Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 35 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and five amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has written several books, including two that are available on Amazon - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles.

Finishing Well Is a Reason to Celebrate

first day in heaven

The death of someone who demonstrated faith and love in his or her life, especially if they finished well, is a reason to celebrate. Births and marriages are times of celebration, because the mark a new beginning that is full of hope. Wise Solomon wrote that the day of death is better than the day of birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1) because it is better to finish something than to start it. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Plenty of people start the Christian life with a flourish, but eventually their zeal wanes. The Bible calls this losing our first love for the Lord, which is a serious matter in the Lord’s eyes. (Revelation 2:4)Some even shipwreck their faith journey. (1 Timothy 1:19) I have witnessed this many times in my years of following Christ. Jesus warned that this would happen in his parable of the sower. (Luke 8:5-15)

Finishing well is a mark of a faithful God’s ability to preserve us to the end. It is a reason to celebrate.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB95)

He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:8–9 (NLT)

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (NASB95)

Papa PeteMy father, Pete Beck, Jr., finished his race well, actively serving the Lord he loved and holding to the word of his grace until the very last breath.  He remained faithful to the Lord, his wife of 71 years, his family, and the church, all by the grace of God. He had a love affair with God’s Word all his years as a disciple, which grew even stronger toward the end when he knew he would soon see his Lord face-to-face.

Soldiers who have served in combat say that one cannot  know how he or she will do under the strain of battle until thrust into it. That is when we find out what we are made of. Some fold under the pressure, while others rise to the occasion. Likewise one must go through what life throws at us in order to know how God’s grace will enable us to handle it. Someone once said that worry is imagining a future without God. That is a terrible waste of the imagination. God’s presence is always enough.

With the Lord as our ever-present Keeper, we can survive and even thrive through anything this life throws at us.

Call me crazy or unfeeling, if you like, but I felt a sense of joy at Dad’s passing. He is with Jesus now. He did not have to suffer for any extended period of time. He did not go through a time of debilitation. He remained active until the end. He did not become a “burden” on my Mom. He died with grace and peace. He finished well and crossed over into eternity. He made it!

Paul wrote:

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8  And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)

When Paul’s demise was fast approaching, he met with some disciples who were already mourning his soon expected departure. Paul mildly rebuked them, saying he was more than ready to give up this life as an act of allegiance to his Lord. (Acts 21:13) In another passage, he remarked that he would rather die and be with Jesus than continue living; but he was willing to remain and serve others. (Philippians 1:21-26)

God gave my father many more years than he ever expected, but eventually his time to depart from this earth arrived. In God’s eyes, it was finally more profitable for the kingdom of God for him to depart this earth and begin to enjoy “face time” with his Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Lord. That time is coming for all of us.

Even though death itself is not pretty or desirable, God carefully watches over us as we go through it.

Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. Psalm 116:15 (NASB)

For us and those we love, it is a sorrowful time of leaving what is familiar and beloved. For God it is a “precious” thing, a long awaited moment of our experiencing more fully the joys and realities of God and eternity.

Jesus longed to return to his Father. (John 14:28) He told his disciples that they should be glad for him, but they, like us, saw things from their own perspective rather than God’s. We feel loss and sorrow, but God also wants us to see his side of things.

For God and us who believe, death is a homecoming, a commencement, and a triumph because of the promise of the resurrection.

“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (NASB95)

Jesus said that his followers actually never would die.

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26 (NLT)

We should fill in our own names in place of “Martha” in the last verse. Do we really believe?

The body expires, but our spirits seamlessly transition into God’s manifest presence. Can you imagine the unimpeded joy my father felt as his last breath was exhaled and his strong heart finally stopped beating? Joy inexpressible and full of glory!

Yes, I feel our family’s loss and will greatly miss our Dad, but I cannot mourn for him. He is finally home! One day I expect him to be part of the throng who welcomes me.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV)
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Keep in Mind the Brevity of Life

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It is important for us to keep in mind the brevity of this physical life. Solomon wrote that the day of one’s death is better than his birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1) because the end of a matter is better than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Most of us tend to live as if we will never die, at least until we attain old age, if we are so blessed. But God tells us that the wise in heart will live in consideration of our certain demise.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NLT)

The other day I was thinking about someone I have tried to help over the years. I gave this person things of value that I never saw him use. I suppose he sold or gave them away. I decided not to give him anything else because he did not appreciate my previous gifts. In my thinking, he squandered something valuable to me that I shared with him. Immediately a thought entered my mind, probably from the Holy Spirit.

God gives all people a most precious thing – life, and most of us squander it to a great extent because we don’t fully appreciate it. 

We imagine our lives will never end and that we are accountable to no one for how we use this time on earth.

The Bible says that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13) This means that God gave us life (created us), sustains our lives each moment, and one day will call us to return our lives back to him. Ultimately, we will stand before him in judgment, and receive from him our final reward.

Solomon wisely advised us.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (ESV)

Because of sin, death entered God’s perfect creation. It disconnected us from life’s Source, our Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer.

The aging and dying process gently weans us away from the pull of this world. The things that formerly brought joy and meaning to our existence tend to fade. God wants us to become more and more focused on eternal things.

The approach of death, if it leads us to Christ, is a blessing from an eternal perspective.

For the believer in Christ, death is a gateway into eternity and manifest presence of God. It is the goal of life to stand before God and enjoy his love and being forevermore!

Solomon said that it is better to consider death than go to a party!

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. 2  It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. 3  Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. 4  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 (ESV)

Most people put off thinking about death and the hereafter as long as possible, but this is actually quite foolish. Eternity may get here sooner than we think, and it lasts a long, long forever. When God calls us home, there will be no more second chances, no more life to squander. We will face the one who gave us life and will hold us accountable for how we used this wonderful opportunity.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)

God wants us to consider and be thankful for the gift of life. He wants us to be grateful and appreciate his continual sustaining of our lives each day. With each breath we take, we are experiencing God’s grace. And when it is time to return these lives back to God, he wants us to do so freely and eagerly, knowing that what lies ahead far surpasses anything we have yet experienced. This will only be true for those who recognize Jesus as the Savior and Lord.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV)

God wants us to hold onto physical life with an open hand, not a clenched fist.

It does not really belong to us, does it? For us to do this, we must be like Jesus, who at the point of death said: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) As a little child, he wants us to entrust our lives and death to him – our Creator, Keeper, Shepherd, and Final Destination.

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The Mystery of Lawlessness

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The apostle Paul wrote about what he called the “mystery of lawlessness” in his second letter to the church in Thessaloniki, Greece.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NASB95)

There are various theories concerning the identity of “he who now restrains,” the most plausible, in my opinion, being the archangel Michael. The prophet Daniel wrote:

Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince. Daniel 10:18–21 (NASB95)

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:7–9 (NASB95)

A mystery (Greek: apocalupsis), biblically speaking, is something that is hidden unless uncovered by divine revelation. Paul taught that there is a godly mystery connected to the gospel, which is the inclusion of the Gentiles in the one new man, which is the church or body of Christ.

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Ephesians 3:4–6 (NASB95)

God has so orchestrated things so that we cannot see, understand, or believe his truth unless the Holy Spirit opens our sin-blinded spiritual eyes, ears, and heart.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. Matthew 11:25–26 (NASB95)

Just as we cannot see or comprehend the mystery of godliness in Christ without divine help, the mystery of lawlessness and evil is hidden from our eyes as well. Satan and sin have blinded our eyes, deafened our ears, and hardened our hearts.

Most people vastly underestimate the depths and scope of evil in the world. Jesus told us some very important things about the mystery of evil. He taught that Satan is a deceiver, the father of lies, in whom is no truth whatsoever. (John 8:44) He has managed to deceive the entire world (Revelation 12:9), which lies in his power. (1 John 5:19) 

Satan is even able to pose as an angel of light. (2 Corinthian 11:14) His demons often pose as friends, offering comfort, security, or protection to unwitting individuals who end up being oppressed at their hands. Satan’s lies are most alluring and bewitching, as evidenced by how easily Adam and Eve were seduced. Even today born-again Christians must beware of being pulled off track by deception. Paul warned the Corinthian church of this danger.

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2–3 (NASB95)

The bewitching power of legalism in the form of returning to Jewish practices was at work in that church, just as in Galatia. (Galatians 3:1)

A big part of the the mystery of lawlessness is its deceptive allure and how easily we are fooled. Another part of the mystery is the absolute depths of depravity that followers of Satan are willing to plumb.

Satan worshipers trade their souls for money, pleasure, and power. Most Christians are oblivious to the machinations of evil taking place beneath the surface. Jesus knew full well what he was getting into when he came to the earth to testify to the truth. (John 18:37) He fearlessly took on Judaism which had become satanic in nature by that time. He had no illusions regarding the depth of depravity that had wrapped itself around humanity. (John 2:25)

The evil plans hatched decades or even centuries ago, shall we say millennia ago, are playing out today. We are very likely close to the end. We see close up now more of what evil looks like. This is a good thing as long as we keep our eyes on the Lord. He laughs at the plans of the enemy, and so should we. However we have a responsibility, too.

If we do not make a strong decision to stand for truth, we may find ourselves running headlong off a cliff with all the other lemmings.

Truth is bound up in a Person named Jesus (John 14:6). Allegiance to him and the truth of God’s Word is our only defense. We cannot be neutral or passive. We must take a stand. Now is the time to publicly declare that Jesus is Lord and unashamedly stand for truth.

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Signs of the Last Days: Arrogance

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The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write down some of the signs of what people we be like in the last days before Christ’s return to earth.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NASB95)

What made Hitler and Napoleon attack Russia despite all sound wisdom and advice to the contrary? What is behind Satan’s thinking that he can defeat God? What motivates atheists to deny God’s existence, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary? One word – arrogance.

"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you... Obadiah 1:3 (NASB)

When we choose to spurn God and his wisdom and try to navigate life independently, God gives us over to darkness and deception, making us incapable of good judgment.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans 1:21 (NLT)

Those who reject God, arrogantly assume that they have the intelligence and ability to guide their own destinies, forgetting that they would not exist without the continued sustaining influence of the Creator.

He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1:17 (NLT)

They try to control their environment, including other people. This is what is behind what some call the Babel principle of ever increasing government control.

Never for a moment do ungodly people suspect that they are actually being led into a deadly trap by someone who is incredibly clever, but insane – Satan.

Satan lacks any trace of wisdom or good judgment. This will lead to his ultimate defeat, just as Hitler’s and Napoleon’s lack of judgment destroyed them.

The arrogance of evil people relentlessly pushes them to go too far, so that their entire evil plan collapses under its own weight.

Evil never anticipates God’s incredible creativity and wisdom until it has been defeated by it.

Satan tried to displace God and was defeated. Now he wants to drag foolish people with him into the lake of fire.

He is working feverishly to lead the world into a gigantic revolt against God. Like lemmings, people who lack wisdom will be willing to march in lockstep off the cliff in pursuit of a doomed quest to be like God.

The Lord will eventually lose patience and at last will “put his foot down.”

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Matthew 25:41 (NLT)

We dare not be among that number.

The Antidote

Here is a simple five-step plan to neutralize the poison of toxic arrogance.

  1. There is only one cure for the deception of arrogance. It is summed up in one word – repentance, which means to change the mind. We must humbly admit that we have been arrogant fools and ask God’s forgiveness.
  2. The next very important step is to surrender our lives to Jesus, the only one wise enough to direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  3. Ask God for his wisdom, and he will give it to you. (James 1:5)
  4. Pray for a love of the truth that will allow you to navigate the perils of the deception during the Last Days
  5. Finally, trust Jesus completely. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)
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Should We Remain Optimistic in the Last Days?

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Is it advisable to be optimistic as we are seeming to accelerate toward the Second Coming of Christ and the conclusion of the “last days”? Many people today believe we are on the precipice of descending into what the Bible calls the Great Tribulation. Jesus warned his disciples…

“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Matthew 24:21 (NASB95)

There are two distinct ways of viewing what is going to happen on the earth prior to Jesus’ Second Coming: the futurist explanation and the partial preterist viewpoint.

The futurist position, often identified with dispensational theology, gained prominence in the early 1900s with the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible. It holds that almost every one of the the biblical prophecies regarding the “end times” is yet to take place, disregarding 2000 years of church history and contradicting the insights of the early church “fathers.” The partial preterist position believes that most prophesied events have already taken place, being fulfilled mainly when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD, but some things still remain to take place in the future. I hold to the partial preterist viewpoint, but I will not be attempting to “prove” its validity in this article. If you wish to explore this position in depth, I recommend reading Victorious Eschatology by Eberle and Trench.

From the context, Jesus’ words quoted above clearly refer to the fall of Jerusalem, which was the most horrific thing that ever happened to the Jews with respect to intensity of suffering over a short period of time.

God’s wrath against the Jewish nation for rejecting and crucifying their Messiah was poured out, just as Jesus prophesied.

As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world—51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation. Luke 11:50–51 (NLT)

Jesus warned believers to leave the city when they saw the abomination of desolation (the Roman army) surrounding the city, which history said they obeyed by fleeing to surrounding areas before the Romans sealed off the city, thus avoiding the starvation and carnage that was experienced by those remaining in the city.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; 22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Luke 21:20–22 (NASB95)

If, as I believe, the Book of Daniel is primarily concerned with the first coming of the Messiah, his rejection and crucifixion, the rejection of the gospel by the Jews by and large, and the subsequent destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem, then most of the futurist version of the end times (eschatology) falls apart.

The first coming of the Messiah completely surprised all the most learned Bible scholars and students. Only those who hearts were open to God’s surprise introduction of his promised one were able to perceive his true identity. Why would we expect his Second Coming to be any different? God loves to surprise us. His ways and thoughts are so very different from ours, that we are always surprised by how and when he does things.

I feel certain that the Second Coming and everything associated with it will be very different from what is generally expected, especially for those who hold to the futurist position.

Dispensational futurist eschatology holds that things will get darker and bleaker as the Second Coming approaches and we enter a time of great persecution with the advent of the one called the “antichrist.” On the bright side, many futurists believe that the church will be “raptured” (miraculously caught up to be with God) just prior to this time of evil. In fact, many pin their hope on this happening, which I believe is a mistake. There may yet come upon God’s people in the West a significant level of persecution, but can we overcome our cultural bias long enough to realize that God’s people around the world have been going through persecution and pressure (the meaning of the Greek word translated “tribulation”) for centuries? Are we in the West the only ones that God has promised to protect from the expected impending horror? What about those who died in the killing fields of Cambodia or the gulags in Soviet Russia? What about those who were put to death in Muslim nations or during the waves of Roman persecution? What about the many who were martyred by the Roman Catholic Church because they would not recant their stand on the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone during what is called the Counter reformation?

We in the West are often guilty of a kind of historical myopia that cannot see beyond our own experience.

But what if the partial preterist view is true? What if instead of being on the precipice of the Great Tribulation, which I contend already took place in 70 AD, we are on the verge of something wonderful instead? What if we are about to see God pour out his Spirit on “all flesh,” as prophesied in Joel 2:28? Don’t forget that can be considered an end time prophecy, too. What if we are going to see the knowledge of God’s glory fill the earth as the water covers the sea? (Habakkuk 2:14) What if God is about to turn the tide, much as he did when he drowned Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea or when he raised Christ from the grave?

Jesus rose from the dead as the glorious and powerful Son of God and Lord of Lords, having disarmed and humiliated Satan and all his servants. (Colossians 2:15) Nevertheless, he left much for us to accomplish on his behalf. After a short time here on earth with his disciples, he ascended to heaven, where he sits at God’s right hand waiting for his Abba Father to complete the crushing of his enemies.

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” Psalm 110:1 (NLT)

Jesus and the early church understood this verse to apply to Jesus (Mark 12:36 and Acts 2:34-35), and so should we. The time since Jesus’ ascension and the pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost has been a time of Jesus’ waiting for his Father’s perfect timing to complete the process of crushing the head of the serpent. (Genesis 3:15) We, the church, will participate in that final victory, as taught by the apostle Paul.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:20 (ESV)

Since the fall of man in the garden, unregenerate humanity, under the inspiration of the chief rebel, Satan, has been trying to throw off God’s rule and be his own god. Babel was a first concerted effort to pull this off, which God crushed.

Today we see another, perhaps final, last days push toward a world-wide anti-God government, but the Lord who sits in the heavens will not have it. He laughs at the futility of it all, and so should we.

Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. 3  “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” 4  But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. 5  Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. 6  For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” Psalm 2:1-6 (NLT)

Jesus is the appointed king who currently rules from heaven, where, incidentally, we also sit. (Ephesians 2:6) His rule will soon be extended and enforced more fully on the earth as well, just as he taught us to pray – thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God will not allow the nations to succeed in their desire to rid themselves of his appointed king. No matter what plans the devil and his minions put together, it will all come to nothing.

The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 11  But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Psalm 33:10-11 (NLT)

Our God is shaking everything that can be shaken so that we will finally realize that our confidence must be in Christ alone. (Hebrews 12:27-28)

Those who willingly submit to Christ’s rule will be forgiven for previously participating in the satanic rebellion, made right with God, and brought into his forever family.

Those who refuse to accept this wonderful offer will be condemned. At some point, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! It is far better to do it now willingly than later under duress.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Christ’s rule is our glorious future, but today we are in the midst of a world-wide “mopping up” operation.

The war was officially won when Jesus rose from the dead, and it will be officially concluded when he returns as the glorious Son of Man to judge the living and the dead. In the meantime, we must encourage ourselves with the thought that “God’s got this.”  We simply have no real idea of just how glorious and powerful he is and how completely able he is to humble and defeat his enemies. (Ephesians 1:19)

We cannot allow ourselves to be mesmerized or paralyzed by fear of what may be coming upon the world.

Jesus asked if he would find faith on the earth when he returned. (Luke 18:8) Who will he find who has kept his or her eyes firmly on God and his promises? Who will he find faithfully carrying out the Great Commission? Let us not be among them who have given up and “forted” up in our local churches awaiting the rapture. Let us continue to reach out to those around us with the gospel. Let us expend ourselves in teaching the next generation to follow Christ. Let us involve ourselves in practical matters of governance, rather than ceding that arena to the godless.

Let me conclude with the following verse.

Come, see the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world. 9  He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10  “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 11  The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:8-11 (NLT)

Remember: the devil is a liar. He wants us to believe for the worst. He continually broadcasts his narrative to the world in order to demoralize God’s people. But God is greater.

No matter how dark things may seem, we who serve Jesus have a glorious future.

Yes, we must be prepared to endure suffering, and none of us knows exactly how all this will play out; but, let’s be open to the idea that it may be quite different from what we expect. All we know for sure is that God is in control and his plan is glorious. His Son will be exalted in the earth, and we who serve him will rule and reign with him forever!

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How Much Do We Love the Truth?

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How much do we love the truth? Is a love of truth necessary for us to be saved, or is it merely an one way to come to God? Does the Lord care if we fudge the truth about “non-essential” matters as long as we adhere to the main tenets of the Christian faith? I hope that by the end of this article you will agree with me that truth and error do not mix.

Some of the mainline denominations have been willing to compromise with LGTBQ+ ideology in order to avoid offending a large number of people who populate their congregations. By so doing they have divided their followers into two camps – those who are willing to embrace, or at least refuse to confront, error and those who believe we must firmly adhere to the Bible’s teachings. The United Methodist Church split right down the middle with the formation of the Global Methodist denomination. In most cases, however, the split is much less dramatic. Bible loyal congregants simply leave to find groups that are more hospitable to their convictions.

With some evangelical churches, the compromise with truth is often less stark. Some churches choose to avoid addressing potentially divisive issues, such as abortion, in order to attract large numbers of “seekers” to their meetings, where the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ is preached. These churches believe that tolerating error in some areas is permissible as long as the central gospel message is preserved. But what kind of disciples are being produced? It has been my observation that churches must continue doing what drew people in order to keep them. Are unity and growth more important than truth? 

In this article I will show that truth can be a radically divisive thing that exposes who loves it and who doesn’t.

Those who are indifferent are lumped together with the second group. We cannot be indifferent to something we love.

I use the word “radically” in the above sentence in a most fundamental way. Radical comes from the Latin “radix,” which means root, core, or foundation. Radicals believe that they must be true to core principles, that behavior must correspond to foundational beliefs, and that we must love truth no matter what the consequences.

Jesus is a radical and wants us to be.

Jesus identifies himself the “truth” (John 14:6). When he stood on trial before Pilate, the Bible records the following interaction.

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37 (NASB95)

Jesus understood his purpose in coming to the earth was to testify to God’s truth and destroy Satan’s web of lies.

Interestingly, he also stated that people who are “of the truth” are able to “hear” his words. The rest are either indifferent or hostile. The Jewish leaders completely rejected the one who is the living embodiment of truth. They murdered their Messiah with the help of the Romans.

Lovers of truth have a God-given type of hearing that results in their understanding and believing the truth.

Without God’s help, we cannot hear or believe Jesus or his words.

“Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. John 8:43–45 (NASB95)

The Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, must work inside us to give us a love for God’s truth and draw us to Christ.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth... John 16:13a (NASB95)

When the apostle Peter confessed aloud that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus replied that he could not know that truth unless it were revealed to him by God. (Matthew 16:17) Those who love truth were chosen by God for this privilege.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)

We should be eternally grateful for the mercy shown to us and be willing to pray that others might have their eyes opened, too. Those who do not possess a love for truth will be lost forever, according to the Bible, entrapped and enslaved by the lies they believe. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)

Those who love the truth pursue truth wherever it may lead.

The first apostles followed Jesus even when they did not fully understand his words or were fearful of what may lie ahead. Our pursuit of truth must be just as selfless and fearless. 

Those who love the truth will find themselves at odds with a world where falsehood reigns and not just in those areas pertaining to the gospel.

The entire world system lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), who is the father of lies (John 8:44). He has deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9), and we would be naive to think that this is only in spiritual matters. Wholesale deception runs through our educational system, the sciences, including anthropology, psychology, sociology, paleontology, astrophysics, biology, and medicine, the arts and media, finances, and, of course, politics. I used to think that deception was, say, knee deep. Now I think it is like a vast chasm, where we cannot yet see the bottom. We are up against something far more formidable that we formerly thought. Those who love the truth must be prepared to stand against a whole world of lies.

The truth of the Bible must spill over into every area of life; otherwise, we have believed the lie that Christianity does not have any place in the “real world,” but belongs inside the church building only.

We cannot allow the great lie birthed during the Age of Reason to stand: science cannot be separated from God’s truth as revealed in the Bible.

Jesus was not afraid of controversy. He split rabbinic Judaism right down the middle. People had to choose between the Talmud and the Messiah. There was no gray area. Those who were drawn to the Truth were saved. The rest were destroyed, including Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.

The truth just naturally divides because it exposes those who love it and those who hate it.

Jesus warned:

Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; Luke 12:51 (NASB95)

In the last days, I believe it will be increasing necessary for God’s people to hold steadfastly to biblical truth without compromising in any area.

We have the responsibility to stand publicly for the Bible’s truth with a godly attitude.

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24–26 (NASB95)

God expects us to exhibit humility, patience, mercy, and love as we stand for truth, without compromising, having the goal to help people repent from their love of error and embrace truth. Thankfully, some who currently hate truth will come to their senses and become lovers of truth. We do not yet know who they are, but God does. If we testify to the truth, it will enable them to hear and believe with the Holy Spirit’s help.

We understand that honest people reach different conclusions when interpreting scripture.

When it comes to what some call “non-essential” doctrines, those that will not determine our eternal destiny, we charitably allow for differences of opinion. Examples are views about the end times or the Armenian-Reformed theology debate. In both of these cases, we hold to what we believe is true, but allow other persons to think differently. We disagree about the end time because it has not taken place yet and we are unsure how to properly interpret some prophetic sections of scripture. We disagree over the Armenian vs Reformed dispute because we tend to see one side of the issue more clearly than the other. It is a disagreement over some of the details of how God saves us, not whether he does. When I teach, I present both sides, but then tell my listeners what I believe and why I think it best agrees with the Word of God. It is important, but non-essential in an eternal sense. Nevertheless, we still must take sides because truth demands it. We speak the truth in love, but we speak the truth.

However, some truths are so important, and their corresponding lies so devious, that we cannot be so generous as to simply politely disagree.

The LGBTQ+ controversy is a case in point. To embrace homosexuality and transgenderism is to rebel against the Creator and his purpose in sexuality. It is also a rejection of the Bible’s testimony. Another case for us to consider is the debate around whether Genesis Chapter One should be taken as a true history of creation or interpreted as poetry to make room for modern astrophysics.

It must be obvious that Satan wishes to undermine the Bible’s truthfulness and authority. What better way than to discredit the very first chapter of Genesis?

Some Christians feel comfortable embracing the Big Bang theory, even though it fundamentally contradicts the Genesis creation account and gives legs to the deceptive theory of evolution. I humbly admit that I previously saw no contradiction between the Big Bang explosion and God’s speaking the creation into existence, I now see that it contradicts the Bible.

To compromise Genesis Chapter One is a departure from and denial of biblical truth that sets the stage for greater errors down the road and leads ultimately to atheism.

How can we knowingly embrace or even wink at a clearly anti-biblical position, if we are lovers of truth? Please seriously think about this. Sadly, a large proportion of the mainline church has compromised with LGBTQ+. Perhaps sadder still is that most of the church rejects Genesis Chapter One as a true account of creation, having capitulated to modern astrophysics without so much as a whimper of protest!

It seems that sola sciencia might be a better motto than sola scriptura for many evangelicals today.

Perhaps we are not yet as open to the truth of God’s Word as we think we are. We still have a long way to go, but I thank God that he is very patient with us as we stumble along on our journey toward fully embracing God’s truth, and the Holy Spirit is relentless in guiding us into that truth. Hallelujah!

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Chapter 107: Providence

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(lessons 104-107 are taken largely from Wayne Grudem’s Bible Doctrine published in 1999 by Zondervan.)

Definition of Providence: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that the following is true.

  1. Preservation – God keeps all things in existence and maintains the properties with which he created them;
  2. Concurrence – God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and
  3. Government – God directs them to fulfill his purposes. (Grudem, Bible Doctrine, p.142)
Preservation

Christ upholds or carries along the entire creation.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds (Greek: phero – carries) all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)

The use of the present participle of the Greek verb phero indicates that Jesus is continually carrying and sustaining the creation.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together [consist].  Colossians 1:17 (NASB95)

Without our Lord’s continually sustaining the creation, it would cease to exist.

Only God is self-existent. Everything and everyone else must be continually sustained by the Creator.

for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’  Acts 17:28 (NASB95)

You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve (Hebrew: chayah – give life in an ongoing sense) them all. The host of heaven worships You.  Nehemiah 9:6 (NKJV)

God preserves us in congruity with how he made us. We maintain the same properties over time, which is the basis for science. God’s unchangeableness is reflected in this aspect of creation.

Concurrence

God accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will while maintaining the properties of his creation.

also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works (Greek: energeo) all things after the counsel of His will,  Ephesians 1:11 (NASB95)

He concurs with his creation as he works all things together to accomplish his will. This includes inanimate matter, animals, and people. This means that even seemingly random or chance events are under his direction in the sense that God makes everything work together to accomplish his will. Often God’s concurrence is hidden from our sight. It may seem that events are caused solely by created beings or processes, but the Bible assures us that God is the ultimate Mover.

His sovereignty extends to nations.

For the kingdom is the Lord’s And He rules over the nations.  Psalm 22:28 (NASB95)

His sovereignty oversees every aspect of our lives, including gender, family, health, intelligence, location, lifespan (Psalm 139:16), provision (Matthew 6:11), salvation (Galatians 1:15), calling (2 Timothy 1:9), and the choices we make (Proverbs 16:9). Everything we have comes from God. (1 Corinthians 4:7)

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13 (NASB95)

God is sovereign, but he is he not responsible for evil.

The Bible maintains the twin assertions that God is sovereign and uses evil to accomplish his ends, but he is not the author of evil.

“For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”  Luke 22:22 (NASB95) 

this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.  Acts 2:23 (NASB95)

For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.  Acts 4:27–28 (NASB95)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.  Genesis 50:20 (NASB95)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  James 1:13–14 (NASB95)

God does not do evil, or he would not be good. If evil does not fulfill his purposes, then evil is not under his control and might not fulfill his purposes. (Grudem, pp.149-150)

God is perfectly righteous when he judges his moral creatures for the evil we commit.

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,  Romans 9:19–23 (NASB95)

God is sovereign and we are responsible.We cannot fully comprehend how both are true, but it is what the Bible affirms. We dare not limit the Bible’s meaning to only what we can grasp.

We have freedom to choose, but only within the bounds of God’s sovereignty. An absolute freedom that could contravene God’s purposes is not possible. Nevertheless, we do make choices that have real consequences. No one sins involuntarily, unless it is done in ignorance. We act according to our desires. This is where the New Covenant comes to bear. God changes us on the inside so that we begin to desire to do what pleases God. Then the Holy Spirit gives us the grace to carry out those things.

While acknowledging God’s sovereignty, we reject fatalism, the idea that our actions are outside of our control and predetermined. We believe God predetermines outcomes without violating our ability to choose. This is a profound mystery, but both must be true.

Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  Romans 9:13–16 (NASB95)

We must accept what the Bible teaches, even if we cannot completely comprehend it. Man is not the measure of what is true. God is.

Government

God providentially directs all things to accomplish his purposes.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.  Psalm 103:19 (NASB95) 

“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’  Daniel 4:35 (NASB95)

It is only because God sovereignly governs all things that Paul can say that God works everything together for good (and his glory). (Romans 8:28)

Human Responsibility

  • We are responsible for our actions.
  • Our actions have consequences that impact history.
  • Prayer is important and can change outcomes.
  • Trust in God is also called a “work” by our Lord.
  • Our faith is demonstrated by what we do. (James 2:18)
Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28–29 (NASB95)

In conclusion, we maintain that God is sovereign over creation and predetermines outcomes without violating our responsibility to choose life and reject sin and death. Ultimately, we can only choose Christ because the Holy Spirit draws us and enables us to repent and believe. When it is all said and done, we will give thanks to God for his supreme kindness to us who believe.

Click here to see all the articles in this series.
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Dispensational Theology vs. the New Covenant – Part 1: Introduction

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Dispensational theology is a relatively new way of interpreting the Bible. It contrasts greatly with other historically accepted views but, nevertheless, has become the predominant eschatology among evangelicals. Dispensational theology ignores much of church history by using a futurist interpretation of many key passages in Matthew 24-24, Daniel, and Revelation. It contradicts Paul’s clear teaching regarding the New Covenant church being the “Israel of God,” and insists that today’s geopolitical entity called Israel corresponds to the Old Testament nation by the same name and is central to God’s end time purposes. I holds that Israel will be restored to worldwide to possess the lands promised to Abraham and be the base from which our Lord Jesus rules the world during his millennial kingdom. Dispensationalism encourages Christians to support the modern nation of Israel militarily, politically, and financially, claiming that we are assisting that nation to come into God’s purposes. It also claims that any failure to support national Israel will result in curses coming upon that individual or group or nation. Currently, it is claimed that to even speak against the actions of Israel equates to antisemitism and is a hate crime. So much for freedom of speech, the First Amendment.

In this series, I intend to show that Dispensational theology is a serious error that directly opposes the New Covenant and the teachings of Jesus and Paul regarding Israel.

Dispensationalism arose within the last 150 years; it is a system of interpretation for reading and understanding the Bible. It is distinct from, and incompatible with, the covenant theology held by our Reformed tradition and other Christians over the past 2,000 years of church history. A key aspect of dispensationalism is its unique views regarding the end-times events laid out in the Bible. Yet, more central to its uniqueness is its separation of Israel and the church. While covenant theology holds to the historic view that the Old Testament people of Israel and the Church are one covenant people in God’s redemptive plan throughout history, dispensationalism introduces a unique view: that God has a different plan for salvation for ethnic Israel (the Jewish people) and the Christian church.*

Central to this theology is the contention that God relates to man primarily on the basis of dispensations of grace. This conflicts with the reformed view of scripture, which holds that God has always related to mankind through covenants, about which you can read by clicking here.

Below is a graphic representation of the rather complicated dispensational scheme as developed by Clarence Larkin.dispensationalism

As can be seen, the above graphic neatly lays out the dispensational timeline. It seems to fit in many ways, but is generally incorrect because some of its presuppositions are false.

If our presuppositions are incorrect, so will be our conclusions.

The dispensational system of biblical interpretation first crystalized in the mid-1800s due to the ministry of John Nelson Darby with the Plymouth Brethren in Great Britain and Ireland. One of the emphases of the Plymouth Brethren movement was their anticipation for Christ to return at any time (and likely within their generation)… Darby stressed the two distinct peoples of God: Israel and the Church—a sharp division between the Old and New Testaments in how God dealt with those peoples—and he adopted a futuristic understanding of Revelation, in which God would remove the church from the world and finish his prophetic promises to the people of Israel.*

(I have written elsewhere about the various approaches to interpreting end time scriptures. I personally do hold to a futuristic view because I do not think it comports with most scripture. I recommend the book, Victorious Eschatology by Eberle and Trent, if you want to learn more about the partial preterist position.)

The idea of a “rapture” developed from the combination of this new distinction between Israel and the Church, end-times fervor, and ecstatic revivalism. Out of these, dispensationalists developed the idea that in this rapture (which would occur before the coming tribulation), God would remove the church from the world before their futuristic understanding of the events described in Revelation would occur. The first known articulation of a “pre-trib rapture” came from fifteen-year-old Margaret MacDonald in the form of an ecstatic prophetic utterance at a prayer meeting in her brother’s home in western Scotland, 1830 (MacPherson). Darby further popularized this view among the Plymouth Brethren and exported it from Great Britain to America. In America, Cyrus Scofield popularized these doctrines with his immensely popular Scofield Reference Bible, which was one of the first study Bibles, and contained dispensational commentary throughout the text of Scripture. The Scofield Reference Bible’s pessimistic views towards the history of the Church in the world, and the timing of its publication on the eve of World War I, cemented the idea into the evangelical psyche that the world was getting progressively more evil and would continue in that way until the Antichrist would arise after the Church was raptured out of the world.*

Cyrus Scofield was a charlatan and convicted fraudster. His rise to ministry fame is shrouded in mysterious connections to powerful people outside the church. He abandoned his first wife and daughters, which is condemned in the New Testament, falsely claimed to have a doctoral degree. All of this mitigates against our accepting anything doctrinal from him. Below is a video outlining his questionable story. Regardless of how much of this is true, the most fundamental reason to reject his theology is because it contradicts the New Covenant, which I will show in this series.

I have written elsewhere that I think the rapture is a false hope and will not comment further here.

During the Cold War, in the 1960s through the 1980s, dispensationalism went mainstream into the wider culture with the publication of Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth and Edgar Whisenant’s book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. As dispensationalism matured in the 20th century, confidence was stirred in its views when the modern nation of Israel was birthed in 1948, and when it miraculously won the Six-Day War in 1967 against a coalition of Arab states. In light of these historical developments, many dispensational teachers and groups continued the trend from 19th-century religious movements to believe that the current generation was the last generation before Christ’s return. Many dispensational ministers (e.g. Edgar Whisenant, Harold Camping, Chuck Smith, and others) would set specific dates or a range of years for Christ’s expected return. As the year 2000 approached, rapture fever increased and was fueled by the fictional Left Behind franchise of books and movies by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, which presented dispensational end-times views in story form. *

I became a follower of Christ in 1971 and was inundated with this view of the end times. In my early days this was the predominant, if not only, view of the end times to which I was exposed. It was not until later that I became aware of alternate ways of interpreting the Bible regarding the end times.

Dispensationalists believe that the Jews’ official rejection of Jesus Christ was a significant moment in history that essentially stopped the “prophetic clock” in Scripture. They teach that the prophetic promises in Daniel, Matthew 24-25, and Revelation are now on hold during the dispensation or “age” of the Church, which has lasted 2,000 years (from Pentecost to today). According to dispensationalism, the Church exists in a parenthesis in prophetic history, as they believe the prophetic promises described in the Bible are for the people of Israel, and that the “true” Church will be raptured before the prophetic events described by Daniel, Jesus, and the Apostle John are destined to occur (during the Tribulation, and before the Millennium, when according to dispensationalists, Christ will finally rule as the Messianic King on Earth).*

Since dispensationalists are futurists, they do not generally consider what has already taken place in church history as being the fulfillment of prophecy. I have written elsewhere my position that Daniel’s prophecies describe the coming of the Messiah, his crucifixion, and the subsequent destruction of the Jewish nation and Temple.

Having restored Israel to nationhood status in 1948, dispensationalism teaches that God is actively protecting the nation of Israel. In this scenario, Israel is largely the focus of what God is doing in the end times. As these dispensations are different ages in which God is doing different things, the dispensationalists believe that God was doing something different during the time of the Mosaic covenant from the New Covenant initiated by Christ.

Dispensationalism completely distinguishes between Israel and the Church, and believes that they have separate future destinies.

According to that doctrine, the Church did not exist in the Old Testament and did not begin until Pentecost. Therefore, all the promises made to the people of Israel, in particular the physical blessings, are only for Israel and not the Church. L.S. Chafer wrote:

“The dispensationalist believes that throughout the ages, God is pursuing two distinct purposes: one related to the earth with earthly people and earthly objectives involved, while the other is related to heaven with heavenly people and heavenly objectives involved” (Chafer, Dispensationalism).*

In the following articles, I plan to show that everything in the Old Testament scriptures pointed to a fulfillment in Christ via the New Covenant.

I will demonstrate that the promise of a “seed” to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ. The multitude of descendants is and will be those who are born again into God’s family, the church composed of both Jew and Gentile. I will also show that the promises regarding land were fulfilled under Joshua, David, and Solomon and that the New Covenant exceeds this by promising the entire recreated earth to God’s born-again church. Likewise, I will demonstrate that the Jewish people forfeited their part in God’s kingdom by rejecting and murdering their Messiah. Today only a remnant of Abraham’s descendants is being saved, those who become part of the church, the “one new man” in Christ, in which racial and genetic distinctions are no longer considered. All that matters now is being a new creation in Christ. I will show that God will be glorified for all eternity in the church; therefore, it is not a “parenthesis” in God’s plan.

Israel-centered dispensational eschatology detracts from the purpose of God to sum up all things in Christ. It seeks to return us to old covenant thinking and theology instead of moving forward with God’s purposes in Christ and his church.

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Ephesians 1:9–10 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NKJV)

I believe that the church has been duped by Dispensational theology into supporting a rebellious “antichrist” nation that is determined to establish world dominance without ever bowing the knee to Jesus the Lord. This is doomed to failure and should not be supported. We are called to love the Jewish people, pray for them, share the gospel with them, and perhaps support them in a limited fashion as a strategic ally, but it is a falsehood to call them “God’s Chosen People.” There is only one chosen people – God’s elect, the church.

 

Footnotes
* "Dispensationalism, Its History & Framework (Part 1)" by Jon Brodhagen.

If you wish to read more about Covenant vs. Dispensational Theology, click here and here.
If you wish to learn more about an alternate view of the end times, I recommend Harold Eberle's book, Victorious Eschatology.
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Identifying the Antichrist Spirit

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The Bible tells us of a coming Antichrist. How do we identify this individual or individuals? The apostle John wrote the following warning:

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 1 John 2:18 (NLT)

The antichrist spirit resists the rule of our Lord Jesus, the risen lord to whom belongs all glory and authority. Satan hates and opposes God and his rule, and those under his influence do the same. Some who are under Satan’s sway have enormous influence and wealth provided by their dark master. (Luke 4:6) The entire world system is in rebellion (1 John 5:19, James 4:4) to God and operates by deception. (Revelation 12:9) It is a satanic kingdom. (Colossians 1:13) The more a person abandons himself to the antichrist spirit, the more thorough is the satanic influence.

The Bible informs us that a spirit of antichrist actively opposes the gospel and the spreading rule of Christ in the world.

Over the centuries, certain leaders have embodied this spirit in a clear and dramatic fashion. They are always bloodthirsty men who go after God’s people. Entire nations and cultures can come under the sway of this spirit.

Initially, the Jews manifested the antichrist spirit by putting their Messiah, the Christ, to death. They also were the principal persecutors of those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ. Later Rome took up the torch of the antichrist Spirit by violently persecuting Christians. The Emperor Nero fulfilled the 666 warning found in Revelation. That was the number of his name in Hebrew. Revelation was written to the believers who lived during that time of intense suffering for the gospel.

Those of the Scofield Dispensational version of eschatology do not accept that Nero fulfilled the warning in Revelation and from Paul in 2 Timothy 2:3. They believe another antichrist will arise in the Last Days, who will persecute Jew and Christian alike. (You read more about the various eschatological views by clicking here.)

Regardless of which doctrine of the end times we adopt, we know that many antichrists have come and gone because the spirit of antichrist never dies.

It maintains its influence in the earth because there are plenty of people who are willing to sell their souls to the devil to obtain worldly wealth, fame, and power.  What are the characteristics of the antichrist spirit? How can we quickly recognize its activity and ward off its influence?

Denial of the Validity of God’s Word.
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (NLT)

Denying the truth of the God’s words, the Bible, is a primary way to circumvent God’s authority in our lives.

The serpent injected doubt into Eve’s heart, leading her to question and disobey God’s clear command, which brought death and destruction to the entire earth. This spirit is doing the same thing today. We see its activity in the media, our universities and public schools, the halls of congress, and in mainline denominations, where there has been an embracing of anti-biblical positions regarding creation, marriage, sexuality, gender, and abortion, to name a few.

Once the standard of biblical truth is rejected, the door is open for all manner of deception and evil.

Denial of Christ’s Lordship

There can only be one Lord, and Satan desires to have that position in the world. When people follow a person filled with the antichrist spirit, it amounts to an indirect worship of Satan. Jesus called the devil the prince of this world (John 12:31). At the cross, Satan tried to eliminate Jesus, the lawful heir to God’s kingdom, only to see our Lord completely turn the tables on him by returning to life after three days.

The antichrist spirit still vainly attempts to strip Christ of his glory and honor by denying his identity as the risen Lord and persecuting his followers.

Even if Satan cannot defeat our Lord, he gains a sort of Pyrrhic victory by taking with him to hell as many people as he can. It should astound us that people believe such a liar and follow him into eternal darkness and pain.

And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 1 John 2:22 (NLT)
Persecution of God’s Elect

Jesus taught that the devil came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and that he was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44).

Satan hates and seeks to kill God’s people because they are destined to co-rule with Christ and share the glory of their Redeemer – King.

He tried to usurp that glory for himself (Isaiah 14:13), but was put out of heaven for his rebellion. (Isaiah 14:12, Revelation 12:9, and Luke 10:18) It galls the devil to see God’s people, all those born of the Spirit, be freely given everything for which he lusted. The devil is the quintessential bully. If he cannot have what he wants, he wants to prevent others from obtaining it.

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. John 15:19 (NLT)
Massive Deception

Jesus taught us that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and there is no truth in him. He is a cunning master deceiver who knows how to lie boldly and to subtly twist the truth.

Those with the antichrist spirit  will be a master deceivers and use intrigue to enslave the masses (Daniel 8:23-25).

Jesus warned us that the end time deception will be so great that even the chosen of God will stand in danger of being swept away.

Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24  For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25  See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. 26  “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27  For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Matthew 24:23-27 (NLT)

delusionThe Muslims teach that Jesus did not actually die, but swooned, was revived, and later was assumed into heaven, where he waits to return in order to join their Mahdi or Messiah in converting people to Islam under pain of death. If that scenario plays out, we will need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ warning above. Whoever this person may end up being, it cannot be the true Lord Jesus because he does not serve Mohammad or Allah. Those who are not firmly grounded in the Bible and possess a love of the truth will be in grave peril.

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 9  This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (NLT)
Violence
At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. 24  He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. Daniel 8:23-24 (NLT)

Wherever Satan reigns, violence and chaos are the order of the day.

The antichrist spirit does not flinch from using violence to accomplish its purposes. That is why Jesus will violently destroy the antichrist, consigning him to the lake of fire along with his master, Satan.

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)

 

How Can We Protect Ourselves?

No matter if Dispensationalists are correct and a terrible time of tribulation is coming upon the earth or if the Post-millennialists are correct and a time of God’s kingdom expansion is coming, we must be prepared to suffer for the gospel if required. Here are some keys to overcoming by faith during such a time.

  • Faith. The first thing we need to know is that Jesus has all authority, which includes complete sovereignty over Satan, the antichrist spirit, world governments, and current events. Nothing gets by him. Nothing can touch God’s people without God’s permission, limitations, and oversight. In other words, we can trust the Lord, no matter how crazy things may get. (Romans 8:28)
  • Allegiance. We are privileged to declare our allegiance to the one true Lord and King, Jesus the Messiah or Christ. We do this both verbally and through water baptism. Let us make a firm commitment to worship, serve, and tell others about him. We should also make a stand on the validity and truthfulness of the Bible.
  • Courage. It takes courage to stand for truth when the spirit of antichrist mocks and threatens us. The Holy Spirit is our source of comfort and strength, who will see us through.
  • Community. God instituted the church to be a strong community of support. If we are not already of member of a community of believers, we should make it a priority to find one. A wolf always goes after the lone sheep.
  • Mission. The best defense is a good offense. If we make the Great Commission our personal mission in life, it will be a safeguard. Let’s make seeking God’s glory our priority and his kingdom our focus. Everything else will take care of itself. (Matthew 6:33)
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Don’t pin your hopes on the rapture.

glory fills earth

We may be on the brink of the long awaited Second Coming of Christ. As we approach the very end of time, many Christians of the Scofield Dispensational theology persuasion pin their hopes on being “raptured” out of a period of great persecution and tribulation. I believe this is a big mistake based on false doctrine.

The various views and doctrines relating to the end times are a branch of theology and doctrine called eschatology or the study of the end times or eschaton. The early church did not adhere to Dispensational theology. In fact, it is a relatively recent addition dating back to the late 1800s, which was introduced by John Darby and Cyrus Scofield. However, its relative young age has not stopped its being believed by many. (If you wish to read more about the various views, click here.)

Even though the word “rapture” is not actually a biblical term, the idea is found in the Bible. It is connected to Christ’s return.

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. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (ESV)

The Greek word is harpazo, which means to seize, catch up, or snatch away.

Dispensational theology teaches that God’s people will be raptured, but not at the very end. Depending on the version, it could be prior to, mid, or post Great Tribulation. The “pre-trib” rapture is probably the most popular, for obvious reasons. It hold that believers will be snatched up from the earth before it gets really bad, leaving unsaved humanity to endure the atrocities of the Antichrist’s rule. But does this conform to the Bible’s clear teachings on the end times? Might it be a false hope which could leave the church unprepared to endure suffering?

Corrie Ten BoomCorrie Ten Boom, a Christian woman who miraculously survived the Nazi death camps after being betrayed by a neighbor for harboring and protecting Jews, toured the world as a speaker in her old age warning Christians that suffering is part of God’s plan to transform us and prepare us for glory. I quote her below.

 

There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the latter days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution.

In China, the Christians were told, ” Don’t worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated – raptured.” Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later, I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly,

“We have failed..
We should have made the people strong for persecution,
rather than telling them Jesus would come first.
Tell the people to be strong in times of persecution,
how to stand when the tribulation comes,
to stand and not faint.” (Women of Christianity)

We do well to seriously consider Corrie’s warning, but what the Bible says is even more important. What, if anything, did Jesus and Paul say about the rapture? Not surprisingly, they said quite a lot about the end times, and some of it directly relates to the rapture theory. I begin by quoting our Lord’s words regarding the very end.

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37  Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38  The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39  The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. 40  “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42  And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Matthew 13:36-43 (NLT)

Here Jesus explained that the group that will will be taken is composed of the wicked, not the righteous. This is the very opposite scenario taught by rapture enthusiasts.

In another passage, Jesus reaffirms that this is how things will be.

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38  In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39  People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40  “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41  Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42  “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43  Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44  You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Matthew 24:37-44 (NLT)

Once again Jesus words do not lead us to have an expectation of the rapture of the church out of tribulation. Instead, those who will be taken or swept away first are the wicked, just as during the flood of Noah’s day. Noah’s family was left behind to inherit the earth, after the wicked were removed.

Where did the doctrine of the rapture come from then? John Nelson Darby was probably the first person to fully articulate this relatively modern doctrine sometime between 1832 and 1845. (John Darby: Pretribulation Rapture Theory) It can be argued that such a theory could only find traction in a land and time that was free from intense persecution. I doubt if it could have been developed during the persecutions that attended the early church or the one going on in various parts of the world right now. Many areas have already experienced or are currently experiencing great tribulation.

By the way, the Greek word translated tribulation is thlipsis, which essentially means “pressure.” Pressure explodes weak containers and refines coal into diamonds. How we will be affected by pressure will depend on what is inside us.

The Bible clearly warns us to expect suffering, which God’s grace will help us endure.

"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10  "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11  "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12  "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. 13  "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. Matthew 24:9-13 (NASB)

Jesus encouraged us to endure suffering for the gospel, not pin our hopes on a “great escape” called the rapture.

When people believe they will be pulled out of coming troubles, it can demotivate us from actively preaching the gospel and working to expand the kingdom of God. Instead, we may end up “forting up” in our churches, waiting for the rapture.

Removing believers when intense suffering is about to arrive does not conform to God’s shepherd heart. Jesus watchman neetold us that the Good Shepherd will not flee when he sees the wolf coming. Watchman Nee lived and ministered in China before it fell to communism. He had the opportunity to escape but chose to remain with the people under his care. His church was among those which did not capitulate to the demands of the Communist Party. He endured great suffering as a result of his choice and languished for years in prison, but he was faithful to God and those under his care.

Is it not more in line with Christ’s love that he would raise up his church to be his fearless witness during such a time? Is that not what actually happened during previous persecutions? The church grew exponentially during Roman persecutions and has expanded victoriously during the modern version in China. Would we expect Christ to rejoice in a weak and fearful bride hiding in hopes of being rescued or in one who is gloriously confronting the enemies of the gospel? What if the period we hope to escape will end up being the most glorious and victorious era for the church?

I have a growing suspicion that most of our end time theology will be seriously rearranged in the coming days as we approach the Second Coming of Christ.

The prophet Habakkuk promised that the glory of the Lord will fill the earth.

"For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 (NASB)

Could a Spirit-filled victorious church participating in a massive outpouring of the Spirit as prophesied in Joel be part of what happens before the Second Coming? Many, including myself, think so.

Jesus taught that his Second Coming will precipitate the resurrection from the dead, the last judgment, and the final state of things. Not only will the wicked be removed and burned with unquenchable fire; all the dead will be raised, judged and assigned to their eternal destinies.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28  Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29  and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:25-29 (ESV)

Those who have already died as believers will be the first ones caught up to meet the Lord when he comes to judge the world. After that those believers who are still alive physically will join them.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18  Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NASB)

Putting all this together, it appears that the Lord’s Second Coming will be immediately preceded by a removal of the wicked, followed by a resurrection of the dead and a catching up of the righteous to join the descending Lord. This agrees with what Paul wrote about the resurrection in the fifteenth chapter of his First Letter to the Church in Corinth.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will 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 will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 (NASB95)

Jesus will come again at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised, and those who are still alive will be instantly transformed by receiving their glorified bodies. This is what is called the rapture. Then a glorious and fearful final reckoning will take place which will be administered by the Divine Son of Man, the risen Lord Jesus.

"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32  "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33  and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Matthew 25:31-33 (NASB)

God has not given us all the details of how it will be at the end, only what we need to know. Hardly anyone figured out how Jesus would arrive on the earth the first time. Why should we expect that we will figure everything out ahead of time the second go around?

As we await his sure return, let us hold on to our ideas of what will be with an open mind and heart, realizing that we may need to adjust our thinking as we watch events unfold.

In the meantime, let us take seriously the apostle Peter’s words of encouragement.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11  All power to him forever! Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11 (NLT)
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