they were blinded by their own religious practices, and ceremonies, and self-righteousness as a nation, but Jesus was at that time their Messiah and King and to this day is their King.

The following is the outline Warren W. Wiersbe gives for the Gospel according to Matthew in THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY –

I. The Revelation Of The King – chapters 1-10;

II. The Rebellion Against The King – chapters 11-13;

III. The Retirement Of The King – chapters 14-20;

IV. The Rejection Of The King – chapters 21-27;

V. The Resurrection Of The King – chapter 28

The Gospel begins with Jesus, and His genealogy beginning with Abraham; not Adam. Abraham the father of the Hebrews and their relationship to God the Father. In the Gospel of Luke the genealogy is given backwards and ends with Adam, showing Jesus to be the Son of Man. The Gospel of Mark has no genealogy, nor does the Gospel of John. Servants have no genealogy as in Mark’s account, nor does God have genealogy as in the Gospel of John.

By way of introduction let me give some information concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The human penman for this Gospel is Matthew. He was called by Jesus while sitting at his place collecting taxes: “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him” (Matthew 9:9). As a tax collector he would have been a reject to those who were religious rulers, they would have counted him a traitor, because he was collecting taxes from his people for the Roman government.

This Gospel was written to the Jews to declare and give evidence of Jesus’s royal lineage.

Look at the differences of the four Gospels. First of all in Matthew; Jesus is seen as the King, and is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. For some help in seeing this look at what John wrote in the Revelation chapter four verses six and seven, “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle”. There is a similar depiction of this in the writings of Ezekiel the prophet, “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle” (Ezekiel 1:10). In Mark’s Gospel; Jesus is seen as a Servant, and is the ox/calf – Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of Mark, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Then in the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus as the Son of Man, and represented, of course by the “face of a man”. Finally in the Gospel of John we see Him as the Son of God, and represented by the symbol of the eagle. The eagle above all, soaring in majesty, representing the All-Knowing power of God.

The Royal Lineage of Jesus is given by Matthew in verses 2 – 16, and with all its blemishes. Do not bolt about that statement, but rather rejoice in it, because actually within the lineage of Jesus are you and me as well.

In this Gospel we see a gracious King. We also see the wondrous providence of our great God and King.

In chapter one we have Matthew’s God breathed declaration of Jewish Royalty. David is considered, by the Jews, and by many others, to be the greatest of Israel’s kings. He was just a youngman when the prophet Samuel came to the household of Jesse by God’s appointment and chose and anointed David king the the place of Saul; in God’s own timing.

Abraham was the patriarch of Israel, and this identifies this gospel to the Jews, and to Jesus as being Jewish. Abraham’s faith is almost unsurpassed in all of the Scriptures and history. His faith speaks volumes for encouragement in growing in Christ, loving the Lord, trusting the Lord despite dire circumstances, and just plain ole ‘Holding on faith’ which is much more of God’s holding on than us holding on.

Jesus, of course, is who this Gospel is really about. But then, that is true of the whole of this book called the Bible. Jesus came and showed the people, and told the people who He was, but was despised by the Jewish religious establishment, and many of the people. He is defended by Matthew, as their King.

Reason # 11

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

REASON # 11 – The Church Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, Who Restrains Evil

We have looked at ten reasons for believing in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church 1) The Unfulfilled Promises of God to Israel, 2) Scriptural/Historical Evidence of Previous Raptures, 3) The Scoffers Who Disclaim the Promise of Christ’s Return, 4) Jesus Said He Would Come Again and Take Us To a Prepared Place, 5) The Church Has Not Been Appointed to Wrath, 6) This View Maintains the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ, 7) Because of The Stronger Emphasis on Evangelism and Missions, 8) Because Israel is Put Aside for a Time; The Lord is Working In the Church Today, 9) The Scriptures Refer to “The Blessed Hope”, 10) Causes Us to Look for Jesus.

 

The eleventh reason for believing in the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church is that as the temple of the Spirit of God, and the absence of the restraining of the Spirit of God is evidence of the absence of the Church during the period of time known as the Tribulation, ‘Time of Jacob’s trouble’, and so forth.

 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

 

There is an up close and very real analogy of the events that will take place during the period called the Tribulation. It can only be an analogy because what is to come will be far worse. The analogy is that of when we see people rampaging on the streets of the cities of the United States and in other countries and the police are near powerless to contain it.

The event of the Rodney King verdict in California during the early nineties is a good example of restraint being withheld while people threw rocks, bricks, and used anything they could get their hands on to destroy. The police just stayed out of the picture. It was uncontrolled violence against people and property…

“The 1992 Los Angeles riots, also known as the Rodney King uprising or the Rodney King riots, were sparked on April 29, 1992 when a mostly white jury acquitted four police officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King, after he fled from police. Thousands of people in Los Angeles joined in what has often been characterized as a race riot, or a mini-civil war, involving acts of law-breaking compounded by existing racial tensions, including looting, arson and murder. In all, 55 people were killed during the riots.” Wikipedia Encyclopedia

Let’s look at the report of the damages and such… “Estimates of the number of lives lost during the unrest vary between 50 and 60, with as many as 2,000 persons injured. Estimates of the material damage done vary between about $800 million and $1 billion. Approximately 3,600 fires were set, destroying 1,100 buildings, with fire calls coming once every minute at some points. About 10,000 people were arrested; about 42% African American, 44% Latino, 9% white, and 2% other.” Wikipedia Encyclopedia

 

EVEN NOW THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS RESTRAINING EVIL (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way”

We could ask, “Where was the Holy Spirit during the Rodney King riots?”, and we could answer correctly, “He was there in the midst of it”. It could have been much worse. There could have been more people killed, more damage done.

With so much evil in the world can we rightly say that there is a restraining force keeping evil at bay.? The answer to that question, of course is a most certain YES! So many times it is hard to understand why these evil things, and evil people happen, but God is still sovereign, and accomplishing His purposes and will.

Without law, and without the restraint of the Spirit of God there would be total chaos, with killing, rape, damages to property, everyone doing what is right in their own eyes, and tyranny would eventually rule.

 

IMAGINE THE HORROR OF THE TIME WITHOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD RESTRAINING ON THE EARTH (Rev. 6).

There will be a ruler who comes in peace, and will give a temporary peace to the people of the earth (Rev. 6:1-2). A “peacemaker” with a bow, but no arrow in his hand. He will speak words of peace, but war is in His heart; particularly war against the holy.

What follows this rider on the ‘White horse’ is war, with much blood shed (Rev. 6:3-4). There will be blood shed of all those who oppose him, and mostly that will be those who take up the name of Jesus, and follow Him, without much thought of their lives.

With the shedding of much blood, the ruining of the lands famine will also come (Rev. 6:5-6). There will be starvation while the ruler of the world at this time seeks only for himself.

With the famine, the need for clean water and food, there will be much more death, and seems like and increase in death for humans by the beast of the field (Rev. 6:7-8). If we think pollution and things are bad now, we have seen nothing.

Many of those who turn to Jesus during that time will die for their faith, and their cries will reach up to heaven (Rev. 6:9-12). These will be those “Who loved not their lives unto death” (Rev. 12:11).

The earth itself will “Groan” as it has never before (Rom. 8:22) with earthquakes, pollution, the sun darkens, the moon becomes as blood, and the “People of the earth” cry out for the rocks and mountains to fall on them, rather than cry to God for mercy (Rev. 6:13-17).

 

WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS NOT RESTRAINING THE HORROR AND EVIL OF SATAN WILL BE UNLEASHED (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).

He appears with power, with signs, and lying wonders to deceive and lead people to follow him (v. 9) “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders…”

The people who follow him will be people who refused God’s grace, and mercy, and because of this God sends them a “Strong delusion” and they believe the lies of the devil (vv. 10-12).

 

THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS BEAST [the devil] IS OVERTHROWN BY THE WORD OF OUR LORD’S MOUTH (2 Thes. 2:8).

We see our Lord Jesus revealed coming with a sword in His mouth (Rev. 19:15 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God”.

All things will be placed under His feet, “ For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  For he hath put all things under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:25-27). “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church…” (Eph. 1:22).

Reason # 10

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

It is good to be back to blogging.  On January 9, 2006 I began Fire and Hammer at another blogsite.  So I have been at this now for a year. 

I pray that all had wonderful Christmas celebrations, gave great gifts to others and that you received all that was good for you.  I will be continuing the post on the Reasons For Believing in the PreTribulation Rapture of the Church.  There is only two more following this one.  That does not mean that this list has exhausted the reasons.  There are others.

REASON # 10 – The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Causes Us To Look For Jesus

The nine reasons we have looked at thus far were 1) The Unfulfilled Promises of God to Israel, 2) Scriptural/Historical Evidence of Previous Raptures, 3) The Scoffers Who Disclaim the Promise of Christ’s Return, 4) Jesus Said He Would Come Again and Take Us To a Prepared Place, 5) The Church Has Not Been Appointed to Wrath, 6) This View Maintains the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ, 7) Because of The Stronger Emphasis on Evangelism and Missions, 8) Because Israel is Put Aside for a Time; The Lord is Working In the Church Today, 9) The Scriptures Refer to “The Blessed Hope”

 

Now the tenth reason is THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE CAUSES US TO LOOK TO JESUS.

Revelation1:1-3; 19:10

 

The premise of The Revelation is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Son of man, is the central character of all of Scripture, therefore, all of prophecy.

 

PAUL URGES THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH TO LOOK FOR JESUS.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” 1 Thes. 4:16.

For this passage we must ask, “Who is it who is descending from heaven?” Look for Jesus.

 

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Thes. 5:23.

For the passage here we can clearly see it is speaking of the ‘coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’. Look for Jesus.

 

“And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” 1 Thes. 1:10.

As in the former verses it is “His Son from heaven… even Jesus”, whom we are looking for. Look for Jesus.

 

“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Cor. 1:7.

Here the Corinthians are told to “Wait[ing] for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Look for Jesus.

 

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” Heb. 9:28.

Notice the “…them that look for Him…”. Look for Jesus.

 

LOOKING FOR JESUS WE CAN COMFORT ONE ANOTHER. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” 1 Thes. 4:18.

The words Paul is speaking of are those previously mentioned. Not just from verses 13 following, but the whole of what he has written to the Thessalonians. Although, it does seem he may be putting a strong emphasis on verses 13 through 17.

 

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS WE CAN SEE HIM IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE. This is what all of Scripture is about.

These are not from me. I do not know who saw these and printed it up, but to whomever it was I give the credit. You can see Jesus if you so desire:

 

Genesis: The Seed of the Woman
Exodus: The Passover Lamb
Leviticus: The High Priest
Numbers: The Cloud and The Fire
Deut.: The Prophet Like Moses
Joshua: The Captain of Our Salvation
Judges: The Judge And Lawgiver
Ruth: The Kinsman Redeemer
1 & 2 Samuel: The Prophet of The Lord
1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles: The Reigning King
Ezra: The Faithful Scribe
Nehemiah: The Rebuilder of The Broken Walls
Esther: Mordecai
Job: The Dayspring From on High
Psalms:The Lord Who Is Our Shepherd
Proverbs & Ecclesiastes: The Wisdom of God
Song of Solomon: The Lover & Bridegroom
Isaiah: The Prince of Peace
Jeremiah & Lamentations: The Weeping Prophet
Ezekiel: The Wheel Turning
Daniel: The 4th Man in The Fiery Furnace
Hosea: The Bridegroom
Joel: The Baptizer With The Holy Spirit
Amos: The Burden Bearer
Obadiah: The Mighty Savior
Jonah: The Forgiving God
Micah: The Messenger With Beautiful Feet
Nahum: The Avenger of God’s Elect
Habakkuk: The Great Evangelist, Crying For Revival
Zephaniah: The Restorer of God’s Lost Heritage
Haggai: The Cleansing Fountain
Zechariah: The Pierced Son
Malachi: The Son of Righteousness

NEW TESTAMENT –

Matthew: Messiah and King

Mark: The wonder working servant

Luke: The Son of Man

John: The Son of God

Acts: Ascended Lord

Romans; the Justifier

1 & 2 Corinthians: the Gift of the Spirit & the Gift Giver

Galations: the One who sets us free

Ephesians: the Christ of riches

Philippians: the God who meets our every need

Colossians: The fulness of the Godhead

1 & 2 Thessalonians: Soon coming King

1 & 2 Timothy: the Mediator between God and man

Titus: the Faithful Pastor

Philemon: The Friend closer than a brother

Hebrews: The blood that washes away our sins

James: the Great Physician

1 & 2 Peter: the Chief Shepherd

1,2 & 3 John: Everlasting Love

Jude: Coming with 10,000’s of His saints

Revelation: Jesus Christ is King of all kings, and Lord of all lords.