Prophecy Study Bible King James Version 0899579248

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DR. TIM LAHAYE

GENERAL EDITOR

HE TIM LAHAYE PROPHECY StTuDY BIBLE has been prepared by a team of experts on Bible prophecy who are committed to the belief that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God (a “sure word of prophecy—2 Pet. 1:19). For nearly ten years, the members of the Pre-Trib Research Center, an organization founded by Dr. Tim LaHaye to promote the study of the pretribulational view of the Rapture, have discussed the need for a com-

prehensive prophecy study Bible that was

faithful to the pretribulational view of Bible

prophecy. From the beginning of these discussions, our goal has been to produce the most complete prophecy study Bible ever published. We have endeavored toc on aeLooe passage in

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God’s Plan for Israel Entrance into Canaan 2091 BC

=

Abraham

Exodus from Egypt 1447 BC

0

: _

; } Joshua, Judges

Canaan

Crown

Parl

God Called to Moses out of

:

petty

-

the Cloud Ex. 24:15-18

Elijah Called to Heaven

Removed

Babylon

ae

24

931 BC

606 BC \

Shechinah Glory Descends (Ezek. 40:34-38)

Se

Moses, Aaron

The Wilderness orden

Divided Kingdom

ae

Ezek. 21:26-27

|

God's Presence Departs (Ezek. 11:22-24)

70 Years Exile (606 BC—536 BC)

Calvary AD 30

First Coming (Christ Rejected)

| windows being open in his chamber toward

dom, being about threescore and two years | 15; 3:1; 10:9 |Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three old. times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks c TER G before his God, as he did aforetime. HAF ; j 11 Then these men assembled, and found

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Daniel praying and making supplication be-

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 12 Dan. 3:8: fore his God. an hundred and twenty princes, which | gg ~~ ‘~‘|12 Then they came near, and spale before should be over the whole kingdom; the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast 2 And over these three presidents; of thou not signed a decree, that every man whom Daniel was first: that the princes that shall ask a petition of any God or man might give accounts unto them, and the within thirty days, save of thee, O king, king should have no damage. shall be cast into the den of lions? The king 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the answered and said, The thing is true, acpresidents and princes, because an excellent cording to the law of the Medes and Perspirit was in him; and the king thought to idDan. sians, which altereth not. set him over the whole realm. 13 Then answered they and said before the

5:24-30 MENE... TEKEL... PERES. These are Hebrew words, unfamiliar to the Babylonians, meaning “weighed,” “numbered,” and “divided” respectively. Daniel interpreted these words to mean that Belshazzar’s kingdom had been “weighed in the balances” of divine judgment and “found wanting’; thus the empire would be terminated and given to the Medes and Persians that very night. History records that on that very same night the great city of Babylon, under the co-regency of Nabonidus and Belshazzar was indeed conquered by the Medes and Persians without resistance.

5:31 Darius here is either another name for the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great, or another name for Gubaru, the governor appointed by Cyrus over Babylonia and Syria. Darius the Median is not the same person as Darius the Persian, who ruled Persia much later from 521-486 B.c. (see Ezra 4:5). This new king from the Medes obviously saw something special in Daniel, for he appointed the prophet, who was now about eighty-five years old, as one of the administrators in the newly Tonnes govern-

ment.

907

king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 Then

the king, when

he heard

these

words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he Jaboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king,

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before

eek

thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

| 4, p,, .g a7 tend | 3-53. Matt, 27:66 | 18 Dan.2:1 | 20 Dan. 3:15

that the law of the Medes and Persians is, | 21 Dan.2:4

| 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take | Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of | hurt was found upon him, because he be| lieved in his God. | 24 And

the

king

commanded,

and

they

That no decree nor statute which the king | 99 pan.

brought those men which had accused Dan-

establisheth may be changed. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto

iel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they

3:28; Heb. 11:33 ea F cae

Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest contin- | 79-19; 24:16, |came at the bottom of the den. ually, he will deliver thee. 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon

2Kgs. 14:6; Esth. 9:10

| 25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that-dwell in all the

the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it |25 Dan. 4:1

| earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

with his own signet, and with the signet of | 26Ps. 99:1; his lords; that the purpose might not be ene

| 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before

changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. | 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

7:14, 27; Luke 1:33

27 Dan. 4:3

20 And when he came to the den, he cried | 98 gyrq1:1,

| 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of

with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and | 2;Dan.1:21 the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee

| Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Gee ears?

sind

CHAPTER

7

The Four Beasts

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, | Dan. 2:28;

1

live for ever.

Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of

Amos 3:7

7:1-28 Daniel himself had a dream, which was a vision of future world empires. In chapter 2, man’s view of kingdoms and government is that of a beautiful image that people can worship in place of Jehovah. In this chapter we see God's view of those same kingdoms as a series of rapacious beasts ready to devour mankind. History proves God's view is the right one. This vision was actually given to Daniel some fourteen years before the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon in approximately 553 B.c. The “lion” represents Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire. The plucking of the wings refers to his insanity, and the granting of a “human mind” refers to his conversion. The “bear” represents Media-Persia. Being “raised up on one side” (Dan. 8:8, 21-22) refers to the two unequal partners in the empire: the Persians gradually gained the supremacy over the Medes. The three ribs in the bear’s mouth refer to the three provincial

In the first year of Belshazzar king of

kingdoms conquered by the Medes and Persians: Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt. The leopard represents Greece, and its four wings and heads speak of the division of the Greek empire into four sections, following the death of Alexander the Great (cf. Dan. 8:8, 21-22). The “fourth beast” corresponds to the kingdom of iron legs in Daniel 2:33, 40 and symbolizes the Roman Empire. The “iron teeth” speak of Rome’s unequalled military strength, and the trampling and crushing described in verse seven illustrate the imposition of Rome’s culture and laws upon conquered peoples. The “ten horns” parallel the “ten toes” of Daniel 2:41—43 and represent the final form of Gentile power in the End Times. The kingdom of Antichrist is typified by the “little horn” that arises from the ten horns (Dan. 7:25; 8:23-26; 11:36; 2 Thess. 2:3-8; Rev. 13:5-6).

his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth; and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus

3 Rev. 13:1 4 Jer. 4:7; 13; 48:40; Ezek. 17:3 6 Dan. 8:8, 22 7 Rev. 13:1 8 Ps. 12:3; Dan. 7:20, 21, 24, 25; 8:9; Rev. 9:7; 13:5 9 Ps. 104:2; Ezek. 1:15, 16; Rev. 1:14; 20:4

10 Isa. 30:33; 66:15; Rev. 5:11;

unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

20:4, 12

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body

11 Rev. 19:20 13 Ezek. 1:26; Dan. 7:9; Matt.

24:30; 26:64; Rev. 1:7, 13; 14:14 14 Ps. 2:6-8; 8:6; 110:1, 2;

145:13; Dan. 2:44; 3:4; 7:27; Mic. 4:7; Matt. 11:27; 28:18; Luke 1:33; John 3:35; 12:34; 1Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:22; Heb. 12:28 15 Dan. 7:28 17 Dan. 7:3 18 Rev. 2:26, 27; 3:21; 20:4 19 Dan. 7:7

21 Dan. 8:12, 24; 11:31; Rev. Tio, 13:75 17:14; 19:19 22 Dan. 7:9, 18; 1Cor. 6:2; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:4

7:2-3 The “four great beasts” came from “the great sea,” meaning the peoples around the Mediterranean Sea.

7:9-14 the Ancient of days. This title refers to God the Father, whose description is similar to John’s description of the Father in Revelation 4. The “Son of Man” refers to Jesus Christ, who receives a kingdom of “everlasting

destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that : which shall not be destroyed. 15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

The Four Kings 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and

judgment most

was

High;

given to the saints of the

and

the time

came

that the

saints possessed the kingdom.

dominion” from the Father. This is a clear prediction of the Messiah's coronation to rule as King over the world during the Millennium. 7:21. saints. The “saints” referred to in this chapter are true believers in God that will rule with Christ in His future Millennial Kingdom (cf. Matt. 19:28-29; Luke 22:29-30; Rev. 20:6).

909 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. _24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy if unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled

23 Dan. 2:40 24 Dan. 7:7, 8, 20; Rev.

17:12 25 Isa. 37:23; Dan. 2:21; 8:24, 25; 11:28, 30, 31, 36; 12:7; Rev. 12:14; 13:5, 6, 7; 17:6; 18:24 26 Dan. 7:10, 22 27 Isa. 60:12; Dan. 2:44; 7:14, 18, 22; Luke 1:33; John 12:34; Rev. 11:15 28 Dan. 7:15; 8:27; 10:8, 16; Luke 2:19, 51 1 Dan. 7:1

2 Esth. 1:2 4 Dan. 5:19; 11:3, 16 5 Dan. 8:21

7:23-25 The career of the Antichrist is described involving blasphemous words against God (“the most High”) and an intense persecution of the Tribulation saints. The reference to “a time and times and the dividing of time” corresponds to the three and one-half years or forty-two months of the Great Tribulation, the latter half of the seven-year Tribulation period (see Rev. 12:14; 13:5).

7:26-28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. This portion of Daniel's prophecy concludes with the prediction that the Antichrist and the ten-nation confederacy will be defeated when Jesus returns to establish his Millennial Kingdom on earth. Ultimately, the greatness of this kingdom will be everlasting as the Millennial Kingdom is merged with the eternal kingdom of God (see 1 Cor.

15:24). 8:1-2 a vision appeared unto me. This vision, given to

Daniel just prior to the fall of the Babylonian Empire is difficult to understand because it primarily focuses on “the time of the end,” yet it mentions both the Medo-Persian and the Greek empires—empires no longer in existence. After writing in Aramaic from 2:4—7:28, Daniel returns to writing in Hebrew and continues to do so for the remainder of the book.

8:3 The “ram which had two horns” represents MediaPersia (8:20) and predicts the two-nation empire that replaced Babylon. 8:5-9, 14, 22 The male “goat” from the west refers to

me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

CHAPTER

8

The Vision of the Ram and the Goa 1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3 Then! lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the

Greece, which conquered the Persian empire and is symbolized by the “notable horn.” With lightning speed, Alexander the Great conquered the then-known world by the time he was thirty-two years old. Upon his death, the empire was divided among his four generals: Antigonus, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassander. The Syrian region of the Greek or Hellenistic empire was given control over the land of Israel (“the pleasant land”). Out of this region of the empire later arose the reign of Antiochus, symbolized in this chapter as the “little horn.” Antiochus,

who assumed the name “Epiphanes” or “glorious one,” became a type of the Antichrist by instigating a wave of anti-Semitism that resulted in the desecration of the temple and the slaughter of thousands of Jews during a sixyear period (2300 days, v. 14) from 171-165 8.c. The

prediction of cleansing in verse 14 was fulfilled when Judas Maccabeus and the Jewish zealots defeated the Greeks (165 B.C.) and cleansed the temple in an elaborate ceremony of dedication known today as Hanukkah.

The accuracy of this prophecy as fulfilled in history has caused many critics to suggest that a “latter Daniel” wrote the book of Daniel because the original Daniel was dead long before the Greeks rose to prominence. However, no such evidence can be found to support this notion, and the discovery of the book of Daniel among the Dead Sea Scrolls has provided ample evidence that the book is of ancient origin and consequently, is prophetic Scripture.

910 whole earth, and touched not the ground: | 8 Dan. 7:6; and the goat had a notable horn between his aS

eyes. 6

af pi

And

he came

to the ram

that had two | 15

horns, which I had seen standing before the | 49 jsa. river, and ran unto him in the fury of his } 14:13; Dan. power. 7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him,

and

smote

the ram,

and

brake

11:28; Rev.

12:4

ee his twa | Ezek. 46:13;

horns: and there was no power in the ram

fe.

15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the

meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. ¢ ; Gabriel Is God’s Messenger 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vi| sion.

17 So he came near where I stood: and

to stand before him, but he cast him down | 12:11 when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon to the ground, and stamped upon him: and | 12 Dan. 8:4; | my face: but he said unto me, Understand,

there was none that could deliver the ram | 11:28, 31, 36 | O son of man: for at the time of the end shall out of his hand.

13 Dan.

8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great:

ae lees

be the vision.

18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was —

and when he was strong, the great horn was | ‘Pet. 1:12

in a deep sleep on my

broken; and for it came up four notable ones | 15 Ezek.

ground: but he touched me, and set me up-

face toward

the

toward the four winds of heaven. 1:26; Dan. right. 9 And out of one of them came forth a lit- cae set 19 And he said, Behold, 1 will make thee ule horn, which waxed exceeding great, to- | 4. am know what shall be in the last end of the inward the south, and toward the east, and | 9:21: 12:6, 7; |dignation: for at the time appointed the end

toward the pleasant /and.

Late 1:19,

10 And it waxed great, even to the host of

heaven; and it cast down some of the host

| shall be. 20 The ram which thou sawest having two

ene

horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

and of the stars to the ground, and stamped | 1:17 21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: upon them. 18 Ezek. 2:2; |and the great horn that is between his eyes

11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the | Dan. 10:9, prince of the host, and by him the daily sac- ors rifice was taken away, and the place of his } 49 pap, sanctuary was cast down. 9:27; 11:27,

12 And an host was given him against the

cee: gan

daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it

.

practised, and prospered. 13 Then IJ heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which |

Pe

21 Dan. 8:5;

11:3

22 Dan. 8:8;

11:4

spake, How long shall be the vision concerning | 94 pan. the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of | 11:36; Rev.

is the first king. 22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand | up out of the nation, but not in his power:

23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full; a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, | and shall destroy the mighty and the holy

desolation, to give both the sanctuary and

U7-13, 17

people.

the host to be trodden under foot?

ee

25 And

through his policy also he shall

14 And he said unto me, Unto two thou- | 8:14: 11:21, | cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he sand and three hundred days; then shall the | 23, 24, 36 shall magnify himself in his heart, and by sanctuary be cleansed. peace shall destroy many: he shall also 8:11-19 Biblical prophecy scholars are divided over whether this vision of Daniel focuses on Antiochus Epiphanes, or the “man of sin” described in the New Testament as the Antichrist—or both. It would seem that both men are in view since Antiochus is the prototype of the Antichrist who is yet to come. Gabriel (mentioned by name for the first time in Scripture) explicitly said that the vision refers to the “time of the end,” and that he was making known to him “what shall be in the last end of the indignation” (v. 19). In the meantime, Gabriel identifies the “ram” as Media-Persia (v. 20) and the “goat” as

Greece (v. 21) in the coming military confrontation for

control of the Near East.

8:23-26 king of fierce countenance. These verses look ahead to the rise of the Antichrist “when the transgressors” have reached their “fullness.” The fact that the Antichrist rules by a power “not... his own” indicates that he will be Satan-incarnate and have satanic supernatural wisdom and powers ascribed to him (Rev. 13). He will even dare to rise against the “Prince of Princes”— Jesus Christ. But God Almighty will soundly defeat the Antichrist and the satanic forces that power him (see Rev. 19:11-16, 18-21, 20:10).

|

911 stand up against the Prince of princes; but | 26 Ezek.

derstood by books the number of the years,

he shall be broken without hand.

whereof the word of the Lorp came to Jere-

nee

26 And the vision of the evening and the | 12:4, 9; Rev. |miah

morning which was told is true: wherefore | 22:10

the prophet,

that he would

accom-

plish seventy years in the desolations of

shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for

21 Den 6:2, | Jerusalem.

many days.

8:16; 10:8,

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fastdays; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s | 14 Dan. 1:21; | ing, and sackcloth, and ashes: 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain | 16

business; and I was astonished at the vision, | 5:31; 6:28

4 And I prayed unto the Lorp my God, and

but none understood it.

See

made my confession, and said, O Lord, the

CHAPTER

29:10 4

Paawaos,

9

$

great and dreadful God, keeping

the cov-

enant and mercy to them histione him, and

Daniel Prays for His People 3Neh. 1:4, | to them that keep his commandments; 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Aha- | Jer. 29:12, 5 We have sinned, and have committed insuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was 3 hehe iquity, and have done wickedly, and have remade king over the realm of the Chaldeans; | 4:8-10 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel un-

belled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:24—27)

The Decree to Restore

The Coming Prince

Messiah the Prince

Messiah Returns Millennial Kingdom

Begins

Messiah “Cut Off” A.D. 30

7 Weeks

Dan. 9:27 (7 yrs.) .

|7 They have dealt treacherously against

fice with harlots: therefore the people that

Treas

the Lorp:

doth not understand shall fall.

73

children: now shall a month deyour them

for they have begotten

strange

15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet | 19 Isa. 1:29; | with their portions.

let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto

pagan

8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the

Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor | 5}.4' trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud swear, The Lorp liveth. 2\sa. 29:15 | after thee, O Benjamin. 16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding | 35, 23:5. |9 Ephraim shall be desolate heifer: now the Lorp will feed them as a } Hos. 4:17; rebuke: among the tribes of lamb in a large place. Amos 3:2 made known that which shall

at Beth-aven, in the day of

Israel have I surely be.

17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. | § Isa,aE

10 The princes of Judah were like them that

18 Their drink is sour: they have committed

remove the bound: therefore I will pour out

aa Hh

whoredom continually: her rulers with | 7 Jor 3.29 my wrath upon them like water. shame do love, Give ye. qd\Deut: 11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in 19 The wind hath bound her up in her | 28:33 judgment, because he willingly walked after wings, and they shall be ashamed because | 42 Prov, 12:4 | the commandment. of their sacrifices. 12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as. a 4:9 like people, like priest. An idiom meaning that the people and the priests have become the same. The priests were supposed to be separated from the rest of the nation so they could live as unto the Lord (Lev. 8— 10). But since the priests were in this instance no different from the people, then they would experience the coming judgment just like the nation as a whole.

5:5 Judah also shall fall with them. This is not saying that Israel and Judah would fall at the same time, but from the same cause—pride. The fall of Judah in this verse is not a prediction of Sennacherib’s desolations of Judah in 701 B.c., after he had conquered Israel in 722 B.C., but of Judah's fall to Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon in 586 B.C.

4:19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings. A prophecy that Ephraim (a prominent tribe in the Northern Kingdom) was about to find herself swallowed up among the nations. This occurs during the impending Assyrian invasion and through the subsequent years of dispersion among the Gentile nations (cf. 2 Kgs. 17:6; 18:11).

5:9 in the day of rebuke. This is a reference to the purpose of the impending Assyrian judgment. 5:12 as a moth. As the moth slowly destroys clothing, so the Lord would destroy Israel (Job 13:28; Isa. 50:9; 51:8). Similarly, the Hebrew word translated “rottenness”

927

moth, and to the house of Judah as rotten-

1320s

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;

ness. 30:12: ie and the knowledge of God more than burnt 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and | 7:11; 10:6; offerings. Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim ye 7 But they like men have transgressed the to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet onan covenant: there have they dealt treachercould he not heal you, nor cure you of your | Hos. 13:7,8 | ously against me. wound. 15 Lev. 8 Gilead is a city of them that work iniq14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and | 26:40, 41; uity, and is polluted with blood.

as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even i ee 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, I, will tear and go away; I will take away, | 13; Ezek. 6:9; |so the company of priests murder in the way and none shall rescue him. 20:43; 36:31 |by consent: for they commit lewdness. 15 I will go and returm to my place, till they | 1 Deut. acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: oar

10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of

in their affliction they will seek me early.

:i 154 | Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

CHAPTER

aus oa TOD,

6

Israel Isn’t Sincere

72:6: Isa.

11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my

people.

1 Come, and let us return unto the Loro: | "8 for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he

hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

tee 13;

ace ae

2 After two days will he revive us: in the | 5.74-23:29: third day he will raise us up, and we shall | Heb. 4:12 live in his sight. 6 1Sam.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to

era

|CHAPTER

7

Israel Rebels | 1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit

falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the

know the Lorp: his going forth is prepared | 9-13: 12-7: troop of robbers spoileth without. as the morning; and he shall come unto us | John 17:3 2. And they consider not in their hearts that as the rain, as the latter and former rain | 7 Job 31:33; | I remember all their wickedness: now their

unto the earth.

Hos. 5:7; 8:1 | own doings have beset them about; they are

4 © Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O | 8 Hes. 12:11 | before my face. » Judah, what shall IJ do unto thee? for your | 10 Jer. 5:30

|3

They make

the king glad with

their

goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the | 11 Rev.

wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed

4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after

them

vas by the | 2Ps- 9:16

prophets; I have slain them by the words of | 3 Rom. 1:32 | he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavmy mouth: and thy judgments are as the | 4 Jer. 9:2 light that goeth forth. usually refers to the slow decay of bones or teeth (Prov. 12:4; Hab. 3:16).

5:14 as a young lion to the house of Judah. A young lion paints a picture of judgment that was still developing. Such was the case with the Southern Kingdom—its judgment would not come from the Assyrians, but from the Babylonians (2 Kgs. 25), whose kingdom had not yet come to power. 5:15 1 will go and return to my place. The description is much like a lion returning to his den (see v. 14) until he is ready to seek new prey. The Lord’s place is heaven (cf. Acts 3:19-21). The Lord would not hear israel’s prayers until they underwent the punishment of the dispersion.

Here is one of the passages that teach that a condition for the second coming of Christ is the national regeneration of Israel and her call for Messiah to return and rescue her (cf. Lev. 26:40-42; Jer. 3:11-18; Zech. 12:10; Matt. 23:37-39). Since the nation did not seek the Lord at the _ time of the Assyrian captivity, this must refer to that time

ened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have

when the nation will turn to the Lord during the Tribulation. This will be fulfilled in the future. 6:1-3 After two days will he revive us. In chapter 4, the priests and prophets were said to be the ones leading the nation downward. In the future time of repentance, they will lead the nation back to the Lord. During this time of repentance during the Tribulation, Israel will experience a national confession of sin for a period of two days. On the third day of this process, the entire nation of Israel will become regenerated and saved. The wonderful result of this time will be that Israel will live with her Lord during the entire thousand years of His kingdom. 6:11 O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee. Just as the Lord has had a word of judgment for the Southern Kingdom, so now there is a forecast of blessing. The time of this blessing will be during the restoration and regathering at the second coming of Christ in preparation for the Millennial Kingdom.

928 made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker

7 2Kgs.

sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 7. They are all hot as an oven, and have de-

9 Hos. 8:7

voured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me. 3 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength,

11 2Kgs.

and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth

not. 10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his

15:10, 25,» 30; Isa. 64:7; Hos. 8:4

8 Ps. 106:35 10 Isa. 9:13; Hos. 5:5 15:19; 17:4; Hos. 5:13; 9:3; 11:11; 12:1

12 Lev. 26:14; Deut. 28:15; 2Kgs. 17:13, 18; Ezek. 12:13 13 Mic. 6:4 14 Job 35:9,

face: and they do not return to the Lorp their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. 13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. 15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

CHAPTER

8

16 Ps. 73:9; 78:57; Hos.

9:3, 6; 11:7 1 Deut. 28:49; Jer. 4:13 2 Ps. 78:34; Hos. 5:15; Titus 1:16

4 2Kgs. 15:13, 17, 25 5 Jer. 13:27 7 Prov.

10:12, 13; 22:8; Hos. 7:9

8 2Kgs. 17:6; Jer. 22:28; 48:38 9 2Kgs. 15:19; Isa. 30:6; Jer. 2:24; Ezek. 16:33, 34 10 Isa. 10:8; Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37; Hag. 2:6

Israel Continues to Worship Idols

13 Jer. 7:21; 14:10, 12

1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lorp, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

14 Jer. 17:27 1 Jer. 44:17

8:8 Israel is swallowed up. Here is the image of Israel's neighboring enemies trying to surround and devour her. Now she has no appeal “among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.” 9:1-3 They shall not dwell in the Lorp’s land. The land of Israel belongs to the Lord (cf. Ex. 15:17; Lev. 25:23), who is responsible for its fertility (cf. Deut. 11:10-12).

2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew if not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how | long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein 7s no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. 10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lorp accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

CHAPTER

9

God Keeps on Punishing Israel 1 Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

When the people of Israel attributed the productivity of

the land to pagan deities, they forfeited the blessing of living on it in peace and prosperity (Deut. 11:8-21). The word Egypt is used only as a symbol for the slavery of Captivity. Assyria would be the actual country to which Israel would become enslaved in 722 B.c.

929

2 The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 3 They shall not dwell in the Lorp’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. 4 They shall not offer wine offerings to the Lorp, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

5 What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the Lorp? 6 For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles. 7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God. 9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as _ in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. 10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. 11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man /eft: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

13 Ephraim, as 1 saw Tyrus, is planted in a

2 Hos. 2:9,

12 3 Lev. 25:23; 2Kgs. 17:6; Jer. 2:7; 16:18; Ezek. 4:13; Dan. 1:8; Hos.

8:13:35, 11 4 Lev. 17:11; Deut, 26:14; Jer. 6:20; Hos. 3:4; 8:13

5 Hos. 2:11 6 Isa. 5:6; 32:13; 34:13; Hos. 7:16; 9:3; 10:8

7 Ezek. 13:316; Mic. 2:11; Zeph. 3:4 8 Jer. 6:17; 31:6; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7

9 Judg. 19:22; Isa. 31:6; Hos. 8:13; 10:9

10 Num. 25:3; Judg. 6:32; Ps. 81:12; 106:28; Isa. 28:4; Jer, 11:13; Ezek. 20:8; Hos. 2:15; 4:14; Amos 4:5; Mic. 7:1

12 Deut. 28:41, 62; 31:17; 1Sam. 28:15, 16;

2Kgs. 17:18; Job 27:14; Hos. 5:6 14 Luke 23:29 15 Isa. 1:23 17 Deut. 28:64, 65

1 Nah. 2:2 8 Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:16; 9:6

pleasant place: but Ephraim shall forth his children to the murderer.

bring

14 Give them, O Lorn: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. 16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. 17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

CHAPTER

10

1 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multi-

tude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. 2. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. 3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lorp; what then should a king do to us? 4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. 8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the

9:6 Egypt is used figuratively here as in verse 3. The Egyptian city of Memphis is used as a symbol for a burial place.

nations (cf. Deut. 28:64—67) until the ultimate time of

9:14 Hosea prays that the children of Israel will be miscarried or die in the process of God's impending judg-

10:7 her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. This is a prediction that Israel's king would be swept away by invading forces like a piece of wood is swept away by a powerful stream of water. This occurred in the Assyrian invasion of 722 B.c.

ment.

9:17 they shall be wanderers among the nations. This is a forecast of Israel’s dispersion among the Gentile

ingathering at the Second Coming (Deut. 30:7; Isa. Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:31; Mark 13:27).

11:12;

930 thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us, 9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. 10 Jt is in my desire that I should chastise

them;

and the people shall be gathered

against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. . 11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lorp, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. 15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

CHAPTER

11

God Still Loves His Sinful Children 1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king,

because they refused to return. 6 And the sword shall abide on his cities,

10 Deut. 28:63; Jer: 16:16; Ezek. 23:46, 47 12 Prov. 11:18; Jer. 4:3

13 Job 4:8; Prov. 22:8; Gal. 6:7, 8

14 2Kgs. 18:34; 19:13 1 Ex. 4:22, 23

2 2Kgs. 17:16

3 Ex. 15:26; Deut. 1:31;

32:10-12; Isa. 46:3

4 Ps. 78:25 5 2Kgs. 17:13, 14; Hos. 8:13; 9:3 6 Hos. 10:6 7 Jer. 3:6-18; 8:5; Hos.

4:16; 7:16 8 Gen. 14:8;

19:24, 25; Deut. 29:23; 32:36; Isa.

63:15; Jer. 9:7; 31:20; Amos 4:11 9 Num. 23:19; Isa. 55:8, 9; Mal. 3:6 10 Isa. 31:4; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2; Zech. 8:7

11 Isa. 60:8; Ezek. 28:25, 26 1 2Kgs. 17:4 3 Gen.

25:26; 32:2426 4 Gen. 28:12, 19; 35:9, 10, 15 6 Ps. 37:7; Hos. 14:1; Mic. 6:8

7 Prov. 11:1; Ezek. 16:3; Amos 8:5, 8

11:1 called my son out of Egypt. While the context of this statement refers historically to the Exodus, Matthew

applies the passage to Jesus’ return from Egypt with His parents after the death of Herod (Matt. 2:15).

12:2

The Lorp hath also a controversy with Judah.

and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

.

8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. 10 They shall walk after the Lorp: he shall — roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LorD.

12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

CHAPTER

12

Ephraim Is a Liar 1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a coyenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 The Lorp hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

5 Even the Lorp God of hosts; the Lorp is — his memorial. 6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. 7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

The word controversy is the Hebrew word that means a “legal complaint.” The Southern Kingdom is often seen throughout Hosea as a brother watching his brother receive punishment. The lesson for the observer is that their punishment is coming in the future.

931 8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. 9. And I that am the Lorp thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. 10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. 11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. 12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. : 13 And by a prophet the Lorp brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he pre-

served. 14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most _ bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord _ return unto him.

CHAPTER

13

The Lord Is Angry with Israel _ |

|

|

1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. 2. And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. 3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the

9 Lev. 23:42,

43 12 Gen. 28:5; 29:20, 28; Deut. 26:5

13 Ex. 12:50, 51418:3 14 Deut. 28:37; 2Kgs.

17:11-18; Ezek. 18:13; 24:7, 8; Dan.

11:18

1 2Kgs. 17:16, 18; Hos. 11:2 2 1Kgs. 19:18; Hos. 2:8; 8:4

3 Dan. 2:35; Hos. 6:4

4 Isa. 43:11; 45:21; Hos. 12:9 5 Deut. 2:7; 8:15; 32:10

6 Deut. 8:12, 14; 32:15; Hos. 8:14 7 Jer. 5:6; Lam. 3:10; Hos. 5:14 8 2Sam. 17:8; Prov. 17:12 9 Prov. 6:32 10 1Sam. 8:5, 19 11 1Sam. 8:7 13 Jer. 30:6 14 Rom. 11:29; 1Cor.

15:54, 55 15 Ezek. 17:10; 19:12

16 2Kgs.

| whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke

8:12; 15:16;

| out of the chimney.

17:6; 18:12; Isa. 13:16

4 Yet lam the Lorp thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but | me: for there is no saviour beside me.

1 Hos. 12:6; 13:9; Joel 2:13

12:9 will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles. Here the Lord has in mind the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Lev.

| 23:33-43), which will be fulfilled prophetically for Israel during the yet future Millennium. 13:13-14

sorrows of a travailing woman.

In this

description of the impending judgment upon the Northern | Kingdom, Israel is likened to a baby who does not come |forth in spite of the vigorous efforts of the mother in labor. | Despite such stubbornness, the Lord will one day bring | back the nation from the dead (cf. Ezek. 37) as well as

5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. 7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: 8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. 9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. 10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? 11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. 12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. 13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. 14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. 15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lorp shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. 16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

CHAPTER

14

Hosea Begs Israel to Come Back 1 O Israel, return unto the Lorp thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

resurrect individuals unto glory (cf. Dan. 12:2-3). Paul quotes the last half of this verse in 1 Corinthians 15:55—-56 in his description of the resurrection of believ-

ers. 13:16 Hosea describes some of the graphic details that will occur when the Northern Kingdom is taken into captivity by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were one of the cruelest nations of this time in their treatment of a conquered foe. Israel was about to experience such travesty firsthand.

932

2 Take with you words, and turn to the Lorp: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 1 will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away

2 Heb. 13:15

from him.

4:11

.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and_ his

3 Isa. 30:2, 16; 31:1; Jer.

31:18 4 Jer. 5:6; 14:7; Hos. 11:7; Eph. 1:6

5 Job 29:19; Prov. 19:126 Ps. 52:8; 128:3; Song 8 Jer. 31:18;

James 1:17 9 Prov. 10:29

beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shail be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have | to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lorp are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

14:4-8 | will heal. The Lord will one day heal Israel's backsliding with the new heart of the new covenant

36:24-27; 37:21-28; Zech. 9:11; 12:10; Heb. 8:1-13; 10:15-18). This will occur during the Millennium, after

(Deut. 29:4; 30:6; Isa. 59:20—21; 61:8—9; Jer. 31:31-34;

the second coming of Christ, when the extent of Israel's blessings will be grand in magnitude.

32:37—40; 50:4—5; Ezek. 11:19-20; 16:60-63; 34:25-26;

ague of locusts, a judgment from God on the kingdom of Judah, followed by a e "severe drought. This prophecy of spiritual revival calls for the nation’s leaders to pro_claim a solemn assembly for national sorrow, repentance, and deliverance. ~. Some of the prophetic statements in the book of Joel are typical in nature and others are of the specific-prediction variety that are already fulfilled, but the future “day of the Lord” is the emphasis. The prophecies in this book can be divided into four sections: 1) a prophetic type of the day of the Lord (Joel 1:1-20); 2) the direct prophecy of the : day of the Lord itself (Joel 2:1-32); 3) the prophecy of _ the judgment of the nations (Joel 3:1-17); and 4) a - prophecy of the full kingdom blessing of Israel (Joel

3:18-21). The prophetic type of the day of the Lord in Joel 1:1-20 is a declaration of God’s judgment upon Judah that took place during Joel’s own lifetime. Then, using the locust calamity as a powerful illustration, Joel expands his message to predict events of the Last Days. This prophet of Pentecost foresees the outpouring of the | Holy Spirit, applied by Peter to Pentecost (Acts 2) and to

_ be perfectly fulfilled at the second coming of Christ. Both the judgment of the nations and the battle of “that great day of God Almighty” (Armageddon) are within " on ' the scope of this book (see Rev. 16:14). The expression “day of the Lord,” mentioned some twenty times in the Old Testament by eight prophets, can occasionally refer to divine judgments in WES He which may foreshadow the future, but usually connotes the Lord’s direct intervention on earth in the Last Days, including the millennial reign of Christ. The book climaxes with a description of the messianic reign in Jerusalem and the blessings that will characterize Christ’s kingdom. Prophecies occur in 50 of the 73 verses, or 68 percent of the book, and encompass 25 specific predictions.

Assyrians oe

"740-680

Ministry of Isaiah

mralof cond erusalemn

| :

Captivity captivity Ministrysueea

934

CHAPTER

1

Locusts Destroy the Crops 1 The word of the Lorp that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell ye your children of it, and /et your children fell their children, and their children another generation. . 4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked

my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. 9 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lorp; the priests, the Lorp’s ministers, mourn. 10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth;

2 Joel 2:2 3 Ps. 78:4° 4 Deut. 28:38; Joel 2:25 5 Isa, 32:10 6 Prov. 30:25, 26, 27; Joel 2:2, 11, 25; Rev. 9:8 7 Isa. 5:6 8 Prov. 2:17; Isa. 22:12; Jer. 3:4

9 Joel 1:13; 2:14 10 Isa. 24:7; Jer. 12:11; 14:2; Joel 1:12 11 Jer. 14:3,

4

12 Ps. 4:7; Isa. 9:3; 24:11; Jer. 48:33; Joel

1:10 13 Jer. 4:8; Joel 1:8, 9

14 Lev. 23:36; 2Chr. 20:3, 4, 13; Joel 2:15, 16

15 Isa. 13:6, 9; Jer. 30:7; Joel 2:1

16 Deut. 12:6, 7; 16:11, 14, 15

1:2-20 Joel reveals a message concerning “the day of the Lorp” that took place in his own lifetime. This smallscale and local “day of the Loro” is prophetically important because it becomes a pattern for the future “day of the Lorb” which will be global and large in scale. (See the article on “The Day of the Lord” for more information.) God's judgment upon Judah is forecast to be a swarm of locusts in successive stages. Such judgments were forecast for Israel in Deuteronomy 28:38-42 (see Isa. 33:4; Amos 7:1; Rev. 9:1—12).

1:4 palmerworm... locust... cankerworm . . caterpiller. These apparently describe either four different species of locusts or four stages of development in the life of a locust. The Hebrew words literally mean gnawing, swarming, creeping, and stripping respectively.

Attempts to have these stages represent four specific nations like Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome appear to be without merit since the context supports an actual locust swarm in Joel's day. It is assumed that these are desert locusts, a type of locust that devastated the land of Israel as recently as A.D. 1915. They represent an unex-

for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. 11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and

for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. 12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. 13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: | howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God:

for the meat offering and the drink offering © is withholden from the house of your God. 14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lorp your God, and cry unto the Lorn, 15 Alas for the day! for the day of the Lorp is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. 16 Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. 18 How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 19 O Lorp, to thee will I cry: for the fire

plained metamorphoses from grasshoppers to their locust form. Furthermore, when their density reaches a certain level, the swarm of insects will devour any plants in its path. Just as the plague of locusts mocked the

Egyptians’ pride in the fertility of their land (see Ex. 10:1-19), so this locust invasion would rebuke God's people, who had forgotten that their prosperity came from God. The locust swarm then becomes a historical pattern for future times of God's judgment as described in Joel 1:6—7. 1:15 the day of the Lorp. Here is the first occurrence of Joel's theme. The basic meaning of the term refers to any time when God intervenes in history, usually in judgment. It is found four other times in Joel (2:1, 11, 31; 3:14). It is also mentioned by Amos (Amos 5:18, 20), Obadiah (Obad. 1:15), Zephaniah (Zeph. 1:7, 14, 18; 2:2) and Mal- —

achi (Mal. 4:5). Here, “the day of the Lord” specifically refers to an event that is now in the past, as the context indicates. The other instances in Joel refer to the future time often known as the Tribulation.

935

hath devoured the pastures of the wilder- | 20 1kgs.

7 They shall run like mighty men;

ness, and the flame hath burned all the

fies

shall climb the wall like men of war; and

they

trees of the field.

Ps, 104:21;

they shall march every one on his ways, and

20 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: | 145:15 they shall not break their ranks: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the | 1Num.10:5, |8 Neither shall one thrust another; they fire hath devoured the pastures of the ae Bg shall walk every one in his path: and when wilderness.

2:15; Obad.

| they fall upon the sword, they shall not be

1:15; Zeph. | Wounded. CHAPTER

2

a Hea

The Locusts Warn about the

Amos 5:18,

Day of the Lord 1

20

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound | 3Gen.2:8;

an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the

Lagan

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the | windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the

inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day | 7-74

heavens

of the Lorp cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

moon

4 Rev. 9:7

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a | § Jog 2:2:

shall

tremble:

the

sun

and

the

shall be dark, and the stars shall

withdraw their shining:

day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the | Rev. 9:9

11 And the Lorp shall utter his voice before

morning

his army: for his camp is very great: for he is

spread

upon

the

mountains:

a | 6 Jer. 8:21:

great people and a strong; there hath not | Lam. 4:8; been ever the like, neither shall be any more Rota 220

strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lorp is great and very terrible; and

after it, even to the years of many genera-

wecing

who can abide it?

pons:

10 Isa.

,

3 A fire devoureth before them; and be- | 13-10; Ezek.

The Lord’s Mercy

hind them a flame burneth: the land is as | 32:7; Matt.

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lorp, turn ye

_ the garden of Eden before them, and behind

a

even to me with all your heart, and with fast-

_ them a desolate wilderness; yea, and noth- Uydoa 228 | ing shall escape them. 1:2: Rev. 4 The appearance of them is as the appear- | 18:8 ance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of | mountains shall they leap, like the noise of

13 Ps. 34:18; 51:17; Jon.

49

14 Isa. 65:8;

he 5:15

ing, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lorp your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who

,

:

knoweth if he will return and re-

_ aflame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as | 15 Num.

pent, and leave a blessing behind him; even

| a strong people set in battle array. | 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather black-

a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lorp your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

Wh a

ness. 2:1-11 Having introduced a past “day of the Loro” judgment in chapter 1, Joel’s use of the term in this passage

| refers to the future time often called “the seven-year Tribulation.” The context supports a future understanding of the “day of the Lorp” in this passage, which can be

seen in Joel 2:2, when it is said that ‘there hath not been | ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” Here and in the remainder of Joel's references to the “day of the Lor” (2:31; 3:14) we see various references to the future Tribulation | period. 2:1 cometh... nigh at hand. A term that denotes immi| nence. The day of the Loro could arrive without warning; | there are no gradual steps or signs preceding it.

| | | |

2:2 Darkness ... gloominess ... clouds . . darkness. This prophecy describes the affective upon those who will experience the “day of the This is the language of a locust swarm. However,

. thick impact Lor.” in con-

trast to Joel 1, this plague appears to be the one described in John’s vision from Revelation 9:1-21 which depicts unique demonic creatures carrying out the fifth trumpet judgment of the Tribulation.

2:11. the Lorp shall utter his voice before his army. Although this is likely the demonic army of Revelation 9, God is sovereign over evil as well as good, even though He is righteous in every way. In fact, if one exercises ultimate control over his enemies, then he is indeed a sovereign. This is one of the things that prophecy demonstrates in history—that God is in control. If He is in control of the geopolitical affairs, then it is comforting for individuals to realize that He is also in control of their lives. 2:15-17 One of the conditions of Israel's special blessing is national repentance toward God and His plan for the nation (Lev. 26:40—45; Deut. 4:29-31; 30:1—10; Matt.

23:37-39).

israel

in Tribulation

By David Allen Lewis srael has always been a troubled people, her existence threatened, her survival hanging by the slenderest of threads. Surrounded by hostile neighbors, who have sworn themselves to her destruction, she is presently beset by malicious media, greedy politicians, manipulators, and opportunists, and holds onto life with the most tenuous grasp. Will this wife of Jehovah survive? Will the days of rest and restoration come at last, or is the modern state of Israel only a momentary aberration upon the pages of history? Having passed through the furnace of affliction, the Jews are now hounded by revisionists, who accuse the survivors of Nazi Germany of inventing the Holocaust to win sympathy. The Church would do well to rediscover the biblical meaning of Zion. We should rediscover those heroic Christians who have a zeal and compassion for Jerusalem, who battle racism, prejudice, and hatred for the Jews. Above all, let the Word of God convince us of what the Lord has at stake in Israel lem (Ezek. 36). The holiness of God and the return of the Jews to the land should captivate every believer in Christ. Shades of blindness should be removed from the eyes of the uninformed and ontinued existence. the misinformed. This task of informing others about the tribulations of the nation and people of Israel is not for the fainthearted, the bigot, nor the ignorant. Our purpose is to help serious, thoughtful people get an insight into the major issues of our times. Christians who are lovers of Zion deal with the most serious of problems and the darkest of fears, yet their message is one of hope, both for the present and the future. Will Israel survive in this hostile environment? The answer is yes, but everyone has serious choices before him or her. The Church, the Jewish people, politicians, and the nations of the world are undergoing a litmus test. Under God’s watchful eye, performances are evaluated and futures predicated, based not only on the exercise of our faith, but also on our relationship to the Jewish people. The ultimate outcome of these choices is yet to come. The worst of times ever faced by humanity may be near at hand. Called the “time of Jacob's trouble” 2,600 years ago, it can now be labeled the “time of Gentile trouble” as well. The book of Revelation states that at least fifty percent of earth's population will die during those horrendous seven years of the Tribulation (Rev 6:8; 9:15-18). Only Israel is promised survival. Other nations may survive, in reduced capacity, but only Jerusalem has been promised continued existence.

en promised

At the end of the Tribulation, all Gentile nations will come against Jerusalem to make war against God's chosen people (Zech. 12—14). This will be the final provocation of divine anger. Our Lord, Messiah Himself, will lead heaven’s hosts for the final conflict of this age. The Battle of Armageddon shall be fought and won by the Son of God. Only Judah is seen as standing on God's side against Antichrist and his band of incorrigible rebels (Zech. 14:14). All Israel shall be saved (Rom. 11:26—-27), and God will remove iniquity from the land in a single day (Zech. 3:9). God will demonstrate His sovereignty (Isa. 43:25; 48:11), as Jesus will return to Jerusalem and reign over all the earth (Zech. 14:1-3).

937

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congre-

16 Bei 10

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for

gation, assemble the elders, gather the chil- | 9:13: Joel dren, and those that suck the breasts: let Ws 1Cor. the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and 2

the Lorp will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for

the bride out of her closet.

the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and

Vis oem.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LorD, | 9:26-29: Ps, | the vine do yield their strength.

weep between the porch and the altar, and | 42:10; 79:10; |23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and relet them say, Spare thy people, O Lorp, and eactkae give not thine heritage to reproach, that the | 7:10; Matt. heathen should rule over them: wherefore | 23°35 should they say among the people, Where is va

their God?

:

joice in the Lorp your God: for he hath given | you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

60:10: Zech, |24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and

18 Then will the Lorp be jealous for his | 1:14; 8:2 the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. land, and pity his people. 19 Joel 1:10; | 25 And I will restore to you the years that

19 Yea, the Lorp will answer and say unto | Mél.3:10-12 | the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and | 20 Ex. 10:19; | the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied Dey‘iMae great army which I sent among you. therewith: and I will no more make you a | Ezek. 47:18; reproach among the heathen: Zech. 14:8

20 Bat I will omy pis

owen you the

_ forthern army, an il drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part tO_ ward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

2 sen

my

| 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lorp your

me that se ial wondrously with you:

| g-42 ° ~ ~‘|and my people shall never be ashamed. | 96 wie. g:14 |27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst |971, of Israel, and that I am the Lorp your God, | 26:11, 12 and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that

_ 2:18 Even though the condition for millennial blessing is

Church. When used of Israel, it does not denote the har-

'. obedience (cf. 2:15-17), God insures the nation that one day the people will repent and He will respond in pity. | God's pity will take two directions: 1) toward His land, indicating that the land of Israel will be involved in millennial blessing and 2) toward His people. The Jewish | people still have a future destiny that includes a great | time of blessing because of God's pity upon them.

vest of souls; instead, as noted above, it is a reference to

2:20 the northern army. Almost all of Israel’s enemies

invaded from the North (i.e., Assyria and Babylon). During the time of the Tribulation, of which this passage is _ set, Israel will also experience invasion from the North. First, before the Tribulation, Israel will be invaded from

the north by Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38—39). Second, toward the end of the Tribulation, the assembly of armies for Armageddon will arrive via the north. Revelation 16:12-16 tells us that the Euphrates River (north of Israel) will be dried up to make way for the armies of the world to invade Israel, but God will destroy them all (Rev. 19:11-21). The context indicates that this carnage will take place at Armageddon. | 2:23 the former rain, and the latter rain. This agri| cultural illustration was first used in Deuteronomy 11:13-17; 28:11-24 as a promise that God would send rain at the right time to bless an obedient Israel, but | would withhold rainfall from a disobedient nation. Pas| sages like these are sometimes used to support a revival of the Church before Christ can return. However, the context of these references relates to Israel and not the

agricultural blessing, in this case, the blessings on Israel during the Millennium. 2:28-32 These events will occur in conjunction with the second coming of Christ to earth. Peter in Acts 2:17—21 almost entirely quotes this passage during his sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Many believe that at least part of Joel 2 was fulfilled in Acts 2. However, a close look at Peter’s reference to Joel is not that of fulfillment (the word “fulfill” is not used in Acts 2), but one of noting similarity (“this is that,” i.e., like that in Acts 2:16) between

the working of God's Spirit in the future—as noted in Joel—and what the Holy Spirit was doing at the nativity of the Church. The question posed by the mockers on the

Day of Pentecost was that the disciples were “full of new wine” (Acts 2:13). Peter answered this specific question by declaring that “these are not drunken, as ye suppose. ... But this is that (like) which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:15-16). What does Joel describe in these five verses? Joel describes the activity of God's Spirit at work in events surrounding the second coming of Christ. Thus, Peter’s point is that of similarity between what the Holy Spirit will do in the future with the nation of Israel and what He was doing at Pentecost. 2:28 Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, changes the word “afterward” in Joel 2:28 to “in the last days” (Acts 2:17), underscoring the fact that his citation of the Joel passage was not being fulfilled in his day, but

938 5s

I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and | 29 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. your sons and your daughters shall proph- | 3°99. ¢9j, esy, your old men shall dream dreams, your | 3:11

they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people;

young men shall see visions:

and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold

30 Matt.

29 And also upon the servants and upon the | 24:29; Mark | a girl for wine, that they might drink. handmaids in those days will I pour out my ae he 4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O spirit. 31 Isa. 13:9, |Lyte and Zidon, and all the coasts of Pales30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens | 10; Matt. tine? will ye render me a recompence? and

and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars

ae Movie if ye recompence me, swiftly and speedily

of smoke.

94:25: ig

"|

will I return your recompence

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, | 6:12

own head;

and the moon into blood, before the great | 32 Rom.

5

and the terrible day of the Lord come.

upon your

Because ye have taken my silver and my

pe hes | gold, and have carried into your temples my

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever ; Ne suet goodly pleasant things: shall call on the name of the Lorp shall be | g,e, 38:14. | 6 The children also of Judah and the chil- « delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jeru- | 9 9¢h, dren of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the salem shall be deliverance, as the Lorp hath | 20:26; Isa. Grecians, that ye might remove them: far

said, and in the remnant whom the Lorp

oat ret

from their border.

shall call.

3:12: vech. 14:2-4 aes ‘

7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of

CHAPTER

3

The Lord Will Judge the Nations

aie

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that ae Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabetime, when I shall bring again the captivity | 5 pan. 11.33 |ams, to a people far off: for the Lorp hath of Judah and Jerusalem, 7 Isa. 43:5 spoken if. 2

I will also gather all nations,

and will | 6; 49:12

©

9

Proclaim

ye this among

the Gentiles;

bring them down into the valley of Jehosh- | g Jer. 6:20; | Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let aphat, and will plead with them there for | Ezek. 23:42. | all the men of war draw near; let them come my people and for my heritage Israel, whom 9 Ezek. 38:7 |up: must await the time of the Last Days, which, as used by Peter, refers to the Tribulation (cf. Deut. 4:30; 31:29; Isa. 2:2; Jer. 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; Ezek. 38:16; Dan. 2:28; 10;14; Mic. 4:1). 2:30-31 wonders in the heavens and in the earth. This phrase likely refers to the seal, trumpet, and vial judgments of Revelation 6, 8—9, 16 that transpire throughout much of the seven-year Tribulation period. However, Joel 2:31 likely refers to a blackout at the end of the Tribulation, right before the second coming of Christ to the earth. This is supported by Matthew 24:29 which says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.” While some say the phrase, “before the great and the terrible day of the Lord,” refers to the Tribulation period, the context indicates that it describes the actual second advent of Christ, when our Lord comes to earth to personally judge all unbelievers (Mal. 3:1-3; 4:1, 3, 5; Rev. 19:11-21),

2:32. whosoever shall call on the name of the Lorp shall be delivered. Deliverance in this context means physical rescue from Israel's enemies that have gathered for this phase of Armageddon against Jerusalem. The

phrase is quoted in Romans 10:13, where the context indicates that only believing Israel will be willing to call upon the Lord for deliverance. Matthew 24:22 says of the Great Tribulation, “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved,” speaking of the

Jews in Jerusalem. 3:1-17 The judgment of the Tribulation precedes and prepares the way for peace and rest in the kingdom (Joel 3:18-21). Perhaps Joel 3:1—-3 speaks of a judgment after the Second Coming similar to that described in Matthew 25:31-46. 3:2 I will also gather all nations. Not only will Israel be regathered to the land of Israel, but the Gentile nations will be gathered into Israel for judgment (cf. Rev. 16:12-16). “The valley of Jehoshaphat” will be the assembly area for the Gentiles and their armies at Armageddon. Jehoshaphat means “Yahweh judges.” This valley is named for a king of Judah by the name of Jehoshaphat (875-859 B.c.) where he experienced military victory over his enemies when the Lord caused them to fight amongst themselves. Here the Lord indicts the Gentiles for their treatment of His people, Israel. It is only fitting that the Lord brings the nations to the homeland of the people they intend to destroy and then “turns the tables” on them.

— —

2 2

—

— | — }

939 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and | 10Isa.2:4;

| heavens and the earth shall shake: but the

your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak Zecnas Lorp will be the hope of his people, and the say, lam strong. ne strength of the children of Israel. 5 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye 42 7 86-13: 17 So shall ye know that I am the Lorp your heathen, and gather yourselves together | 9g-9- 110.6, |God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: round about: thither cause thy mighty ones | Isa. 2:4; then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall to come down, O Lorp. She es no strangers pass through her any more. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come 13 Matt. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will | 13:39; Rev,

the mountains

I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

14:15, 18,

and the hills shall flow with milk, and all

shall drop down new wine,

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is

a {Sia

the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house

|

full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness | Amos 1:2; | |of the Lorp, and shall water the valley of is great. Hag, 2:6 Shittim. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of | 17 Rev. _ decision: for the day of the Lorn is near in Sirs _ the valley of decision. bcgances 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, | 14:8:Rev,

and the stars shall withdyaw their shining. : _ Blessings for the Lord’s People

19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because | they have shed innocent blood in their

| 22:1 land. 19 Jer. 49:17 |20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jeru20 Amos salem from generation to generation.

16 The Lorp also shall roar out of Zion, and | 9'5 utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lorp dwelleth in Zion.

3:15-16 The earthquake and blackout seem parallel with events described in Zechariah 14:4-5, which describes

3:18 The Judean wilderness will be no more, as Messiah will provide the blessing of new water sources for His people. Originating from within the Millennial Temple that will exist in that day, this new source of water will spur great agricultural productivity (cf. Ezek. 47:1—-8; Zech.

an earthquake that restructures a valley near the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This remodeling of Jerusalem will _ be accompanied by signs in the heavens, as God power| fully defends and vindicates His people Israel.

3:17 the Lord your God dwelling mountain. As the Millennium begins will dwell with the nation, personally salem. Only those known by the Lord “pass through” the city.

in Zion, my holy in Israel, Messiah ruling from Jeruwill be allowed to

13:1). 3:20 Judah .. . Jerusalem. In contrast to Israel's enemies like Egypt and Edom, Judah and Jerusalem have an

eternal destiny of blessing from the Lord. Future prophecies such as this passage have never been literally fulfilled.

he name Amos means “burden,” which is a key word in this prophetic book. Amos af is an appropriate name for one suddenly taken from his humble rural roots, since he was a rough shepherd who lived in the desert of Tekoa, south of Jerusalem. His visits to the great cities of Israel had shown him the sin, corruption, and idolatry especially prevalent in the Northern Kingdom. Amos is believed to have prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II, between the years 765-755 B.c. Upon receiving a call from God, Amos became a prophet of social justice, and he preached in dramatic language, boldly condemning external and idolatrous religion that embraced moral corruption. In the first two chapters of his book, he pronounced judgments on nations surround- . ing Israel and Judah by using a Hebrew poetic device of repetition. Using this method and the phrase ‘three transgressions ... and for four,” the prophet introduces each judgment prediction. Chapters 3—6 focus on Israel, admonishing the people against false worship, sinful corruption, and excessive love of luxury _and pleasure. Warning of the future defeats and captivity, chapters 7—9 contain five visions (locusts, fire, the plumbline, the basket of ripe fruit, and impending judgment). Some profound quotes from the graphic sermons delivered by Amos are found in 3:3 (“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”); 4:12 (“Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel’); 5:1 (“Seek good and not evil that ye may live”); and 6:1 (“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion’). Yet unfulfilled is the marvelous passage in 9:8-15, which predicts severe destruction, but not the utter end of Israel. After decrying the many sins of His people, Amos describes the ultimate restoration and prosperity of Israel in the Millennial Kingdom age, when the great “Son of David,” Jesus, the Messiah, reigns in splendor. Out of 146 verses, 85 are predictive, or 58 percent of the book. Many predictions among the 25 separate forecasts are already fulfilled.

_

_ Northern Kingdom (Israel) 1931 The kingdomisdivided

Ministryof Reign ofJeroboam II Joel over Israel

: Reign of Amaziah over Judah

inistry of Amos 740-680 Ministry of Isaiah

~ ~

941

CHAPTER

1

1 Zech. 14:5 |and remembered

God Judges Israel’s Neighbors

ae Jq>) 9||exmamtatiy

1

10:33. 13:7

The words of Amos, who was among the

af

not the brotherly cov-

:

ew ea :ees

zinehe ge ~ ene

herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concern- | 4 Jer, 17:27: ing Israel in the days of Uzziah king of | 49:27 : Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son | 5 2Kgs. 16:9; of Joash king of Israel, two years before.the |Je" 51:30;

npenaiclared oe an # cs ale eae i eos seit pragane —— Bee ee fun away the punishment thereof; because he did

take

pursue his brother with the sword, and did : : tear percast off all pity, and hisP anger did

Ponte

é

:

.

Lae # mos 9?:

j

ies Sida ADE LOND, Will, oar trom. |6 2th

petuall

Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; | 21:16, 17;

and the habitations of the shepherds shall |28:18: !sa.

signee

ina i kept

sg

i

ao

his mak for nace

os

ee

gh eh

Bg

P f 14:29; Jer. mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. | 47:4, 5: Ezek. 5

shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. : 13 Thus saith the Lorp; For three transgres-

sions of Damascus, and for four, I will not | 3% pace : 5 1:9; Zeph. turn away the punishment thereof; because | 2:4 they have rcbed Gilead with threshing | 7 Jer. 47:1

ee ee eee four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with2child ‘of Gilead? ‘thats they

3 Thus saith the Lorp; For three transgres- | 25:15; Joel

:

:

8

ie uments, of iron: 8 Ps. 81-14, | might enlarge their border: 4 But I will send a fire into the house of | Jer. 47:4; 8 pee cae) Hazael,

‘which shall devour the palaces of

Peescsat 5

Ezek. 25:16;

I will break also the bar of Damascus

:

9 28¢ o

WE

aK

and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of | 5:11; 1Kgs.

ye

d hi

pebegte

duit,

Bar

Boni

al

hholderh the, scopic |iss. 21;

Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith

the Lorp.

ee

in

ee the day of the whirlwind: ; ce

5:1; 9:11-14; | 15 And their king shall go into captivity, he

and his princes together, saith the Lorp

from the house of Eden: and the people of | Jer. 47:4;

6

| 14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rab-

ee ae , | bah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof,

é

yous

a

CHAPTER

Thus saith the Lorn; For three transgres- | 1:4 7-9

1

sions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn | 44 gen,

:

2

Thus saith the Lorp; For three transgres-

sions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn

away the punishment thereof; because they | 27:41; Deut. | away the punishment thereof; because he carried away captive the whole captivity, to 23-7 burned the bones of the king of Edom into

deliver them up to Edom:

igJer. 43:1, | lime:

7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

15 Jer.

“ 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from

et 1 2Kgs.

2. But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it 49:3. |hall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and

Boxe3:27

Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting,

Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre |2 ¥@ 48:41 | and with the sound of the trumpet: from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand aad aol 3 And I will cut off the judge from the against Ekron: and the remnant of the Isa.oes: 28:15; Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord Gop. | Jer. 16:19, 9 Thus saith the Lorp; For three transgresge sions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn | 18 24, 30;

away the punishment thereof; because they

pat aa

delivered up the whole captivity to Edom,

1:1 Amos and most of the other prophets stressed three basic points: 1) the world in which they lived and ministered was wicked and corrupt; 2) a just God would administer judgment against this sinful world; and 3) a

golden age of blessing under divine royal rule that exalts Israel would follow that judgment. 1:2 roar from Zion. This expression is used in connection with God's judgment on Gentile nations (cf. Isa. 42:13; Jer. 25:30-33; Hos. 11:10-12; Joel 3:16). What

happened to Damascus and the hostile nations in the area seems to look beyond ancient times to the future “day of the Loro,” the Tribulation that precedes the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth.

| midst thereof, slay all the princes { : and will ; thereof with him, saith the Lorp.

4 Thus saith the Lorn; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lorp, and have

1:3 three transgressions ... and for four. Amos uses this rhetorical expression, called a Hebrew numeric parallelism, not for a specific limitation, but to signify that the sins of Damascus were innumerable. He employs the attention-getting literary device eight times (concerning Damascus/Syria, Gaza/Philistia, Tyrus/Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel). Seven times he

speaks of sending “a fire” upon these lands, indicating fiery destruction from invading armies. All these regions came under attack by the Assyrians and the Babylonians

from the North and the Egyptians from the South. These prophecies were literally fulfilled during the two hundred years that followed Amos’ predictions.

942

not kept his commandments, and theiré lies ‘

ag 17:27; | liver himself: neither shall he that rideth the os, 8:14 s

shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

a

He Will Judge Israel Too

7lev.186- |CHAPTER 3

6

20:3, 10; isa. |The Work of a Prophet

caused them to err, after the which their fa- fla ee thers have walked: 40; Deut. 5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it | 24:7;1Sam.

Thus saith the Lorn; For three transgres-

horse deliver himself. : 16 And he that is courageous among the | mighty shall flee away naked in that aay,

Amos | saith the Lorb.

sions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn. eae 1 Hear this word that the Lorp hath spoaway the punishment thereof; because they | Amos 5:12;\ |ken against you, O children of Israel, sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for | Rom. 2:24 against the whole family which I brought a pair of shoes; 8 Ex. 22:26, | up from the land of Egypt, saying, 7 That pant after the dust of the earth on eae ane 2 You only have I known of all the families the head of the poor, and turn aside the way | 1Cor. 8:10; of the earth: therefore I will punish you for

of the meek: and a man and his father will | 19:21!

all your iniquities.

go in unto the same maid, to profane my

Are

3

holy name:

Ae oe

agreed?

Can two walk together, except they be

.

8 And they lay themselves down upon | Mal. 4:1 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and | 10 €x. 12:51; |hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of

they drink the wine of the condemned in

veartreh , |bis den, if he have taken nothing?

the house of their god. “| 9 Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, aes whose height was like the height of the | 49\,. cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I | 30:10; Jer.

§ Cana bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.

6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil

iat anes Mic. 2:6.

10 Also I brought you up from the land of | 43),4 4-14 | in a city, and the Lorp hath not done it? Egypt, and led you forty years through the 14Ps. 33:16 | 7 Surely the Lord Gop will do nothing, but wilderness, to possess the land of the Amo- | Jer. 9:23; | |he revealeth his secret unto his servants the

rite.

Amos 9:1-4 | prophets.

11 And I raised up of your sons for proph- | 15 Ps. 33:17 | 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? ets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Js | 2Dan.9:12; | the Lord Gop hath spoken, who can but it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? eae prophesy? saith the Lorp. Rom. 2:9; ; 12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; | 1Pet. 4:17 Samaria Is Doomed and commanded the prophets, saying, | 6 Isa. 45:7 9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in Prophesy not. 7 Gen. 6:13; | the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, As13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart ae int semble yourselves upon the mountains of is pressed that is full of sheaves. 15:15. Samaria, and behold the great tumults in

|

iq ~

14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the | g amos 1:2; |the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen | Acts 4:20; his force, neither shall the mighty deliver ee a

himself:

- ie 4:22

15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not de-

2:5 fire... devour the palaces of Jerusalem. Literally fulfilled in 586 8.c., when Jerusalem was destroyed on the ninth of Av (Jewish calendar). Curiously, the burning of Jerusalem in A.0. 70 also occured on the ninth of Av (a summer month). 3:1 children of Israel . . . whole family. The ten tribes

sila

midst thereof. 10 For they know not to do right, saith the

|LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11 Therefore thus saith the:Lord Gop; An

these verses. These questions are illustrations to drive home the truth that God sends “evil” (v. 6)—which, in this case, does not mean iniquity but disaster or calamity as a consequence (i.e., a judgment) of sin. A similar scenario would be the Lord sending the curse upon Adam and Eve as a result of their fall into sin (Gen. 3:13—19).

(Israel) were carried away into captivity in 722 b.c. (see

3:11-15

2 Kgs. 17:18-23), while Judah was progressively overrun by the Babylonians in 606, 597, and 586 B.c.

judgment. The two evils of which Israel was most guilty were false worship at Bethel (1 Kgs. 12:25-30) and worldly materialism.

3:3-6

Notice the seven rhetorical questions posed in

|

These verses summarize Amos’ message of

:

943 adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. 12 Thus saith the Lorp; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.. 13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Gop, the God of hosts, 14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. 15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the Lorp.

CHAPTER

4

1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 2 The Lord Gop hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. 3 And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LorD.

Israel Will Not Learn the Lesson 4 Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:

5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord Gop. 6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lorp. 7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon |) one city, and caused it not to rain upon an| other city: one piece was rained upon, and

|

15 Judg.

4 Num. 28:3,

the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 8 So twoor three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lorp. 9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the

4; Deut.

LORD.

3:20; 1Kgs. 22:39; Jer.

36:22 1 Ps. 22:12;

Ezek. 39:18 2 Ps, 89:35; Jer. 16:16; Hab. 1:15 3 Ezek, 12:5,

12

14:28; Ezek. 20:39; Hos. 4:15; 12:11

5 Lev. 7:13; 22:18, 21; 23:17; Deut. 12:6; Ps. 81:12

6 Isa. 26:11; Jer. 5:3; Hag. 2:17

8 Amos 4:6, 10, 11

9 Deut.

28:22; Joel 1:42:25;

Hag. 2:17 10 Ex. 9:3, 6; 12:29; Deut.

28:27, 60; 2Kgs. 13:7; Ps. 78:50;

Amos 4:6 11 Gen.

19:24, 25; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 49:18; Amos 4:6; Zech. 3:2; Jude 1:23

12 Ezek. 13:5; 22:30; Luke 14:31, 32 13 Deut. 32:13; 33:29; Ps. 139:2; Isa. 47:4; Jer. 10:16; Dan, 2:28; Amos 5:8; 8:9; 9:6;

Mic. 1:3 1 Jer. 7:29; Ezek. 19:1; 27:2

4 2Chr. 15:2; Isa. 55:3 5 Hos. 4:15; 10:8; Amos 4:4; 8:14 6 Amos 5:4

10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men

have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lorp. 11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lorp. 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lorp, The God of hosts, is his name.

CHAPTER

5

Come Back, Israel! 1 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. 2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.

3 For thus saith the Lord Gop; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel. 4 For thus saith the Lorp unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: 5 But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought. 6 Seek the Lorp, and ye shall live; lest he

break out like fire in the house of Joseph,

4:1-3 kine [cows] of Bashan. Bashan, east of the Sea of Galilee, was known for the fine quality of cattle raised in the area. Metaphorically, they refer to upper class women of Samaria who felt no remorse in oppressing the poor.

| Amos warned that they would be treated like cattle when the captors of Samaria sorted them out for slavery.

944 and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.

7 Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, 8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of. the earth: The Lorp is his name: 9 That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. 10 They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. 11 Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. 12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. 13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lorp, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lorp God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. 16 Therefore the Lorp, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. 17 And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the Lorp. 18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lorp! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lorn is darkness, and not light.

8 Ps. 104:20; Job 9:9; 38:31, 34 11 Deut.

19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent

28:30, 38, 39

bit him.

12 Isa. 29:21; Amos 2:6, 7

20 Shall not the day of the Lorp be darkness; and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? 21 I hate, I despise your fast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept then: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. 25 Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. | 27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the Lorp, whose name is The God of hosts.

14 Mic. 3:11 15 Ex. 32:30; 2Kgs. 19:4; Ps. 34:14; 97:10; Joel 2:14; Rom. 12:9 16 Jer. 9:17

17 Ex. 12:12; Nah. 1:12 18 Isa. 5:19; Jer. 17:15; 30:7; Ezek. W227, 27: Joel 2:2; Zeph. 1:15; 2Pet. 3:4

19 Jer. 48:44

21 Lev. 26:31; Jer. 6:20 22 Isa. 66:3;

Mic. 6:6, 7 24 Hos. 6:6; Mic, 6:8

25 Deut. 32:17; Josh. 24:14; Isa. 43:23; Ezek. 20:8, 16, 24;

CHAPTER G6 Israel Will Be Destroyed

26 1Kgs.

1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

11:33

2

27 2Kgs. 17:6

thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border

Acts 7:42,

43;

2 2Kgs. 18:34; Isa.

Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from

10:9; Jer. 2:10

greater than your border? 3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and

3 Ps. 94:20;

cause the seat of violence to come near;

Ezek. 12:27; Amos 5:12, 18; 6:12;

4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the

9:10

lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; “4 5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and

5 1Chr. 23:5; Isa. 5:12

5:8 that maketh the seven stars and Orion. Amos pleads with Israel to seek the great Creator who placed the Pleiades (a cluster of several hundred stars, of which

only 12 or less are visible to the naked eye in the autumn and winter sky) in the heavens and formed Orion, the

most magnificent of the constellations in the winter sky. God is the universal and all-powerful Designer and Administrator of the heavens, the seas, and the earth. 5:18-20 the day of the Lorp is darkness, and not light. The “day of the Lorp” is the ultimate time when God man-

ifests His power and glory, vindicating His claim over the earth. In Amos’ time, some longed for that glorious day, but did not realize that it included divine judgment. Amos is anticipating an imminent and decisive judgment upon Israel, glimpes of the defining events of the Last Days. (For uses of the expression in ancient times and future apocalyptic times, see Isa. 2:12; 13:6; Jer. 46:10; Lam. 2:22; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1; Obad. 1:15; Zeph. 1:7-8, 18; 2:2-3; Zech. 14:1; and Mal. 4:5.)

945 invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; 6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be re-

moved. 8 The Lord Gop hath sworn by himself, saith the Lorp the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. 9 And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.

10 And a man’s uncle shall take him up, - and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto _ him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the | LORD. 11 For, behold, the Lorp commandeth, and | he will smite the great house with breaches, _ and the little house with clefts.

12 Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned

_ judgment into gall, and the fruit of right_ eousness into hemlock: 13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, | which say, Have we not taken to us horns by | our own strength? | 14 But, behold, I will raise up against you a | nation, O house of Israel, saith the Lorp the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from | the entering in of Hemath unto the river of

6 Gen. 37:25 8 Ps. 47:4;

Jer. 51:14; Ezek. 24:21; Amos 8:7; Heb. 6:13, 17 10 Amos 5:13; 8:3 11 Isa. 55:11; Amos 3:15 12 Hos. 10:4; Amos 5:7

14 Num. 34:8; 1Kgs. 8:65; Jer. 5:15 2 Isa. 51:19 3 Deut. 32:36; Amos 7:6; Jon. 3:10; James 5:16 5 Amos 7:2, 3

8 2Kgs. 21:13; Isa. 28:17; 34:11; Lam. 2:8; Amos 8:2; Mic. 7:18

9 Gen. 26:23; 46:1; 2Kgs. 15:10; Amos 5:5; 8:14; Beersheba

Amos and Amaziah 10 1Kgs. 12:32; 2Kgs. 14:23

| the wilderness.

| CHAPTER

7

Three Visions: How Israel

| Will Be Destroyed 1 Thus hath the Lord Gop shewed unto | me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in

the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. 2 And it came to pass, that when they tad made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord Gop, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. 3 The Lorp repented for this: It shall not be, saith the Lorp. 4 Thus hath the Lord Gop shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord Gop called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part. 5 Then said I, O Lord Gop, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small 6 The Lorp repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord Gop. 7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 8 And the Lorp said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: 9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

13 1Kgs. 12:32; 13:1; Amos 2:12

| 7:8 The “plumbline” was to serve as the measure of | Israel's sin to reveal how far she had gone astray. Despite

| the fact that the Lord complied with Amos’ first two requests to stay His judgment, destruction is now immi| nent, and captivity by the Assyrians certain. | 7:10 the land is not able to bear all his words. This | phrase referred to Amos’ preaching, which was intolera| ble to those who held positions of leadership. Amos spoke out against the unfair practices used by the rich to

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land. 12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13 But prophesy not again any more at

oppress the poor. When Amos said that the rich would be judged for their injustices, the poor people began to support Amos’ message. Amaziah and other leaders in the Northern Kingdom saw this as a direct threat to their authority. 7:12-17

Amos affirms his divine call (vv. 14-15), as he

predicts that Amaziah and his family would suffer in future invasions, and that Israel would indeed go into captivity (see 2 Kgs. 14:28—17:6).

946

14 Then answered Amos, and said to | 14 1kgs. Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a ce

7 The Lorp hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and

prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, anda

every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and

Beth-el: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.

| 6:1: Amos

gatherer of sycomore fruit: 15 And the Lorp took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

i Zech. ; Hl ae 2:6

16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the.

17 Isa.

it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Gop, that I will cause the sun.

Lorp: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Is- | 13:16; Jer.

to go down at noon, and I will darken the

rael, and drop not thy word against the house | 95) 31, 32: of Isaac. Lam. 5:11; 17 Therefore thus saith the Lorp; Thy wife nee 4:13; | ; ech. 14:2 shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons PE Te.

earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; 5 E : and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins,

28:12; 29:21,

and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, | amos 7:8

and baldness upon every head; and I will

and thy land shall be divided by line; and } 3 amos

make it as the mourning of an only son, and

thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel | 5:33; 6:9,10 | the end thereof as a bitter day.

shall surely go into captivity forth of his | 4 Ps. 14:4;

11 Behold, the days come,

land.

Prov. 30:14 5 Neh.

Gop, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,

ey ie

but of hearing the words of the Lorn:

CHAPTER

&

3

1

the Lord Gop

A Basket of Ripe Fruit Thus

hath

saith the Lord

Mic. 6:10, 11 |12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, shewed

unto | 6 Amos 2:6 | and from the north even to the east, they

me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.

7 Hos. 8:13; | Shall run to and fro to seek the word of the

2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? | 9:9; Amos And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then 6:8

Lorp, and shall not find it.

13 In that day shall the fair virgins and said the Lorp unto me, The end is come | 849s. 4:3; | young men faint for thirst. Amos 9:5 14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, upon my people of Israel; I will not again 9 Job 5:14; pass by them any more. Isa. 13:10: and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The

3 And the songs of the temple shall be | 59:9, 10; Jer. |manner of Beer-sheba liveth; even 15:9; Mic. howlings in that day, saith the Lord Gop: shall fall, and never rise up again. 3:6 there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with si- Agrees CHAPTER 9

lence.

48:37: Ezek. | Israel Can’t Escape the Lord

3

7:18; 27:31;

too;

Israel’s Doom Is Near 4

Hear

they

this, O ye that

ea

swallow

up

| 1.

5

;

I saw the Lord standing upon the altar:

and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, 11 1Sam. the | 3:1; Ps, 74:9; |that the posts may shake: and cut them in

needy, even to make the poor of the land to | Ezek. 7:26

the head, all of them; and I will slay the last

fail,

of them with the sword: he that fleeth of

14 Deut.

5 Saying, When will the new moon be ag Aad them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. gone, that we may sell corn? and the sab- | 5:5 bath, that we may set forth wheat, making | 1 ps. 68:21: | 2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall the ephah small, and the shekel great, and | Amos 2:14; | mine hand take them; though they climb up Hab. 3:13 falsifying the balances by deceit? to heaven, thence will I bring them down: 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and 2 Job 20:6; |3) And though they hide themselves in the ec Ps, 139:8-14; the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell Hee 51:53; top of Carmel, I will search and take them

the refuse of the wheat?

Obad. 1:4

8:1 basket of summer fruit. This term symbolized that the sinful kingdom was ripe for ruin. 8:4-14 Israel not only wallowed in false worship and idolatry, but dishonest merchants complained of a lull in their financial dealings because of sacred seasons and the Sabbath. Their sin included oppression of the poor.

out thence; and though they be hid from my

to bring a true message. This could be said of the situation in the world today—many voices claim to speak for God, but few are faithful to His holy Word.

9:3-10 though they hide themselves. Amos in these verses warns the Israelites that there will be no placeto hide, that divine judgment will be inescapable, and that

Part of divine judgment was a “famine of hearing the

widespread dispersion will be certain. However, Amos

words of the Lor,” not a lack of divine truth, but a failure

also declares that God will not utterly destroy Israel.

>

947 sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I

command

the serpent, and he shall bite

oar oe

them:

28:65; Jer.

4

And though they go into captivity before

44:11; Ezek. 5:12

their enemies,

thence will I command

the

sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set

fic

mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for

5 Be “ane

corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. |

10 All the sinners of my people shall dieby the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.

: Israel Will Come Back

good. 13:Amos | 11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle 5 And the Lord Gop of hosts is he that | 4:13; 5:8 of David that is fallen, and close up the toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all | 7 Deut. 2:23; |breaches thereof; and I will raise up his

that dwell therein: shall mourn: and it shall |&mos47% i 1:5

rise up wholly like a flood; and

shall be

a Ne a0-11-

ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: 12 That they may possess the remnant

of

drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 31:35, 36; | Edom, and of all the heathen, which are 6 It is he that buildeth his stories in the | Amos 9:4; called by my name, saith the Lorp that 1:16, heaven, and hath founded his troop in the | Obad. 47 doeth this. 13 Behold, the days come, saith the Lorn, earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of iie ae that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, the earth: The Lorn is his name. 15:16, 17 and the treader of grapes him that soweth 7 Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians | 49 jum, seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet unto me, O children of Israel? saith the | 24:18; Obad. | wine, and all the hills shall melt.

Lorp. Have not I brought up Israel out of the | 119 land of Egypt? and the Philistines

14 And I will bring again the captivity of my

from | 13 Lev. 26:5; |people of Israel, and they shall build the

Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?

sesh? -lg

waste

8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord Gop are

sag

shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine

upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy | 30:3; Ezek.

thereof; they shall also make gardens, and

it from off the face of the earth; saving that | 3633-36 I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, | 15 !sa.

eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land,

saith the Lorp. 9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as

inhabit

them; and

they

pat an and they shall no more be pulled up out of pie Joel | their land which I have given them, saith the Lorp thy God.

9:10-11 Amos is using the illustration of a “sieve” to show how God will sift out every evil thing that has been committed, and not one deed will pass through this judgment. The people are proud of their sin (v. 10), not

realizing that God will ultimately judge them for all their wicked deeds. 9:11 In that day will | raise up the tabernacle of David. Amos now looks far beyond the fall of Israel as a nation and their dispersion to a future glorious age of restoration and blessing. The fallen tabernacle (tent) or hut of David, a metaphor for the Davidic dynasty, would be raised up and fully restored when the Messiah comes. There may also be a suggestion of David, as resurrected, occupying a place of leadership in “that day,” the Millennial Kingdom (see Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23-24).

9:12

cities, and

possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the

heathen [Gentiles]. Israel will absorb Edom (Obad. 1:21)

and exercise authority over all Gentile nations.

9:13 plowman shall overtake the reaper. During the Millennium, great prosperity, plenty, and beauty will spring forth in the land of Israel, as this poetic passage indicates. Another description of the Millennium in Joel 3:18 pictures a land flowing with God's blessings, a land made fruitful by the stream that shall come forth from the house of the Lord (see Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8).

9:15 no more be pulled up. When Israel is finally completely restored and the world capital is Jerusalem with the Messiah Jesus reigning, never again will the people of Israel be dislodged, carried into captivity, or endangered. Compare Hosea 2:23 as to when the promises of Genesis 15:18; Isaiah 2:1—-5; 19:23—25; and Ezekiel 48:35 are all fulfilled.

idiah

|

badiah’s name means “servant and worshiper of Jehovah.” Containing only one Ogee for a total of twenty-one verses, the book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. Obadiah prophesies the events regarding the destruction of the Edomites. Since Edom is mentioned by Obadiah as having more than one ally, the most likely time this prophecy occurred was during the reign of King Jehoram (853-842 B.c.). While Jehoram was king of Judah, the Edomites, the descendents of Esau, Jacob’s brother, were allied with the Philistines and the Arabians, who overran Jerusalem. The Edomites’ persecution of Jerusalem prompted this prophecy, which focuses solely on this bitter foe of Israel. The Edomites were a proud, bitter, resentful people, ever seeking to harm the Israelites. They had refused to let Israel pass through their land after the Exodus (Num. 20:14-21). Throughout the centuries that followed, the Edomites were never Israel’s friends, although King David’s empire once controlled the land of Edom. Frequently at war with Israel, Edom rejoiced over Jerusalem’s downfall, cruelly taking part in the plundering and massacre when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem. Other prophets in other times had forecast Edom’s ultimate punishment for their wickedness and opposition to God’s chosen people—godly spokesmen like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, and Malachi. Following Jerusalem’s destruction, many. Edomites left the mountains and the red rock city, known later as Petra, to settle in southern Judea, becoming known as Idumeans. Herod the Great, who received his crown from Caesar, was an Idumean who professed Judaism but sought to slay the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:16). Thus the conflict between Jacob and Esau culminated in the clash between Christ the King and Herod the King. After New Testament times, the Idumeans faded from history. Awaiting fulfillment is the “day of the Lorp” passage (vv. 15-21), when millennial Israel will “possess their possessions,” populate their territory, and “the kingdom shall be the Lorp’s.” Out of 21 verses, 17 are prophetic (approximately 81%), most of which have been fulfilled.

627-580

ne:

|

Ministry of Jeremiah —

Northern Kingdom (Israel)

| 722 § The kingdom is divided

Ministry of Obadiah

Assyria conquers Israel

931-586 Southern Kingdom (Judah) :

:

Sees 841-814

§

Reign of Jehu over Israel

Ministry of Isaiah

Ministry of Daniel

949

CHAPTER

1

Edom Will Be Humbled fo THe vision Of Obadiah. Whus saith fhe

eee

11 In the day that thou stoodest on the

49:14-20: Eek o\%¢

other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

Lord Gop concerning Edom; We have heard | 3:19; Mal. a rumour from the Lorp, and an ambassa:

)

doves Bont eons eeC

ee mse Upapaiist er uh battle, ;

e

ie near Sa Arise Ye, |isa, 14:13-

eye hold, U have made thee small. anions the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

ee

1

3 2Kgs. 14:7; |12 But thou shouldest

3

ne

5

Tage tes

came

|giob 20:6; Ce aoe

have rejoiced One the children of Judah siimtac Gay ao shanePleo ice ons ceils

:53;

Amos

cat hath deceived |9-2: Hab. 2:9

thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the

5 Deut

po sees abilabon

242); 1sa.

high; that saithin

his heart, Who shall bring me down to the

ea eit pe

pare

a 19:11, 7 Isa. =J afee

not have looked on

the day of thy brother in the day that he be-

Ye

a stranger;

neither

shouldest

thou

y

shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the

Mate fated

13 Thou shouldest not have entered into

dae iaacevo al

lanai | Calamity;

weaslalse ahd dacoD the

yea, athou

aula calnot teaehate have

shouldest

looked on their affliction in the day of their

8 i ye oad : stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith | g Job 5:12,

calamity, nor have laid hands on their suboncelih The av Of theit caLeni:

29:14; Jer.

14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did es-

thefieee:

‘

13: Isa,

‘

e

day of

their calamity;

5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by | 49:7 night, (how art thou cut off!) would they 9 Ps. 76:5; not have stolen till they had enough? if the Jer. 49:7:

rae s either showkdess thouhaye delivery

grapegatherers came to thee, would they | Amos 2:16

bea ose OFAPS dhaitid

>

nei

2

eli

remain in

the day ot

not leave some grapes? 10 Gen. eas 6 How are the things of Esau searched out! Abe ae09 hi a Joe! 3:3: Israsrael el Will how are hisis hidden things sought up! 11 W1 in. Win! 7 All the men of thy confederacy have | Nah.3:10 | 15 For the day of the Lorp is near upon all brought thee even to the border: the men | 42 Job the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be _ that were at peace with thee have deceived | 31:29; Mic. | done unto thee: thy reward shall return thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee:

UTE A upon thine own head. 14 Ps. 31:8 | 46 For as ye have drunk

there is none understanding in him.

ik:

upon

my

holy

mountain, so shall all the heathen drink

8 Shall I not in that day, saith the LorD, | Joge)'3:74: |_| continually, yea, they shall drink, and they even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and | Hab. 2:8 shall swallow down, and they shall be as understanding out of the mount of Esau? 16 Jer. though they had not been.

9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be | 25:28. 29 dismayed, to the end that every one of the Lee ee mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. | 9:3 10 For thy violence against thy brother 18 Isa. | Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou | 10:17;Zech.

shalt be cut off for ever.

17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, |and the house of Joseph a flame, and the

12:6

house of Esau for stubble, and they shall

1 Obadiah’s vision predicts the destruction of Edom. This prophecy is focused on the nation of the descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. The hostility between the | brothers began’in Genesis 27 and continued over the centuries in the hostilities between their descendants, Israel | and Edom.

was fulfilled when Petra was destroyed by the Moslems in A.D. 629-632 and never inhabited again. To this day, ancient Edom is a wilderness, and the Edomites have totally disappeared from human history.

| 3-4 clefts of the rock. The territory of Edom is southeast of the Dead Sea. In biblical times, it was a mountain fortress in the rocky canyons of that region. The Hebrew word translated “rock” is from the word se/a and was the

15-17 the day of the Lorp is near. In contrast to Edom's destruction, Obadiah predicted the ultimate deliverance of Jerusalem in the coming “day of the Lorp.” Unlike the mountains of Edom, from which no one will escape, there will be a remnant of survivors on Mount Zion in the day of trouble that is coming during the Tribulation period. In

name of the Edomite capital, Petra. From this invincible

the end, Israel will regain her possessions and reclaim

standpoint, Edom controlled the desert trade routes between Babylon and Arabia and met with few military challenges. But Obadiah predicted that God would deal with Edom’s pride and bring her down. This prophecy

her land. The houses of Jacob (Judah) and Joseph

(Ephraim) will unite and form one kingdom in the future to execute God's judgment on the “house of Esau” (v. 18).

kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lorp hath spoken it. 19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

19 Amos

9:12; Zeph. 2:7

26 °1Kgs. 17:9, 10; Jer.

32:44 21 Zech. 14:9; Luke 1:33; Rev. 11:15; 19:6

20 And the captivity of this hostof the chil-

dren

of Israel

shall. possess

that

of the

Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. 21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lorp’s.

onah, whose name means “dove,” lived during the reign of wicked king Jeroboam Il (793-753 B.c.). Jonah’s active prophetic ministry is mentioned in 2 Kings _»14:23-29. It is from this passage that we learn that Jonah was from the town of Gath_hepher, approximately two miles northeast of Nazareth. -. Jonah’s experiences prove to be quite interesting, and insightful. God commanded Jonah to prophesy against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, at the time when the power of the Assyrian Empire posed an ominous threat to Israel’s security. For this reason, Jonah was 2 pean to travel to Nineveh to speak of their impending judgment. ose The book of Jonah is highly significant, because it shows that God is willing to show mercy on all (including Gentile peoples) who seek Him in humility and sincerity. Jonah wrote his book upon his return from Nineveh. Belatedly obedient to his mission, Jonah preaches to Nineveh, “Forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (3:4). Much to his surprise (and dismay), the king and the whole population repent of their sins, initiating the greatest revival in history that prompted God to refrain from immediately destroying the city. This stay of execution was short lived; however, as the Ninevites gradually returned to their decadent lifestyles and their city was ransacked by the Medo-Persian Empire in 612 B.c. Many critics dismiss the miraculous account of Jonah and the great fish as being a myth or a fable because they sadly reject the supernatural nature of the God of the Bible. But Jesus treats the story as a haat ia accurate one, comparing Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish to His own time in the tomb (Matt. 12:40). Therefore, Jonah prefigures Christ as the Sent One, suffering death, being buried, and raised from death after three days, then ministering salvation to the Gentiles (Matt. 12:39-41; Luke 11:29-32). A total of 4 predictive statements appear in Jonah that comprise only 5 out of the book’s 48 total verses (approximately 10%).

y

ae

:

:

2

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“é

tt

.

4

1

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2

7

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&

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9

|) 627-580 ‘Ministry of Jeremiah

| 760 os Fae Ministry of Jonah

Mien

tu

e

oe

:

_ Ministry ofDaniel

Fall of First

Nineveh

captivity captivity

y

e

952

CHAPTER 1 Jonah Runs Away

1 2Kgs. 14:25; Matt. 12:39

1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2. Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and

2 Gen. 10:11, 12; 18:20, 21; Ezra 9:6; Jon. 3:2, 3; 4:11; James

cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lorp, and went’! down to Joppa; and he found a ship going

to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lorb. 4 But the Lorp sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten if of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. 7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? 9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lorp, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

5:4; Rev. 18:5

3 Gen. 4:16; Josh. 19:46; 2Chr. 2:16; Job 1:12; 2:7; Jon. 4:2; Acts 9:36

4 Ps. 107:25 5 1Sam. 24:3; Acts 27:18, 19, 38 6 Ps. 107:28; Joel 2:14 7 Josh. 7:14, 16; 1Sam.

10:20, 21; 14:41, 42; Prov. 16:33; Acts 1:26

8 Josh. 7:19; 1Sam. 14:43 9 Ps. 146:6; Acts 17:24 12 John 11:50 13 Prov. 21:30 14 Deut. 21:8; Ps. 115:3 15 Ps. 89:9; Luke 8:24 16 Mark 4:41; Acts 5:11 17 Matt. 12:40; 16:4; Luke 11:30

1:2 The fact that God chooses to withhold judgment on men and nations hardly means that He does not see their sinful deeds and will not eventually judge and punish them. Nineveh, built by Nimrod, the father of idolatry after the Flood, was perhaps the greatest and most evil city in the world at that time. That God promised to destroy the city for her wickedness shows His justice; that He spared her for 150 years because she repented at the preaching of Jonah reveals His mercy extended even to heathen cities. 1:12-15 Jonah predicted that if the sailors would throw him overboard, the sea would calm—and it did. The fulfillment of this prophecy caused these pagan men to turn to the Lord and recognize Him, for only God can inspire prophecy. Such faith is the main purpose of prophecy.

10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lorp, because he had told them.

.

11 Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake -this great tempest is upon you. 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring if to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lorn, and said, We beseech thee, O Lorb, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lorp, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lorp exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lorp, and made vows. 17 Now the Lorp had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

CHAPTER

2

Jonah Is Thankful 1

Then Jonah

prayed unto

the Lorp his

God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lorp, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

1:17 It was from Jesus some eight hundred years later that we find that the three days and nights Jonah spent in the belly of the fish was a prophetic’ type of the three days Christ would spend in the grave after His crucifixion. This became a legitimate sign to the Jews that Jesus was indeed the Christ. (Matt. 16:4; Luke 11:29-32).

2:1-9 Jonah’s prayer from the “fish's belly” (v. 1), indicates that God hears and answers even when we pray during chaos caused by our own rebellion. God gave 4 Jonah prophetic insight that he would yet live to sacrifice — and give thanksgiving. While we do not know when Jonah kept the vow he made during his prayer, it is clear that he eventually returned to Israel to finish his ministry

|

(cf. 2 Kgs. 14:25).

953

History's Coming

Capstone

By Earl Radmacher he ultimate purpose for the history of the earth is to graphically demonstrate the glory of God by showing that God alone is sovereign Ruler over all creation. This is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray after this manner: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). The ultimate display of God’s will is coming, when Jesus Christ, together with His saints, will bring the first perfect government to this earth (1 Cor. 15:20-28). God has allowed the usurper, Satan, to reign thousands of years as the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), but Satan’s control will come to an abrupt end. Satan's last government will be a mighty, hands-on, desperate effort to succeed in his rebellion against God (Rev. 12—13). The first prophetic declaration of the supremacy of God over Satan came very early in Scripture when the Lord God declared to the serpent “It [i.e., Christ] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). Several thousand , years later, Jesus vividly portrayed the breaking of Satan's power: “I beheld Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke iness where we go 10:18). Thus, Jesus set His face like a flint toward the cross, where the curse of sin and death that Satan introduced through ‘at the end of this his deception in Genesis 3 would be reversed. Satan was earthly sojourn. judged at the cross (John 16:11), but the execution of the judgment is yet to come (Rev. 20:10). The destruction that will take place_on earth after the Rapture will be so intense that Jesus characterized it as “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21; cf. Dan. 12:1). Jesus prophesied that, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:29-30). We must not confuse the gift of redeeming grace with the reward or prize that may cost us our very lives. God’s grace determines where we go at the end of this earthly

_ sojourn. The rewards that Christians receive for their obedience to Christ determine the position of service that they will have in Christ’s kingdom. Paul succinctly summarizes the concepts of grace and rewards for Timothy in poetry that became a first-century hymn: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him [cf. Rom. 6:1-8].

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him [cf. Rev. 2:26—28]. If we deny Him, He will also deny us [cf. Matt. 10:32-33]. If we are faithless, He remains faithful. “He cannot deny Himself” [2 Tim. 2:11-13]. Ninety-three times in the New Testament our Lord and the apostles use descriptions of service in the coming messianic kingdom to move Christians out of infancy into faithful service. In summary, our future is determined by what we do with what God has given us.

954 3 For thou hadst cast me the midst of the seas; and passed me about: all thy waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am cast yet I will look again toward 5

into the deep, in the floods combillows and thy out of thy sight; thy holy temple.

The waters compassed me about, even to

the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. 6

I went

mountains;

down

to the

bottoms

of the

the earth with her bars was

about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lorp my God. 7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lorp: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lorb. 10 And the Lorp spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

CHAPTER 3 Jonah Finally Obeys 1 And the word of the Lorp came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lorp. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. 4 ‘And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7

And he caused it to be proclaimed and

published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any

3 Ps. 42:7;

88:6

.

4 1Kgs. 8:38; Ps. 31:22 5 Ps. 69:1; Lam. 3:54

6 Ps. 16:10 7 Ps. 18:6 8 2Kgs. 17:15; Ps. 31:6; Jer. 10:8; 16:19

9 Ps, 3:8;

50:14, 23;

thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way,

and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? :

| 10 And

God saw their works, that they

turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did if not.

116:17, 18; Hos. 14:2;

‘CHAPTER 4

Heb. 13:15

Jonah Is Angry

3 Gen. 30:8; Ps. 36:6;

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed unto the Lorn, and said, I pray thee, O Lorn, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that

80:10 4 Deut. 18:22

5 Matt. 12:41; Luke 11:32

6 Job 2:8 7 2Chr. 20:3; Joel 2:15 8 Isa. 58:6; 59:6

9 2Sam. 12:22; Joel 2:14 10 Jer. 18:8; Amos 7:3, 6 2 Ex. 34:6; Ps. 86:5; Joel 2:13; Jon. 1:3

3 1Kgs. 19:4; Jon. 4:8

8 Jon. 4:3

thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. 3 Therefore now, O Lorp, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4 Then said the Lorn, Doest thou well to be angry? 5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till

he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the Lorp God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. 8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of

Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in him-

9 11 Deut. 1:39; Ps. 36:6; 145:9; Ezek. 1:2; 3:2, 3

3:10—4:2 While Jonah’s reaction to the repentance of the Ninevites shows his animosity toward the people of Nineveh and the Assyrians, this act of forgiveness shows the nature of God, that he is “a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” This story does

self to die, and said, Jt is better for me to die than to live. 9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I. do well to be angry, even unto death. 10 Then said the Lorp, Thou hast had pity

not cast the prophet in a good light, but it gives us a sublime picture of the graciousness and longsuffering of God. For he is willing to forgive all who call upon Him in sincere repentance, both Gentile idol worshipers and rebellious believers.

—

955 on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which

great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern be-

came up in a night, and perished in a night: | 44 jsqa, 1:18: |tween their right hand and their left hand; 11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that | Matt. 18:33 | and also much cattle?

4:11 persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left. As we will see in Nahum, this entire generation was spared, and the ultimate destruction God predicted on the city and country was not fulfilled until

150 years later, when a subsequent generation fell into the same idolatry and ritual killing of human beings and did not repent. The city was so utterly destroyed that its ruins were completely covered for 2,600 years.

icah’s name is a contraction of Micaiah, meaning “who is like Jehovah?” He M apparently makes a word play on his name in verse 18 of chapter 7 where he asks, “Who is a God like unto thee?” Micah ministered during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—a period of about fifty years. Contemporary with Isaiah in Judah and Hosea and Amos in Israel, his ministry impacted both nations. Although Micah came from the seemingly insignificant city of Moresheth, a village bordering on the Philis- _ tine territory, his prophecy relates to the sins and judgments on the capital cities of | Israel and Judah. The destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem, the return of the Jews _ . from a future captivity, and the punishment of their - enemies are all foretold. Micah prophesies that God will raise up a loyal

remnant who will follow their king and God. He proclaims the coming of the Messiah as the foundation of _ hope for the blessed and glorious future he describes, _ even specifying Bethlehem as the place where Messiah - would be born (see Matt. 2:1-6). The great ethical state_ ment as to what God “requires” is found in 6:8: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy | God.” A century later, Jeremiah’s life was saved by an_ appeal from his friends, quoting Micah 3:12 (Jer. 26:17-19). Jesus alludes to Micah 7:6 in his instructions to the apostles in Matthew 10:35-36. The book has three major sections (1:2—2:13; 3:1—5:13; 6:1—7:20), each introduced by the word “Hear.” The remarkable prepay about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem is powerful proof of divine inspiration and the value of biblical predictions. Many predictions in Micah will be fulfilled in the coming Millennial Kingdom age. As in Isaiah, both comings of Christ are prophesied. With a total of 40 separate prophetic subjects scattered through the book, 73 verses out of 105, or 70 percent of the content, are predictive in nature.

Southern Kingdom (Judah) oe

= oe

ee Assyriaconquerssae

MinistryofIsaiah :

|

957

CHAPTER

1

The Lord Will Judge 1 The word of the Lorp that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord Gop be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For, behold, the Lorp cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. 5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of

Judah? are they not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. 7. And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls. 9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. 10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. 11 Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir,

1 Jer. 26:18

having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of

2 Isa. 1:2; Jon. 2:7; Hab. 2:20; Mal. 3:5.

Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall receive of you his standing.

3 Deut. 32:13; 33:29; Ps, 115:3; Isa. 26:21; Amos 4:13

12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lorp unto the gate of Jerusalem. 13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for

4 Judg. 5:5; Ps. 97:5; Isa. 64:1-3; Amos 9:5;

Hab. 3:6, 10 6 2Kgs. 19:25; Ezek.

13:14 7 Hos. 2:5, 12

8 Job 30:29; Ps. 102:6; Isa. 20:2-4;

21:3; 22:4; Jer. 4:19 9 2Kgs. 18:13; Isa. 8:7, 8 10 2Sam. 1:20; Jer. 6:26 11 Isa. 20:4; 47:2, 3; Jer. 13:22; Nah. 3:5 12 Amos 3:6

13 2Kgs. 18:14, 17 14 Josh. 15:44; 2Sam.

8:2; 2Kgs. 18:14-16 15 Josh. 15:44; 2Chr. tte

16 Job 1:20; Isa. 15:2; 22:12; Jer.

7:29; 16:6

1 Ps. 36:4 2 Isa. 5:8

4 Hab. 2:6

the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. 14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. 15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O in-

habitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel. 16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

CHAPTER 2 What Will Happen to Those Who Hurt the Poor 1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house even a man and his heritage. 3 Therefore thus saith the Lorn; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil. 4 In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how

1:1-7 Samaria and Jerusalem. Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, prophesies against Samaria and

Northern Kingdom and destroyed Samaria. Micah also predicted this evil (Assyria) would come “unto the gate of

Jerusalem, the capitals of the Northern and Southern kingdoms (Israel and Judah). He pictures the Lord coming down to tread upon the mountains and valleys that will melt and split apart. Samaria will become a heap, and “all the graven images” (idols) will be destroyed.

Jerusalem” (v. 12) but not into the city itself. In the days

1:8-16 gone into captivity from thee. Micah foresees the coming destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians (see 2 Kgs. 17:1—-18). He even acted out part of the prophecy to depict Samaria’s coming captivity. His prophecy was fulfilled in 722 8.c., when the Assyrians conquered the

of King Hezekiah of Judah, the Assyrians, led by Sennacherib, surrounded the city of Jerusalem (701 8.c.) but did not conquer it (cf. 2 Kgs. 18—19; Isa. 36—37).

2:1-5 Micah pronounces a “woe” (lit. “doom”) upon those who “devise iniquity, and work evil” (v. 1). He is especially critical of the materialistic covetousness of greedy people who steal their wealth from others. The prophet predicts that all their wealth will be lost in the coming Assyrian invasion.

958

hath he removed it from me! turning away | 5 Deut. 32:8, | 3. Who also eat the flesh of my people, and he hath divided our fields. 3 . | flay their skin from off them; and they 5 Therefore thou shalt have none that oe ast break their bones, and chop them in pieces, shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation | Amos 2:12; | as for the pot, and as flesh within the calof the Lorp. 7:16 dron. 6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that | 8 10 Lev. 4 Then shall they cry unto the Lorp, but he

prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them,

fae a

will not hear them: he will even hide his

that they shall not take shame. Jer. 3:2 face from them at that time, as they have 7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, | 14 Ezek. 13:3 | behaved themselves ill in their doings.

is the spirit of the Lorn straitened? are these -| 49 Jer, his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? . 8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The women of my people have ye cast

5 Thus

} 31:10; Ezek. oh Mic. 1950 | 5-12:Hos, | 3:5 1 Jer. 5:4,5 | 3Ps. 14:4;

saith

the

Lorp

concerning

the

|prophets that make my people err, that bite | with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even | prepare war against him. ‘| 6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye | shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the

out from their pleasant houses; from their | €k-11:3,7 | sun shall go down over the prophets, and children have ye taken away my glory for | 4Ps. 18:41; | the day shall be dark over them. ever. a as 7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your | Ezek. 8:18; diviners confounded: yea, they shall all rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy | Zech. 7:13 cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

you, even with a sore destruction.

;“i ape

8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit

11 If a man walking in the spirit and false- | ; 3.101 8, hood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee | 19; 22:25;

of the Lorn, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and

of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be :

Mic. att. oll 7:15

to Israel his ; sin.

rael; I will put them together as the sheep of

a

equity.

the prophet of this people. Gesbtb 9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the 12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of | 22: Fzek. | |house of Jacob, and princes of the house of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Is- | 13:23; Amos | Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their 7 Ps. 74:9: fold: they shall make great noise by reason | Amos 8:11

10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

of the multitude of men.

8 Isa. 58:1

11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and

13 The breaker is come up before them: } they have broken up, and have passed | through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and |

49 Jor, the priests thereof teach for hire, and the 22:13; Ezek. | prophets thereof divine for money: yet will PAM they lean upon the Lorp, and say, Js not the 3:3 ' e | Lorp among us? none evil can come upon

the Lorp on the head of them.

11 Isa. 1:23; | US. 48:2; Jer.

12 Therefore

shall Zion for your sake be

CHAPTER 3 Bae pts: plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall beGod Blames Israel’s Leaders Hos. 4:18; | come heaps, and the mountain of the house 1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of | Mic. 7:3; as the high places of the forest. Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel;

Is it not for you to know judgment? 2

poet

Neen

Who hate the good, and love the evil; | Mic. 1:6; 4:2

CHAPTER

4

The Lord Will Rule Everywhere

who pluck off their skin from off them, and | 1 Ezek.

1. But in the last days it shall come to pass,

their flesh from off their bones;

that the mountain of the house of the Lorp

17:22, 23

2:12 | will surely gather the remnant. Despite this dark picture of judgment, God promises to regather “the remnant of Israel... as [lost] sheep.” Micah’s imagery is similar to that of Jesus when He referred to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6; Luke 15:3-7) and pictured Himself as the Good Shepherd of God's people (John 10:1—30). Micah looks beyond the return from

the Babylonian captivity and foresees a complete restoration of all of Jacob, or all the tribes, during the Millennial

Kingdom, when all Israel will be completely restored. 2:13 The breaker is come up. The breaker is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will remove all the obstacles to

Israel's regathering when He returns as her rightful King (cf. Isa. 11:15—-16).

3:1-8 flay their skin from off them. This reference to flaying skin may be a reference to the Assyrians, who were notorious for flaying their Captives alive.

959

shall be established in the top of the moun-

a

ae

tains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; | 3.49’

and people shall flow unto it.

thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of

4 1Kgs, 4:25; | Jerusalem.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, | Zech. 3:10 9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud?, is Come, and let us go up to the mountain of | 5 Jer. 2:11; | there no king in thee? is thy counseller per-

the Lorp, and to the house of the God of | Zech. 10:12 | ished? for pangs have taken thee as a Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and | 6Ps. 147:2; |woman in travail. we will walk in his paths: for the law shall pact at 10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lorp | Zeph. 3:19 daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: from Jerusalem. 7 Isa. 9:6; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city,

3. And he shall judge among many people, eee and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they | jic’2:12:

and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be

shall beat their swords into plowshares, and | 5:3, 7, 8;

delivered; there the Lorp shall redeem thee

their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall ba! eae not lift up a sword against nation, neither | 11:15

from the hand of thine enemies. 11 Now also many nations are gathered

shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lorp of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lorp our God for ever and ever.

om

Israel Will Return from Captivity 6

8 Gen. 35:21 | against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and | 9 js 13:8, | let our eye look upon Zion. | 21:3; Jer. 12 But they know not the thoughts of the EA Lorp, neither understand they his counsel: - ase for he shall gather them as the sheaves into | 9-16; obad, | the floor. | 1:12; Mic. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for |7*'® I will make thine horn iron, and I will make

a

ae

thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in

Rom. 11:33. |pieces many people: and I will consecrate

In that day, saith the Lorp, will I assem- | 43 |sq, 18-7. |their gain unto the Lorp, and their sub-

ble her that halteth, and I will gather her | 23:18; 41:15, | stance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

that is driven out, and her that I have af-

1 aoe

flicted;

Dan, 2:44;

_7 And I will make her that halted a rem- | Zech. 4:14; nant, and her that was cast far off a strong y

nation: and the Lorp shall reign over them in mount ever.

8 And

Zion from henceforth,

thou, O tower

Gee ae

CHAPTER

5

God Promises a Ruler from Bethlehem

1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter

even for | 27:30 | of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they 2 Matt. 2:6; | Shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod

of the flock, the | John 1:1;

strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto

Ine

4:1-8 they shall beat their swords into plowshares. Micah’s focus now shifts from the nation’s current problems to her prophetic destiny. He sees a brilliant future for Israel “in the last days.” The prophet foresees the establishment of the kingdom of God as a great mountain (v. 1). His symbolism is similar to that of Daniel 2:34—35, 44-45, where the mountain represents God's kingdom on earth. Micah foresees the Messiah's kingdom as a universal kingdom in which the nations of the world will come to Jerusalem to worship God. The prophet pictures this future kingdom as one of peace (v. 3) and prosperity (v. 4).

4:9-13 thou shalt go even to Babylon. In contrast to the glorious days of the future Millennium, the prophet again shifts his attention to the problems of his own day. While the ultimate picture of Israel's future is bright, the immediate forecast is dark. Israel is in pain, like a woman

experiencing labor pains (v. 10). In this context, Micah specifically predicts that Judah will go into captivity to Babylon. His prediction was fulfilled in the years from

upon the cheek. 2

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though

605-586 B.c., when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem three times, sending various people into captivity each time until the land of Judah was desolate and Jerusalem was completely destroyed (cf. 2 Kgs. 24; 2 Chr. 36; Dan. 1).

5:2-5 whose goings forth have been from of old. More than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, Micah predicted the Messiah, the “ruler in Israel,” would be born in the town of Bethlehem (v. 2). It was this passage that the scribes quoted to King Herod about the birthplace of the Messiah (cf. Matt. 2:3-6). Micah’s

prophecy is so specific that it actually designates Bethlehem Ephratah in Judah as the birthplace of the Messiah to distinguish it from any other towns with a similar name. Only David, the progenitor of the Davidic line, and Jesus the culmination of that line, were actually born in the little village of Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. Micah predicts that Israel's future will be left in the hands of her enemies until the birth of the Messiah (cf. also Isa. 7:14; 9:6).

thou be little among

the thousands

of

Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth

3 ie 4:7, | out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy re

thy chariots:

unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose | jgq q9:11:

is

| 11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land,

goings forth have been from of old, from | 49:10; 52:13; |and throw down all thy strong holds: everlasting. ea Sige 12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine 3

Therefore will he give them up, until the | Zech. 9:10;

time that she which travaileth hath brought | Luke 1:32 forth: then the remnant of his brethren Beeler shall return unto the children of Israel. 4

And

he

shall

stand

and

feed

in

hand; and thou shalt have no more sooth-

sayers: 13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and

Zech. 9:10; | thy standing images the || Luke 2:14;

strength of the Lorp, in the majesty of the | Eph. 2:14 name of the Lorp his God; and they shall | § Cane)

abide: for now shall he be great unto the

out of the midst of

thee; and thou shalt no more worship the

work of thine hands. 14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the

Hea Luke | midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.

ends of the earth. 7 Deut. 32:2: |15 And I will execute vengeance in anger 5 And this man shall be the peace, when | Ps, 72:6; and fury upon the heathen, such as they

the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when

rd Mic. | have not heard.

he shall tread in our palaces, then | ~

shall we raise against him seven shepherds, | 8% 99a iaae and eight principal men.

Hanes 6 ci k Soba The Lord’s Case against srae

6

1 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let

i

And they shall waste the land of Assyria i i

bes fiers

a ee (283

on a ace es 33(84.23 | the hills hear thy voice.

us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into | 45 p. j49-7. | 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the Lorb’s controour land, and when he treadeth within our | Mic.5:8; | |versy, and ye strong foundations of the

borders.

2Thess. 1:8 | earth: for the Lorp hath a controversy with

7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the

he A G 12,18

his people, and he will plead with Israel. |3 O my people, what have I done unto Lorp, as the showers upon the grass, that | 5:3, 4; 43:26; |thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the ye Al, tify against sack we : he

t of the land o on ie remnant of Jacob shall be |3% 231 among the Gentiles in the midst of many (ane ee people as a lion among the beasts of the for- | Deut. 4:20;

est, as a young lion among the flocks of |Am°s2:10

Ba sicoataes ann of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

| § © my people, remember now what Balak

sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

a ee king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam 11:25:11. | | the son of Beor answered him from Shittim 33:49; Deut. | unto Gilgal; that ye may know the right-

9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine

ait. cam

eousness of the Lorp.

adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be | 5:19: 24:9,

6

cut off,

10; Judg.

and bow myself before the high God? shall I

10 And it shall come to pass in that day,

sear Akt

saith the Lorp, that I will cut off thy horses 5:6-7 shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword. The Assyrians were Israel's major enemy in the days of Micah. The reference is best understood as a symbolic

representation of all of Israel’s enemies. The title, Nimrod, is sometimes applied to the Antichrist because of the proximity of Assyria to Babylon (cf. Isa. 10:5; 14:4). By referring to Nimrod (see Gen. 10:8-13), Micah depicts Babylon and Assyria as a single foe in the future. This future end-times enemy of Israel will be defeated by the Messiah at the Battle of Armageddon (cf. Dan. 11:36—45; Rev. 19:14-21).

5:11-15 In the Millennial Kingdom, God's people will be secure in His presence and will no longer depend on

Wherewith shall I come before the Lorp,

come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

will trust only in the Lord and His power to sustain them. The Lord will remove every other thing in which the people might place their trust during that time. 6:1-8 the Lorp hath a controversy with his people. God calls Israel to accountability. Though the people of Israel have disowned Him, He still calls them “my people” (v. 3). He reminds them of the historical record of His grace and power on their behalf. It is their hearts that He desires, not their burnt offerings. He is not content with merely the external formalities of their religion. Instead, He calls for internal sincerity and integrity, asking them

“to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly” before Him (v. 8).

either weapons of war or pagan idols. Redeemed Israel

pe h ese

961

7

Will the Lorn be pleased with thousands

of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of

oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8

He hath shewed

thee, O man,

what is

good; and what doth the Lorp require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 9 The Lorp’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. 10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? 11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. 13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate be-

cause of thy sins. 14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. 15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. 16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach

of my people.

CHAPTER

7

7 2Kgs. 16:3; 21:6; 23:10

8 Gen. 18:19; Deut. 10:12; 1Sam. 15:22; Isa. 1:17; Hos. 6:6; 12:6

10 Deut. 25:13-16 11 Hos. 12:7 12 Jer. 9:3, 5, 6, 8 14 Lev. 26:26; Hos. 4:10

15 Deut. 28:38-40; Amos 5:11; Zeph. 1:13;

Hag. 1:6 16 1Kgs. 9:8; 16:25, 26, 30; 21:25, 26; 2Kgs. 21:3; Isa.

25:8; Jer. 19:8; 51:51; Lam. 5:1, 2;

Hos. 5:11 1 Isa. 17:6; 24:13; 28:4; Hos. 9:10 2esan2elh 14:1, 3; Isa. 57:1; Hab.

1:15 3 Isa. 1:23;

Hos. 4:18; Mic, 3:11 4 2Sam. 23:6, 7; Isa. 55:13; Ezek. 2:6 5 Jer. 9:4 6 Ezek. 22:7; Matt. 10:21, 35, 36; Luke 12:53; 21:16; 2Tim. 3:2, 3 7 Isa. 8:17

earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. 5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. 7 Therefore I will look unto the Lorp; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lorn shail be a light unto me. 9 J will bear the indignation of the Lorp, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, ad I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see if,

and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the Lorp thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. 11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

Israel Is Corrupt

8 Ps. 27:1

1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. 2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 3 That they may do evil with both hands

9 Ps. 35:26

The Lord Loves Israel

11 Amos 9:11

14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. 16 The nations shall see and be confounded

12 Isa. 11:16; 19:23 13 Jer. 21:14

14 Ps. 28:9; Isa. 37:24; Mic. 5:4

7:5-15 Micah looks ahead to the ultimate victory of the kingdom of God. In contrast to those who look to men for advice, the prophet announces, “I will look unto the Loro” and “wait for the God of my salvation” (v. 7). His

prophecy ends with great messianic expectation. God will again do great things (miracles) for Israel “as in the days of old” (vv. 14-15).

962 at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lorp our God, and shall fear because of thee. 18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he,

17 Isa. 49:23; Jer. 33:9 18 Ex. 15:11;

34:6, 7; Ps. 103:9; Isa. 57:16; Jer. 3:5; 50:20; Mic. 4:7; 5:3

20 Ps. 105:9, 10; Luke

1:72, 73

7:18-20 he will subdue our iniquities. The closing words of Micah’s prophecy praise the Lord for His compassion, mercy, and forgiveness, based on God's covenant promises to Abraham and Jacob. Thus, the

retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have barnprads sion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. : 20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast swom unto our fathers from the days of | old.

prophecy concludes as it began, with a word from the Lord. In the beginning, it was a word of impending doom for Israel, but, in the end, it is a word of hope and assurance that God will keep His promises to His people.

ee eee Lee

um, meaning “consolation or comfort,” wrote this descriptive poem of the : N grandeur, power, and justice of God and the approaching fall of the cruel and defiant Assyrians. His entire message concerns the destruction of Nineveh. In 722 B.c., Hoshea, last of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Israel (Northern Kingdom), was overwhelmed and the Israelites were carried into captivity by Assyrian forces. Written some 100-150 years after Jonah’s prophecy concerning Nineveh, Nahum probably penned this bold, majestic book shortly after God miraculously delivered Judah from the Assyrian armies led by Sennacherib (see Isa. 37). In 612 B.c., the Medes and Baby» lonians destroyed Nineveh, fulfilling Nahum and Jonah’s prophecy. Since there are no references to con-

temporary kings, some scholars believe that Nahum prophesied in the 7th century B.c., not long before Nineveh fell. There is but one theme, the destruction of Nineveh, but many principles of divine justice and sovereignty appear. God does not allow sin and injustice to go unpunished. His majesty and glory are exalted in chapter 1. In chapter 2, the invasion and plundering of Nineveh is colorfully described. Chapter 3 expresses the causes and consequences of the city’s demise. A most interesting application of Isaiah 52:7 is made by the apostle Paul in Romans, which also may be application of Nahum 1:15. Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” The similarly-worded statements of Nahum and Isaiah are a clear pies tion of Jesus’ ministry. Nahum’s poetic portrayal of the ruin of Ninevah is similar to John’s very vivid description of Babylon’s future TA% destruction (see Rev. 18). ; Of the 47 verses, 35 of them, or 74 percent, are predictive with -Proph cy 33 devoted to Nineveh’s fall and only 2 related to Israel. All of “— the prophecies concerning Nineveh have been fulfilled. There are no messianic prophecies in the book, and only I verse (1:15) contains a prediction of end-time events.

740-680 Re

::

-

Ministry ofIsaiah

Ministryof |First

Zephaniah captivity captivity

Ministry ofJonah

Fall of Ministry of Eze ®

x

Nineveh

Bis

964

CHAPTER

1

1 Zeph. 2:13 | ineth evil against the Lorp, a wicked coun-

The Lord Is Angry

ee

My ae oe

: : with Nineveh

hicThe

» ae

Here ees

2 Ex. 20:5)

ae

bookohth

hi eg

iy ae

wi

. : an se evenuety

the Lorp sp

Be lier.

12 Thus

saith the Lorp;

and is furious; the LORD

4s, toes;

|Though 1 ave

50 356:2;2:NetMat.

Peart ag 13 For now

q

|

they be

“ "| be cut down, when he shall pass through.

wi ill take ven *ae his adversaries : and Ky eichten SAL on SELSETNBLANY, f

Though

3 Fx. 34:6, 7. |quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they

4s

5 Juda. 5:5

afte

ae

ce

will; I break his: yoke from off

|thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

3 The Lorp is slow to anger, and great in Ps 688. ‘ | 44 And the Lorp hath given a commandpower, and will not at all acquit the wicked: | 97:5: Mic. ment concerning thee, that no more of thy

the aos hath = ee fiMe peistteg' oe ae name be sown: out of the house of thy gods Beaee eee ae oe eee eee aoe ease ioe lg Waal 3-2-1 |will [euit Off the? graven iitaperanenrtie haoi ela oh aires ae ‘. |molten image: I will make thy grave; for e rebuke

e sea, and

maketh

it

dry, |5,4,

thoulaneeale:

and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan lan- | 16:34; Ps. 15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of guisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of re Lae him that bringeth good tidings, that pubLebanon languisheth. Lam. 3:25; | lisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn 5 The mountains quake at him, and the | 2Tim. 2:19 feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked hills melt, and the earth is burned at his | 8 Dan. 9:26; | shall no more pass through thee; he is ut-

sans yea, the world, and all that dwell

a

rein. 6

40'|

terly cut off,

th

Who can stand before his indignation?

Dba ef

and who can abide in the fierceness of his |93. 7: Nah, anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and | 3:11; Mal. the rocks are thrown down by him. _ i

CHAPTER 2 Nineveh Will Fall 1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up be-

7 The Lorp is good, a strong hold in the

oe

fore thy face: keep the munition, watch the

day of trouble; and he knoweth them that

12 2Kqs

way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power

trust in him.

19:35, 37;

mightily.

8

But with an overrunning flood he will | Isa. 8:8; Dan. |2

make an utter end of the place thereof, and

oa wie

For the Lorp hath turned away the ex-

cellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel:

oWhat do yednagineafeinettieCoasty EO9R! (90 andanalmarred RdBead ey nel branches. ga AC ES their vine will make an utter end: affliction shall not

Pot

3

rise up the second time.

isa, 10:12: ‘|

red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the char-

10: For

while

thorns,

and while

they be folded

together

they are drunken

The shield of his mighty men

is made

as | Jer. 25:29;

iots shall be with flaming torches in the day

as | 49s: 10:1

of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be

drunkards, they shall be devoured as stub- | 3! 63:23 | terribly shaken. ble fully dry.

4

11 There is one come out of thee, that imag-

they shall justle one against another in the

1:1-4 The burden of Nineveh. This burden of Nahum against Nineveh was the judgment of God for viciously persecuting and killing many people, particularly the children of Israel. The God of the prophets was one “slow to anger” and gracious, even longsuffering as He had been with Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah 150 years earlier, but their continued idolatry and persecution of people was too much and they had to be judged. That He “will not at all acquit the wicked” applies at the end of the age as well as it did when He destroyed what was then the most prominent city on earth. 1:5-12 Although the Ninevites thought they were invincible, this prediction of their destruction was fulfilled in 612 B.c. by a Coalition of the Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians.

The chariots

shall rage in the streets,

1:7 the day of trouble. This may be a reference to the

Tribulation period that is yet to come, which Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:21. 1:15 While the prophet was predicting the total destruction of this great city, he also forecast that Judah would be spared, and they were spared for 137 years, until they became so idolatrous that God used the wicked city of Babylon to judge them. However, during the Millennium, the wicked will be cut off; consequently they “shall no more pass through” Judah. 2:2 Even while forecasting Jacob’s deliverance (Judah),

Nahum predicts the nation’s eventual destruction for the same sin that led to the judgment of the pagan city of Nineveh—idolatry.

—

965 broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings. 5 He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared. 6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved. 7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts. 8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back. 9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture. 10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the

faces of them all gather blackness. 11 Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid? 12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lorp of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

CHAPTER

3

Woe to Nineveh 1 Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; 2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots. 3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: 4 Because of the multitude of the whore-

7 Isa. 38:14; 59:11 10 Isa. 13:7, 8; Jer. 30:6; Dan. 5:6; Joel 2:6 11 Job 4:10, 11; Ezek. 19:2-7

13 2Kgs. 18:17, 19; 19:9, 23; Ezek. 29:3; 38:3; 39:1;

Nah, 3:5 1 Ezek. 22:2, 3; 24:6, 9; Hab. 2:12

2 Jer. 47:3 4 Isa. 47:9, 12; Rev. 18:2, 3

5 Isa. 47:2, 3; Jer. 13:22, 26; Ezek. 16:37; Mic. 1:11; Nah. 2:13; Hab. 2:16 6 Mal. 2:9; Heb. 10:33 7 Jer. 15:5; Rev. 18:10

8 Jer. 46:25, 26; Ezek. 30:14-16; Amos 6:2 10 Ps. 137:9; Isa. 13:16; Lam. 2:19; Hos. 13:16; Joel 3:3; Obad. 1:11 11 Jer. 25:17, 27; Nah. 1:10 12 Rev. 6:13

13 Ps. 147:13; Jer. 50:37; 51:30 14 Nah. 2:1

15 Joel 1:4

3:7 Nineveh is laid waste. The final destruction of this city-state was indeed fulfilled, to the extent that for 2,600 years it was buried under so much debris and dirt that it was unknown to historians, many of whom were denying it ever existed. Now, thanks to the archeologist’s spade, it is evident that Nineveh was all that the prophets said it

doms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. 5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lorp of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. 6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock. 7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee? 8 Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea? 9 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers. 10 Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains. 11 Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy. 12 All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the

eater. 13 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. 14 Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. 15 There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. 16 Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.

was. The message of Nahum is that God's prophecies of judgment may, as an act of mercy, be delayed, but ultimately will be fulfilled in every detail upon an unrepentant people, confirming the supernatural hand of God in the Scriptures.

966 17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are. 18 Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy

17 Rev. 9:7 18 Ex. 15:16;

1Kgs. 22:17; Ps. 76:6; Jer. 50:18; Ezek. 31:3

19 Isa. 14:8; Lam. 2:15

people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them. 19 There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?

In thisbook, Habakkuk wrestles with the question of ee God would seernin gly t evil go.unpunished among the surrounding heathen nations and at the same time ring calamity and judgment upon His own people through such nations. Habakkuk was probably a contemporary of Zephaniah and Jeremiah, who lived during the time of the godly king Josiah but saw the revival fires ebb after the king’s death. His prophecies were directed to Judah during a time of serious apostasy, and they forecast the - pera invasion of the Chaldeans (Babylonians). In spite of Judah’s wickedness, the prophet seems bewildered. Why should Judah, faced with critical conditions, continue in glaring sin? Why would God send even more wicked people to conquer a nation that at least had a remnant of faithful believers? In answer to these and other questions, God and the prophet have a dialogue about injustice. That the Chaldeans will likewise face divine wrath is stated in five “woes” on the invaders for their sins, and before eighty years had passed, mighty, wealthy, violent, and immoral Babylon would also come under judgment. Habakkuk, with prayer and praise, expresses his enduring faith in the glorious magnificence of God and His power to conquer, resolving to rejoice in Him whatever the circumstance (chap. 3). Habakkuk contains four separate predictions that were mostly fulfilled in Judah’s succeeding years or in the 6th century B.c., when Babylon was defeated and absorbed into Medo-Persia. While not directly prophetic, the principle of justification by faith is clearly introduced in 2:4, “the just shall live by his faith” (see Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). The description of God coming in glory and power (Hab. 3:3-15) harks back to Israel’s ancient victories in Canaan, but may suggest something of the splendor of Christ’s return (see Isa. 63:4). God's answer to Habakkuk’s questions is basically predictive, involving 23 out the 56 verses, or 41 percent of the book.

931-722 we

HAP

2lam. 3:8

Cc TER 1 Job 21:7; Habakkuk Complains about Injustice | 4p.'94:3: Jer.

1 The burden welaid

which

po ae aes fen seo

ee

er es

2 pe

Bee ee

i i Ss pe i a ? ee pe ao ee

Habakkuk

ali

the | 5!2!Isa. 29:14. |Ment; ORD, thou! hast: or¢aine@ ee eae and, O mighty God, thou hast estabawat thou Oo 3a! "| lished them for correction.

Weer

rs aie ee

aries

1 ot

ee

| 42 Art thou not from everlasting, O Lorp my

eT Sav ito teat

EI) DiGh mane geno gg Og ae id dormer aimee t's

6 Deut.

13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil,

28:49, 50;

and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore

ps 318

lookest thou upon them that deal treacher-

ae ee 3:3 ny

ously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more right-

)

.

that raise up strife and contention. 11 Dan. 5:4 4 ee the lay is.clacked qndeaceimiecets

: 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea,

J

32:4; 2Kgs.

therefore

17:13; 90:2; ae

5 F 15 They take up all of them with the angle,

5:19; £Ezek. ra ee ena: a and re - | 519 a gard, and ae marvellously; : for I will |30:25 d d : 13 Ps.5:5; WS ie ceue pees Yee Jer. 12:1

and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net,

6

and Dun TCeUSE.UntO

ment

f

eous than he?

doth never go forth: for the wicked | 19:25: ps.

doth ae

i about the ee”

For lo eee? up

the uaa

c

that bit- |15 der. 16:6;

ter and hasty Se , which shall march ad 16 Deut. through the breadth of the land, to possess | 8:17; Isa. ; i 10:13; 37:24, re uta cee ati RAE ineae (28

| as the creeping things, that have no ruler opemsthene?

; 5 they catch: them in% ie

ioe=

es 37 oo drag: Cher: totes

rege’

LAGI, Hiieamegt ©

bylenteous. them thelr portion is tat ane emeca ;7 Shall they therefore empty their net, and : em not spare continually to slay the nations?

judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

CHAPTER

8 Their horses also are swifter than the

The Lord Answers Habakkuk

leopards, and are more fierce than the eve- | 1Ps. oe ning wolves: and their horsemen shall SB Nac spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

eagle that hasteth to eat.

are 8:1;

9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

: oer aoa

2

2 And the Lorp 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

10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the | 35:Heb. | ‘| time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, ry,wait for it; because it will P rinces shall be a scorn unto them: they y | 10:37 shall deride every strong hold; for they shall | 4 John 3:36; | surely come, it will not tarry.

heap dust, and take it. po 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not 11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall | Heb. 10:38 | upright in him: but the just shall live by his pass over, and offend, power unto his god.

imputing

this his | 5 prov, faith. 27:20; 30:16 | 5 Yea also, because

1:1-4 Before he wrote the prophecy God gave him against Judah for her sins of apostasy and idolatry, Habakkuk asked the question, “How long?” How long would God hear his cries about the violence and sin of the people and do nothing? Like us, the prophet did not have the long view of the future that God has. For God knew what He had not yet revealed to Habakkuk, that He would use the Babylonian captivity to forever cure the Jews of idolatry. 1:5-12

Before the Chaldeans (later called Babylonians)

were a great power, God predicted that He would raise them up and that they would cover the “breadth of the land” (v. 6). God also predicted that the Babylonians

he transgresseth

by

would attribute their success to their god. Verse 12

shows the prophet’s faith in the eternal God and that the Babylonians would also be judged someday. 2:3-4 the just shall live by his faith. This statement in verse 4 is the central theme of all Scripture. It is quoted in Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38 and contains the watchwords of the Protestant Reformation. 2:5-8 These verses contain a clear prediction that the proud king of Babylon (see Dan. 4) would have an insatiable appetite to conquer “all nations” but would eventually be brought down; subsequently, his kingdom would be conquered, as it was in 539 B.c.

e a se

969

wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against nim, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 9 Woe to him that ccveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his

nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! 10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house

by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall,

and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12 Woe to blood, and 13 Behold, the people the people

him that buildeth a town with stablisheth a city by iniquity! is it not of the Lorp of hosts that shall labour in the very fire, and shall weary themselves for very

vanity?

14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lorn, as the waters cover the sea. 15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the Lorp’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and sharneful spewing shall be on thy glory. 17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 18 What profiteth the graven image that

6 Mic. 2:4

the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make

8 Isa. 33:1;

dumb idols?

Hab. 2:17 9 Jer. 22:13; 49:16; Obad. 1:4

12 Jer. 22:13; Ezek. 24:9; Mic. 3:10; Nah. 3:1 13 Jer. 51:58 14 Isa. 11:9 15 Gen. 9:22: Hos. 7:5 16 Jer. 25:26, 27; 51:57

17 Hab. 2:8 18 Ps, 115:5; Isa. 44:9, 10; 46:2; Jer. 10:8, 14; Zech. 10:2;

19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20 But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

CHAPTER

3

Habakkuk’s Prayer 1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. 2 OLorp, I have heard thy speech, and was

afraid: O Lorp, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full

1Cor. 12:2

of his praise.

19 Ps. 135:17

4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. 5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. 6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 8 Was the Lorp displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? 9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. 11 The sun avd moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they

20 Ps. 11:4; Zeph. 1:7; Zech. 2:13

2 Ps. 85:6 3 Deut. 33:2; Judg. 5:4; Ps. 68:7 5 Deut. 32:24; Ps. 18:8; Nah.

1:3 6 Gen. 49:26; Nah. 15

8 Deut. 33:26, 27; Ps. 68:4; 104:3; Hab. 3:15 9 Ps. 78:15,

16; 105:41 10 Ex. 14:22;

11 Josh.

10:11, 12, 13; Ps. 18:14; 77:17, 18

2:14 Long after the “Nebuchadnezzars” of this world have passed away, “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Loro.” This will be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom.

3:3-4 This vision of the glorified Lord will have its literal fulfillment in the glorious appearing of Christ upon earth and the setting up of His kingdom (see Rev. 19:11—16; 21:23).

970 went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. 12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. 14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. 16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my

12 Jer.

51:33; Amos 1:3; Mic. 4:13 13 Josh. 10:24; 11:8,

12; Ps. 68:21

15 Ps, 77:19. 16 Ps. 119:120; Jer. 23:9

18 Job 13:15; Isa. 41:16; 61:10

19 Deut. 32:13; 33:29; 2Sam. 22:34; Ps. 18:33;

27:1

3:11-17 The prophet rehearses the miraculous ways of old when God preserved His people, and saw in a vision when He will do even greater exploits during the Tribulation period, culminating in the kingdom of Christ.

lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lorp, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lorp God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

3:18-19 The conclusion of the book is a challenge for those who live in times of the judgment of God to look forward by faith to the day when Christ shall again establish the Edenic-like conditions of His kingdom.

ae

See

ephaniah, whose name means “hidden of the Lord,” was the great grandson of , King Hezekiah. The superscription dates his ministry to the reign of King Josiah ' (640-609 28.c.), and he likely produced this book in 630 B.c., prior to the spiritual revival and reforms in 621 B.c. Zephaniah’s noble ancestry may have given him access to the palace and made it possible for him to effectively reach the heart of young Josiah with his prophecies. A contemporary of Habakkuk and Jeremiah, Zephaniah was aware of military threats from the North, and in his book he warns of coming dangers (2:1-3). 2 Zephaniah was commissioned to proclaim the enormity of Judah’s wickedness and to announce the imminent desolation that lay ahead, but also to stir them to _ repentance, to foretell the destruction of their enemies, - and to comfort the faithful with the promise of future » blessings. Like Isaiah fifty years before him, the inspired prophet looks beyond the immediate situation to focus frequently on the future “day of the Lorp,”” which events in Judah would soon foreshadow. Another key element of Zephaniah’s teaching is the concept of a “remnant” that is protected in the “day of the Lorn” (Zeph. 2:7-9; 3:13).

Most of the book concerns events and conditions - that were still yet to happen at the time the book was * written. Zephaniah contains twenty separate prophetic subjects, most of which relate to Jerusalem’s troubles and final defeat to Babylon in 586 B.C. or judgments on surrounding nations. Initial prophecies of “utter consumption” all over Judah (1:24) were fulfilled by the Babylonian invasion, but — these prophecies may also suggest similar devastation in the future 89% Tribulation. The “day of the Lorp” prophecies in 1:14-18 will be ful‘0 filled at the second coming of Christ. Divine judgment on the nations is forecast (3:8), followed by the supremacy of Israel in the Millennial Kingdom (3:9-13) and Israel’s comfort, healing, and glorious restoration to their land (3:14-20). Out of 53 verses, 47 (89%) are predictive.

Prophe

oon

“Ministry ofJeremiah

Ministry of Babylonian Captivity; Zephaniah

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Ministry ofIsaiah

|

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972

CHAPTER

1

4eon 719. | saith the Lorb, that there shall be the noise of

The Day of God’s Anger Is Coming 1

Hos. 4:3:

; ; The word of the Lorp which came unto

MON

at Sd

OF Ged"

a cry from the fish gate, and an howling

Matt. 13:41 | from the second, and a great crashing from 4 2Kgs. 23:4, |the hills

6 Hos: 10:5 |44 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all

alah, tthe son of Ama the son cof BiZ-21'5 Joshi 23:7; |the merchant people are cut down; all they kiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, Bee | ee wha bear wilver are eareee

king of Judah. 2

Jer. 19:13;

Iwill utterly consume all things from off | Hos. 4:15

| 12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that. | will’ search: Jerusalenviwithucandles:

the land, saith the Lorp. Be :Sag: and punish the men that are settled on their 3 1 will consume man and beast; I will |pe Sl | tees: that say in their heart, The Lorp wiil consume the fowls of the heaven, and the

7 Isa. 13:

| not do good, neither will he do evil.

fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks | 34-6. Ezek, | 13 Therefore their goods shall become a with the wicked; and I will cut off man from ge Usb, booty, and their houses a desolation; they

off the land, saith the LOD. |

1917

shall also build houses, but not inhabit -

4 1 will also stretch out mine hand upon

@ er 36-6

them; and they shall plant vineyards, but

Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jeru-

Ae ae

not drink the wine thereof,

salem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal | 33-14

from

this place, and the name

Chemarims with the priests;

5

And

them

that

worship

14 The great day of the Lorp is near, it is

of the | 47 ps 94.7, |near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of

the host

Jer. 48:11;

of |Amos 6:1

the day of the Lorp: the mighty man shall

cry there bitterly.

heaven upon the housetops; and them that SRE 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouworship and that swear by the Lor, and | amos 65:11; | ble and distress, a day of wasteness and desthat swear by Malcham; Mic. 6:15 olation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a

6 And them that are turned back from the | 14 Joel 2:1, _| gay of clouds and thick darkness, Lorp; and those that have not sought the | |! 16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against

Lorb, nor inquired for him.

iRaert ate

the fenced cities, and against the high tow-

7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the | Joe 2:211: | ers. Lord Gop: for the day of the Lorn is at hand: | Zeph. 1:18 17 And I will bring distress upon men, that for the Lorp hath prepared a sacrifice, he | 16 Jer 4:19 | they shall walk like blind men, because they

hath bid his guests. 8 And it shall come to pass in the day of

17 Deut, aig.

have sinned against the Lorp: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their

the Lorp’s sacrifice, that I will punish the | jsa. 59:10; | flesh as the dung.

princes, and the king’s children, and all

det9:22;

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall

such as are clothed with strange apparel. 9 In the same day also will I punish all those

3 ie ais

be able to deliver them in the day of the Lorp’s wrath; but the whole land shall be

that leap on the threshold, which fill their | 7:19; Zeph.

| devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he

masters’ houses with violence and deceit. 10 And it shall come to pass in that day,

1:2, 97 3:8

shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwellin the land.

1:2-4 Zephaniah opens his prophecy with a declaration of global judgment that will take place during the future seven-year Tribulation period. Literally, a “stumbling-

designate the “seventieth week of Daniel,” a future seven-year period of judgment (Dan. 9:24—27) often called the Tribulation.

block” (v. 3) refers to anything that causes “ruin,” thus,

1:14-18 This section of Zephaniah’s prophecy contains a great number of terms describing the future seven-year

an “obstacle.” In this context, the stumblingblock is the idolatry of Judah worshiping the idols of Baal. Zephaniah now predicts the immediate judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem that is to come at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 B.c.

1:7 the day of the Lorp. This phrase refers to the times that God manifests Himself as judge (Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Obad. 1:15; Zeph. 1:14; Zech. 14:1). (See the article

on “The Day of the Lord” for more information.) No longer does God allow things to continue on the path that they are on; He comes to earth and personally interjects Himself into the affairs of man. The “day of the Loro” may also

Tribulation period. It stresses, with words like “near” and “hasteth,” that the Tribulation is imminent, meaning the end-time events could begin at any time. God's judgment is ready to fall. Zephaniah is calling on the people to hear what is going to happen in the “day of the Lorp.” The description that follows describes the “day of the Lorp” militarily, cosmically, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. God's judgment will occur so suddenly and without warning that no one will be prepared for it. Men will lose their orientation and be like blind men stumbling around in a strange place.

—

973

israel Today By Jimmy DeYoung Ithough the regathering of a people once scattered among the nations of the world is evidence that God is at work in fulfilling His prophetic word, this is only the beginning of a most marvelous story for Israel. The continuing immigration of Jews to their ancient homeland has earned the attention of the entire world, as well as students of biblical prophecy. This ingathering, each stage of which is known among the Jewish people as an aliya, has populated a young nation with the cross-section of humankind needed to build, plant, harvest, educate, and even defend themselves from the surrounding nations that are determined to destroy regathered Israel. An alignment of nations described in the Bible, who will come against Israel in the Last Days, is placing the actors on the stage in possible preparation for the final act to begin. Syria, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Russia have formed loose alliances that may become the fulfillment of the prophecies of both Daniel and Ezekiel. The European Union, Iraq, and the nations of the “Far East” are all in position to be at least the foundational “infrastructures” of the prophesied revived Roman Empire, Babylon, and the “kings of the east” respectively (Rev. 16:12). Because of the desire of many international leaders to remove the Jewish people from the land of their forefathers, some have been doing all they can to put together comprehensive peace agreements for the region; namely, the Camp David accords between Egypt and Israel during the late ‘70s and the 1993 Oslo Accord, a peace agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis. None of these treaties are working as they were intended. The impasse in peace negotiations sets the stage for a world personality to come on the scene to enforce these and other agreements. Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist will eventually “confirm” the agreements (covenants), evidently making them stronger, and giving him a sense of legitimacy. The peace will not last long, however, as Antichrist will violate his own covenant with Israel. The most exciting, documented evidence that the Lord’s return could be close at hand is the activity surrounding preparations for the rebuilding of the temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. There are Jewish men who now believe they are qualified to serve as “priests.” Their priestly garments are made and in storage; all the implements to be used for the sacrifices and worship at the temple are ready; biblical harps are being handmade for the Levite orchestra; and a “red heifer” is even available for the “purification” of everything for the temple. Ezekiel 40 to 46 gives detailed instructions for the temple that will stand on the Temple Mount during the Millennium. However, Daniel 9:27 states that an earlier temple, preparations for which are in process, will exist in Jerusalem during the Tribulation period. These four major trends—the aliya of the Jewish people, alignment of the nations, anticipation for peace, and arrangements for the temple—were actually mentioned by the ancient Jewish prophets up to 2,500 years ago. These are the “signposts” along the way that the prophets and Jesus alerted the Jewish people to anticipate at the time of the end, the time of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Since Christ's return takes place only seven years after the Rapture, how close must the Rapture be?

974 g

CHAPTER

2

Israel’s Neighbors Are Doomed 1

1 Joel 2:16

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather | 9.Joh 21:18;

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ash-

=“ bsecon

Ps, 1:4; Hos. |TOoted

2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger

3 Ps. 76:9;

coast, the nation

of the Lorp come upon you, before the day

Rd

word of the Lorp ts against you; O Canaan,

5

13:3

Woe

up.

ay, and Ekron shall be

together, O nation not desired;

unto

the inhabitants

of the sea

of the Cherethites!

the

of the Lorp’s anger come upon you. 5:6, 15; Jon.. |the land of the Philistines, I will even de3. Seek ye the Lorp, all ye meek of the |*° stroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. — earth, which have wrought his judgment; Tee hey ;, |6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may } fyek’ 25:15 | |Cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lorp’s | 5 Josh, 13.3: |7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of anger. Ezek. 25:16 | the house of Judah; they shall feed there-

Israel’s Two End-Time Gatherings Rapture of the Church

First Regathering

Second Regathering

Millennium (1,000 yrs.) _

Current Church Age

Before the Tribulation in Unbelief Isa. 11:11-12 Ezek. 20:33-38; 22:17-22; 36:22-24; 38—39 Zeph. 2:1-2

Before theMillennium “in Beliet Deut. 4:29-31; 30:1-10 Isa. 27:12-13; 43:5-7 Jer. 16:14-15; 31:7-10 Ezek, 11:14-18 Amos 9:14-15 Zech. 10:8-12 Matt. 24:31

© AMG Publishers

2:1-3 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together. Zephaniah uses a rare verb that derives from gathering chaff or stubble, meaning to “gather that which is small and insignificant.” The prophet repeats this word twice for emphasis. Having spelled out the judgment up to this point, Zephaniah now begins a call to repentance. That which is to take place once they are gathered is described as “the decree... the day... . the fierce anger

of the Lorp” and “the day of the Loro’s anger.” These descriptions are all references to Israel's regathering into the land of Israel before the seven-year Tribulation period is to begin (cf. Isa. 11:11-12; Ezek. 20:33-38; 22:17-22; 38—339). It is especially significant that Israel was reestablished as a political entity in A.0. 1948. The current nation of Israel is now back in its land, in unbelief, yet

positioned to fulfill what the prophets have predicted will happen during the Tribulation. What is the purpose of this regathering before the Tribulation? It is so that Israel may seek the Lord. The Lord will offer protection during the Tribulation to the elect remnant who will submit to Him (Isa. 26:20).

2:4-7 Gaza... Ashkelon... Ashdod... Ekron. Four of the five major cities of Philistia, mentioned in order from south to north, are singled out by the Lord for destruction. Here we have specific lists of prophecies against many of the Gentiles surrounding Judah.

2:7 the Lorp their God shall visit them. Earlier, Zephaniah had spoken of a visitation of the Lord in judgment (Zeph. 1:8—9); now he speaks of a future visit for blessing.

975

upon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they

oe

lie down in the evening: for the Lorn their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. 8 Ihave heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their bor-

| 95:3’

der.

2:

every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and

8

wag his hand.

19.28 Deut. Fg hae | 1:13: 2:1:

| Zeph. 2:7 the oppressing city! | 101sa. 16:6; |2 She obeyed not the voice; she received

seuieee

9 Therefore as I live, saith the Lorn of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the rem-

nant of my people shall possess them.

CHAPTER 3 Jerusalem Will Be Saved 1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to

not correction; she trusted not in the Lorp;

11Sete she drew not near to her God. | 4:11: John 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; | 4:21 her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw | 12 Ps. 17:13; |not the bones till the morrow. my et 4 Her prophets are light and treacherous | 46:9: Ezek. persons: her priests have polluted the sanc-

30:9

tuary, they have done violence to the law.

10 This shall they have for their pride, be- | 13 sa.

5

cause they have reproached and magnified

will not do iniquity: every morning doth he

oat

The just Lorn is in the midst thereof; he

themselves against the people of the Lorp of | 1:1: 2:10;

bring his judgment to light, he faileth not;

hosts.

3:15, 18

but the unjust knoweth no shame.

11 The Lorp will be terrible unto them: for

14 Isa,

6

he will famish all the gods of the earth; and rk “fe men shall worship him, every one from his | Jer. 22:14; place, even all the isles of the heathen. Zeph. 2:6

12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

JI have cut off the nations: their towers

are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none

Bsa Neh inhabitant. Ezek, 27:36 | 2 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou

13 And he will stretch out his hand against | 9 Jo, 5-3. the north, and destroy Assyria; and will | 22:21

wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished

make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a | 3 Ezek.

them: but they rose early, and corrupted all

wilderness.

22:27; Mic. | their doings.

14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of

chal Hab. |8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the

her, all the beasts of the nations: both the | 4g jo, 3.41, cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the | 32; Hos. 9:7.

|LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: |for my determination is to gather the na-

upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in | 5 Deut. 32:4; | tions, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to

the windows; thresholds:

desolation

shall be in the | Lam. 3:22

pour upon them mine indignation, even all

for he shall uncover the cedar | 7 Gen. 6:12; | my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be de-

work. 15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt careeyis

lessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in!

we Be voured with the fire of my jealousy. sa 3:2; | 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure eph. 1:18 “SHES aay

2:8-9 they have reproached my people. Moab and Ammon were descendants of Lot by his daughters’ incest (Gen. 19:30-38). Occupying land to the east of Judah, they have a long history of opposition and resistance to God’s people (cf. Num. 22; 24:17; Judg. 3:12-14; 10:7—-9; 11:4-6). Since the boundaries of Israel and Judah are divinely decreed by God for His people (cf. Num. 34—36), the fact that Moab and Ammon tried to capture part of Judah’s land was a crime against God Himself. Just as God totally annihilated Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18—19), so also would He do to Moab and Ammon (cf. Isa. 15—16; Jer. 48—49; Ezek. 25:1-11; Amos 1:13-15; 2:15). The area of Moab and

Ammon—today known as southern Jordan—was over-

language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lorp, to serve him with one consent.

run by the Babylonians in 582-581 8.c. and has by-andlarge been a desolate area ever since. The absorption of the territories of Ammon and Moab is clearly presupposed in the millennial land allocations (Ezek. 45:1—25;

47:13—48:35). 3:8 wait ye upon me. The Lord appeals to the faithful remnant of Judah to be patient until God executes global judgment upon all of mankind who rebel against Him. This will occur during the Tribulation period. The gathering of nations and outpouring of God's wrath are references to the Battle of Armageddon (cf. Joel 3:2, 13-14; Zech. 14:4-5; Rev. 14:14-20; 16:12-16; 19:11-21), a time of judgment for the nations.

976

10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my | 11 Jer. 7:4; | king of Israel, even the Lorp, is in the midst

suppliants, even the daughter of my dis-

High

persed, shall bring mine offering.

12 Isa.

of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem,

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed | 14:32: Zech.

| Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine

for all thy doings, wherein thou hast trans- | 11:11; Matt. |hands be slack. gressed against me: for then I will take fet hes 17 The Lorp thy God in the midst of thee is away out of the midst of thee them that re- | 43 j,, mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over joice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be | 60:21; 63:8; | thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will

haughty because of my holy mountain.

Rev. 14:5

joy over thee with singing.

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an | 141sa. 12:6; | 18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for afflicted and poor people, and they shall ae res the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to trust in the name of the Lorp. 15 Ezek. whom the reproach of it was a burden. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniq- | 48:35; Rev.

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that

uity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful | 7:15; 21:3,4 | afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, tongue be found in their mouth: for they | 16 Isa. 35:3, |and gather her that was driven out; and I © shall feed and lie down, and none shall ae will get them praise and fame in every land make them afraid. 17 Deut where they have been put to shame. 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; | 30:9; Isa.

20 At that time will I bring you again, even

be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O | 62:5, 65:19; | in the time that I gather you: for I will make daughter of Jerusalem. reat you a name and a praise among all people of 15 The Lorp hath taken away thy judg- | yg), 9.6 | the earth, when I turn back your captivity ments, he hath cast out thine enemy:

the

3:11 In that day. These things will all take place during the Millennium, after the Lord has purged out global unbelief, pride, and rebellion. The phrase, “my holy mountain,” is a popular term used to refer to Jerusalem, especially to the reconstructed Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom (Isa. 11:9; 56:7; 57:13; 65:11, 25; 66:20; Ezek. 20:40; 28:14; Dan. 11:45; Joel 3:17; Obad. 1:16; Zech. 8:3). 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity. This will be a future time, during the Millennium, when the Lord will effect a greater change in the hearts of men than we see today.

3:14-20

In contrast to the cry of lament that Jeremiah

before your eyes, saith the Lorp.

advocates to the nation because of impending judgment (Lam. 2:18-19; 3:48-54), Zephaniah now inspires Judah

to be glad. This passage states that the very presence of Jesus the Messiah will dwell within Jerusalem during the

Millennial Kingdom. As a result of the Lord dwelling in favor with the nation of Israel, He too will express joy over the nation with singing. During the Millennium, the Lord will bless the nation and remove any curse that may have been upon its people from the past. With this millennial blessing, national Israel will go from being the most hated nation in the world today, to being the most admired and looked-up-to nation. Anti-Semitism will be a thing of the past. During the Millennium, Israel and Judah will fulfill the destiny for which God chose them.

ap each prophetic message, he

name Haggai means “festival of the Lord.” Because of the precise dates given for the events of this book may be more accurately dated than perhaps any other book in the whole Bible. Darius, who is mentioned for the first two ates, was the Babylonian king that removed the law that prohibited the Jews from - reconstructing the temple. Haggai was the first of the prophets who spoke to the exiles after they had returned to Palestine. An older man, he labored with the younger Zechariah, encouraging the Jews who had returned from the seventy-year captivity to finish eee the temple. The temple rebuilding project had been started, but adversaries stifled the construction, and work stopped. The book of Ezra contains an account of what hap_ pened between 536 and 516 B.c., and how Haggai and _ Zechariah challenged the leaders and the people to complete the building program. The temple was important to the Jewish people as the center of worship, but to those who remembered the original temple, this first phase of the Second Temple _tmaust have seemed a far cry from Solomon’s master_ piece. With the purpose of encouraging the disheartened exiles, the book consists of five motivating | messages given over a period of four months. Haggai’s prediction that God would “shake the heavens and the nations” (2:6, 21) is referenced in _ Hebrews 12:25-29 regarding the passing of this world order and the coming of a “kingdom which cannot be moved [shaken].” That the glory of the reconstructed or “latter” house would be greater than Solomon’s Temple (Hag. 2:9) was true of the temple in Jesus’ time. The expression “desire of all nations” (2:7) refers to the nations’ most desirable treasures being brought to the temple, as partially illustrated by the gifts of the wise men (Matt. 2). These prophecies will finally be fulfilled in the glorious future with the Millennial Temple. Of 38 verses, 15 are prophetic, which amounts to 39 percent of the book. Some seemingly fulfilled prophecies occasionally have long-range applications.

978

CHAPTER

1

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,

The Appeal to Rebuild the Temple

1

and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high

In the second year of Darius the king, in | 1,1Chr 3:17,

ihe (Si

quonth?

ta the? Bist day lenine

cae

eee

oa thee

oes Peon

obeyed the voice of the Lorp their God, and

month, came the word of the Lorp by Hag- | 4:24 5:1,2; |the words of Haggat the DIOP,pe). 254 the : Zech. 1:1; Lorp their God had sent him, and the peogai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of | fat 4:12: fa hid feat before the Moki Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua | Luke 3:27

'3 Then spake Haggai the TKN messenger

the'son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, |SEza5t.

| in) thedioRnss message unto the people, say-

2

Thus speaketh the Lorp of hosts, saying,.|

4 2Sam. 7:2;

iis, | ameanith your saith hed oum

This pele sy The ime is nt cone he | MA the Loo sted up he spi of Ze 2. then came the worl oh tac lore by dace Eltieionsinsnwunie ree

ple

i

PS MAS

Sus

2

OUI

:

CAEN aja

atesoe ee geome a.ae

of

: hosts, Consider youn ways! 6

ely 6 Deut.

rubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of

28:38; Hos.

Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of

eit Me

|all the remnant of the people; and they .

Hag 2b:

came and did work in the house of the Lorp

Zech. 8:10 otek

9

‘Ye have sown much, and bring jo BiG

| of hosts, their God,

9 Hag. 2:16,

| 15 In the four and twentieth day of the

|ay

sixth month,

ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, | 49 Ley, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe | 26:19; Deut.

she king

you, but there is none warm; and he that

ani Kgs.

earneth wages earneth wages fo put it into a

11 1Kgs

in the second year of Darius

CHapTER ‘

7 Thus saith the Lorn of hosts; Consider | 8:1; Hag. your ways. sais 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, | 12 45:2

and build the house; and I will take pleasure

:

: So

of the Lorp by the prophet Haggai, saying, °

9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to lit- | 44 chr.

Re

Temple 1 In the seventh month, in the one and | twentieth day of the month, came the word

ay ita.

in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lorp. | 3:33

2

+|2 Speak now

to Zerubbabel

the son

of

Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua

tle; and when ye brought it home, I did blow | 36:22; Ezra | the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to upon it. Why? saith the Lorp of hosts. Be- haga2, the residue of the people, saying, cause of mine house that is waste, and ye at E,8 3 Who is left among you that saw this run every man unto his own house. Zech. 4:10 | house in her first glory? and how do ye see 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed | 4 Zo, g.g | it Ow? 7s it not in your eyes in comparison from dew, and the earth is stayed from her of it as nothing? fruit. 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, the Lorp; and be strong, O Joshua, son of and upon the mountains, and upon the Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all com, and upon the new wine, and upon the ye people of the land, saith the Lorp, and oil, and upon that which the ground fea work: for I am with you, saith the Lorp of

bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon | 9:20; Isa. cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands. | 63:11

1:2-12 The time is not come . . . that the Lorp’s house should be built. This was the attitude of most Jews. Haggai and his contemporary Zechariah (Ezra 5:1-6) countered this apathy and discouragement with dynamic appeals (see Zech. 1:1—6). Haggai twice says, “Consider your ways” (vv. 5-9). This literally means to “put upon your heart,” and speaks of a firm resolve (cf. Dan. 1:8). By these words, God is informing the Jews that neglect of the temple has resulted in chastisement (vv. 6-9). Their self-centered efforts cannot satisfy them because God is not blessing them. Their first priority should have been that God be glorified. This fact should be evident in the lives of believers today (v. 8, cf. John 15:8; Eph. 1:6).

hosts: 5 According to the word that I covenanted

2:1 This was the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:39—44).

2:2-4 Obviously, the problem at this time was similar to the situation in Ezra 3:8-13. Those older survivors who had seen the original size and splendor of Solomon's Temple (which King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed in 586 B.c.) could not help but recognize how much smaller and less ornate this temple would be. Seeing this, they grew dis-— couraged. 2:5 the word that | covenanted. Because of the Mosaic covenant (see Ex. 19:25; Deut. 30:3), God promised He — would remain with them.

979 with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me,

6 For thus saith the Lorp of hosts; Yet woe Sie saith the Lorp; and so is every work of their once, it is a little while, and I will shake the | Heb. 12:26 | hands; and that which they offer there. is heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the | 7 Gen. dry /and; 49:10; Mal.

7 And I will shake all nations, and the de-

zs

unclean. | 15 And now, I pray you, consider from this

day and upward, from before a stone was

sire of all nations shall come: and I will fill abe gee % |laid upon a stone in the temple of the this house with glory, saith the Lorp of } John 1:14: LORD: hosts. Eph. 2:14 16 Since those days were, when one came to 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, | 11 Lev. an heap of twenty measures, there were but saith the Lorn of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lorp of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lorp of hosts. 10 In the four and twentieth day of the

aN ten: when one came to the pressfat for to | Mal.2:7. | draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there | 43 Num. were but twenty. | 19:11 17 I smote you with blasting and with 14 Titus 1:15 |mildew and with hail in all the labours of | 15Hag.1:5 | your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith

ninth month, in the second year of Darius, | 16 Hag. 1:6, | the Lorp. came the word of the Lorp by Haggai the | 9: Zech. 8:10 | 18 Consider now from this day and upward, prophet, saying,

;

17 Deut.

from

the four and twentieth

day of the

11 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; Ask now pecs ninth month, even from the day that the the priests concerning the law, saying, 5:3; Amos | foundation of the Lorp’s temple was laid, 12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his | 4:6 11; consider it. garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall

Hoan 18 Zeon 89

it be holy? And the priests answered and

aie ai

said, No.

13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet ns vine, and the fig tree, and the pome-

granate,

and

the

olive

tree,

hath

not

brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

20 And again the word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day ie 7. | of the month, saying, Heb. 12:26 | 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah,

2:6-7 Yet once... and | will shake the heavens. The “shaking” of the nations goes beyond the conditions of _ the Persian Empire and refers to the future Tribulation and the coming of the “kingdom which cannot be moved”

years before Jesus began His ministry (John 2:20), but

construction for this temple was not completed until A.p. 64. Herod’s Temple was the largest religious center in the world at the time. However, only the Millennial Temple of

(Heb. 12:26-28).

Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 40—47) will fulfill this far-reaching

2:7 the desire of all nations. Some commentators see this as a prophecy of Christ, the supremely desirable Person, who will bring peace to the nations. However, the Hebrew word is in the feminine gender, and the verb

prophecy.

translated “shall come” is plural, which seems inconsis-

tent with that interpretation. Other authorities translate the passage to mean that desirable delights and treasures will be brought from all nations to Jerusalem and the temple, as demonstrated by the magi from the East who brought gifts to Jesus (Matt. 2:11, cf. Zech. 14:16). 2:9 The glory of this latter house . . . greater than of the former. This prediction, comparing Solomon’s Temple to a future temple, goes beyond this second temple under construction at the time, and is thought by some to mean the vast temple complex of Jesus’ time that would be viewed as having a greater glory because of the presence of Jesus. The wicked king Herod, seeking to curry favor with the Jews and to build a monument, inaugurated a huge expansion program for the temple forty-six

2:10-19 This third message of encouragement and exhortation deals with the importance of personal holiness. The people’s failure to be truly holy in their lives had affected their activities. Now they had repented and laid the foundation for the temple in obedience to Haggai’s message. Here God asks them if they are ready for a harvest, because He is now ready to bless their fields and orchards (v. 19). 2:18 Consider now from this day. Haggai appeals to the people to keep in mind the motives for their labor. Previously they had been slothful in their service (vv. 14-16). Consequently, God's chastisement came (v. 17). Believers today should remember to perform every task conscious that God desires diligence and integrity (Eph. 6:5-6).

2:21-22 shake the heavens. This fifth and final excerpt from Haggai’s sermons is still entirely unfulfilled prophecy.

saying, I will shake the heavens and the

ores

come down, every one by the sword of his

earth; 510: Zech, 22 And I will overthrow the throne of king- | 4:6; 9:10;

| brother. 23 In that day, saith the Lorp of hosts, will

doms, and I will destroy the strength of the |M247

|1 take thee, © Zerubbabel, my servant, the

kingdoms of the heathen; and I will over23 Sonn Be throw the chariots, and those that ride in | 43-10: Jer.

son of Shealtiel, saith the Lorp; and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen

them; and the horses and their riders shall | 22:24

thee, saith the Lorn of hosts.

The shaking of the heavens and the earth and the overthrow of the nations refer to the future Tribulation. Forecasting the concluding wars of thé Tribulation (see Zech. 14:13; Heb. 12:26; Rev. 16:16), Haggai joins his compatriot Zechariah in looking toward a glorious victory over the armies of the wicked. 2:23 will make thee as a signet. This prophecy to Zerubbabel, the representative of the Davidic dynasty, which was promised an eternal royal line (2 Sam. 7:16), goes beyond his own governorship to that day when the Messiah receives the throne. The term “servant” is a messianic title (Is. 42:1—4; 49:1-7; 50:4-10; 52:13— 53:13). The signet was a portable instrument, sometimes a ring, used to stamp a document to make it official, legal,

and authentic. Because Zerubbabel was the grandson of Jehoichin (a.k.a. Jeconiah and Coniah), he surely wourd have known of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer. 22:24—30), that

announced God's curse upon the Davidic line as a result of the wickedness of Judah’s last kings. The prophecy of Haggai assures the godly Zerubbabel that though he — would not rule as king, he would serve as the signet and seal of royal authority. He would be blessed, and the royal authority of the Davidic line of kings would be preserved and authenticated through him. While these words applied initially to Zerubbabel, the promise is a renewal of the Davidic dynasty. In that future day, Jesus, Son of David, will reign (Isa. 11:10).

ariah whose name means “Jehovah remembers,” was a priest and prophet, ; whe joined Haggai in 520 B.C., urging the completion of the Jewish temple following the captivity. Zechariah’s ministry overlapped that of Haggai but continued long _ after Haggai ceased to prophesy. Like Haggai, Zechariah had a ministry of encourage~ ment. However, while Haggai focuses on the immediate blessings of rebuilding the temple with only brief allusions to future blessings of ultimate glory, Zechariah contains words of encouragement primarily centered on the ultimate blessing coming upon Israel through the first and second comings of Christ. In the first six chapters, eight visions encompass both near and distant prophetic truth, reminding the reader that God is the Sovereign Ruler of His people and the world. God’s servant, the Branch, is a strong messianic prediction of Jesus (Zech. 3:8; 6:12). Chapters 9—14 are full of promises concerning the second coming of the Messiah and a worldwide kingdom. He shall come the first time however as the Lowly One, riding on a beast (9:9, cf. Matt. 21:1-11). Then we see Him as a mighty Sovereign (14:8-11), when He comes the second time to reign (cf. Rev. 19:11). Chapter 11 describes the Shepherd who would seek to save Israel, but is rejected (11:12—13, cf. Matt. 26:15; 27:1-10). In chapter 12, a future invasion of Jerusalem during the Tribulation is foreseen, followed by the Jews’ repentance as they look on the returning Messiah . whom they pierced (12:10, cf. Rev. 1:7; 19:11-21), touching down on Ene:Mount of Olives from which He ascended (14:4). Finally, Christ shall be King / over all the earth (14:9-20). : To gain a full picture of end-time events, these last chapters — should be compared with Isaiah 2, 11—12, 24—25, 35, 62— 66; Ezekiel 34—38;

Daniel 7, 9, 12; Matthew

24—25

and Revelation 6—20. A full 144 verses in Zechariah are predictive out of a total of 211, or 69 percent.

982

CHAPTER

1

A Call to Come Back to the Lord Le ee OLD ITE leo aires 2: Piet Se pe ES Cale Las peg 1:1; Matt Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of | 93:35

iddo the propel SaNave

2

sa!

_,

The Lorp hath been sore displeased with

your fathers.

|3der. 25:5;

#1 aMic 3:7; Luke.

And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. 10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lorp hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

| 11 And they answered the angel of the Lor that stood among the myrtle trees; and

We

_therefore say thou unto them, Thus | 15:20; J saith the Lorp of hosts; Turn ye unto me, | James 4:8

have walked

said,

to and fro through the

earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, grad $6 AY tect

saith the Lorp of hosts, and I will turn unto

rope

12 Then tha: angel of the Lorp answered

you, saith the Lorp of hosts. 4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying,

Isa, 31:6; aaa

and said, O Lorp of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast — had indignation these threescore and ten years? 13 And the Lorp answered the angel that

18:30; Hos.

Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; Turn ye now | 14:1

from your evil ways, and from your evil do- | ¢ Isa. 55:1: ings: but they did not hear, nor hearken Lan 1:18;

unto me, saith the Lorp.

8Josh. 5:13: |talked with me with good words and com-

5 Your fathers, where are they? and the | 7.04, ¢-2.7.' |fortable words. prophets, do they live for ever? . Rev. 6:4 14 So the angel that communed 6

with me

But my words and my statutes, which I | 10 Heb. 1:14 | said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith

commanded

my servants the prophets, did | 44 ps,

the Lorp of hosts; I am jealous for Jeru-

they not take hold of your fathers? and they | 103:20, 21

salem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

returned and said, Like as the Lorn of hosts | 12 Ps. thought to do paras, according to our Laos

15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little

ways, and according to our doings, so hath | Dan. 9:2;

displeased, and they helped forward the af-

he dealt with us. 7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the

Saad fliction. 13 es na:i9 |18 Therefore thus saith the Lorp; I am re-

eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word

| Pt lt

of the Lorp unto

Zechariah,

the son of

turned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lorp of

:

15 Isa. 47:6

hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth

Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, say-

46 Isa, 121.

|Upon Jerusalem.

ing, 8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding

54:8: Zech. | 17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lorp of at 2, 10; hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet

upon a red horse, and he stood among the | * ,_ |be spread abroad; and the Lorp shall yet myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and be- LE comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jeruhind him were there red horses, speckled, and | 2:12: 3:2 white. 9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these?

1:7-11

a man riding upon a red horse. Zechariah saw

eight visions in one night (1:7—6:8). The first of these

involved a man who stands “among the myrtle trees” (v. 8). Accompanying the scene is an interpreting angel whom the prophet addresses as “my lord,” a term of respect. The rider on the red horse is described as “the angel of the Lorp” (v. 11) and is the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, who serves as the agent through whom the will of God is accomplished. The description of the activity of the angel of the Lord and the other riders suggests they were constantly on patrol intervening in the affairs of men to bring to pass the will of God for His people. These angelic warriors under the command of the Son of God have been victorious in their deliverance of Israel. In Zechariah’s vision, the world is in a relative calm, and there is noth-

salem.

18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. ing to hinder the rebuilding of the temple. 1:12-17 angel of the Lorp. God the Son intercedes for Jerusalem, pleading with the “Loro of hosts” (God the Father) on behalf of Judah (v. 12), which has suffered the

ravages of the seventy-year Babylonian captivity (cf. Jer. 25:11; Dan. 9:2). This passage clearly distinguishes between the first and second members of the Godhead as the Son pleads with the Father to restore Jerusalem.

1:18-21 In the second vision, Zechariah saw “four — horns” which represent the four Gentile powers that will — scatter Israel. Some take these to be Assyria, Egypt, sa ylon, and Persia (up to the prophet’s own time), while— others believe these are the same as the four Gentile kingdoms in Daniel's visions—Babylon, Persia, Greece — and Rome (see Dan. 2:31—45; 7:1—28; 8:1-25; 9:20-27).

983

19 And I said unto the angel that talked

repens

7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest

with me, What be these? And he answered | ' with the daughter of Babylon. me, These are the horns which have scatet 8 For thus saith the Lorp of hosts; After tered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Veale a the glory hath he sent me unto the nations 20 And the Lorp shewed me four carpen2fet la which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you ters. Ader. 31-27: oe the apple of his eye. 21 Then said I, What come these to do? And | gek.36:19' | 9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon he spake, saying, These are the horns which 5 Isa. 26:1; | them, and they shall be a spoil to their serhave scattered Judah, so that no man did | 60:19; Zech. |vants: and ye shall know that the Lorp of lift up his head: but these are come to fray one hosts hath sent me. them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, ae : 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for,

which lifted up their horn over the land of

28:64;jsa. | 10, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of

Judah to scatter it.

48:20; 52:11 | thee, saith the Lorp. 7 Rev. 18:4 | 11 And many nations shall be joined to the 8 Deut. Lorp in that day, and shall be my people:

CHAPTER

2

i

;

A Man with a Measuring Line

32:10)

and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and

1. I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked,

athese 1:6 |thou shalt know that the Lorp of hosts hath

and behold a man with a measuring line in

9 Isa. 11:15:

|SeBt me unto thee.

his hand. } 19:16; Zech. |12 And the Lorp shall inherit Judah his 2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he | 4:9 portion in the holy land, and shall choose said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see ye Jerusalem again. what is the breadth thereof, and what is the | 49:¢. . length thereof. John 1:14; 3 And, behold, the angel that talked with | 2Cor 6:16

me went forth, and another angel went out | 14 Ex. 12:49;

to meet him,

4

A

aes

And said unto him, Run, speak to this | Ezek. 33:33

13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lorp: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. c

HAPTER

3

:

‘

Clean Clothes for the High Priest | 1 And

he shewed

me

Joshua

the high

young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be in- | 13 Ps. 68:5; | priest standing before the angel of the Lorn,

habited as towns without walls for the mul-

ia hae

titude of men and cattle therein:

fa igs

5 For I, saith the Lorn, will be unto her a Hag. 1:1. ‘| wall of fire round about, and will be the | Rev. 12:10 glory in the midst of her. 2 Amos

and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the Lorp said unto Satan, The Lorp rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lorp that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not

6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land | 4:11; Jude

| this a brand plucked out of the fire?

of the north, saith the Lorp: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lorp.

|3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those

1:9..23 ,,. ta ate Rev. 19:8

Zechariah also saw “four carpenters” (v. 20) who were called to whittle the four horns down to size, reminding God's people that He would take care of their future destiny. 2:1-5 In the third vision, the prophet sees the Jerusalem of the future as a town without walls, dwelling in peace and safety because the Lord Himself will be “a wall of fire” around her (v. 5). Here it seems the prophet sees

beyond the immediate rebuilding of Jerusalem into the distant future of the days when the Messiah will rule Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom. 2:6-13 The prophet sounds four warnings to the Jewish exiles remaining in Babylon: 1) He calls them to come forth and return to Zion (Jerusalem); 2) He announces that God will judge the nations that have scattered Israel, the “apple of his eye”; 3) God will bless the nations by blessing Israel; and 4) All mankind should be silent and

reverence God. Zechariah foresees the Millennial King-

dom when many nations will be joined together and become God's people (v. 11). 3:1-8. In the fourth vision, we are given a behind-thescenes look into spiritual warfare in heavenly places. Joshua, a fallible human priest stands accused by Satan in the presence of Christ (the angel of the Lord). It is clear that Joshua is a symbol of what God is going to do in the future cleansing of Israel under the ministry of the Messiah, designated in verse 8 as “my servant the BRANCH [a sprout].” This is a proper name for the Messiah (cf. Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; Zech: 6:12) used to indicate that He is a descendant of the Davidic line and grows up like a “shoot” or “sprout” out of the “root of Jesse [David's father]” (Rom. 15:12). Joshua’s high priestly ministry prefigures the ministry of the Messiah who is both the Priest and King over God’s people, although the Messiah will not have Joshua's filthy garments and will be qualified to make a proper sacrifice.

984 that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lorp stood by. 6 And the angel of the Lorp protested unto Joshua, saying,

7 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lorn of'hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day, saith the Lorn of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

CHAPTER

4

The Lampstand and the Olive Trees 1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2 _ And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4 So I answered and spake to the angel

5 Ex. 29:6; Zech. 6:11

7 Lev. 8:35; Deut. 17:9; 1Kgs. 2:3; Mal. 2:7 OiPsei tt;

9 Ps. 118:22; Jer. 31:34; 50:20; Mic. 1:18;-19;

Zech. 4:10; 13:1; Rev. 5:6

10 1Kgs. 4:25; Isa. 36:16; Mic. 4:4; Zech. 2:11 1 Dan. 8:18; Zech. 2:3

2 Ex. 25:31, 37; Rev. 1:12; 4:5

3 Zech. 4:11, 12; Rev. 11:4 6 Hos. 1:7 7 Ezra 3:11, 1SHPs: 118:22; Jer. 51:25; Matt. 21:21 9 Ezra 3:10; 6:15; Isa. 48:16; Zech. 2:8, 95:1; 6:15

10 2Chr. 16:9; Prov. 15:3; Hag. 2:3; Zech. 3:9

11 Zech. 4:3 14 Josh. 3311), 13; Zech. 3:7; 6:5; Luke 1:19; Rev. 11:4 1 Ezek. 2:9

3:9 The “stone” is often used in the Bible as a symbol of the Messiah (Gen. 49:24; Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16; Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11) and pictures the

eternality of His kingdom. The “seven eyes” represent omniscient intelligence and probably refer to the seven spirits or characteristics of God (cf. Isa. 11:2; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Rev. 3:1; 4:5; 5:6).

4:1-14 The fifth vision describes the golden candlestick and seven lamps (cf. Rev. 1:12—20). It is in the shape of a menorah, which gave light in the temple of God. The two olive trees are pictured as the sources from which

that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lorp unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lorp of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

8 Moreover

the word of the Lorp came

unto me, saying, 9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the

foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lorp of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lorn, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What Le these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

CHAPTER 5 The Flying Scroll 1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

the oil flows into the bowl through the pipes into the seven lamps. In verse 14, the two olive trees are identified as the “two anointed ones,” referring to Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. They will lead the people in rebuilding the temple, which will reflect the light and glory of God. The symbolism also points to the future ministry of the two witnesses who will be empowered by the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation period to call — Israel back to God (see Rev. 11:3-12). 5:1-4 The sixth vision is that of a “flying roll” (or scroll). The size of the scroll, twenty cubits (30 feet) by ten

—

985

2 And he said unto me, What seest thou? |3Mal.4:6

| 41 And he said unto me, To build it an

And I answered, I see a flying roll; the | 4 tev. 14:45; |house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be length thereof is twenty cubits, and the Bia ae established, and set there upon her own breadth thereof ten cubits. 3:5 3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse | 11 Gen.

base.

that goeth forth over the face of the whole | 19:10; Jer.

CHAPTER

6

earth: for every one that stealeth shall be ae The Four Chariots cut off as on this side according to it; and 1 And IJ turned, and lifted up mine eyes, every one that sweareth shall be cut off as and looked, and, behold, there came four on that side according to it. chariots out from between two mountains; 4 1 will bring it forth, saith the Lorp of and the mountains were mountains of brass. hosts, and it shall enter into the house of | 2 Zech. 1:8; | 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and

the thief, and into the house of him that | F¢&4'5 sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall

| in the second chariot black horses; 3. And in the third chariot white horses;

remain in the midst of his house, and shall | 3 Rev. 6:2

| and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay

consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. 4Zech.5:10 5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. | 5 1kgs. 6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This | 22:19; Ps. is an ephah that goeth forth. He said morecach over, This is their resemblance through all | 4:14; Luke

horses. | 4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

the earth. 7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold,

there came

ae

6 The black horses which are therein go

|. / |6% "4

forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go’ that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

oe Zech | 1:19’ ~—_=CY|:-

| g Judg, 8:3:

out two women, | Eccl. 10:4

and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?

8

Then cried he upon me, and spake unto

me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. 9 And the word of the Lorp came unto me, saying, 10 Take of them of the captivity, even of

cubits (15 feet), and the speed of its flight indicates this is ominous news that is about to burst on the scene

world system) will be destroyed and Jesus will reign on

quickly. As the scroll flies over the land, the indictment of its curse is pronounced against all those who hinder the work of God. This symbolism is similar to that of Christ opening the seven seals of the scroll of God's judgment in Revelation 6:1—8:1.

6:1-8 The eighth and final night vision was of four chariots and red, black, white, and spotted horses, reminiscent of the four horses of the Apocalypse (Rev. 6:2—8). These are divine messengers who are instruments of God's judgment on the earth. They reveal the fact that God's enemies must be judged so that none can rise up against His authority.

5:5-11 The seventh night vision is that of the woman in an “ephah” (basket). The woman symbolizes all the evil that must be removed from the land of Israel (like the

bread at Passover) in order for the nation to be purified. In this case, the evil will be taken to Babylon, where it originated, and will be permanently deposited there. During the Tribulation period (Daniel's seventieth “week”), God will remove every form of wickedness in preparation for the Millennial Kingdom of the redeemed. Babylon (the

David's throne (see Rev. 14:8; 17—18).

6:9-11 The crowning of Joshua as the high priest symbolized the future crowning of the Messiah, the Branch, as both King and Priest over Israel. This prophecy foresees the building of the Millennial Temple with the help of the Gentiles (those who are “far off”). It looks beyond the rebuilding of the second temple or even the Tribulation temple and pictures the glories of the millennial age.

986 Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lorp of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lorn: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lorp; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lorp. 15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lorp, and ye shall know that the Lorp of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lorp your God.

CHAPTER

7

Insincere Fasting Reproved 1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the Lorp came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; 2 When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to pray before the Lorn, 3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lorp of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? 4 Then came the word of the Lorp of hosts unto me, saying, 5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? 6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? 7

Should ye not hear the words which the

11 Ex. 28:36; 29:6; Lev. , 8:9; Zech. 3:5 12 Zech. 3:8; 4:9: Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:20-22;

Heb. 3:3 13 Ps. 110:4; Isa. 22:24; Heb. 3:1 14 Ex. 12:14;

Mark 14:9 15 Isa. 57:19; 60:10 3 Deut. 17:911; 33:10;

Jer. 52:12; Zech. 8:19; Mal. 2:7

5 Jer. 41:1; Zech. 1:12; 8:19; Rom.

14:6 7 Jer. 17:26 9 Isa. 58:6, 7; Jer. 7:23; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 8:16; Matt. 23:23

10 Ex. 22:21, 22; Deut. 24:17; Jer. 5:28; Zech. 8:17 11 Neh. 9:29; Jer. 7:24; Hos. 4:16; Acts 7:57 12 Ezek. 11:19; 36:26; Dan. 9:11 13 Prov. 1:24-28; Jer.

11:11; 14:12 14 Lev. 26:22; Deut. 4:27; 28:33, 64; Ezek. 36:19 2 Nah. 1:2; Zech. 1:14 3 Jer. 31:23; Zech. 1:16; 2:10 4 1Sam. 2:31; Lam. 2:20; 5:11-14 6 Luke 1:37; 18:27; Rom. 4:21

Lorp hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain? 8 And the word of the Lorp came unto Zechariah, saying, 9 Thus speaketh the Lorp of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fetherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart: 11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled . away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea,

they

made

their

hearts

as

an

adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lorp of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lorp of hosts. 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lorp of hosts: 14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

CHAPTER

8

Jerusalem Will Be Blessed 1 Again the word of the Lord of hosts came fo me, saying, 2 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3 Thus saith the Lorn; I am returned unto

Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lorp of hosts the holy mountain. 4 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; There shall ° yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem,

and every man

with

his staff in his hand for very age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 6 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of

8:1-8 God promised to restore Jerusalem to her intended greatness in the future. Jerusalem will be called “a city of truth” and “the holy mountain” (v. 3). The city is pictured as a place of peace and safety for both the elderly and for children (vv. 4-5). This wonderful restoration of the city will take place at Christ's return (Matt. 24:31).

987

this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lorp of hosts. 7 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; 8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. 9 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lorn of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. 11 But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the Lorp of hosts. 12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. 14 For thus saith the Lorp of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the Lorp of hosts, and I repented not: 15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. 16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lorp. 18 And the word of the Lorp of hosts came unto me, saying,

7 Ps, 50:1; 113:3; Isa. Tete t2; 43:5, 6; Ezek.

37:21 8 Jer. 4:2; 30:22; 31:1, 33; Zech. 13:9 9 Ezra 5:1, 2; Hag. 2:4, 18; Zech. 8:18 10 2Chr. 15:5; Hag.

1:6, 9, 10; 2:16

12 Ps. 67:6; Hos. 2:21,

22; Joel 2:22; Hag. 1:10; 2:19

13 Gen. 12:2; Isa.

19:24, 25; Jer. 42:18; Zech. 8:9

14 2Chr. 36:16; Jer. 31:28; Zech. 1:6 16 Zech. 7:9; 8:19; Eph. 4:25 17 Prov. 3:29; Zech. 5:3, 4; 7:10

19 2Kgs. 25:25; Esth. 8:17; Jer. 41:1, 2; 52:4,

G23 21 Isa. 2:3;

Mic. 4:1, 2 22 Isa. 60:3; 66:23 23 Isa. 3:6; 4:1; 1Cor. 14:25 1 Jer. 23:33; Amos 1:3 2 Ezek. 28:3, 21; Amos 1:9; Obad. 1:20

3 Job 27:16; Ezek. 28:4, 5 4 Isa. 23:1; Ezek. 26:17 5 Jer. 47:1,

5; Zeph. 2:4 6 Amos 1:8

8:20-23 Zechariah also predicts a time when the Gentiles will seek the Lord during the Millennial Kingdom. Many people and nations will come to Jerusalem seeking the Lord because they have heard that God is there. 9:1-8

God's prophet pronounces judgment on Israel's

19 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast’ of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. 20 Thus saith the Lorn of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray

before the Lorp, and to seek the Lorp of hosts: I will go also. 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lorp of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lorp. 23 Thus saith the Lorp of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

CHAPTER

9

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies 1 The burden of the word of the Lorp in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shail be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the Lorb.

2

And Hamath

also shall border thereby;

Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron;

for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he,

shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

8

And

I will encamp

about mine house

enemies. Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Zidon, Gaza, Ekron, Ashkelon, and Ashdod will all be destroyed. These cities fell to Alexander the Great in 333 B.c., but Jerusalem was spared during his invasion of the Holy Land.

because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

A King in Zion 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. 11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that 1 will render double unto thee; ' 13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty

man. 14 And the Lorp shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord Gop shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. 15. The Lorp of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with slingstones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. 16 And the Lorp their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. 17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the

9:9-10

8 Isa. 60:18;

Ezek. 28:24 9 Zech. 2:10; Matt. 21:5; Luke 19:38; John 1:49; 12:15

10 Ps. 72:8; Hos. 1:7; 2:18; Mic.

5:10 11 Ex. 24:8; Isa. 42:7; 51:14; 61:1

12.1sa. 49:9; 61:7 14 Ps. 18:14; TT:AT; 1446 15 Lev. 4:18, 25; Deut. 12:27

16 Isa. 11:12; 62:3; Mal. 3:17 17 Ps. 31:19; Joel 3:18; Amos 9:14

1 Job 29:23; Joel 2:23 2 Judg. 17:5; Jer. 10:8; Ezek. 34:5; Hab. 2:18

3 Ezek. 34:17; Luke 1:68 4 Num. 24:17; 1Sam. 14:38; Isa. 19:13; 22:23 6 Jer. 3:18; Ezek. 37:21; Hos. 1:7; Zech. 13:9

7 Ps. 104:15; Zech. 9:15 8 Isa. 5:26; 49:19; Ezek. 36:37 9 Deut. 30:1; Hos. 2:23

10 Isa. Teal 116%

49:20

Zechariah predicts the coming of the Messiah

riding into Jerusalem on a donkey just as David had done centuries before (see 2 Sam. 18:9; 1 Kgs. 1:33). Over five hundred years ahead of time, the prophet sees the King riding in His royal procession into Jerusalem (v. 9). This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus entered Jerusalem on

Palm Sunday in His triumphal entry to present Himself officially as Israel’s Messiah (cf. Matt. 21:4-5; John 12:15). This prophecy depicts Jesus as both King and Savior. When it was fulfilled, the people shouted,

young men maids.

CHAPTER

cheerful,

and

new

wine

the

10

The Lord Will Deliver 1 Ask ye of the Lorp rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lorp shall make. bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to

every one grass in the field. 2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. 3 Mine anger was kindled against- the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lorp of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. 5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lorp is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lorp their God, and will hear them. 7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lorp. 8 Iwillhiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. 9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far coun-

tries; and they shall live Dike their children, and turn again. 10 I will bring them again also out of the

“Hosanna (meaning “save now”) to the son of David!” (Matt. 21:9; cf. Ps. 118:25-26). The response of the crowd made it clear that they recognized Him as the Messiah, even though they rejected Him. 10:6-8 God promised to regather both Judah (the South-

ern Kingdom) and Joseph also called Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom) into one nation in the future. He will “hiss” (“whistle”) at them, and they will come running together at God's appointed time.

989 land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. Meond he na aes ae the sea rei aliuction, and

shall

smite the waves

month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, iesee ee let the rest eat every one

11 Isa.

in the | 11:15, 16;

the

Hesh

of another.

sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry

ey Ezek. | 19 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut

i” and the pride of Assyria pipe brought own, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart aera ! ni . 12 And I will strengthen them in the Lorp; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lorp.

: aie ie 17a 1016 i 2 Isa 32:19 PRA : Oak. ; 29:19: Jer. 2:3; 50:7;

| CHAPTER

11

The Foolish Shepherds

1 Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. , 2 nas fir for the ,

Jehoshaphat*,

* @ Petra/Bozrah

The Eight Stages 1.Gathering of the Armies of the Antichrist 2.Destruction of Babylon 3. The Fall of Jerusalem 4.The Armies of the Antichrist at Bosrah

5.Israel’s Regeneration 6.Second Coming of Christ 7.End of Fighting at the Valley of Jehoshaphat 8.Victory Ascent upon the Mount of Olives

By Arnold Fruchtenbaum. Used by permission

achi chi, whose name means “messenger,” is the last of the Old Testament prophBy the time Malachi wrote his prophecy, a century had passed since the first _Jews returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The prophecy is clearly later than those of Haggai and Zechariah. The reconstruction of the temple had been complete long enough for abuses to creep into the sacrificial system. A short-lived spiritual revival under Ezra and Nehemiah was followed by a lapse into empty religious formalism. Corruption, mixed marriages, and neglect of tithing, combined with a caustic, questioning attitude of denial were predominant trends during this time. Malachi chides negligent and indifferent Jews, but offers God’s promises of present blessings for the faithful and the hope of anew “messenger” to come, the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, with healing for Israel (4:2). Referring to Israel’s special, blessed future, Malachi writes of them being “refined as silver,” called blessed by all nations and a “delightsome land,” and accepted by the Lord as His “jewels” (3:12, 17). As for the wicked of the world, the “day of the Lorp” would consume them. The closing prophecy of the Old Testament speaks of the return of Elijah the prophet, partially fulfilled by John the Baptist, but the literal return of Elijah is yet to come. Very significant is the prophecy of the “messenger” (3:1), fulfilled by John the Baptist, the forerunner Bs of the Messiah. Following Malachi’s ne SU eegas ing prophecy, Israel went throu gh a period of four hundred years in which God was silent towards His people. Malachi’s prediction of _ John the Baptist (3:1, cf. Mark 1:2) marks the last time God spoke to His people through a prophet until John the Baptist came to “prepare the way” of Christ. Thirty-one of the 55 verses are predictive, or 56 percent of the content. Of 19 prophet ic subjects, about half § are either conditional or fulfilled in Old Testament times.

“ Cyrus ofPers

decrees the return of the Jews:

994

CHAPTER

1

9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that

The Lord Loves Jacob » | he will be gracious unto us: this hath been SR ietoRn BU | 2 Deut. 7:8; | by your means: will he regard your persons? : ne ener ea Se sce tS hii Rom. | saith the Lorp of hosts. rael by Ma § : : 2 Ihave loved you, saith the Lorn. Yet ye | 3 Jer. 49:18; 10 bod ete even anne bits at pronid doors for nought? neither do ye kinthe shut | 4, 35:3, Ezek. ; . h h hou loved us? We t

Spo

oe b oe: oe ee =

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dle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no

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ee SEO CTE Sa Le Oe ih pH Hs Ove: aco 's. 35: 4 sapact 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his moun-. | 6 &x. 20:12: tains and his heritage waste for the dragons | Mal. 2:14, ; 17; 3:7, 8,

pleasure in you, saith the Lorn of hosts, nei= 7 ther will I accept an offering at your hand. net 0 Foe from the ising pf the sum

a

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3”

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37-41 :

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14-37

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~ Caligula is Emperor of Rome ee

Tiberitis is Emperor of Rome

26-30:

Public ministry of Jesus :

;

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os

: 2

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Claudius isEmperor ofRome

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Conversion of Saul (Paul)

47-49

:

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~ Paul's FirstMissionary Journey apes

ze Second Missionary Journey 53-56 Paul's Third Missionary souoy

1243

CHAPTER

1

trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part,

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The God of All Comfort” 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ: abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is ef-

fectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, if is for your consolation and salvation. 7. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8

For we would

not, brethren,

have you

ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us,

that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks given by many on our behalf.

may

be

15 And in this confidence I was minded to

8 Acts 19:23; 1Cor.

come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; 16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay

15:32; 16:9

nay?

9 Jer. 17:5, 7

18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

5 Acts 9:42Cor. 4:10; Col. 1:24

6 2Cor. 4:15 7 Rom. 8:17;

2Tim. 2:12

11 Rom. 15:30; Phil. 1:19 12 1Cor. 2:4, 13; 2Cor. 2:17; 4:2

14 2Cor. 5:12; Phil. 2:16; 4:1

15 Rom. 1:11; 1Cor. 4:19 16 1Cor. 16:5, 6 17 2Cor. 10:2 19 Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35

20 Rom. 15:d)9

21 1John 2:20, 27 22 2Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13, 14; 4:30 23 1Cor. 4:21; 2Cor. 2:3; Phil. 1:8 24 Rom. 11:20; 1Cor. eae ae

1Pet. 5:3

Paul’s Sincerity 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of

our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not’ with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13 For we write none other things unto you,

than what ye read or acknowledge;

that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

and I

1 2Cor. 1:23; 12:20, 21; 13:10

3 2Cor. 7:16; 8:22; 12:21; Gal. 5:10 4 2Cor. 7:8, 9,12

CHAPTER 1

2

But I determined this with myself, that I

would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And J wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

1:14 the day of the Lord Jesus. This phrase alludes to the judgment seat of Christ, and therefore is a clear reference to the Rapture. The main cause for rejoicing in that judgment for all Christians is in the souls we have led to Christ or in those we have influenced spiritually.

1244

Forgiveness for a Penitent Man

5 1Cor. 5:1;

5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye eonln confirm your love toward him,

9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 12 Furthermore,

when

I came

to Troas

preach Christ’s gospel, and a opened unto me of the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, found not Titus my brother: but leave of them, I went from thence edonia.

door

to

was

because I taking my into Mac-

Gal. 4:12 6 1Cor. 5:4,

5; 1Tim. 5:20 7 Gal. 6:1 9 2Cor. 7:15; 10:6

12 Acts 16:8; 20:6;

1Cor. 16:9

13 2Cor. 7:5, 6 15 1Cor. 1:18; 2Cor. 4:33 16 John 9:39; 1Cor. 15:10

17 2Pet. 2:3 1 Acts 18:27; 2Cor. 5:12; 10:8,

12502711 2 1Cor. 9:2 3 Ex. 24:12; 34:1; Ps. 40:8; 1Cor. 3) 5 John 15:5; 1Cor. 3:5; 15:10; Phil. 2:13; 1Tim. NPN etir43

2Tim. 1:11

Victory in Christ

6 Matt. 26:28; Rom.

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and

2:27, 29;

maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

CHAPTER

3

A New Ministry 1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or /etfers of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of

3:20 7 Ex. 34:1, 28, 29, 30, 35 8 Gal. 3:5 9 Rom. 1:17; 3:21 12 2Cor. 7:4; Eph. 6:19 13 Ex. 34:33,

14 Isa. 6:10; John 12:40; Rom. 11:7, 8, 25

16 Ex. 34:34; Isa. 25:7; Rom. 11:23, 26 17 1Cor. 15:45

18 1Cor. 13:12 1 1Cor. 7:25; Tim. 1:13 2 Rom. 1:16; 6:21; 2Cor. E07 52119 6:4, 7; 7:14

the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our suf-

ficiency is of God;

;

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth: is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

CHAPTER 4 Never Give Up 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending

1245

ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

i

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4

In whom

Ata

the god of this world

Sante Eph. 6:12;

hath | Phil 2:6

blinded the minds of them which believe shine unto them.

6 Gen. 1:3;

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ

oa He

Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants

Erie

for Jesus’ sake.

cause

we

faint not; but

ward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceed-

3 Cortil

not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of | 19:33: 2cor,_| Christ, who is the image of God, should | 1:24

6

16 For which

-,, | though our outward man perish, yet the in-

ing and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are tem-

poral; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

eae e

For God, who commanded the light to |9°s:3"74 shine out of darkness, hath shined in our

wvHor

|CHAPTER 1

5

For we know that if our earthly house of

hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of | 15:31: phil. | this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. | 3:10 building of God, an house not made with 7 But we have this treasure in earthen ves- | 11 Ps. 44:22; |hands, eternal in the heavens.

sels, that the excellency of the power may | ®°-836

| 2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring

be of God, and not of us. eee to be clothed upon with our house which is 8 Weare troubled on every side, yet not dis- i ae from heaven: tressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; | 11:10: Rom. |3. If so be that being clothed we shall not 9

be found naked.

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, | 1:12

but not destroyed;

14 Rom.

10 Always bearing about in the body the

ay 1Cor

4

dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of

ae acer

11 For we which live are alway delivered 16 Rom. unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also | 7:22 might

be made

manifest

that are in this tabernacle

do

not for that we

would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given

Jesus might be made manifest in our body. | 3:94

of Jesus

For we

| groan, being burdened:

in our | 17 Pet, 1:6; | unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

mortal flesh. 5:10 6 Therefore we are always confident, know°12 So then death worketh in us, but life in | 18 Job 4:19; | ing that, whilst we are at home in the body, you. Bee al we are absent from the Lord:

13 We having the same spirit of faith, ac-

chee 3:18; | 7

cording as it is written, I believed, and ;Le therefore have I spoken; we also believe, | 15.53,54

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8 Weare confident, J say and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be pres-

and therefore speak; 5 Rom. $:23; |Cit with the Lord. 14 Knowing that he which raised up the | 2Cor. 1:22; 9 Wherefore we

labour,

that,

whether

Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, | 7Heb. 11:1

| present or absent, we may be accepted of

and shall present us with you.

| him.

8 Phil. 1:23

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the | 49 att,

10 For we must all appear before the judg-

abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

ment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according

eae

4:14 he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus. The resurrection unto eternal life was anticipated and longed for by the early Christians, and should be our desire as well. This resurrection of believers is certain, not only because Christ was raised, or because the Father has promised to raise us in like manner, but because our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). The life of believers is so united with Christ that if

He lives, we must also live (Eph. 2:4—7). 5:5-7 Paul’s confidence was that “whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord,” because this earthly life is inferior to the life and body we as Chris-

tians will have when the Lord comes.

5:8-9 that... we may be accepted of him. Paul’s goal was to so live that when Christ comes to transform his earthly body to his heavenly body to be with Christ that he would be well-pleasing to Him, which should be the goal of all believers. 5:10 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The judgment seat of Christ should concern all of us who are Christians and influence and prioritize our lifestyle, because we shall give an account of how we have lived “whether it be good or bad” (see Rom. 14:10-11; 1 Cor. 3:11-15).

1246

to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Paul Defends Himself 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again

unto you, but give you occasion to glory on, our behalf, that ye answer them which not in heart. 13 For whether we to God: or whether

may have somewhat to glory in appearance, and be beside ourselves, it is we be sober, it is for your

cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth.

us;

because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Heaven

11 Job 31:2

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconcilia-

13 2Cor. 11:1,1 16,7; 12:6, 11

tion; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconcil-

14 Rom. 5:15

ing the world unto himself, not imputing

15 Rom. eMule 14:7, 8; 1Cor. 6:19

16 Matt. 12:50; John 6:63; 15:14

17 Isa. 43:18, 19; 65:17; Rom. 8:9; 16:7

their trespasses. unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, 20 Now then we are ambassadors. for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him fo be sin for us, - who knew no sin; that we might be made

the righteousness of God in him.

18 Rom. 5:10

CHAPTER

19 Rom. 3:24, 25

G6

The Apostle’s Fidelity and Love

20 Mal. 2:7;

1. We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the

Eph. 6:20 21 Isa. 53:6, 9, 12; Rom. (Re SES

grace of God in vain.

2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now ts the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers. of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

10:3 1 1Cor. 3:9;

Heb. 12:15 2 Isa. 49:8 3 Rom. 14:13; 1Cor. 9:12; 10:32 4 1Cor. 4:1; 2Cor. 4:2

The Judgment Seat of Christ (The Bema) Romans 14:10

1 Thess, 416-17

The Rapture

1 Thess. 4:13-18

Gola he aed Precious Stones

Judgment of Believers for Their “Works”

Wood, Hay, Stubble

1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10

Incorruptible Crown

Crown of Life

Crown of Glory

Martyrs Crown

Elder's Crown

The Victor's Crown

Rev. 2:10

1 Pet. 5:24

1 Cor. 9:25

Crownof | Righteousness For those who love His appearing

Crown of

Rejoicing Soul Winner's Crown 1 Thess. 2:19-20.

2Tim. 4:8

© AMG Publishers

1247

The Judgment of Christ By Erwin Lutzer ae judgment seat of Christ is often called the bema (the Greek word translated “judgment seat” in 2 Cor. 5:10), and in early times referred to a raised platform where speeches were given and crowns were awarded to the winners of athletic contests. The bema of Christ, which dwarfs all other tribunals, is not a judgment that determines salvation, for here only Christians shall be called into account before the all-knowing Judge. This event must be distinguished from the Great White Throne Judgment, to which only unbelievers of all eras shall be summoned (Rev. 20:11—15). The two judgments have these similarities: attendance is required, and all facts will be taken into consideration; thus all participants will agree that God acts with wisdom and meticulous justice. At the judgment seat of Christ, He who died to save us will stand to judge us. The terms of iS judgment are detailed in He who died to 1 Corinthians 3:9—-15, indicating that “every man’s work shallbe . made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be SAVE US will stand revealed by fire.” After Paul says that “every [Christian shall] to judge Us. receive the things done in his body, according to thathe hath = done, whether it be good or bad” he adds, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:10—11). Our Savior and Brother will administer that which is right and just, but He will not wink at our disobedience. Theologically, a difficulty is posed by this judgment: since all believers are “in Christ” and have been declared legally righteous in God’s sight, how can we be judged “for the things done in [the] body .. . whether . . . good or bad”? Some theologians thereby conclude that all believers will hear “Well done” from the lips of Christ. These people believe that the judgment, at most, may result in a loss of some potential rewards, but will make no distinction between the faithful and the unfaithful. This view is often connected with the teaching that all Christians are overcomers who will persevere in faithfulness. Thus, proponents of this view believe that the judgment seat is primarily a time of affirmation—not rebuke, nor serious loss of rewards. However, if we take Paul’s words at face value (quoted above), we must face the possibility of a serious rebuke by Christ and a loss of rewards or privileges. John warned that we should live so that we will not “be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28).

The fact that God disciplines His children in this life, is proof that we will not be able to hide behind our justification to escape a thorough judicial review. Paul reminded slaves to serve their masters as they would Christ, “knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance.” Then he adds, “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons” (Col. 3:24-25). Those who are faithful will have the privilege of ruling with Christ (Rev. 3:21); those who are not will be rebuked and given lesser responsibilities. This does not mean that there will be two classes of people in heaven, for despite these distinctions, all will enjoy the eternal state and contribute to the honor and praise of our Lord.

1248

in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by

7 1Cor. 2:4;

| 3. I speak not this to condemn you: for I | have said before, that ye are in our hearts to

ar BAN Eph. 6:11,

die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward

love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the

13; 2Tim -47 | you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled 9 Ps. 118:18; |with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all

right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report

Ae eaten

5 For, when we were come into Macedo-

5:11; 11:6

nia, our flesh had no rest, but we were trou-

and good report: as deceivers, and yef true; . 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as

11 2Cor. 7:3 |bled on every side; without were fightings,

5

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults,

dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11 O ye Corinthians,

our

mouth

is open

unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, I (speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

CHAPTER 1

7

Having therefore these promises, dearly

beloved,

let us cleanse

ourselves

from

all

filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Former Letter 2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

5 2Cor. 1 1:23

1Cor. 4:9

:

our tribulation.

12 2Cor. aa

within were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those

Or.

4:14 | that are cast down, comforted us by the

14 Deut. 7:2, |coming of Titus; . ae 52/7 And not by his coming only, but by the 18:21; 1Cor. | consolation wherewith he was comforted in

HOM

you, when he told us your earnest: desire,

57,11... 16 Ex. 29:45; Lev, 26:1 ae Jer. 31:3 32:38: Exek. 11:20; 36:28 17 Isa. 92:11; 2Cor,

|your mourning, your fervent mind toward |me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a let| te Ido not repent, though I did repent: for | I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. | |9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made

fea

sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance:

18 Jer. 31:1,

for ye were made sorry after a godly man-

9: Rev. 21:7

| ner, that ye might receive damage by us in

1 2Cor. 6:17, |nothing. 18; 1John i 2 Acts

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

12:17

11 For behold

20:33; 2Cor.

:

¢

this selfsame thing, that ye

3 2Cor 6:11, | Sorrowed after a godly sort, what careful12 ness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of 4 1Cor. 1:4; | yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what

pon eh 14; |fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what 2:17: Col.

zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have

1:24

approved yourselves to be clear in this mat-

5 Deut.

ter

a jn.

eae 12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I ,.,, | did if not for his cause that had done the

2:13

wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. | 13. Therefore we were comforted in your

6 2Cor. 1:4;

8 2Cor. 2 4

10 2Sam

12:13; Prov,

:

17:22; Matt. |comfort:

26:75

12 2Cor. 2:4 13 Rom. 15:32

6:16-18 ye are the temple of the living God. This challenge to make our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit is based on the Old Testament prophecy that the people of Israel will one day live that way during the kingdom age

yea, and exceedingly the more

joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 Forif I have boasted any thing to him of you, Iam not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

when they convert to Him as He becomes their God and they become His people (Ezek. 37:27)—further evidence that if anyone has the Spirit of Christ, he should live

like it.

1249

15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

CHAPTER

8&

The Macedonian Saints 1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in ‘all diligence, and im your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 Ispeak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year

16 2Thess. 3:4; Phile.

14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be

1:8, 21

equality:

2 Mark 12:44; 2Cor. 9:11

15 As it is written,

15 2Cor. 2:9; 6:12; Phil. 2:42

4 Acts 11:29; 24:17; Rom. 15:25, 26; 1Cor.

16:1, 3, 4; 2Cor. 9:1 6 2Cor. 8:4, 17, 19; 12:18 7 1Cor. 1:5; 12:13; 2Cor. 9:8

much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Paul Receives a Report from Titus and Another Brother 16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for

you. 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord

17 2Cor. 8:6

he went unto you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of

18 2Cor. 12:18

men. 22 And

8 1Cor. 7:6 9 Matt. 8:20; Luke 9:58;

Phil..2:6, 7 10 Prov. 19:17; Matt.

10:42; 1Cor. 7:25; 2Cor. 9:2; 1Tim. 6:18, 19; Heb. 13:16 12 Mark 12:43, 44; Luke 21:3 15 Ex. 16:18

19 1Cor. 16:3, 4; 2Cor. 4:15; 8:4, 6, 7; 9:8 21 Rom. 12:17; Phil. 4:8; 1Pet. 2:12

23 Phil. 2:25 24 2Cor. 7:14; 9:2

ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

i He that had gathered

we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

CHAPTER 1 Acts 11:29; Rom. 15:26; 1Cor. 16:1; 2Cor. 8:4; Gal. 2:10

2 2Cor. 8:10, 19, 24

8:9 that ye through his poverty might be rich. By His humiliation and suffering, the Lord Jesus has shared with us the riches of the glory that He left behind to come to earth (John 17:22; Rom. 8:17; 2 Pet. 1:4). The riches of

9

Free and Cheerful Giving 1. For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to

you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of

Christ that are promised here are the subject of many prophetic passages in the New Testament (1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4; Rev. 21—22).

1250

Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 But this J say He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and

multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your

liberal

distribution

unto

them,

and

17, 18, 22 5 Gen. 33:11; 1Sam. 25:27; 2Kgs. 5:15

15:7; Prov.

11:24, 25; 19:17; 22:9;

Rom. 12:8; 2Cor. 8:12; Gal. 6:7, 9 8 Prov. 11:24, 25; 28:27; Phil. 419

9 Ps. 112:9 10 Isa. 55:10; Hos. 10:12; Matt. 6:1 11 2Cor. 1:11; 4:15; 8:2 12 2Cor.

8:14 13 Matt. 5:16; Heb. 13:16 14 2Cor. 8:1; James 1:17 1 Rom. 12:1;

2Cor. 10:10; 12:5, 7,9 2 1Cor. 4:21; 2Cor. 13:2, 10 4 Acts 7:22;

Eph. 6:13 5 1Cor. 1:19; 3:19 6 2Cor. 2:9; 7:15; 13:2, 10 7 John 7:24; 1Cor. 3:23;

9:1; 14:37; 2Cor. 5:12; 11:18, 23; jJohn 4:6 8 2Cor. 7:14; 12:6; 13:10

10 1Cor. 11.75. 22433, 4; 2Cor.

you.

12:5p;75 93 Gal. 4:13

CHAPTER

10

Paul’s Self-vindication 1

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the

meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

3

6 Ex. 25:2; 35:5; Deut.

unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, ‘wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 2Cor. 8:6,

10:1; 11:6;

12 2Cor. 3:1; 5:12

13 2Cor. 10:15 14 1Cor. 3:5, 10; 4:15; 9:1

15 Rom. 15:20

-

For though we walk in the flesh, we do

not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to. the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is ful-

filled. 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For though I should. boast carugia more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we

are present. 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure

of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you ine es to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.

1251 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

CHAPTER 1

11

Would to God ye could bear with me a

little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

17 Isa. 65:16; Jer. 9:24

Paul’s Apostolic Labors and Sufferings

18 Prov. 27:2; Rom. 2:29; 1Cor. 4:5

16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that’I may boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are, wise. 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man. exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21.1 speak as. concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly, ) I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so. am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) 1 am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty

1 2Cor. 5:13; 11:16 2 Lev. 21:13; Hos. 2:19, 20

2 For-I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste

3 Gen. 3:4; John 8:44;

virgin to Christ.

4 Gal. 1:7, 8

Eph, 6:24

3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the ser- 5 1Cor. 15:10 pent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so 6 1Cor. 1:17; your minds should be corrupted from the 24413 7 Acts 18:3; simplicity that is in Christ. 1Cor. 9:6, 12 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Acts Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye 920:33; 2Cor. receive another spirit, which ye have not re12:13, 14, 16 ceived, or another gospel, which ye have not 10 Rom. 9:1 accepted, ye might well bear with him. 11 2Cor. 6:11; 7:3 5. For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 12 1Cor. 6 But though J be rude in speech, yet not in 9:12 13 Acts knowledge; but we have been throughly 15:24; Gal. made manifest among you in all things. eeGri24 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing Titus 1:10, myself that ye might be exalted, because I 11; Rev. 2:2 14 Gal. 1:8 have preached to you the gospel of God 15 2Cor. 3:9; freely? Phil. 3:19 8 Irobbed other churches, taking wages of 17 1Cor. 7:6, them, to,do you service. 12; 2Cor. 9:4 9 And when I was present with you, and 18 Phil. 3:3, wanted, I was chargable to no man: for 4 that which was lacking to me the brethren 19 1Cor. 4:10 which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being 23 Acts burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions

of Achaia. 11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

stripes save one.

27 Acts 20:31

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches, 29 Who is weak, and J am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus

29 1Cor. 8:13; 9:22

knoweth that I lie not.

9:16; 20:23;

21:11 24 Deut. 25:3

25 Acts 14:19; 16:22;

27:41 26 Acts 9:23; 13:50; 14:5; 17:5; 19:23; 20:3; 21:31; 23:10, dios

30 2Cor. 12:5, 9, 10 32 Acts 9:24, 25

Christ,

which

is blessed

for

evermore,

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas

the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let.down by the wall, and escaped. his hands.

1252

CHAPTER

12

Paul’s Vision

2 Acts 22:17; Rom. 16:7; 2Cor.. 5:17; Gal.

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: never-

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to 1:22 glory. I will come to visions and revelations 4 Luke 23:43 theless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. of the Lord. 5 2Cor. 11:30 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen 6 2Cor. 10:8; whom I sent unto you? : years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot 11:16 18 I desired Titus, and with him J sent a tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot 7 Job 2:7; | brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? tell: God knoweth;) such a one caught up to Luke 13:16 walked we not in the same spirit? walked we the third heaven. | 8 Deut. 3:23not in the same steps? 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the 27; Matt. 19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves 26:44 body, or out of the body, I carinot tell: God unto you? we speak before God in Christ: 9 2Cor. knoweth;) 11:30; 1Pet. but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your 4 How that he was caught up into para4:14 edifying. dise, and heard unspeakable words, which 10 Rom. 5:3; 20 For I fear, lest when I come, T shall not 2Cor. 7:4; it is not lawful for a man to utter. find you such as I would, and that I shall be 13:4 5 Of sucha one will I glory: yet of myself I found unto you such as ye would not: lest 11 1Cor. 3:7; will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 15:8, 9; Gal. there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall 2:6-8 backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now 12 1Cor. 9:2 21 And lest, when I come again, my God I forbear, lest any man should think of me 13 1Cor. 1:7; will humble me among you, and that I shall above that which he seeth me fo be, or that 9:12; 2Cor. bewail many which have sinned already, 11:7, 9 he heareth of me. and have not repented of the uncleanness 14 Acts

Evidences of Paul’s Apostleship 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs,

and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

and fornication and lasciviousness which

20:33; 1Cor. 4:14, 15; 10:33; 2Cor. 13:1

they have committed.

15 John 10:11; 2Cor.

Paul’s Desire to Visit Corinth Again

1:6; 6:12, 13;

Phil. 2:17 16 2Cor.

11:9 17 2Cor. 7:2 18 2Cor. 8:6, 16, 18, 22

20 1Cor. 4:21; 2Cor. 10:2; 13:2; 10 21 1Cor:-5:1; 2Cor. 2:1, 4; {3:2 1 Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16

2 2Cor. 1:23; 10:2; 12:21 3 Matt. 10:20; 1Cor. 5:4; 9:2; 2Cor. 2:10 4 Rom. 6:4; 2Cor. 10:3, 4;

Phil. 2:7, 8; 1Pet. 3:18 5 1Cor. 9:27; 11:28 7 2Cor. 6:9

CHAPTER

13

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: 3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth,

but for the truth. ; 9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and

1253 ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to de-

struction. 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be

11 Phil. 2:2;

of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

3:16

13 All the saints salute you.

14 Rom. 16:24; Phil. 2:

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

10 1Cor. 4:21; 2Cor. 2:3; 10:2, 8;

12:20, 21

jans here are two prominent theories that present differing views of the location and at identification of the Galatian believers. The North Galatia Theory maintains that

the Galatians referred to in this epistle lived in north central Asia Minor and north of

the cities where Paul ministered during his first missionary journey. This area was the first area known as Galatia, for the area was conquered by the Gauls in the third century B.c. Proponents of this theory, believe that Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians while in Ephesus or Corinth during the years a.p. 53-56. The South Galatia Theory states that the Galatians to which Paul wrote were part of the Roman province called Galatia that had been established in 25 B.c.—an area in south central Asia Minor where Paul and Barnabas ministered on their first missionary journey. Thus, Paul’s letter could have been > written from Corinth or Syrian Antioch in A.p. 49. Regardless of which theory is correct, the Galatian church faced a worldly threat involving purity of doctrine and purity of practice. Some professing Christian Jews (called “Judaizers”) were insisting that only those who first became Jewish proselytes and kept the law were eligible to follow the Messiah. In this letter to the Galatians, Paul champions a wider view of true Christianity as distinct from being merely a messianic branch of Judaism. He defends his apostolic authority, even rebukes Peter for his apparent wavering in the debate, and insists that Christians are free from Judaism’s laws, customs, and ceremonies. Insisting that spiritual maturity is not attained by mere conformity to rules and regulations as dictated by the Law, Paul teaches that true ‘holiness comes by walking “in the spirit” and cooperating with God in producing the “fruit of the Spirit,” which is true godly living (see Gal. 5:16, 22, 25). Seven distinct (now fulfilled) predictions appear in 16 out of 149 verses, or only 11 percent of the verse total. Galatians contains 10 quotations from the Old Testament.

43 le

Church inGalatia isfounded

49-53 ae ~ Conversion of Saul (Paul)

a

Paul's

Second Missionary Journey

53-56

1255

CHAPTER

1

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The One True Gospel 6 J 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,

Paul’s Call to the Ministry 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. 13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being

more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might

preach him among

the heathen; immedi-

ately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went

1 Acts 9:6; 22:10, 15, 21; 26:16 2 1Cor. 16:1;

Phil. 2:22; 4:21 3 Rom. 1:7 4 Isa. 65:17;

Matt. 20:28; John 15:19; 17:14

7 2Cor, 2:17; 11:4, 13; Gal. 5:10, 12 8 1Cor. 16:22 9 Rev. 22:18 13 Acts 8:3; Cea

26:11 14 Acts 22:3; 26:9;

Phil. 3:6 15 Jer. 1:5; Acts 9:15; Rom. 1:1

16 Eph. 3:8; 6:12 18 Acts 9:26

19 Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; 1Cor. 9:5 20 Rom. 9:1 21 Acts 9:30 22 Acts 15:2; Rom. 16:7;

1Thess. 2:14 2 Acts 15:12; Phil. 2:16; Thess. 3:5 4 Acts 15:1, 24; 2Cor.

11:20, 26 5 Gal. 2:14; 3:1; 4:16

6 Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; 2Cor. 12:11; Gal. 6:3 7 Acts 13:46; Rom. 1:57 1113

8 Acts 9:15;

13:2; 22:21; 26:17, 18 9 Matt. 16:18; Rom. 1:5; 12:3, 6; 15:15; 1Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:20; 3:8; Rev, 21:14

into Arabia, and returned again unto Da-

mascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 4 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.

CHAPTER

2

In Jerusalem 1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was com-

mitted unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter

to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 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.

1256 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Rom. 15:25; 1Cor. 16:1

Paul Confronts Peter

12 Acts 10:28; 11:3

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

;

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18° For if Ibuild again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

CHAPTER

3

The Experience of the Galatians 1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, be-

10 Acts 11:30; 24:17;

14 Gal. 2:5; 1Tim. 5:20

15 Matt. 9:11; Acts

15:10, 11

16 Eph. 2:8-9 19 Rom.

6:11, 14; 7:4, 6; 8:2

20 Rom. 6:6;

Titus 2:14; 1Pet. 4:2 21 Rom. 11:6; Heb. 7:11 2 Rom. 10:16, 17; Eph. 1:13;

4 Heb. 10:35, 36 6 Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, 9, 21, 22

7 John 8:39 8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18

10 Deut. 27:26; Jer. 11:3 11 Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17;

Heb. 10:38 12 Ezek. 20:11; Rom. 4:4, 5; 10:5, 6; 11:6 13 Deut. 21:33; Rom. 8:3; 2Cor. 5:21; Gal. 4:5

14 Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Jer. 31:33;

32:40; Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:3

15 Heb. 9:17 16 Gen. 12:3, 7; 17:7 17 Ex. 12:40, 4:13, 14

3:8 In thee shall all nations be blessed. This verse clearly affirms that salvation of the Gentiles through faith in Christ was a literal fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you,

17 iJohn 3:8, 9

41; Rom.

fore whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the

doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7

Know ye therefore that they which are of

faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in

all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse

of the law, being made a curse for us: forit is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. : 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty

3:14 The indwelling of the Spirit in the believer is part of the fulfillment of the promise in the Abrahamic covenant that Christ would be a blessing to the nations.

1257

years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The Purpose of the Law 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

CHAPTER

4

The Believer’s Inheritance 1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was

18 Rom.

4:14; 8:17 19 Ex. 20:19, 21, 22; Deut.

5:5, 22, 23, 27, 31; John 1:17; 15:22; Rom. 4:15; 5:20; 7:8, 13

20 Rom. 3:29, 30

21 Gal. 2:21 24 Rom. 10:4; Heb. 9:9, 10 26 John 1:12; 1John 312 27 Rom. 6:3 28 John 10:16; 17:20, 21; Rom. 10:12

come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 Toredeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons: 6 And because ye are sons, God hath seiit forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more’a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known

of God, how turn ye

again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for 1 am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. : 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

5 Matt. 20:28; John 1:12; Gal.

3:13, 26 6 Rom. 5:5; 8:15

8 Eph. 2:11, 12 10 Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16 11 Gal. 2:2; 5:2, 4; 1Thess. 3:5 12 2Cor. 2:5 13 1Cor..2:3; Gal. 1:6 17 Rom. 10:2; 2Cor. 1152

19 Phile. 1:10; James 1:18

ee

3:19 till the seed should come to whom the promise was made. This verse clearly proclaims that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promise made to the seed of Abraham (cf. Gen. 3:15).

15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always ina good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of

you.

Isaac and Ishmael 21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? SSSSSS00$0S099090aanas>)o

4:4 the fullness of the time. The messianic prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. That Jesus was “made of a woman" is a fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 regarding the “seed of the woman.”

1258 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by.a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia; and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all: 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that

bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 Nevertheless

what

saith the scripture?

Cast out the bondwoman

and her son: for

the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

CHAPTER

5

The Privileges of Christian Liberty 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

22 Gen. 16:15; 21:2

23 Gen. 18:10, 14; 21:1, 2

24 Deut. 33:2 26 Isa, 2:2; Rev. 3:12;

21:2, 10 27 Isa. 54:1

29 Gen. 21:9 30 Gen. 21:10, 12 31 John 8:36; Gal.

bs 13 1 Rom. 6:18; Gal. 2:4; 4:9 2 Acts 15:1; 16:3 4 Rom. 9:31, 32; Gal. 2:21;

Heb. 12:15 6 Gal. 3:28; James 2:18, Gi

8 Gal. 1:6 9 1Cor. 5:6;

15:33 10 2Cor, 2:3;

8:22; .10:6; Gal. 1:7 11 1Cor. 1:23; 15:30 13 1Cor. 8:9; 9:19; Jude 1:4

14 Lev. 19:18; Matt. 7:12; 22:39,

40 16 Rom. 6:12; 8:1, 4, 12; 13:14 17 Rom. 7:15, 19, 23; 8:6, 7 18 Rom. 6:14; 8:2

4:23 he of the freewoman was by promise. Isaac, not Ishmael, was the fulfillment of the promise that Abraham and Sarah would have a son (Gen. 18:10).

4:26-27 the desolate hath many more children. The children of the “desolate” seems to be a reference to the Gentiles, particularly to the descendants of Ishmael. Paul indicates that growth in the church is the fulfillment. of this prophecy from Isaiah 54:1. 5:5 the hope of righteousness by faith. Even the best Christian is not perfect while in this natural body. Only

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait- for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 Alittle leaven leaveneth the whole lump: 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none. otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you. shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye

shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, BOs iis uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,

when Christ comes to rapture His Church and transforms us, or, in the case of dead believers, resurrects us, will we truly be “righteous, even as he [Christ] is righteous” (1 John 3:7). In the meantime we “wait for the hope,” or

the realization of the “hope” of the Christian which is the second coming of Christ. The Bible’s use of “hope” is a confident expectation that Christ will come, and all the blessings He has planned for our future will commence (see 1 Cor. 15:51-14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

1259

emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

“The Fruit of the Spirit” 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

CHAPTER

6

The Practice of Love 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own bur-

den. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

21 1Cor. 6:9 22 John 15:2; Eph. 5:9; James 3:17

23 1Tim. 1:9 24 Rom. 6:6; 13:14; Gal.

2:20; 1Pet. 2:11

25 Rom. 8:4, 5; Gal. 5:16

The Law of Sowing and Reaping 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also

reap. z 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he _ that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

26 Phil. 2:3

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us

1 Rom. 14:1; 15:1; 1Cor. 2:15; 3: ie 4:21; 7:5;

do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

10:12

Paul’s Closing Remarks

2 John 13:14, 15,

11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but

34; 15:12

4 Luke 18:11 5 Rom. 2:6; 1Cor. 3:8

6 Rom. 15:27; 1Cor. 9:11, 14 7 Luke 16:25; Rom. 2:6 8 Job 4:8; Prov. 11:18; 22:8 9 Matt. 24:13; 1Cor. 15:58 10 1Thess. 5:15 12 Gal. 2:3, 14; 5:11

14 Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20;

Phil. 3:3, 7, 8

a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord

16 Ps. 125:5; Phil. 3:3, 16

Jesus.

17 2Cor. 1:5; 4:10; 11:28

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Lo only a mile from the Aegean Sea, Ephesus was the capital of the chief province of Asia. The great number of pilgrims that journeyed to Ephesus to worship at the pagan temple of Diana (Artemis) was important to the city’s economy, making it the center of commerce for all of Asia Minor. } Imprisoned in Rome (see Acts 28:30-31), Paul wrote this first “prison epistle” around A.p. 61 to declare the believer’s position in Christ and his obligations to walk worthy of that high calling. Paul had spent three years at Ephesus during the third missionary journey (Acts 20:31) founding and pastoring this church and leaving it in the care of Timothy. A major theme, described as a mystery now revealed, was that Jews and epry oy Gentiles would come together in one body and be “par takers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (3:1-12). The first half of this epistle reveals our position in Christ, while the second half is devoted to practical Christian living. Five times the word “riches” appears in connection with our enjoyment of Christ’s. spiritual blessings and the anticipation of a glorious future (1:7, 18; 2:7; 3:8, 16). But the key chapter in Ephesians is chapter six. Though Paul asserts in this letter that every Christian is blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (1:3), intense spiritual warfare is still a daily reality for every believer. However, the belieyer clad in the “whole armour of God” will be able to stand against Satan’s attacks (6:11—18).

Prophetic statements in Ephesians include the future gathering eee to - mystery of God’s will (1:9-10), our inheritance in Christ (1:13-14, 18-19), the riches to be bestowed in ages to come (2:7), our being “sealed unto the day of redemption’ (4:30), and our position as the Bride of Christ awaiting His return (5:25-27). Chapter 6:8-9 is an intimation of future rewards. Eight of the 155 total verses, or 5 percent are prophetic. The book contains 4 quotations from the Old ~

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CHAPTER 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the

3 2Cor. 1:3 ne

11 In whom

will of God, to the saints which are at Eph- | 1:22

esus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 5 Matt. 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our | 11:26; Rom.

Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. : ;

The Blessings of Redemption 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our

|things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: also we have obtained an in-

heritance, being predestinated according to | the purpose of him who worketh all things

8:15, 28, 30 | after the counsel of his own will: eet 3:35; | 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

HiSe

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye

Lord Jésus Christ, who hath blessed us with | 2:4; 3:24;

heard the word of truth, the gospel of your

all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in |929

salvation: in whom

Christ: 4

also after that ye be-

Feit », | lieved, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit

According as he hath chosen us in him |} 3:4, 9, a '

| of promise,

before the foundation of the world, that we | 49 Gal, 4:4; | 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance should be holy and without blame before He = 5 until the redemption of the purchased pos:12; LOl, him in love: pale ee 1:20 session, unto the praise of his glory. 5 Having predestinated us unto the adop15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your tion of children by Jesus Christ to himself, oajen faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the according to the good pleasure of his will, 1:12; 3:24 saints, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, | 13 John 1:17 | 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making wherein he hath made us accepted in the } 14 Luke mention of you in my prayers,

beloved. 7

a 1Pet. | 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

In whom

we have redemption through

uenate

the Father of glory, may give unto you the

his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according | phi, 1:3, 4. | Spirit of wisdom

and

revelation

in the

to the riches of his grace;

Col. 1:3,

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in

ines ie

18 The eyes of your understanding being

and prudence; a5 Tat : made known unto us the mys- | 29:17: Col. will, according to his good pleas- | 1:9; 2:2 he hath purposed in himself: 19 Eph. 3:7;

enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, | 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

all wisdom 9 Having tery of his ure which

knowledge of him:

Col. 1:29; 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of 212 times he might gather together in one all | ~

1:3-14 A threefold structure is discernible, successively focusing on God the Father (vv. 3-6, 8, 11); Christ (w.

3, 5, 7-10, 12); and the Spirit (vv. 13-14). This passage may have been sung repetitiously in poetic stanzas as a hymn of praise, magnifying God's will (vv. 5, 9, 11). 1:3 spiritual blessings in heavenly places. The expression “heavenly places” is used four times in the epistle (1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10) and only in Ephesians. Literally, the Greek word epouranios is “the heavenlies” meaning the heavenly realm where God rules and reigns (cf. Rev. 4— 5). At least seven blessings appear relating to the great salvation believers enjoy (vv. 4-14). Believers are chosen in love (v. 4), predestinated for Jesus (v. 5), adopted as children (v. 5), accepted in the beloved (v. 6), redeemed through blood (v. 7), forgiven of sins (v. 7), and sealed

with the Holy Spirit (v. 13). 1:9

mystery of his will. This previously unrevealed

secret is God's master plan for the climax of history in the universal triumph of Christ.

1:10 dispensation of the fulness of times. A biblical dispensation is not merely a period of time; it is a period of administrative arrangement, a distinguishable system

or order in the outworking of God’s purpose and plan for history, as Israel under the Law. The final dispensation here will include the millennial reign of Christ, after which God will gather together in one unified realm all things under Christ in one universal and everlasting administration. All past “times,” then completed, will merge and culminate in that eternal kingdom which cannot be moved (Heb. 12:28).

1:14 the earnest of our inheritance. Being sealed by the Holy Spirit is the advance installment (earnest) of our inheritance (v. 11) in anticipation of its full redemption for

which we will eternally praise God. Our inheritance includes eternal life, the “riches of His glory” (v. 18), the final redemption of the body at the resurrection (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:50, 53), and all that will be included in the “riches of His grace” (2:6—7). 1:18 his inheritance in the saints. Believers are to know not only the “riches of His grace” in salvation (v. 7),

but the “riches of His glory” in which the saints may be regarded as God's inheritance, even as He is ours. When He takes possession of His redeemed universe, the saints will “inherit all things” (Rev. 21:7).

1262 S

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him fo be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 7

CHAPTER

20 Ps. 110:1; |versation in times past in the lusts of our

Acts 2:24. eerie

| flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the chil-

2:9, 10 -

dren of wrath, even as others.

22 Ps. 8:6; Matt. 28:18 23 Rom. 12:5; 1Cor.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his | great love wherewith he loved us, ; 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace

Tago

|Vora saved; )

12:6, 12, 27

:

5:6; 6:12 3 Ps, 51:5:

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rom. 5:12

7

2 Eph. 4:22;

That in the ages to come he might shew

5 Rom, 5:6, | the exceedingriches of his grace in is kind-

2

Salvation from Sin 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our con-

8, 10; 6:4,5

| ness toward us through Christ Jesus.

6 Eph. 1:20 7 Titus 3:4

| 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of

8 Rom. 3:24;

4:16; 10:14, 8,17

hide as 10 Deut.

32:6; Ps. 100:3

God:

|9 Not boast.

of works,

lest

any

man

should

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God ; hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Israel and the Church Israel’s| Birth

Christ’s Advent

Christ’s Second Advent

Rapture Christ’s Ascension

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First Thessalonians is written :

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Paul's Second Missionary Journey 53-56 : Paul's Third Missionary Journey

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CHAPTER 1

1

aie

the church of the Thessalonians which is in | ‘Pet. 5:12 God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: | 3Gal.5:6; Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our

dS a

Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb. 6:10 4 Col. 3:12:

The Power of the Gospel

Remembering

without

know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God | to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, | nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

2Thess. 2:13 |4

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, |5 Mark making mention of you in our prayers; pan ce

3

2 But even after that we had suffered be-

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto | 2Thess. 1:1; |fore, and were shamefully entreated, as ye

ceasing

your | Col. 2:2;

work of faith, and labour of love, and pa-

2Thess. 3:7

tience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in | 6 Acts 5:41 8 2Thess.

the sight of God and our Father;

j

But as we were allowed of God to be put

in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth

our hearts. |5

For neither at any time used we flatter-

| ing words, as ye know, nor a cloke of coyetousness; God is witness:

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your elec- |'4 tion of God. at

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have

5

been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

For our

gospel came

not

unto

you in | 2:24: Phil,

word only, but also in power, and in the | 3:20;

7

But we were gentle among you, even as

‘Athos

8

So being affectionately desirous of you,

1:5, 9

we were willing to have imparted unto you,

6 And ye became followers of us, and of | 2 Acts

not the gospel of God only, but also our own

Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye

res

know what manner of men we were among

you for your sake.

a nurse cherisheth her children:

the Lord, having received the word in much | 16:22; 17:2 | souls, because ye were dear unto us. affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 4 Prov. 17:3; | 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour

7

So that ye were ensamples to all that be- |"0. 8:27 and travail: for labouring night and day, beeae m, |cause we would not be chargable unto any 8 For from you sounded out the word of |7.9 | of you, we preached unto you the gospel of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, | § John 5:41, |G04:

lieve in Macedonia and Achaia.

but also in every place your faith to God- | 44; 12:43;

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily

ward is spread abroad; so that we need not

and justly and unblameably we behaved

to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves

shew

pees

;_ of us what | 9-22

2

manner of entering in we had unto you, and | 9 acts

“Walk Worthy of God”

how ye turned to God from idols to serve | 20:34; 1Cor. the living and true God; bee aan 10 And

to wait for his Son

ourselves among you that believe:

from heaven, | 14

| 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, | 19 2Cor. 7:2; | 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who which delivered us from the wrath to come. | !Thess. 1:5; | hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

2Thess. 3:7 CHAPTER

2

|43 For this cause also thank we God with-

chat "8; |out ceasing, because, when ye received the

1— For yourselves, brethren, know our en- | 13 oy pe trance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is

will return for all believers and take them to His Father's house (John 14:1-3). This “hope” was the driving, moti-

“delivered” or exempt. It is one of four such promises that exempt Christians from that future time of “wrath” that Jesus said “shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10, cf. 1 Thess. 5:9;

vating force of the early Church.

Rom. 5:9). This worldwide time of wrath has not yet

1:3 hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. The “hope” we have in Christ is the confident expectation we have that Christ

1:10 to wait for His Son from heaven. This does not mean that Christians are to idly await the Second Coming. It means Christians are to live in such anticipation of the Savior’s soon return that our daily decisions and service to our Lord will find us “not ashamed” when He comes.

1:10 Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. This “wrath to come” can only mean the sevenyear Tribulation (Rev. 6:16), from which believers are

occurred. The Church or Bride of Christ is “delivered” by the Rapture—before the Tribulation begins (see 1 Thess.

4:15-17). 2:12. As believers we are “called . . . unto his kingdom and glory,” suggesting that we should walk now as children of the King, even before we are glorified by the resurrection, and occupy with Him when He sets up His kingdom after His return.

1284 in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles‘ that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy.

CHAPTER

3

“Stand Fast in the Lord”

14 Acts 17:5, 13 15 Matt. 23:34, 37; Acts 2:23; 3:15; 5:30; 7:52 16 Gen. 15:16; Luke 11:52; Acts

13:50; 14:5, 19; 17:5, 13;

18:12; 19:9; 22:21, 22 18 Rom. 1:13; 15:22

19 Prov. 16:31; Phil. 2:16; 4:1; Thess. 3:13; Rev. 1:7; 22:12

1 Acts 17:15 2 Rom. 16:21; 1Cor. 16:10; 2Cor. 1:19 3 Acts 9:16; 14:22; 20:23; 21:11 4 Acts 20:24 6 Acts 18:1, 5

| 8 Phil. 4:1 10 Acts 26:7; iThess. 2:17

6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring

greatly to see us, as we also fo see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: : 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the | Lord. 2 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto

you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

CHAPTER

4

Sanctification

1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens 13 Zech. alone; 14:5; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and Thess. 5:23; minister of God, and our fellow labourer in 2Thess. the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to | 2:17; 1John comfort you concerning your faith: 3:20, 21 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are | 3 Rom. 12:2; 1Cor. 6:15, appointed thereunto. 18 4 For verily, when we were with you, we 4 Rom. 6:19 told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Rom. 1:24, 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as 26; 2Thess. | the Gentiles which know not God: 1:8 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his 6 Lev. 19:11, brother in any matter: because that the Lord 13

2:19-20 Paul saw these maturing young converts as his “crown of rejoicing” because they had followed his teaching and come to Christ. This is one of five crowns, called by some “the soul winner's crown,” reserved for those who dedicate their lives to personal evangelism. These crowns will be given at the judgment seat of Christ “at his coming” (see also Dan. 12:3). 3:13 The believer with an established heart is one who knows the Scripture and the God it reveals in such a per-

sonal way that he is motivated to live “unblameable in holiness before God.” This person will not be caught unaware “at the coming of our Lord.” “With all his saints” is thought by some to be angels who attend Christ in His glorious appearing. However, since the context of this passage is the Rapture, it refers to the gathering together at the Rapture of all the saints of the Church Age, both living and dead.

1285

The Rapture Compared to the Return of Christ By Edward Hindson he New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus Christ will “come again” (John 14:3) and “appear the second time” (Heb. 9:28). “I go to prepare a place for you,” the Lord told His disciples, “and if | go and prepare a place for you, | will come again, and receive you unto myself” (John 14:2-3). John 14 contains our Lord's first indication that He will return specifically for His own. Most evangelicals agree as to the nature of Christ's coming, but there is substantial disagreement about the timing. There are certain similarities between the Rapture pasSages and the Glorious Appearance (return) passages since they both refer to future events related to the Lord’s return. But similarity does not mean they refer to the same event. Pretribulationalists believe that there are enough substantial differences between the two aspects of Christ's coming to render e seven-year them as two separate and distinct events. Just as the Scripture = =

predicted two aspects of Christ's first coming (His birth in Beth-

Tribulation comes

lehem and His death on the cross), so it predicts two aspectsof His second coming (the Rapture and the Return).

etween

the Rapture

Pretribulationalists divide the second coming of Christ into and the Return. two main phases: the rapture of the Church and the glorious appearing or return of Christ. In the first phase, our Lord comes to take His own (both the living and the dead) to be with Him. (See article by Renald Showers entitled “The Imminent Coming of Christ.”) In the second phase, He returns with His own to win the Battle of Armageddon and establish His kingdom on earth (Rev. 19—20). (See article by J. Dwight Pentecost entitled “The Glorious Appearing of Christ.”) The Rapture is characterized as a “transformation” coming, in which Christ comes for His Bride and takes her to His Father’s house (John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51—52). Here, He claims the Church as His Bride, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb begins. Notice that this marriage feast occurs in heaven before the triumphal return of Christ (Rev. 19:7—9, 11-16). Those who do not follow a pretribulational scheme are at a loss to explain how the Church got to heaven prior to its return with Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. Pretribulationalists place the seven-year Tribulation period between the Rapture and the glorious appearing of Christ. Such placement allows for the proper fulfillment of the seven years of Daniel's “seventieth week,” and it clearly separates the two phases of the Second Coming (see Dan. 9:24—27). The concept of the Rapture is expressed by the biblical terms “caught up” (Gr. harpazo [1 Thess. 4:17]) and “gathered together” (Gr. episunagoges [1 Cor. 5:4]). The Rapture involves the “snatching away” of the Church to be with the Lord (as in Acts 8:39; 2 Cor. 12:2-4; Rev. 12:5). By contrast, episunagoges refers to that which results from the “catching up” (harpazo). Once Christians are caught up into the clouds, they shall be “gathered together” with the Lord. (See the table “Comparisons between the Rapture and the Glorious Appearance.”) There can be no valid system of biblical prophecy without a belief in the Rapture. The

Church will be “caught up” and “gathered together” with her Lord. The Church's future hope is the Rapture! She awaits the Savior who is coming for her, His “Bride.”

1286

is the avenger of all such, as we also have

Tei

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do

forewarned you and testified. 1:2: Heb. your own business, and to work with your 7 For God hath not called us unto un- | 12:14; 1Pet. | own hands, as we commanded you; cleanness, but unto holiness. ea 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth Fare that are without, and that ye may have lack not man, but God, who hath also given unto | 2:19; 7:40; | of nothing.

us his holy Spirit. 9

1John 3:24

But as touching brotherly love ye need | 9 John 6:45;

not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves

a

!

The Rapture of the Church’

are taught of God to love one another. 3:11, 23: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, 10 And indeed ye do it toward all. the | #21 brethren, concerning them which are brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we’ | 13 Eph. 2:12 | asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others beseech you, brethren, that ye increase | 14 1Cor. which have no hope. more and more; 1 15:13, 18, 23 |44 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose

The Pretribulational Return of Christ

Events of the Rapture According to 1 Thess. 4:16-18 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, @B and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall

be caught up © together with them in the

_ Judgment Seat

clouds @} to meet the lord in the air: @ and so shall we ever be with the Lord. @ 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Cor.3:9-15 John 14:1-3 1)

8 Christ Returns in Glory

@ Rapture

3) —— I——

1 Thess. 4:16-17 1 Cor. 15:51-58 ——j

Matt. 24:30 Rev. 19:11-21

2) Past Ages

Church Age

Tribulation (7 yrs.) 3 1/2 yrs.

Great Tribulation

© AMG Publishers

4:13-18 This is the seminal teaching on the rapture of the Church and should be studied in conjunction with John 14:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. This passage of Scripture is an answer to questions these young believers had regarding their loved ones who had died in the six or so months since Paul led them to Christ. Paul had promised that Christ would return for them to go with Him to His Father's house in heaven. They naturally wanted to know what would happen to their deceased loved ones when Christ returned. Paul’s answer in the following verses is a classic description of the rapture of the Church. 4:13 Paul did not want these new Christians to be igno-

rant (lit., “uninformed”) concerning the rapture phase of our Lord’s second coming. Consequently, they “sorrow . .. as others which have no hope” at the time they lose loved ones in death. 4:14 The great condition to that confidence about death is whether a person has “believed” or committed himself by faith to the redemptive act of Christ Jesus—His death, burial, and resurrection. The phrase, “which sleep in Jesus” refers to the state at death when a believer's soul goes to be with Christ (see Phil. 1:23), while his

body awaits the resurrection at Christ's coming. The word “sleep” does not refer to “soul sleep,” but implies a conscious state “with the Lord” at death.

1287

again, even so them also which sleep in rea Jesus will God bring with him. 4 15 For this we say unto you by the word of Pee the Lord, that we which are alive and re- | Acts 1:11; main unto the coming of the Lord shall not he 15:23, prevent them which are asleep. 47 Joh 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from 14:3: Acts heaven with a shout, with the voice of the | 1:9; 1Cor.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. |4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as“a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the

ey Rev.

| children of the day: we are not of the night,

archangel, and with the trump of God: and

2 sia the dead in Christ shall rise first: 44: 17 Then we which are alive and remain | 24-43 shall be caught up together with them in | 25:13; Luke Caged the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and 16:15/ so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore

comfort

one

another

nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; | but let us watch and be sober. : 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in

with | 31sa.13:6-9; |the night.

,

these words.

ne ats

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober,

CHAPTER

“he Eee

putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salva-

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“A Thief in the Night”

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For God hath not appointedus to wrath,

brethren, ye have no need that I write unto | g Eph. ¢:14, | but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus you.

16,17

Christ,

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the | 9Rom.9:22 day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the | 10 Rom. night.

14:8, 9

4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord. Paul was given divine revelation concerning this rapture truth he had taught them earlier and is about to describe now. “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord” refers to believers at the time of His return. They “shall not prevent” or go before those believers who are dead. Both dead and living Christians shall all go together! 4:16-17 Several specific events occur at the rapture of the Church. “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.” This is the shout of resurrection. “The voice of an archangel” is signaling that Michael is to lead Israel for the seven-year Tribulation as he did in the Old Testament (Dan. 10:13). The statement, “the dead in Christ rise first” indicates that dead believers of the

Church Age will be resurrected in a “twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52). “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up [to meet them] in the clouds.” The phrase “caught up” (Gr. harpazo) means “snatch up” suddenly

without warning. This “rapture” will unite all believers from Pentecost to the time of Christ’s coming for His

Church. It will constitute everyone who has ever been in the Church or, as some call it, “the body of Christ.” There

was nothing that needed to take place during Paul's life before the Rapture, so it is today for us. This is why the Glorious Appearing cannot occur for at least seven years,

but the Rapture can occur at any moment. There is no more comforting message in the hours of the death of a loved believer than this rapture truth. It is both the comfort and the hope of the Church.

| 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

5:1 times and the seasons. Jesus did not teach His disciples the timing of future events (Acts 1:7) like the Rapture. The apostle Paul, however, had taught these young believers this truth of the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). This again suggests he had already taught them this truth about the Rapture so thoroughly that they had “no need that [Paul] write.” 5:2 the day of the Lord. This is not a single day but a period of time filled with many prophetic events. The context must be considered to determine what time or event is considered. Here the context is that of the Tribulation,

confirmed by it overtaking some who are unprepared as a “thief.” Events classified as “the day of the Lord” appear over thirty times in the Old Testament and refer to any time God intervenes in judgment in the affairs of men. This verse is the first place it is used in the New Testament and refers to the Tribulation and end-time events that lead up to the physical coming of Christ. 5:3 Peace and safety. The sudden destruction or Tribulation which follows the Rapture will occur at a time when the world is obsessed with a false sense of “peace and safety.” Paul is reiterating Jesus’ teaching to “watch and be ready” lest that day should overtake them “as a

thief” (v. 4).

5:9 God hath not appointed us to wrath. The wrath under consideration is the time of wrath, the Tribulation

period, that shall try the whole world. Believers are not appointed to that “wrath,” for they will escape it either by death or by rapture.

, ~

1288 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

12 1Cor. 16:18; Phil. 2:29

Final Instructions

14 Rom. 14:1; 15:1}

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-: minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. . 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Gal. 5:22;

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

Heb. 12:12 15 Lev. 19:18; Prov. 20:22; 24:29;

Matt. 5:39, 44

16 Phil. 4:4 \

17 Luke 18:1; 21:36

18 Eph. 5:20 19 1Cor. 14:30

20 1Cor. 14:1, 39

23 Phil. 4:9

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and J pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

5:20 Despise not prophesyings. We do not need new prophecies; we need instead to learn, live, and teach those prophecies we have in the Scriptures.

( Thessalonians. His presentation of the resurrection of the saved dead and tne -. rapture of the living believers caused some to think that the “Day of the Lord” was already in progress. The “Day of the Lord” is a major theme in Old Testament prophecy that includes the coming Tribulation and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. The misunderstanding among those in Thessalonica stemmed from the intense persecution that afflicted the believers in that city. Evidently, some believers equated the persecution with the prophesied events of the “Day of the Lord.” They thought that since they had somehow missed Christ’s return, there was no point in continuing the Lord’s work. In this epistle, Paul emphasizes Christ’s glorious return (chap. 1). But he insists that the “Day of the Lord” has not yet come and must be preceded by 1) believers being gathered “together unto him” (2:1) and 2) the unveiling of Antichrist. Therefore, with this letter, Paul inspired those believers in Thessalonica to persevere in prayer and good works until Christ comes. The grand unveiling of Christ to execute judgment is set forth in 2 Thessalonians 1:7—10 (cf. Jude 1:14-15; Rey. 19:11-20). Preceded by “our gathering together” (2:1) at the Rapture, the “falling away” (2:3) or departure (Gr. apostasia) finally results in the unveiling of the man of sin, Antichrist. A restraining power, evidently the ministry of the Holy Spirit, has prevented the con= summation of the satanic “mystery of iniquity” (2:7), until it is “taken out of the way” (2:7). The Church as a “withholding” influence likewise is to be withdrawn at the Rapture (2:1-12). Of 47 verses, 19 are prophetic or 40 percent of the | whole. Twelve prophetic ideas are mentioned, but there are no direct Old Testament quotations.

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CHAPTER 1 - Thess. 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto | 3 4 1Thess. :

the church of the Thessalonians in God our | 1:2, 3; 3:6, 9

Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 5 Phil. 1:28 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our | ¢ Rey, 6:10 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1.1These 4:16: Rev.

We Know You Are Suffering 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that

your faith groweth exceedingly,

and the

14:13 oe ee ies

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charity of every one of you all toward each’ 10 Ps. 68:35; other aboundeth; 89:7 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the | 44 2Thess.

churches of God for your patience and faith | 1:5

in all your persecutions that ye endure:

them that know not God, and that obey not gospel of our Lord sched Jesus Christ: Jasti iy Snell

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| destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; pea 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that

believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 Wherefore also we pray always for you,

that our God would count you worthy of this

calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

may be glorified in you, and ye in him, ac-

and tribulations | 12 Matt. cording to the grace of our God and the Lord beat Mark. | Jesus Christ.

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be

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1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our

recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

gathering together unto him, 2 Matt. 24:4 | 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or

7 And to you who.are troubled rest with | 3 Dan. 7:25; | be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,

us, when the Lord Jesus. shall be revealed |,Matt. 17:12; | nor Mie by letter as from us, as that the day of ohn 21:1, é from heaven with his mighty angels, IJohn 2:18; |Christ is at hand. 8

In flaming

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1:4 in all your persecutions and tribulations. It is important to note that not all tribulation and persecution of Christians is future or tied to the Tribulation period to come. Many early Christians thought they were already in the Tribulation because they suffered persecution and even death for their Lord. 1:6-8 it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. The persecution of the righteous does not go unnoticed by God but will bring “vengeance” or judgment on the perpetrator when He comes in His glorious appearing. For then He will judge and punish those who have persecuted Christians. One attribute of God is that He is “just.” The only way for persecutors to avoid the judgment of God is to repent and have their sins forgiven, just like the apostle Paul.

1:9 shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. This does not suggest annihilation of the lost, who, after this event, will yet be judged (Rev. 20:11-15) and cast into the lake of fire. Of course, such unsaved souls will not enjoy any of the blessings God has for those who accept Him. This verse may also suggest, however, that greater punishment is in store for the unsaved who persecute believers in this life. 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. This verse effectively eliminates the possibility of a partial Rapture,

3

Let no man deceive you by any means:

for all believers will be taken up at the same time. Some carnal believers will be “saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15) but will receive no rewards. However, all believers will be included in the Rapture.

2:1 References in Scripture to the “coming” of Jesus can refer to either the Rapture or the Glorious Appearing, or, as in this case, both. The context must be examined to determine which is in view. This chapter includes both

phases of His coming separated by the revelation of the man of sin, who appears during the Tribulation. (For a complete list of the more than 300 Scripture references that speak of the second coming of Christ, see the table “Prophecies of the Second Coming of Christ.”)

2:1 and by our gathering together unto him. This is a clear reference to the Rapture, the gathering of believers

unto Christ as described by Paul in1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.

2:2 Don't be “shaken” or troubled that “the day of Christ (some manuscripts say ‘day of the Lord’) is at hand.” Paul — wants to assure the Thessalonians that the Rapture has not already occurred. They are not in the midst of the Tribulation awaiting the Glorious Appearance, but in the - =) Church Age still awaiting the rapture of the Church. 2:3 That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first. There is little agreement as to whether

1291

The Antichrist By Edward Hindson he Bible clearly portrays the coming of a world leader who will negotiate a peace treaty with Israel in the Last Days. Ironically, the term “antichrist” appears only in 1 John 2:18-22; 4:3; and 2 John 1:7. The apostle John indicates that the Antichrist of the apocalyptic era is coming in the future. But he also adds that many “antichrists” (false teachers) have already come. In the broadest sense, the “spirit of antichrist” is already at work in the world and has been since the beginning of time (1 John 4:3). This spirit is the anti-Christian spirit that opposes everything that is true about Jesus Christ. However, from the very beginning of —— the Christian era, believers were convinced that a world leader would come on the scene that would be the embodiment of Satan (Rev. 12—13). Thus, me real pee behind the Antichrist is Satan himself. ce The person we commonly refer to as the Antichrist is actually known by several names and titles throughout the Bible. -behind the Antichrist Each of these provides aclimpse into the many facets of his diabolical character and name: “the beast” (Rev. 13:1), “man of is Satan himself. sin” (2 Thess. 2:3), “wicked one” (2 Thess..2:8), “abomination” (Matt. 24:15), “little horn” (Dan. 7:8), “fierce king” (Dan. 8:23), “prince that shall come” (Dan. 9:26), “vile person” (Dan. 11:21), and “strong-willed king” (Dan. 11:36). Much has been written about the prefix “anti” in connection with the Antichrist. It can _ mean either “against” (in opposition of) or “instead of” (in place of). It is best to understand that he is both “against” Christ and that he may well perpetrate himself as a “false” Christ. His rule will forge an alliance of Gentile powers and will be part of the “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). The Antichrist will be the most incredible human leader the world has ever known. He will be the epitome of human genius and power and a master of deception, empowered by the “father of lies” (Dan. 11:21). Promising peace, he pushes the world into war. At least ten factors will identify the Antichrist when he comes to power. Only one person in history will fit every one of these factors. There have been many prototypes, but there will only be one Antichrist. 1. He will rise to power in the Last Days (Dan. 8:19=23). He will not come on the world scene until after the Rapture (2 Thess. 2:3-8). He will rule the entire world (Rev. 13:7). He will rule by international consent (Rev. 17:12-13). He will rule by deception (Dan. 8:24—25). He will be intelligent and persuasive (Dan. 7:20). He will control the global economy (Rev. 13:16—17). He will be assisted by the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11-18). oN AAW 9. He will make and break a peace treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:26—27). 10. He will claim to be God (2 Thess. 2:4). There are many other details given in the Bible regarding the Antichrist. Whether he is Jewish or Gentile is not entirely clear. What is clear, however, is that he will control the last great bastion of Gentile world power and will extend his control over the entire world, promising to ensure world peace through a series of international treaties, agreements, and alliances. Despite his promises of world peace, he will inevitably plunge the world into the most catastrophic war of all time.

1292

for that day shall not come, except there come

a, %

6 And now ye know what withholdeth

a falling away first, and that man of sin be | 9: pan. 7:25: | that he might be revealed in his time. revealed, the son of perdition; 11:36; Rev.

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself ieee above all that is called God, or that is worpe shipped; so that he as God sitteth in the es 15n temple of God, shewing himself that he is | pan. 7:19, God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

if eC The Mystery of Iniquity 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already | work: only he who now letteth will let, until

11; Hos. 6:5; | he be taken out of the way. Benya 8 And then shall that Wicked be eerealeul , whom the Lord shall consume with the

Comparisons between the Rapture and the Glorious Appearance . Christ comes for His own (John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17). Ni] =.

He comes in the air (1 Thess. 4:17).

1. Christ comes with His own (Rev. 19:14). 2. He comes to the earth (Zech. 14:4-5; Acts 1:11).

. He comes to claim His Bride (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

3 . He comes with His Bride (Rev. 19:6-14).

. Removal of believers (1 Thess. 4:17).

4 . Manifestation

Only His own see Him (1 Thess. 4:13-18). . Tribulation begins (2 Thess. 1:6-9). . Saved NLD) wR]

are delivered from wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9;

Rev. 3:10).

of Christ (Mal. 4:2).

5. Every eye shall see Him (Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:30). 6 . Millennial Kingdom begins (Rev. 20:1-7). 7 . Unsaved experience the wrath of God (Rev. 6:12-17).

8. No signs precede the Rapture (1 Thess. 5:1-3).

8. Signs precede the Second Coming

9. Focus: Lord and Church (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

9. Focus: Israel and kingdom (Matt. 2

(Luke 21:11-28).

10. World is deceived (2 Thess. 2:3-12).

the Greek word apostesia (“falling away”) refers to a physical departure (the Rapture) or a metaphorical one (departure from the faith). The first seven translations of

the English Bible translated it “departure.” No one knows why the translators of the King James Version rendered it “falling away” or why others translate it “rebellion.” A case can be made that all seven of the earliest translations of the English Bible were right in rendering it “departure,” which could mean a physical departure or rapture. If the meaning of “departure” is the more accurate translation, this chapter would leave no doubt regarding a pretribulation Rapture, for it places the Rapture prior to the revelation of the man of sin. However, if the more popular view of “falling away” or “rebellion” is the true meaning, apostesia would refer to the career of Antichrist during the Tribulation. The important truth here is “that day,” the Glorious Appearing, will not occur until the “son of perdition” has been revealed (see Rev. 12—13). 2:4 so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God. When Satan is cast out of heaven and actually indwells the body of Antichrist, the leader of the Tribulation, he will do what he has always wanted to do—demand that he be worshiped as God.

2:6-7 The general consensus of the identity of “he who

10. Satan is bound (Rev. 20:1-2).

now letteth” is the Holy Spirit in the Church, who will “be taken out of the way” in the Rapture. When the Church is raptured, the world will be plunged into lawlessness and chaos (Rev. 9:20-21), for the restrainer will be gone. This does not mean the Holy Spirit will not be here to “reprove the world of sin” (John 16:8). According to Joel 2:28-32, He will be poured out in great measure and “a great multitude which no man could number” (Rev. 7:9) will come

to faith in Christ as a result. However, there will be no restraining force against lawlessness and sin as exists today, which keeps the Antichrist from arriving on the scene.

2:8 then shall that Wicked be revealed. When? After the Holy Spirit’s presence in the Church is raptured or

“taken out of the way,” after which Christ will destroy this Satan-filled Antichrist who demands mankind worship him by “the brightness of His coming.” Note the chronology of these events before Christ can come in power. First, a falling away, or apostasy, or “departing” must occur, followed by the departure of the Holy Spirit as a restraining force (during the Rapture). Then “that

man of sin” will be revealed and he will demand to be worshiped in the temple. Finally, the Antichrist will be destroyed by Christ in His second coming, which effec-

1293

spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: : en ae 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs 8 and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they

| 9 Deut. 13:1; ee. ad iapal brethren, a _ John 8:41; 1 Finally, pray for us, that the | Eph. 2:2; word of the Lord may have free course, and | Rev, if Wi you: I Wok 19:20 13:13; be glorified, even as itif isis with 11 1Kgs. 2 And that we may be delivered from un| 22:22; Ezek. |reasonable and wicked men: for all men da beae

have not faith.

received not the love of the truth, that they |Rom’ 1:24, | 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stab-

might be saved..

1Tim. 4:1

11 And for this cause God shall send them | 12 Rom.

strong delusion, that they should believe a | 132 lie:

lish you, and keep you from evil. 4

And

we

have confidence

in the Lord

touching you, that ye both do and will do

175 Eh

the things which we command you.

12 That they all might be damned who be- | 4:4°'

5

lieved not the truth, but had pleasure in un- | 44 ;Thess,_|

love of God, and into the patient waiting for

righteousness.

Christ.

2:12 17 1Cor. 1:8;

Eph. 6:19;

And the Lord direct your hearts into the

“Be Not Weary in Well Doing”

Stand Firm Colas : non 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway | {9.1¢.'5-3; |name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withto God

for you, brethren beloved

of the | ¢ ino.

draw yourselves

Lord, because God hath,from the beginning | 1:3 chosen you to salvation through sanctifica- | § Rom.

from every brother that

walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

tion of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel,

16:17; 1Cor. Baal

to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord

7ACot 418; | orderly among you;

Jesus Christ.

iThess. 1:6,

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold | 7; 2:10

| 7 or yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves dis|8

Neither did we eat any man’s bread for

nought; but wrought with labour and tra-

the traditions which ye have been taught, | 8 Acts 18:3; | vail night and day, that we might not be whether by word, or our epistle.

an eet

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and | iThess.2:9 God, even our Father, which hath loved us, | 9 1Cor.9:6;

chargable to any of you:

|9 Not because we have not power, but to | make ourselves an ensample unto you to

and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

Uses. a ag

17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Byoe we commanded you, that if any would not 1Thess. 4:11 | work, neither should he eat.

tively ends the Tribulation. This is the most detailed account found in a single chapter of Scripture of the two phases of Christ’s return, separated by the Tribulation. This same order of prophetic events is detailed in the book of Revelation. 2:9 During the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will have power to perform “signs and lying wonders” so that he can deceive millions. This

period of Antichrist’s deception was called by Jesus “the great tribulation,” and He also warned of “false Christs” or “false prophets” who will show “great signs and wonders,” so as to deceive, “if... possible. . . the very elect” (Matt. 24:24). The level of satanic influence in the Tribulation period will mark it as a very deceptive period of time.

2:10 The Great Tribulation (the last half of the seven years) will feature a titanic battle in the conflict of the ages between God and Satan for the souls of men. Satan

will use every “unrighteous” deception he can to get

follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this

people to take his mark (Rev. 13:17—18), and once they

do, they are doomed forever. God will send two special witnesses with supernatural powers (Rev. 11:3-12), the 144,000 “servants of God” (Rev. 14:1—13), the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as in the day of Pentecost, and even the “angel [with] the everlasting gospel” (Rev. 14:6). While “a great multitude, which no man could number” (Rev. 7:9) will come to faith in Christ, they will not constitute

the majority of those living at that time. 2:11-12 To those who will be deceived by Antichrist into rejecting “the love of the truth,” God evidently will send “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” The only way people who live during the Tribulation period can avoid the deception of Satan is to love the truth. The primary purpose of this seven-year period, which takes up so much space in the plan of God for the future (Rev. 6— 19), is to force people living at the time to make their decision for or against Christ in preparation for the kingdom age and eternity.

1294 11 For we hear that there are some which

walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no com-

11 1Tim. 5:13; 1Pet. 4:15 12 Eph. 4:28 13 Gal. 6:9 14 1Cor. 5:9 15 Lev. 19:17 16 Rom. 15:33; 16:20 17 1Cor. 16:21

pany with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

We sn during the last few years of Paul’s life, this epistle is one of the three Pastoral Epistles, along with 2 Timothy and Titus. Paul was very concerned with the false doctrines being espoused by some Gentiles and professing Jewish Christians. {n an effort to record his thoughts on this subject as he prepared to pass his ministry on to others, Paul used these epistles to give instructions for internal operation and order “in the local church. If Paul was released in Rome after two years of house arrest (Acts -28:30-31; 2 Tim. 4:17), then this epistle was written during his fifth journey, as some believe, only a few years before he was arrested for the final time and executed. Timothy, who was converted as a lad while Paul was at Lystra in the first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-22; 16:1-5), had a Jewish mother and a Greek father. He was highly esteemed by his Christian brethren both in Lystra and Iconium and became a constant and trusted follower and companion to Paul. Eventually, Paul left Timothy in Ephesus (1:3) to deal with false teachers, supervise public worship, and guide the church in the appointment of leaders. Paul’s loving advice and counsel in many areas of personal life and ministry are applicable to Christian leaders today. A prime doctrinal sequence is found in “the mystery of godliness” (3:16), teaching the incarnation of Christ and summarizing the Lord’s ministry on earth. Portions of this verse were sung as a hymn in SRP oat times. Paul deals with the rise of false teachers in the “latter times,” A% but also confronts the false teaching prevalent in that day (4:1-3). O Since similar departures “from the faith” have continued, the widespread development of erroneous concepts has intensified throughout the centuries. A key prophetic passage is found in | Timothy 6:15—-16. These two verses refer to Christ’s glorious appearing and future universal dominion. Only 2 predictions appear in 5 of the 115 verses, or 4 percent. Second Timothy has 2 Old Testament quotations.

1296

CHAPTER

1 Col. 1:27

1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

sus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou other doctrine,

that they teach no

x

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 5. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9

4 1Tim. 4:7; 6:4, 20

7 1Tim. 6:4

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephe-

mightest charge some

3 Acts 20:1, 3; Gal. 1:6, 7

5 Rom. 13:8, 10; Gal. 5:14

False Doctrine 3

2 Acts 16:1; 1Cor. 4:17; Thess. 3:2

Knowing this, that the law is not made

for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers,

for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

8 Rom. 7:12 9 Gal, 3:19;

5:23 12 1Cor. 7:25

13 Acts 3:17; 8:3; 9:1; 26:9

14 Luke 7:47; Rom.

5:20 15 Matt. 9:13; 2:17; 5:32; Rom.

Mark Luke 19:10; 5:8

16 Acts 13:39; 2Cor. 4:1

17 1Chr. 29:11; Dan.

7:14; John 1:18; Rom. 1:23; 16:27 18 1Tim. 4:14; 6:12,

13, 14, 20; 2Tim. 2:2, 3; 4:7 19 1Tim. 3:9; 6:9 20 Acts 13:45; 1Cor. 5:5; 2Tim. 2:17; 4:14 2 Ezra 6:10; Jer. 29:7; Rom. 13:1 3 Rom. 12:2

Paul’s Personal Expression of Thanksgiving to God

4 Ezek. 18:23; 2Pet. 3:9

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

5 Heb. 8:6; 9:15 6 Mark 10:45; Gal. 4:4

13 Gen. 1:27; 2:18,

22; 1Cor. 11:8, 9 14 Gen. 3:6; Acts 20:28; 2Cor. 11:3;

Eph. 4:12; Phil. 1:1; 1Tim. 1:15

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

CHAPTER

2

Pray for Those in Authority 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in

silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1297 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

2 1Tim. 5:9; Titus 1:6

CHAPTER

6 Isa. 14:12

3

3 2Tim. 2:24; 1Pet. 5:2

Qualifications of a Bishop

7 Acts 22:12

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, haying his children in subjection with all grav-

11 Titus 2:3

13 Matt. 25:21

15 Eph. 2:21, 22; 2Tim. 2:20

CHAPTER

them which are without; lest he fall into re-

proach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of a Deacon 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

4

Apostasy

ity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his

own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of

degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

48 1 Dan. 1135 n37, 38; John 16:13; 2Thess. 2:3;

Rev. 9:20; 16:14 2 Matt. 7:15; Rom. 16:18 3 Gen. 1:29; 9:3; Rom. 14:3, 6, 17; 1Cor. 7:28, 36, 38; 8:8; 10:30

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

4 1Cor. 10:25

6 2Tim. 3:14, 15 8 Ps. 37:4; 84:11; 112:2, 3; 145:19; Matt. 6:33; 19:29; Mark 10:30; Rom. 8:28; 1Cor. 8:8; Col. 2:23; 1Tim.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a | 6:6 deacon well purchase to themselves a good

4:1-2 the Spirit speaketh expressly. In clear fashion, Paul strongly emphasizes the message that is to follow about apostasy, apparently via direct revelation from the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasizes that this is not just his human opinion derived from sociological analysis, but clearly a divine prophecy. Since phrases like “latter days” and “latter times” are used in different contexts, they may refer to differing time periods, depending on their contexts. Hebrews 1:2 is a clear reference to the entire Church Age. However, since Paul writes 1 Timothy in relation to the Church (1 Tim. 3:15), “latter times” in this context refers to the end of the current Church Age. Paul's continues his message with the warning that some

Be an Example 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having

within the Church will become apostate. The source of

their false teaching will come from “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” The means through which apostasy will spread is through the human false teachers who are “having their conscience seared with a hot iron,” a metaphorical allusion to cauterization, a medical practice of burning as a means to prevent infection. False teachers can propagate their false teachings because they are void of a conscience that responds to God's word. This passage characterizes the way things will be during the last days of the Church Age, an apt description of the times in which we currently live.

1298 promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer

reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith; in purity.

13 Till I come, give attendanee to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

CHAPTER

5

More Instructions 1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder. women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. 3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11 But the younger widows refuse: for

9 1Tim. 1:15 10 Ps. 36:6; 107:2, 6 12 Titus 2:7,

15;-1Pet.5:3 14 Acts 6:6; 8:17; 13:3; 19:6

16 Ezek. 33:9; Rom. 11:14; 1Cor. 9:22 1 Lev. 19:32

4 Gen. 45:10, 11; Eph. 6:1, 2

when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn fo be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. : 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to. speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after

5 Acts 26:7

Satan. 16 If any man

6 James 5:5

have widows, let them relieve them, and let

8 Isa. 58:7; Matt. 18:17

not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

or woman

that believeth

9 Luke 2:36 10 Luke 7:38, 44; John 13:5, 14; Acts

16:15 13 2Thess. 3:11 14 1Cor. 7:9

17 Acts 28:10; Heb. 13:7, 17

18 Lev. 19:13; Deut:

24:14, 15; 25:4; Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1Cor. 9:9

19 Deut. 19:15

20 Deut. 13:11; Gal. 2:11, 14; Titus 1:13

21 1Tim. 6:13; 2Tim. 2:14; 4:1 22 Acts 6:6; 13:3; 1Tim. 4:14; 2Tim. 1:6; 2John

iT hi

23 Ps. 104:15 24 Gal. 5:19

Good Elders Receive Double Honor 17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that

others also may fear. 21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord

Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep Suey

pure. 23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. 24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25 Likewise also the good yiGules of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

CHAPTER 1 Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22; Titus 2:5, 8, 9; 1Pet. 2:18

2 Col. 4:1; 1Tim. 4:11

6

1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partak-

1299

ers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Healthy Teaching 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings. 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and info many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

“Fight the Good Fight” 11 But

thou,

O man

of God,

5 1Cor. 11:16 6 Ps. 37:16; Prov. 15:16; 16:8 7 Job. 1:21; Ps. 49:17; Prov. 27:24; Eccl. 5:15

8 Gen. 28:20; Heb. 13:5 9 Matt. 13:22 10 Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19 11 Deut. 33:1; 2Tim. 2233114

12 1Tim. 1:18; 6:19;

2Tim. 4:7 13 Matt. 27:11; John

5:21; 18:37

14 Phil. 1:6, 10; 1Thess. 3:13; 5:23 15 1Tim. 1:11, 17; Rev. 17:14; 19:16 16 Ex. 33:20; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 4:20

17 Job 31:24; Ps. 52:7; 62:10; Prov. 23:5

flee these

things; and follow after righteousness, god-

liness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on

20 1Tim. 1:4, 6; 4:7; 2Tim. 1:14; 2:14,

16, 23

6:13-14 until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. The specific instructions given by Paul in the immediate context (1 Tim. 6:11—12), as well as in all New Testament

teachings on the End Times, are meant to tell believers how to live between the time of Christ's first and second advents.

eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

The Second Coming of Christ 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded; nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that

they may lay hold on eternal life. 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

6:15 in his times. The New Testament teaches us that the times of future events are in the hand of God (Dan. 2:36-45; Acts 1:7; 17:26; Heb. 11:3), but when the time does arrive “he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Paul speaks here of the second coming of Christ (Rev. 19:16).

imothy aul wrote this second letter to Timothy (see introduction to 1 Timothy) from a iP prison cell, shortly before his martyrdom in Rome around A.D. 67. This second installment of the so-called Pastoral Epistles contains the last words of the apostle which inspiration has preserved. The book of Acts concludes with Paul being placed under house arrest, but this epistle to Timothy suggests that Paul was imprisoned a second time (2 Tim. 4:16-18). Many scholars believe that Paul was acquitted in the first trial and subsequently returned to Greece and Asia Minor to continue his missionary work. It is believed that prior to this epistle, Paul was arrested again, taken back to Rome, and imprisoned in what is known as the Mamertine Prison. Since Emperor Nero had recently started a full-fledged state persecution of Christians, Paul sensed that his death was near. However, he was satisfied that he had done his best for Christ (4:6-8). Paul longs to see the face of his beloved Timothy as he urges Timothy to come to him four times (1:4; 4:9, 11, 21). “Only Luke” is with him these last days ofa tremendous but arduous ministry, which began in Damascus thirty-five years earlier (4:11). In this letter to Timothy, he encourages his “son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:1) to be a “good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2:3), to oppose false doctrine and refute errors, to be a model of spiritual virtue, and to be a faithful preacher * of the gospel. This encouragement was beneficial to Timothy, for he also would soon face persecution. There are eight predictive topics: 1) the day of reward, consummation and glory (1:12, 18; 4:8); 2) reigning with Christ (2:12); 3) resurrection and judgment future (2:18); 4) perilous me in the Last Days (3:1-9); 5) Christ as Judge 4:1); 6) Christ’s appearance (4:1); 7) Christ’s reign oe and 8) the era of false doctrine (4:3-4). Seventeen verses out of 83 involve prophetic thought, or 20 percent. There are no Old Testament quotations in 2 Timothy. A

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CHAPTER

1

12 1Tim. 1:2

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 Acts 22:3; 23:1; 24:14; 27:23

5 Acts 16:1; 1Tim. 1:5; 4:6 6 1Thess. 5:19

“Stir Up the Gift of God”

7 Luke 24:49

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without

8 Rom, 1:16; Eph. 3:1;

ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and J am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our

Saviour Jesus

Christ, who

hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless J am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

Phil. 1:7 9 Rom. 3:20; 8:28; 9:11;

16:25; Eph. 1:4; 3:11

10 Rom.

16:26; Heb. 2:14 11 Acts 9:15 12 Eph. 3:1; 1Tim. 6:20; 2Tim. 1:18; 4:8

which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought

me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

CHAPTER

2

The Christian Warfare

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 15 Acts 19:10; 2Tim. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a 4:10, 16 good soldier of Jesus Christ. 16 Phile. 1:7 4 Noman that warreth entangleth himself 1 Eph. 6:10 with the affairs of this life; that he may 2 1Tim. 1:18; please him who hath chosen him to be a Titus 1:9 soldier. 5 1Cor. 9:25, 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet 26 is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 1Cor. 9:10 6 The husbandman that laboureth must 8 Acts 2:30; be first partaker of the fruits. 13:23; Rom. 1:3, 4; 2:16; 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give 1Cor. 15:1,4, thee understanding in all things. 20 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed 9 Acts 9:16; of David was raised from the dead according 28:31; Eph. 3:1; 6:19, 20; to my gospel: Phil. 1:7, 13, 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, 14; Col. 4:3, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not 18; 2Tim. 1:12 bound. 10 2Cor. 1:6; 10 Therefore I endure all things for the Eph. 3:13; elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the Col. 1:24 salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 13 Rom. 2:20; 6:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 10:23; Rev. 2:25

1:12 that day. This is a reference to the day when pres-

Paul references “that day” again (1:18; also in 4:8).

ent-age believers will be judged at the judgment seat of

1:18 that day. Paul’s reference to Onesiphorus finding mercy at the judgment seat of Christ indicates what will

~ Christ (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:10). This will be a

day of judgment and reward for the Church. It will take place in heaven, after the Rapture, while the seven-year Tribulation takes place on earth. When complete, the Bride

of Christ (the Church) will be prepared to return with Christ at the Second Coming (Rev. 19:1-16). A few verses later

be available for believers at that time. This judgment does not relate to salvation from one’s sins, but instead to the rewarding of believers. (See the note on verse 12.)

1302 11 Jt is a faithful saying: For if we be dead | 11 Rom. 6:5, | strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to with him, we shall also live with him: : teach, patient, 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: Lani: 25 In meekness instructing those that opif we deny him, he also will deny us: 8:38; Luke pose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: | 12:9 he cannot deny himself. 14 1Tim. 1:4; |of the truth; aah Bits13) 26 And that they may recover themselves

Be a Good Example 14 Of these

things

put

ae them

in remem-

47; |out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

17 1Tim.

brance, charging them before the Lord that } 4:9 they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

CHAPTER

18 1Cor. 15:12; 1Tim.

3

The Last Times

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto | 21 God, a workman that needeth not to be He ad

1. This know also, that in the last days per-

ilous times shall come.

ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. | john 19:14, | 2 For men shall be loyers of their own selves, 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for | 27 ’ covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, they will increase unto more ungodliness. 20 Rom. 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: | 9:21

of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who

concerning

21 Isa. 52:11 | false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers

the truth have erred, | 22 1Cor. 1:2; | of those that are good,

saying that the resurrection is past already;

ee se

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of

and overthrow the faith of some.

23 “a ae

pleasures more than lovers of God;

19 Nevertheless

the foundation

of God | 4:7;6:4;

| 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying

standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord | Titus 3:9

the power thereof: from such turn away.

knoweth them that are his. And, Let every | 25 Gal. 6:1 6 For of this sort are they which creep into one that nameth the name of Christ depart | 26 1Tim. 3:7 | houses, and lead captive silly women laden from iniquity. 1 2Pet. 3:3 with sins, led away with divers lusts, 20 But in a great house there are not only | 2 Jude1:10, | 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. vessels of gold and of silver, but also of | 16 3 Rom. 1:31 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men 4 Jude 1:4, 21 If a man therefore purge himself from | 19 of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the

these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, | 5 2tThess.

faith.

sanctified, and meet for the master’s use,

#0,

9

and prepared unto every good work.

6 Titus 1:11 | their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow right- |71-24

But they shall proceed no further: for

| theirs also was.

eousness, faith, charity, peace, with them | 9 Ex. 7:12; that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. any i

{ : Live a Godly Life

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffer-

24 And

the servant of the Lord must

podThee

not

2:12 we shall also reign with him. One of the things that God has in store for believers is that we will reign

ing, charity, patience,

3:1-9

the last days. Since phrases like “latter days,”

“latter times” are used in different contexts they may

with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 1:6; 3:21;

refer to differing time periods, depending on their con-

5:10; 20:4, 6).

texts. “Last days” in this context refers to the end of the current Church Age. The perilous times that Paul speaks of do not refer to behavior in the world, since the world in many regards has always been this way. Instead, Paul speaks of these characteristics that have infiltrated into the Church from the world. This is one of the major New Testament passages that teach a spreading apostasy throughout the Church in the Last Days. Paul's instruction to true believers concerning apostate people is to “turn

2:17-18 saying that the resurrection is past already. Paul mentions the specific false teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus, which likely sprang from an early form of Gnostic teaching that the resurrection (“rapture” of the dead saints) was spiritual, not physical, and thus past. It is impossible for there to be a spiritual resurrection since “resurrection” by definition always refers to the raising of the body. In our own day, those known as “full preterists” also teach a past, spiritual resurrection. (See the article, “Four Approaches to Prophetic Fulfillment” by Thomas Ice.)

away,” which means to disregard and disassociate with them. God has set a limit as to how much apostasy and unbelief He will allow to spread within His Church.

1303

Deception Last By Dave Hunt

he Bible tells us that God, through His prophets, provides signs of the times (Isa. 7:14). | Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not knowing and recognizing the prophetic signs of the Messiah's first coming (see Luke 12:56). It was therefore reasonable for Christ's disciples to ask Him, “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” (Matt. 24:3). In response, Christ gave _ anumber of signs that would herald the nearness of His second coming. | The very first sign He offered was religious deception, and He emphasized this sign above all others: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, | am Christ; and shall deceive many. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”

(Matt. 24:4-5, 11, 24). Christ is not referring to this worldwide deception coming - from rival religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam. The

— ke heed that no

man deceive you.”

“false christs, and false prophets” are professing Christians _ inasmuch as they claim to have done miracles in Christ’s name. Not only do these false prophets deceive others, but they also seem themselves to be deceived. These “false christs” could include some contemporary religious leaders who major in the “miraculous.” | This Scripture passage adds insight into a major sign of the nearness of the Second Coming, as the deception by false prophets will involve an improper emphasis upon the seemingly miraculous. Christ's warning of a false signs and wonders movement in the Last Days was repeated by the apostle Paul, using similar language: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [the day of Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away [apostasy] first . . .” (2 Thess. 2:3). Paul explained the nature of this apostasy to Timothy as he compared the apostate church to that of Jannes and Jambres (see 2 Tim. 3:1, 8}. Jannes and Jambres were the magicians in Pharaoh’s court who, through the power of Satan, duplicated to a point the miracles that God did through Moses and Aaron. As in the days of Moses, the major opposition to the truth in the Last Days will neither be atheists nor skeptics, but those deceiving multitudes through signs and wonders. That this movement which perverts the truth through false signs and wonders will help to prepare an apostate church to embrace the Antichrist seems clear: “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders ».. God shall send them strong delusion : . . That they all might be damned who believed not the truth” (2 Thess. 2:9, 11-12). Paul's final warning to Timothy leaves no doubt that the Church at Christ's return will have been corrupted through the rejection of sound doctrine both by the many false prophets and those who love their ways and encourage and support them (see 2 Tim. 4:2-4). Remember the exhortation of the Holy Spirit through Jude, which is all the more urgent in our day: “Beloved . . . earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in [to the church] unawares . . . denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3—-4).

1304

11 Persecutions,

afflictions,

which

came

Ms ite

unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; | 59; 14-25, what persecutions I endured: but out of | 19; 2Cor.

3. For the time will come when they will | mot endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves

them all the Lord delivered me.

te

teachers, having itching ears;

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ

Langan

4

Jesus shall suffer persecution.

John 17:14; | the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

And they shall turn away their ears from

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax | Acts 14:22. |5 But watch thou in all things, endure afworse and worse, deceiving, and being de- | 13 2Thess. flictions, do the work of an evangelist, make

ceived. aes 14 But continue thou in the things which | 2:16

full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and

thou hast learned and hast been assured | 46 Rom. of, knowing of whom thou hast learned | 15:4; 2Pet. them; ay 2

the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

15 And that from a child thou hast known | ' Acts 10:42 |g Henceforth there is laid up for me a the holy scriptures, which are able to make ee 1:13; | crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the thee wise unto salvation which is in Christ Jesus.

Ang e

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Are Inspire

16 All scripture is given by

|". Sites 1514

righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also

Ae

that love his appearing.

1:25; 4:17

inspiration of | ¢ phil. 1:23;

God, and is profitable for iectie for re- | 2:17 proof, for correction, for instruction in right- | 7 Phil. 3:14.

eousness: 17 That the man

emi

CHAPTER 4

We

Do thy diligence to come

shortly unto

hath forsaken me, haying

loved this present world, and is departed

1 fi 915 | unto

Thessalonica;

Titus unto Dalmatia.

Crescens

to Galatia,

I charge thee therefore before God, and | 12:25; 15:37; |11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and

the Lord Jesus Christ,. who shall judge the

a sae

quick and the dead at his appearing and his | phije 1:24. kingdom; 12 Acts 2

|9

8 1Pet. 5:4; | me: of God may be perfect, | Rev. 2:10 10 For Demas

throughly furnished unto all good works. 1

;

Paul’s Personal Closing Words

Preach the word; be instant in season, | 20:4; Eph.

out of season; i reprove, rebuke, exhort with , all longsuffering and doctrine.

3:12

pa) tel ‘7; Titus 3:12

Paul predicts that the entire Church Age will be a

time of persecution of the world toward believers (John

15:18-26; 16:33). The only way to avoid such persecution is to not openly live a life pleasing to the Lord. This prophecy has been fulfilled throughout the present age as millions of believers have given their lives for Christ in the face of a hostile world. 3:13 evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. The course of the Church Age will be one in which there will always be apostates and false doctrine. With the passing of time, such apostasy will grow increasingly worse. 4:1 at his appearing and his kingdom. Christ's kingdom will not arrive until He personally returns to earth to first judge unbelievers and gather believers in Him into His Millennial Kingdom.

4:3-4 the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Paul resumes the theme of apostasy from chapter three and provides further warnings for the

bring him with thee: for he is profitable to |me for the ministry. 12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloke that Ileft at Troas with Carpus,

when thou comest, bring with thee, and the : books, but especially the parchments.

last days of the Church Age. The word “endure” has the basic meaning of “to support” or “hold up,” as a foundation sustains the superstructure. Thus, there will come a time when the majority within the Church will not support the teaching of sound or healthy doctrine. The word “lust” means simply “strong desire,” but in this context it has a negative connotation. A tolerance of false doctrine originates from the desires or feelings of people who do

not want to follow God’s Word. These church members are said by Paul to have “itching ears,” which means that they want their preachers to speak only pleasantries.

They will not want to hear the instruction of sound doctrine, nor will they be satisfied by the Word of God, so they will be attracted to human ideas and fables to fill the void. 4:6 | am now ready to be offered. This is a reference to Paul’s impending execution because of His service for Christ. Tradition tells us that the Romans executed Paul within a year after he wrote 2 Timothy, his final epistle.

1305 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

14 Acts 19:33

16 Acts 7:60 17 Ps. 22:21 18 Ps. 121:7

19 Acts 18:2

21 2Tim. 4:9

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen. 19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 3 20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

4:14 Paul looks to a future day of judgment when God will right all wrongs.

itus was most likely a Gentile from Macedonia (Gal. 2:3) who was led to Christ by Paul (Titus 1:4). Titus was with Paul in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1) when some dogmatic Jewish brethren insisted that Titus should be circumcised. Paul would not allow Titus to be circumcised (Gal. 2:3-5) because this would have suggested that all non-Jewish Christians were second-class citizens in the Church. Written between Paul’s first and second imprisonments in Rome, this epistle to Titus deals with conditions in the churches on the island of Crete. Titus was left by Paul ; - on the island to “set in order the things that [were] lacking” (1:5) while he went on to Nicopolis on the coast of .Greece. Although his name is mentioned thirteen times in other Pauline epistles, Titus is not men_ tioned in Acts. At varying times, he seems to have been » Paul’s associate, courier, and representative, and he may have been the leader of the churches on Crete. Later Paul sent him to Dalmatia, the area now known as the Balkan Peninsula (2 Tim. 4:10). In similar language as 1 Timothy, Paul describes the qualities which should characterize the bishops and

©»

elders (1:5-9). These church leaders are to be models

_ for other believers, who are able to stem the tide of error _ and false doctrines (1:10—16). Two times Paul uses the _ words “sound doctrine” (1:9; 2:1); twice he uses the ue phrase, “sound in the faith” (1:13; 2:2), and on one occasion he cites the words, “sound speech” (2:8). An important ee doctrinal summary appears in 3:4-8, touching on God’s mercy, sal- 2% vation, regeneration, justification, and good works. ~ O Only one verse (2:13) is truly prophetic, speaking of the Proph “Dlessed hope” of our Lord’s return. This verse refers generally to the second coming of Christ, but some see the “blessed hope” as the Rapture and “the glorious appearing” as His descent in glory after the coming Tribulation. One verse of the 46 verses, or 2 percent of the book is prophetic. No Old Testament quotations appear in Titus. yak

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Paul's Second Missionary Journey

53-56

:

Paul's Third Missionary Journey

:

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CHAPTER 1

1

AMS 16

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of | 2:25

;

14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments

Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s | 2 Num.

of men, that turn from the

truth.

elect, and the acknowledging of the truth | 23:19; Rom. | 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but which is after godliness;

eee

unto them that are defiled and unbelieving

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that BlThess. is nothing pure; but even their mind and cannot lie, promised before the world | 1:1, 11;2:3 | conscience is defiled.

began;

4Rom. 1:2; | 16 They profess that they know God; but in

3 But hath in due times manifested his | 2Cor. 2:13; word through preaching, which is commitapa ted unto me according to the command- | 12:18 ment of God our Saviour; 5 Acts 14:23 4

To Titus, mine own son after the common | 6 1Tim. 3:2,

faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the | 4, 12 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Say- | 7 Lev. 10:9;

ey

eS we The Qualifications of an Elder

“Ee Hoe e

lee

angry,

not given to wine,

no

striker, not

given to filthy lucre;

|1

But speak thou the things which become

2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in ete in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women

riot or unruly. 15 Luke 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the | 11:39-41; |

2

g | sound doctrine:

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that | 19 acts thou shouldest set in order the things that | 15:1; Rom. are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, ifap _ as [had appointed thee: aa | 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one ;“ii

| steward of God; not self-willed, not soon

CHAPTER

Teach Sound Doctrine

iour.

| wife, having faithful children not accused of

works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

nas :

to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that

oes

the word of God be not blasphemed.

8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good | 4 47, 119; | § Young men likewise exhort to be sober | men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 6:3; 2Tim. minded.

ke Titus

| 7 Jn all things shewing thyself a pattern of

| been taught, that he may be able by sound} doctrine both to exhort and to convince the sells gainsayers. 1Pet.3:3,4 10 For there are many unruly and vain talk- | 5 1Cor.

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath

good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, | 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part

ers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

tae Ha may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say 31,5. | OL you.

11 Whose mouths must subvert whole houses,

7 Eph. 6:24 8 Neh, 5:9:

be stopped, who teaching things

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all

which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. | 2Thess. 3:14 | things; not answering again; 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of | 9 ypet.2:1g | 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fitheir own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, | 49 watt. delity; that they may adorn the doctrine of evil beasts, slow bellies. 5:16 God our Saviour in all things. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke |} 11 Luke 3:6; | 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salva-

them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

rll ute arms 2

2:11 appeared. Twice in this context Paul speaks of Christ's appearance in history. The first time Christ came in grace to save men from their sins; the second time He will come in glory (v. 13) to reign.

2:12-13 The appearance of the grace of God is to produce two results in the lives of believers: First, we are to resist the evil temptations of this world, living godly lives in this present age. Second, we are to look for Christ’s

tion hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness

return at the Rapture. Paul reminded Timothy that there is a special crown waiting for “all them also that love his appearing” (see 2 Tim. 4:8). Believers who are looking for Christ, Paul says, will be motivated to live a godly life in the present. The “blessed hope” is a reference to the rapture of the Church that could come at any moment. That Christ could return without warning, at any moment is indeed the “blessed hope” of the Church. It will be

1308

By Paul Benware he “Rapture” is a marvelous meeting in the air when the Lord Jesus Christ returns from heaven and removes the true Church from the world (1 Thess. 4:13-18). When will the Rapture take place? Five prominent viewpoints have attempted to answer this question. These arguments place the Rapture in varying relationships to the Tribulation period. First, there is the pretribulational rapture view, which places the Rapture before the Tribulation period begins. This view declares that the Church will not experience any part of the seven years of Tribulation since it will be with the Lord. Pretribulationalists arrive at this position by maintaining a clear distinction between God’s dealings with Christ's Church and with the nation of Israel. Supporters of this view believe that God will remove the Church from the world, and then His focus will return to Israel and the Old Testament covenants He made with that nation. Furthermore, pretribulationalists conclude that since the Church is exempt from the wrath of God (1 Thess. 1:9-10; 5:9), it will not be on earth during those seven years of the Tribulation. This view also holds to the concept of the imminent (“any

moment”) return of the Lord Jesus to remove the Church out of re or “events that must the world, meaning that there are no signs or events that must

take _ place prior to

take place prior to the Rapture. Hence, the pretribulational timing of the Rapture is more consistent with the texts of Scripture _ the Rapture. than the other views. A second view concerning the timing of the Rapture is the posttribulational rapture view. Those holding to this view believe that the Rapture will occur after the Tribulation

comes upon the world. Therefore, this view teaches the Church is on the earth during the Tribulation and will experience the tragic events of that period. Posttribulationalists do not see the Rapture and the second coming of Christ as two separate events. They teach that since the Church is told in Scripture to anticipate persecution and trouble, it should not expect to be exempted from the Tribulation period. Generally, this view denies Christ's imminent return and does not make a clear distinction between the Church and the nation of Israel. A third view is the midtribulational rapture view, which places the Rapture at the halfway point of the Tribulation; or, three and one-half years into that period. It holds that the Church is exempt from the wrath of God, but that this wrath will only occur during the last half of the Tribulation. Midtribulationalists see the Rapture as a distinct event from the Second Coming, but deny the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ. A fourth rapture interpretation is sometimes called the partial rapture view. This view claims that the rapture of the Church will occur before the Tribulation. Partial rapture sup; porters do not believe that all Christians will be taken out of the world by the Lord Jesus at the Rapture, but that the Lord will remove only the righteous, faithful Christians. According to this view, carnal believers will be left on the earth to experience the Tribulation. The fifth view of the Rapture is often referred to as the pre-wrath rapture view. This more recent view holds that the Church is exempt from the wrath of God but limits the time of wrath to a short period of time near the end of the Tribulation period, perhaps lasting only a year and a half. Supporters of this view believe that the Rapture will take place about three fourths of the way through the seven-year Tribulation period.

—

1309

and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Phil. 3:20; Col. 1:5, 23; 3:4; Titus

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope

The Rapture of the Church 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good

works.

2Pet. 3:12 14 Ex. 15:16;

1 Rom. 13:1; Col. 1:10

2 Eph. 4:2,

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

4 1Tim. 2:3; Titus 2:11

CHAPTER

5 John 3:3, 5; Rom. 3:20 Eph. 2:4, 8, 9

3

31; Phil. 4:5

Exhortation to Good Works

6 John 1:16

1. Put them in mind to be subject to princi-

7 Gal. 2:16

palities and powers, to obey magistrates, to

9 1Tim. 1:4

be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

10 Matt. 18:17; Rom. 16:17; 2Cor. (ees 12 Acts 20:4; 2Tim. 4:12 13 Acts 18:24

14 Rom. 15:28; Eph. 4:28; Phil. ee Sie Col. 1:10; Titus 3:8; 2Pet. 1:8

of eternal life. / 8 This is a faithful saying, and these thing I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Conclusion 12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good

works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

glorious for the Church because that will be the moment when we will be glorified, thus receiving the transformation of our resurrected bodies in order to be made like Christ (1 John 3:2).

ilemon he epistle to Philemon is one of four Pauline epistles addressed to an individual i rather than a church. (The others are 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.) The focus of the letter is to give a proper understanding of the Hebrew fugitive law found in Deuteronomy 23:15. The epistle reveals how Paul acted in strict accordance with the requirements of the law in dealing with Onesimus, a slave who had run away from his master, Philemon. e Written by Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome (A.D. 61), this letter was intimately connected with the Epistle to the Colossians, and was sent to the same city. Philemon, a wealthy merchant in Colosse, had been converted through an encounter with Paul in nearby Ephesus during Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 19). The gospel reached

the city of Colosse, perhaps through the ministry of Epaphras, who was a resident of the city (Col. 1:7; 4:12). Onesimus had stolen something from his master (Philemon) and fled to Rome, where he came in contact with the jailed apostle Paul, repented, and was converted. Paul sent him back to Philemon with this letter, in which Paul asks him to forgive and welcome Onesimus as a brother in Christ. The name “Onesimus” means “profitable,” and Paul uses a play on words (vv. 10-11), affirming that he was at one time unprofitable but now would be profitable to the cause of Christ because of his conversion. In suggesting that any debt Onesimus might owe be charged to Paul’s account, the apostle wisely reminds Philemon that he too had come to Christ through Paul’s apostolic ministry (vy. 15-20). The epistle demonstrates the courtesy, graciousness, and tact of ‘the aging apostle; and we can easily believe that the letter attained its objective. It also reveals the manner in which the early Church operated (in houses) and practiced true Christian brotherhood. Only this personal epistle and 3 John do not contain references to future events or any other prophetic overtones. Philemon also contains no Old Testament quotations, though it does contain an allusion to Deuteronomy 23:15. oa

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Conversion of Saul (Paul)

—

Paul's First Missionary. § 49-53

Paul's Second Missionary Journey 53-56

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1311

CHAPTER

1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Expression of Thanksgiving 4 {thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6. That

the communication

of thy faith

1 Phil. 2:25; 2Tim. 1:8; Phile. 1:9 2 Rom. 16:5; Phil. 2:25; Col. 4:17 5 Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4

6 Phil. 1:9, 11 7 2Cor. 7:13; 2Tim. 1:16

8 1Thess. 2:6 13 1Cor. 16:17; Phil. 2:30 14 2Cor. 9:7 15 Gen. 45:5, 8

may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. | 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints _ are refreshed by thee, brother.

16 1Tim. 6:2

| Onesimus

21 2Cor. 7:16

8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

22 2Cor. 1:11; Phil. 1:25; 2:24

9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, | being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 101 beseech thee for my son Onesimus, | whom I have begotten in my bonds: | 11 Which in time past was to thee unprof-

23 Col. 1:7;

| itable, but now profitable to thee and to

25 2Tim. 4:22

; me:

4:12

24 Acts 12:12, 25; 19:29; 27:2; Col. 4:10, 14;

2Tim. 4:11

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? 17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit Ido not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23 There salute thee Epaphras, prisoner in Christ Jesus;

my fellow

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow labourers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus with your spirit. Amen.

Christ be

he author of the epistle to the Hebrews is uncertain. Martin Luther suggested that Apollos is the author. Tertullian (writing in a.p. 150-230) said that Hebrews is a letter penned by Barnabas. Others have even suggested that Priscilla (Prisca) or Philip may have drafted this epistle. However, the consensus opinion is that the apostle Paul is the author. Nonetheless, if Paul wrote Hebrews, he went against the pattern of the rest of his epistles by not including his customary salutation and his name. The purpose of this letter was to reassure first-century Hebrew Christians that their faith in Jesus the Messiah was based on Old Testament prophecies, types, and figures which Jesus fulfilled. The central truth of the message is the priesthood of Christ, which superseded . the whole sacrificial system of Judaism. The impending fall of Jerusalem (A.D. 70) and the end of temple sacrifice and worship were literally only months away. The first section of Hebrews deals with doctrinal truth (chaps. 1—10). Using 102 Old Testament references, two major comparisons are made between Christ and the agents of divine revelation (i.e., prophets and angels) and the agents of redemption (Moses and Aaron). Jesus’ high priesthood, based on His own sacrifice, would endure forever. His high priesthood, “after the order of Melchizedek” (5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:11,.17, 21), was not the Levitical order under Aaron, but an eternal priesthood. This priesthood is foreshadowed in Genesis 14:17—20 and prophesied in Psalm 110:1-4. The remainder of the book of Hebrews is historical and practical, referring back to the great faith victories in the Old Testament and its recurring prophetic theme, “The just shall live by faith” (10:38, cf.

Hab. 2:4). Passages dealing with future events are found in Hebrews 9:27-28; 10:14-18, 37; 12:25—29; and 13:8,

the last passage indicating that Jesus is and shall be the “same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews covers 52 prophetic topics in 137 verses, or 45 percent of its 303 total verses. Hebrews contains 39 direct quotations from the Old Testament.

ofJesus

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1313

CHAPTER

1

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God Has Spoken through His Son

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1 Therefore we ought to give the more

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_ Christ’s Superiority to Angels | 4

5 _ ae

| earnest heed to the things which we have

Being made so much better than the an- | 78-194

gels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a | 8Ps. 45:67 | heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

9 Isa. 61:1

' more excellent name than they.

5 ‘For unto which of the angels said he at | 10 Ps. | any time, Thou art my son, this day have I aan ae ;

| begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a

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| Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

94:35

2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and dis-

obedience received a just recompence of reut

ward;

| 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first |43 p, 19:1 | 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so | begotten into the world, he saith, And let all | 44 Gen. great salvation; which at the first began to the angels of God worship him. 19:16; 32:1, | be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh | 2,24:Ps.

|

unto us by them that heard him;

his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame te 4 God also bearing them witness, both with | of fire. Matt. 18:10 | signs and wonders, and with divers mira8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O | 3 Matt. 4:17; |cles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of right- Weal 4; to his own will? eousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 4 nae : |

9 Thou

hast

loved

righteousness,

and | 1-20: Acts

Christ Is

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hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, | 2:22,43 hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness

5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we

above thy fellows.

speak.

| 1:1-2 The book of Hebrews opens with a powertul statement of Jesus’ deity. The author emphasizes that the same God who spoke to the Old Testament prophets has now spoken by His Son, Jesus Christ. By referring to Him | as the “appointed heir” of the Father and the one who | “made the worlds” (v. 2), the author places Jesus on the same level as the Father. The language of these verses is similar to Psalm 2, to which the author refers in verse 5. In this Psalm, God places His Anointed One upon the messianic throne and grants Him the earth and its people for His inheritance. Thus, the One through whom God has

given His final message is also the heir to God's final program for the earth.

1:3 Christ is described by three relative clauses which express the significance of His deity. His alone is the reflection of God's glory, the “express image of his person,” and the one who upholds all things by the “word of his power.” Each of these is a quality of deity and under-

scores a divine attribute of Jesus. The fact that He is seated at the right hand of God the Father does not imply inactivity but emphasizes the completion of His redemptive work, which is in direct contrast to the Old Testament priest, whose work was never complete. 1:8-13 The author continues to quote from Psalm 45:6-7 and 102:25-27 to emphasize the superiority of Christ. He is the One who fulfills these messianic predictions. Jesus is pictured as sharing in the creation of the world with the Father. John 1:1—2 tells us that He was “in the beginning” with God. Colossians 1:16 emphasizes that all things “in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible” were made by Him. Hebrews 1:8-13 focuses on the fact that Jesus is superior to anyone or anything, including angels, in the created realm. 2:5-10 Jesus is pictured as the one who is the fulfillment of David's prophecy in Psalm 8:4—6, which is

1314 6

But one in a certain place testified, say-

ing, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest

him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not. put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. g 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him: And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the

power of death, that is, the devil;

6 Job 7:17; Ps. 8:4; 144:3

8 Matt.

18 For in that he himself hath :suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

28:18 9 John 3:16; 12:32; Acts

2:33; Phil. 2:7, 8,9 10 Luke 13:32; 24:46; Acts 3:15; 5:31; Rom.

11:36 11 Matt. 28:10; Acts 17:26 12 Ps. 22:22, 25 13 Ps. 18:2; Isa, 8:18; 12:2; John 10:29; 17:6, 9-12 14 John 1:14; Rom. 8:3; 1Cor. 15:54, 55;

Phil. 2:7; Col. 2:15; 2Tim. 1:10 17 Phil. 2:7; Heb. 4:15; Bae

18 Heb. 4:15, 16; 5:2; 7:25 1 Rom. 1:7; 15:8; Phil. 3:14; 2Pet. 1:10 3 Zech. 6:12; Matt. 16:18

4 Eph. 2:10; 3:9; Heb. 1:2 5 Ex. 14:31; Num. 12:7;

15 And deliver them who through fear of Deut. 3:24; death were all their lifetime subject to 18:15, 18, 19; Josh. bondage. 1:2; 8:31 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of 6 Matt. angels; but he took on him the seed of 10:22; 24:13; Rom. 5:2; Abraham. 1Pet. 2:5 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him 7 Ps, 95:7; to be made like unto his brethren, that he Acts 1:16 might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make recon15 Heb. 3:7 ciliation for the sins of the people.

quoted here. The author points out that angels will not be in positions of leadership in the “world to come” (v. 5). In the age to come, angels will have no authority over believers. In fact, we will judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3). Mankind in general was made “lower than the angels” but will be exalted above the angels. Likewise, Jesus assumed a position lower than that of the angels when

CHAPTER

3

Superior to Moses 1. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle

and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. '3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he

who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. ; 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he'that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any

of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if

we hold the beginning of, our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his

He became incarnate as a man. He then makes Psalm 8 a future reality by conquering death for all men. Jesus’ humanity does not make Him inferiortothe angels. To the — contrary, it makes Him superior. Jesus is the “captain” —

(Gr. archegos, “author” or “leader”) of our salvation, — which He secures by this suffering for our sins. |

1315 voice, harden

not your hearts,

as in the

provocation.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should | not enter into his rest, but to them that be-

16 Num. 14:2, 4, 11, 24, 30; Deut. 1:34, 36, 38 17 Num. 14:22, 29; 26:65; Jude 4:5 18 Num. 14:30; Deut. 1:34, 35

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Jesus, the Great High Priest 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profes-

19 Heb. 4:6

sion.

| lieved not?

1 Heb, 12:15

19 So we see that they could not enter in | because of unbelief.

3 Ps. 95:11

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted

_ CHAPTER

4

4 Gen. 2:2; Ex. 20:11; 31:17

_ The Saints’ Everlasting Rest

6 Heb. 3:19

' 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise _ being left us of entering into his rest, any of | you should seem to come short of it. | 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as | well as unto them: but the word preached | did not profit them, not being mixed with _ faith in them that heard it. / 3 For we which have believed do enter into _ rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: al_ though the works were finished from the | foundation of the world. | 4 For he spake in a certain place of the sev| enth 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

7 Ps. 95:7;

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, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today 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. | 12 For the word of God is quick, and power| ful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, | piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul

and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and in) tents of the heart.

Heb. 3:7 12 Prov. 5:4; Isa. 49:2; Jer. 23:29; Rev. 1:16; 2:16 13 Job 26:6; 34:21; Ps. 33:13, 14; 90:8; 139:11, 12; Prov. 1520

14 Heb. 3:1; 7:26; 9:12,

24; 10:23 15 Isa. 53:3; Luke 22:28; Heb. 2:18;

7:26 16 Eph. 2:18; 3:12; Heb. 10:19, 21, 22 3 Lev. 4:3; 9:7; 16:6, 15, 16, 17; Heb. 7:27; 9:7

4 Ex. 28:1; Num. 16:5,

40; John 3:27 5 Psi 2ek John 8:54; Heb. 1:5 6 Ps. 110:4 7 Ps, 22:1; Matt. 26:37, 39, 42, 44, 53; 27:46, 50; Mark 14:33, 36, 39; 15:34, 37; Luke 22:43; John 2:27; 1761

8 Phil. 2:8 11 Matt. 13:15; John. 16:12 12 1Cor. 3:13; Heb. 6:1

like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

CHAPTER

5

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2

Who can have compassion on the igno-

rant, and on them for that he himself infirmity. 3 And by reason the people, so also

that are out of the way; also is compassed with hereof he ought, as for for himself, to offer for

sins.

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the

Ted es tae var

1316

oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

CHAPTER

6

1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on.unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose

end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of

13 1Cor.

13:11; 14:20; Eph. 4:14; 1 Ret..2:2 »; 14 Isa. 7:15

1 Phil. 3:1214 2 Acts 8:1417; 19:4, 6, 6; 17:31, 32; 24:25; Rom. 2:16 | 3 Acts 18:21; 1Cor. 4:19 4 Matt. 12:317-32: John 4:10; 6:32; Gal. 3:2, 5; Eph. 2:8

Heb. 2:4; 10:26, 32; 2Pet. 2:20, 21; 1John 5:16

5 Heb. 2:5

6 Heb. 10:29 7 Ps. 65:10 8 Isa. 5:6 10 Prov. 14:31; Matt. 10:42; 25:40; John 13:20; 1Thess. 1:3; 2Thess. 1:6,

them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God Keeps His Promises 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable ahiness in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

7

CHAPTER

11 Col. 2:2; Heb. 3:6, 14

Superior to Melchizedec

12 Heb. 10:36 13 Gen. 22:16, 17; Ps. 105:9; Luke 1:73 16 Ex. 22:11

17 Rom. 11:29; Heb. 11:9 19 Lev. 16:15

1 Gen. 14:18 4 Gen. 14:20 5 Num. 18:21, 26

7:1-3 Melchizedek. This individual appears briefly in the Old Testament as a prophetic type of Christ. His name, “King of righteousness,” and his title, “King of peace,” both picture the ministry of Christ. By emphasizing the silence of the Old Testament passage (Gen. 14:18-20), the author establishes many of the parallels within the typology. Since there was no record of Melchizedek’s parents or descendents, he serves as a

7

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 Towhom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils., 5 And verily they thatare of the sons of

picture of the priesthood of Christ which was promised in Psalm 110:4. Normally, genealogy was essential to a priest (cf. Ezra 2:62; Neh. 7:64). Melchizedek was with-

out beginning or ending due to silence. Christ is such due to His divine and eternal nature. Melchizedek was “made like,” or resembles, the Son of God in that he pictures Him in advance as a prophetic type of Christ.

1317

Levi, who receive the office of the priest- Pe nal commandment, but after the power of hood, have a commandment to take tithes | 4.13: Ga an endless life. of the people according to the law, that is, of | 3:16 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for their brethren, though they come out of the | 8 Heb. 5:6; ever after the order of Melchizedek. loins of Abraham: 6:20 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the 6 But he whose descent is not counted Hee at commandment going before for the weakfrom them received tithes of Abraham, and 19:87 ness and unprofitableness thereof. blessed him that had the promises. 14 1sa,11:1; | 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but And without all contradiction the less is | Matt. 1:3;

the bringing in of a better hope did; by the

blessed of the better. ee vat 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but | Rey. 5:5.

7

which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he

there he receiveth them, of whom it is wit- | 47 ps 110:4; |was made priest: nessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who re-

_ ceiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Heb. 5:6, 10; | 21 (For those priests were made without an 6:20 oath; but this with an oath by him that said

feel 8:3; |unto him, The Lord sware and will not re-

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father,

when Melchizedek met him.

pent, Thou art a priest for ever after the

eae

order of Melchizedek:)

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levit- | 3:20, 21,28; | 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of

ical priesthood, (for under it the people re- |%:2' 83

a better testament. ceived the law,) what further need was there |21Ps.110:4 |23 And they truly were many priests, be-

that another priest should rise after the | 22 Heb. 8:6; | cause they were not suffered to continue by order of Melchizedek, and not be called | '224 | reason of death: after the order of Aaron? ca Ror. 12 For the priesthood being changed, there | 2:5; Heb.

is made of necessity a change also of the law.

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

ars \John | 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to :

the uttermost that come unto God by him,

13 For he of whom these things are spoken

Pp tice

pertaineth to another tribe, of which man gave attendance at the altar.

4:15: 8:1 27 Lev. 9:7;

for them. | 26 For such an high priest became us, who is

ie A AP Heb.5:3: ‘|

holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

no

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out |of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake noth-

seeing he ever liveth to make intercession

ing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that

9:7, 12,28; 1042

after the similitude of Melchizedek there

eine > | Sins, and then for the people's: for this he

| ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a car-

The

Priesthood

g |_|

| 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests

of Christ

The author of Hebrews emphasizes the distinctions between the Old Testament sacrifices and the sacrifice of Christ (Melchizedek’s priesthood).

AARONIG PRIESTHOOD)

~——sO MELCHIZEDEK’S PRIESTHOOD _

Temporary Priesthood

Permanent Priesthood

Old Covenant

New Covenant

Daily Sacrifices

One-time Sacrifice

Yearly Atonement

Eternal Atonement

7:11-17 Both Aaron and Moses were chosen by God to _ replace the temporary Levitical system (Ps. 110:4).

Jesus is pictured as both the ultimate excep-

serve as priests before the Law was given, andfactJesus that

7.994 tig and the ultimate completion of God's promise to

Jesus was from the tribe of Judah would have precluded

raise up an eternal priest (Ps. 110:4) who would offer the

this serving as a priest except that the completion of the

ttimate sacrifice for our sins (Heb. 9:11-15; 10:5-14).

hood. The Law itself promised another priesthood after the “order of Melchizedek” which would permanently

7:22 The new covenant is “better” than the old (see 1:4; 7:7, 19; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24).

Christ was chosen after the Law was given. The

Mosaic Law meant the passing of the levitical priest-

1318 8

which have infirmity; but the word of the | 1 Eph. 1:20;

| not in my covenant, and I regarded them

oath, which was since the law, maketh the

ar ee

Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

10:12: 12:2. | 10 For this is the covenant that I will make 2Heb. 9:8 | with the house of Israel after those days,

CHAPTER 8 Christ Supercedes the

11, 12, 24 3 Eph. 5:2;

Levitical System

Het oe

:

:

3

saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their | mind, and write them in their hearts: and I

will be to them a God, and they shall be to

1. Now of the things which we have spoken sey a5:g. this is the sum: We have such an high priest, | 26:30: 27:3. who is set on the right hand of the throne of | Num. 8:4 the Majesty in the heavens; 6 2Cor. 3:6, 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the’ aay Heb. true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, 8 Jee 31281: and not man. > aaa 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer 10 Zech. 8:8 gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of neces- | 44 joa sity that this man have somewhat also to | 54:13; John offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be

not, saith the Lord.

6:45; 1John 2:27

12 Rom.

|mea people: | 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, say| ing, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

away.

a priest, seeing that there are priests that | 7.97. Hep. offer gifts according to the law: 10:17

CHAPTER

5 Who

A New Covenant

serve

unto

the

example

and | 132Cor.

:

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath | made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish

9

shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was | 5:17

1 Then verily the first covenant had also or-

admonished of God when he was about to | 1 Ex. 25:8

dinances

of divine service, and a worldly

make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that | 2 Ex. 25:23, | sanctuary. thou make all things according to the pat2. aurae 2 For there was

tern shewed to thee in the mount. Lev. 24:5,6 6 But now hath he obtained a more excel- | 3 Fx. 26:31, lent ministry, by how much also he is the | 33; 40:3,21 mediator of a better covenant, which was | 4 Ex. 16:33, established upon better promises. caiihe : 26:33; 34:29

Better Promises

a tabernacle

made;

the

| first, wherein was the candlestick, and the | table, and the shewbread; which is called | the sanctuary. | 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; | 4 Which had the golden censer, and the

40:3, 20, 21; |ark of the covenant overlaid round about

7 For if that first covenant had been faultAe ee less, then should no place have been sought | 5 -. 25:18, for the second. 22: Lev.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, | 16:2: 1Kgs. 7

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when

I will make a new covenant with the house

8:6, 7

with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. and the tables of the covenant;

| § And over it the cherubim of glory shad"

5

Z

owing the mercy seat; of which we cannot

es

now speak particularly.

of Israel and with the house of Judah: 7£x.30:10° | 8 Now when these things were thas Or9 Not according to the covenant that I | Lev.16:2, | dained, the priests went always into the

made with their fathers in the day when I | 11, 12,15,

took them by the hand to lead them out of

suger

the land of Egypt; because they continued

8:6-13 The superiority of Jesus Christ is further emphasized by the superiority of the new covenant of which He is the Mediator. The new covenant is the last of the biblical covenants and finalizes God’s plan of salvation for mankind. The Mosaic covenant was incomplete and could not provide permanent atonement like the eternal atonement of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our sins. By Christ's sacrifice, the old covenant (Mosaic) was ful-

filled and the new covenant was established. The Law was never intended to be God's final program of redemption. Paul says, “It was added. ..till the seed should come

| first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of

God. 7

But into the second went the high priest

to whom the promise was made” (Gal. 3:19). This final covenant includes conversion and the ultimate redemption of Israel (cf. Rom. 11:25-26).

9:4 The contents of the ark are symbols of Christ. The table of the Law represents Christ as the only one who fulfilled its precepts perfectly (Matt. 5:17; Rom. 10:4). Aaron’s rod that budded foreshadowed the resurrection of Christ (Num. 17:1—10; Heb. 10:4). The pot of manna speaks of Christ as the Bread of Life come down from heaven (John 6:33-35).

1319 alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was

| 8 John 146, | 17 For a testament is of force after men are |4@>- 10:20 dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all

tana while the testator liveth. | 19-10:1,11 | 18 Whereupon neither the first testament | 49 {ey. 11:2, |was dedicated without blood. | Num. 19:7; 19 For when Moses had spoken every pre-

cept to all the people according to the law,

Eph eee,

yet standing:

1 ty Hay he took the blood of calves and of goats, 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts | 8-2. 10:1‘ |with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop,

and sprinkled both the book, and all the

and sacrifices, that could not make him that | 49 pan. did the service perfect, as pertaining to the | 9:24; Zech.

| people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament

aaah

conscience;

vat 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, 16:14,16: imposed on them until the time of reforma- | Num. 19:2 7s Het tion. d om. |

which God hath 21 Moreover he the tabernacle, ministry. 22 And almost

The Blood of Christ Est.ae uth 11 But Christ being come an high priest of | Titus 2:14 good things to come, by a greater and more | 15 Rom.

purged with blood; and without ehedale of blood is no remission. aay

perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,

aes Hal

A Better Sacrifice

that is to say, not of this building;

Heb. 3:1;

23 It was therefore necessary that the pat-

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, | 'Pet. 3:18

terns of things in the heavens should be pu-

enjoined unto you. sprinkled with blood both and all the vessels of the all things are by

the law

but by his own blood he entered in once | 17Gal.3:15 | rified with these; but the heavenly things into the holy place, having obtained eternal | 19 Ex. 24:5, | themselves with better sacrifices than these. redemption for us. ae et 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and | 49, 51,52; | places made with hands, which are the figthe ashes of an heifer sprinkling the un- | 16:14, 15,18 | ures of the true; but into heaven itself, now clean, sanctifieth

to the purifying

of the | 20 Ex. 24:8; | to appear in the presence of God for us:

flesh: 14 How

Matt. 26:28 | 95 Nor yet that he should offer himself much

Christ, who

more

shall

the

through the eternal

blood

of

ae

oe

Spirit of- | 8-15, 19:

often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

fered himself without spot to God, purge | 16:14-16, 18, |26 For then must he often have suffered your conscience from dead works to serve 13 since the foundation of the world: but now

the living God? +A Ea 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of | 1:10 ~—-*|

once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of

the new testament, that by means of death, | 27 Gen. for the redemption of the transgressions | 3:19; Eccl.

himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to

that were under the first testament,

die, but after this the judgment:

they

Hel

which are called might receive the promise | 97 ya of eternal inheritance.

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the

26:28: Rom.

| Sins of many; and unto them that look for

16 For where a testament is, there must also | 5:15; 6:10; of necessity be the death of the testator. pret 22

| him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

9:11-15 In contrast to the closed sanctuary of the earth-

away sin by sending the scapegoat out of the camp into

ly temple, Jesus opened the inner sanctuary of the heavenly temple. The reference to the “holy place” should be understood as the Holy of Holies. This passage emphasizes the essentials of the new covenant—a superior temple and an infinitely superior sacrifice. The “ashes of an heifer” (v. 13) refer to the ceremony of cleansing that involved the red heifer (Num. 19). The author's point is that if the rituals of the Old Testament sacrificial system provided ceremonial cleansing, how much more superior was the cleansing provided by Jesus’ blood!

the wilderness (cf. Lev. 16:21—22). Under the new cov-

9:24-28

Under the Mosaic covenant, the Israelites put

enant, Jesus becomes the fulfillment of this symbolic imagery. He actually takes away the sins of the world by sacrificial death on the cross. The phrase “end of the world” refers to the “end of the age,” which is contrasted with the “foundation of the world” at creation. Three “appearings” of Christ are noted here: verse 25 refers to His appearing in heaven presently on our behalf; verse 26 refers to His former appearance on earth to bear our sins; and verse 28 refers to His future appearing at the time of His second coming.

1320 CHAPTER 10 Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

1 as eel

; aie alle aaa

1Col. 2:17; Heb. chp

| 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

3 Lev. 16:21" |45 whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness ceectea of good |4 mic. 6:6°7 |tous: for after that he had said before,

dines 60 gone ang Tie mie aie Of |s ps, 40:6; 16 This is the covenant that I will make the things, can never with those sacrifices te be with them after those days, saith the Lord, I which they offered year by year continually 6:20: Amos | will put my laws into their hearts, and in make the comers thereunto perfect. 5:21, 22 their ianidsanill hwutedeus :

2

For then would they not have ceased tO | 40 John

be offered? because

that the worshippers

17 And their sins and iniquities: will eee

Hee i

sachacnacteaoxs)

once purged should have had no more con- 11Num, science of sins. ’ . | 283°

| 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

brance again made of sins every year.

|The Believer’s Access to God _ .

3

But in those sacrifices there is a remem-

ee

Heb.1:3..

4 For it is not possible that the blood of | 43 ps. 10:1. |.19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness bulls and of goats should take away sins. _|44 Heb. 10:1. |to enter into the holiest by the blood of 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the 16 Jer world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou | 31:33, 34

Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath

wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared | 19 Rom. 5:2; |consecrated for us, through the veil, that is me: Fe _ |gph.2:18; | to say, his flesh; 6

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

thou hast had no pleasure. ;

peio

21 And having an high priest overriee house

10:9; 14:6

of God:

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of | 55 bo, 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, | 36:25; 2cor. |assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinO God. Es es_| Kled from an evil conscience, and our bodies 8

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offer- | 1:6 John

ing and burnt offerings and offering for sin | 3:21

washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our

thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure | 23 1Thess. therein; which are offered by the law; oot 3.3 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O 25 ee i God. He taketh away the first, that he may | 9:49: Rom,

faith without wavering; (for he is faithful | that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

establish the second. 10 By the which will we

| 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;

13:11; Phil. are. sanctified |**

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the

right hand of God;

ore tn but exhorting one another: and so much the 2:20,21 +| more, as ye see the day approaching. | 97 Eek. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have | 36:5; Zeph. | received the knowledge of the truth, there mn Rk remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, | Heb. 12:29 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judg| 28 Deut. ment and fiery indignation, which shall de-

Lee ae

vour the adversaries.

13 From henceforth expecting till his ene- | 18:16: John | 28 He that despised Moses’ law died withmies be made his footstool.

8:17

10:5-13 The superiority of Jesus’ sacrifice to the Old Testament sacrifices is shown from the prophecy of Psalm 40:6-7, in which the words of David are used typologically of Christ as a conversation between Himself and the Father. The incarnation of Christ in a human body allowed Him to literally die for our sins without corrupting His divine nature. The fact that Jesus “sat down” (v. 12) indicates the finished nature of His sacrificial atonement for our sins. Verses 12-13 are a quotation from Psalm 110:1, which looks forward to the ultimate triumph of the Messiah over His enemies. 10:15-18 Jeremiah 31:33-34 is quoted and attributed to

out mercy under two or three witnesses:

the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as the prediction of the new covenant. enant promises the removal of sins hearts, there is no more-need of any death of Christ is sufficient forever.

the divine author of Since the new covand the changing of further sacrifice. The

10:25 as ye see the day approaching. The regular and consistent assembling of believers is urged in light of the truth of Jesus’ second coming. The regular gathering of the Church

is intended

to provide encouragement,

strength, and a mutual exhortation in view of the day approaching. Our commitment to assemble together as believers testifies to our confidence in Christ’s return.

1321

Animal Sacrifices: Past and Future By John C. Whitcomb

hough commanded by God, animal sacrifices in Israel could never remove spiritual guilt from the offerer (Heb. 10:4, 11). But it is equally erroneous to say that the sacrifices were only teaching symbols given by God to prepare the nation for Messiah and His infinite atonement. From God's perspective, such teaching surely was a major purpose in the sacrificial system; but it could not have been the exclusive purpose from the perspective of Mosaic covenant Israelites. The Scriptures tell us that something really did happen to the Israelite offerer when he came to the right altar with the appropriate sacrifice and he was expected to know what would happen to him (Lev. 1:4). What happened was temporal, finite, external, and legal; _ personally and immediately significant, not simply symbolic and/or prophetic. Now what does all of this indicate with regard to animal ons _ sacrifices in the Millennia! Temple for Israel under the new covmalsacrifices _ enant? It indicates that future sacrifices will have nothing to do _ with eternal salvation that comes only through true faith in God. | It also indicates that future animal sacrifices will be “effectual” ever remove and “expiatory” only in terms of the strict provision for ceremo- _ spiritu al guilt _ nial (and thus temporal) forgiveness within the theocracy of

Israel could

Israel. Such sacrifices, then, will not be memorial (like the bread from the offerer. and the cup in church communion services), any more thansacrifices in the age of the Mosaic covenant were primarily roapans a or prophetic in the understanding of the offerer. The vast majority of people born during the Millennial Age will remain unbelievers (Rev. 20:7—9), needing the protection from the immediate wrath of a holy God that animal sacrifices will provide in accordance with their divine design and function in the Mosaic Law. Ezekiel foresaw, by the Spirit of God, that offerings would remain (Ezek. 45:17), and God told Jeremiah that the Levitical priests would never “want [lack] a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle [grain] offerings, and to do sacrifice continually” (Jer. 33:18). How can vital spiritual instruction be accomplished for citizens of the Millennial Kingdom through a system of animal sacrifices? It will be possible for regenerated Israel to attain the divinely intended balance between form and content, lip and heart, hand and soul, within the structures of the new covenant. It is not only possible, but prophetically certain, that millennial animal sacrifices will be used in a God-honoring way (e.g., Ps. 51:15-19; Heb. 11:4) by a regenerated, chosen nation. Before the heavens and the earth flee away from Him who sits upon the great white throne (Rev. 20:11), God will provide a final demonstration of the validity of animal sacri_ fices as an instructional and disciplinary instrument for Israel. The entire world will see the true purpose of this system, one that never has and never will function on the level of CalVary’s cross, where infinite and eternal guilt was dealt with once and for all. But the sacrificial system did accomplish some very important instructional and disciplinary purposes for Israel under the Mosaic covenant (Gal. 4:1—7), and there is good reason to believe that it will yet again function on the level of purely temporal cleansing and forgiveness during the Millennium under the new covenant (cf. Heb. 9:13).

1322 29 Of how much sorer punishment, sup- | 29 Matt. 12:31, 32; pose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who | j¢5, 44:39

CHAPTER J “By Faith”

11

hath trodden under foot the Son of God, | 39 poy _-]4 Now faith is the substance of things and hath counted the blood of the covenant, | 32:35, 36 hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. where wich bey Was sanctified, an uanOy 31 Luke 125 |2 For by it the elders obtained a good rething, and hath done despite unto the Spirit | 32 ga), 3:4: port.

Of grace:

} : See ts 3 Through faith we understand that the 30 For we know him that hath said, Ven- 32 Phil 1:29, |Worlds were framed by the word of God, so geance belongeth unto me,Iwill recompense, | 39. cq, 2:1.|| that things which are seen were not made saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall

judge his people.

—

:

33 Phil, 1:7._.| of things which do appear.

.| 4:14

j

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands | 34 acts 5:41 |excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he

of the living God.

.

35 Matt.

32 But call to remembrance the former | 5:12; 10:32 days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye | 36.Luke

obtained

witness

that he was

righteous,

| Goq testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

endured a great fight of afflictions, Abi“isco 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing- Py)Hs 9-3. | Should not see death; and was not found, stock both by reproaches and afflictions; |4: (uke 18:8: |because God had translated him: for before and partly, whilst ye became companions of | 2Pet. 3:9 them that were so used. 38 Rom.

34 For ye had compassion

of me

in my

his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ;

Baa ua

6

bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your |44...

But

without

faith it is impossible

to

please him: for he that cometh to God must

goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have | 76:30, 31

| believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder

in heaven a better and an enduring sub- | 4 Rom, 8:24, |of them that diligently seek him.

stance.

25

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, | 3 Gen. 1:1;

things not seen as yet, moved with fear, pre-

which hath great recompence of reward.

He

pared an ark to the saving of his house; by

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after

Ae

the which he condemned the world, and be-

ye have done the will of God, ye might re- | 1g ceive the promise.

°°" ~ | came heir of the righteousness which is by

5 Gen. 5:22,

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall | 24

| faith.

8

By faith Abraham, when he was called to

come will come, and will not tarry. 7 Gen. 6:13, | go out into a place which he should after re38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any | 22 ceive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he

man draw back, my soul shall have no pleas-

:Gen. 12:1, | went out, not knowing whither he went.

ure in him. ,. 39 But we are not of them who draw back aan unto perdition; but of them that believe to | 18:1, 9 the saving of the soul.

|9. By faith he sojourned in the land’ of promise, as im a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10:30 The certainty of future judgment is emphasized by quoting Deuteronomy 32:35-36. This was part of Moses’ final warning to the Israelites before he died. By repeating this warning to his Jewish readers, the author of Hebrews reminds them of the seriousness of rejecting God's gracious offer of salvation.

involves a complete confidence in God. He is pictured here as the One who controls both history and our prophetic destiny. The “worlds” (Gr. a/ona) refer to the eons of time. God is described as the One who frames time and space. He created the world out of nothing and spoke it into existence instantaneously by His word. By faith,

10:37 Christians sometimes use the phrase “if the Lord tarry” to refer to the fact that He may not come immediately. But the author of Hebrews emphasizes that Christ “will not tarry” when He comes. While the return of Jesus Christ seems indefinitely delayed, it will occur, suddenly and instantaneously when the time is right for His return.

we understand that God is the creator of the universe, the Lord of history, and the author of our prophetic destiny.

11:1-3 Faith is described as “substance” and “evidence,” not a blind leap into the dark. Biblical faith

11:5 The “translation” of Enoch prefigures the rapture of the believers (cf. Gen. 5:21-24; 1 Thess. 4:13-17). Enoch was taken away instantaneously and dramatically. The Old Testament simply states that he “was not; for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). Others who experienced forms of a rapture in the Bible include Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), Paul (2 Cor. 12:2), and John (Rev. 4:1).

1323 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

29 Ex. 14:22

stopped the mouths of lions,

19 Accounting

29

34 Quenched

30 Josh. 6:20

the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned

that God was able to raise

him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, /eaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was

hid three months

of his parents, because

they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment, 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pha-

raoh’s daughter;

11 Gen. eae 12’ Gen.

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

22:17 13 Gen. 23:4; 47:9;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the re-

1Chr. 29:15; Ps, 39:12;

ward.

417; 211

the wrath of the king: for he endured, as

119:19; 1Pet. |27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing

16 Phil. 3:20 | seeing him who is invisible. 17 Gen. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and clan the sprinkling of blood, lest he that de18°66 stroyed the firstborn should touch them. 21:12 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea 20 Gen. as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying 27:27, 39 to do were drowned. 21 Gen.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down,

eae 48:5, |after they were

compassed

about

seven

: days. ee 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not Ex. 13:19 with them that believed not, when she had 23 Ex. 1:16, | received the spies with peace.

22; 2:2 24 Ex. 2:10, Ut

32 And what shall I more say? for the time |would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of

25 Ps. 84:10 | David also, and Samuel, and of the proph-

27 Ex. 10:28, |ets: 29; 12:37;

13:17, 18

2

33 Who

through faith subdued kingdoms,

28 Ex. 12:21 |Wrought righteousness, obtained promises, the violence

of fire, escaped

31 Josh. 2:1; | to flight the armies of the aliens. 6:23

35 Women received their dead raised to life

Hehers a

again: and others were tortured, not accept-

12:7: 13:24; | ing deliverance; that they might obtain a 1Sam. 1:20; |better resurrection: 12:20; 16:1, |36 And others had trial of cruel mockings 13; 17:45 ! 33 1Sam

and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and

17:34, 35;

imprisonment:

zal aa

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asun-

jan.

0:

der, were

tempted,

were

slain

with

the

see 20:2; |sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,

37 Zech.

13:4; Matt.

tormented;

3:4; Acts

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

THE Aas

they wandered

Ter

tains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

in deserts,

and im moun-

39 And these all, having obtained a good

eee eee EEE

also makes it clear that God's plan for humankind was not 11:35-40 The “better resurrection’ refers to the first rescomplete without New Testament believers for whom He urrection that includes all believers, including both Old has provided “some better thing” (v. 40). This certainly Testament and New Testament saints. Old Testament believers look forward to the same resurrection that we — indicates the unique position of the New Testament do as New Testament believers. While there isacommon_ ~ believers (the Church) in God's eternal plan of redemption. destiny of all believers at the resurrection, this passage

1324

report through faith, received not the prom-

40 Rev. 6:11

ise:

1 Rom. 12:12; Phil. 3:13, 14

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

CHAPTER

12

Exhortations to Follow Christ

2 Ps. 110:1; Phil. 2:8;

1Pet. 1:11; 3:22 3 Matt.

10:24, 25; 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed John 15:20 about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let 4 1Cor. 10:13 us lay aside every weight, and the sin which 5 Job 5:17; doth so easily beset us, and let'us run with * Prov. 3:11 patience the race that is set before us, 6 Ps. 94:12; 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and fin- 119:75; Prov. 3:12; James isher of our faith; who for the joy that was 1:12 set before him endured the cross, despising 7 Prov. the shame, and is set down at the right 13:24; 19:18; 23:13 hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such con8 Ps. 73:15 tradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye 9 Num. 16:22; 27:16; be wearied and faint in your minds. Eccl. 12:7; 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striv- Isa. 42:5;

ing against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: never-

theless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Exhortations to Holiness 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

57:16; Zech.

12:1 11 James 3:18 12 Job 4:3, 4; Isa, 35:3

13 Prov. 4:26, 27 14 Ps, 34:14; Matt. 5:8

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many

be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 18 For ye are not come unto the mount that

might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

16 Gen, 25:33

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly

17 Gen. 27:34, 36, 38

Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company

18 Ex. 19:12, 18, 19; 20:18; Deut. 4:11; 5:22 19 Ex. 20:19;

Deut. 5:5, 25; 18:16 20 Ex. 19:13

21 Ex. 19:16 22 Deut. 33:2; Psi 68:17; Gal. 4:26 23 Rev. 13:8; 14:4 24 Gen. 4:10; Ex. 24:8 26 Ex. 19:18; Hag. 2:6

of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

“The Mediator of the New Covenant” 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

12:26-29 Exodus 19:18 tells us that God's voice then “shook the earth.” Haggai 2:6 adds that God will again shake both earth and heaven. This shaking will happen “once more” at the time of Jesus’ second coming. In the place of unstable human kingdoms, God will establish this unshakeable kingdom on earth.

1325

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a. consuming fire.

CHAPTER

13

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your

conversation

be without

Matt. 24:35; Rev. 21:1

29 2Thess. 1:8; Heb. 10:27 1 2Pet. 1:7; 1John 3:11;

4:7, 20, 21 2 Matt. 25:35; 1Tim. 3:2; 1Pet. 4:9 3 Matt. 25:36; 1Cor. 12:26

Social and Religious Duties

5

27 Ps. 102:26;

cov-

etousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly ‘say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the

5 Gen. 28:15; Deut. 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5; Ps. 37:25; Matt. 6:25,

34 6 Ps. 27:1; 56:4, 11, 12; 118:6 8 John 8:58; Rev. 1:4 9 Rom. 14:17

11 Ex. 29:14 12 John 19:17, 18; Acts 7:58

15 Ps. 50:14, 23; 69:30, 31; 107:22; 116:17; Hos.

14:2 17 Ezek. S'73°33:2)-7; 1Tim. 5:17;

Heb. 13:7 20 Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:23; 37:24; Zech. 9:11; John 10:11, 14 21 Gal. 1:5;

Phil. 2:13 22 1Pet. 5:12 23 1Thess. 3:2; 1Tim. 6:12

high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

“Jesus, the Great Shepherd” 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that

great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. 23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

hough four men are named James in the New Testament, the author of this “genaleeral epistle” was most likely James, the half-brother of Jesus, who became an apostle and leader of the Jerusalem church (see Matt. 13:55; Gal. 1:19). James probably witnessed Christ’s appearance following His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and he was among those who assembled together following Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1:14) to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Later James became a leader of the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; Gal. 1:18-19). He kept control of a potentially volatile debate over the evangelization of Gentiles and helped draft a very tolerant letter to the Gentile Christians in Antioch regarding their status in the Church (Acts 15:13-19). Written initially to Jewish believers who were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, this epistle is about practical Christian living. The style is sharp, incisive, and strikingly similar to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

Quotations and references to the

Old Testament are numerous, and perhaps the most famous quotation comes from Leviticus 19:18, which James calls “the royal law” (2:8) that states, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” James emphasizes that true saving faith produces works (2:14~26). Instructions are plentiful on how to endure temptations, to be doers of the Word rather than just hearers, and to have right use of our speech. Words of wisdom flow on topics ranging from spiritual love, prayer, patience, and humility. Four distinct prophecies appear in the book of James: 1:12; 2:12-13; 5:2-3, 7-9. The first prophecy is the promise of a crown of life to be awarded in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ for those who were faithful to the Lord on this earth or were martyred for their commitment to Christ (see Rev. 2:10). Statements concerning the second coming of Christ are found in James 5:7—8, where James urges believers to be patient unto the coming of the Lord. Of 108 verses, 7 verses (6 percent) are prophetic. There are 5 Old Testament quotations in James.

~ Conversion — of dames

—

Tiberius is Emperor of Rome _

inistry of Jesus

:

Conversion

of Saul (Paul)

Paul's Second Missionary Journey - Paul's Third Missionary

Journ

1327

CHAPTER 1.

1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord

Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are

scattered abroad, greeting.

The Prayer of Faith

2 Matt. 5:12; Heb. 10:34

2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall

3 Rom. 5:3

into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your

5 Prov. 2:3; Jer. 29:12

faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like.a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For Jet not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a

burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Enduring Tests 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

6 Mark 11:24 10 Job 14:2; Ps, 90:5, 6; 103:15; Isa. 40:6

12 Job 5:17; Prov. 3:11,

12; Heb. 12:5; Rev. 2:10; 3:19

15 Job 15:35,8S. 7:14; Rom. 6:21, 23 17 Mal. 3:6; John 3:27 18 Jer. 2:3; John. 1:13;

3:3; 1Pet. 1:23; Rev. 14:4 19 Prov. 10:19; 17:27; Eccl. 5:1, 2 21 Rom. 1:16; 1Cor. 15:2; Heb. 23

22 Luke 6:46; 11:28 25 John 13:17 26 Ps. 34:13; 39:1; 1Pet. 3:10 27 Isa. 1:16, 17; 58:6, 7;

Matt. 25:36

1:12 endureth temptation. This means those who persevere patiently and stand firm under trial, victoriously passing the test of such pressure, will receive due reward for their faithfulness. The “crown of life” mentioned here and in Revelation 2:10 is the special crown for martyrs. In the ancient world, the term “crown” refers to a wreath of flowers presented to winners in athletic games and to special awards bestowed on statesmen, soldiers and distinguished citizens. At the judgment seat of Christ, this promised crown will be awarded both to the martyrs and those who are victorious over severe temptations, persecutions, and adversities through faith and dedication (see also 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:8;

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Be Doers of the Word 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be reli-

gious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God

1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2:10; 3:11; 4:4, 10).

1:26-27 seem to be religious. .. . Pure religion. These two verses are the only places in the New Testament where the Greek word threskos, “external or outward reli-

giosity,” is used. Pure religion is outwardly characterized by sincere acts of kindness, compassion, and personal purity, keeping one’s self uncontaminated by the world system. Paul describes the actions of Christians as “charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience” (1 Tim. 1:5), but there adds, “and of faith unfeigned.” Sincere faith in Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, but sincere acts of love and kindness, along with personal piety, are the discernible fruits of true faith.

1328 and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

1 Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; 16:19

5 Ex. 20:6;

1Sam. 2:30;

CHAPTER

Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20; 12:21, 32; John 7:48

2

Respect for Others 1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile rai-

ment;

:

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9

6 Acts 13:50; 17:6;

18:12 8 Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39 10 Deut. 27:26; Matt. 5:19; Gal. 3:10

11 Ex. 20:13, 14 14 Matt.

7:26 15 Job 31:19, 20; Luke 3:11

16 1John 3:18 19 Matt. 8:29; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 4:34 21 Gen. 22:9, 12 22 Heb. 11:17

23 Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3

Butif ye have respect to persons, ye com-

mit sin, and are convinced

of the law as

transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

25 Josh. 2:1; Heb. 11:31

1 Matt. 23:8, 14; Luke

6:37 2 1Kgs. 8:46; 2Chr. 6:36; Ps. 34:13; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; Matt. 12:37; James 1:26; 1Pet. 3:10; iJohn 1:8

2:8 royal law. This principle of unselfish love is quoted from Moses (Lev. 19:18), quoted by Christ (Matt. 19:19; 22:39; Luke 10:27), referred to by Paul (Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:14), and fully described in 1 Corinthians 13. 2:12 judged by the law of liberty. This prediction reminds the reader that all “will give an account to God” (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:7—10).

“Faith without Works Is Dead” 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, aman may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

CHAPTER

3

Control the Tongue 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a per-

3:1 masters. The Greek root word here is didasko, meaning “pertaining to teaching,” from which we get the English word “didactic.” The passage refers to teachers or instructors. Those who teach the Word have a great responsibility, as they influence so many. Hence they have greater accountability and will be so considered at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).

1329

fect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; if is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

True Wisdom Comes from God 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meek-

ness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

3 Ps, 32:9 5 Ps. 12:3; 73:8, 9; Prov. 12:18; 15:2 6 Prov. 16:27; Matt.

15:11, 18-20;

Mark 7:15, 20, 23

8 Ps. 140:3 14 Rom. 2:00; 28; 13:13

15 Phil. 3:19 16 1Cor. 3:3; Gal. 5:20

17 1Pet. 220254 {John 3:18

CHAPTER

4

Warnings against Loving the Things of the World 1

From whence come wars and fightings

among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in

18 Prov. 11:18; Hos. 10:12; Matt. 5:9

vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth

1 Rom. 7:23; 1Pet. 2:11

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth

3 Job 27:9; 35312) Ps: 18:41; 66:18; Prov. 1:28; Isa. 1:15; Jer, 11:11; 1John 3:22; 5:14

grace unto the humble.

4 Ps, 73:27; John 15:19; 17:14

5 Num. 11:29; Prov. 21:10 6 Job 22:29; Ps. 138:6; Prov. 3:34; 29:23

7 Eph. 4:27; 6:11; 1Pet. 5:9

9 Matt. 5:4

10 Job 22:29; Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14 11 Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:37 12 Matt. 10:28; Rom.

14:4, 13 13 Job 7:7; Bsr 0223; Prov. 27:1; Luke 12:18; James 1:10; 1Pet. 1:24; 1John 2:17

to envy?

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Cautions Concerning Criticism 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of His brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

“Tf the Lord Will” 13 Go to now, ye that say, Today or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

4:7 Resist the devil, and he will flee. This prophetic promise is restated in 1 Peter 5:9. This does not exempt believers from temptations and persecutions but, as in Revelation 12:11, teaches that victory over Satan himself is attainable—even in martyrdom. Tribulation saints will experience both persecution and spiritual victory (Rev. 20:4).

1330

1 ke 8

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who

we shall live, and do this, or that. 9:41; 15:22. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all | Rom. 1:20, such rejoicing is evil. aioe

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will,

|have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, andof patience.

17 Therefore

to :him that ainknoweth pK

to do

good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Ne :28; Luke

6:24: 1Tim.

11 Behold, we count them happy which en;

dure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job,

6:9 and have seen the end of the Lord; that the 2anaete Job 13:28; oe | Lord is veryFY pitiful, and of tender mercy. cy.

HAPTER

Warnings to the Rich

pre at?

12 Baap avea things, my eee

HNETOY Bay ilyDet er by

See

1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl | Deut. 24:15;

BOE

the earth,

for your miseries that shall come upon you. .\48 22:18

pelinen byiaay other Oath, PUK iieuee) ies

2 Youroy riches are corrupted, your gar.|Amos Sob 21:13; yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into ees and youre 6:1, 4; | |be condemnation.

ments are motheaten. 3

Luke 16:19,

j : : and the Your gold and silver isi cankered;

rust of them shall be a witness against

25

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is.any merry? let him sing psalms.

you, | 7 Deut.

:

and shall eat

hi

your flesh as it fade hia! Ye | 11:14; Jer. Y : 5:24; Hos. have heaped treasure together for the last | 6:3: Joel 2:23: Zech.

1, Ts Any) SICK AM ORE Os ales calli for the elders of the church; and let them pray 3 Sa : i nek over him, anointing him with oil in the

days.

10:1

name of the Lord:

8 Matt.

15 And

of them which have reaped are entered into | 19 Matt.

Os

aS Schold,

the ‘irc ‘of the labourers who

the prayer of faith shall save the

have reaped down your fields, which is of aa ; d : : : Bieind . 24:33; 1Pet. | sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries | 4:7 : : : : he have committed sins, they shall be for5:12

the cane Ob Bbc pores tsBaste 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, | 11 Job 1:21,

16 Confess your faults one to another, and b

and been wanton;

Play ong fy another thet Me Hive

ye have nourished

your | 222:19:

Boskedt eas ae a elavienies y Brey Am‘ é te : Spe 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; | 12 matt.

and he doth not resist you

= :

Patience Exhorted 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming g of ¢ the Lord. Behold,; the husband: man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the y judge standeth before the door.

534 satin 6:13; 16:18

eaeanae

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous ileth much. Fee br bj kee panei

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it | might not rain: and it rained not on the

16 Josh.

earth by the space of three years and. six

| 10:12; Ps. | 34:15: 145:18 17 1a | 17.4 = 18 1Kgs. | 18:42, 45 19 Matt. | 1815 | 20 Prov.

months. 18 And ; he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; : 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a

10:12

5:3 last days. Some think this term refers to the latter aging years of the selfish rich, who care not for God. Others view the expression as indicative of the End Times, prior to Christ’s return, when excessive capitalism and crass materialism overshadow spiritual concerns in the Christian community. The latter view seems correct. 5:7 patient. Literally “longsuffering,” this attitude of anticipation of Christ’s return furnishes comfort in difficult times, for the believer knows a great and wonderful event is nearing. Paul expresses a similar sentiment in 2 Thessalonians 3:5. The context shows that James uses the phrase “coming of the Lord” in reference to Christ's coming both as the judge of the wicked and the rewarder of the righteous. The “early and latter rain” is an illustra-

multitude of sins.

tion drawn from agriculture to indicate spring and fall rains, expected and anticipated. Like the farmer, true believers know that certain things will occur, but cannot set a precise date. 5:8 stablish your hearts. Strengthening and confirming in our hearts that Christ’s return is “drawing nigh,” that is, always imminent and could occur at any time, results in truly loving His appearing (cf. 2 Tim. 4:8). 5:9 behold, the judge standeth before the door. Christ's coming in judgment is compared to an official standing before a door and about to enter with authority. This general illustration may be applied to any aspect or phase of Christ's future dealings with His people or this earth.

' and the first part of the book of Acts. In fact, the first twelve chapters of Acts are _ devoted to his ministry and to the development of the church in the East where he ‘ was the dominant figure. Paul talks about Peter in 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5) and Galatians (Gal. 1:18; 2:7-9, 11, 14). Earlier, Peter’s prime ministry “was to the Jews, but he “opened the door of the gospel” to the Gentiles when he led the Roman centurion, Cornelius, to Christ (Acts 10; Gal. 2:7-10). Addressed to the “elect” (1:2) scattered throughout the five Roman provinces of Asia Minor (Turkey), ; eeee this letter was intended for both Jewish and Gentile - Christians. A concise manual of biblical doctrine and godly living, the epistle is filled with the hope of a glorious eternal future. Under Emperor Nero’s reign, Christians were beginning to experience “fiery trial[s]” (1:6-7; 4:12). Designed to encourage Christians to be steadfast under these persecutions, this epistle mentions a form of the word “suffering” sixteen times. Peter writes of the divine preservation of the saints, the second coming of Christ, salvation, the eternal endurance of God’s Word, and the believers’ sacred and high calling as a chosen generation, “a royal priesthood, an holy nation” (2:9). Building his epistle on the doctrinal foundation of our high calling as Christians, the apostle sets forth spiritual guidelines for all believers, but ~ includes special instructions for ser-vants, husbands, wives, godly leaders, and youth. 2 Ox . First Peter contains numerous references to the Old Testament relating to prophecies that pertain to the second coming of Christ (1:3, 7, 11; 2:12; 4:5, 7, 18; 5:1, 4). Other fulfilled passages and typical prophecies (3:18—22) also appear in references to Old Testament passages

O Prophecy

(see 1:24-25; 2:6-8, 22; 3:10-12; 4:18).

Matters of a prophetic nature appear in 21 of the epistle’s 105. verses, or 20 percent of the whole. The book of 1 Peter has 11 direct quotations from the Old Testament.

i

eg " | 37-41

%4

~

Bae

.

oy) 35 eee ‘ » (Conversion. 2 i245. of Saul (Paul)

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oe :

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be :

: Claudius isEmperorofRome :

ee is

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Caligulais Emperor of Rome

s is

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47-49

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54-68 :

=

cop ees

_ Paul and

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Nero is Emperor of Rome

” Paul's First Missionary Joumey 49-53

65-68

; s

Peter

ave

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-

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COREG:

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Paul's Second Missionary Journey ie Paul's Third Missionary Journey

|

65 | First Peter is written

1332

CHAPTER 1

1

ioe ae

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the | 10

10 oFres pares propa have ae quired

strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Ga- |2Rom.1:7;

and

searched

duigently,who prophe-

| Sied of the grace that should come unto you:

latia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia 8:29; Titus’ | 11 Searching what, or what manner of time : &, to the : foreknowledge : of Christ 2 Elect according of |,3:5; 19:22:Heb.12:24, |the “© Spirit °P : es)which was in them did God the Father, through sanctification of ‘a 2:9; signify, when ittestified beforehand the sufthe Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of | #2! ferings of Christ, and the glory that should the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, | 40! 1:5 follow. and peace, be multiplied. 5 John 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not

17:11, 12,15 |ynto themselves, but unto us they did min“Kept by the Power of God” pas | ister the things, which are now reported 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our |5:10 | _—‘|unto you by them that have preached the Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his | 7 Job 23:10; |$0Spel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent abundant mercy hath begotten us again | Ps. 66:10; down from heaven; which things the angels

unto a lively hope by the resurrection of

ea

Jesus Christ from the dead, ~~

Rom. 2:7,

desire to look into.

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and un-

eae

:

:

Exhortation to Holiness

defiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved | | 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your j 8 John 20:29 : in heaven for you, ys mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the 5 Who are kept by the power of God 49:10: Dan. grace that is to be brought unto you at the through faith unto salvation ready to be re- | 2:44 revelation of Jesus Christ; vealed in the last time. 11 Ps. 22:6; | 14 As obedient children, not fashioning 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now — pie yourselves according to the former lusts in for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness Pay your ignorance: through manifold temptations: 1 gi 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, 7 That the trial of your faith, being much | Eph. 6:14 so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; more precious than of gold that perisheth, | 14 Rom.

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for

though it be tried with fire, might be found | 12:2

holy.

unto praise and honour and glory at the ap- | 15 Luke pearing of Jesus Christ: gene 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in 1 eM 9:2

whom, though now ye see im not, yet be-

i deta c

lieving, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and | 49.47 © full of glory: 18 1Cor. 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the | 6:20; 7:23; salvation of your souls. 1Pet. 4:3

lam

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to | every man’s work, pass the time of your so-

journing here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1:3 lively hope. Because of the new birth, the believer anticipates a literal, bodily resurrection, even as Jesus was raised from the dead (see 1 Cor. 15:23). This living, blessed, purifying hope will be realized at the Rapture and

1:7 appearing of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for “appearing” is apokalupsis, or “revelation” of Christ, a term sometimes used to encompass the whole sequence of future events from the Rapture to the Glorious Appear-

resurrection of the “dead in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:16; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3).

ing at the close of the intervening Tribulation (1 Cor. 1:7;

1:4 inheritance incorruptible . . . reserved in heaven. In keeping with this “living hope,” believers have a future inheritance, already reserved in heaven (Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:11, 14, 18; Col. 1:12; 3:24). An inheritance comes by

virtue of relationship, to be distinguished from rewards, which are granted for obedience and good works (1 Cor. 3:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:10).

1:5 kept by the power of God. Nothing can steal the believer's heavenly inheritance, although disobedience can mean a loss of rewards (2 John 8). The final consummation of our salvation will be revealed and experienced in glorification with Christ at His return (Rom. 8:17;

2 Thess. 1:10).

2 Thess. 1:7). Though persecutions and suffering may befall believers, such trials will not be “worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

1:11 sufferings of Christ . . . glory that should follow. The Old Testament prophets foresaw both the first coming, with the Messiah suffering (Isa. 53), and the Second

Coming, with Messiah reigning (Ilsa. 32:1), without understanding the long interval of this current dispensation.

1:13 revelation of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for “revelation” is the same word that is trans!ated “appearing” (v. 7), meaning the whole sequence of end-time events centered around the Second Coming.

| 1333

i The

Last

Days

| By Robert Gromacki any expressions in Scripture point to the “End Times,” sometimes called the “Last Days,” “Latter Days,” “Last Time or Times,” “Last Day,” or “Last Hour.” The various expressions are all related to the creative-redemptive program of God for this time-space universe, and they point to a specific time period—the termination of God’s purpose for a special group of people. At least four major time periods can be designated with the descriptive title of “the last days.” 1. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Peter claimed that Jesus Christ “was manifest in these last times” to die for the sins of the world (1 Pet. 1:20). This statement corresponds to the “fullness of the time” when God sent His Son to be the Savior (Gal. 4:4). In a similar concept, God has “in these last days spoken unto us by His Son” (Heb. 1:2). 2. The Last Days of Israel, or the Final Days before the New Covenant. God's pro| gram for Israel began with His covenant promise to Abraham

| | | | | | | | |

| that He would make out of the patriarch a “great nation” (Gen.

.

pe

| 12:1-3). For the next 2000 years, God worked out His creative| redemptive program in and through the people of Israel. That _ phase ended with the death, resurrection, and ascension of

os ast fe our major me periods can 4, 4,..° °

Jesus Christ. In the last days of Israel, the nation will experience unprecedented distress, trouble, or tribulation (Deut. 4:30; | 31:29; Jer. 30:24) occurring during the predicted “seventieth

be desig nated with the title of “the last days.”

' week of Daniel” (Dan. 9:24—27) and an invasion from a northern ) confederation of armies that will be destroyed directly by God | (Ezek. 38:16). At this time, Israel will go through national repentance and conversion (Deut. | 4:30; Hos. 3:4-5; Rom. 11:26—27) and will enter into the full blessings of the new covenant | during the Millennial Kingdom (Jer. 31:31-37). The Kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus Christ j on the throne of David in Jerusalem, will be established with Israel as the dominant nation (Dan. 2:44—45). Israel will thus experience the total fulfillment of all the divine unconditional covenants: Abrahamic, Land, Davidic, and New (Deut. 4:30). The blessings of Jacob upon

| his twelve sons will thus be finalized. 3. The Last Days of Gentile World Dominion. This time period, called “the times of the Gentiles” by Jesus Christ (Luke 21:24), began with the destruction of the Jewish king-

| dom by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.c. and essentially involves the dominion of Gentile nations over the world and over Israel from the destruction of the ancient ) Jewish kingdom to its reestablishment when Jesus Christ returns to earth. The Battle of Armageddon will end Gentile rule forever and will usher in the millennial and eternal reign | of Christ (Dan. 2:28; Rev. 16:13—21). 4. The Last Days of the Church Age. The apostles warned that the last days of the | Church Age would be marked by doctrinal apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1—3; 2 Pet. 3:3-4; Jude 1:17-19), moral deterioration (James 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3), and the rise of many antichrists

(1 John 2:18-19). The apostles also warned their readers that the features of the Last Days | were present in their own day (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Jude 1:4, 17-19). Thus, the last days for the | Church Age were as imminent as the Rapture itself. Whenever the Rapture occurs, the cli| max of personal salvation will happen, and the Church Age will end (1 Pet. 1:5).

1334

lowed, the same is made the head of the

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto’! unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fer-

21 Matt. 28:18; Acts

vently: 23 Being

24 Ps. 103:15; Isa. 40:6; 51:12

born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth

corner,

offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 2:24, 33 22 1Pet. 2:17; 3:8; 4:8; 1John 3:18; 4:7, 21

23 John 1:13; 3:5

1 Eph. 4:22, 25, 31 2 Rom. 6:4; 1Cor. 3:2;

14:20

away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for

3 Ps. 34:8

ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

5 Isa. 61:6; 66:21

CHAPTER 2 The People of God 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disal-

4 Ps. 118:22

6 Isa. 28:16; Rom. 9:33 7 Ps. 118:22; Matt. 21:42

8 Ex. 9:16; Isa. 8:14 9 Ex. 19:5, 6; Deut. 4:20; 7:6; 10:15; 14:2; 26:18,

19; Eph. 1:14; 5:8; Col. 1:13 11 Rom. 13:14; Gal. 5:16; Heb. 11:13 12 Matt. 5:16; Luke 19:44; Rom. 12:17 13 Matt. 22:21

17 Matt. 22:21 18 Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22

should shew forth the praises of him who

9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal

priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained

mercy.

“11 Dearly

beloved, I beseech you. as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Subjection to Human Government 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Subjection to Authority 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with

15 Titus 2:8; 1Pet. 2:12

1:20 manifest in these last times. This expression refers to the first coming of Jesus. In this context, “last times” describes the period between the first and second comings, in which the Rapture is always imminent (see 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18). 2:9-10

‘

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of

all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 4 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it pa-

hath called you. Not only are New Testament believers a “chosen generation” and a “royal priesthood” to show forth His praises now, but they will continue to hold these — “offices” in the everlasting future as well (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14; Rev. 1:6; 5:10).

1335

tiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer

ot Nat hn

|and as being heirs. together of the grace of

for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable | ;3:45' on" | life; that your prayers be not hindered.

with God.

22 Isa. 53:9;

21 For even hereunto were ye called: be- | Luke 23:41;

:

The Blessedness of Suffering for

cause Christ also suffered for us, leaving us aan id Righteousness’ Sake an example, that ye should follow his steps: | Heb. 4:15" 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found | 93 jsq, 53.7; |compassion one of another, love as in his mouth: Matt. 27:39; | brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not |‘YK® 2348 | g Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for again; when he suffered, he threatened not; Fp el railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing but committed himself to him that judgeth | g:17.'Rom. | that ye are thereunto called, that ye should righteously: 6:2, 11; 7:6 | inherit a blessing.

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his | 25|sa. 53:6; |10 For he that will love life, and see good own body on the tree, that we, being dead var ak days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, to sins, should live unto righteousness: by / ie 4. | and his lips that they speak no guile: 3 or. 7:16; ; é whose stripes ye were healed. 9:19-22: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but | 14:34 him seek peace, and ensue it.

are now returned unto the Shepherd and | 31Tim. 2:3; | 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the Bishop of your souls. Titus 2:3 righteous, and his ears are open unto their

4 2Cor. 4:16 | prayers: but the face of the Lord is against

CHAPTER 3

6 Gen. 18:12 |them that do evil.

Advice to Wives and Husbands

7 1Cor. 7:3; | 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye

1. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not

12:23; Eph. 5:25

the word, they also may without the word

EA 0‘16:

be won by the conversation of the wives;

15:5; Eph.

2 While they behold your chaste conversa: |“2

be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

:

.

tion coupled with fear. SPros “Having a Good Conscience” 3 Whose adorning let it not be that out- | matt. 5:39; | 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: ward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of | 25:34 and be ready always to give an answer to wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; | 10 Ps. 34:12; |every man that asketh you a reason of the

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, |¥#°S 128 | hope that is in you with meekness and fear: in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is

P. Soak - A a4-

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they

in the sight of God of great price. 13: Jer. 1:8: |May be ashamed that falsely accuse your 5 For after this manner in the old time the | Matt.5:10- | good conversation in Christ.

holy women

adorned

also, who

themselves,

trusted

in God,

being in subjection

Ms

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so,

Terk 38

that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil

unto their own husbands: 16 Tee 28 doing. 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling | yep, 13:18:. |18 For Christ also hath once suffered for him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as | 1Pet. 2:12 sins, the just for the unjust, that he might ye do well, and are not afraid with any | 18 Rom. 1:4; | bring us to God, being put to death in the

amazement.

ata

flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them va, according. to. knowledge, giving honour | 49-9. 61.7. |_ unto. the wife, as unto

the weaker vessel,

3:19-20 He went and preached unto the spirits in _ prison. The preincarnate Christ, by the Holy Spirit, preached through Noah to those who lived before the - Flood, to those who were disobedient and who rejected the proclaimed truth. Consequently, since these rebel-

lious people refused the message, they then died in the Flood and are now in hell, existing as “spirits in prison,” awaiting judgment and everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:11-15). Christ, between His death and resurrection, descended into the

19 By which also he went and preached wnto the spirits in prison; 20 Which

sometime

were _ disobedient,

area of Hades and Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22-23). Removing the Old Testament saints from a temporary Paradise and transferring them to the “third heaven” or “paradise” (see 2 Cor. 12:1—3), Jesus also proclaimed His

victory over sin to the lost spirits in prison, who in hell. The “spirits in prison” may also refer fallen angels or demons (see Gen. 6:2—3; 2 Pet. 1:6), to whom Christ, between His death and

remained to those 2:4; Jude resurrec-

tion, made some proclamation, the content of which is

unrevealed.

1336 when once the longsuffering of God waited | 21 Rom.

in the days of Noah, while the ark was a

9

Use hospitality one to another without

baie 'Pet. | grudging.

preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls | 5, Ps. 110:1. |18 As every man hath received the gift, even were saved by water. fiche 0 minister the same one to another, as good 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism |7 "=| stewards of the manifold grace of God. doth also now save us (not the putting away | 9 9¢o, 5:15: |11 If any man speak, let him speak as the orof the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a | Gal. 2:20 acles of God; if any man minister, let him do good conscience toward God,) by the resur- | 3 Ezek. 44:6; | it as of the ability which God giveth: that

rection of Jesus Christ:

45:9

God in all things may be glorified through

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the | 4 Acts

Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and domin-

right hand of God; angels and authorities |124918 and powers being made subject unto him.

CHAPTER

4

| ion for ever and ever. Amen.

° a 1731:

.

ieee

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered | 19°! 5 for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise ee

Believers Should Not Be Ashamed 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though

with the same mind: for he that hath suf- | 26:41; Luke | some strange thing happened unto you: fered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

21:34

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers

2 That he no longer should live the rest of | 8 1Cor. 13:7 his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but | 10 Matt.

| of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with

to the will of God. rita sgrith exceeding joy. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice | 2,7;12:4 ‘| 14 If ye be reproached for the name us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, | 14 Jer. when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, ex- | 23:22; 1Cor. cess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and

abominable idolatries:

of

Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory | and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is

12 1Pet. 1:7 |olorified.

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye | 13 Phi. 3:10 /45 But let none of you suffer as a murderer run not with them to the same excess of riot, | 14 Matt. :

:

5:11; 1Pet.

speaking evil of you:

5 Who shall give account to him that is | 45 ithess. ready to judge the quick and the dead. 4:11 6

For

for

this

cause

or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busy:

,

2:12 19,29 | body in other men’s matters.

was

the

gospel | 171Isa.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

preached also to them that are dead, that | 10:12; Jer.

| 17 For the time is come that judgment must

they might be judged according to men in ee ae begin at the house of God: and if it first begin the flesh, but live according to God in the | 4. p,,,, at us, what shall the end be of them that spirit. 11:31; Luke | obey not the gospel of God?

7

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye | 23:31

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved,

therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

19 Ps. 31:5;

8 And above all things have fervent charity

ees

among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

4:5 give account to him that is ready to judge the quick [living] and the dead. God is prepared in His time to bring the living and the dead, all generations, before Him to give an account of their deeds (Rom. 14:12). All the unsaved, those guilty of walking in wickedness (v. 3) will be summoned before the Great White Throne to face the Judge, Jesus Christ (John 5:22; Rev. 20:11-15).

4:6 gospel preached. . . to them that are dead. This refers to those who had responded to the gospel while alive but now had died, many as martyrs. They had been judged and condemned to martyrdom in the flesh by Roman law, but were alive in spirit, living with God. 4:7 be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. In the Apostolic Age, as now, there was a constant expec-

| where shall the ungodly and the sinner ap-

pear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of

tation that the consummation, or the end of the age, was at hand. That is as it should be. Believers should always conduct their lives with seriousness, watchfulness and prayer, for no one knows the day or the hour when Christ may return. y

4:13 when his glory shall be revealed. Believers who are persecuted for their faith are partakers of the same kind of suffering the Savior endured for obeying and serving God with faithfulness, loyalty and love. When Christ returns, we shall “appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4). All will rejoice, but especially those who have been persecuted and martyred will more fully understand “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

e a

1337 their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

CHAPTER

5

Exhortations to Elders 1. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's her-

itage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1 Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; 5:32;

10:39 2 Matt. 20:25, 26; John 21:15, 16, 17; 1Cor. SECRL BIE Titus 1:7; 2:7

4 1Cor, 9:25; Heb. 13:20 5 Isa. 57:15; 66:2 Aes okey 55:22; Matt. 6:25; Luke

T2722 8 Job 1:7; 2:2 10 2Thess. 2h; 3:3; 1Tim. 6:12; Heb. 13:21 12 Acts 20:24 13 Acts 12:12, 25 14 Rom. 16:16; 1Cor. 16:20

5:1 partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Peter, apostle, elder (pastor), and eyewitness of Jesus’ sufferings, had also briefly beheld the transfigured person of Jesus Christ, His face shining as the sun and His garment as white as the light (Matt. 17:2). He, with James and John, had a fleeting glimpse of Jesus’ effulgent majesty. When His glory is fully revealed at His return, those who have suffered for Him and those who have

faithfully served Him will share forever His eternal glory

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh

about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of Ged wherein ye stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

(cf. Rev. 2:10; 3:12, 21).

5:4 chief Shepherd shall appear. Jesus Christ, the “chief Shepherd” (cf. John 10:11; Heb. 13:20), will return to reward His faithful undershepherds with “a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” This special reward for faithful, godly spiritual leaders is one of five crowns mentioned in Scripture for loving, faithful service (see 1 Cor. 9:25; 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10; 3:11).

2 Peter he second epistle of Peter, was written not long before the writer’s martyrdom fi (1:14). Two major themes contrast the true knowledge of God through Scripture and the heretical doctrines of false teachers. The issue of false teachers in 2 Peter is similar to the content in the Epistle of Jude. Peter, however, issues a warning concerning the false teachers that eventually would come, while Jude states that they were already present. The overarching truth of Peter’s second epistle is that Jesus is

coming again!

.

As in his first epistle, Peter exhorts his readers to spiritual living, reminding them : that God’s divine power has provided all things necessary for “life and godliness through the knowledge of” Peter theApostle. Christ, who has “called us to glory and virtue” (1:3). Concerned about false prophets, Peter draws on the Old Testament in the second chapter for dramatic illustrations of the divine punishment awaiting those True Knowledge vs. who are purveyors of false doctrines on this earth— False—

__

those who have professed Christ, but reveal their true

evil nature by returning to practice wickedness. These deceivers teach that God’s grace made the requireNero’s Persecution of Christians ments of the Law completely irrelevant, thus giving y Verse believers a license to sin without consequence. ing In the last chapter, Peter counters and refutes the We have also amore sure arguments of those who deny the second coming of word a prophecy. _ Christ. Today, as in this epistle, many still ask “Where : is the promise of his coming?” (3:4), Ba that time has simply run its course from the beginning of creation. In TS Z their minds, Christ’s return is an unrealistic hope. Those who pop4 1% ularize this error reject the plain and historical fact that first centuO ry believers and millions throughout the centuries have Pro taught that Jesus will come back to earth. The truth is an integral and irremovable part of the Word of God and historic and contemporary Christianity. Of the 61 verses in the epistle, 25 verses (41%) are } related to prophetic themes with 11 separate forecasts. Some of these are fulfilled; however, most refer to end-time events. There is only 1 quotation from the Old Testament.

|26 |

37-41

Conversion of Peter

Caligula is Emperor of Rome

41-54 Claudius is Emperor of Rome

14-37 Tiberius is Emperor of Rome

26-305.

Public ministry of Jesus

NeroisEmperorofRome

47-49 Conversion f Saul (Paul

2

oo!

Paul's First Missionary Journey 45 53 =

Paul's Second Missionary Journey 53-56

Paul's Third Missionary Journey

1339

CHAPTER 1 1 Acts 15:14 | sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of pe 7:3; | fall: Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained | 2-12: 4:7

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto

like precious faith with us through the | 4 cor, 3:18, |You abundantly into the everlasting kingdom righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus | Heb. 12:10;

Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2Pet 2:18, 20 |12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put cog he you always in remembrance of these things, §.

though ye know them, and be established in

7Gals6:10

the present truth.

me bie onn

e/;

“Great and Precious Promises”

2

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and

ROPCeL Ba ee

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in j

ian

7

j

sti isu kaguban Cok

Hay Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ

godliness, through the knowledge of him | 2Pet. 3:1,17; |hath shewed me. that hath called us to glory and virtue: Jude 1:5 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding | 132Cor 5:1, |be able after my decease to have great and precious promises: that by these : things always in remembrance.

ye might be partakers of the divine nature, reget having escaped the corruption that is in the | 31:14: John world through lust. 21:18, 19 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add | 16 Matt. to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; Hey BY 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to | John 1:14

these

‘A More Sure Word of Prophecy” 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto

temperance patience; and to patience godli- | 17 matt. ness; 3:17; 17:5; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; Mad and to brotherly kindness charity. 3:22; 9:35 8 For if these things be in you, and | 18 Ex. 3:5;

you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven

abound, they make you that ye shall neither | Josh. 5:15;

| we heard, when we were with him in the

be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge g of ba our Lord Jesus Christ. |. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, ei and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten | John 5:35 that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili- |99 pom, gence to make your calling and election | 12:6 1:11

entrance ... ministered unto you abundantly

into the everlasting kingdom. Dedicated Christians,

who grow and become fruitful, cultivating through God's provision and power the prime qualities of faith—virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and brotherly love—will never stumble or fall. Not only will they enjoy assurance on earth, but their entrance into heaven will be rich and abundant. A full reward awaits the faithful, godly believer in Christ’s everlasting kingdom (see Eph. 2:6—7).

1:16 power and coming of the our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter reminds his readers that at the Transfiguration, they beheld Christ’s dynamic power and majestic “coming” (Gr. parousia, the same word used for both the Rapture

and the Glorious Appearing). This scene was a foretaste of His glory to be revealed at His second coming. 1:19 more sure word of prophecy. God’s prophetic Word is more complete, authoritative, and permanent

holy y mount mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of

than the most profound spiritual experiences, even than the Transfiguration beheld by Peter. The Word of God is the light and lamp of divine revelation, shining in a world filled with spiritual darkness (Eph. 5:11; 6:12; Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 5:4—-5; 1 Pet. 2:9). Believers will have a new

understanding in their hearts of the magnitude of His future revelation in glory, as represented by the arising of “the day dawn, and the day star,” clear expressions of the coming of Christ. 1:20 prophecy of the scripture. This phrase includes not only specific prophetic teachings, but the totality of God’s grand revelation of Himself and His plan for time and eternity in the entire Word of God. No Scripture was privately originated in human will, released from a mere human mind, or understood by one’s own power. Scripture is not the product of mere human interpretation of historical events, but the result of God's own initiative.

1340

the scripture is of any private interpretation. | 21 2Sam.

godly out of temptations, and. to reserve the

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by

unjust unto the day of judgment to be pun-

at ue

the will of man: but holy men of God spake | 1:16; 3:18 as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

CHAPTER 2 Warnings against False Teachers 1 But there were false prophets among

chiefly

them

that walk

after

the

Matt. 24:11; |flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise foe sae government. Presumptuous are they, selfJude 1:4, 18; |willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of also | Fev. 5:9 dignities.

the people, even as there shall be | 3 Deut. ‘

ished;

1 Deut, 13:1; | 10 But

Rta

11 Whereas

angels, which

32:35; 2Pet.

| Power and might, bring not railing accusa-

bring in damnable heresies, even denying | 1:4, 15 the Lord that bought them, and bring upon | 4 Job 4:18;

tion against them before the Lord. -| 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made

themselves swift destruction.

. he i

7

me

to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the

2 And many shall follow their pernicious | Jude 1:6; ways; by reason of whom the-way of truth | Rev. 20:2,3. shall be evil spoken of.

c

are greater in

false teachers among you, who privily shall | 7-76: jude’

5 Gen. 7:1,

things that they understand not; and shall | utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unright-

3 And through covetousness shall they I Hk eousness, as they that count it pleasure to with feigned words make merchandise of | 3:19, 20: riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemyou: whose judgment now of a long time | 2Pet. 3:6 ishes, sporting themselves with their own lingereth not, and their damnation slum- | 6 Gen. 19:24 | deceivings while they feast with you; . bereth not.

4

7Gen. 19:16 | 14 Having

For if God spared not the angels that | 8Ps.

eyes full of adultery, and that

cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable

sinned, but cast them down to hell, and de- | 119:139, 158 | souls: an heart they have exercised with livered them into chains of darkness, to be | 9 1Cor. 10:13 |covetous practices; cursed children:

reserved unto judgment;

10 Jude 1:4, | 15 Which have forsaken the right way,. and

5

78,1016

And spared not the old world, but saved

| are gone astray, following the way of Ba-

Noah the eighth person, a preacher of right- | 11 Jude 1:9 | Jaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages eousness, bringing in the flood upon the | 12 Jer. 12:3; |of unrighteousness; world of the ungodly; wud 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and GoAEP morrah into ashes condemned them with an | 1:12 |

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

overthrow, making them an ensample unto | 14 Jude 1:11 | 17 These

those that after should live ungodly; 15 Num. 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the | 22:5,7,21,

are wells without.

water,

clouds

that are carried with a tempest: to whom | the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

filthy conversation of the wicked:

wee Jude

48 For when

8

17 Jude

words of vanity, they allure through the lusts

(For that righteous man dwelling among

them,

in seeing

and

hearing,

vexed

his | 1.12, 13

of the

flesh,

they speak great swelling through

much

wantonness,

righteous soul from day to day with their | 4g Jude 1:1g |those that were clean escaped from them unlawful deeds);

9

The Lord knoweth

who live in error.

how to deliver the

19 While they promise them liberty, they

1:21. moved by the Holy Ghost. The inspired writers of the sacred Scripture were “holy men of God” who were moved, borne along, guided, and impelled by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit so guided their thoughts and writings, without suppressing their individual styles and vocabularies, that they composed and recorded (without error)

in their original manuscripts the exact words

God

intended (2 Tim. 3:16).

2:1-22 This chapter is very similar to the book of Jude. So serious is the danger from false prophets and false teachers in this current dispensation that the Holy Spirit inspired both men to address these issues near the end of their lives, as if to warn their generation and all generations that would follow.

2:4 reserved unto judgment. Fallen angels are destined

to be released from their present hell (Gr. tartarus) to be

judged and then consigned to the lake of fire, the final hell, a place “prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). 2:9 deliver the godly out of temptations. The Greek word translated “temptations” implies an attack with intent to destroy, but from which God can deliver the godly before judgment falls on the wicked. This kind of deliverance will occur prior to the Tribulation, when the Church will be kept “from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). All of the wicked of ages past, having already been in-hell following death, will one day

stand before the Great White Throne in the day of final judgment and eternal doom (Rev. 20:11—15).

1341 themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the

latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known if, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

20 Matt. 12:45; Luke 11:26; Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26, 27; 2Pet. 1:2, 4; 2:18 21 Luke 12:47, 48; John 9:41; 16:22 22 Prov. 26:11 1 2Pet. 1:13 2 Jude 1:17 3.17im. 4:1; 2Tim. 3:1; 2Pet. 2:10; Jude 1:18 4 Isa. 5:19; Jer. 17:15

CHAPTER

3

Exhortations to Faithfulness 1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Peter’s Outline of History and the Future (2 Peter 3:1-14) —

The Flood

1seq soby

Christ’s First Coming

seby ainjn4g

Day of the Lord

Catastrophe the world that was

Second Coming

the world that is

v.6

v7

new heavens and new earth w. 10-13

© AMG Publishers

3:3-6 Knowing this first. After describing the proliferation of false teachers to take place during this dispensation, Peter then stresses the importance of being aware of “scoffers,” or those who would cast doubt on whether the Second Coming will truly happen. While the expression “in the last days” is used to characterize the entire period between Jesus’ first and second advents, scoffers of our own time fit Peter’s description particularly well. Ridicule and mockery arise from willful rejection of truth rather than any presentation of facts. The present popu-

lar theory of history is based on the supposedly scientific idea of uniformitarianism, which teaches that geological and biological phenomena have operated uniformly since the universe began. Peter accuses such scoffers of ignoring the biblical account of the original creation (Gen. 1), when the earth was formed out of water and in the

water. Those same waters prominent in the original creation also covered the earth and destroyed it in the Noahic Flood (v. 6, cf. Gen. 6—8).

1342

I's

|

ern

of Judgment

By Charles Clough H:.. are biblical descriptions of God’s judgments such as “stars falling from heaven,” “the moon turning red,” and “great earthquakes” to be understood? Do they refer to literal astronomical and geophysical events, or are they merely exaggerated forms of speech and mere metaphors? The proper way to understand prophecies of catastrophes is to follow the apostle Peter’s approach and look at the true record of God's past historical judgments (2 Pet. 3:5—7). The universe, including all astronomical and geophysical processes, runs under the control of the Word of God rather than being the product of hypothesized natural laws (Col. 1:17; Heb.1:3; 11:3). God has preserved in the Bible eyewitness observations that testify to sudden, precisely-designed catastrophes affecting the celestial heavens as well as planet earth. ; as The most catastrophic judgment ever to befall mankind is — SR the Flood of Noah’s day which radically altered the planet and : past judg-

which is used in Scripture to illustrate God's future end-time judgments (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27). The flood judg-

ment had a specific pattern: 1) the judgment came suddenly

Lic ee :

ments model His Se

ge

rT

S

a

_ fiMIME Judg ments.

(Gen. 7:11), but only after a period of grace (Gen. 6:1—8), 2) it involved the total physical environment in the heavens and the earth in ways previously unobserved (Gen. 6:17, cf. 2:5-6), 3) it surgically and precisely separated the saved from the lost (Gen. 6:18—21, cf.:2 Pet. 2:5—9), and 4) it included specific geophysical phenomena that manifested God's glory in supernatural fashion (Ps. 29:3 [cf. Gen. 8:1]; Ezek. 1:28; Rev. 4:3 [cf. Gen. 9:13-16]). God continued this pattern of judgment throughout the subsequent history of Israel. The ten Exodus plague judgments consisted of suddenly occurring, intelligently directed phenomena that targeted specific objects. The visible fiery pillar between heaven and earth was the Angel of Yahweh, a theophany (Ex. 13:21). The crossing of the Red Sea featured unique meteorological and hydrodynamic phenomena (Ex. 14:21—29). Joshua was aided with “stones from heaven” that hit only enemy soldiers, while solar and lunar motion ceased (Josh. 10:11-14). Unusual celestial and atmospheric events occurred in the days

of the Judges (Judg. 5:20-23) and of Samuel (1 Sam. 7:10). While David reigned, a precise seventy-two-hour plague that killed only Hebrews occurred (2 Sam. 24:10—25; 1 Chr.

21:9-27). This judgment pattern is an inherent feature of God’s rule as explained in the Mosaic covenant (Lev. 26; Deut. 28). It is the biblical answer to the problem of evil. God's determination to deal with the consequences of the fall extends not only to Israel but also to all nations (Deut. 30:7; 32:43; Isa. 34). The Old Testament prophets announced coming judg-

ments within this pattern. Their prophecies of future judgments, therefore, use the vocabulary of these past judgments (e.g., Isa. 10:26; 11:15; 28:21; 29:6; Zech. 14:4-8). The New Testament continues the Old Testament view that God judges with awesome power. Jesus and the apostle John repeat the familiar prophetic language of unprecedented physical judgments accompanied by theophanies (Matt. 24:29-30; Rev. 16:18). The same fire, smoke, hail, thunder, plague, and earthquake of the Old Testament judgments once again appear in Revelation 6—18. These terms are not exaggerations and metaphors. They point to a final culmination in God’s program of separating good from evil throughout all creation. God's past judgments thus model His future judgments.

en

1343

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of

hae, 33:6. 136-6

dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in ail holy conversation and godliness,

old, and the earth standing out of the water | § gen, 7:11, |12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming

of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the ele-

and in the water: 21-23 6 Whereby the world that then was, being | 7 Matt,

overflowed with water, perished.

25:41;

ments shall melt with fervent heat?

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judg-

anesaylss babaaee pasnreee

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

ment and perdition of ungodly men.

32; 33:11. | 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one | 19 Isa. 51:6; | for such things, be diligent that ye may be thing, that one day is with the Lord as a | Matt. 24:35, |found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. thousand years, and a thousand years as alan one day. 3:3; 16:15; 15 And account that the longsuffering of

our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved | 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his | 2011 promise, as some men count slackness; but | 11 !Pet.1:15 |brother Paul also according to the wisdom is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that | 12 Isa. 34:4; | given unto him hath written unto you;

any should perish, but that all should come | M14

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in

to repentance.

tae os,

The End of Christ’s Millennial

Rev, 21:1, 27 | things hard to be understood, which they .g, | that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as 1558 a they do also the other scriptures, unto their

Kingdom

15 Rom. 2:4 | own destruction.

' 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a | 16 Rom.

them

of these things; in which

17 Ye therefore,

beloved,

are some

seeing ye know

these things before, beware lest ye also, | thief in the night; in the which the heavens Se | shall pass away with a great noise, and the | ;Thess. 4:15 | being led away with the error of the wicked, | elements shall melt with fervent heat, the | 47 pet. ' earth also and the works that are therein | 1:10, 11,12;

| shall be burned up.

2:18

fall from your own stedfastness. | 18 But growin grace, and in the knowledge

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him

| 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be | 18 Eph. 4:15 | be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

| 3:7 by the same word. The same Word of God that predicted the Flood and fulfilled it, also has predicted the future destruction of this world in the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. | 3:8 one day is with the Lord as a thousand years. God | is present everywhere, and is not limited by time and

space. He is not bound by the normal flow of time, as | humans experience it. A thousand years is but a brief span to One who inhabits eternity; conversely, a day with

| the One who knows all things at all times might seem like a thousand years to finite mankind.

3:9 not slack concerning his promise. God is not late in consummating this age, since to Him it is but a brief span of time, but in His longsuffering He continues His | plan to save the lost. In patience He allows time for peo| ple to repent, “not willing that any should perish, but that

| all should come to repentance.” 3:10 day of the Lord. This term points to the special | intervention of God in history involving both judgment and blessings. It is used of the End Times in general, but | can also be used with reference to the key events of that | time, such as the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennial Kingdom, or the Great White Throne Judgment. In this

verse, the emphasis is on the final end of the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20:7-15).

3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God. With a continuing expectancy in our hearts, believers should continue looking for the “grand finale” of history, as divinely planned and set forth in prophetic Scripture. “Hasting” means eagerly desiring or enthusiastically anticipating the coming of the “day of God.” This is not the second coming of Christ, but rather the arrival and presence of the day when God dissolves the heavens as we know them, the earth is burned up and the elements melt with fervent heat in a fiery cataclysmic event. This earth will be completely consumed, and a new earth, fresh from the Creator’s hand, will replace the old one

(Rev. 21—22). 3:13 look for new heavens and a new earth. This is not the millennial earth, but a promised eternal realm consisting of new heavenly creations, pure from sin. These consist of a new earth as described in Rev. 21:1-6, and a new city, where the Bride of Christ will live forever, the place Jesus went to prepare for us (John 14:2—3; Heb. 11:16; 12:22-24; Rev. 21:9-14).

T his first of three epistles attributed to the apostle John, and the last epistle to the churches, is similar in style and vocabulary to the gospel of John. The elderly John wrote the letter primarily to those who were members of the churches of Asia Minor toward the end of the first century. Because the letter addresses such broad moral topics, it is clear that John’s goal was to provide direction for those Christians who faced new challenges to their faith. At this time, there was an emergence of various groups whose teachings opposed Christianity. These people infiltrated the church, and there were many that gave in to their denial of the key fundamentals of Christianity. This first epistle of John was apparently a circular letter sent to a group of churches of which Ephesus was the center, possibly the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 1:4) where John ministered. Emphasizing beautifully the spiritual truths of “light, love, and life” and warmly appealing for deeper fellowship with God and believers, this epistle is one of certainty. The word “know” in a positive sense appears some thirty times. The purpose of the epistle is expressed in five reasons: 1) “that your joy may be full” (1:4); 2) “that ye sin not” (2:1); 3) that you not be deceived by false teaching (2:26); 4) “that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (5:13); and 5) “that ye may believe-on the name of the son of God” (5:13, cf. John 20:31). Abiding in Christ, remaining and continuing in close, intimate, prayerful fellowship with J esus, is a strong underlying theme in the epistle, where the word “abide” appears eleven times in various contexts. Important passages about the future include the coming of the Antichrist (2:18, 22); the coming of Christ for his saints (2:28; 3:1-3); and our preparation for the believers’ judg-

tment day (4:17). Prophetic content involves only 4 subjects and 6 verses out of 105, or about 6 percent of the epistle. First John has no Old Testament quotations, but refers once to Cain

(3:12).

ae

Public ministry

1345

CHAPTER

1

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

“Walk in the Light” 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

CHAPTER

2

1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The Believer’s Assurance 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth

not his commandments, truth is not in him.

is a liar, and the

1 Luke 24:39; John 1:1, 14; 20:27; 1John 4:14 2 John 1:1, 2, 4; 11:25; 14:6; 21:24; Acts 2:32;

iJohn 3:5; 5:20 3 John 17:21 4 John 15:11; 16:24: 2John 1:12

5 John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 36;

1John 3:11 7 Eph. 1:7; 1Pet. 1:19; 1John 2:2

8 Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; 1John 2:4 9:Ps; 32:5; 51:2; Prov. 28:13 1 Rom. 8:34 2 John 1:29; 4:42; 11:51, 52; Rom. 3:25 5 John 14:21, 23; 1John 4:12, 13

6 Matt. 11:29; John 13:15 7 1John 3:11 8 John 1:9; 8:12; 12:35; 13:34; 15:12 9 1 John 3:14, 15

10 2Pet. 1:10; 1John 3:14

11 John 12:35 12 Luke 24:47; 1John 1:7

15 Matt. 6:24; Rom. 12:2; Gal. 1:10; James 4:4 16 Eccl. 5:11

17 1Cor. 7:31; James 1:10; 4:14; 1Pet. 1:24

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Exhortations to Brotherly Love 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until

now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because

ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the

wicked one.

“Love Not the World” 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2:17 John predicts that the temporal world (Gr. Kosmos) will pass away but that believers who do the will of God will

live forever in the age to come. This prophecy foresees the coming destruction of the earth (cf. 2 Peter 3:7-13; Rev.

20:7—10).

1346 The Promise of Eternal Life

Ha

truth, and is no lie, and even

as it hath

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as | 2Thess. 2:3, |taught you, ye shall abide in him, ye have heard that antichrist shall come, ri ole 28 And nowy, little children, abide: in: him; even now are there many antichrists; |john 1.7 |“tat. when he shall appear, we may have

whereby we know that it is the last time.

| ig pe

| Confidence, and not be ashamed before him

19 They went out from us, but they were | 13:13; Ps. not of us: for if they had been of us, they aan cont

at his coming. eas 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know

would no doubt have continued with'us: but | 6:37: 1028 they went out, that they might be made man- | 29 John ifest that they were not all of us.

|tbat every one that doeth righteousness. is born of him.

10:4, 5;

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy |126 1618 One, and ye know all things.

CHAPTER

ie—

21 I have not written unto you because ye’} 1:7

‘

1

know not the truth, but because ye know it, | 93 John and that no lie is of the truth.~

3

;

.| Evidences of a True Believer Behold, what manner of love the Father

hath bestowed upon us, that we should be

14:7, 9,10;

| called the sons of God: therefore the world

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that |12% 15:23 | Knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that de- |28°hn 17:3 |2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, nieth the Father and the Son.

ci eae

and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same | john 14:26, | but we know that, when he shall appear, we hath not the Father: but he that acknowled- | 16:13 shall be like him; for we shall see him as he geth the Son hath the Father also.

1 John 1:12; | is.

24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye

rath aeee

3 And every man that hath this hope in

have heard from the beginning. If that *6 : ar, him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. which ye have heard from the beginning isa, 56:5; ‘ | 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresshall remain in you, ye also shall continue | Matt. 5:8; seth also the law: for sin is the transgression in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life,

cn ag: g And ;

of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

26 These things have I written unto you con- |4*°™. 15 |§ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: cerning them that seduce you.

3ae

whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, nei-

27 But the anointing which ye have re- | 2:22,24

|

ther known him.

ceived of him abideth in you, and ye need | 6 jJohn2:4; | 7

not that any man teach you: but as the same | 4:8; 3John anointing teacheth you of all things, and is 7

2:18 antichrist. This is the first appearance of this term in the Bible. It is one of several biblical designations for the end-times ruler who will appear on the world scene after the Rapture (see 2 Thess. 2:3-10). In this passage,

John reminds his readers that the Antichrist is coming in the future. Then, he adds that many antichrists have already come. These are Christ-denying, false teachers who prefigure the ultimate Antichrist yet to come in the future. The “last time” refers to the period of time between the first and second comings of Christ (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:7; 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 1:18).

2:22-23 John defines the anti-Christian spirit of false prophets and false teachers by explaining that they deny that Jesus is the Christ. Their blatant rejection of Him as the Messiah is also a rejection of His incarnate deity. 2:27-28 The anointing of the Holy Spirit both guards the believer from error and guides him into truth (cf. John 14:26; 16:13). John warns of a coming apostasy of unbelief and urges true believers to hold to the truth until Jesus returns to take His Church at the Rapture. John

Little children, let no man deceive you:

he that doeth righteousness even as he is righteous.

is righteous,

promises us that we can have confidence (or assurance)

that we will not be ashamed at Christ's coming. 3:2-3 John points to the second coming of Christ as both our future hope and our present motivation. We have been adopted into God's family and are already called the sons (lit. “children”) of God. In the meantime,

our future glory is not yet fully revealed to us, but we can be confident that when Jesus comes for us in the Rapture we will be completely transformed. We will become like Him in that we will be totally changed into the moral image and likeness of Christ (cf. Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:42—-49: Phil. 3:21). At the Rapture, believers who have

died will be resurrected and “caught up” with living believers in the air to meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16—17).

This transformation will take place sometime during the Rapture, the judgment seat of Christ, or the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (cf. Rev. 19:79). John challenges his readers to purify their lives in the meantime in anticipa- —

tion of Jesus’ coming.

pee

1347

Living in t of His Co: By Edward Hindson he tension between living for today and looking for tomorrow is one of the realities of the Christian life. We often find ourselves caught between the here-and-now and the hereafter. On the one hand, we need to be ready for Jesus to come at any moment. On the other hand, we have God-given responsibilities to fulfill in this world in the meantime. Preparing for Christ's return is something each one of us must do for ourselves. No one else can get our hearts ready to meet God. You and | must do that for ourselves. Jesus, in view of His second coming, urges us to keep watching (Matt. 24:42), be ready (Matt. 24:44), and keep serving (Matt. 24:46). He left specific instructions about what we ought to be doing while we await His coming. eR a 1. Witness for Him everywhere you go. Our Lord taught _., . His disciples to be His witnesses everywhere—even to the fare balance of

| thest ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

_ expectation and

|

=~... ° ° _ arucipation .

2. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15). This command emphasizes the evangelistic and

missionary nature of the ministry of the Church during the present era. We are to take the gospel to the whole world.

hat the Christian life is all about.

3. “Repentance and remission of sins should be | preached .. . among all nations,” our Lord declared in Luke | 24:47. Calling men and women to repent and believe the gospel is the twofold nature of the evangelistic enterprise. 4. “Teach all nations, baptizing them,” Jesus said in Matthew 28:19. Making converts and discipling them in their walk with God is a major emphasis of the Church's mission. _ 5. Build the Church, in every generation. Jesus told His disciples that He would | build His Church with such power that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Jesus pictured the Church being on the march until He calls her home. 6. “Occupy till |come,” Jesus said in the parable of the talents (Luke 19:13). In this parable, the servants were to “put this money to work” until their master returned. We are to be busy about the Master’s business until He returns. 7. Remain faithful until He returns. Our Lord concluded His prophetic message in | the Olivet Discourse by reminding His disciples to continue in faithful and wise service even though He might be gone a long time (Matt. 24:45; 25:14—21). In the meantime, we can live with our eyes on the skies, watching for Christ to come, | and with our feet on the earth, working for Him until He comes. This balance of expecta| tion (that Jesus could come at any moment) and participation (serving Him faithfully until He comes) is what the Christian life is really all about. Living in the light of His coming keeps us focused on what is really important in life. It also keeps our attention on the bal| ance between our present responsibilities and our future expectations.

1348 8

He that committeth

sin is of the devil;

for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of

8 Gen. 3:15

23 And this is his commandment, That we

9 1Pet. 1:23; jJohn 5:18

should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spizit which he hath given us.

11 John 13:34; 15:12

the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever

12 Gen. 4:4,

8 13 John 15:18, 19; 17:14

15 Matt. 5:21, 22; {John 4:20

doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

16 John 3:16; 15:13

Love in Deed and Truth

17 Luke 3:11

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world

18 Rom. 12:9; Eph. 4:15 19 John 18:37; 1John 1:8

21 Heb. 10:22 22 Matt. 7:8;

21:22; Mark

hate you.

11:24; John 8:29; 9:31; 14:13; 15:7

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother

23 Matt.

abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a mur-

22:39; John 6:29; 13:34; 353123.17:3,

derer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, be-

24 John 14:23; 15:10; 17:21; 1John

4:12, 13

cause he laid down his life for us: and we

1 Jer. 29:8; Matt, 24:4,

ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how ’ dwelleth the love of God in him? \18 My little children, let us not love in|

4

“Try the Spirits” 1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because

many false prophets are gone out into the world. . 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

5, 24; Rev. 2:2

“God Is Love”

3 2Thess. 2:7; 2John 1:7

is of God; and every one that loveth is born

4 John 12:31; 14:30; ) 16:11

/word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. \ John 8:47; 19 And hereby we know that we are of the 610:27; 14:17 truth, and shalk assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments,

CHAPTER

8 iJohn 2:4; 3:6; 4:16

9 John 3:16

7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love

of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. ‘ 9 In this was manifested the love of God

toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God,

11 Matt.

but that he loved us, and sent his Son fo be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought

18:33; John

also to love one another.

10 John 15:16

15:12, 13

and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

4:3 already is it in the world. Again, John points to the Antichrist who will come in the future, but then reminds us that the anti-Christian spirit is already at work in the world. This important passage indicates that Satan is always at work, opposing the. work of God and the per-

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

son of Christ. Therefore, it should not surprise us that there is a growing outburst of anti-Christian sentiment in secular society. Such sentiment will reach its peak after — the Rapture, when the Antichrist will finally rise to power — over the world (see 2 Thess. 2:3—10).

1349

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son fo be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. ; 16 And we have known and-believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he | love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him,

That

he who

loveth

God

love his

| brother also.

13 John 14 John 1:14; 3:17

heaven, the Father, the Word, anc Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear waiuses. wu:

15 Rom. 10:9

‘blood: and these three agree inone.

16 1John 3:24; 4:8, 12

witness of God is greater: for this is the wit-

14:20

earth, the spirit, and the water,

21 Matt. 22:37, 39; John 13:34; 15:12 1 John 1:12, 13; 15:23

| The Believer’s Victory || 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the | Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the chil-

| dren of God, when we love God, and keep | his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his command| ments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory | that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, | but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

| 6

This is he that came by water and blood,

| even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in

receive the witness

of men,

th e

ness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he be-

lieveth not the record that God gave of his

5 1Cor.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his

15:57; 1John

4:15 6 John 14:17; 15:26;

16:13; 19:34

Son.

Son. : 12 He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

7 John 1:1;

10:30; Rev. 19:13

9 Matt. 3:16, VTS; John 8:17,

18 10 John 3:33; 5:38

11 John 1:4

5

If we

w

NY

3 Mic. 6:8; Matt. 11:30

12 John

CHAPTER

9

and the

3:36; 5:24

16 Job 42:8; Jer. 7:16; 14:11; Matt.

12:31, 32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10; John 17:9 17 1John 3:4 18 James 1:27; 1Pet. 1:23; 1John

3:9 19 Gal. 1:4 20 Isa. 9:6; 44:6; 54:5; Luke 24:45; John 17:3; 20:28; Acts 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 1Tjm. 3:16; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; 1John 5:11,12, 13

4:17 John predicts that true Christian believers can have “boldness” (lit. “confidence”) in the day of judgment because they are in Christ. This prophecy looks forward to the Great White Throne Judgment, when unbelievers

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according _ \s to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatso-.

14 iJohn 3:22

21 1Cor. 10:14

God Answers Prayer

ever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not-unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is born of God

sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one

toucheth him not.

|

19 And we know that we are of God, and the

whole world lieth in wickedness.

—

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11—15). Christians need not fear this judgment because they have

accepted the atonement of Christ on the cross, which appeased the wrath of God against our sins (Rom. 8:1).

~

hn he apostle John is unmistakably the author of this letter. (See Introduction to 1 John.) It was probably written about the same time as the First Epistle of John (around a.p. 90) and may have been addressed to some of the same people This personal epistle of John is addressed to “the elect lady and her children” (v. 1). Some think this refers to a dedicated Christian woman with her own family and perhaps others she influenced for Christ. Others suppose that the term, “the elect lady” is a cryptic way of addressing the letter to a local church in order to safeguard that church in case the letter fell into the hands of those hostile to Christianity. If the “lady” | spoken of in verse 1 is indeed an actual woman, then _ she was likely a spiritual leader who was greatly respected by the apostle. If the “literal woman” theory is true, then this is the only book in the Bible that is addressed to a woman. In the first three verses, John greets the sued UE AL of the letter and then expresses thanks that they are “walking” (1:4), living, and serving in faithfulness to the truth of God as revealed in Scripture and in Jesus, _ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Five times John uses the Greek word aletheia, “truth.” The other key word, “love,” appears some four times. John addresses the dangers of spiritual deception _ by warning of deceivers, antichrists, and transgressors _who abide not in the true “doctrine” (1:9) of Christ. Those not biblically and doctrinally correct © on the incari ‘mation, the person, and work of§ Christ are not to be bidden “Godspeed” (1:10). In verse seven, believers are taught that there will be many antichrists in the coming days. Throughout the centuries following John’s writing of this letter, the world has seen many deceivers “who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” (1:7). This verse also alludes to the final Antichrist (discussed elsewhere in Scripture) that will come. Two prophetic allusions appear in verses 7-8 and amount to 15 percent of the 13 total verses. In 2 John there are no direct quotations of the Old Testament.

1351

CHAPTER

1

1. The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

1 John 8:32; jJohn 3:18 3 1Tim. 1:2; 2John 1:1

4 3John 1:3 5 John 13:34; 15:12

6 John 14:15, 21; 15:10

7 1John 2:22; 4:1-3

“Love One Another”

8 Mark 13:9; Gal. 3:4

4 rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

9 John 2:23

5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

10 Rom. 16:17; 1Cor. 5:11; 16:22; Gal. 1:8, 9; 2Tim. 3:5; Titus 3:10

12 John 17:13; 1John 1:4; 3John 1:13

13 1Pet. 5:13

7 John warns of “deceivers” who deny the incarnation of

Christ. He reminds us that the doctrine of Christ is fundamental to true Christianity. Deceivers who deny that Christ came “in the flesh” have the spirit of antichrist. This is one of the key areas where genuine Christianity

Exhortation to Faithfulness 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he

hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: 11 For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write unto you, I

would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

parts company with false cults. Cults inevitably deny the basic Christian belief that Jesus was God the Son incarnate in human flesh. Both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ are essential to a biblical view of the person and nature of Christ.

stle John, who calls himself “the elder” (1:1), wrote the third epistle of arr subjects and were all written close to the same time. Possibly written after his Patmos experience, John addresses this letter to Gaius, who may have been a pastor, but more likely was a layman. John commends Gaius for his hospitality, a virtue much prized in the early church. There were many itinerant ministers spreading the gospel in those days, dependent on churches and lay-Christians for missionary SUPPORT; Again one of John’s favorite words, “truth,” appears five

iT) oer

times in the first eight verses, as he commends Gaius _ for “walking in truth.” John strongly criticizes Diotrephes for rejecting hie authority and refusing to welcome missionary evangelists. John’s message includes both the duty of hospi. tality in the church and the danger of idictatoniak arrogant leadership. Diotrephes seems to have risen to such power in the church that he could repudiate the authority of the oldest surviving apostle, suppress a letter written by John, refuse to receive traveling missionaries, prevent other members from so doing, and even ventured to “cast out” or exclude those who did. Following that which is evil, Diotrephes contrasts with the well-loved and faithful Demetrius, whose reputation appears ’ unimpeachable. The apostle indicates his intention to visit this church soon and set matters straight. Throughout history and in churches today, men much like the three mentioned in this epistle may be found. First, there is the consistent Gaius, to whom John wishes material prosperity, physical health, and spiritual prosperity. Then there is the carnal, caustic church leader, Diotrephes, who loves to have preeminence, and finally, Demetrius, the quiet faithful believer who was loved and respected by all, including other spiritual leaders. No specific prophecy is recorded in this book, nor are there any quotations from the Old Testament.

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1353

CHAPTER

1

1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren

came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 J have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Concerning Helping Others 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.

1 2John 1:1 3 2John 1:4 4 1Cor. 4:15; Phile. 1:10 7 1Cor. 9:12, 15 11 Ps. 37:27; Isa. 1:16, 17; 1Pet. 3:11; 1John 2:29; 3:6, 9

12 John 21:24; 1Tim. 3:7

13 2John 1:12

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil,

but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

Benediction 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

he

author of this letter is identified as “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and broth-

At er ofJames” (1:1). Depending on the identification of James in verse one, Jude is either a half-brother of Jesus and not.an apostle, or he is a cousin of Jesus and the apostle also known as Lebbaeus Thaddaeus (see Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:16). Some scholars feel that Jude wrote to the believers in the churches of Asia Minor, while others believe that he wrote to

Jewish Christians in Roman-occupied Israel who would have

been familiar with the references to Jewish history (1:7—11). The date of the letter is uncertain, but many believe that Jude wrote the epistle after Peter’s death but before the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70). _ Writing to warn believers of false teachers, Jude uses similar material as in 2 Peter 2. Both Jude and Peter were alarmed about the rapid rise of false doctrines and the subsequent prevailing attitude of apostasy, and both men addressed these issues in their epistles. e Evidently, Jude’s original intent for his letter was to discuss truths of the common salvation that both Jews and Gentiles received, but he was led of the Spirit to exhort believers to defend the truth and contend for the faith. He reminds his readers that God punishes violations of His law, citing Old Testament examples of Cain, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Egyptians, Balaam, and the rebellion of Korah (see Num. 16). Several verses in this short epistle relate to future judgment, Christ’s return, the Last Days, and the believer’s destiny in the presence of His glory. An interesting tidbit of prophecy is seen in verses 14-16, where Jude quotes from ancient Jewish literature (ca. 200 B.c.). This prophecy, not recorded in the Old Testament, is from the extrabiblical book of 1 Enoch (1.9). Jude uses it to emphatically illustrate the second coming of Christ. In the 25 verses of this short epistle, there are 8 distinct predictions in 10 verses, 40 percent of the whole. Jude has no Old Testament quotations, but contains several allusions.

1355

CHAPTER 1 ha eats 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and | 12,15; Acts | the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil _ brother of James, to them that are sancti- | 1:18 of dignities. fied by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.

SER IG 612. oti.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about

2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be | 1:13; 4:7; the body of Moses, durst not bring against multiplied. Titus 1:4 him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord 4 Rom. 9:21, | rebuke thee. ‘ Warnings from History to the Ungodly

3

Beloved,

when

I gave

22: . 2:4: ace 2:11

all diligence

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3 10 But these speak evil, of those things which they know not: but what they know

to | 5 Num.

naturally, as brute beasts, in those things

salvation, Y it |26:64 14:29. 37:

they corrupt themselves.

: was needful for me to write unto you, and |§ i gag. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in exhort you that ye should earnestly contend | rey 20-19. |the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the

for the faith which was once delivered unto | 7 Gen, 19:24 |tor of Balaam for reward, and perished in i

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fear: clouds they are without

|water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead,

10 2Pet. 2:12 |plucked up by the roots;

8 Iwill therefore put you inremembrance, | 11 Gen. 4:5; though ye once knew this, how that the Buns Geli Lord, having saved the people out of the | 49pioy

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom

is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. $ A 6 And the angels which kept not their first | 14 Gen, The Second Coming of Christ estate, but left their own habitation, he } 5:18; Bout. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from hath reserved in everlasting chains under aoe Zech, Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, _ darkness unto the judgment of the great | 14:5; Matt. | the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his day. 25:31; saints 2Thess. 1:7; ‘ : 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the | Rey, 1:7 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to | cities about them in like manner, giving 15 1Sam. convince all that are ungodly among them themselves over to fornication, and going | 2:3; Ps. of all their ungodly deeds which they have land of Egypt, afterward that believed not.

destroyed

them | 25:14 — 13 Isa. 57:20

after strange flesh, are set forth for an ex-

ee

ungodly committed, and of all their hard

ample, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

pe

speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

4 ordained to this condemnation. False teachers and apostates have been generally condemned as early as Old Testament times (1 Kings 18; Isa. 8:19-21; Jer. 29:9, 31; Hos. 9:9; Zeph. 3:1-8). The Scriptures condemn in the most forceful terms those who twist the doctrine of God's grace to allow and approve gross sexual immorality and those who deny the deity, atonement, and miracles of Jesus Christ. 6 the judgment of the great day. The angels who sinned (fallen angels) are currently imprisoned and destined to continue in everlasting chains through the final judgment. Some say these are “the sons of God” in Genesis 6:2, angels who assumed physical form, and cohabited with “the daughters of men,” resulting in a species of “giants” (Hebr. nephilim) that inhabited the earth before the Flood. These “angels that sinned” by leaving their first estate or heaven are presently enchained in darkness.

10-13 blackness of darkness for ever. False teachers within the Church, themselves actually lost and without Christ, will suffer the fate of everlasting separation from God, pictured also as “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14—15).

14 Enoch. This patriarch was raptured long before the Flood (Gen. 5:18—24). Although a similar statement is recorded in a noncanonical ancient work known as First

Enoch (I.9), the Spirit of God, inspiring Jude, is the real source of the prophecy. By the phrase “behold the Lord cometh” it seems evident that though Enoch prophesied of judgment to come in ancient times, this yet to be fulfilled prophecy relates to the Second Coming (see 2 Thess. 1:7—10).

15 To execute judgment. That Jesus is both Savior and Judge

is evident

(see Matt.

13:47-50;

Rev.

1:7;

14:14-15; 19:11-21; 20:11-15). The final sentence is eternal hell.

1356 16 These

are

murmurers,

complainers,

walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

“Keep Yourselves in the Love of God” 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves

16 Prov. 28:21 18 2Pet. 2:1; 3:3

19 Prov.

18:1; 1Cor. 2:14

20 Rom. 8:26; Eph. 6:18 23 Amos 4:11; Zech. 32, 4.5% Rom. 11:14 24 Rom.

16:25 25 Rom. 16:27; 1Tim. 1B Ugpayas

18 in the last time. While throughout this present dispensation, between the first advent and the second coming of Christ, there have been those who ridicule true believers, the scoffers doubtless multiply toward the close of the age. Immoral and amoral, they seek their own unholy sensual desires, following “after their own ungodly lusts.” 20-21 In the light of the fact that Jesus is coming again and that He will judge all men, Jude challenges believers to build themselves up in the Scriptures (study the Bible), to pray, to “keep . . . in the love of God” (largely by loving others), and to compassionately seek to warn the lost of their future condition.

on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceed-

ing joy, 25 To. the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

24-25 present you faultless before the presence of his glory. This great doxology (vv. 24—25).looks forward to those heavenly scenes, when the raptured and resurrected saints are presented as a glorious Bride, holy and blameless before the true God. The names of those in this “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23) are written in heaven (Eph. 5:25-27; Col. 1:22; 1 Thess. 3:13; Rev. 19:7-8; 21:9—22:5). Traditional Hebrew weddings involved three

stages: 1) the betrothal; 2) the presentation, often a celebration lasting several days, suggesting the joyful assembly of all New Testament saints with Jesus (John

14:2-3); and 3) the ceremony or exchange of vows, concluding with a great final supper.

i

K of Revelation is the message from Jesus Christ to His Church in which He the climax of human history. The book begins with the glorious appearmance of Jesus Christ to His aged servant John, in which Christ commissions John to SiWrite down what he has seen and the things that were about to be revealed to him. ~The visions in the book were revealed to John while he was imprisoned “for the tes" fimony of Jesus” on the Island of Patmos during the reign of Domitian (a.p. 81-96). ' Perhaps the most venerated church leader of his day, John was the only one of the twelve apostles still alive at the time he wrote this book. The book of Revelation was immediately and universally accepted as the last of the inspired writings. Neither its authorship by John nor the late date of its writing (4_D. + 95) has ever been seriously questioned by those who | interpret the Bible literally. Not until the third century was the suggestion launched that “another John” may have written it, and such a notion has no credibility in history. Christ gave this vision to John and to all believers to comfort them in their trials. He assures them that there will be a day of rest for those who love God, that He will meet them in the air, and that while the Church is with Him in heaven the terrible Tribulation of which He spoke will occur on earth (see Mark 13:19). The importance of the Tribulation period is confirmed in the fact that twelve chapters of the book are devoted to desctibing over fifty details about it. When combined with the many Old Testament passages that mention the Tribulation, more prophecy is devoted to that brief period of time than any other comparable period in history. However, a grim portrayal of the future days of the Tribulation is not all that Reve> lation contains. For instance, the glorious rapture of the Church 15 ge detailed in 4:1—2.. The Church is mentioned nineteen times in chap=7) ters 1—3, but in the twelve chapters that describe the Tribulation 95! period, it is not mentioned once. That omission can easily be explained when you understand that the Church is taken to heaven prior to the beginning of the Tribulation (4:12; 5:9). A study of other passages on the Rapture (e.¢., 1 Thess. 4:13—18; 1 Cor 15:50—58) clearly - ‘demonstrates that the Church escapes that time of

“tribulation predicted exclusively for Israel and the *

unbelieving world by the Hebrew prophets. Following the Tribulation, Christ and His saints will retum

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to earth to rule for a thousand years, followed by a day when evil will be vanquished forever and Satan and his minions and all who have spurned the Lord Jesus will be cast into eternal hell. Revelation 1:19 provides a three-fold outline of the entire book. The book flows chronologically along these lines, with the exception of chapter 12, which is a parenthetical flashback that culminates in the middle of the Tribulation.

AN OUTLINE OF REVELATION

I. The The Il. The The Ill. The A. B. C. D.

E.

Things Which Thou Hast Seen... introduction and description of the resurrected Christ (chap. 1) Things Which Are ... outline of church history (chaps. 2—3) Things Which Shall Be Hereafter . . . The rapture of the Church and a scene in heaven (chaps. 4—5) The seven-year Tribulation; seal, trumpet, and vial judgments; the short reign of Antichrist; and the destruction of Babylon (chaps. 6—18) The glorious appearing of Christ (chap. 19) The binding of Satan, the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, and the final judgment (20) The eternal order called heaven (chaps. 21—22)

The book of Revelation relates the events of John’s visions through the use of symbols, many of which are unique to the book and some of which are not explained. The key to understanding the book and the visions is to understand what is literal and what is symbolic, and to realize that even the symbols (trumpets, vials, the Beast, etc.) represent real events and real people. If you do not interpret the book literally, you will fail to understand its real meaning, and the blessing of the realities it portrays will be diminished. ; Revelation also unveils the return of Christ in power to this earth to set up His kingdom on earth for one thousand years, followed by the final judgment of all lost souls just before He takes believers into God’s eternal heaven. A more beautiful description of life after death for eternity cannot be found in all of literature. The book of Revelation concludes all the prophecies of the Hebrew prophets, the writings of the apostles, and the teachings of Jesus. As Genesis revealed the beginning of the battle of the ages between God and Satan for the souls of men, Revelation concludes it with the return of Jesus Christ to this earth in power and glory. A special blessing is promised to the reader of Revelation: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3). Revelation contains more unfulfilled prophecy than any other book in the Bible. Something prophetic can be found in every one of its twenty-two chapters. Of 404 verses, 383 are prophetic, amounting to 95 percent of the book.

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1359

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pass; and he sent and signified it by his

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angel unto his servant John: 45:56. | are before his throne; 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and | § John g:14; |.5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithof the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all | 13:34; 15:9 | ful witness, and the first begotten of the things that he saw. 6 1Tim. 6:16; |dead, and the prince of the kings of the

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|us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and _ priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory

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1:1-2 Revelation (Gr. apokalupsis) means to “reveal” or “unveil” that which is hidden. The term “signified” does not mean that this is a book of unknowable signs, but that God signified by the miraculous presence of the announcing angel that the message was from Him. Much of this revelation was visual; thus, John wrote down what he saw (v. 2).

1:3 A special blessing is offered to those who read, hear, and obey the teachings of this book. The message is that Jesus is coming again, and we should live every day in | anticipation of that coming. It is important to keep in mind that this book must be understandable or it could not pro-

vide the reader with the promised “blessing.” When | taken in its entirety, this book gives us hope for the

future. Spiritualizing or allegorizing the book, as some

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100 miles

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interpreters tend to do, destroys its intended meaning.

1:4 This is the first of fifty-four uses of the word “seven” in the book of Revelation. While these are symbolic of “completion,” they are also literal references to various series of sevens that transpire in this prophecy. The book was a blessing to the seven churches of Asia to whom it was written. But it also has meaning for all churches throughout history. It is thought by many that these specific churches were selected because they typify the seven stages of Church history. 1:6 Our current status as sons of God by faith in the gospel also includes our becoming “kings and priests unto God,” forever when Christ comes to reign.

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un’s Vision

of Christ

By Tim LaHaye s John turned to see who was speaking to him (Rev. 1:12), he saw seven golden candlesticks and a person in their midst, for whom he lists ten very descriptive details. Nothing about the person of Christ is interpreted because the Holy Spirit has interpreted these details on other occasions in the Scriptures. Each of these characteristics of John’s vision are noted along with their meaning from Scripture: 1. “One like unto the Son of man” indicates that this person was not a grotesque supernatural creature; rather, His appearance was human. “Son of man,” a title Jesus frequently applied to Himself, is used of the Messiah in all four Gospels and in Daniel 7:13. 2. “Clothed with a garment down to the foot.” Typically high priests wore long robes as they ministered in the holy place in the temple. Jesus is our great high priest in our relationship with God (Heb. 2:17; 3:1). 3. “Girt about the paps with a golden girdle” refers to an ancient world symbol of strength and authority. The average working man wore a short tunic of loose-fitting clothes. Only © Chri will go forth those in authority wore a girdle (see Matt. 28:18). as a sharp sword. 4, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as___

white as snow” conveys the thought of antiquity and reminds

~

us of the vision of Daniel 7:9-13, where Christ is called the “Ancient of days.” The whiteness also speaks of the righteousness of God. 5. “His eyes were as a flame of fire.” The Greek construction is literally “his eyes shot fire,” indicating that Christ was indignant over the indifference, in some cases, of the apostate churches. Whenever the Church of Jesus Christ is not what it should be, it arouses the indignation of Christ. 6. “His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” The bronze imagery speaks to us of judgment, reminding us of the brazen altar of the tabernacle, where sin was judged. 7. “His voice as the sound of many waters.” At the edge of a large waterfall, the hearer is engulfed by the deafening roar of the turbulent waters. This figure seems to indicate the attitude of the Son of God as He comes in judgment on the Day of the Lord. In that day, all other voices will be stilled by the deafening, overpowering voice of the Son of God. 8. “He had in his right hand seven stars.” The Lord Himself interpreted this in verse 20, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” The Greek word translated “angels” is literally “messengers.” Some believe the word “angels” here refers to the messengers (pastors) appointed by God to lead local congregations. Another view is that each messenger is an actual angel especially assigned to that church. This could mean that all churches have guardian angels, just as Christ indicated that little children have guardian angels (Matt. 18:10). 9, “Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword.” Evidently the spoken word of Christ will go forth as a sharp sword against which there will be no defense in the day of judgment. 10. “His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” speaks of the divine nature of Christ and reminds us of the description of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:2).

(1361 j and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. | 7 an.7°13; | smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thy-

| 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and | every eye shall see him, and they also which

fa vided ee eel

atira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

| pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth | shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

16:5; 21:6: 22:13

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning

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} 8

| and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, 414: atm, | and which was, and which is to come, the | 1:8; 2:12;

golden candlesticks; | 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed

| Almighty.

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John on the Isle of Patmos

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about the paps with a golden girdle.

17:3; 21:10 | wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as

| 9 J John, who also am your brother, and | 12 Ex. 25:37 | a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if _ companion in tribulation, and in the king- | 13 Ezek. they burned in a furnace; and his voice as '-dom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in | 1:26; Dan. |

.

:

_ the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

7:13

see

o. | the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars:

' 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, | 2:18; 19:12 | and out of his mouth went a sharp twoand heard behind me a great voice, as of a | 15 Ezek. 1:7; |edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 43:2 trumpet,

| 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first |16!sa. 49:2; | 17 And when I saw him, J fell at his feet as and the last: and, What 'tiiou seest, write in | a book, and send if unto the seven churches

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dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and

|which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto | 8:18; 10:10 | the last:

1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds . . . every eye shall _ see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kin/ dreds shall wail because of him. This guarantee that | Jesus is coming again literally and physically accords ) with 317 other promises of His coming again. The second coming of Jesus is mentioned more frequently than any ‘ other subject, except salvation itself. It was mentioned

| by the prophets, apostles, angels, and even Jesus Himself (see John 14:1-4; Matt. 24:27-30). Jesus will return, and all who have received Him by faith will join

| Him. Those who reject Him will mourn or “wail” at His |coming. 1:8 The first words of Jesus to John personally identify | Him with the “I AM” of Scripture, for He calls Himself the

|“Alpha and Omega.” These are the first and last letters of )the Greek alphabet. The title signifies, in the language of | communication, the completeness with which God

revealed Himself to mankind through Christ. This is nothing less than an official affirmation by Jesus of His per| sonal deity. No ordinary human would ever say of | himself, “I am the first and last.” 11:9 companion in tribulation. This is not the Great

Tribulation mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24 and described in Revelation 6—18. That Tribulation will last only seven years and is yet to happen. The “tribulation” John had in mind was the suffering that he was curjrently experiencing as a disciple of Jesus Christ. | Becoming a Christian does not exempt one from the | tribulations of this world, but it does exempt believers

from the seven-year Tribulation intended for Israel and unbelieving Gentiles (see Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10).

1:9 for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. John received this revelation while confined on the Isle of Patmos. External evidence points to the writing of Revelation by John when he was banished to Patmos during the reign of Roman emperor Domitian (a.0. 81-96). Evidence has been found that Patmos was used to incarcerate prisoners at that period of history.

That would make the writing of Revelation in and around the traditionally accepted date of A.D. 95, near the very end of John’s life (see article on Preterism and the Date of Revelation).

1:10 This is the first use of “the Lord’s Day” in the New Testament. By a.p. 95, Christians were accustomed to meeting to read Scripture, teach, and pray on the first day of the week, which they called “the Lord’s Day.” This was their testimony, that their Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the week. 1:11 John is commissioned by the voice of the Lord Himself to send this message to “the seven churches” of Asia, all of which he probably knew personally. The prophetic message of Revelation was intended for much broader distribution than these seven churches. Many believe that these churches were selected by Christ as

typical of the seven stages of Church history (see article on the seven churches).

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he

Book

of

Revelation

By Robert Thomas H™ do you strengthen people who are persecuted for being Christians? How do you motivate God-rejecting people to repent and turn to Him? God’s answer to both questions is the same: by telling them what is to happen in the future, the very thing He does in the final book of the Bible. That book, Revelation (sometimes called the Apocalypse), centers around prophetic predictions of the future (Rev. 1:3; 10:11; 18:20; 19:10; 22:6—7, 9-10, 18-19). Revelation plays a significant role in biblical prophecy as a whole. John, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, wrote the book in about A.D. 95 while in exile on a small Mediterranean island off the coast of Asia Minor (1:9). The resurrected Jesus appeared to him there -_aie -a mation about the future for him to deliver to messengers: from seven churches of the nearby Roman province located in the western portion of what is today the country of Turkey. The announced subject of the book is “things that must ‘Jesus Christ. happen soon” (Rev. 1:1), the highlight of which is stated in the book’s theme verse, “Behold, He (Jesus) will come with the clouds” (1:7). Revelation deals with the return of Jesus Christ and all the events accom-

panying His return. In instructing John to write the book, Jesus appeared to the Apostle in a glorified state (1:12-16) and gave him an advance outline of the prophecy (1:19). It included the vision of Jesus he had just seen (1:12—16), a message to each of the seven

churches (Rev. 2—3), and events that were to transpire on earth after the faithful in the churches are taken away to heaven at Jesus’ promised coming (Rev. 4—22). Two themes recur in Jesus’ messages to the churches, one of threat and one of encouragement. He issued threats to those in the churches whose relationship to Himself _ was only superficial. He promised to come and judge these people because of their empty profession (2:5; 3:11, 16). For them an unparalleled hour of trial is imminent (3:10). His words of encouragement went to the faithful who had stood firm in the face of persecution caused by their faith in Him. For these He promised His imminent return to deliver them from adversity (2:25; 3:11, 20). Chapters 2 and 3 advise the churches about needed adjustments in their lives in view of the outpouring of God’s wrath that is described in chapters

4 and following. Jesus devoted the bulk of His revelation to John to describing judgments about to fall on an unrepentant world because of its rebellion against God. Through prophetic vision, He first allowed John to visit the heavenly throne-room from which the judgments will proceed (Revelation 4—5). There the prophet encountered the Father, seated on His throne and the slain Lamb, Jesus, who was the only one worthy to open a seven-sealed scroll that the Father gave Him. As it turns out, that seven-sealed scroll contained the remainder ofRevelation oxo for some concluding remarks in chapter 22. John saw the breaking of the first six seals (Rev. 6) portrayed as a drama before his eyes. First came four different-colored horses with riders depicting peaceful conquest of the world (white horse), warfare and bloodshed (red horse), widespread famine (black horse), and death to one-quarter of earth's population (pale horse). Then he witnessed martyred saints in heaven praying for God to avenge their blood by punishing people responsible for their deaths. Next, the sixth seal divulged various cosmic and terrestrial disturbances that unmistakably signal to earth’s inhabitants that

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the seal judgments have initiated the predicted wrath of God against rebellious humanity. The breaking of the seventh seal (8:1) resulted in the sounding of seven trumpets

- (8:7—11:15), in themselves seven physical judgments additional to and more severe than

_ those of the first six seals. The first six trumpets were prophetic of 1) the burning up of a _ third of earth’s vegetation, 2) destruction of a third of sea life, 3) poisoning of a third of earth's fresh water, 4) darkening of a third of the heavenly bodies, 5) a pain-inflicting demonic locust plague, and 6) death to a third of earth’s inhabitants through another demonic visitation. The blowing of the seventh trumpet (11:15) ushered in another series of judgments _ predicting God's future visitations against rebellious mankind, the seven vials of God's wrath (15:7). The seven vials represented to John what will be the seven last plagues that will complete God's wrath (15:1) against creatures who have rebelled against Him. The first six of those plagues will produce 1) the afflicting of false-christ worshipers with incurable sores (16:2), 2) death to all sea life (16:3), 3) transformation of all fresh water into blood (16:4—7), 4) scorching of all rebels because of superheat from the sun (16:8—9), 5) | darkening of the false-christ’s kingdom (16:10—11), and 6) battle preparation for the doom - of earth’s kings (16:12-16). The prophetic message of the seventh vial of God’s wrath carries forward into the eternal state (16:17—22:5). It will include eight main events: the second coming of Christ to conquer His enemies, a summons of birds to feast on conquered humans, the slaughter _ of Christ's human opponents, Satan's imprisonment, Satan’s release and final defeat, the setting of the Great White Throne Judgment, sentencing of lost people to the lake of fire, and a sketch of the New Jerusalem and those excluded from it (19:11—21:8). Along with his description of the seals, trumpets, and vials, John’s visions also furnish supplemental data (7:1-17: 10:1—14:20; 17:1—18:24; 21:9—22:5) to give readers details of the future judgments that will occupy seven years (the Tribulation), one thousand -years (the Millennium), and eternity future as this present creation of God runs its course and steps aside to be replaced by His new creation. Revelation’s picture of the future is more than sufficient to strike terror in the thoughts of any person who has not made his/her peace with God through a personal invitation to Christ for salvation from sin and its punishment. But that picture is also more than sufficient to offer incentive to the faithful believer in Christ to persevere through present trials, awaiting His imminent coming to deliver from those trials to a future of unparalleled joy.

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18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, ne eect: behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and | Rey. 4:9; have the keys of hell and of death. 5:14; 20:1

are the angels of the seven: churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, | 19 Rev. 1:12 and the things which are, and the things’ | 19 Rev. 2:1;

CHAPTER

which shall be hereafter; 20 The mystery of the seven stars which

Christ’s Message to the Church of Ephesus

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1:18 and have the keys of hell and of death. Jesus

are “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14), are the candle-

refers to His death, resurrection, and eternity. This is important statement because the greatest fear mankind is death and hell, the place of the dead. Not worry! Jesus has the keys! This makes knowing Him faith the most important thing in this life.

an of to by

sticks that hold forth the light of the gospel, and the stars are angels or special messengers of Christ sent to protect the churches. Throughout its history, the Church has served as the candlestick of God in a dark and depraved world.

1:19 Here we have the outline of the entire book which John is commanded to “write”: 1) the things John has seen (1:1-19), 2) the things which are (1:20—3:22), and 3) the things which shall be hereafter (4:1—22:21). The basic intent of the book is to reveal the future.

2:1 The church at Ephesus may have been one of the finest churches of the first century. Founded by Paul (see Acts 20) and pastored by John for many years after Paul’s death, it was a church spiritually “on fire” in the midst of one of the most pagan cities of Asia. Christ commended them for their good works, patience (endurance), hatred of evil, for their testing of those who claimed to be apostles, and for their labor for Christ's name’s sake (Rev. 2:2-3). He also condemned them for leaving their first love. During Paul's lifetime they had preached the gospel

1:20 This verse provides an example from Christ Himself on how to interpret the symbols in Revelation. The immediate context surrounding a symbol or previous prophetic symbols provides the key to understanding these symbols. In this case, Christ defines the identity of the key symbols, the stars in His hand as “angels” or messengers. The seven candlesticks are the “seven churches.” The obvious meaning then is that churches, which

to every creature under heaven (Col. 1:6, 23), but over the years their priorities had gradually shifted away from their original zeal.

rches By Elmer Towns hen Jesus appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos, the first part of His revelation was seven letters to the messengers of seven specifically named churches in Asia with which John was familiar, for much of his ministry had been conducted throughout that area of Asia (Rev. 2—3). There were more than seven churches in that region, but only seven

were chosen by Christ to receive messages. The order in which the messages are presented is not likely to be the order in which these churches would be visited by a traveler. Many dispensational scholars believe Christ selected these seven churches in this particular order to prophetically suggest the major trends in church history, but this is not a universal belief. A study of history reveals that the Church has gone through seven basic periods or stages: 1) Ephesus—Apostolic church (Pentecost, A.D. 100), 2) Smyrna—Persecuted church (a.p. 100-316), 3) Pergamos—World church (a.p. 316-800), 4) Thyatira— Medieval church (a.0. 800-1517), 5) Sardis—Rise of the state church (A.D. 1517-1750), 6) Philadelphia—Missionary church These seven churches (A.D. 1750-1900), 7) Laodicea—Apostate church (A.D. 1900-2). — Both the kingdom parables (Matt. 13) and church epistles comprise seven

(Rev. 2—3) describe the course of this present age, suggesting

_ methods of attack by

a relationship between these two sections of Scripture. The parable of the sower and the church at Ephesus represent the age of the apostles, and portray the failure of leaving one’s first love.

Satan on the Church.

The parable of the evil seed and the church at Smyrna show the full persecution by the enemy, The parable of the mustard seed and the church at Pergamos reflect the professing church becoming a state institution under Constantine the Great. The unclean birds (nations) find shelter there. The parable of the leaven and the church at Thyatira are the medieval church. Her abominations are a reflection of the woman Jezebel, the harlot who

corresponds to the woman in the parable of the leaven. The parable of the hid treasure and the church of Sardis, having a reputation of being alive but being dead, reflect the age of the state church where the church belongs to the One who has purchased the field. The parable of the pearl and the church at Philadelphia show the ideal church, and the one pearl being the ideal body of Christ. The parable of the dragnet and the church at Laodicea reflect the judgment of God to come. One could argue that some parables or epistles may overlap, but the major themes illustrate the course of this present age. As one surveys the history of the last two millennia, it is possible to see how these prophetic allusions may have been fulfilled. One sign of Christ’s soon return is the fact that we are at the end of the age according to these two passages. The rapture of the Church and God's final judgment are the only prophetic events that remain to be fulfilled in this age. A practical application of the message to the seven churches can be made on an individual basis. We can readily see that these seven churches comprise seven methods of attack by Satan on the Church or on individual Christians within the Church. In whatever age the Christian may live, he should take unto himself “the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-18) and “resist the devil” (James 4:7, cf. 1 Pet. 5:9).

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the seven stars in his right hand who | 2Ps.1:6;_ | of life, which is in the midst of the paradise walketh in midst of the seven golden cangem od of God. dlesticks;

1John 4:1;

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2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and Pa et Christ’s Message to the thy patience, and how thou canst not bear] 36.) ag. Church of Smyrna them which are evil: and thou hast tried | teh. 12:3,5 | 8 And unto the angel of the church in them which say they are apostles, and are | 5 watt. Smyrna write; These things saith the first not, and hast found them liars: 21:41, 43 and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and | 7 Gen. 2:9; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast Mats eae poverty, (but thou art rich) and:J know the not fainted. Rev. 2:11, | blasphemy of them which say they are 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against | 17, 29;3:6, | Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of

thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

ee

Satan.

|

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

. nee ae | 4743 | 9) uke | 12:21;Rom. Se | 6:18: James | 2:5; Rev. 2:2;

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some | of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and | ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a © | Crown of life. |11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him

oh eas

the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second

that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree 2:2 thou hast tried them which say they are apostles. By the end of the first century, all of the apostles, except John, had given their lives in testimony to their faith in Jesus Christ. Over the centuries, the Church has suffered from many false teachers who have sought to corrupt its doctrine. A true teacher of God welcomes the testing of his teachings by the Scriptures. 2:6 Nicolaitanes. This word is made up of two Greek words: Nico meaning “overcome” and /aitanes meaning “lay people.” Right from the first century there were those who wanted to become “overcomers” of the people and build a hierarchy within the Church. The sin of fornication was also prevalent among the leaders of these Nicolaitanes. The church of Ephesus was commended by our Lord for guarding against such leaders who wanted to lord it over the common people. 2:7 unto the churches. Apparently the Lord wanted all the churches to read all of these messages to the seven churches. There are obviously principles in each letter that are helpful for all churches. 2:7 To him that overcometh will | give to eat of the tree of life. See 1 John 5:4. A believer automatically “overcomes” because of the Holy Spirit within him as a result of being born again by faith. Consequently, he will enter the Millennial Kingdom which Christ has prepared

oe

death. 2:8 The name Smyrna refers to myrrh, and the crushing process used to release its fragrance symbolizes the persecution of believers. The local church by that name and

the Church age it represents (the second and third centuries) were among the most persecuted in all of Church history. Roman dictators from Nero to Diocletian mounted various waves of persecution, using governmental power in their attempts to destroy the Church. It is a miracle of God that the Church not only survived that period

but that it also thrived, grew, and spread across the

Roman Empire. Just like myrrh, when the Church is crushed with trials, the fragrance of her faith is released. 2:8 the church in Smyrna. Not one word of condemnation was issued by our Lord against this church. He did,

however, honor and commend them for their suffering and poverty. This city today is called Izmir, in modern Turkey. Polycarp, a convert of John, pastored the church there until he was martyred in A.p. 155. 2:9 the synagogue of Satan. Some believe this was a

group who tried to pervert the gospel of free grace through faith alone by requiring the adoption of Jewish law for salvation. Others suggest this group fostered the

idea of apostolic succession and the building of a hierarchy of leaders, similar to the practice of the Nicolaitanes, which was condemned by the Lord (vv. 6, 15).

This is the same tree that was in the Garden of Eden from which, because of their fall, Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat. Believers in heaven will have access to that

2:10 1 will give thee a crown of life. This is one of two places where a martyrs crown is mentioned as a special reward in eternity for those who sacrifice their lives for the gospel (James 1:12). Most martyrs were killed either by false religious leaders or by pagan governments that

tree forever.

opposed their message.

and heaven, where the “tree of life” is restored (22:1—2).

1367 —

Christ’s Message to the Church of Pergamos

12 Rev. 1:16 |Christ’s Message to the i Rev. 2:2, |Church of Thyatira

12 And to the angel of the church in Perg14.Num 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thy-amos write; These things saith he which } 24:14; 25:1; | atira write; These things saith the Son of

hath the sharp sword with two edges;

31:16; Acts»

|God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of

aia ae ie fire, and his feet are like fine brass; | 13 I know thy works, and where thou 19 I know thy works, and charity, and servdwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and | 10:19, 20; thou holdest fast my name, and hast not de- ae a ice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy nied my faith, even in those days wherein | Rey, 2:20

works; and the last to be more than the first.

Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was | 45 Rey,2. | 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 16 Isa. 11:4; |against thee, because thou sufferest that 14 But I have a few things against thee, be- | 2Thess. 2:8; |woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a

cause thou hast there them that hold the

fee ts

prophetess, to teach and to seduce my ser-

doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to ahh 97, |Yants to commit fornication, cast a stumblingblock before the children of | 4}. 312. “| things sacrificed unto idols.

and

to eat

Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, | 19:12 21 And I gave her space to repent of her and to commit fornication. 20 1Kgs. fornication; and she repented not. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the Peal ra: 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I | 29-1¢o, | |them that commit adultery with her into hate. 10:19, 20 great tribulation, except they repent of their

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee | 21 Rom. 2:4; |deeds. quickly, and will fight against them with the Rev. 9:20 23 And | will kill her children with death;

sword of my mouth.

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and all the churches shall know that I am

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what | 9:1: matt.’ |he which searcheth thevreins and hearts: the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him. | 16:27; Rev. ||and I will give unto every one of you acthat overcometh will I give to eat of the hid20:12 cording to your works, den manna, and will give him a white stone, 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in and in the stone a new name written, which Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, no man knoweth saving he that receiveth 71. and which have not known the depths of

2:12-13 the church in Pergamos. Pergamos was located about sixty miles north of Smyrna. It was a hotbed of pagan idolatry and was plagued by both false

world was getting better and better, that Christ's kingdom had already begun, and that Jesus would come at the end of the next thousand years.

apostles and those who were in favor of an extremely powertul hierarchy of “apostles” and priests (the Nicolaitanes). Pergamos was the Roman capital in Asia and the

2:18-20 the church in Thyatira. The letter to Thyatira, a city about forty miles east of Pergamos, is the longest of the seven letters. This church seemed to have a

‘seat of pagan authority; thus, “Satan's seat” was there. The church at Pergamos was guilty of seeking to please the society around them rather than the Lord, which later paved the way for the paganization of the Church in the centuries that followed. All commendations aside, our Lord indicts them for indulging false teachers like the Nicolaitanes (vv. 6, 15) and those who taught the doctrines of Balaam (see Num. 22—24). Pergamos also had the largest altar in the world, to Zeus. In a very real sense, it may have been the devil's capital for the propagation of paganism. Many pagan doctrines were brought into the Church during this period of history.

2:15 which thing | hate. Jesus takes doctrine seriously. He hates all compromise with immorality (Balaamism, v. 14). He hates those who would lord it over the common people as the Nicolaitanes did (see the note on 2:6).

Doctrinal purity should never be compromised for politi-

cal or social acceptance. With the elevation of Christianity as the state religion in A.0. 325, the church became rich and powerful. It was suggested at that time that the

woman like Jezebel of the Old Testament, who brought

pagan worship and gross sexual immorality into the church (cf. 1 Kgs. 18—19). The identity of this local woman of Thyatira is not known except that she was Jezebel-like. The pagan practices brought into this church typify the excessive paganism and superstitions that often influenced the medieval churches.

2:22 This church was condemned by our Lord for both sexual immorality and idolatry. Unless they repent, those in this current age, of which the church in Thyatira is a symbol, will live right on into the Great Tribulation which Jesus predicted and John describes in 6:1-17. The fact that all true believers in Jesus Christ will be raptured before the Tribulation begins will make it easy for the unsaved leadership that remains in the churches to formulate the global religion of the last days. 2:24—25 which have not known the depths of Satan. These verses further clarify the fact that there will be,

right up to the coming of Christ, some in the church who

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_ Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you | 25Rev.3:11

| the seven

Spirits of God,

I know

and

the seven

none other burden.

26 Matt.

stars;

thy works, that thou hast a

25 But that which ye have already hold fast

aoe ae

name that thou livest, and art dead.

till I come. po, 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth sek 2:8, 9 |which remain that are ready to die: for I have my works unto the end, to him will I give 28 Rev. not found thy works perfect before God. power over the nations: 22:16 3 Remember therefore how thou hast re27 And he shall rule them with a rod of | 4 Eph, 2:1, 5; |ceived and heard, and hold fast, and repent. iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be | 1Tim. 5:6 If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will broken to shivers: even as I received of my | 3 Matt. come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not Father, ae 7 know what hour I will come upon thee. Hee : } :13; Mark. ; L 28 And I will give him the morning star.

13:33: Luke

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what | 12:39, 40; the Spirit saith unto the churches. neerate

c

|4

Thou hast a few names

even in Sardis

which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they

13.|are worthy. atr79 99.99. -| 59 He that

HAPTER 3 Christ’s Message to the Church of Sardis

ie tone, Rev. 13:8;

overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but 1

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sar-

Le ee

will confess his name before my Father, and

dis write; These things saith he that hath do not adhere to pagan doctrines and practices. It is encouraging to note that “he which searcheth the reins and hearts” (v. 23) will be the one who truly knows who is trusting the finished work of Christ for salvation as opposed to those who are trusting their church to give them salvation. It should always be remembered that salvation is not a corporate experience. It is an intensely individual matter of personal faith in Christ alone that guarantees our being taken in the Rapture (see John 14:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

2:26-27 shall rule them with a rod of iron. Overcomers even in this unfaithful church are promised to be a part of that kingdom over which Jesus shall reign when He comes again. Further evidence that these churches mentioned in the book of Revelation refer not just to firstcentury churches, but to periods of Church history, is that the overcomers in the church of Thyatira will still be alive and functioning in His name when He comes. Since He has not yet come, it is obvious that the primary message to these seven churches is to the ages, not just to the churches themselves, most of which have long become extinct. Of the seven churches, the last four will symbolically be alive and functioning when Jesus returns, and He will rescue or save the faithful out of them all. 2:28 | will give him the morning star. Some think this and the reference to the morning star mentioned in 2 Peter 1:19 may indicate that those who are alive just before His return and who study the prophetic Scriptures will have that “morning” or “daystar” arise and give them spiritual insight that the time is at hand. Simeon and Anna had such a spiritual premonition; consequently, they were able to see the Christ child in His first coming. It is possible that such a spirit of anticipation may spring up in the hearts of many just before He returns for His Church.

before his angels. 2:29 hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Those who would overcome are challenged by this phrase seven times in the book of Revelation. His faithful “overcomers” will be ready for His return, regardless of the condition of the church of which they are a part. Hearing and obeying God's Word Is essential if we are to overcome the enemy.

3:1 the church in Sardis. Sardis was a wealthy city thirty miles southeast of Thyatira. In the sixth century B.c., it was one of the great cities of the world, ruled by the fabled Croesus, called Midas by the Greeks and known for his golden treasures. However, the glory of Sardis was past, for the city had fallen to the Persians in 546 8.c. and to the Greeks in 334 B.c. In A.D. 17, Sardis was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt by Tiberius Caesar. The church in Sardis, like the city, was in constant danger of internal decay and collapse. Its inclusion in the seven can best be attributed to the fact that many local churches are similar to it, and it best typifies the churches that start out well but lose their spiritual fervency after a generation or two and begin to live on their past laurels. Such was the case of the dying church at Sardis. By the time John wrote the Revelation, the local church that had been. started on the gospel was spiritually “dead.” This clearly indicates that John wrote this message long after

this church was founded, an important considerations ‘in it

dating the book of Revelation. 3:3 | will come on thee as a thief. His challenge to them is universal to all whose love for Christ has cooled: “Repent, turn around, and remember how you received the gospel by grace through faith, or | will come and judge you.”

3:4 shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. Fortunately, like all churches, there are people in this one

—

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6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what | 6 Rev. 2:7 key of David, he that openeth, and no man the Spirit saith unto the churches. 7 Job 12:14; | shutteth; and. shutteth, and no man

3

epeisti asia i He liadeiphia

sete. |openeth

"

1John 5:20; | 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set beRev. 1:5,18; | fore thee an open door, and no man can shut

7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he

Ce rette 9 Isa. 49:23

that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the

a

:

The

Seven

Ephesus

Smyrna

it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast |kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue

a

Churches

Desirable

Myrrh

of Revelation

Faith and patience Doctrinal truth Martyrdom

Persecution

.

|

You have strayed from your love for Christ

I will let you eat of the Tree of Life

Have no fear in the

I will give you

midst of tribulation; be faithful

a crown of life I will give you hidden manna and a white stone with a new

Pergamos

Height, Elevation of power

Worldly alliance Great external growth

You are holding to false ductrines

Thyatira

Sweet smell, Sacrifice of labor

False teachers Doctrinal corruption

You have some committing fornication; you who are faithful, hold fast till I come

Sardis

Prince

Dying Faith

of joy

Ritualism

name

Philadelphia “a

Brotherly love

Evangelism Missions

;

‘Laodicea

Laypeople

Apostasy

I will give you power over the nations and the morning star

You appear to be

I will dress you

alive, but in your heart

in white raiment and

you are dying, and your works are imperfect

confess your name before My Father

Hold fast and continue to keep

I will make you a pillar in the house

My Word

of God

Your material riches have blinded you to your spiritual shame

I will allow you to sit with Me on My throne

who have not bent their knees to unscriptural traditionalism but truly worship the living Christ. When Christ raptures His Church, there will be millions of true believers

3:8 | know thy works . . . | have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. Both the local church-and the Church age it represents are character-

)garments of heaven.

ized by “the open door.” Many believe this refers to world evangelism that characterizes Bible-believing, mission-

taken to be with Him. These will be clothed in the white

3:5 He that overcometh [a believer in Christ] . . . | will

not blot out his name out of the book of life. This promise is very significant! At the Great White Throne Judgment, this “book of life” will be used as a final check to see if a sinner should be cast into the lake of fire (20:15). All

true believers will be raptured, and their names will remain in the book of life forever! These names will be confessed by Jesus before the Father, which is the ultimate guarantee of salvation for ALL who call on the name of Christ.

3:7. the church in Philadelphia, The city of Philadelphia was located twenty-eight miles from Sardis. This city was founded by King Attalus in honor of his brother and is known as the “city of brotherly love.” It seems to have

been a faithful church, for the Lord gave them much praise and no condemnation whatsoever.

ary-minded churches. Of the seven churches described, Philadelphia is the most ideal model of the true church.

3:8 thou hast a little strength. This indicates that the churches do not depend on themselves but, in humility, depend on the Holy Spirit. To enjoy His blessing, they know they must teach holy living and evangelism. Like their predecessors in the early Church era, they have proclaimed the second coming of Christ. 3:9 “Judaizers” or legalists have plagued the Church in every age. Evidently they also hampered the church of Philadelphia. Those who would add legalism or works to the free gift of salvation destroy “the gift of God,” which is “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

137(

of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are | 10!sa. ;

i

24:17; Luke

Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beBae

we

;

not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to | 9-1: 2pet,2:9 |ginning of the creation of God;

come and worship before thy feet, and to } 44 Rey, 22:7, |15 I know thy works, that thou art neither know that I have loved thee. 12, 20 cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my | 12 1Kgs. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and

patience, I also will keep thee from the hour

ie Lyi

neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of

of temptation, which shall come upon all | 94-2' 49: |my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I'am rich, and inthe world, to try them that dwell upon the earth: 14 Isa. creased-with goods, and have need of noth11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast | 65:16 Col ing; and knowest not that thou art % 1:15; Rev. 4 which thou hast, that no man take thy, | 4:5; 3:7: wretched, and miserable, and poor, and 19:11; 22:6 blind, and naked: crown. 17 Hos. 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in 12 Him that overcometh will [make a pillar 12:8; 1Cor. the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white in the temple of my God, and he shall go no | 4’ raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and more out: and I will write upon him the 4 18 Isa. 55:1; j name of my God, and the name of the city } Matt. 13:44; | twat the shame of thy nakedness do not apof my God, which is new Jerusalem, which | 25:9; 2Cor. pear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, cometh down out of heaven fron. my God: oe that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: and I will write upon him my new name. 19:8 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what. } 19 Job 5:17; | be zealous therefore, and repent.

the Spirit saith unto the churches. :

Christ’s Message to the

Church of Laodicea

Prov. 3:11,12 |20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if 20 Song 5:2; |any man hear my voice, and open the door,

Luke 12:37; |1 will come in to him, and will sup with

Monn 19:23

14 And unto. the angel of the church of the Taos hen Laodiceans write; These things saith the | 2:26, 27

3:10 | also will keep thee from the hour of temptation. This is the most specific guarantee from our Lord Himself that Christian believers will not go into that seven-year Tribulation period He is about to unveil (Rev. 6—18). Revelation 3:10 should be studied in the light of Romans 5:9 and 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9. After giving this assurance that believers would be kept out of the hour of trial, it is no accident that the very next chapter begins with a picture of the Rapture, when John is seen taken up to heaven just before the Tribulation begins. 3:11 | come quickly. Christ wants all believers to live every day as if this is the day He will come. There will be absolutely no warning when Christ comes for His Church. He challenges believers to “hold. . . fast” to the faith in both belief and practice. It is very important that Christians not only start well but also finish well, as did Paul who said, “Il have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Sin has

crept into many believers’ lives, and because of this sin they will not “receive a full reward” at the judgment seat of Christ (2 John 1:8). 3:12 him that overcometh. The eternal promises mentioned here are offered to those who have faith in Christ (see 1 John 5:1-5).

3:14 the church of the Laodiceans. This church was located about forty miles from Philadelphia in a wealthy city filled with Greek culture and learning. Christian tradition points out the early relationship of Laodicea to the church at Colossae. The apostle Paul wrote a letter,

pa eaea

CoE SER

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also over-

which was apparently lost, to the church at Laodicea (cf. Col. 4:16). The designation of the church as “lukewarm’

is taken from the contrasting hot springs of nearby Hierapolis and the pure, cold waters of Colossae. There are no words of positive commendation for the lukewarm Laodiceans. Today’s “Laodicean” churches have “a form of godliness, but [deny] the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5). In such churches, the Bible is rarely taught, and sinners

are rarely converted.

3:14 the faithful and true witness. Christ threatens to reject this apostate church, as noted by the picture of vomiting from the mouth. While the church is ae: those individuals who believe are not. 3:16 | will spue thee out of my mouth. A lukewarm church claims to be Christian, but preaches another gospel, often one based on good works. In this fashion they mislead men about the person of Christ and the salvation He bought for man. uA 3:17-18 and have need of nothing. Unlike Philadelphia, which recognized it was of “little strength” (v. 8) and

must depend on the power and Spirit of God, the Laodicean church was proud of its riches, mistaking

material success for the approval of God. Consequently, they didn’t realize that without the truth of the Word of God they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. 3:20 Though some have been encouraged by this verse

1371 came, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

vie 1:10,

| white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what

ae

5 And out of the throne proceeded light-

the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Ezek. 1:26: 10:1; Dan.

nings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the

BARGE LER 4 John Caught Up to Heaven

ee ey 21:10

throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of

1

After this I'looked, and, behold, a door | 3 Ezek. 1:28 | glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of

was opened in heaven: and the first voice | q Rey, 3:4, 5: |the throne, and round about the throne, which I heard was as it were of a trumpet | 4:10; 6:11;

talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which

were four beasts full of eyes before and be-

tenis hind. . Bak 4 3. |7 And the first beast was like a lion, and

must be hereafter. Rev, 1:4: 3:1: |the second beast like a calf, and the third 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, | 9:6; 8:5, beast had a face as a man, and the fourth behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one | '®'8 beast was like a flying eagle. sat on the throne. ore 288 8 And the four beasts had each of them six 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a | Rey, 4:8: wings about him; and they were full of eyes jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a | 15:2 within: and they rest not day and night, rainbow round about the throne, in sight | 7 Num. 2:2; | saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,

like unto an emerald.

+

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in

Faces

to receive the resurrected Christ as Savior, it is not actually a presentation of the gospel. Since the church of Laodicea is the recipient of this message, it seems to be a call for Christians who are cold and indifferent to spiritual things to repent and “open the door” of their hearts to the resurrected Christ. This is a beautiful picture of Christ's invitation to His Bride to come to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

3:22 Although the words “church” or “churches” have been used nineteen times by this point in the book, these words are not mentioned again until 22:16, long after the Tribulation. The absence of any mention of the Church reinforces the fact that the Church will be raptured before the Tribulation takes place.

4:1-2

which was, and is, and is to come.

Rae 62.90/29 And when those beasts give glory and on honour and thanks to him that sat on the

immediately | was in the spirit. The transition

that occurs in verse 1 shifts our focus into the future. This is emphasized by the words “after this” (Gr. meta tauta), which indicate a sequence of events that follow. John was taken by the Spirit into heaven. It was no coincidence that the first thing to happen after John described the seven churches was his conveyance into heaven. John’s perspective of the Tribulation is the same as the Church— in heaven. The invitation comes from Christ himself, who is the One who spoke to John “as of a trumpet” (Rev. 1:10). Note the similarity of this event to the promise of our Lord near the end of His life to His disciples about taking them to His Father’s house (John 14:2-3).

4:1 shew thee things which must be hereafter. This statement marks a distinct change in the book. The message of Christ to the seven churches is complete. Now

He addresses what will take place after the time of the

throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

seven churches, namely the seven-year Tribulation period. But first, we are shown a scene in heaven (Rev. 4—

5). It is important for the reader to examine the context of each passage to determine whether an event is pictured in heaven or on earth. 4:4-5 The identity of the twenty-four elders refers to redeemed men. Since these same elders are mentioned in 5:9 as having come “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,” they are probably representative of the saved people of the Church age. 4:5 the seven spirits of God. This refers to the seven eyes of the Lord or characteristics of God (cf. Zech. 4:10 and Isa. 11:2).

4:6 a sea of glass. This description of the sea in heaven and around the throne suggests the calm and tranquility there in contrast to the turmoil of the earth from which the martyred saints have just departed. The “four living creatures” that worship God continually are best considered in the light of Ezekiel’s vision of heaven (Ezek.

1:5-25; cf. Isa. 6:1—4), showing the awesome view of God that the heavenly seraphim have. 4:8 Holy, holy, holy. This is the cry of these heavenly creatures who know God as He really is. It has been suggested that each “holy” is directed to one of the members of the Trinity. Then these creatures remind us of the One who “is to come.” The return of Christ is guaranteed in the words of these heavenly hosts. In Acts 1:9-11 angelic beings describe how Christ will literally return “in like manner as ye have seen him go.” Here these angels in heaven reaffirm that promise.

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10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are

and were created.

CHAPTER

| 10 Rev. 4:4, |* 5 14 eS Sed | Dan. 12:4. | 5 Gen, 49:9, | 10; Isa.11:1, eae

| four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, |which are the prayers of saints. | 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou |art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast

7:14: Rev. 5:1; 6:1;

5

redeemed us to God by thy’ blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and

22:16

watiod:

The Seven-sealed Book phos pan 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that | 4:10; John

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

sat on the throne a book written within and | 1:29. 36;

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of

:

5:

1Pet. 1:19;

d

on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Rev. 4:5: 5:9, |many angels round about the throne an 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming | 12; 13:8 the beasts and the elders: and the number with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open | 7 Rev. 4:2 of them was ten thousand times ten thouthe book, and to loose the seals thereof?

8 Ps. 141:2;

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, nei-

Reehahes

| sand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is’ the

ther under the earth, was able to open the | j5-7' "” _| Lamb that was slain to receive power, and book, neither to look thereon. 9 Ps. 40:3: riches, and wisdom, and strength, and hon4 And I wept much, because no man was | Dan. 4:1; our, and glory, and blessing. found worthy to open and to read the book, | 25: Acts 13 And every creature which is in heaven, ; 20:28; Rom. neither to look thereon. 3:24; 1Cor. and on the earth, and under the earth, and 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, | 6:20; 7:23; such as are in the sea, and all that are in Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of i) Aas them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to | 9:12; 1Pet. and glory, and power, be unto him that sit-

open the book, and to loose the seven seals

Cae Mh

teth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb

thereof. 1John 1:7; 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the | Rev. 4:11; throne and of the four beasts, and in the ae 4, midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had | 6 been slain, having

seven

horns and seven | 10 Ex. 19:6:

| ever:

eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent | 1Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; forth into all the earth. 20:6; 22:5

CHAPTER

the right hand of him that sat upon the | 442. 4.6.

4:11 The twenty-four elders who represent the redeemed in heaven acknowledge that humans were created by God for His good pleasure. Their response of praise recognizes the sovereignty of God over our lives. 5:1 The seven-sealed scroll is thought to be the title deed to the earth. In practical terms, it seems God the Father holds this title deed, awaiting the return of His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth. This powerful scene in heaven indicates that only Christ, who died to redeem mankind back to God, is qualified to open the seals of this scroll and claim His kingdom over all the earth.

5:9 John observes these events just prior to the beginning of the Tribulation. Whether these men represent Israel or the Church, they are redeemed saints who are in heaven just before the revelation of the Tribulation period, confirming a pretribulation rapture.

6

: Christ Opens the Seven-sealed

7 And he came and took the book out of | 49 pey 4:11 throne. 5:3;6:16; 8 And when he had taken the book, the | 7:10

for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and

Scroll |

1 AndIsaw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of

5:10 we shall reign on the earth. A similar promise is given to that “multitude, which no man could number” (Rev. 7:9) when resurrected after the Tribulation (Rev. 20:4). Together the Christians, who were saved before the Tribulation, along with the saints saved out of the Tribulation will “rule and reign” during Christ's one thousand-year kingdom. , 5:11 ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands

:

of thousands. An incredible. number of souls have been saved during the history of man and, at this point in John’s vision, are in heaven. Then there is the “innumer- | able” host (Heb. 12:22) from the seven-year Tribulations soul harvest.

6:1 Come and see. From his vantage point in heaven, John is invited to look down and see the judgment of God on all those left behind after the Rapture. As Christ, the

1373 thunder,

one

of the four beasts

saying,

there was given unto him a great sword.

Come and see. AT 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: |Zech, 6:3, and he that sat on him had a bow; and a | 11; Rev.

ake And when he had opened the third seal, | 1 heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he

crown was given unto him: and he went | '!4 19:11 | that sat on him had a pair of balances in his

forth conquering, and to conquer.

3 Rev. 4:7

3 And when he had opened the second | 42Zech.6:2_

| hand. | 6 And Iheard a voice in the midst of the four

seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and | 5 Zech. 6:2; | beasts say,

see. 4

Reve R?

A measure of wheat for a penny,

and three measures of barley for a penny;

And there went out another horse that | © Rev. 9:4

and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

was red: and power was given to him that | 7 Rev. 4:7

7 And when he had opened the fourth

sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and

seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

The Seal Judgments Heaven

|

Rapture

Second Coming First Seal Cold War/White Horse

Second Seal Open Warfare/Red Horse Third Seal Famine/Black Horse Fourth Seal Death/Ashen Horse

Fifth Seal Martyrdom/Slain Souls .

Sixth Seal Great Earthquake/ Lamb’s Wrath

Sees ore Seventh Seal Seven Trumpets

Seven Vials/Bowls Poured Out

Second Half of Tribulation

© AMG Publishers

reigning Lord of heaven, opens each seal, this opening triggers an action that takes place on the earth. The first four seals introduce the “four horsemen” of the Apocalypse—conquest, war, famine, and death. The seven seals (Rev. 6:1—8:1), probably cover the first twentyone months of the Tribulation.

6:2 The first horseman reveals a rider with a crown, indicating authority, and a bow without arrows, suggesting that he conquers the world by diplomatically offering peace (1 Thess. 5:1-3). We see here the Antichrist (1 John 4:3), or “man of sin” (2 Thess. 2:3), who will arise at that time. (See the article entitled “The Antichrist” by Edward Hindson).

6:3-4 take peace from the earth. Like all man-made, false promises of “peace,” the promised peace of the

Antichrist fails. The world erupts into war, and peace is taken away by the “great sword.” 6:5-6 for a penny. The third seal introduces a worldwide famine when a quart of wheat is sold for the equivalent of a full day’s work. The food of the rich, however,

the “oil and wine,” will not be hurt, showing the continued injustice of man to his fellow.

6:7-8 The breaking of the fourth seal will result in the deaths of one quarter of the earth by the “sword... hunger . . . and [by] the beasts of the earth.” Evidently

there will be a rampage of wild animal attacks on humans at the same time the world is plunged into a worldwide war. Since hell followed death here, and since believers will not go to hell, these dead are those who have rejected the gospel and chose to follow Antichrist.

1374

By Tim LaHaye here is no question this world will yet experience a time of “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time” as predicted by our Lord (Matt. 24:21). In Revelation 3:10, He promised to keep believers from “the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Such a time will have to be worse than anything ever known in human history; far worse than the destruction of-Jerusalem in a.p. 70 (1 million casualties), than the Black Plague (9 million killed), than World War | (20 million killed), than the devastation of World War Il and Hitler’s holocaust (6 million Jews and at least 4 million Christians killed).

The Scriptures give more space to describing the coming Tribulation period than to” any other prophetic event. The Hebrew prophets mention it 39 times, calling it a “time of Jacob's trouble” (Jer. 30:7), “tribulation” (distress, Deut. 4:30), fiers ee mace: and many other titles denoting distress. The New Testament — : ss calls it “the day of the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:2), “the wrath of God” Th is world wi

(Rev. 14:10; 15:1, 7; 16:1), and “the wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. experience a 1

6:16—17). Revelation 6—19 describe the events of that Tribula-

of

“great tribulation.”

tion period, the best description of this terrifying, close-at-hand time that will try the whole world. Daniel, the Hebrew prophet that Jesus quoted most, predicted that troublous times would last seven years and be started by the signing of a seven-year covenant between Israel and “the prince that shall come” (called elsewhere “antichrist” or “the beast”). Then he predicted this “beast” or governmental ruler would break that covenant in the middle of the Tribulation and desecrate the temple (Dan. 9:26—27). Again, Daniel predicted that when _ Antichrist arises, he will be empowered by Satan himself with “all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9), and will desecrate the temple and set up an image of himself, demanding that the people worship him. , There is little doubt as to when this Tribulation occurs or how long it will last. Daniel predicts it will last “one week” (seven years, 9:27). John in Revelation divides it into two periods of three and one-half years each or 1,260 days each, a total of seven years. During the first three and one-half years more than one-half the world’s population dies. During the second half, conditions get even worse after Satan is cast out of heaven and indwells the Antichrist’s body and demands the world worship him. Our Lord Jesus predicted this Tribulation would end immediately prior to His return to this earth to set up His earthly kingdom for 1000 years (Matt. 24:29, see Dan. 9:24).

We should never lose sight of the true purpose of that Tribulation period: a divine expression of His mercy and grace. For in that brief seven-year period, at a time when the world’s population is at its largest, God will shake the earth in an attempt to lessen man’s . false sense of security. He will send 144,000 Jewish witnesses filled with the Holy Spirit (Rev. 7; Joel 2:28-32) and other witnesses. God will go to the most extreme measures in

all of history during the final days of man’s life on earth to bring a massive number of souls to faith in Him so multitudes of people may enjoy the blessings He has prepared for their eternal future.

1375 8

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: | 8 Lev. 26:22; | tains, and the mighty men, and every bond-

and his name that sat on him was Death,

wae oe

man, and every free man, hid themselves in

and Hell followed with him. And power was 9 2Tim. 1:8: the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; given unto them over the fourth part of the | Rey, 1:9; 8:3; |16 And said to the mountains and rocks,

earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, | 9:13;12:17;

14:18; 19:10;

| Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him

and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

20:4

9

And when he had opened the fifth seal,

1AgERa,

17 For the great day of his wrath is come;

I saw under the altar the souls of them that

Sewer

and who shall be able to stand?

were slain for the word of God, and for the

testimony which they held:

:

een

that sitteth on the throne, wrath of the Lamb:

CHAPTER

7

,

and

from

the

;

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, | 3:4, 5: 7:9,

Sealing the 144,000 Tribulation

How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou | 14 14:13

Evangelists

not judge and avenge our blood on them | 12 Joel 2:10, |4 And after these things I saw four angels 31432155 ; that dwell on the earth? Matt. 24:29, |Standing on the four corners of the earth, 11 And white robes were given unto every | Acts 2:20; one of them; and it was said unto them, | Fev: 16:18

that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the F sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on

beRev. 8:10; |the sea, nor on any tree. | ~’ 2 And I saw another angel ascending from es Isa, | the east, having the seal of the living God: 34:4; Jer. and he cried with a loud voice to the four ie 4:25, angels, to whom it was given to hurt the eb. 1:12, | 13: Rev. earth and the sea, | 16:20 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the | 15lsa.2:19 | sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the 16 Hos. servants of our God in their foreheads.

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the | 23:30; 19:8;Luke Rev.

| 4 And I heard the number of them which

were sealed: and there were sealed an hunearth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely | 9-¢ dred and forty and four thousand of all the figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll Yeoh:a tribes of the children of Israel. when it is rolled together; and every moun- |} 1 Dan. 7:2; 5 Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve tain and island were moved out of their | Rev. 9:4 thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed places. 3 Ezek. 9:4 twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great ahee 9:16; | sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve men, and the rich men, and the chief cap-

6:9-11 The fifth seal shows the souls “under the altar” who were martyred for their faith. These martyrs are those who accepted Christ by faith during the early days of the Tribulation and were beheaded for their faith. They will not receive their resurrected bodies until Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation (Rev. 20:4—5).

6:11. The earth’s population during the Tribulation will be reduced enormously. God will slay those who follow the Antichrist and take his mark (Rev. 13), and Antichrist, the official tool of Satan, will slay many tribulation believers who refuse to worship him. Half of the world’s population

will be dead by the middle of the Tribulation. 6:12-17 hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. The sixth seal signals that the wrath of God is being poured out on the earth. In all probability (though millions have died in earthquakes past) this will be the most devastating quake since the flood. It will be so bad that even the kings of the earth and all men will call on the rocks to hide them. Even the lost know these judgments are from the Christ they have rejected.

7:1-8 Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals, we are given an insight into the divine protection of the earth from powerful winds by the assignment of powerful angels and the sealing and ministry of the 144,000 witnesses. This chapter shows the supernatural efforts to which God will go during that time to bring a maximum number of souls to faith in Christ. God will select 12,000 Jews from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to be His special servants throughout the Tribulation. We are not told what the seal is that He places on their foreheads, but whatever it is, it endows them with both protection and power from on high. The

fact that these are Jewish groups indicates that there will be many Jews who come to accept Christ as their Messiah at the outset of the Tribulation. We can only imagine what evangelistic success these 144,000 servants of God will have. They are often likened to the zeal of the apostle Paul and those anointed with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1—40).

1376 thousand.

Of the tribe of Nepthalim. were | 9 Rom.

sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of

Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

washed their robes, and made them white

Ne tte

in the blood of the Lamb.

5:9; 6:11;

15 Therefore are they before the throne of

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve | 7:14 thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed iecae

God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne

twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed

ee 3:23; Hos. 13:4; Rey 5:13;

shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neithien thirst any more; neither shall the sun light

twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were

be ie 46

sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Ben-jamin were sealed twelve thousand. Paivie .

os 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the WiRev. 9:13, |throne shall feed them, and shall lead them 14Isa. 1:1g |Unto living fountains of waters: and God

The Congregation in Heaven

Zech,33.5;

shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all

moult i Batik

CHAPTER

nations, and kindreds,

| OD them, nor any heat.

and people, and | 17:6

8

Christ Opens the Seventh Seal

tongues, stood before the throne, and before | 15 Isa. 4:5,

|1

And when he had opened the seventh

the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and | & Rev. 21:3 | seal, there was silence in heaven about the palms in their hands; isra ‘6; |space of half an hour. 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Sal- eet M4. vation to our God which sitteth upon the | 47 p, 93.;._

throne, and unto the Lamb.

36:8: Isa.

11 And all the angels stood round about the

ae dp

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood |before God; and to them were given seven

|

trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at

throne, and about the elders and the four | pey, 71-4'

the altar, having a golden censer; and there

beasts, and fell before the throne on their | 4 poy 6-1 faces, and worshipped God, 2 2Chr. 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and | 29:25-28:

was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the

wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and

Moe 0; | throne.

power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. REN

|“ ai renee 13 And one of the elders answered, saying | gp. 144.2.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which ai ee ue ee of be more a |Cended up before God out of the angel's

unto me, What are these which are arrayed | Luke 1:10

hand.

in white robes? and whence came they? 5 2Sam. 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. | 22:8; Acts

5 And the angei took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast if into the

And he said to me, These are they which

came

out

of great

tribulation,

and

ae

have

7:9-14 a great multitude, which no man could number. After their sealing and doubtless as a result of their ministry, John sees a multitude from all nations, tongues, and tribes standing “before the throne, and before the Lamb.” This indicates there will be a great soul harvest during the Tribulation that is so enormous it cannot even be counted. Who are these people standing before the throne? John asked that same question, and the angel said, “These are they who came out of the great tribulation.” The 144,000 witnesses will be so effective during that chaotic time that an innumerable host of people will be saved. Note that the song of salvation sung by the angelic beings in heaven (vv. 11-12) is in accord with the Scripture that

tells us angels rejoice over each soul that comes to faith (Luke 15:10).

7:16-17 Here we are given insights of the kind of suffering the martyrs of the Tribulation will experience: hunger, sun, and heat, indicating they will probably have

earth: and there were voices, and thunder-

ings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. to flee from the Antichrist’s population centers for safety

and live as vagabonds before being killed. 8:1 silence in heaven. The next set of judgments, which shall cover the second quarter of the Tribulation, will be

so catastrophic that heaven is silent in anticipation. Many see a parallel between this period of silence and the time of silence during the solen ceremony. of “a temple worship. 3 fei 8:2 The breaking of the seventh seal judgment does nothing on the earth except introduce the seven trumpet judgments, which describe what conditions on earth will be like during the next twenty-one months of the Tribulation. This is one reason for believing these three sets of judgments (seals, trumpets, and vial judganer a are chronological, each following the other. 8:3-5 the prayers of the saints. This prelude in heaven before the first trumpet on earth reflects on all the prayers of the people of God through the ages.

1377

The Seven Trumpets

raed zek.

6 And the seven angels which had the | Rev. 9:4; seven

trumpets

prepared

themselves

38:22;

to | 162

sound.

were in the sea, and had life, died; and the :

a

third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there

8 Jer. 51:25; | fell a great star from heaven, burning as’it

7 The first angel sounded, and there fol- |R2kU#I9" | were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part lowed hail and fire mingled with blood, and | Rev. 16:3

of the rivers, and upon the fountains of wa-

they were cast upon the earth: and the third | 9 Rev. 16:3

| ‘TS:

grass was burnt up.

| wood: and the third part of the waters be-

part of trees was

burnt

up, and

all green | 10 Isa,

14:12; Rev.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it |2" '*4

11 And the name of the star is called Worm-

came wormwood; and many men died of

were a great mountain burning with fire 11 Ex. 15:23 | the waters, because they were made bitter. was cast into the sea: and the third part of | 12's 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the

{Helse Kabanie blood: 9

ptt Amos | third part of the sun was smitten, and the

And the third part of the creatures which

third part of the moon, and the third part of

The Tribulation Rapture

Heaven

The Seven

The Seven Trumpets

Seals 1. White Horse 2. Red Horse 3. Black Horse 4. Pale Horse 5. Souls Under the Altar 6. Great Earthquake 7. Silence, Golden Censer

1. Hail, Fire,

Blood 2. Burning Mountain

3. Star

i

Wormwood 4. Sun Smitten 5. Plague of Locusts 6. Plague of Horsemen 7. Christ Rules

The Seven Key Figures 1.Woman —lsrael 2. Dragon —Satan 3. Male Child | —Christ ; 4. Michael —Archangel 5, Remnant —Saved Israel 6. Antichrist 7. False Prophet

| Church The (Present) Age

Seven Vials/Bowls Poured Out 1. Boils 2. Sea to Blood 3. Rivers to Blood 4. Great Heat 5.Darkness 6. Euphrates Dried Up 7. Hail

Seven Dooms of

Return of Christ

Babylon 1. Devoid of

* Battle of

Human Life

Armageddon

2. Burned with Fire} « 3. Destroyed in One Hour ¢ 4. People Afraid to Enter Borders} 5.Riches Brought |* to Nothing

Marriage of the Lamb Return of Christ with the Church and His Angels Antichrist and False Prophet

6. Violently

Cast into Lake

Overthrown 7. Devoid of All Activity

of Fire

Kingdom Millennial The

Second Half of Tribulation (3-1/2 Years)

© AMG Publishers

8:7 hail and fire mingled with blood. John the revela— tor sees a picture of a vast global conflagration in which

— one third of the vegetation of earth is burned up. This is a literal experience that shall terrify the whole earth (Joel 1:18-20). The very fact that the Bible predicts such massive global destruction at the end of human history ought to challenge each one of us to live godly lives on a daily basis in light of the fact that we live in a time when such destruction is possible.

8:3-9 a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. This may refer to nuclear devastation or a giant asteroid or meteor that comes from outer space, killing one-third of the aquatic life.

8:10-11

The third trumpet calls forth “Wormwood,”

which in Greek is apsinthos, a bitter, often poisonous

herb or drug that will pollute one third of the fresh water on earth. The desperation of mankind in that day will be unbelievable. 8:12 The fourth trumpet reveals that the sun, moon, and stars will literally be darkened; thus the world will experience a one-third increase in darkness. This will have a devastating effect on crops, the food supply, and everyone’s lifestyle. The hardship that results will no doubt contribute to many calling on the name of the Lord (Rev. 7:9).

1378

the stars; so as the third part of them was | 13 Rev. 9:12; |the air were

darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. 13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of

darkened

by reason

of the

pe 146; | smoke of the pit. A 5 aie 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts | 9.2, 11. 17:8: |upon the earth: and unto them was given | 20:1 power, as the scorpions of the earth have | 2 Joel 2:2, power. | '® 4 And it was commanded them that they

the trumpet of the three angels, which are | 3Rev-9:10 yet to sound!

| should not hurt the grass of the earth, nei-

4 Ex. 12:23; | ther any green thing, neither any tree; but

CHAPTER

pas

9

only those men which have not the seal of

87

1. And the fifth angel sounded, and I sawa

| God in their foreheads.

| 5Rev.9:10;

star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to | 11:7

And

to them

it was

given

that they

should not kill them, but that they should

him was given the key of the bottomless pit. | Job 3:21;

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and

|5

| be tormented

five months:

and their tor-

ne oe ee. ment was the torment of a scorpion, when _

there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the | 6:16 smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and

he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death,

The Trumpet Judgments

Rapture A

Antichrist Enters w

34

. Second Trumpet 4 mpl Mountain/Upon Sea gb cols“ | Third Trumpet

Wormwood/Upon Waters

2 Seven Seals

Second Coming

Temple

First Trumpet Hail, Fire/Upon Earth

Seventh Trumpet Vials/Bowls

J Fourth Trumpet Sun, Moon, Stars/Upon Heavens ee

Fifth Trumpet ‘) Demonic Locust/Upon People

tee

Sixth Trumpet Horsemen/Upon People

Seven Vials/Bowls Poured Out

Second Half of Tribulation

© AMG Publishers

8:13 An angel announces in heaven that the next three judgments (two trumpets and the vial judgments) will be even worse than the first, which is what the three “woes” mean—the worst is yet to come! 9:1-11 angel of the bottomless pit. The fifth trumpet produces an angel that opens that hellish place to permit poisonous “locusts,” creatures who sting like scorpions, whose stings hurt people five months . . . but in mercy cannot kill them. They have a king over them called Apollyon (“destroyer”). Many believe this is a horde of demons who will plague people during the Tribulation.

9:4 which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. It is very interesting that this judgment was only for those who did not have that seal. Those with the seal of God likely include the 144,000 witnesses, and probably the innumerable multitude which will be converted @usooh their preaching. 9:5 The fact that they could not kill these unsaved souls may indicate that the purpose of this judgment is to lead the undecided to faith in Christ.

1379 and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, ee iyies am flee von ane. Nah. 317 the shapes of the locusts were like | ¢ \441 4.6 unto horses prepared unto battle; and on 0 aneasve their heads were as it were crowns like gold, ay and their faces were as the faces of men. eer cart

and the heads of the horses were as the heads sot lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by |ie brimstone, which issued out of their

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

as 22; | mouths, G hag g13. |19 For their power is in their mouth, and in

29 And 4they ey "had a breast iene ribs ay i: i mee

4a &

reastplates of iron; and

the sound

theirir tails: unto ser tails: for theirir tails tai were like i pents, and had heads, and with them they

of their | 16.12

wings was as the sound of chariots of many | 4¢ p, 69.17. |do hurt. horses running to battle. Ezek. 38:4; 20 And the rest of the men which were not ae they had tails like ae SSPIPIONS Dan 70 wae Pemas Plagne yet repented not of and there were stings in their tails: an nae the works of their hands, that they should

their power was to hurt men five months.

ena

not worship devils, and idols of gold, and

11 And they had a king over them, which is | 5:28, 29 the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name | 191!sa.9:15

silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: | which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the | 20 Lev, 17:7; | 21 Neither repented they of their murders,

Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Deviaeniey

bs One woe is nas ad behold, there come | 196-37. ss

wo woes more

hereafter.

nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

115:4;

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I Bee idal heard a voice from the four horns of the | 39:29 golden altar which is before God, 21 Rev.

CHAPTER 10 Opening the Little Book

1

And I saw another mighty angel come

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the } 22:15 down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: trumpet, Loose the four angels which are | 1 Ezek. 1:28; |and a rainbow was upon his head, and his bound in the great river Euphrates. He ae face was as it were the sun, and his feet as

15 And the four angels were loosed, which

were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone:

iota

pillars of fire:

aun

2

aiRev. 8:5 sng

Aen. b ze: Ag,

And he had in his hand a little book

open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,

9:13-16 the army of the horsemen. The sixth angel introduces an awesome army of two hundred million riding on horses.

turn to the Lord. Not so; “a great multitude, which no man could number” does receive Christ (Rev. 7:9), but even

9:14 Loose the four angels. The fact that this army is released by these four angels (demons) indicates that God has kept these angels who followed Satan from hurting mankind. It is Satan, not God, that dictates their evil work, for as soon as they are released they seek to kill mankind.

men turn to God, a majority rebel against Him. Note the sins that are rampant in that day that keep men from Christ: 1) worship of demons and idols, 2) murders, 3) sorceries (Gr. pharmakon, or drugs), 4) sexual immorality of all kinds, 5) theft and robbery.

9:17-19 The description of these fearful creatures must so terrify mankind that many die of fright; however, it is assumed that they have no power over believers living in that period. It would seem that only the Antichrist and his human followers have the capability of actually killing the “saints.” 9:20-21 One would think that in the midst of this great battle for the souls of mankind that the majority would

after all these catastrophic judgments designed to make

The conclusion of Chapter 9 marks the half-way point of the Tribulation period. “The Great Tribulation” follows immediately.

10:1 At no other time does Christ appear as an angel or created being after His resurrection. This angel is most likely Michael, Gabriel, or an angel equal to them who swears an oath by Jesus Christ, indicating something significant is about to happen. Angels play a prominent role in the Apocalypse, being mentioned sixty-six times.

1380 Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. 8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take if, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my

5 Ex. 6:8; Dan, 12:7,

6 Neh. 9:6; Dan. 12:7; Rev. 4:11; 14:7; 16:17

7 Rey. 11:15 8 Rev. 10:4 9 Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 2:8; 3:1-3

10 Ezek. 3:3 10 Ezek. 2:10 1 Num. 23:18; Ezek.

40:3; Zech. 2:1; Rev. 21:15 2 Ps. 79:1; Ezek. 40:17, 20; Dan. 8:10; Luke 21:24; Rev. 13:5 3 Rev. 12:6;

19:10; 20:4 4 Ps, 52:8; Jer. 11:16; Zech. 4:3, 11, 14 5 Num. 16:29

10:6 time no longer. This literally means “delay no longer” and indicates that the time of the end is rapidly approaching. From the sounding of the seventh angel's trumpet, the world will move relentlessly toward the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Bible, culminating in the coming of Christ to the earth. 10:7 the mystery of God should be finished. The culmination of the conflict of the ages is about to take place with the sounding of the seventh angel's trumpet. This trumpet introduces the seven vial judgments that will cover the events of the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation described in chapter 16. In the meantime, most of what occurs from chapter 12—15 are scenes in heaven describing events which will occur on earth. 10:8-10 but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. The “little book” that was seen in heaven in verse 2 has a similar mission as that given to Ezekiel (3:1—3) and Jeremiah (15:16). The prophetic Word, which is what the

“little book” is, contains the “sweet” message of God’s wonderful plan for mankind including the coming of Christ, the Millennial Kingdom, and heaven, but it also contains the judgment of God on sinners who do not repent and come to Him, and their ultimate consignment to hell. 10:11 Thou must prophesy again. John’s task of communicating prophecy was not complete, but the message of God's grace and judgment must still be communicated

mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

CHAPTER

11

The Temple and God’s Two Witnesses 1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is _ given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth

until He completes God's final plan to consummate endtime events which are rapidly approaching.

11:1-2 The temple John is commissioned to “measure” is probably a reference to the temple that the orthodox Jews will build during the Tribulation. This refers to the temple that Daniel predicted would be desecrated during the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27). Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel, which he breaks in the middle of the seven-year period (Dan. 9:27).

11:2. the holy city shall they tread under foot. This event cannot happen in the first half of the Tribulation, for the Jews control the city and worship in their temple during that time. This indicates that the Gentiles, under the leadership of Antichrist, will control the city during the last half of those seven years. In fact, we find that Antichrist not only desecrates the temple, but also sets himself up as God to be worshiped in that temple (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13).

11:3-4 | will give power unto my two witnesses. God's two powerful witnesses will prophesy 1260 days. These two witnesses with supernatural powers will warn Israel and the world, right at the temple site, that the coming judgment is about to fal! upon the world. These witnesses will not only attempt to call Israel to repentance by proclaiming the gospel, they will also urge her to accept her Messiah.

1381

The

Two

fitmesses

By Tim LaHaye wo of the most colorful characters in all of biblical prophecy may be the supernatural prophets that burst on the scene during the first half of the Tribulation. According to the eleventh chapter of Revelation, these two characters dress in sackcloth, prophesy, dispense astonishing miracles, and witness to the grace of God in the most evil culture known to mankind. There is much speculation as to the identity of the two witnesses. Though some believe Elijah and Enoch are the two witnesses, most Bible scholars consider them to be Moses and Elijah. Proponents of the Moses and Elijah argument point out that these two Old Testament characters were the most influential Hebrew men of their respective times—lMoses introduced God's written Law to Israel, while Elijah was the first of the writing prophets and even started the school for the prophets. In fact, whenever the Jews said, “Moses and Elijah,” they usually meant “the law and ine prophets.” One factor that may suggest Moses and Elijah will be the two witnesses

mentioned in Revelation is that the two men accompanied

Gad will raise

Jesus at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17). Another element is that

the miracles the witnesses are to produce have striking similartwo p shedik hets fi ne ities to the judgment plagues initiated by Moses and Elijah in the dead. the Old Testament (see Ex. 7—12; 1 Kgs. 17:1). Together with the 144,000 witnesses, the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will have awesome power and impact in producing the enormous soul harvest of the first forty-two months of the Tribulation described in Revelation 7. They will provide the millions of Jews in the Holy Land a spiritual bridge to the Christian gospel. God will demonstrate His mighty power and existence through these two prophets over whom the Antichrist will have no power until the God-appointed time. Before that designated time, the two witnesses will be untouchable, and anyone who threatens them will be killed (Rev. 11:5).

The two prophets make mortal enemies of the Antichrist and those who reject Christ and worship the Beast during the first half (or 1,260 days) of the Tribulation. For reasons

known only to God, the Lord will allow the Antichrist to overcome and kill the two witnesses once they have “finished their testimony” (Rev. 11:7). Then the unsaved people of the world who so despise the witnesses will refuse to bury them, leaving their dead bodies to decay in the streets of Jerusalem. They will even make a Christmas-like celebration out of their murders by sending and receiving gifts “in honor” of the occasion. John prophesies that, “they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half” (Rev. 11:9, emphasis added). How could the whole world see their dead bodies? Only a short time ago, it would have been humanly inconceivable for the entire world to witness such an event, but today, with rapid advancements in communication technology, such a spectacle is not so difficult to imagine. But the most incredible aspect of Revelation 11 is that the story doesn’t end with the deaths of the two witnesses! God predicted that while the world is watching, He will do a mighty miracle—He will raise the two prophets from the dead and take them up to heaven (Rev. 11:11-13). This event will be a loving gesture by God Almighty, not only to resurrect and take to heaven His two prophets, but also to make His existence and power known around the world.

1382 their enemies:

and if any man

will hurt | 6 Ex. 7:19;

them, he must in this manner be killed.

11 And after three days and an half the

Kgs. 17:1 | Spirit of life from God entered into them,

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it EDen at: and they stood upon their feet; and great rain not in the days of their prophecy: and ‘ =i : fear fell upon them which saw them. have power over waters to turn them to | 13-12: Rey, | 12 And they heard a great voice from blood, and to smite the earth with all | 14:8; 17:1,5; |heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. plagues, as often as they will. a sis And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; ev. and their enemies beheld them. ~ 7 And when they shall have finished their 12:12; 13:8; 13 And the same hour was theré a great testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of | 46:10 earthquake, and the tenth part of the city the bottomless pit shall make war againstthem, and shall overcome them, and kill 375 8.10, fell, and in the earthquake were slain of

them. : 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the

14; Rev. 11:9 |men seven thousand: and the remnant were yee 2:1, |affrighted, and gave glory to the God of

street of the great city, which spiritually is | 74:413°60:8: called Sodom and Egypt, where also our | Acts 1:9;

GHnlswaS SCRE

‘heaven.

Rev. 12:5

;

The Seventh Angel ieee the

9 And they of the people and kindreds and MeLian Last Half of the Tribulation tongues and nations shall see their dead } 15:4: 16:19 | 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the

bodies three days and an half, and shall not |.45 ja, third woe cometh quickly. suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. | 27:13; Dan..|.15 And the seventh angel sounded;

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall

rpaes

rejoice over them, and make merry, and | 10:7: 12:10: | The kingdoms of this 16:17; 19:6 kingdoms of our Lord, shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that he shall reign for ever 16 And the four and dwelt on the earth. 11:5-6 Even the Antichrist cannot touch these witnesses during their mission period of 1260 days, for they have the power to devour their enemies with fire. These witnesses will exhibit three supernatural acts so that all should know that they come from God. They will exhibit power to stop the rain from falling, power to turn the water to blood, and power to bring a plague on earth as

they see fit. The powers of these two witnesses are sim-

ilar to those that Elijah and Moses had in Old Testament times. For this reason and the fact that Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:9), many scholars think Moses and Elijah also are indeed the two witnesses who will appear during this time. The Jews refer to the Old Testament as “Moses and the prophets.” Moses represents the first five books of the law, and Elijah, who started the school of the prophets, represents the other writers of Scripture.

11:7 the beast that ascendeth. While these two prophets are supernaturally protected during their 1260 days of

ministry, in the middle of the Tribulation, “the Beast” or Antichrist is finally permitted to kill them. He then leaves their bodies in the street for three days. This is the first of thirty-four uses in Revelation of the title “the Beast” to describe the Antichrist. From this midpoint of the Tribulation, he becomes the dominant personality on earth and the embodiment of evil. 11:8 where also our depravity of Jerusalem imagery of Sodom and During the first half of

Lord was crucified. The moral (“the holy city”) is seen in the Egypt to depict its spiritual state. the Tribulation there will be two

and

there were great voices in heaven, saying, world are become the and of his Christ; and and ever. twenty elders, which

kinds of Jews in that ancient city: the God-fearing orthodox Jews who rebuild their temple and worship without faith in their Messiah, and the sinners who reject anything spiritual, live totally depraved lives, and are open followers of Antichrist. 11:9 This is a significant verse for it indicates the use of technology that has only recently become available. Only in the last decade or so of the twentieth century did global television news coverage and the Internet make this possible. 11:10 The pent-up hatred toward these two witnesses and the God they represent erupts into a global celebration over the deaths of the men who had consistently warned the people of the world to repent. 11:11-12 The Spirit of God enters these two witnesses; they are supernaturally resurrected, and “they ascended up to heaven in a cloud.” They experience a personal rapture here. God is showing His supremacy over anything that Antichrist can do.

11:13 This act of God's judgment causes great “fear” or awe of God, so that many glorify God. This implies that thousands of rebellious Jews, many of whom rejoiced at the killing of the two witnesses, will turn to God in faith at this point—just prior to Antichrist’s desecration of the temple.

11:15-18 God meant this earth to be a rich source of blessing to mankind, but Satan, the Antichrist, and thousands of their false prophets have led mankind to rebel

1383 sat before God on their seats, fell upon their | 17 Rev. 1:4,

| heaven; and behold a great red dragon, hay-

faces, and worshipped God, 8 48/165 | ing seven heads and ten horns, and seven 17. Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God | 17 Fev. 19:6 |crowns upon his heads. Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to 180ae: 1:3, |4 And his tail drew the third part of the come; because thou hast taken to thee thy

10° 11:2, g: |stars of heaven, and did cast them to the

great power, and hast reigned.

13:10; 18:6; | earth:

and

the

dragon

stood

before

the

18 And the nations were angry, and thy Mee woman which was ready to be delivered, for wrath is come, and the time of the dead, ee 8:5; | to devour her child as soon as it was born. that they should be judged, and that thou | 16:18, 21 5 And she brought forth a man child, who

shouldest give reward unto thy servants the | 9 jsq, g6.7:._|

Was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:

prophets, and to the saints, and them that | Gal. 4:19 fear thy name, small and great; and | 3Rev.13:1;

and her child was caught up unto God, and | fo his throne.

shouldest destroy them which destroy the | '73:9.19 | § And the woman fled into the wilderness, 4Ex. 1:16; | where she hath a place prepared of God,

earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in Bes 3 b: heaven, and there was seen in his temple | 19; 12:2; the ark of his testament: and there were | 17:18 lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, deed and an earthquake, and great hail. 1915, : : .2. CHAPTER 12 A eke = A Recap of Israel’s History and 7 Dan.

Prophecy of Her Future

that they should feed her there a thousand | two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, |\8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that

10:13, 21;

old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,

1 And there appeared a great wonder in ae a heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and | g ge, 3-1, the moon under her feet, and upon her head | 4; Luke

which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

a crown of twelve stars:

He oon

2 And she being with child cried, travail- | 9,7. 20:23 ing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 10 Job 1:9 3 And there appeared another wonder in

10 And

I heard a loud voice saying in

heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of

against God, causing this earth to be a place of great suffering. The elders in heaven rejoice because the time of God's judgment and rectification of all things is only three and one-half years away.

doms that have existed from Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the end-time government of Antichrist made up of the ten horns (Dan. 7—8; Rev. 13; 17).

11:19 the ark of his testament. This is a reference to the heavenly ark of the covenant, after which the earthly ark of the covenant was patterned.

12:6 a place prepared of God. During this time, Satan will unleash the persecution of Israel that will be more heinous than that of the Holocaust. The Hebrew prophets foretold that coming time of tribulation or distress (Lev. 26:40-45; Deut. 30:1-5; Isa. 11:10-16; 27:6-13; Jer. 23:3-8; 30:3-11). There in that wilderness setting, thought to be Edom, God will feed the Jews supernaturally as He fed the children of Israel in the wilderness.

12:1-2 This review of the conflict of the ages between God and Satan is used to show how Satan's past enmity to God, mankind, and Israel fits in with God's consummation of all things (see chaps. 16—22).

— 12:1-5 a great wonder in heaven. This great sign must be Israel, for she is seen as Joseph saw her in a vision (Gen. 37:9-10). Her identity is crucial to the interpretation of Revelation. It is the remnant of Israel, not the Church, that is persecuted by the Antichrist. The manchild that Satan tries to devour could only be Christ, the chosen child of Israel who will one day soon “rule all nations with a rod of iron” (v. 5, cf. Acts 1:9-11). It is Christ who Satan has tried to kill many times during His life, and failing in that, Satan tried to destroy His Church. 12:3 The red dragon is unquestionably a reference to Satan. “The seven heads” refer to the seven world king-

12:7 there was war in heaven. One can only imagine what this war between the forces of Satan and Michael the archangel entails. This is a description of the effects of Satan’s fall, centuries ago, which left him limited

access to God, during which time he accuses the brethren as he accused Job and doubtless many other believers to this day (v. 10).

12:9 that old serpent. This phrase calls to remembrance Satan's temptation of Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:16), the beginning of Satan’s work to deceive the world. He is clearly identified as “Satan” and the “devil.”

"

3 \

S,L\

1384 our brethren is cast down, which accused | 11 Luke

17 And

the dragon was

them before our God day and night.

woman,

and went to make war with the

bes eae

11 And they overcame him by the blood of | 16:20 the Lamb,

and by the word

wroth with

the

remnant of her seed, which keep the com-

of their testi- | 12 ps. 96:11; |mandments of God, and have the testimony

mony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

ae ree 6: 11-10:

of Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that

1820

CHAPTER

13

dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the | 13 Rev. 12:5 |Phe End-time Beast

). 2

earth and of the sea! for the devil is come | 14 Ex, 19:4:- | 1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea,

down unto you, having great wrath, because’ | Dan. 7:25; and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, havhe knoweth that he hath but a short time. oe na ing seven heads and ten horns, and upon 13 And when the dragon saw that he was | 4. 4,, 59.39 |His horns ten crowns, and upon his heads cast unto the earth, he persecuted the 47Gen | the name of blasphemy. woman which brought forth the man child. | 3-15; 1Cor 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto 14 And to the woman were given two wings | 2:1; 1John a leopard, and his feet were as the feet ofa . of a great eagle, that she might fly into the ee a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: wilderness, into her place, where she is | 11:7; 13:7; and the dragon gave him his power, and his

nourished for a time, and times, and half a | 14:12 20:4

| seat, and great authority.

time, from the face of the serpent. 1 Dan. 7:2, | 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth ee a wounded to death; and his deadly wound water as a flood after the woman, that he | 55,, 1:4, was healed: and all the world wondered might cause her to be carried away of the | 5, 6; Rev. after the beast.

flood.

bra ;

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

gave power unto the beast: and they wor+e neane shipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto 4 Rev, 18:18 the beast? who is able to make war with him?

12:11 loved not their lives unto the death. Note how dying as a martyr for Christ is seen as a victory to God— the only way that can be so is that resurrection and life after death is a practical fact. 12:12 he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Satan’s most savage attack on mankind will be in the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation that are about to be unveiled. Jesus warned that this would be the greatest time of tribulation (Matt. 24:21).

12:15-16 cast out of his mouth water as a flood. Since the serpent is symbolic of the devil and the woman is symbolic of the Israelites who have accepted their Messiah and fled from Antichrist, the flood that flows from Satan's “mouth” must also be symbolic, signifying that whatever he does to try to destroy Israel will come to naught. 12:17 the remnant of her seed. This seed of the woman that Satan and the Antichrist try to destroy from the middle of the Tribulation throughout the days that follow represents Jews who have trusted Jesus as Savior. God will protect those who keep His commandments, and many Jews in that day will follow the Messiah, Jesus Christ. When the Antichrist breaks his covenant with the Jews and desecrates their temple, they will reject him and turn to Jesus Christ in saving faith. 13:1 Beast... out of the sea. This Beast out of the sea is the most dominant personality to arise during the last

4 And they worshipped the dragon which

three and one-half years of the Tribulation. The sea here

may have reference to the peoples of the Mediterranean region. The name “blasphemy” indicates that the kingdom of Antichrist during the Tribulation will be an antiGod and anti-Christ type of kingdom.

13:2 the beast which | saw. The description of this Beast is similar to that of the dragon in chapter 12. Since beasts, when used symbolically, refer either to a king or a kingdom, it would seem that this “beast” is the embodiment of all the beastly governments of man that have ruled the world. All the empires represented by the Beast have had one thing in common: they were indwelt by the dragon, that serpent the devil—Satan himself. 13:3 wounded to death. In the middle of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will be killed, lie in state briefly, and then actually be indwelt personally by Satan, who was cast out of heaven in the previous chapter. Satan will indwell Antichrist and imitate Christ’s resurrection. This wondering (or marveling) at the Beast indicates that he may claim to have seen things in the nether world that contradict the Bible to give lost sinners a false sense of security about eternity. 13:4 who is able to make war with him? This confirms

the absolute power that Satan will have over the world at this time. No one else will be able to stop the rise of the Beast to world dominion.

1385

5

And there was given unto him a mouth | 5Dan.7:8,

speaking great things and blasphemies; and

an

|9

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go

power was given unto him to continue forty | 11:2;12:6 | into captivity: he that killeth with the sword and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy | : against God, to blaspheme his name, and | his tabernacle, and them that dwell in

7 Dan. 7:21; | must be killed with the sword. Here is the Rev. 11:7, patience and the faith of the saints. 18; 12:17; 47/;¢ 8 Ex. 32:32:

heaven.

Dan. 12:1: ‘

The

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and

ae 4:3; ee

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like

False

Prophet

power was given him over all kindreds, and | 15; 21:27 a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. tongues, and nations. 9 Rev. 2:7 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall | 10 Gen. 9:6, | first beast before him, and causeth the earth

worship him, whose names are not written | !sa. 33:1;

and them which dwell therein to worship

in the book of life of the Lamb slain from | °°. "*12

the first beast, whose

the foundation of the world.

liedleds

The Lamb

versus

Rey tr

the

deadly wound

was

Beast

The Lamb—Jesus Chr A slain Lamb (Rev. 5:6)

A ferocious beast (Rev. 13:2)

Seven horns, eyes, and Spirits (Rev. 5:6)

Seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns (Rey. 13:1)

Four heavenly creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Rev. 5:8)

All the world worshiped the Beast and

Worship saying, “Worthy is the Lamb”

Worship saying, “Who is like unto the

Dragon (Rev. 13:3-4)

(Rev. 5:12)

Beast?” (Rev. 13:4)

All heaven, earth, under the earth, and in

The earth and almost all those that dwell upon the earth worship the Beast (Rev. 13:12, cf. v. 8)

the sea worship the Lamb (Rev. 5:13) A great redeemed multitude standing

before the Lamb (Rev. 7:9) The Lamb comforts and nourishes His

followers (Rev. 7:17)

The Beast deceives all them (except believers, v, 8) that dwell upon the earth (Rev. 13:14)

One may not buy or sell unless one has the mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:17)

The 144,000 witnesses of the Lamb, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads

(Rev. 14:1)

Almost all them that dwell upon the earth have the mark of the Beast upon their right hand or forehead (Rey. 13:16)

The 144,000 freely follow the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev. 14:4)

Imposes the mark of the Beast upon his followers (Rev. 13:17)

Those following the Lamb dwell eternally in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:5)

Those following the Beast shall dwell eternally in the lake of fire (Rev. 14:9-10)

13:5-6 them that dwell in heaven. This “beast,” the Antichrist, blasphemes not only God, but those that dwell in heaven. Satan blasphemes God and every object of God's gracious mercy.

13:8 Satan's “authority” will be all but unlimited, and almost everyone on earth will worship him. This is the very thing Satan has sought from the beginning, worship from angels and men. Of course, believers in Christ will

not worship Antichrist, because they will have their names written “in the book of life of the Lamb.” This book of the Lamb contains the names of all those who have called on the Lamb of God for salvation. 13:10 the patience and the faith of the saints. This refers to the endurance of the saints in the face of unprecedented persecution for their faith. «

13:11

another beast coming out of the earth. This

second “beast” is also referred to as “the false prophet” (Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). He is the alter ego of the

Antichrist. He will take charge of the religions of the world after the “harlot” religion is destroyed during the middle of the Tribulation (Rev. 17). Some scholars suggest that because this False Prophet comes from the

“earth,” he might be an apostate Jew from Israel or a Gentile of Mediterranean ancestry. That he has “two horns like a lamb” indicates he will appear as a gentle lamb to deceive, but his false gospel will be supportive of Antichrist’s doctrine. He will speak “as a dragon,” a supreme destroyer of the truth and the souls of men. 13:12, exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him. The False Prophet will be the second highest ranking world leader during the Tribulation, and he will force the whole world to worship the Antichrist.

1386

ne False Prophet By Edward Hindson he ultimate deception of the End Times will involve the worldwide worship of the Antichrist. But the Antichrist will not rise to power alone. His success will result from a worldwide spiritual deception perpetrated by the False Prophet. This prophet'’s ability to perform miraculous signs will enable him to convince the public that the Antichrist is the leader for whom they have been searching. ° Revelation 13 presents ten identifying features of the False Prophet: 1) rises out of the earth (13:11), 2) controls religious affairs (13:11), 3) is motivated by Satan (13:11), 4) promotes the worship of the Beast (13:12), 5) performs signs and miracles (13:13), 6) deceives the whole world (13:14), 7) empowers the image of the Beast (13:15), 8) kills all who refuse to worship (13:15), 9) controls all economic commerce (13:17), and 10) controls the marks of the Beast (13:17—18). Together, Satan (dragon), Antichrist (beast of sea), and the False Prophet (beast of earth) comprise an “unholy trinity” that is a counterfeit of the Holy Trinity. Satan opposes the Father; Antichrist opposes the Son; and the False Prophet opposes the he coming Holy Spirit. This ungodly alliance is Satan’s final attempt to overthrow the work of God on earth. The method of their diabolical attempt is explained in the biblical record. The Antichrist dares not appear until after the “falling away” of apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3). In the meantime, the spirit of Antichrist (lawlessness) is already at work, attempting to pervert the gospel and to corrupt the true Church. When this process is sufficiently established, the False Prophet will arise to prepare for the coming of the Antichrist. The False Prophet is depicted as having “two horns like a lamb,” and one who speaks as a dragon (Rev. 13:11). He looks religious, but he talks like the devil. He counterfeits true religion in order to hide his real identity. Just as the Holy Spirit is dedicated to bringing the world to Jesus Christ, the False Prophet is dedicated to bringing all men into spiritual allegiance with the Antichrist. It should not surprise us then that the False Prophet represents the apostate religion of the End Times. If his rise to power parallels that of the Antichrist, he will preside over apostate Christendom after the rapture of true believers to heaven. All who are left behind, whatever their denomination, will be unbelievers. In such an environment, the False Prophet will have no problem deceiving the whole world. The False Prophet is presented in Revelation as an individual who is empowered by Satan (13:11, 12). However, the religious system that he represents is called the “great whore” (17:1) who is drunk with the “blood of the saints” (17:6). Therefore, the final phase of apostasy is epitomized by a religious system and the individual who leads it. Later, the False Prophet is personally cast into the lake of fire (19:20; 20:10). Spiritual deception is the goal of the False Prophet as he encourages people to embrace the social, economic, and religious programs of the Antichrist. As we approach the end of the age, false prophets, new religions, and spiritual darkness will engulf the world, preparing the world for the rise of these great deceivers—the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

1 arise to prepare :

. heAntichrist.

us,

1387

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he

Penk Kye

maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

18:38; 2Kgs. | 144,000 Servants of God 1:10, 12;

CHAPTER

14

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the | Matt. 24:24, |1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on earth by the means of those miracles which Aes ri he had power to do in the sight of the beast; | 44 2Kgs saying to them. that dwell on the earth, that | 20:7;

the mount sion, and with him an GL Bi Oy, vom Unpasand, FE ae Ee eaA mame nea ten eA shen pOLeaeaey

they should make an image to the beast, |2Thess. 2:9, j

which had the wound by a sword, and did hee

15 And he had power to give image of the beast, that the beast should both speak, and many as would not worship eiheatsnauldaherkalled:

2

., | 10; Rev.

life unto the | 19:20; 20:4 image of the | 16 Rev. 14:9; cause that as | 19:20; 20:4 the image of | 17 Rev. 14:11; 15:2

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the

i

12:9: 19:20 eR A 2s

i

yoice of moany, Weelters anghas the VOS. ofa great thunder: and I heard the voice of

|harpers harping with their harps: |3.And they sung as it were a new song be| fore the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that | song but the hundred and forty and four

18 Rev. 15:2; |thousand, which were redeemed from the 17:9; 20707

Seah

The Mark ert Hae 4 These are they which were not defiled 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, |2 pey, 1:15, |With women; for they are virgins. These are rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a | 5:8; 19:6 they which follow the Lamb whithersoever mark in their right hand, or in their fore- |3Rev.5:9; | he goeth. These were redeemed from among heads:

14:1; 15:3

men, being the firstfruits unto God and to

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save | 4 2Cor. 11:2; | the Lamb. James 1:18;

P

:

A

he that had the mark, or the name of the | Rey, 3:4-5:9, |5 And in their mouth was found no guile: beast, or the number of his name. 7:15, 17; 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath un- | 17"

derstanding count the number of the beast:

for they are without fault before the throne of God.

ren som

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst

for it is the number of a man; and his num- | Eph, 5:27; ber is Six hundred threescore and six. Jude 1:24

of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,

13:13-14 he maketh fire come down from heaven. Among the False Prophet's supernatural powers will be his ability to call down fire from heaven in order to deceive those who dwell on the earth. His power exceeds that of the false prophets of Baal, who were unable to call down fire in the days of Elijah (1 Kgs. 18:36-38). Many will believe on the Antichrist during that time because the False Prophet possesses this

power. 13:15 power to give life unto the image of the beast. In a manner similar to Nebuchadnezzar, the False Prophet will set up an image of the Antichrist and demand that people worship the image which will appear to be alive. 13:16 The “mark of the beast,” which the False Prophet

will require of all people, will bring the entire world into a global economy, a world government, and a world religion. In order to buy or sell, every person will have to have this mark on his or her forehead or right hand. for identification. In Revelation 13:8, we are told that some will refuse to worship Antichrist, and it appears that these will not have the mark upon them. 13:17 The mark must be the equivalent of the name of the beast. Evidently the Greek equivalent of the Antichrist’s name will in some way equal the number 666.

This second half of the Tribulation will be an awful time for believers who refuse the mark. They will have to flee for safety, and it will be almost impossible to feed their families without the mark of the Beast. 14:1-5 firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. The last half of the Tribulation opens with an overview of what follows in chapters 15-19. The fourteenth chapter opens with the 144,000 and proceeds to four climactic announcements: 1) the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, 2) the fall of Babylon, 3) the judgment of the lost, and 4) the blessedness of the saved. The whole chapter

surveys the final states of blessing and judgment that are coming in the future. 14:6-7 having the everlasting gospel. This is the first of four special angelic messengers who appear during this time to reveal the compassionate heart of God. This

is the only time in the history of the world that God uses angels to proclaim the one true gospel (see 1 Cor. 15:1—4; Gal. 1:8—9). In the midst of the Tribulation, when Satan is actively seeking to destroy all faith in Christ, God sends an angel to proclaim to all the people on earth that personal faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection can save

them.

1388 and

to every

nation,

and

kindred,

and | 7Neh.9:6;

tongue, and people, ee toe 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and|6 © ‘|

| stone in the presence of the holy angels, and

in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascen-

give glory to him; for the hour of his judg- | 8 Isa. 21:9;

| deth up for ever and ever: and they have no

ment is come: and worship him that made | Jer.51:7,8

| rest day nor night, who worship the beast

heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the | 9 Rev. 13:14- |and his image, and whosoever receiveth the fountains of waters. 7 mark of his name.

8 And there followed another angel, say-

hay tent

sa. 51:17; : . : ing, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great | Jer. 25:15:

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here ae are they that keep the commandments of

city, because she made all nations drink of. | Rev. 16:19; | God, and the faith of Jesus. the wine of the wrath of her fornication. ae cae 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying 9 And the third angel followed them, say- | 4, j.5 unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which ing with a loud voice, If any man worship | 34:10; Rev. die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith

the beast and his image, and receive his | 193

“the Spirit, that they may rest from their

mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

13 Eccl. 4:1, | labours; and their works do follow them.

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the

hehe

wrath of God, which is poured out without | 44 cre,

, The Time for Judgment

mixture into the cup of his indignation; and | 1:26: Dan.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud,

he shall be tormented with fire and brim- | 7:13

and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son

Biblical

Terms

for the

Tribulation

The Tribulation

Deuteronomy 4:30

The day of Israel’s calamity

Deuteronomy 32:35; Obad. 1:12-14

The indignation

Isaiah 26:20; Dan. 11:36

The overflowing scourge

Isaiah 28:15, 18

The Lord’s strange work

Isaiah 28:21

The year of recompence

Isaiah 34:8

The day of vengeance

Isaiah 34:8; 35:4; 61:2

The time of Jacob’s Trouble

Jeremiah 30:7

The seventieth week of Daniel

Daniel 9:27

The time of trouble

Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15

The day of darkness

Joel 2:2; Amos

The day of wrath

Zephaniah 1:15

The day of distress

Zephaniah 1:15

The day of wasteness and desolation

Zephaniah 1:15

The day of gloominess

Zephaniah 1:15; Joel 2:2

The day of clouds and thick darkness

Zephaniah 1:15; Joel 2:2

The day of the trumpet and alarm

Zephaniah 1:16

14:8 This second angel pronounces a doom judgment on Babylon, the source of all religious false teaching from Nimrod to Antichrist and the False Prophet (cf. Rev. 17—18).

14:9-10 The third angel warns the people of the earth about believing the lies of Satan and his False Prophet and receiving the mark of the Beast. Certain judgment will follow those who take that mark! 14:10-11 they have no rest day nor night. These verses Clearly teach eternal punishment in the next life. The punishment of the lost continues forever and ever. Their restless souls continue to experience the wrath of God forever.

5:18, 20; Zephaniah 1:15

14:12-13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. This is one of the most comforting promises of God to the Tribulation saints. What a contrast from physical torment and persecution here on earth to “rest” in heaven with the Lord! 14:14-19 her grapes are fully ripe. These verses describe a scene of Jesus Christ in heaven just before He descends to the earth for the Battle of Armageddon and His glorious appearing. This harvest of judgment on the Christ-rejecting souls and nations who gather against Him in Armageddon coincides with the seventh vial judgment of Revelation 16:17, When the “grapes are fully ripe” (at the end of the Great Tribulation) denotes the time

—

1389 of man, having on his head a golden crown,

enh

and in his hand a sharp sickle.

a ie

:

20 And the winepress was trodden without

the city, and blood came out of the winepress,

15 And another angel came out of the tem- | 13:39; Rev.

even unto the horse bridles, by the space of

ple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat | 13:12; 16:17 |a thousand and six hundred furlongs. on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: | 18 Joel 3:13; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the ee

CHAPTER

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in

Before the Great Tribulation

ane et

15

his sickle on the earth; and the earth was | {am.1:15;. | 1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great reaped. a 13:12; | and marvellous, seven angels having the 17. And another angel came out of the tem- | "™ Me seven last plagues; for in them is filled up ple which is in heaven, he also having a te Maik the wrath of God.

sharp sickle.

16:1: 21:9

18 And another angel came out from the | 2 matt 3:11; altar, which had power over fire; and cried | Rev. 4:6 5:8; Lene a loud cry 2 him ga ted the sae Hoes sickle, saying, Thrust in thy s arp sickle, |3 ¢y 45.1. and gather the clusters of the vine of the | Deut. 31:30; earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. wees 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into 139:14: the earth, and gathered the vine of the | 145:17;Hos. earth, and cast if into the great winepress of He ls the wrath of God. Bells

Biblical

Terms

for the

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass min| gled with fire: and them that had gotten the |victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having | the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, say| ing, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Tribulation

The great Tribulation

Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22; 7:14

The Tribulation

Matthew 24:29

The wrath to come

1 Thessalonians

The day of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:2

1:10

The wrath

1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 11:18

The hour of trial

Revelation 3:10

The great day of the wrath of the Lamb of God

Revelation 6:16-17

The hour of judgment

Revelation 14:7

The wrath of God

Revelation 14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1

after every living soul has made his choice to worship

plagues will conclude with the wrath of God on sinful

either Christ or Antichrist.

mankind for rejecting His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

14:20 blood came out of the winepress. This verse can

15:2 them that had gotten the victory. These who stand on the sea of glass (cf. 4:6) are the souls of the martyrs who were killed by Antichrist. They had “victory” over Satan because his persecution sent them to heaven where they await the resurrection, just three and one-half

be understood only in the light of the enormous army that will come against Christ in the Battle of Armageddon (Isa. 34:6; 63:1-4; Joel 3:12-13; Ps. 105—106; Rev. 19:11-19). Christ will slay with the word of His mouth these rebellious millions who will comprise the greatest array of troops ever mustered in one place. Hailstones weighing “a talent [ca. 100 pounds] will fall from heaven (Rev. 16:21) which, with the blood of this massive army, will create a river of blood that reaches up to the horses’ bridles. 15:1 another sign in heaven. This chapter in the book of Revelation sets the stage for the last seven vial judgments that cover the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation which are described in 16:1—19:21. These

years away.

15:3-4

the song of Moses. This refers to the victory

God gave the children of Israel over Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1-3; 1718). The Lamb’s song

avows their faith in Christ, who gave them victory over Antichrist by taking them to heaven. This is similar to the song of the “elders” in heaven in 5:9. Note how they sing praise to God exalting His creation, justice, worship, holiness, omnipotence, and eternity.

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4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glo- | 4x. 15:14-_ |upon the sea; and it became as the blood of rify thy name for thou only art holy: for all 8 a dead man: and every living soul died in the nations shall come and worship before thee; |> Num. 1:50 |sea.

for thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And temple heaven 6 And

phe 1:13; | 4 And the third angel poured out his vial

after that I looked, and, behold, the : of the tabernacle of the testimony in es. was opened: 9; 10:6 the seven angels came out of the | 8 Ex. 40:34;

temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in | !Xgs. 8:10; 4 4 A . | 2Chr. 5:14; and white linen, and having their | [cq 6-4:

pure

upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. f 5 And I heard the angel of the waters ‘say, |Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and

| wast, and shalt be, because n judged thus.

thou ‘hast

breasts girded with golden girdles. 2Thess. 1:9 | 6 For they have shed the blood of saints 7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the | 1 Rev. 14:10; |and prophets, and thou hast given them

seven angels seven golden vials full of the | 19:1,7 blood to drink; for they are worthy. wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. | 2 &.9:9-11; |7 And I heard another out of the altar say, 8 And the temple was filled with smoke BeyBie 17 | Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and rightfrom the glory of God, and from his power; | 3 ., TAL, eous are thy judgments. and no man was able to enter into the tem- | 20; Rev. 8:8 | 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial ple, till the seven plagues of the seven an- | 4 Ex. 7:20 upon the sun; and power was given unto gels were fulfilled. 5 Rev. 1:4, 8; |him to scorch men with fire. 4:8; 11:17; 9 And men were scorched with great heat, CHAPTER 1 6 i 133 and blasphemed the name of God, which

The Great Tribulation

ie ited

hath power over these plagues: and they re-

1 And I heard a great voice out of the tem- | 35: Rev. | | pented not to give him glory. ple saying to the seven angels, Go your | 11:18; 13:15; |10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of Tea) upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom

God upon the earth.

7 Rev. 13:10 |was full of darkness; and they gnawed their

2 And the first went, and poured out his

6fey Ald:

tongues for pain,

vial upon the earth; and there fella noisome | 44.33 | 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven beand grievous sore upon the men which had | g pan. 5:22, | cause of their pains and their sores, and rethe mark of the beast, and upon them which | 23 pented not of their deeds. worshipped his image. 12 Jer. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial

3 And the second angel poured out his vial | 59:38: 51:36 | ypon the great river Euphrates; and the

15:7

seven golden vials full of the wrath of God.

These are the “plagues” (v. 6) that will strike the earth in the last three and one-half years to punish those who have chosen to serve the Antichrist, doing his bidding to persecute the saints for their faith in Christ. 15:8 no man was able to enter. The cloud of God's glory (see 2 Chr. 7:2; Ezek. 43:5; 44:4) fills the heavenly temple for this entire period of three and one-half years on earth until the judgments of the seven angels (described in the next chapter) have run their course. God

is both holy and just, even when wreaking judgment on those who have deceived mankind. 16:1 This chapter unveils the seven final and most severe judgments of the Great Tribulation. This period lasts three and one-half years and prepares the world for the coming of Christ in power to establish His kingdom. The vials that are poured out by these seven angels are literal plagues or catastrophes that will come on the

Egypt (see Ex. 8—12). 16:3 The second angel's vial is poured upon the sea and turns it to blood. This terrible pollution will kill all creatures in the sea.

16:4-6 Since the followers of Antichrist lusted so after the blood of the saints, all the rivers and springs will be turned to blood.

16:8-9

scorch men with fire. The fourth angel's vial

results in an increase of heat produced by the sun. Men will know this is God acting in judgment, but instead of repenting, as is His desire, they will become angry and curse Him.

earth.

16:10-11, upon the seat of the beast. The fifth angel's vial results in a judgment on the throne of the Beast and his kingdom. This plague may affect only the capital of the world at that time. There will be untold suffering for the followers of Antichrist even during the last months of the Tribulation. Yet with all this suffering they still will not

16:2 anoisome and grievous sore. The first vial that is poured out affects only those who have the mark of the Beast. The plague that results is similar to the plagues of

16:12 the water thereof was dried up. The sixth angel's vial dries up the great river Euphrates, which was

repent.

1391

water thereof was dried up, that the way of | 13 1John

vial into the air; and there came

a great

the kings of the east might be prepared. AD ae voice out of the temple of heaven, from the 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs | 19:20; 20:10 | throne, saying, It is done. come out of the mouth

of the dragon, and | 14 2Thess.

18 And

out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the | 2:9; Rev. mouth of the false prophet. ae ae 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working | 20; 20: | miracles, which go forth unto the kings of | 15 Matt

the earth and of the whole world, to gather | 24:43;

_

there were

voices,

and

thunders,

and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three

them to the battle of that great day of God

pies

parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and

Almighty.

He

great Babylon came in remembrance before

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

ies 916 | God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of 18 ae 12:1 the fierceness of his wrath. ‘| 20 And every island fled away, and the

16 And he gathered them together into a

Uber

mountains were not found.

place called in the Hebrew tongue Ar- | 4 5, 9.93. | 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out mageddon. 25 of heaven, every stone about the weight of a 17 And the seventh angel poured out his talent: and men blasphemed God because of 7

The Vial/Bowl Judgments

Rapture

Antichrist Enters

\

a.

Temple

Fourth Vial/Bowl », Upon Sun--Scorching

Second Coming

First Vial/Bowl ey Upon Earth--Boils

7

Fifth Vial/Bowl (.\.. Upon Throne Of Beast--Darkness

Seventh Trumpet

Vials/Bowls

i

Second Vial/Bowl Into Sea--Blood

Sixth Vial/Bowl », Euphrates--Dried up

Seventh Vial/Bowl .. Upon Air--Earthquake, Hail

First Half

|

ofTribulation

|

3-1/2 yrs.

© AMG Publishers

the eastern limit of the old Roman Empire and has served as a natural boundary between East and West for centuries. The drying up of this natural border clears the way for the eastern “kings” to join their western cohorts in the Battle of Armageddon. 16:13-14 three unclean spirits like frogs. The satanic trinity (Satan, Beast, and False Prophet) will send these spirits (probably the chief fallen angels in Satan’s hierarchy) “out of the mouth” of Satan himself to deceive the kings of the world into gathering their armies to prepare

for what is best known as the Battle of Armageddon. They will gather in the valley of Megiddo, which Napoleon proclaimed to be the most ideal battlefield in the world. 16:17-20 The seventh angel's vial introduces the most violent earthquake in the history of the world. This earthquake, which destroys the cities of the nations, is so extensive John takes the next two chapters to describe it. All the mountains and islands of the world will be leveled. This earthquake will flatten the entire surface of the earth, making it ready for the Millennial Kingdom.

1392

The

Battle

of Armageddon

By John F. Walvoord he so-called Battle of Armageddon will occur during the final days of the Great Tribulation. As revealed in Revelation 16, God will pour out a series of seven devastating judgments on the earth called “vials of wrath.” The first six vials God's wrath will serve as an introduction to what the Bible refers to as Armageddon. When the sixth vial is poured out (v. 12), the time of the second coming of Christ is very near. Verse 12 says that the waters of the Euphrates River will be dried up to prepare the way for a military invasion of Israel

by the kings of the East.

4

As John contemplated this end-time scene, he recorded, “And | saw three unclean

spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the False Prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (vv. 13-14). At the beginning of the Great Tribulation, through satanic deception and power, a world government is formed, with the ruler of the ten nations of the revived Roman Empire becoming a dictator over the entire globe (cf. Rev. 13:7). Now from the same source of power that put this world government together comes the influence to gather the armies of the world to challenge this world government. These armies are led to converge upon the Holy Land to fight for superiority. However, it is apparent that the satanic purpose of the Battle of Armageddon is to gather all the military might of the world to contend against the armies from heaven. Revelation 16:16 declares, “And he gathered them together into a place called in the

Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” The ensuing battle will center on the Mount of Megiddo, known in Aramaic as Armageddon, which is located in northern Israel. Actually, as other Scriptures describe this scene (see Daniel 11:40—45), both the invading and the defending

armies will probably be dispersed all over the land of Israel, which will be some 200 miles from north to south and will extend from the Mediterranean Sea on the west all the way to the Euphrates River to the east. These armies will engage in a war for global supremacy against the world ruler as the entire world crumbles under the various judgments of God. The war, however, will be unresolved, and even on the day of the second coming of Christ there will be house-to-house combat in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:1-3). Revelation 16:17—21 describe a seventh and final “vial of wrath’—a devastating worldwide earthquake. It will destroy Babylon (see Rev. 18); “the cities of the nations” will collapse (vv. 16-19); and islands and mountains will disappear (v. 20). The judgment of the earthquake will climax in a supernatural hailstorm in which the hailstones will weigh approximately one hundred pounds each (v. 21). The world will be left in shambles and its cities will be in ruins. Apparently, only Jerusalem and the cities of Israel will be left unscathed. It is to this scene that Christ will return in power and glory, as described in Revelation 19:11-16.

1393

the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Lae pl 7. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore Ree Santi didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mys17:15; 18:16, |tery of the woman, and of the beast that

CHAPTER

ae

and ten horns.

zie Fer 18:3

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless

1. And there came one of the seven angels | 3 Rev, 12:3,

| pit, and go into perdition: and they that

17, 19; 19:2; |carrieth her, which hath the seven heads 17

The Destruction of Religious Babylon

|

which had the seven vials, and talked with

me net

dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose

me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

a eee Rev. 14:8;

names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not,

2 With whom the kings of the earth have | 18:6 12,16 | and yet is. committed fornication, and the inhabitants

oes

9

of the earth have been made drunk with the | 1}.¢. 14:8:

And here is the mind which hath wis-

dom. The seven heads are seven mountains,

wine of her fornication. 16:19; 18:2, |on which the woman sitteth. 3. So he carried me away in the spirit into | % 10, 21; 10 And there are seven kings: five are ; : 19:2 5 : the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet 6 Rev. 6:9, a‘ a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of | 49: 12-11: come; and when he cometh, he must conblasphemy, having seven heads and ten ee 16:6; | tinue a short space. horns. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even 4 And the.woman was arrayed in purple eee. ue he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and and scarlet colour, and decked with gold | 19: 17:11, goeth into perdition.

and precious stones and pearls, having a | gpey, 131, golden cup in her hand full of abominations | 18

| 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no king-

and filthiness of her fornication:

12 Dan.

dom as yet; but receive power as kings one

5 And upon her forehead was a name writ-

es ee

hour with the beast.

ten, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE | pey,13:1.

MOTHER

OF HARLOTS

| | 13 These

AND ABOMINA- | 44 peut,

TIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of | the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

have one

mind,

and

shall give

their power and strength unto the beast.

10:17; Jer. ae Rey, 14:4;_

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is | Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they

rele: 19:16, |that are with him are called, and chosen, : and faithful.

17:1 the judgment of the great whore. Revelation 17— 18 describes the judgments of God at the end of the Tribulation on the age-old enemy “Babylon the great” in all of its forms. Satan has used idolatrous religion, government, and commerce as his chief agents to deceive mankind. All will be destroyed just before Christ returns to this earth. The fall of “Babylon” has already been announced in Revelation 14:8. Its doom has already been certified. Now, John fills in the details as both political and ecclesiastical “Babylon” come into view. The “beast” represents government, and “the woman” is religion. Both are opposed to Christ and His kingdom. 17:8 whose names were not written in the book of life. The false religious system of the end times will be very convincing and popular among the unsaved, but those who have committed themselves to Christ will understand that anything idolatrous is not of God. 17:10-11 seven kings. These probably refer to the seven world empires that have influenced human government throughout history—Egypt, Assyria, Babylon,

Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The Roman government system of religious and political imperialism that has con-

tinued in various forms is the seventh, and the dominion of Antichrist will be the eighth. The fact that the Beast “was, and is not” may refer to the assassination of the Antichrist, who is indwelled by Satan himself in the midst of the Tribulation and continues for three and one-half years before eventually going to destruction. 17:12-13 the ten horns which thou sawest. These correspond to the ten horns of Daniel 7—8 and the ten toes of Daniel 2. They are the leaders appointed by Antichrist to whom he gives authority to govern the world. These are “of one mind” and do the bidding of the Beast.

17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb. This will occur when these kings kill His faithful followers and come out to fight against Christ in the Battle of Armageddon. Those who join with Christ to overcome them are called “chosen, and faithful,” titles used in other Scriptures to describe true believers (1 Pet. 2:9).

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15 And he saith unto me, The waters which | 15 Isa. 8:7 thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are | 16Rev. .

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, | and God hath remembered her iniquities:

peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and dead 18:8, tongues. 17.2Thest 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest | 9.14 ‘|

|§ Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled

upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, | 4g pey, 12:4: | fill to her double. and shall make her desolate and naked, and | 16:19; 7 How much she hath glorified herself,

shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

| 2 Isa. 13:19, | and lived deliciously, so much torment and

17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil

- Aa

sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I

his will, and to agree, and give their king--|

34:14, 14;

sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see

dom unto the beast, until the words of God | Rev. 14:8 shall be fulfilled. . 3 Rev. 14:8;

no sorrow. | 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one

18 And the woman which thou sawest is | '7:2

day, death, and mouming, and famine; and

that great city, which kings of the earth.

reigneth over the | 3!sa.47:15; Rey Hee

|°she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

.o. aati wee

|9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fees and lived deliciously

CHAPTER

18

God’s Judgment on Babylon

80:8; 51:6, /with her, shall bewail her, and lament for

1 And after these things I saw another | 5:17 a angel come down from heaven, having | 5 gen, great power; and the earth was lightened | 18:20, 21; with his glory. wilae 2

And

he cried

mightily

with

a strong | Rey, 16:19

voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is } ¢ ps. 137-3.

her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy

|judgment come.

fallen, and is become the habitation of dev- | Jer. 50:15, ils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a fa Sas

11 And the merchants of the earth’ shall weep and mourn over her; for no man

cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

buyeth their merchandise any more:

4-14: Rev.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of | 13:10; 14:10; |12 The merchandise of gold, and Silver, and the wrath of her fornication, and the kings

of the earth have committed

ba

precious

fornication |®'S@ 478

stones,

and

of pearls,

and

fine

| linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and

with her, and the merchants of the earth are

ocapaia

waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

; aie pital ivory, and all manner vessels of most preRev. 14:8. | clous wood, and of brass, and iron, and

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, | 44 gyex. saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye | 27:27-36 be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

17:15-17 peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. This is an apt description of the idolatrous global religion that will engulf the world after the rapture of the Church. For the first half of the Tribulation, this false religion will globalize all traditional religions and. actually “ride the beast,” or dominate him politically. Finally, in the midst of the Tribulation, in a struggle for power, the ten kings will “kill her [the religious whore]”; and the False

Prophet will take over the direction of all religious practice in the world. 18:1-4 Babylon the great. No longer does the seer have the ecclesiastical religious system in view but now turns the spotlight of God’s judgment on the commercial and governmental systems that originated there. Babylon has had the most harmful effect on mankind of all the cities of the world. For all idolatrous religion, greed-based commerce, and secular government were begun there. At the end of the Tribulation, God will destroy them all in the

all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of

marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and _ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and

seventh or last vial judgment in fulfillment of the oe cy in Isaiah 47:19 (cf. Isa. 21:9).

18:4 Come out of her, my people. It is difficult to know if these people are worldly-minded believers living in the capital city of commerce and government for material reasons or dedicated believers dwelling there for witnessing opportunities. The latter seems more likely for two reasons: first, that all “believers” will know the end is at hand. Second, since Antichrist will require the mark of the Beast for all that work for him, believers ne at that time would be in danger.

18:5-8 The righteous God of the universe has not overlooked the sins of the elite power brokers who have used commerce and government for centuries to live luxuriously at the expense of others. The commercial, social, and political systems of the Antichrist will receive double judgment for their sins.

1395

The By Paul Benware he “marriage of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:7) is a phrase that beautifully describes the final and complete union of Jesus Christ and true believers. It communicates an intimacy of relationship between Christ and believers that in this life has never been experienced and one that will never be compromised or broken. From the time of the “marriage” onward, the bride and Christ are inseparable. The phrase is built on the imagery of marriage used by both Old and New Testament writers to communicate something of God's relationship with those who are His people. Weddings were used by Jesus in His teaching about spiritual relationships (e.g., Matt. 22:2-14; 25:1-13), and Christ is viewed on several occasions as the Bridegroom (e.g., Matt. 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; John 3:29). The apostle Paul spoke of the Church’s relationship with Christ as a “bride” (Eph. 5:23-27) and declared that he had betrothed the Church to her one and only heavenly Husband, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 11:1-3). At the marriage of the Lamb, the days of temptation and the struggle with sin are over, and the Bride is ae ed to Christ in total and complete purity. ae Revelation 19 places the marriage of the Lamb in heaven.

The chapter records the joyful celebration over the judgment of the great harlot and the vindication of God and His people. The

marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7—9) takes place immediately

ese

of the

oo : = mb communicates

an intimacy between

before the second coming of Christ to the earth (Rev. 19:11—16). ; 4 It is best to identify the Bride as the true Church of Jesus Christ and believers. Christ. The Church is clearly so identified in the New Testament (Eph. 5:23ff.; 2 Cor. 11:1-3). When the marriage takes place, the Bride is seen as resurrected and rewarded, a situation which would mean that the Bride has been raptured and rewarded (at the Judgment Seat of Christ). But this view of the Bride would seem to exclude saints from the Old Testament and Tribulation periods since they are raised and rewarded in connection with the Second Coming itself. However, it is possible that the bride might grow to include other redeemed people in the days of the kingdom (cf. Rev. 21:1-3, 10-14). An emphasis is placed on the beautiful garments of the Bride (Rev. 19:8). These garments are a brilliant white, representing her glory and purity. Specifically, the garments are said to be her righteous deeds, the result of human effort as she labored for Christ in the contrary circumstances of a sin-cursed world. Yet, the garments are said to be given to her (see Rev. 19:8), which reveals that ultimately her righteous acts are the result of God’s gracious working in and through her. Thus, she is rewarded, and God receives great glory. As is the case in most of our weddings, a distinction should be made between the marriage and the marriage supper. The marriage which unites is followed by a time of celebration of that uniting (Rev. 19:7, 9). The marriage takes place in heaven, but the feast takes place on the earth. This great wedding feast is the picture of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ and perhaps the eternal kingdom that follows. It is a picture of the great joy that will permeate the reign of the Lord Jesus over all the redeemed of all ages.

1396 sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, | 16 Rev. 17:4 | millstone shall be heard no more at all in and souls of men. 17 Isa. 23:14 | thee; 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after | 18 Ezek. 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no

which were dainty and goodly are departed | 19 Ezek.

are departed

from

more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard

from thee, and thou shalt find them no

a

no more at all in thee: for thy merchants

more at all.

oe 49-13. |Were the great men of the earth, for by thy

15 The merchants

thee, and

all things | 27:30, 31

of these things, which | Jer. 51:48; | | sorceries were all nations deceived.

were made rich by her, shall stand afar off | Rev. 19:2

24 And in her was

for the fear of her torment, weeping and | 21 Jer.

prophets, and of saints, and of all that were

ling,

slain upon the earth.

«

igngpatadl

welt

ne Aa

saying, Alas, alas that great city, oa that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, eg and scarlet, and decked with gold, and pre- | 18:9; 25:10; cious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to

ee eee eee

found

the ‘blood of

CHAPTER 19 Praise in Heaven | Ag ind after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Al- °

nought. And every shipmaster, and all the | 23:8: Jer. company in ships, and sailors, and as many | 734;16:9;

leluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and | power, unto the Lord our God:

as trade by sea, stood afar off, Nah. 3:4: 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of | Rev. 17:2,5 her burning, saying, What city is like unto | 24 Jer. this great city! aay Rev.

2 For true and righteous are his judg| ments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his

25:10; 33:11;

barat:

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and - ai au. |Servants at her hand. cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, | 7.19 17: ‘ | 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her alas, that great city, wherein were made rich | 11:15; 12:10 | smoke rose up for ever and ever: all that had ships in the sea by reason of her | 2 Deut. 4 And the four and twenty elders and a

costliness! for in one hour is she made des-

see pe

four beasts fell down and worshipped God

olate. 16:7: 18:20 | that sat on the throne, saying, Amen, Al20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye | 3\¢q, 34:10, | leluia. holy apostles and prophets; for God hath | Rev. 14:11; 5 Anda voice came out of the throne, sayavenged you on her. 18:9, 18 ing, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and

21 And a mighty angel took up.a stone like | 4 Rev. 4:4, 6, |ye that fear him, both small and great. ss

ee

10; 5:14

F

¢

A

a great millstone, and cast if into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more.at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be

»,. ue 2h

heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be

The Marriage of the Lamb FM 22:2; |7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give hon-

found any more in thee; and the sound of a

|6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. i

i

our to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is

18:20-23 by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

other beings in heaven, for they are singing a song that includes mention of salvation. This scene incorporates all believers—the Old Testament saints, the Church-age saints, and the Tribulation saints. Together they join in this great chorus proclaiming, “Alleluia!”

The word “sorceries” (Gr. pharmakeia) is used here to

describe a lifestyle of drug-induced occult practices. The angel cast a millstone into the sea as an example of how the kingdom of Antichrist will be utterly destroyed in that moment. This judgment will target those who, while they lived, traded their soul for material possessions.

19:1-6 This chapter is one of the most dramatic in all the Bible. In it, the Church, the Bride of Christ, is the guest of honor at the marriage of the Lamb in heaven (vv. 1-10)

and returns with Christ in His triumphal Second Coming (vv. 11-21). It is the only chapter in the New Testament

where this word “Alleluia” is found, and it appears four times. The people mentioned here are distinct from the

19:7-10 The marriage of the Lamb and the marriage | supper of the Lamb “in heaven” (19:1) are evidence of the Church being in heaven prior to the return of Christ to earth. Christ is the Bridegroom at the marriage and His Church is the Bride. The word “church” (Gr. ekklesia) appears nineteen times in Revelation 1-3, and does not appear again until Revelation 22:16, emphasizing the absence of the Church from the earth during the judgments of Rev. 4—18.

1397

come, and his wife hath made herself ready. | 9 Rev. 21:5; 8 And to her was granted that she should oF be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for

| eousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on

er 4:14

the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. |15 ‘

his head were many crowns;

"|

and he had a

name written, that no man knew, but he

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are | 44 \sa, 11-4; |himself. they which are called unto the marriage | Rev. 3:14; 13 And he was clothed with a vesture supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, ores dipped in blood: and his name is called The

These are the true sayings of God.

i lepants Word of God.

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And | 19:15

he said unto me, See thou do it not:

©

~° | 14 And the armies which were in heaven fol-

1am thy | 43 js. 63:2, |lowed him upon white horses, clothed in

fellow servant, and of thy brethren that | 3; John 1:1 have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: | 14 Matt.

fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth

for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of | 283

sword, that with it he should smite the na-

prophecy.

goeth a sharp

Bie: 11:4; | tions: and he shall rule them with a rod of 2Thess. 2:3 | 4on: and he treadeth the winepress of the 16 Dan. 2:47 | fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

3 ; The Glorious Appearing of Jesus 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in right-

a

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

4

The

Triumphal

Jade ae au Christ

CHARACTERISTIC His code

Secret name

Judges 13:18

His command

Rod of iron

Psalms 2:9

His conquest

Winepress of God

Isaiah 63:3

His celebration

Lord of kings

Daniel 2:47

His confirmation

Called Word of God

John 1:1

His commission

Judges and makes war

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Sword of His mouth

Hebrews 4:12

His communication

_

His clarity

Eyes as a flame of fire

Revelation 1:14

His character

Faithful and true

Revelation 3:14

His charge

White horse

Revelation 6:2

His coronation

Wears many crowns

Revelation 19:12

His clothing

Vesture dipped in blood

Revelation 19:13

19:10 for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Everything about Jesus is prophetic: His birth (109 prophecies), His life, His death (Isa. 53), His Resurrection, His Church (Matt. 16), His Second Coming (see the table entitled “Prophecies of the Second Coming of Christ”), and the wonderful future He has planned for those who love Him. 19:11-16 Faithful and True. In these six verses, we are swept up into the triumphal entourage of redeemed saints in the heavenly procession with the King of kings. Jesus Christ comes to make war on Satan, the Antichrist,

the False Prophet, and the kings of the earth. He rides on a white horse and has on His head “many crowns.” When this war with Satan is over, He becomes the absolute ruler of the earth. 19:13. the Word of God. This reminds us of Christ's eternity and His identity as God (cf. John 1:1). His twelve-fold description emphasizes His role as prophet,

priest, and king. 19:14 the armies in heaven. These are the saints who come with Christ (Zech. 14:5; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:14; Jude

1:14). This is the Church, white, which she received 7-14). In reality, the saints dants to Christ, who wages

His Bride. She is dressed in at the marriage supper (vv. are only observers and attenand wins this war by Himself.

19:15 out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword. If Christ could call this world into being (John 1:1-3) with the power of His Word, then the armies of Satan are no match for Him. No human weapons are necessary. No tanks, no rockets, no planes—He conquers the world with His word, proving that He is God.

19:16 KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. This is the name on Christ's vesture, indicating He will be above all natural and supernatural beings. His title clearly indicates the coming triumph as He returns to set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth,

1398

nnial Views By Mal Couch he word “millennium” in Greek (chilia) means one thousand as in one thousand years

and is used six times in Revelation 20:2—7. The word clearly defines the length of the earthly kingdom reign of Christ. Three views have dominated Christianity as to what constitutes the Millennium or kingdom. Premillennialism. The early church was. “pre’ Shoiliennial and expected Christ to return and establish the throne of David, as promised in the Old Testament. Premillennialism holds to the literal promises of an earthly kingdom and cites how the apostle Peter referred to 2 Samuel 7:12. “[David was] a prophet, and [knew] that God had sworn with an oath to him... he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne” (Acts 2:30). Many references describe this coming blessed, earthly period. For example, the Anointed King will have the nations for His inheritance (Ps. 2:8), and He will gather “the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:12) and exercise justice in the land of ’ Israel (Isa. 9:7). “The wolf also will dwell with the lamb” (Isa.

11:6) and “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Isa. 11:9). In time, the Church departed from Premillennialism, though there is some evidence that the teaching lingered for some cena rthly kingdom. turies among certain groups. For example, Antioch in Syria was a great Christian teaching center that appears to have made known a literal understanding of Scripture for generations. At the beginning of the nineteenth century in England, a natural and normal approach to biblical interpretation was revived, accompanied by an explosion of interest in Premillennialism. Premillennialism grew even more rapidly during the twentieth century. Amillennialism. Early on, interpretation in the Church began to shift away from belief in Premillennialism. Clement of Alexandria (ca. A.D. 155-220), believing in the divine origin

of Greek philosophy, taught that all Scripture must be allegorically understood. This idea began to slowly grow and was systematized and propounded by Origen of Alexandria (A.D. 185-254) and further propagated by Augustine of Hippo (a.p. 354-430) who made the view popular. With the Greek negative “a” in front of the word “millennium,” this view says that there will not be a literal, earthly kingdom established. The Reformers restored Bible interpretation to a more literal approach, except in the area of Bible prophecy. Many still took an allegorical approach when teaching about the kingdom. They taught that the literal promises to Israel were passed on to the Church in a Spiritualized way and that there would be no regathering of the Jews to the land and no literal one thousand year reign of Christ. | Postmillennialism. This view was first propagated by Daniel Whitby (a.p. 1638-1726), a Unitarian. Postmillennialists hold that the Church is progressively building and bettering itself. World War I, and finally World War Il, virtually ended the hopes of the postmillennialists. Mankind’s cruelty was made evident and things were not getting better, as was being taught. However, there are some indications that Postmillennialism is returning in new forms. Some are teaching that if the Church restores all the demands of the Old Testament Law, then it could conquer society and restore righteousness, making it possible for the promised kingdom to be realized.

1399

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; | 17 Ezek.

CHAPTER

and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,

Pt Re

The Binding of Satan

18 Ezek.

1. And I saw an angel come down from 2 i heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Come and gather yourselves together unto | 39:18, 20 mulchepener chioecat ‘Ged: PP 8 : 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and

La

mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of

aewh

them that sit on them, and the flesh of all

er is :

ihesedHn

OP capes,

andthe

flesh

“ot

ie

14

2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and botmd him. a thousand wears

men, both free and bond, both small and | ,4: RAD. | great. : 21:8 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the | 21 Rey,

earth, and their armies, gathered together

a

to make war against him that sat on the

horse, and against his army.

3

And

cast him

into ian |egaerliere pit,

and shut him up, and set a seal upon him,

that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: 19:15, |and after that he must be loosed a little season.

i UBi

20 And the beast was taken, and with him

the false prophet that wrought miracles be-

20

dude 1:6

fore him, with which he deceived them that | Rev. 12°

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:

and I saw the souls of them that were be-

| headed for the witness of Jesus, and for the

had received the mark, of the beast, and Sea Pe word of God, and which had not them that worshipped his image. These 16: 20:8 "| shipped the beast, neither his image, both were cast alive into a lake of fire burn- |g pan, 7.9, ther had received his mark upon ing with brimstone. 22, 27; Matt. | foreheads, or in their hands; and they 21 And

the remnant

were

slain with

the

apie nae

and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

sword of him that sat upon the horse, which | 8:17; 1Cor. | 5

sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all

But the rest of the dead lived not again

By 3; 2Tim. | until the thousand years were finished. This

the fowls were filled with their flesh.

19:20 the beast... and... the false prophet. These two great deceivers, members of the satanic trinity, who were used by the devil to deceive men about God during

the Tribulation, are conquered by Jesus Christ, who will

cast them “alive into a lake of fire.” They are the first to be cast into this lake of fire, which is really the eternal hell which God has “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41, see the article entitled “Hell” by Jack Van Impe). These two men do not go to judgment; rather they will go straight to hell. One thousand years later, when Satan is also cast into the lake of fire, these men are still there and still alive, indicating their punishment is eternal (cf. Rev. 20:10).

19:21. In the concluding verse about the Battle of Armageddon, Christ slays all who rebelled against Him in anticipation of setting up His kingdom. The bodies left on the earth will become food for the birds. The souls of

these rebels against God will go, just as all sinners before them, to the place of torment where they await the Great White Throne Judgment after the Millennium. 20:1-2

worneitheir lived

The introduction to Christ’s Millennial Kingdom

begins with Satan being bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit (Gr. abyss) by an angel, probably the one who opened the pit in Revelation 9:1. Some think that Christ is the angel with “the key of the bottomless pit,” for in Revelation 1:18, Christ holds the keys “of hell and of death” where the pit is located. However, since

is the first resurrection.

Christ is nowhere seen as an angel after His Ascension to heaven, it would seem more likely that He will empower an angel such as Michael to bind Satan. 20:2 a thousand years. This reference is the first time

in the Bible that the length of the messianic kingdom. of Christ is given. Scores of passages in the Bible teach a coming literal kingdom on earth when the Messiah will reign (Isa. 2:2—4; Ezek. 37:21—28; Zech. 9:10; 14:9). This

chapter is the only one that mentions “the thousand years,” but it does so six times, indicating the length of time is literal and specific. The Latin word mille, meaning thousand, is the basis of the word “millennium.” A premillennialist is one who believes that Christ will come before He sets up His millennial reign on this earth (see the article entitled “The Millennial Views” by Mal Couch).

20:3 To deceive the nations no more. One of the factors that makes the Millennium such a utopian kingdom is that Satan will not be present to tempt or deceive mankind. Christ will reign supreme during the one thousand-year period following Satan’s imprisonment. 20:4-5 them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus. Revelation 6:9-11 speaks of many who will be slain by Antichrist during the Tribulation for refusing to take his mark. Here they will be resurrected so they can reign with Christ during His one thousand-year kingdom on earth.

1400

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in | & 1Pet. 2:9 and shall be tormented day and night for the first resurrection: on such the second | 8 Ezek. 38:2; | ever and ever death hath no power, but they shall be Fel E

priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign

2saaa

with him a thousand years. ‘Gioeeat 7 And when the thousand years are eX- | 49 Rey, pired, Satan shall be loosed out of his | 14:10, 11; prison, 19:20; 20:8

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations

The Great White Throne Judgment 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.

i oes _ | 12 And I saw the dead, small and great,

which are in the four quarters of the earth, | 3:7°40, 11: | stand

before

God;

and

the books

were

Gog and Magog, to gather them together to | Rev. 21:1 opened: and another book was opened, battle: the number of whomis as the sand | 12 Ps. 69:28; |which is the book of life: and the dead were

of the sea.

a Np

judged out of those things which were writ-

9 And they went up on the breadth of the | 3-;9: 12-1; -| ten in the books, according to their works. earth, and compassed the camp of the saints | Matt. 16:27; | 13 And the sea gave up the dead which

about, and the beloved city: and fire came ee ae were in it; and death and hell delivered up: from God out of heaven, and de- | 19:5; 22:12 | the dead which were in them: and they

down

voured them.

14 1Cor.

were judged every man

according to their

10 And the devil that deceived them was | 15:26, 54,

works.

cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are,

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

peu

20:6 he that hath part in the first resurrection. The “first resurrection” is for believers and takes place in installments: 1) Christ as the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20); 2) the rapture of the Church (1 Cor. 15:23, 1 Thess. 4:13-18); 3) Tribulation saints are raised before the kingdom along with the Old Testament saints (Ps. 50:1-6).

This resurrection includes all believing dead up to the time of Christ’s return. The second resurrection is exclusively for unbelievers. The “second death” is the final death or incarceration into the lake of fire for all that have rejected God's great salvation (Rev. 21:8).

20:7-8 Gog and Magog. The use of these names here and in Ezekiel 38—39 has confused some readers. A thorough reading of the two passages will reveal that the events are not the same. The one thing these events have in common is that both national entities (Gog and Magog) are driven by the spirit of rebellion against God. In these two cases, God uses the same names because of the deceptively satanic spirit that motivates them both. 20:8 as the sand of the sea. This expression proves that the world’s population will be enormous at the end of the Millennium. This multitude that follows Satan appears to be made up of only those who are less than one hundred years of age (see Isa. 65:20). The second issue here is the depravity and rebellion of the human heart. Even under the ideal conditions of Christ’s reign on earth, unregenerate hearts will rebel against him. That men could live under the righteous reign of Jesus the Messiah and then, as soon as Satan is released, follow him in rebellion indicates that Jeremiah was right when he said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).

20:9 the beloved city. The city that this army of rebels

i

surrounds is the millennial Jerusalem. That Satan, even

after being bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit, would still think he could lead one last triumph over God is incredible. God sends fire down from heaven and devours Satan and all his followers.

20:10 cast into the lake of fire. This is the final destiny | of Satan and all unbelievers. As far as unbelievers are concerned, the saddest aspect of this lake of fire is that it was not designed for man, but for Satan and his angels (Matt. 25:41). The price of rebellion against God is eternal. There is no escape nor release, which is why the

consignment is referred to as “the second death” (v. 14). 20:11-12 At the end of the Millennium, all those who have rejected Christ must “stand before God” (v. 12). The “dead” are those who are spiritually dead because of their rejection of Christ. They will stand in their resurrected state before Jesus to be judged by Him (cf. John 5:22). 20:12 the books were opened. The dead are those who | have been kept in hell (Hebr. Sheol; Gr. Hades), the temporary place for the souls of unbelievers until judgment day (see the article entitled “Hell” by Jack Van Impe). _ From Cain to the final rebellion, all unbelievers are there. They will be judged “according to their works.” This is not — a judgment for believers in Christ. Every single soul at this judgment is an unbeliever.

20:13-14 gave up the dead. There is no hiding place from God's final judgment. Consignment to the lake of fire will be forever. The sea, the graves, and death and hell will all surrender the unsaved dead. These people will be resurrected, then judged and cast into the lake of fire. This casting of souls into the lake of fire is called the second death, for it involves the permanent condemnation of all unbelievers.

|

By Tim LaHaye ankind’s eventual meeting with God on judgment day is stamped indelibly on the human heart. Recognition of this eventual meeting is one of the things that distinguishes man from animals and seems part of the human conscience. More importantly, such an encounter with God is mentioned many times in Scripture and occurs immediately after the Millennial Kingdom, after Christ extinguishes man’s final rebellion, and just before the beginning of the new eternity, which God has prepared for those who love and accept Him. “The dead, small and great, standing] before God” (Rev. 20:12) indicates that all those “dead” toward God and living in the place of torment where they went upon their earthly deaths are resurrected (as Dan. 12:2 promised) to appear before God, who will judge them “according to their works” (v. 12). Evidently there are books of man’s works kept in heaven that will be revealed at this judgment. The “dead” mentioned here are people who had never received Christ before — not for Christians. their first death. After the Millennium, they will be resurrected to appear before God. The books of their works will be opened, none of which have been erased through the forgiving blood of Jesus, because they rejected Him in their earthly lives. Therefore, they stand condemned by their own works. That there will be degrees of punishment in eternity seems both biblical and just. Many believe the reason for this specific judgment is to determine the degrees of suffering in the lake of fire. It is before this throne that the prediction of Philippians 2:9-11 will be fulfilled, that there is an appointed day when every man and woman will bend his or her knees to worship Jesus Christ and “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” If we repent and confess Christ now, of course, we will be excluded from that judgment and have our names written in the “book of life of the Lamb” (Rev. 13:8). This guarantees our names will remain in the “book of life,” a separate book from which everyone’s name is blotted out if he or she dies without a saving relationship with Christ (Rev. 3:5). According to Revelation 20:15, after a final check in this book of life, anyone whose name is missing is cast into the lake of fire. The greatness of this throne is not in the size of it, nor is it in the number of the multitude who stand convicted before it, but in the greatness of the Judge who presides over it—the Lord Jesus Christ. The white color is representative of His holiness and purity, and of how fitting it is that He should judge mankind (see John 5:22, 27-29; 2 Tim. 4:1). He is the eternal word (John 1:1), come to give life, a life free from the power and wages of sin (Luke 19:10; Rom. 6:23; Heb. 12:9). Those who refuse the free gift wrought by the Lamb of God, will find that it is truly “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:29-31). The Great White Throne Judgment is not for Christians. It is only for those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ in this earthly life. To avoid this judgment, all one must do is repent and believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and invite Him to become his or her Lord and Savior.

e Great White

Throne Judgment is

1402

15 And whosoever was not found written in | 15 Rev. the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. ee pe

they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

sa. 02-""" |4 And God shall wipe away all tears from CHAPTER

21

Heaven on Earth

ee ae

their eyes; and there shall be no more death,

2\sa.52:1;

| Neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new | 54:5;61:10 | there be any more pain: for the former earth: for the first heaven and the first earth | 3 Ezek. 43:7. | things are passed away. ; were passed away; and there was no more | 4|sa. 25:8; 5 And he that sat upon the throne said,

sea. 2

ea 61:3; | Behold, I make all things new. And ‘he said

And I John saw the holy city, new Jeru-

salem,

coming

down

from God

'

heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3

unto me, Write: for these words are true and

out’ of |544319

| faithful.

Bea 1a TBs bi

And I heard a great voice out of heaven | .

6 And he said unto me, It is done» I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of

saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is | 7 Zech 9.8 | the fountain of the water of life freely. with men, and he will dwell with them, and

The

New

Heaven

and

7

the

New

He

that

overcometh

shall inherit

Jerusalem

God Will Dwell with Us

Rev. 7:15; 21:3

Isa. 12:6; Ezek. 43:7; 48:35

We Shall Be His People

Rev. 21:3, 7

Jer. 31:33; Zech. 13:9

He Will Be Our God

Rey. 21:3

Ezek. 37:27; Zech. 8:8

God Will Wipe Away Our Tears

Rev. 7:17; 21:4

Isa. 25:8; 35:10

There Will Be No More Death

Rev. 20:14; 21:4

Isa. 25:8; Hos. 13:14

There Will Be No More Mourning

Rey. 21:4

Isa. 35:10; Jer. 31:13

There Will Be No More Weeping

Rey. 21:4

Isa. 30:19; 65:18-19

There Will Be No More Night

Rey. 18:23; 21:23, 25; 22:5

Isa. 60:19-20; Zech, 2:5

There Will Be No More Curse

Rev. 22:3

Ezek. 37:26; Zech. 14:11

20:15 Typical of the loving nature of God, He reviews the “book of life” one final time, to see if the names of anyone at this final judgment are there. This affirms the justice of God’s judgment on the unsaved. Except for the mercy of the living Christ, we would all perish, forever separated from the presence of God.

all:

be prepared as a wedding gift for the “bride” of Christ, which is His Church.

21:1 a new heaven and a new earth. The “new heaven” is the atmospheric heaven around and above the

21:3 the tabernacle of God is with men. The Tabernacle was the original symbol of God dwelling with His people. In eternity, mankind will dwell with God. In that eternal state, we will not only enjoy fellowship with our redeemed loved ones but will also have actual fellowship with God Himself.

earth. This area has been the domain of Satan (see Eph. 2:2) and must be purified before the heaven of God can

21:4-5 All tears, pain, sorrow, and death will be removed in that heavenly New Jerusalem where Chris-

come down to the new earth. This new earth will be a perfect environment similar to that of the Garden of Eden. A unique distinctive of this new earth will be that the vast oceans of water that now cover three fourths of the world’s surface will not be included, leaving much more inhabitable land for the population of the redeemed.

tians will live. This is the exact opposite of the curse that —

21:2 as a bride adorned for her husband. The Father's house to which Jesus ascended is heaven. There Christ has been building mansions or living quarters for His Bride, the Church (see John 14:1—4). In this magnificent

prophecy, which will be fulfilled after the Millennium, Christ will bring that “city” to the new beautified earth where He will set up His capital for eternity. This city will

resulted from Adam's sin (see Gen. 3:16—19). The effects of the curse are removed, and all things are made new. God does not merely repair the creation, He re-creates it

for His children to enjoy for all eternity. 21:6 It is done. This is a statement (Gr. gegonan) of divine finality. It represents God's promise that this new state will be forever. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Hence, this phrase represents the sum of all things. In Revelation 1:11 and 22:12-13 it is used of Christ. Here it is used of God the Father (“he that sat on the throne”), indicating the deity of both the Father and the Son.

1403 things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable,

and

murderers,

and

dations, and in them the names twelve apostles of the Lamb.

"eas 6:9, |15 And he that talked with me had a golden

whore- | 5:19-21; Eph. |reed

mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and

aes ee

all liars, shall have their part in the lake 12:14 Rev. which burneth with fire and brimstone: | 20:14, 15; which is the second death. 22:15 ¢ Baton:

The City Walls 9 And there came

unto me

of the

to measure

the city, and

the gates

thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the

N20 breadth and the height of it are equal. one of the | 49 Ezek. 4g: |17 And he measured the wall thereof, an

seven angels which had the seven vials full | Rev. 1:10; of the seven last plagues, and talked with Tigra 4

hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the

me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee

angel.

ieee

the bride, the Lamb’s wife. (ocak ‘ 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a | 49.31.34 great and high mountain, and shewed me | 43 go, that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descend- | 48:31-34 ing out of heaven from God, 14 Matt.

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of pre-

11 Having the glory of ‘God: and her light | 16:18; Gal.

| cious stones. The first foundation was jas-

was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper. stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had | twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the

per; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; | 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysopra-

cour 15 Ezek. 40:3; Zech. alyRev. ‘

names of the twelve tribes of the children of | '9'S* 5*"" | sus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an Israel:

amethyst.

13 On the east three gates; on the north | 21 Rev. 22:2 | 24 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foun-

21:7 Just as a bride is an equal inheritor of all that is her husband's, so the Church, the Bride of Christ, will inherit all that is His. He even promises that He will be our God

and we shall be His son. These terms of endearment are

_ experiences we as Christians shall enjoy forever. 21:8 The contrasts between verses seven and eight are graphic. They represent the age-old concept that there are only two kinds of people with God, believers and unbelievers. They experience two different lifestyles on earth and go to two different eternal destinies. Believers go to “eternal life” while unbelievers experience “the sec-

ond death,” which is the lake of fire. 21:9-11 that great city, the holy Jerusalem. The Lamb's wife is described as the new city of Jerusalem. This magnificent city is where the Bride of Christ (the Church) will live forever. The most dominant characteristic of the holy city is the presence of God's glory, which personifies God's presence with His people. The glory that departed from the Old Jerusalem (see Ezek. 8—11) is restored to the New Jerusalem of the future.

21:12-14 The inclusion of the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles in the foundations and gates of the city indicates that both Jewish

every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

and Gentile believers will all be part of the family of God and share eternity as one. Although it would seem that the Jews are distinct from the Church during the Millennium, they will all be one as children of the living God for eternity.

21:16 the city lieth foursquare. The size of this city indicates that each border is approximately fifteen hundred miles long. Thus the dimensions of the city would be equal to the area from the eastern seaboard of the United States to the Mississippi River on one side and from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico on the other. In addition to the length and breadth, the city will be fifteen hundred miles high. This great size will afford sufficient space for the habitation of the saints from all ages of history.

21:17-21 the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Every gate will be one pearl, each large enough to cover the gateway to this huge city. In addition, the street of the city will be “pure gold, like unto clear glass,” indicating that believers will walk on golden streets. The holy city of God will be so magnificent that believers will literally walk on precious metals that today are used for costly adornments.

1404

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the 23 Isa. 60:19, Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the | 24:23; 59 temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, nei- stn Bear ther of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory | 95 {saq. of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the | 60:11, 20;

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and

light thereof.

they need no. candle, neither light of the

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

nee

24 And the nations of them which are saved ae sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of | 22:14, 15 | -| they shall reign for ever and ever. the earth do bring their glory and honour 4:

into it.

5

isi

ech 148. |Christ Is Coming Quickly

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all | 2 Gen. 2:9;

6

by day: for there shall be no night there.

a

faithful and true: and the Lord God of the

And he said unto me, These sayings are

26 And they shall bring the glory and hon-

2:21, 24

our of the nations into it.

3 Ezek.

) holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto

his servants the things which must shortly —

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it | 48:35; Zech. | be done. any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever | 14" 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but 4Mate ee keepeth the saying of the prophecy of this they which are written in the Lamb’s book | John 3:2; |book. of life. Rev. 3:12; 8 And I John saw these things, and heard

oe CHAPTER

22

them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell

5 Dan. 7:27; Rev, 21:23,

|down to worship before the feet of the angel

which shewed me these things. 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water | 25 of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the 6 Rev. 1:1 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: throne of God and of the Lamb. gRev. 19:10 | for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy 2 Inthe midst of the street of it, and on eibrethren the prophets, and of them which ther side of the river, was there the tree of keep the sayings of this book: worship God. life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and ryan 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayyielded her fruit every month: and the | 9.96-77.4 9 | ings of the prophecy of this book: for the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the time is at hand. nations. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:

21:22 no temple therein. There will be no need for a temple in heaven to provide a means for a man to fellowship with God. Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, sin will not exist there. God and the Lamb are the temple of the eternal city. This clearly emphasizes the deity of Christ as equal in essence to that of the Father. 21:24 The reference to “nations” reminds us that our national distinctions, like our personal appearances, are God-given. Revelation 7:9 refers to “a great multitude... of all nations,” and Revelation 5:10 refers to believers as “kings and priests” who reign with Christ.

21:27 Once again, we are confronted with the significance of having our names written in the Lamb's book of life, assuring us that Christ knows each believer personally, by name. 22:1 pure river of water of life. In one final glimpse into the future, John sees this river flowing from the throne of God. It is the source of eternal life that emanates from God. Even in heaven, we will drink water and eat food, probably not out of necessity for our health, but because of the pleasure and fellowship it will give us. 22:2 Here at the close of the Bible we are reintroduced to the tree of life, which has not been mentioned in the

Bible since Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Paradise is restored in the eternal state.

All that was lost in the fall is redeemed by the Lamb. The | leaves of this tree will be used to heal the relationships of the nations toward each other so that we might live equitably and fairly in eternity. 22:3-5 The picture of eternal life in these verses indicates that we will be busy serving God for all eternity. We will both serve Him (v. 3) and reign with Him (v. 5). Since He is an infinite God, we can be sure He will have infinite | things for us to do as we reign there forever. The phrase,

“they shall see his face,” means that, as believers, we will be granted an audience with the King on a regular

basis. 22:7 Behold, i come quickly. Jesus did not say He was — “coming soon,” but “suddenly” (Gr. taxis), which is why | we should be ready for His return every day of our lives. When. He comes to rapture us to heaven, He will come “suddenly,” in the “twinkling of an eye” (1. Cor, 15:51-52).

22:10 The command not to seal this prophetic message is quite different than what the Lord told Daniel, “But

thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book,

1405 and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: | 12 Isa.

and he that is righteous, let him be righteous

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.

pee "| And let him that heareth say, Come. And let

still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. |14:12; Rev.

| him that is athirst come. And whosoever

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my re- | 20:12; 22:7

| will, let him take the water of life freely.

ward is with me, to give every man accord- | 13!sa. 41:4; | 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth ing as his work shall be. Bes ti the words of the prophecy of this book, If 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning | 21:6 any man shall add unto these things, God and the end, the first and the last.

14 Dan.

shall add unto him

14 Blessed are they that do his command-

Coal

written in this book:

ments, that they may have right to the tree | 3.7. 91:07: of life, and may enter in through the gates | 22:2

the plagues that are

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of

into the city.

16 Zech.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and

ote aet. | life, and out of the holy city, and from the

whoremongers,

and murderers, and idola- | 4.1. 2:28:

things which 20 He which 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify | 17 |sa.55:1_ | Surely I come unto you these things in the churches. I am | 19 Rev. 3:5; | Lord Jesus. 21 The grace the root and the offspring of David, and the 13:8; 21:2 with you all. bright and morning star. ters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. | 5:5

even to the time of the end” (Dan. 12:4). The reason for

the difference in the instructions is simply stated, “the time is at hand.” Until the death and resurrection of Christ, the time for this prophecy had not come. Since Jesus already opened the seven seals prophetically (Rev. 5—6) to reveal the future, it is only appropriate that the entire book remain open for us to read as well. 22:10-11 let him be filthy still. This suggests that in eternity unregenerate man will not experience a second chance for a changed nature. Once people are condemned at the Great White Throne Judgment, they will remain lost forever. 22:12 my reward is with me. After the Rapture, all believers will face the judgment seat of Christ. He will hoid us accountable for the way we have served Him in this life. We shall enter into heaven by faith in Christ, but faithful service in this life is the basis for how we will be rewarded by Him for eternity.

22:16

| Jesus have sent mine angel to testify. This

verse is Jesus’ seal of approval on the whole book of Revelation. It marks the first use of the word “church” since chapter three. Why is there no reference to the Church during the time of tribulation on earth described in chapters 6—18? Because the Church, having been rap-

tured to heaven, will not be on earth! Jesus is the Lord

are written in this book. testifieth these things saith, quickly. Amen. Even so, come,

of our Lord Jesus Amen.

Christ be

and offspring of David, who gives us a shining hope because He is coming again and will triumph over Satan, suffering, and death. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, Come. Jesus clarifies the primary mission of the Spirit and the Church (His Bride) during this entire Church age, which is to invite lost men and women to come to Him for salvation before it is too late.

22:18-19 The Greek word biblion, translated “book,” is where we get our word “Bible.” John warns against any who would deliberately “add unto these things” (meaning the prophecies of this book) or “take away” any of its revealed truth. Since Revelation is the culmination of all Bible prophecy, we have no need for additional prophecy. Instead, we need to study and teach the prophecies that have already been revealed in the text of Scripture. 22:20 Surely | come quickly. Christ will come “suddenly” and without warning (vv. 7, 12). Every believer should live in anticipation that Christ's “coming again” is immi-

nent. Christians from every generation should live their lives as though Jesus could come at any moment. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” is the attitude of the Christian whose mind is filled with the “spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). Let us exhort one another as Paul did in 1 Corin-

thians 16:22: “Maranatha,” meaning “the Lord is coming.”

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Glossary of Prophetic Terms Abomination of Desolation—The expression used to describe the act of setting up an idolatrous image in the Holy Place, thus defiling or “making desolate” the Jewish Temple, and ending the offering of all sacrifices. This was done in the past by Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan. 11:31), whose act reflects the future defilement by the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27). Both Daniel and Jesus indicated that this future act would signal the start of the great tribulation (Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14).

Antichrist—Antichrist(1 John 2:2) is the individual who arises at the beginning of the sevenyear tribulation and gains worldwide power for the last three and a half years. He is the imitator of the program of Jesus Christ and is known by many names throughout the Bible.

Amillennialism—(Latin, “no millennium”): The theological view that Christ and His saints will not reign personally upon the earth for a thousand years after His Second Coming. Apocalyptic—Adj., prophetic; n., prophetic liter-

ature. Apostasy—(Greek, “departure”):The term used for the condition of those who once professed the Christian faith but have since departed from its doctrine or practice.

at Christ’s bema in heaven in order to be evaluated during the Tribulation (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-16;

19:1-10).

4:1-5;

of God’s

time.

16;

Bema—(Greek, “raised platform”): The transliteration of a Greek word used in the New Testament as a technical term to distinguish the event of rewards for believers from the final judgment of unbelievers, known as the Great White Throne judgment of Revelation 20:11—15. In the Roman world of New Testament times, there was a raised platform in the city square or at the coliseums where a dignitary would sit to hear civil matters or hand out rewards, usually a wreath, for competitive accomplishment. The Church will appear

Rev.

Dispensationalism—A system of theology that interprets Scripture literally and from the per-

Joel 3:9-17; 19:11-21).

16:14,

5:10;

Day of the Lord—Involves God's direct intervention in human affairs and history. This phrase is one of numerous terms and phrases used throughout the Bible to refer to a time of judgment (such as the Tribulation). In the Old Testament, the phrase was used by the prophets to refer to a coming time of judgment. In some cases, that judgment is now past, and, in others, it is yet future. As a future time of judgment, the day of the Lord is a time of devastation and destruction (Zech. 12—14).

spective

Rev.

Cor.

Covenant Theology—A system of theology that interprets Scripture from the perspective of salvation covenants between God and humanity. It is not a system of theology developed from the biblical covenants. Instead it is based upon two theorized covenants called the covenant of works and the covenant of grace.

through successive tory maintains one reveals Himself to in different ways their relationship

14:1-3;

2

Chiliasm—(Greek, “one thousand”): This is the oldest term for Christ’s one thousand-year kingdom in Revelation 20:1-7.

Armageddon—(Hebrew, “mountain of Magedon”): The military campaign at the end of the tribulation in which the Antichrist’s global army is assembled in Israel and defeated by Jesus Christ at His Second Coming (Dan. 11:40-45; Zech.

9:24-27;

interaction

with

humanity

ages. This view of biblical hisplan of salvation in which God man and deals with humanity in each successive period of or economy (dispensation) of

Eschatology—(Greek, “study of last things’): The study of things relating to the end of the world, the final judgment, and the life and world

to come. End Times—There are a number of different biblical expressions that appear to speak of the end times. In the Bible “end times” may refer to the end of the current church age or it may refer to other times, such as the end of the Tribulation that is followed by the second coming of Christ. Often the seven-year Tribulation is called the “end times.”

1408 days. In the Bible, “last days” may refer to the end of the current Church Age or it may refer to other times, such as the end of the Tribulation that is

False Prophet—tThe religious miracle worker, who is the Antichrist’s minister of propaganda during the Tribulation (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). He is called the “beast out of the earth” and shares the beastly nature of the Antichrist.

followed by the Second Coming. Often the sevenyear Tribulation is called the “last days.”

Futurism—tThe belief that major prophetic events such as the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming, and the Millennium are yet future.

Maranatha—(Aramaic, “our Lord come”): A greeting often used in the first century church reflecting the eager expectation and hope that the Lord could return at any moment (1 Cor. 16:22).

Great Tribulation—The

Mark of the Beast—A mark that will be given by the Antichrist and False Prophet during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation (Rey. 13:16-17; 14:9; 20:4). Anyone receiving this mark (the number 666) on the right handor |

last.half of the seven-

year period also known as the 70th-week of Daly iel or the Tribulation. Great White Throne Judgment—tThe term pertains to the judgment that is recorded in Revelation 20:11-15. All who experience this judgment are there because they have rejected Jesus Christ during their lifetimes. Because of their rejection of Christ’s substitutionary work, God will judge them on the basis of their own works, which fail utterly to measure up at any point to His holy standard. In this judgment, their works are judged to show that the punishment is deserved, and as a result, everyone in this judgment is thrown into the lake of fire. Hermeneutic—One’s method of interpreting literature, especially Scripture. Historicism—the belief that the Tribulation and the present Church Age are generally the same. Historicists see the Second Coming and possibly the Millennium as yet future to the current age. They also hold that the Antichrist is the Pope and Roman Catholicism.

Idealism—tThe belief that the timing of major prophetic events is undetermined. Imminency—(Latin, “any moment”): A term used to describe the Rapture and emphasizes that it could happen at any moment, without prior signs or warning. Kingdom—A term used throughout the Bible to often refer to the time when Jesus the Messiah will return to earth and reign from Jerusalem for a thousand years.

Lake of Fire—The final eternal abode of all unbelievers throughout history. It is the proper name for what is popularly thought of as hell (Rev. 19:20; 20:14-15; 21:8).

Last Days— There are a number of different biblical expressions that appear to speak of the last

forehead will be destined for the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

Marriage Supper of the Lamb—The time of celebrating the relationship between Christ and the Church called the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:8), which will probably take place at the bésin ning of the Millennium (Rey. 19:9). New Earth—The new planet that God will create to replace earth after He destroys the current one with fire at the end of history (2 Pet. 3:10—12; Rev. 22:3).

New Heaven—tThe new creation that God will create to replace the present heaven. after, He destroys the current one with fire at the end of the Millennium (2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1).

New Jerusalem—tThe eternal city that God will create as the eternal residence for believers throughout history after He destroys the current heaven and earth with fire at the end of history (Heb. 11:8-10; 12:22-25; Rev. 3:12; 21—22)..

Midtribulationalism—A type of premillennialism in which the rapture of the Church will occur

in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation. Millennium—the future thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Olivet Discourse—Christ’s prophetic sermon which is found in the following passages: Matthew 24—25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38. Postmillennialism—(Latin, ‘after millennium’): The belief that the second coming of Christ follows the Millennium. Before Christ’s return, the Church will have converted a majority of the world to Christ, resulting in the righteous rule of believers throughout the world.

1409 Posttribulationalism—A type of premillennialism in which the rapture of the Church is said to occur after the seven-year Tribulation, in conjunction with the Second Coming.

Premillennialism—(Latin, “before millennium’ ): The belief that the second coming of Christ occurs

before the Millennium, in which Christ personally reigns from Jerusalem for one thousand years. Preterism—(Latin, “gone by,” or “past’’): The belief that most, if not all, major prophetic events have already been fulfilled in history.

Pretribulationalism—A type of premillennialism in which the rapture of the Church will occur before the seven-year Tribulation. Rapture—The coming of the Lord to meet the Church in the air and His return with them to heaven.

Remnant—The saved Israelites throughout the entire history of Israel.

Replacement

Theology—A

theological view

among both Catholics and Protestants that the Jews have been rejected and replaced by “the true

Israel,” the Church. Those who espouse this view disavow any distinct ethnic future for the Jewish people in connection with the biblical covenants, believing that their only spiritual destiny is either to perish or become a part of the Christian Church. Revelation—(Greek, “to reveal’): God’s act of telling humanity about Himself and His view of things. The Bible is God’s revelation of His spoken word. Second Coming—the physical, bodily return of Jesus Christ to earth at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. Tribulation—That period of time, according to the premillennial interpretation of prophecy, which follows the rapture of the Church. Lasting for seven years, the first three and one-half years are a time of peace, which witness the rise of Antichrist and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. The last three and one-half years are a time of divine judgment known in the Old Testament as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” At the end of this period, climaxed by the Battle of Armageddon, Christ returns to rescue Israel and set up His Millennial Kingdom.

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COMPASS (v) S c about with so great acloud......... Heb 12:1

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1 John 3:21

COMPASSION I will have

con whom I will......... Rom 9:15

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1 Pet 3:8

Being c of this very thing............. Phil 1:6

CONFORM

gers soca vee Soliddead Col 2:10

stand perfect andcinall

............ Col 4:12

also did predestinate tobec......... Rom 8:29 benopeto thisyworlde

ablewoveavitiall saints.

yscc-yaee eae Eph 3:18

CONDEMN by thy words thou shalt bec ....... Matt 12:37 c not, and ye shallnot bec

Rom 12:2

2.06 sa. 1251,tc Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10 nottastesoke?. w29AT.! . vntaee 36 Suk Matt 16:28;

DECISION

multitudes in the valley of d......... Joel 3:14

Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27

My soul is exceeding sorrowful, MONWINGC!, oso dean Matt 26:38; Mark 14:34

DECREASE

passed from ‘diuntoilifes

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John 5:24; 1 John 3:14

mtetec. sic tiyeites ceners John 8:51

the waters d continually ...... distdye . Gen 8:5 Imustd...... John 3:30

DEED

ee John 11:4

because their d were evil.........2. John 3:19

reconciled to God by thed........... Rom 5:10

mighty in words andind........... Acts 7:22

d by sin, and sod passed........... Rom 5:12

put off the old man with hisd......... Col 3:9

d reigned from Adam to Moses

whatsoever ye do in word ord........ Col 3:17

ia. theikkeness: Of his d):.v.cc+.+.0. cee eens Rom 6:5

but in d and in truth.............

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1 John 3:18

1503 havingjardtto depart.....,...,:....,. (il. Bi Phil 1:23

DEFILE

If any man d the temple of God

..... Cons aU

conscience being weak isd..........

1 Cor 8:7

DESIRE (v)

.

More to be d are they than gold....... Ps 19:10

DELAY

One thing have

My lord d his coming .. . Matt 24:48; Luke 12:45

Id of the Lorp......... Ps 27:4

I d mercy, and not sacrifice ........... Hos 6:6

Iieamyann ana clitOsD

DELIVER

Cniksjane

eemeneae Mark 9:35

dimstromevil........... Matt 6:13; Luke 11:4

Satan hath d to have you.......... Luke 22:31

was d for our offences

audkaispinltualy Sut Siemmer ty a eee ee 1 Cor 14:1

.............

Rom 4:25

d unto death for Jesus’ sake ........ 2 Cor 4:11

theyideaihettencountyyeane

faith which was once d unto Pe GiaaMis hse! fee, yokesilt. ta 2 Jude 1:3

the angels d to look into ...........

pee

As newborn babes, d the SINCCLG SAK: tego

Heb 11:16

Rae

TL Pet 12 1 Pet 2:2

DELIVERANCE

preacn aio the captives........2.... Luke 4:18

DESOLATE

abominations he shall make itd...... Dan 9:27 DELUSION

i alsonwillichooseitheindirs:........82 Isa 66:4

abomination that maketh d ... Dan 11:31; 12:11

shall send them strongd......... 2 Thess Zell DESOLATION

transenessionofdl.... DEPART

Bb ssi to hoidne Dan 8:13

when he is old, he will not d PVOMMIM sc... Ui Gi.JO0. 2i.foitive ist! Prov 22:6

seventy years in the d

Ditton me, sve cursed: 2eoigeusi).b. Matt 25:41

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Dan 9:2

that he should d out of this world... . John 13:1

AMmMOrAeMeSITE LOG «ac. 66 4 of hes gd Phil 1:23

DESPISE

d not thou the chastening .. . Job 5:17; Heb 12:5

TOO! S->..BA Titus 2:5

be in subjection to your ownh........

1 Pet 3:1

The h is coming, and now is ........ John 5:25 SAVetMenFOU) COS ieee ierenee John 12:27 thou shalt not know whath

.......... Rev 3:3

keep thee from the h of temptation... . Rev 3:10

HYPOCRITE

yelbos

RD

Ee

add. $ Fh:81 HQ §. Matt 15:7; 16:3; 22:18; Mark 7:6; Luke 12:56

woe unto you, scribes and 3 PInaTISCCS: terse ean Matt 23:13, Luke 11:44

HOUSE

Why is the h of God forsaken?

...... Neh 13:11

hidividedieserow aware (See also Mark 3:25.)

ere Matt 12:25

I IDLE

In my Father’s h are many John 14:2

eateth not the bread ofi........... Prov 31:27

h not made with hands............. 2'Cor 5:1

every i word that men shall speak,. . . Matt 12:36

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ruleth well hisownh......... re 3s 1 Tim 3:4

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......

1 Tim 5:8

IDOL

touching things offered untoi........

1 Cor 8:1

an i is nothing in the world. ......... 1 Cor 8:4 HOUSEHOLD

*

a man’s foes shall be they of his ownl hil h.ancheisithe to d.erli.33 Matt 10:36 the buofffaith.. wc... 2k ced JERS Gal 6:10

of:thelvof God ezwraiel in. to2-.01 ont cod Eph 2:19

ye turned to God fromi...........

1 Thess 1:9

keep yourselves fromi.:.. 2.5.2.5. 1 John 5:21 IMMANUEL

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—

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1525 IMMORTALITY

INIQUITY

this mortal must put oni.......... (See also 1 Cor 15:54)

1 Cor 15:53

visiting the i of the fathers....... Ex 20:5; 34:7; Num

14:18; Deut 5:9

LiL regard iin my heart ea. ye eee

IMPOSSIBLE nothing shall beiunto you ........ Matt 17:20 Witdeamemthnissis y. 200) {BIE iron 2387) Matt 19:26 (See also Mark 10:27.)

Ps 66:18

If thou, Lorp, shouldest marki....... Ps 130:3 he was pmulsedifor Oued ears sche sear Isa 53:5 deparieinoniey

cee

weer eA ee 2 Tim 2:19

with God nothing shall bei......... Luke 1:37 nenvasamor God to lie...4.

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INSPIRATION

All scripture is given by

iof God..... 2 Tim 3:16

without faith it is ito please him ..... Heb 11:6 INSTRUCTION

fools despise wisdom andi........... Prov 1:7

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