The Trinity

John 1:1-3, 14
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made
(14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 John 5:7
(7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The scriptures reveal that there are three distinct persons that make up "the Godhead" (Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9). Christians have long referred to this Bible doctrine as the Trinity. Those that deny this truth make an issue out of the word “Trinity” not being found in the Bible. The word “incarnation” is not in the Bible. The word “rapture” is not in the Bible. The word “Bible” is not even in the Bible! But there is certainly nothing wrong with using such terms in reference to Bible doctrines. The Trinity is a fundamental of the Christian faith and is therefore only denied by cults and heretics.  

 

Those that deny the Trinity accuse us of worshipping three Gods. No, we believe that there is only ONE true and living God (as the Bible clearly says in many passages). But we also believe that the true and living God exists in three co-equal Persons (as the Bible also clearly teaches in many passages). The heretics say that doesn’t make sense to them (human reasoning is their final authority, not the word of God). I know why they cannot receive it and why it is foolishness to them (1 Cor. 2:14)! There are many things about my infinite God that my finite mind cannot humanly comprehend but I believe what the Spirit reveals to me about God through His word.

 

Is it any wonder that 1 John 5:7 is one of the most attacked verses in the Bible?! Corrupt manuscripts and modern versions that are based upon them omit the verse. Even the Old Scofield Reference Bible has a marginal note that says, “It is generally agreed that v.7 has no real authority, and has been inserted.” Generally agreed among whom? Who cares! My final authority is not the "scholarship" of men but the pure words of God. There is manuscript evidence for this verse but the KJB itself is the best evidence that it belongs in the word of God! Believing and rightly dividing the KJB will save us from apostasy, heresy, and deception.  

 

The scripture was given as a progressive revelation. The Trinity is intimated in the OT (examples: Gen. 1:26-27; 11:5-9; Isa. 6:1-8; 7:14; 9:6-7; Dan. 3:24-25; Mic. 5:2) and clearly revealed and emphasized in the NT. The following lists provide examples and are by no means exhaustive.

 

Father, Son, and Spirit are called God:

1) The Father (Phil. 2:11)

2) The Son (Heb. 1:8)

3) The Holy Ghost (Acts 5:3-4)

 

Mentioned together in the same passage as three distinct Persons:

1) Baptism of Christ (Matt. 3:16-17)
2) Christ promising the Comforter (Jn. 14:16)
3) Kingdom Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)
4) Apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14)
5) Unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:4-6)

 

Same attributes applied to Father, Son, and Spirit:

1) Eternal (Father, Ps. 90:2; Son, Mic. 5:2; Spirit, Heb. 9:14)

2) Omnipotent (Father, Job 42:2; Son, Rev. 19:6; Spirit, Rom. 15:19)

3) Omniscient (Father, Jer. 17:10; Son, Rev. 2:23; Spirit, Heb. 4:12)

4) Omnipresent (Father, Jer. 23:24; Son, Matt. 18:20; Spirit, Ps. 139:7)

5) Holy (Father, Jn. 17:11; Son, Rev. 3:7; Spirit, Eph. 4:30)

6) True (Father, Jn. 7:28; Son, 14:6; Spirit, 1 Jn. 5:6)

 

The Trinity working in Unity as the Godhead:

1) Creation – The Spirit moved (Gen. 1:2), God spoke, Christ (the Word) created all things (Jn. 1:1-3); God said, "Let US make man in OUR image" (Gen. 1:26)

2) Incarnation – The Father gave (Jn. 3:16-17), the Spirit placed the seed (Matt. 1:18; Lk. 1:35), and the Son was born of the virgin (Matt. 1:18-25)

3) Resurrection ("But God raised him from the dead", Acts 13:30) – Father (Gal. 1:1), Son (Jn. 10:17), Spirit (Rom. 8:11)

4) Salvation (Father, Eph. 1:3-6; Son, Eph. 1:7-12; Spirit, Eph. 1:13-14)

5) Prayer – We pray to the Father (Eph. 3:14), in name of the Son (Eph. 5:20), in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18)

How to Pray

Things to Come: A Journal of Biblical Literature 

September, 1898

Question and Answers 

Question No. 183

"I am much perplexed by much that is said and written about prayer. Private prayer I mean; i.e. when and how I ought to pray, or whether I ought to be definite in my prayer and to what extent?" 

The answer to your question will be found in the definition of the term "prayer". What is prayer? Our hymn says truly, "Prayer is the Christian's vital breath." Or, it may be more accurately expressed by saying Prayer is the breath of the new nature. Just as the natural breath is the sign and evidence of physical life- so prayer is the mark and sign of the possession of spiritual life. The analogy is complete. Natural life commences with breathing and the breathing produces a cry. It is so with the New Birth. A New Life is imparted- "the breath of life" is breathed- a cry is produced and prayer goes forth "God be merciful to me a sinner." From that moment the breathing continues as the spontaneous outcome of the New Life. We require no more rule for the one breathing than the other. No knowledge of Physiology is required for the one, and no knowledge of theology is necessary for the other. Indeed one has often listened to discourses on Physiology till one has exclaimed, "Pray say no more or I shall be afraid to breathe!" So it is with the breathing of the new nature. The moment it becomes the subject of discussion or of rule- its essence is gone. We are such formalists by nature that we need nothing to encourage formalism in our prayers. Our efforts should be used in the opposite direction. The moment we reason about prayer we make it artificial. But true prayer is spontaneous. Our business in natural life is to breathe and not to think about it. Our business in spiritual life is to breathe (i.e. to pray) and not to think about it. The moment we begin to think about our prayer we are occupied with the means and lose the end. We are reminded of an old rhyme which we recently heard, but which illustrates our meaning exactly: - 

"The centipede was happy quite

Until the toad, in fun

Said, Pray which foot goes after which?

Which moved his mind to such a pitch

He lay distracted in the ditch

Considering- How to run."

We immediately pointed the moral and put it into the following form: - 

The praying soul was happy quite

Until some one did say

Prayer must be this, and that, and thus!

Which put his mind in such a fuss

That here and there in vain he'd rush

To find out- How to pray!

Nothing can be added to this great truth or to its lesson. As to "definiteness in prayer," well, if we were omniscient we would be very definite, but believing that God knows what is best, we are content to very definitely ask Him to do all He knows to be best. Unfortunately most Christians think they know better than God, and hence very definitely decide what they want Him to do. And this- in spite of the fact that He has told them that "we know not what we should pray for as we ought" (Rom. viii.26). 

For our part we have but one desire in this matter, and that is that He would do all His will! By our increasing knowledge of Him (Eph. i.17) we are so convinced of His infinite love and infinite knowledge, and infinite power that to substitute for these the definiteness of our "infirmities" (Rom. viii.26) would be our infinite loss. 

Five Results of Justification

(Romans 5:1-11) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: {2} By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. {3} And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; {4} And patience, experience; and experience, hope: {5} And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. {6} For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. {10} For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. {11} And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

 

By inspiration of God the apostle Paul reveals and expounds the doctrine of justification by faith in Rom. 3:21-5:21. In the above passage we find some of the blessed results of being justified by faith. Notice that the first word in v.1 is “Therefore”. What is said in the passage is based on what was said in the previous two chapters concerning justification. Notice that our justification is spoken of as a done deal (“being justified”). The blessings that “we have” (v.2,11) are the result of this justification. We did not earn the great blessings spoken of in this passage. They are ours "through our Lord Jesus Christ" (v.1, 11)

We receive justification through faith alone without works. But our justification is BY the faith of Christ (Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16). The apostle Paul speaks of the “faith OF Christ” seven times in his epistles. The doctrine of justification by the faith of Christ is only found in Paul's epistles. Jesus Christ was obedient to His Father's will (Phil. 2:8). The Father made Him a promise before the world began (Titus 1:2). He had faith in the Father's will, promise, word, and plan. By His faith He accomplished what the Father sent Him to do. His faith is perfect and proven. Because we are justified by His faith there is no need for our faith to be tried in respect to justification like the tribulation saints (Jam. 2:14-26). Our justification is not a process. It is instant and permanent. 

 

Being justified by faith, WE HAVE: 

1. Peace with God
As lost sinners we were enemies of a righteous and holy God (Rom. 5:10; 8:7-8). I believe that deep down all lost sinners have a sense of that reality to a degree in their heart (of course, Holy Ghost conviction intensifies that reality). That is why so many are going about trying to do what they can to make peace with God. But it is not possible for sinners to make peace with God by their own works. He will not accept anything that we try to offer Him. We do not need to make peace with God because Christ made that peace for us when He died on the cross for our sins! He made reconciliation for us (Rom. 5:10). Peace with God is only available "through our Lord Jesus Christ". He made the "atonement" for our sins through His blood (Rom. 5:11). An atonement is basically a payment that is made to bring two disputing parties together (at-one-ment). The payment is made by the offending party to the aggrieved party. Since in our case, we could not make the necessary payment, the aggrieved party actually became one of us so that He could make the payment for us! The word atonement is used 81 times in the OT and just once in the NT. The blood sacrifice of animals atoned for the sins of the people but is was not permanent. The atonement that Christ made with His blood is permanent! In the OT an atonement was made but in the NT "the atonement" is received. The moment that we receive Christ by faith we instantly and permanently have peace with God through the reconciliation and atonement that Christ accomplished through the blood of His cross! Our peace WITH God can never be altered (this is different from the peace OF God).

2. Access to God
It is by GRACE that we have a right standing before God. As a result of this standing we have full and free access directly to God by faith. This access to God has not always been available to man. Before Adam fell into sin he walked with God in the Garden of Eden but after the fall God drove man out of the garden. When the law was given to Israel the people "stood afar off" and were warned not to come near Mt. Sinai "lest they die". In the tabernacle and then later the temple there was a thick veil that separated the people from God's presence in the most holy place. Only the high priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. As Gentiles we were even further off from God. There was a middle wall of partition that kept us out (figuratively in the ordinances of the law and literally in the temple). But in Christ we are made nigh to God by His blood (Eph. 2:11-18). The apostle Paul is the only writer to use the word "access" (note that our access is by the faith of Christ, Eph. 3:12). This access is not through any man, any church, or any religion. It is only through being a member of the Body of Christ. As children of God we can go to our Father at any time and for any reason and know that He loves us and welcomes us into His presence. He accepts us as He does Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:14-16)!

3. Hope of the Glory of God
The first three results relate to our past, present, and future. "Peace with God" takes care of the past: He will no longer hold our sins against us! "Access to God" takes care of our present: we can come to Him at any time for the help we need! "Hope of the glory of God" takes care of the future: one day we will be glorified together with Him! The hope of the Church is the certain expectation and anticipation of Christ coming for us and being glorified together with Him. No matter what our circumstances may be, we can "rejoice in the Lord alway" because of this blessed hope that the Holy Spirit makes real in our heart. Anybody can rejoice in the good times. Do you rejoice in tribulations (Acts 16:25)? Because of this hope we can glory in our tribulations. Do we glory or gripe? We must suffer before we are glorified (Rom. 8:17). It is important for believers to KNOW that God uses the tribulations of life to help us grow spiritually. We will not glory in tribulations if we do not KNOW that (Jam. 1:2-4). Tribulation works patience and patience works experience (we experience that God's grace is sufficient) and experience works hope. Although we must endure tribulations in this life God has promised that we will not have to endure THE great tribulation that will come upon this world when He pours out His wrath (Rom. 5:9-10). When Christ comes secretly for the church He will save us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 5:9) and we will not only be with Him but we will be like Him (Phil. 3:20-21)! We shall be saved by His life. Because He lives, we shall live (Rom. 4:25). A.C. Gaebelein wrote, "All believers are exempt from the wrath to come because they are one with Him who is the administrator of the judgments of God." 

4. Love of God 

It has been the rule, not the exception, for God's people to be persecuted in this world (2 Tim. 3:12). Our suffering and persecution does not mean that God does not love us or that He is punishing us (Phil. 1:28-30). God has already proven His love for us (Rom. 5:6-8). We are not ashamed to live by faith because the love of God is made real in our hearts by the Holy Ghost that is given to every believer upon salvation. He is the earnest and the seal (Eph. 1:11-14).

5. Joy in God
The world knows nothing of real and abiding joy for it is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Because of all that we have through justification by faith we can "joy in God" every day (Phil. 4:4)! Consider Paul's circumstances when he wrote Philippians! Real joy is not based on what is going on around us but on Christ who lives within us. NO amount of tribulation and suffering can diminish what we have in Christ.

 

These five results concern our unchangeable STANDING in Christ and confirm that we have eternal security as members of the Body of Christ.

Major Doctrinal Differances Between the Present Age and the Future Tribulation Period (part 2)

The Lord Jesus Christ plainly said that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world and then the end shall come. The gospel of Christ went into "all the world" in the first century (Col. 1:6) and the end still hasn't come! The only way to truly believe what the Bible says, as it says it, is to rightly divide it (2 Tim. 2:15). If you think that the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God are the same gospel... I am sorry, but you are making Christ out to be a false teacher.

 

(Matthew 24:9-21) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  {10} And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  {11} And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  {12} And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  {13} But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  {14} 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.  {15} When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  {16} Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:  {17} Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:  {18} Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  {19} And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  {20} But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  {21} For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

Have you ever noticed in this passage that Christ was preparing His disciples to go through the tribulation ("you", "ye")? Why would He do such a thing? Because the revelation of this present dispensation was not yet given (Eph. 3:1-12; Col. 1:24-29)! The revelation of the mystery given through the apostle Paul is the explanation as to why v.14 has not been fulfilled. We are living in a parenthetical age that was a mystery hid to the prophets and when it ends with the mystery of the rapture, THEN the 70th week of Daniel will be fulfilled.

 

If you believe the Body of Christ is going through any part of the tribulation period, what are you going to do with what Paul said to the Body of Christ in the following passage in light of the FACT that the gospel of the kingdom (which requires baptism and works) will be preached in the tribulation period?

 

(Galatians 1:6-12) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  {7} Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  {8} But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  {9} As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  {10} For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  {11} But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  {12} For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

In the book of Galatians the apostle Paul rebukes and corrects the churches at Galatia for allowing legalizers to bring them back under the law. The apostle Paul is the ONLY writer in the Bible who says, "for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14). That is a unique truth for the Body of Christ in this present age. We are not to keep the sabbath in this age (Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:16). The sabbath days are for Israel (Ex. 31:12-17). Did you ever notice what Christ said about the sabbath in Matt. 24:20? The tribulation saints will be observing the law in the tribulation period (Rev. 12:17; 14:12). That will not sound wrong to you if you understand that "out of Zion shall go forth the LAW" in the kingdom age (Isa. 2:3). The law will not be a "yoke of bondage" to the kingdom saints that will be filled with the Spirit (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:25-28).

 

2. Justification by the Faith OF Christ versus by a Man's Faith

Israel receives remission of sins AS A NATION at the second coming of Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom. 11:25-27) when God puts them under the New Covenant (Heb. 8:7-13). The baptism of repentance (Acts 2:38) was not looking back to the cross (John preached it BEFORE the cross) but ahead to the second coming of Christ when His blood will be APPLIED to the nation on the Day of Atonement. The gospel of the kingdom requires water baptism, keeping commandments (Matt. 3:7-12; 7:21; 19:16-22; Jn. 15:10), and enduring to the end (Matt. 10:22; 24:13-14) to be saved. Tribulation saints will have to overcome in order to have right to the tree of life and not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:7, 11). If they take the mark of the beast they will be eternally damned (Rev. 14:9-13). That is why James, writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (Jam. 1:1), taught that justification was by faith that works (Jam. 2:14-26). Faith is believing what God says. If a Jew really believes the gospel of the kingdom he will DO what that gospel requires. In the tribulation period God will test the faith of Israel (Jam. 1:1-4; 1 Pet. 6-9). God will not accept works without sincere repentance and faith (Matt. 7:22-23). So, salvation under the gospel of the kingdom is not by works. It is by a faith that works. They will need the mercy and grace of God to make it.

 

God has not always told men NOT to do any works but to simply trust the finished work of Christ alone for salvation as He does in this age (compare Acts 10:35 with Titus 3:5). In times past He required works of men to prove their faith and He will do so again after this age. If God requires works, real faith will seek to do those works. But the works in and of themselves have never and will never save a sinner. Why doesn’t God require us to do works to prove our faith for justification in this age? Why is our justification instant and permanent? We receive justification by faith but we are justified by the faith of Christ (Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9) and His faith is perfect and proven!

 

(Habakkuk 2:2-4) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  {3} For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  {4} Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

 

(Romans 1:16-17) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  {17} For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

Notice that Paul omitted "his". We must never omit, add, or change the word of God (Prov. 30:5-6). But Paul was writing by inspiration of God! The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to omit "his" when quoting Hab. 2:4 because the book of Romans teaches that the Body of Christ is justified by the faith OF Christ (Rom. 3:21-22).

 

The Body of Christ is not told to "endure to the end"! Consider what Paul wrote to the carnal Corinthians:

 

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

 

Every member of the Body of Christ has the same perfect and complete standing in Him (Col. 2:10). We are blessed with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3) the moment of salvation but the tribulation saints must overcome in order to obtain the blessings that are promised to them (Rev. 2-3).

 

 

Major Doctrinal Differences Between the Present Age and the Future Tribulation Period (part 1)

Several years ago I was told by a preacher who believes that the Body of Christ is going through the tribulation period that the major difference between his view and mine is one of timing. He said, "You just think we are going up a little sooner than I do." Actually, the major difference is one of DOCTRINE. Here are just a few examples of the major doctrinal differences between the present dispensation of the mystery (Col. 1:25-26) and the future tribulation period.

 

1. The Gospel that is to be Preached

Those who have completed the elementary level in their Bible study understand that there is more than one gospel message in the Bible. This fact is clearly seen by simply "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:13). There is only one gospel to be preached in this age and that is the one that Christ revealed through the apostle Paul (Gal. 1:6-12). Paul is the first one in the Bible to glory in the cross and preach it as GOOD NEWS (Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 1:17-18). Christ BEGAN to speak to the His 12 apostles about His death, burial, and resurrection at the END of His earthly ministry and they did not believe it because the purpose of it was hid from them (Matt. 16:21-23; Lk. 18:31-34). For over three years they preached the gospel without even believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ! Paul defined the gospel he received as how that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was prophesied in the OT ("according to the scriptures", Ps. 22; Isa. 53) but it was not understood or preached as good news until Paul. The 12 preached the "gospel of the kingdom" which was the good news that the prophesied kingdom promised to Israel was at hand. After His resurrection, Christ opened the understanding of His disciples concerning how His sufferings had to precede His kingdom glory (Lk. 24:13-53). Their question after being taught by Christ over a forty day period was, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). When Peter preached to the "men of Israel" (Acts 2:22) on the day of Pentecost, he charged them with murdering their Messiah (bad news, not good news), proclaimed that He was risen from the dead, and preached the gospel of the kingdom.

 

(Mark 1:4) John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

 

(Acts 2:37-38) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  {38} Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost and was faithful to boldly preach what Christ commissioned the apostles to preach after His resurrection!

 

(Mark 16:15-18) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  {16} He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  {17} And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  {18} They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

The gospel of the kingdom required water baptism and was accompanied by the signs of the kingdom. All the signs of Mk. 16:17-18 will be manifested in the tribulation period. The apostle Paul was sent "not to baptize" (1 Cor. 1:17) and therefore could not have been sent under the same commission as the 12 apostles. He worked the "signs of an apostle" (2 Cor. 12:12) in the transition period but he taught that those signs would cease (1 Cor. 13:8-13) and they did after Acts 28. I know that Christ was referring to the gospel of the kingdom in Mk. 16:15 because just a few weeks prior He had said to the apostles:

 

(Matthew 24:14) 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.

 

Why didn't the 12 go to all the world? They were commissioned to BEGIN in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:47; Acts 1:8) which will be the capitol city of the kingdom of heaven (Jer. 3:17). Because the nation of Israel did not repent of killing their Messiah there was no need for the 12 to go to the rest of the world. According to prophecy, the Gentiles are blessed through the rise and instrumentality of Israel. Israel fell in Acts 7 and at that point Christ was prepared to bring them through the tribulation and come again to establish His kingdom (that is why He was standing, Acts 7:55-56). Instead of pouring out wrath He poured out grace by saving the leader of the rebellion against Him (Saul who became the apostle Paul) and revealing through him the mysteries of the present age. This was not an afterthought or "Plan B"! It was according to God's eternal purpose that He purposed in Christ before the world began but kept secret until He revealed it through Paul (Eph. 3:1-12). In this age the Gentiles are blessed through the fall of Israel (Rom. 11:12) and all believers are baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Cor. 12:13) wherein there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:27-28). God used Paul's ministry to get the gospel of Christ to all the world. In fact, over fourteen years after his salvation he went up by revelation to the apostles who were still in Jerusalem and communicated to them the gospel that he preached among the Gentiles (Gal. 2:1-10). They recognized Paul's distinct ministry and came to an agreement:

 

(Galatians 2:9) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Paul said that his gospel went into all the world in his lifetime and yet the end still has not come! Comparing Matt. 24:14 with Col. 1:6 proves that Paul did not preach the gospel of the kingdom.

(Colossians 1:5-6) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;  {6} Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

All those who believe the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) are baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (Eph. 3:6). The Body of Christ is God's heavenly people (Eph. 2:6) and He has given us an heavenly hope (Phil. 3:20-21). We are not looking for the antichrist from the earth but for the Lord Jesus Christ to catch us up to be glorified with Him in heaven (Col. 3:1-4). It is a serious error to exchange our heavenly hope for Israel's earthly hope (Col. 1:21-23)! Those who believe in a mid-trib, pre-wrath, or post-trib rapture have been moved away from the hope of Paul's gospel and will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.

After this present age ends with the rapture, God will resume His dealings with Israel (His earthly people) and the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27) will be fulfilled. In the first 3 1/2 years of that week the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all that world just like Christ said. This will be accomplished through the ministry of the 144,000 (Rev. 7). Once again, the kingdom of heaven will be at hand. I believe that the 144,000 will be raptured in the middle of the tribulation just before Satan is cast out of heaven (Isa. 66:5-8; Rev. 12:1-6; 14:1-5). In the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation an angel will preach the everlasting gospel to the whole world (Rev. 14:6-7). God does not use angels to preach the gospel in this age (Gal. 1:8) or to give messages to the Body of Christ (Col. 2:18). This gospel is called “everlasting” because its basic truth has been declared from the beginning: man should fear God and worship Him because He is the Creator. The world will be deceived into worshipping the beast (Rev. 13) and so this angel will preach that the hour of judgment has come and men must worship the true and living God who made all things in order to escape His judgment. 

My question to those who believe the Body of Christ is going through the first half of the tribulation period is: when are you going to start preaching the gospel of the kingdom with signs following?
 

The Day of the LORD

The Bible has much to say about the day of the Lord. It is the most anticipated day on the Lord's calendar. Satan is the god of this present evil world (2 Cor. 4:4; Gal. 1:4) and it is still the "times of the Gentiles" (Lk. 21:24). But the times will change drastically when Christ comes again!

(1 Timothy 6:15) Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

(Isaiah 33:5-6) "The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. {6} And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure."

God is allowing man to have his day but it will come to a destructive end when the Lord has His day! Man seeks to abase the LORD and exalt himself but in the day of the LORD the pride of man will be abased and the LORD alone will be exalted in the earth. The first mention of the "day of the LORD" plainly tells us what that day will be all about.

(Isaiah 2:10-12) ¶ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. {11} The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. {12} For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

Is the day of the Lord just one 24 hour period? The word "day" when used without any limiting words may refer to a long or prolonged period: as, the "day of visitation", the "day of salvation", the "day of judgment", etc... But when the word "day" is used with a numerical, as one, two, three, etc..., or first, second, third, etc..., "evening and morning" (Gen. 1), it is defined, limited, and restricted to an ordinary day of 24 hours.

I believe that the day of the Lord is over a thousand years long and that it includes the tribulation period, second coming of Christ, millennial kingdom, final battle with Satan, and the renovation of heavens and earth by fire. This explains the seeming contradiction between passages that describe the day of the Lord as a time of great destruction and others which describe it as a time of great blessing.

The day of the Lord begins before the kingdom age because it includes the destruction of the wicked at the end of the great tribulation.

(Isaiah 13:6-11) ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. {7} Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: {8} And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. {9} Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. {10} For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. {11} And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

A thousand years is as one day to the Lord (2 Pet. 3:8). The millennial reign of Christ will be the seventh millennium of human history. The Lord pictured this by making the heavens and earth in six days and resting on the seventh. Did you ever notice that the Bible does not say, "And the evening and the morning were the seventh day" (Gen. 2:1-3)? It is like the seventh day has no end. The kingdom age will run a thousand years and then there will be a final battle, the renovation of the heavens and earth with fire, and a new heaven and a new earth. But, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." (Isa. 9:6)

(Hebrews 4:4-11) For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. {5} And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. {6} Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: {7} Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. {8} For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. {9} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. {10} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. {11} Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

(Isaiah 28:11-12) For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. {12} To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

(Isaiah 11:9-10) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. {10} ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

(Psalms 118:22-26) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. {23} This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. {24} This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. {25} Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. {26} Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

The final battle with Satan at the end of the millennial reign is also called the day of the LORD.

(Revelation 20:7-11) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, {8} And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. {9} And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. {10} And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. {11} And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

(2 Peter 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

But does the day of the LORD include the entire seven year tribulation period? Many believe that it doesn't and they use the following verses as proof.

(Malachi 4:5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: [Elijah is one of the two witness in the tribulation, Rev. 11]

(Acts 2:20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Both prophecies are referring to the second coming of Christ in particular. The second coming of Christ is certainly the day of the Lord but the Bible does not limit the day of the Lord to that one glorious event. The wrath of God will reach its climax at the end of the great tribulation ("in them is filled up the wrath of God", Rev. 15:1) but that does not mean that God's wrath was not active until then.

Those who believe in a mid-trib or pre-wrath rapture of the Body of Christ claim that the wrath of God does not come until the end of the great tribulation. Therefore, they claim that when Paul says we are delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10) and not appointed to wrath (1 Thess. 5:9), he is not teaching that the Body of Christ will be raptured before the tribulation period. But I know that the Body of Christ is not going through any of the seven years of tribulation because that whole week is the subject of prophecy concerning Israel (Dan. 9:24-27) and we are the mystery that was hid from the prophets (Eph. 3:1-12). The Body of Christ was revealed through Paul and so was our rapture (1 Cor. 15:51). He exhorted the Body of Christ to look for Christ from heaven (Phil. 3:20-21), not the anti-Christ from earth (for more reasons why I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the Body of Christ see this post: the pre-tribulation rapture).

We are saved from the wrath to come (Rom. 5:9) and all seven years of the tribulation period is a result of God's wrath. The six seals that are opened in Rev. 6 provide an overview of the entire tribulation period (see this post: overview of Daniel's 70th week). The first seal produces the antichrist (Rev. 6:1-2) and the sixth seal shows us the second coming of Christ (Rev. 6:12-17). Who opens the seals? The Lamb of God! Some teachers claim that the tribulation will be the result of the wrath of man and Satan but not God. We are well aware that Satan will be wroth with the godly remnant of Israel and seek to destroy them (Rev. 12:17) but it is THE LORD who has Michael and his angels kick Satan and his angels out of heaven and down to the earth (Rev. 12:7-12). Before that takes place it is THE LORD who sends the strong delusion causing the Christ-rejecting world to believe the lie of the antichrist that they all might be damned (2 Thess. 2:11-12). The antichrist will be able to deceive the world as a result of God's wrath on those who rejected Him. Throughout the tribulation God's wrath is active to a limited extent (millions die during that period) but at the end it is FILLED UP and fully poured out. 

The entire tribulation period is the Lord's day.

(Revelation 1:10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Many teachers claim that the “Lord’s day” in this verse is not referring to the day of the Lord. They actually think this verse means that John got happy on Sunday! Nowhere does the Bible refer to the first day of the week as the Lord's day! So, why "Lord's day" instead of "day of the Lord" as its always written in the OT? There is no adjective for “Lord’s” in the Hebrew language and therefore it is always expressed by two nouns. In Greek and English it can be said either way. When translating the phrase from the Hebrew the translators consistently translated it with two nouns in English.

Revelation is a book of prophecy (Rev. 1:3) and therefore John writes as a prophet. We must compare scripture with scripture (1 Cor. 2:13) to understand what it means for a prophet to be “in the Spirit”. Every believer is in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9) but that is not what is being referred to here. John was in the Spirit in the same sense that this phrase is used throughout the book of Revelation (4:2; 17:3; 21:10). John was not the only prophet to be moved "in the spirit" to different locations and time periods. 

(Ezekiel 37:1-2) The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, {2} And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

This reference confirms that the Spirit can literally move a prophet to another location (for other examples see: Ezek. 3:14; Acts 8:39). Since the Spirit is eternal and omnipresent, is it not possible that the Spirit moved John into the future day of the Lord to be an eyewitness of the things he wrote? This is not speculation or far-fetched because the scripture records that others had a similar experience! Ezekiel saw and described the future millennial temple (Ezek. 40-48). Isaiah saw Christ in the millennial temple when “the whole earth is full of his glory”(Isa. 6). Peter, James, and John were “eyewitnesses” of the majesty of Christ in His kingdom glory (2 Pet. 1:16-18).

When we simply compare the references to "the day of the LORD" with the contents of the book of Revelation it is obvious that “the Lord’s day” refers to this same prophetic day. John was in the day of the Lord when as an eyewitness he wrote about the events of all seven years of the tribulation period, the second coming, the millennial reign, the final battle with Satan, and the renovation of the heavens and earth with fire. Therefore I conclude that the day of the Lord includes the entire tribulation period which will be the time of Jacob's trouble.

(Jeremiah 30:4-11) ¶ And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. {5} For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. {6} Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? {7} Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. {8} For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: {9} But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. {10} ¶ Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. {11} For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

 

An Interpolation?

(Romans 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The last ten words of this verse are omitted in most of the modern versions. The translators claim that these words are not in the best manuscripts. The manuscripts they are referring to, Vaticanus and Siniaticus, are utterly corrupt. There is a pure stream (Ps. 12:6-7) of manuscripts and a corrupt stream (2 Cor. 2:17). The pure stream of manuscripts that flows from Antioch ("the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch") do not omit these words. The corrupt stream flows from Alexandria, EGYPT ("Out of Egypt have I called my Son"). The self-appointed Bible correctors say this is a scribal gloss. They claim that somewhere along the line a scribe that was copying the passage mistakenly took the words from v.4 and added them to v.1 and his error has continually been reproduced since then. A marginal note in the Old Scofield Reference Bible says these words are "interpolated" (inserted or added to the original). That is not the only note in the Scofield Bible that casts doubt on the word of God (for other examples see Mk. 16:9-20 and 1 Jn. 5:7, “It is generally agreed that v.7 has no real authority, and has been inserted”). This is just a classic example of men changing God’s word when they don't understand it. Because they don’t understand the verse in its context they think it’s implying that a believer can lose salvation and so they change it to match their limited understanding. We must change our beliefs to match the word of God, not change the word of God to match our beliefs. We must believe what the Bible says, as it says it, and where it says it. God will give us further light as we study His word with a BELIEVING heart. 

The King James Bible is perfect because it is the inspired word of God in the English language. To mess with one word is to throw things out of sorts and cause a real problem. God’s word is exact and precise. In the immediate context we have an example of the precision of God’s word. 

(Romans 8:3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

It wouldn’t have been doctrinally sound to say:

1. Christ came in sinful flesh (He was without sin)

2. Christ came in the likeness of flesh (He came in actual flesh)

3. Christ came in the flesh (He has an immortal flesh and bone body after resurrection that was not in the likeness of sinful flesh)

Romans 8:1 is certainly not teaching that we can lose salvation. This very chapter teaches the eternal security of the believer (Rom. 8:28-39)! 

According to the scripture, a believer can bring temporal condemnation on himself in this life if he gives place to the flesh (1 Cor. 11:27-34). This has to do with our temporal state (changeable condition) and not our eternal standing (unchangeable position in Christ). But I think that Romans 8:1 is speaking of our standing, not our state. In fact, I think the whole passage is about our standing. Notice that it does not say, “IF they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. It says “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. The latter part of v.1 is a descriptive clause, not conditional. 

Upon salvation we are made a "new creature" in Christ (2 Cor. 5:16-17). Immediately "all things are become new" because in our standing we know no man "after the flesh". We are in one new spiritual body and our identity is in our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:27-28). Being baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ, we are identified with Him in every way. We are crucified, buried, risen, and seated in heavenly places with Him. We are justified by HIS righteousness!

Paul often uses the word “walk” in regard to our state but in Romans 8 he is talking about our standing. All members of the Body of Christ are in the Spirit and therefore not in the flesh (Rom. 8:8-9). All members of the Body of Christ are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14). 

 

(Romans 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

To walk after the Spirit is to be led of the Spirit. Not all believers walk IN the Spirit like they should (Gal. 5:25) but all believers walk AFTER the Spirit. Those that are not led by the Spirit are trying to keep the law for their justification (Gal. 5:18). Those who have confidence in their flesh to keep the works of the law are walking after the flesh (Phil. 3:3-9). Religion is of the flesh (Gal. 6:12-15; Phil. 3:18-19)! 

 

Always trust the word of God! Never trust the "scholars"!

 

(Psalm 118:8) It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.