On August 24, 2017, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox in what would begin an amazing win streak. Between August 24 and September 14, “The Tribe” outscored their opponents by 105 runs, slugged 41 homers, and pitched seven shutouts. Out of 199 innings, they only trailed their foes nine times. It is one of the most dominant win streaks in baseball history, bested only by the New York Giants of 1916. Eventually, though, the Indians will lose (assuming they haven’t already by the time you read this). All good things must come to an end in this life.
As Christians, we will experience spiritual peaks and valleys. There will be times of great success, multiple baptisms and restorations, increased giving, more and more people on fire for the Lord. It is our hope and prayer that this zeal, as long as it is properly channeled, burns brightly in every child of God. But the devil hates success.
Peter was a fervent man who set his sights on serving Christ. He told Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). When the officials placed the Messiah under arrest, it was Peter who, “having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear” (John 18:10). Yet Christ had warned the apostle, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). It was not long after the arrest that Peter denied his Lord. The devil hates success.
Never give up on your friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors who are not members of the Lord’s church. Keep praying and planting seeds. Some seeds will fall by the wayside, some on the rock, and some among the thorns. But there will be some that fall on good soil, representing those “who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). The devil hates success, so let’s do our best to make him mad.
All posts by JT
Responding to God’s Love
1 John 4:7-21
I. ACCEPTING GOD’S LOVE
- A. Knowing God (1 John 4:7-8; Philippians 3:8-11; Titus 1:16)
B. Christ gives us life (1 John 4:9; John 14:6; 1:4; 11:25; 5:24) as the propitiation of our sins (1 John 4:10)
C. We have no excuse to not love the brethren (1 John 4:11)
II. CONFESSING GOD’S LOVE
- A. The good confession (1 John 4:15; Acts 8:37-38; 1 Timothy 6:12)
B. More than mere lip service (Matthew 15:8; 7:21)
III. ABIDING IN GOD’S LOVE
- A. A mutual spiritual indwelling, a reciprocal abiding, the closest fellowship and communion possible (1 John 4:12-16)
B. We can be bold by conforming our lives to His (1 John 4:17; 1 Timothy 6:11; Ephesians 5:1-2)
C. There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18; Psalm 111:10)
IV. PRACTICING GOD’S LOVE
- A. Selflessly seeking the very best for another person (1 John 4:19)
B. Love for the brethren flows from a love for God (1 John 4:20)
C. You cannot love God if you do not love your Christian family (1 John 4:21)
A Study of Malachi and the Inter-Testamental Period: Malachi 3
MALACHI 3
3:1-6 – An answer to Malachi 2:17: “The God of justice” is coming Himself!
His messenger (John the Baptist) would first come to prepare the way (cf. Malachi 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3-5; Matthew 3:3; 11:10, 14; 17:12-13; Mark 1:3; Luke 1:17; 3:4; John 1:23)
The divine Christ would then arrive as “the Messenger of the covenant”
God’s justice starts with those in charge, then against the wicked
3:7-12 – Will a man rob God?
“God is never satisfied with a partial, or incomplete, service” (Guy N. Woods)
He challenges them to follow Him fully, and He would bless them beyond measure
3:13-15 – “Your words have been harsh against Me”
They questioned His moral government among men
Israel was shortsighted, looking only at the rewards of this life
3:16-18 – There was a remnant of “those who feared the Lord”
Contrast verse 9, “this whole nation,” with verse 17, “shall be Mine”
Each individual must decide into which category he wishes to be placed, and live accordingly
Review and thought questions
1. Considering all the accusations being brought against Israel, how do you think they would have responded to the message that God was coming?
2. In what ways might Christians “rob God” today?
3. Should we expect recognition for doing the right thing in this life? What does Christ say about doing charitable deeds, or praying, or fasting, in order to be seen by men? Read Matthew 6:1, 5, 16.
4. What are some things upon which the people of God should meditate? Read Psalm 1:1-2; Malachi 3:16; Philippians 4:8-9.
A Study of Malachi and the Inter-Testamental Period: Malachi 2
MALACHI 2
2:1-4 – Just as God’s promises are sure for the faithful, His punishments are certain for the disobedient
Isaiah prophesied about the hardening of Israel’s hearts (Isaiah 6:9-10)
The dung/refuse of the sacrifice was to be taken out of the camp (Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:12; 16:27)
Shows the priests were unfit for the service of the Lord
2:5-9 – Contrast between original intent of Levi and what it became
Instead of walking with God “in peace and equity,” they had “departed from the way.” Instead of keeping knowledge and directing the people who sought the law, they “caused many to stumble at the law.” In short, the priests of Malachi’s day had “corrupted the covenant of Levi,” bringing to an end God’s blessings.
2:10-16 – God prohibited marriages with foreign/pagan women (Deuteronomy 7:1-4; Ezra 9:10-15; Nehemiah 13:23-27)
The intent was to keep the nation pure and dedicated to God until the Messiah arrived
These prohibited marriages were often done at the expense of Israelite women
God hates divorce
“What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6)
Exception: fornication (NKJV and other translations as “sexual immorality” is too broad; only fornication is in view in Matthew 19:9)
2:17 – Murmuring wearies God
The sun rises on evil and good; rain falls on just and unjust (Matthew 5:45)
Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it
Review and thought questions
1. How far-reaching is “the curse” of God? Read Deuteronomy 28:15-19.
2. Under the Old Law, the tribe of Levi served as priests for the people of God. Who are the priests today? Read 1 Peter 2:9-10. How must the royal priesthood keep themselves fit for service to the Lord?
3. In what three ways had the priests of Malachi’s day violated the covenant God made with Levi? How can we, as a royal priesthood, avoid the same mistakes under the law of Christ?
4. How careful should one be in choosing a spouse? What spiritual characteristics should be considered?
A Study of Malachi and the Inter-Testamental Period: Malachi 1
“Malachi” means “My messenger”
Written in the middle of the fifth century BC
Timeline:
536 BC – remnant returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild nation
520-515 BC – God’s temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel (governor) and Joshua (high priest), encouraged by of Haggai and Zechariah
458 BC – Ezra reorganizes and reestablishes nation’s worship
445 BC – Nehemiah leads Hebrews in rebuilding walls of city
432 BC – Nehemiah’s second visit to Jerusalem
MALACHI 1
1:1-5 – God declares His love
Egypt, wilderness, other enemies, even when under foreign rule (cf. Daniel 1:19; Esther 2:17; Nehemiah 1:11)
Edom opposed God and His people (cf. Obadiah 10-18; Amos 1:11-12; Jeremiah 49:7-10; 25:9,21)
Chaldeans, Nabataeans, Maccabees, and Romans all captured Edom
1:6-8 – Israel despised God’s name
Defiled food/bread, specifically blind, lame, and sick sacrifices, in opposition to Law (Leviticus 22:17-25)
1:9-10 – Sarcasm and irony
God desires zeal in His people
1:11-13 – God will be honored by Gentiles, despite Israel’s irreverence
Israel expressed weariness in worship
“If people are only going through the motions without the heart being in it, such will only be endured rather than enjoyed. That which should have been a blessing has become a burden to them. Where they should have seen themselves as a blessed people with the opportunity to be a light in the nations around them, they see themselves burdened.” (J. Winfred Clark)
1:14 – “Cursed be the deceiver”
God’s name is “to be feared” (NKJV), “dreadful” (KJV), “terrible” (ASV)
Review and thought questions
1. Edom confidently asserted, “We have been impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places” (1:4). Is there anything wrong with such determination in the face of despair? Consider Psalm 127:1 and James 4:13-16 as you answer.
2. Identify some of the parallels between the religious people of Malachi’s day and the religious people of today.
3. How important is appropriate worship? What did Jesus say in Matthew 15:8-9?
4. How would you respond to someone who complains that “church is boring”? How can you guard yourself against developing a similar attitude?
5. Should a person make a vow if he has no intention of following through? What does Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 say?
A Study of Revelation: Refuting False Doctrines
Refuting False Doctrines
Max R. King’s “A.D. 70 Doctrine” (also known as Realized Eschatology, Kingism, or the Max King Doctrine)
- “The Holy Scriptures teach that the second coming of Christ, including the establishment of the eternal kingdom, the day of judgment, the end of the world and the resurrection of the dead, occurred with the fall of Judaism in 70 A.D.”
- King struggles with the figurative language, and with separating the second coming or final judgment from the coming in judgment upon individual nations
- King’s debate with brother Gus Nichols can be read online: http://icotb.org/resource/NICHOLS-KINGDEBATE.pdf
- Brother Garland M. Robinsons refutation of King’s false doctrine: http://icotb.org/resources/AD70-Kingism.pdf
The Jehovah’s Witnesses Literal View of 144,000
- Literal interpretation of Revelation 7:4
- Contrast “those who were sealed” in verse 4 (“a definite number”) with “a great crowd” in verse 9 (“without a definite number”)
- JWs do not believe all Christians go to heaven, but rather that “resurrection to heaven is closely related to an assignment given only to some humans”
- Easily refuted with 2 Timothy 4:8 and Matthew 25:31-46
Premillennialism
- Based in part on a literal application and a very twisted interpretation of the “one thousand years” of Revelation 20
- Has all but disappeared from the Lord’s church, but still very prevalent in the denominational world
- “The interpretation of the premillennialists is that the thousand years of Revelation 20 comes after the next resurrection, which they say will be a resurrection of saints only, and then, they say Christ will reign a thousand years on earth, and raise the wicked dead at the end of the thousand years. However, the chapter does not say this. Furthermore, hard-to-be understood scriptures should be interpreted so as to have to clash with plain passages whose meaning is not in doubt. Four times in one chapter Christ says he will raise the righteous dead ‘at the last day.’ (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54.) Millennialists deny this, and say the righteous will be raised a thousand years before the last day, and that the wicked will be raised at the last day, or after a thousand years.” (Gus Nichols, “Dangers of Premillennialism.” The Lipscomb Lectures, 1947, Vol. 1, page 127)
- Refutation: What evidence is there that John was speaking here literally, in a book that was “signified” (Revelation 1:1) to the apostle?
- “John said, ‘they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.’ The passage says nothing about ‘the thousand years reign of Christ.’ There is a great difference in the two expressions. Revelation 20 says, ‘they lived and reigned with Christ.’ They who? Lived—lived where? Reigned—how, with whom and where? ‘Lived and reigned”—with whom, in what place? It is not the reign of Christ, but the reign of souls ‘with Christ,’ that is mentioned in Revelation 20. There is a vast difference between living and reigning ‘with Christ’ and a millennial reign ‘of Christ.’ So let us be true to the facts in the case. It does not mention the reign of Christ, but the reign of souls ‘with’ him. They not only ‘reigned’ with him, they ‘lived’ with him. They ‘lived and reigned’ with Christ a thousand years. The two verbs ‘lived’ and ‘reigned’ are both limited by the thousand years. If the expression denotes time, then when the reign is over, and they ceased to reign; the living would be over and they would cease to live.” (Foy E. Wallace, Jr., The Book of Revelation, 1966, pages 402-403)
- In addition to Wallace’s commentary on Revelation, you can read his seminal work against premillennialism called God’s Prophetic Word: http://www.retainthestandard.com/Foy%20E%20Wallace%20-%20God’s%20Prophetic%20Word.pdf
Review
1. Does belief in the early writing of Revelation necessarily lead one to believe the Max R. King “A.D. 70 Doctrine”?
2. How would you show the fallacy of Max R. King’s “A.D. 70 Doctrine”?
3. What Scriptures would you point to in refuting the Jehovah’s Witnesses literal interpretation of the 144,000?
4. Expose as many errors of premillennialism as you can, using the Scriptures.
Us Against the World
1 John 4:1-6
I. LOVE WITH EYES WIDE OPEN (1 JOHN 4:1)
- A. Stop believing every spirit
B. Test the spirits (Acts 17:11)
C. Many false prophets (Galatians 1:6-9)
II. CONTEXT: A SPECIFIC FALSE DOCTRINE (1 JOHN 4:2-3)
- A. Gnosticism stated the divine Christ did not actually inhabit a fleshly body
B. The spirit of antichrist
- 1. Disobedient (1 John 2:19)
2. Deniers (1 John 2:22)
3. Deceivers (1 John 2:26)
C. If a teaching does not originate with God, it must be rejected by the faithful
III. CONTRASTING JOHN’S READERS TO FALSE TEACHERS, AND FALSE TEACHERS TO TRUE APOSTLES (1 JOHN 4:4-6)
- A. His readers had overcome (Jude 3; Romans 10:17)
B. The false prophets are of the world (2 Timothy 4:2-4; Matthew 7:13-14)
C. The apostles are of God (Acts 2:42; 2 John 9-11)
A Study of Revelation: Revelation 20:11 – 22:21 (All Things Made New)
Revelation chapters 20:11 – 22:21 (All Things Made New)
20:11-15 – The final judgment scene
This passage can bring great joy and hope to some, while others read it with terror (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; John 12:48; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
The Book of Life contains the names of those approved of God
Those whose names are not in the Book of Life face eternal punishment and separation from God (Exo. 32:32-33; Ps. 69:28; Rev. 3:5; 20:15)
21:1-8 – What is the new heaven and new earth? The spiritual rule of Christ and His church
The New Jerusalem is the church – both now and forevermore
The thrust of this passage is the relationship between God and “he who overcomes.” God says, “I will be his God, and he shall by My son.” There is no greater relationship than this; there is no force that can break this bond in eternity.
Sins that will prevent the impenitent from eternity (Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3)
21:9-21 – Description of the glorified church
Twelve = completeness
Precious stones show “the eternal beauty and value of the church of the living God” (Coffman)
21:22-27 – The old temple was a type of the new; it had passed away
22:1-5 – The tree of life (Genesis 2:8-9, 16-17; 3:23-24)
Christ removed the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13-14)
22:6-11 – Return to John’s present time
Judgment upon the harlot (Jerusalem), the end of Palestinian persecution, and then the beast (Rome) would be conquered
Jesus: “Behold, I am coming quickly” – not reference to second coming, but coming in judgment upon Jerusalem in 70 AD
John is told, “Do not seal the words” here; compare to Daniel 8:26 – in one instance the fulfillment would come soon; in the other it would not pass for “many days in the future”
22:12-17 – “Do His commandments” (KJV/NKJV) = “wash their robes” (ASV/NASB/ESV/NIV) [cf. Acts 22:16; 2:38; Rom. 6:3-6]
Contrast with those who disobey – “dogs” and “sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie”
22:18-21 – Warning against changing the Word (cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Galatians 1:6-9)
Review
1. In the final judgment, what will be the standard of judgment?
2. What are some of the things that will be no more, according to chapters 21 and 22?
3. What are some of the sins that will lead men to the second death in chapter 21? What will prevent men from entering the gates of the city in chapter 22?
4. Why are the warnings against tampering with the revealed Word so severe?
A Study of Revelation: Revelation 19:11 – 20:10 (The Defeat of the Beast)
Revelation chapters 19:11 – 20:10 (The Defeat of the Beast)
19:11-14 – White = either purity or victory
These events follow Jerusalem’s destruction; Christ’s war is now against Caesar-worship and heathenism
“Faithful and True” (cf. Revelation 3:14; 21:5; 22:6)
“Eyes…like a flame of fire” (cf. Rev. 1:14; 2:18) – refers to omniscience
Whose blood? Perhaps symbolizes judgment against Israel, or the eternal victory of the Cross
“The Word of God” = Jesus (cf. John 1:1,14)
19:15-16 – “Sharp sword” (cf. Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17)
Striking of the nations and ruling with rod of iron symbolized the impact of the gospel on the world (prophesied in Psalm 2:1-3)
Ogden: “By His powerful word, He either smites, or shepherds, the nations. His word either convinces, or it convicts.”
“King of kings and Lord of lords” (cf. Revelation 11:15) – spiritual, not literal; accomplished by the spread of gospel
19:17-21 – The judgment against Jerusalem was past, but persecutions continued via the Roman Empire (the beast)
Christ will reign victorious; evil will not and cannot defeat the Lord
Ultimately accomplished by 313 AD with Constantine
20:1-3 – Now that the harlot and the beast have been defeated, John sees the binding of Satan himself
The thousand years is not a literal, specific amount of time; it refers to the complete success of Christ’s cause over persecution
Wallace: “There are twenty figures of speech in the nineteenth and twentieth chapters alone. In a series of symbols such as these, it is not reasonable to make a literal application of the thousand years and a figurative application of all the rest of the symbols, without a contextual or historical reason for doing so. The thousand years, like the other parts of the vision, is a figure of speech—a symbol of something else.”
Coffman: “The ‘little time’…beginning at the point after which God shall have finally achieved the full salvation of the total number of the redeemed, and lasting only a relatively short while. Satan will be ‘loosed’ without any restraint whatever during that brief period.”
20:4-6 – The same martyred souls as those who were “under the altar” in Revelation 6:9
According to the false doctrine of premillennialism, this living and reigning is still future, will occur on the earth, and is inclusive of all Christians
* Note the past tense “lived and reigned”
* “On earth” is nowhere stated nor implied
* “They” refers specifically to those “who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands”
Those who have part in the first resurrection are those who overcome (cf. Revelation 2:11)
20:7-10 – The need to evangelize (cf. Galatians 1:6-9; Romans 1:16)
Gog and Magog represent any religion or faith that is not expressly from God
The torment of eternal separation from God:
* “The lake of fire and brimstone” (Revelation 20:10)
* “Outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 15:30)
* “Eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41)
* “Unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:44)
* “Hell, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48)
Hell is eternal (Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41,46)
Review
1. In what four ways is the rider of the white horse identified in chapter 19?
2. What is the sharp sword of Revelation 19:15, and how was it used to strike the nations?
3. What is a possible explanation of the “thousand years” of Revelation 20 that does not contradict other Scriptures?
4. When will the end of the thousand years come?
A Study of Revelation: Revelation 17:1 – 19:10 (The Fall of Babylon)
Revelation chapters 17:1 – 19:10 (The Fall of Babylon)
17:1-6 – Apostate Jerusalem must be removed in order for the New Jerusalem/church/kingdom of Christ
The harlot woman is Jerusalem; the beast is Rome
Seven heads = complete power of the ruling Roman emperor
Ten horns = ten kingdoms over which the emperor ruled
The woman appeared attractive, but underlying sin is destructive (cf. Matthew 23:28)
17:7-10 – Refers to the Roman emperors
“Five have fallen” = Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius
“One is” = Nero
“The other has not yet come” = Domitian
17:11-14 – Jerusalem will be destroyed, but persecutions against the church will continue in Diocletian’s “reign of terror” (Rev. 2:10)
17:15-18 – Rome was a tool used to serve God’s purposes
“Earth” of 17:18 = land of Judea; the city of Jerusalem was the royal city where the kings of Judah reigned
18:1-3 – “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen” (cf. Isaiah 21:9)
This is a view from the point of view of the Gentiles (“the nations”)
18:4-8 – Warning to the faithful to flee Jerusalem
Destruction of Jerusalem would come in “one day” or suddenly (cf. Matthew 24:16-18)
18:9-19 – Three groups lament over the fall of Jerusalem:
* “Kings of the earth” (18:9)
* “Merchants of the earth” (18:11)
* “Shipmasters” (18:17)
The riches of this life are not eternal (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17)
18:20 – Joy that the apostles and prophets have been avenged by the Almighty
18:21-24 – The millstone metaphor
Jerusalem had stumbled, and had caused others to stumble, and was destroyed for it (cf. Matthew 18:6)
19:1-6 – Worship and praise for God’s righteous judgments upon the church’s oppressors
“Alleluia” = praise ye the Lord – used only in 19:1, 3, 4, 6
19:7-9 – The relationship of the church to Jesus (cf. Romans 7:2-4; Ephesians 5:22-33)
The wedding feast is ongoing; every time one obeys the gospel, he or she becomes wedded to Christ
19:10 – The Christian must put his or her trust in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Far too often, more trust is placed in preachers than the Word
Be a Berean – receive the teaching, but verify for yourself that it is of God (cf. Acts 17:11)
Review
1. In Revelation 17:10, who are the seven kings? To whom specifically does the phrase “one is” refer?
2. Who are the “ten kings” of Revelation 17:12?
3. What three groups of people lamented the fall of Jerusalem in Revelation 18?
4. Who is worthy of worship? In whom should we place our faith and trust?
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