eee
The Good News of the Gospel contains past, present and future threads, and in a nutshell wraps around Jesus in His threefold office as Prophet, Priest and King.
1. TO HIM WHO ONCE WAS!
WHAT GIVES US FAITH IS OUR HEARING WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY SAID AND DONE (PAST) (i.e. hearing and adhearing to the Gospel) BY, IN AND THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST IN HIS FIRST COMING:
Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, came, preached the good news of Himself, and died on a cross and has saved us (Past tense) (all who believe) from our sins.
2. TO HIM WHO NOW IS!
WHAT GIVES US LOVE IS OUR OBEYING GOD BY WHAT HE IS SAYING (PRESENT) TO OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Jesus rose from the dead, ascended back to the Father and is there saving us to God (Present tense).
Our being sanctified is what happens the moment we receive Him as The Truth, and is ongoing until we die. This takes care of our once dead spirit, which past and present had always been seperated from God! (This is what Love is and does)
3. AND TO HIM WHO IS COMING AGAIN!
WHAT GIVES US HOPE IS BEING STEADFAST IN WHAT GOD ALREADY SAID (FUTURE) BY THE SAME SPIRIT CONCERNING HIS SONS SECOND COMING:
Jesus is coming again, just like and when He says He is, and when He does we will be saved (Future tense) and changed to be just like Him.
"Justified from our sins, Sanctified to God (and given a new nature), and Glorified with Him at His return!"
SO... HOPE, FAITH AND LOVE! I would ask: "Which one can be 'safely' thrown out"???
So far the first two: His coming and His resurrection have been fulfilled, leaving His second coming and our receiving new and glorified bodies to be fulfilled at His second coming.
Our souls and our spirits have been and are being effectively dealt with by the blood of Christ and by the Spirit of Christ, made so by the word of God we received when we first believed.
That leaves our bodies to rot and die!
The Lord sees it all now as complete! To Him it's a done deal! We believe it by faith as well, and will experience it for ourselves at His return. 1 Cor.13:12
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (cf Rev.1:4)
THIS is the Good News of the Gospel!
1 Cor 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
By His love to us and our love to Him in His death, and our faith in His resurrection from the dead, and our hope we have in Him through the second coming proves we have been given all three, and that all three are necessary parts of the Gospel.
NOW...
Some are saying that the second coming of Christ doctrine has no place in the salvation Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I say that it does...
Let's say that if Jesus NEVER returns - or - if He returns "BUT" He comes at a time when they are not looking for Him, when they are not prepared for Him ("after the tribulation", for instance), then this is the kind of "faith"that DESTROYS the HOPE of the Gospel, because it leaves it with no anchor. It will never materialize into glory!
Heb 9:28
Rom 8:
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
John 14:3
Titus 1:
I Jn 3:
Rom 5:
Titus 3:7
Acts 2:
Acts 23:6
Phil 3:
2 Tim 4:8
1 Cor 15:
II Th 1:10
Col 1:27
1Thes 5:8
1 Tim 1:1
Col 1:
The obvious Conclusion?
It is the Hope Found in The One and Only True Gospel - The Hope of glory that points to Christ's return - whereby we purify ourselves. 1 John 3:2-3
The second coming doctrine (like the first coming, and resurrection doctrines) is a vital and needed part of the Salvation Message of Jesus Christ, and therefore cannot be relegated to a lesser place than what it is!
We know about Christ's death on the cross and how vital the role of His first coming plays in the Gospel!
1 Cor 15:
If Paul can BOLDLY say this (implying that His death on the cross was utterly worthless if He wasn't raised from the dead) then I can continue it a step farther and BOLDLY say that both His death and resurrection is also worthless if He has no intention of ever returning in power and glory to reign and glorify us with Him like He said!
Otherwise (because I, like Paul, put all my faith in Him from top to bottom as well) my faith and my preaching are in vain also, and I am the biggest fool who ever lived!
For there would be no blessed ending to our faith, no hope, no final outcome.
We'd be left with a beginning and a middle but that's all!
Rev 1:8
"Christ has done (the Alpha who was), is doing (who is), and will do it all at His kingdom and His appearing (the Omega, the ending who is to come)!"
The TRUE Gospel is the one that teaches that Christ has died, that Christ has risen, and that Christ is coming again! period.
Not two out of three, but All three comprise the Gospel!
Christ CANNOT be divided NOR can anything be removed from His complete statement of who He is:
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
CONCERNING ESCHATOLOGY....
In the above we see that the third thread (Hope) of the Gospel is concerned with "THE LORD HIMSELF" coming again... just as it was concerned with Him at His first coming and again at His resurrection!
Eschatology is concerned primarily with "WHEN" the Lord will be coming again?
The differences between these two "Doctrines" should be EASILY recognized, noted and distinguished in the matter of who or what each refers to.
NOW...
If "I" were to say that the Lord will return AFTER the tribulation, then that is what is called my "Post trib Doctrine". That is "my" eschatology.
If someone else were to say that the Lord will return BEFORE the tribulation, then that is what is called their "Pre trib Doctrine". That is "their" eschatology!
In matters of the faith, The Gospel message is always more relevant!
However, in matters of discernment, having the proper eschatology (especially concerning the last days themselves) can only increase ones faith in God!
(Likewise, having an erroneous eschatology (again, especially concerning the last days) can only decrease ones faith!)
Does that mean that having the proper "Eschatology" is not important?
In fact as we read in the Bible we see that the promises and rewards given to those who hold to and obey a right eschatology are many (all other things considered equal), and that just the opposite is said to them who hold to and obey a false eschatology.
Having the right eschatology is far more important than is led to believe today, especially where needed discernment is necessary to know the way to go....
1. In the last days having the right eschatology (according to the word of God) will be vital!
2. Once we begin to believe in our heart and set out to teach a false eschatology we approach a slippery slope.
The more hardened off to the Truth we let ourselves become; concerning the right eschatology (or the right anything else), the closer we get to that slope... until? (God knows!)
3. We each began our walk by the Hearing of Faith!
Therefore to accept a false eschatology (or any false doctrine for that matter) is no longer Hearing His word with Faith anymore, but hearing the words of "another spirit" instead concerning these things.
Faith comes by hearing, and the hearing which brings us the faith to believe comes by the word of God ONLY!
False docrtine does not come from the word of God!
4. When I was a young Christian I was a pre tribber because that's what everyone was that was around me at that time. I didn't know any better at the time and I just accepted it blindly! I just accepted it as Gospel.
Now here was my problem...
When I went into it (the pre trib doctrine) I didn't go into it to see whether it was right or wrong, I went into it (presuming it was right) with books and papers written by the teachers and the fathers of it so that I may better understand it and teach it too.
I didn't go into it like a good Berean in order to determine for myself against the word of God whether this doctrine was true or not.
In fact after nearly two solid years of study I was ready to "teach it" EXCEPT for the two or three or four doctrines that kept opposing my belief. I kept sticking them in the rear, figuring I would soon be able to discredit them (as I had done the rest of the scriptures concerning the timing of the Lord's return) later when I knew more.
Then one day the Lord brought out one of those scriptures that bothered me that I had kept hidden away: 2 Thes.2:1-3, and told me to look at it.
In looking back all I can say is that the Lord knew my heart, He knew that I loved the Truth (even though I wasn't loving it then) and that the only reason I just couldn't teach pre trib (after years and files of categorizing it) was because I NEVER really could get comfortable with it. It would not settle in me! The word of God opposed it at every crossroad, and I knew it!
So what am I trying to tell you in this long #4?
That I was once a saved pre tribber myself!
"The Lord showed me!" How? Why? I believe that it was because He knew that I knew something was wrong with pre trib. and that I wasn't comfortable with it.
I was looking for Light and Life in it but there was none, and when I finally opened to receive and accept "HIS WORD ONLY", that's when I KNEW beyond any shadow of a doubt that pre-trib was a lie (because it steers us away from the truth), and the spirit behind it is out to weaken, rob and destroy every Christian it can lay its hands on, especially at the start of the last days and especially to those who teach it to others!
Thus it becomes Doubly Dangerous when the last days arrive, and the pre trib. rapture eschatology falls flat on its face!
What will be left then are those who will realize that they have been deceived by it yet (like me) they never really put their life into it either but into Jesus, and thus they should be able to sort out their Hope in Jesus' return from their pre trib false hope and go on from there.
As for the rest it is obvious that many will be dissapointed, angry at God and offended (John 16:1) because they have put their whole life into the belief of a pre trib rapture escape plan from persecution; or some other similar error which didn't materialize, and some of these will be swept up in the apostacy of the day, lose their faith altogether and take the mark. (God knows who they are!)
Mark 13:
"ALL THINGS!"
There is only ONE HOPE of the Gospel: "The Lord Jesus Christ and His coming again!"... as there is only ONE GRACE of it through His death, and ONE LOVE of it through His resurrection.
It's time to go and check out what "ALL THINGS" are for ourselves - and do so without bringing along any personal biases of our own into the study of them!
May every blessing in Christ be yours,
By the shedding of His blood/His death on the cross, we have been JUSTIFIED through our faith in (hearing and believing on) Him!
Our justification happens the moment we believe Him alone (apart from religion, apart from everyone and anything) as The Only Way to God! This takes care of our once sin-sickened soul! (This is what Grace is and does)
By His resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit, we are made alive through our being SANCTIFIED to the Truth! More and more we are being conformed to God's will through hearing and receiving the word of God!
Our being glorified happens at His coming as we see Him as The Life! This takes care of our decaying bodies, where we will receive new and glorious bodies at His coming! (This is what Life is and does)
All three go to make up the Gospel, therefore all three (Believing on the one true Jesus as The Savior, Receiving the one true Jesus as The Lord, and obeying by watching for the one true Jesus returning, are all necessary for our total and complete salvation.
At His return both the dead saints (through being resurrected) and the living saints in Him (through being translated) will be gathered together to meet Him in the air/sky having received new and glorified bodies, and at that time our salvation through Christ will be complete.
This is God's purpose through Christ!
This is our "Total Salvation": body, soul and spirit.
I say that Jesus' second coming is the HOPE - ALL of it - as contained in the Gospel: Col.1:23
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that LOOK FOR HIM shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
...of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
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.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Yet look at what Paul says...
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (cf Rev.1:4)
We see Him in all three of His positions "Prophet, Priest and Judge"!
Not at all!
Another "danger" to our faith, because once one of us is deceived (lacking discernment) it is generally easier to be deceived the second time around!
This is important to know because deception can only occur when one no longer seeks to Hear Only what God says, but follow the teachings of what men have to say!
(The Lord said I couldn't use that for an excuse! LOL)
Short of writing several more pages let me just say that the Lord brought something to light in me that day: "His word" (2 Cor.10:4-7) on my backside!
But you know, once the Lord showed me the inner workings of the Catholic church for what it was, I came flying out of there faster than a hot tamale.
Ditto with pre tribulationism.
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Biff
