An audio lesson.
A lesson on how we should approach prayer, both public and private.
How Should We Pray, Matt 6
Reply
Monthly Archives: April 2021
Identifying Symbolism and Themes in Scripture
An audio lesson.
A basic lesson on identifying themes and types in Scripture/
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.
The Call of Abram, Genesis 12
An audio lesson
The role of faith in what God says He will do, in obtaining the promises.
Listen to this audio lesson here, or click on the Audio Player to download as an MP3 file.
The basics of how Bible prophecy works is discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles.Available from you bookseller.
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 15 of 15, The Second Coming of Jesus
Jesus will not leave everything the way it is.
He will come back to judge the
world in righteousness.
This is a short intermission in the relatively short history of our present heavens and earth, and a short time of amnesty from all of our wrongs, before Jesus brings this disintegrating universe to a close. Jesus now has all authority in both heaven and earth, Mtt 28:18. He is now working to put down all opposition.
“25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
1Cor 15:25-26
Jesus has given us a ministry of reconciliation, 2Cor 5:19.
This short time just before Jesus comes again, is time for us to repent, and come to our senses.
“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with US, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2Pe 3:9
Jesus promises us that terrible things will happen,
just before the end of our age.
Paul speaks of these things in a general sense in his letter to Timothy.
“But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons”
1Tim 4:1
“But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.”
2Tim 3:1
The details are given in both the Old and the New Testaments. A war will come by “the little horn,” “the abomination of desolation,” the living corpse, “the man of lawlessness,” “the beast,” against all righteousness and goodness and holiness in the entire world.
Jesus will bring all of mankind’s, and the spirit world’s, foolishness,
to a dramatic close.
Moses tells us both when the Jews will turn to Jesus of Nazareth, and when Jesus will come again.
“For Yahweh will judge his people,
Repent himself for his servants;
When he sees that their power is gone,
There is none remaining, shut up or left at large.”
Deut 32:36
When all is lost and there is no hope, and strength to oppose evil, THEN Jesus will come
“25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Lk 21:25-28
Prophecy is pertinent to our lives throughout all history. We are truly on the edge of forever.
If you believe this, you will try to be ready for this. It will change how you live, it will change your ethics. Prophecy is NOT an optional extra. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 14 of 15, Troubles in the World
We live in a world of death and decay.
It has come to dominate our world because of sin. In physics it is described as the second law of Thermodynamics, which is that, as a we all know, things run down.
It can be troubles of all sorts
It can be national troubles when things fall apart. It can be an environment which falls apart, or weather disasters in a fragile climate. God does says He uses such things to work His will.
“10 By the breath of God, ice is given,
And the breadth of the waters is frozen.
11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture.
He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12 It is turned round about by his guidance,
That they may do whatever he commands them
On the surface of the habitable world,
13 Whether it is for correction, or for his land,
Or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.”
Job 37:10-13
These are parts of how God works His will.
“For by these he judges the people.
He gives food in abundance. ”
Job 36:31
Or at other times it may be a fragile social and economic situation. It can be trouble brought on us because of the sins of others, as Aachan’s sins brought trouble on ancient Israel.
“Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? Yahweh shall trouble you this day. All Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.”
Josh. 7:25
This was the sins of a single family, but sometimes it can be the sins of a national leader that brings trouble on all.
Paul says all of this is temporary, and that one day
all of this will change.
Paul says that none of these problems are worth comparing with the new universe which is coming, in which righteousness lives.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.”
Rom 8:18
He goes on to say that creation itself waits for us to be revealed in our new roles, Rom 8:19. He describes this running down, falling apart characteristic of our sinful present universe, as the creation being “subjected to vanity,” that is, being subjected to futility, uselessness, worthlessness, Rom 8:20. It will not always be this way.
“that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.”
Rom 8:21
We are in the birthing of a new and glorious age, separated from sin and death. There is coming a day when God says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Rev 21:5b
All of this is of course prophetic.
None of this has happened yet. If we believe this we will “hang in there,” looking forward to the, “new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.” 2Pe 3:13.
Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 13 of 15, Troubles in Life
Job in the book of Job had seen much good in this life, and was a respected and successful rancher, by any standards, ancient or modern. Also he was a godly man, and was indeed protected by God, as is pointed out in Job 1:10. Despite that, Job’s long discussion with his friends deals with many of the troubles and injustices of life.
“Man, who is born of a woman,
Is of few days, and full of trouble.”
Job 14:1
Or again,
“But man is born to trouble,
As the sparks fly upward.”
Job 5:7
Jesus spoke of the ordinary cares and worries of life
“That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”
Lk 8:14
What is Jesus talking about here? The ordinary ups and downs of life. These things are often self inflicted, much as it is for you and I. Not all of it, but some of it is about our choices.
“41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Lk 10:41-42
Scripture does not promise we will have no troubles
Jesus as a man had troubles. In the end, though innocent, He was condemned to die in courts rigged by the leaders of the Jews. Also He had deep compassion for those having troubles.
“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,”
Jn 11:33
Much as it would be for us, Jesus was personally troubled by Judas unwarranted treachery.
“When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most assuredly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” ”
Jn 13:21
He was tested in all points are we are, Heb 4:15.
None of these things can overcome us in Christ.
“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Rom 8:35-37
Jesus also acknowledges that we will have trouble because of our faith. To what end does He instruct us?
“I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
Jn 16:33
So He says to us,
“… Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”
Jn 14:27
All of this is for sure prophetic instruction. Teaching about how it will be for you and I in the world. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 12 of 15, Judgment is Coming
Time after time Jesus speaks with certainty of the fact of coming Judgment of all men for their sins. Of those who will not listen Jesus says,
“Most assuredly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
Mtt 10:15
Jesus points out that men of ALL generations will stand before the Lord to answer for their sins, and that they will also see and comment on the answers of others.
Jesus points to the preaching of Jonah to the men of Nineveh
Jon 3:3 says that Nineveh “was an exceedingly great city,” and that it took three days to just to walk across it. The prophet Jonah with perhaps a bleached acid washed look to him, as it has been with other men through history who have been swallowed by “a great fish,” began his preaching.
“Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” ”
Jon 3:4
Then a strange thing happened.
“The people of Nineveh believed God;
“and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.”
Jon 3:4
Even the king heard and fasted and prayed, Jon 3:6. The King proclaimed,
“8 … Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
Jon 3:8-9
Jesus then foretells what the men of Nineveh will do in the day of Judgment
“The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.”
Mtt 12:41
This is prophecy which even some twenty-seven-hundred years later has not been fulfilled, yet! So it is pertinent to those Jews of the first century who were hearing these words of Jesus, and is also pertinent to you and I ! Knowing and believing these prophecies should change our behavior, and if we truly believe these things, it will change our behavior.
ALL of these things are prophetic statements
They are prophetic statements by the greatest prophet of all times. The prophet who was to be like Moses, Deut 18:15. His name is Jesus of Nazareth.
Believing what God says in prophecy does matter!
It is an ethical matter. We should seek to know what will happen. These things are of eternal importance to us all. As Paul says,
“Don’t despise prophesies.”
1Thes 5:20
It seems to be a common failing of fleshly men to despise what he cannot immediately see. However, if we are walking after the Spirit,
“Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.”
2Cor 5:16
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 11 of 15, Every Idle Word
There is a long discussion by Jesus in Matthew 12 about how we talk and the things we might say. At the center of the discussion is questions about the Spirit that is behind Jesus works. Both Jesus and His opponents acknowledge that there is a spiritual power behind His ministry. His opponents said that Jesus is working by the power of the devil. They say,
… “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
Mtt 12:24
Jesus went on to show that this was not a reasonable proposition, the idea that Satan would oppose his own destructive work. Then He went on to warn of ominous future consequences.
“31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.”
Mtt 12:31-32
A scary prospect to say the least.
Then Jesus makes some general observations about human speech.
“34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.”
Mtt 12:34
Again here Jesus is commenting that if we store evil and wicked things in our hearts, they will without fail tend to come out of mouths.
Then Jesus again forecasts what will happen to us.
“36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Mtt 12:36-37
Jesus tells us that there IS a record of all of our activities and all of our speech. This is testified to more than one Scripture.
“I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Rev 20:12
More than that, we will have to give an account for ALL of those stupid and senseless things we may say from time to time. That should be a scary thought to all us. Who of us would not be caught in such a net.
These things are not meant as idle speculations of what might happen
These are prophecies springing from that same Holy Spirit of God that Jesus opponents were slandering. Prophetic statements of the nature of things in our world. Statements, which if we believe them, and we should, SHOULD change our conduct and our speech.
Prophecy is NOT an optional extra! Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 10 of 15, Repent or Perish
Sometimes bad things happen to people
Sometimes disasters are very directly related to our sins. Lying can very often directly lead to troubles for us. Immoral sex quite often leads to direct problems for us. Paul says of such things,
“Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”
1Cor 6:18
Sometimes it is so direct that we have sexually transmitted diseases from our sins, and we are in direct agony from our sins. At other times it is more indirect, but it is still there, in the form of troubles with our sexual partners, or destroyed homes, of the fathering of children who bear part of the curse of our sins, even as it is with all sin. Or even further, possible damage to our own genome, so that years later we have premature aging and health problems that no one can heal.
Sometimes it brings disasters that even kill us,
or cause our death.
King Ahab clearly comes to an early death in battle, because of his many sins. This death was by the direction of the Lord, as told in 1Kings 22. On a more personal level we see the story of one of Judah’s sons, a man by the name of Er. Simple statements are made, without explanation of where or how.
“Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him.”
Gen 38:7
Such things happen all the time. We often hear it on the evening news.
Even so, not all calamities are because of our sins.
Jesus is an example, and Job is another example, and there are many others we can see both in life and in Scripture.
Also Jesus tells us another part of the story.
Some men came to Jesus telling stories of men dying in horrible and disastrous ways.
“Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”
Lk 13:1
Many might assume they were worse sinners than others, and that is why they died. It is true that God sometimes takes men early because of their sins, as is documented time after time in Scripture. However, Jesus says that not all calamities are because of our sins.
“Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?”
Lk 13:2
Jesus gave another example, then Jesus tells us,
“I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”
Lk 13:3
Unless we repent? Perish in the same way? What does that mean? I guess it means we will all die a violent death unless we repent?
Notice that this is a prophecy
Jesus is forecasting what “will” happen. If we believe this prophecy, it will indeed provide powerful motivation to repent, and be reconciled to God. Prophecy is never a neutral informational matter. Believing what God says in prophecy does matter! It is an ethical matter, and indeed an eternal matter.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy, Knowing Changes Behavior, 9 of 15, The First Coming of Jesus
If you believed the prophecies of the first coming of Jesus, it would and did change your behavior. The prophecies told that certain things would happen, but did not tell when these things would happen.
Moreover many of the prophecies were given in such a form that, if you didn’t look carefully at the prophecies, and think them through, or if you didn’t carefully compare them with the rest of Scripture, you would never get it. Further it seems that God knew that some of the prophecies would not be understood before the fact.
For instance, Jesus resurrection is implied, but not stated,
in both Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53
For instance, Jesus death is clearly described in Psa 22:14-15, etc. So His death and suffering should have been understood. But the resurrection? After describing His death, there is a cry for help in Psa 22:21. Then it describes this crucified Savior as declaring God’s name in the assembly in Psa 22:22, 25, and it says God answered in pray in Psa 22:24! But how? Didn’t He just die in verses 14-15? So some sort of release from death is described, but not clearly.
Similarly, Isaiah 53 it describes the judicial murder of the Savior in Isa 53:4-8. In verse 8 He is clearly “cut off out of the land of the living,” and in verse 9 He was “with a rich man in his death.” Then after describing His death it says,
“… he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand.”
Isa 53:10
But how? Didn’t He just die? So an escape from death one way or another is clearly implied. Similarly Jesus told his disciples of His coming suffering and resurrection, but it went clear over their heads, much as current prophecies may go over your head and mine! The closest to catching some of this was by Jesus enemies. The chief priest and scribes told Pilate,
“63 … “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure”
Mtt 27:63-64
So what was the intended function of these prophecies which it seems were deliberately obscure? It seems they were intended to authenticate Jesus life, after the fact! After the fact, all of this would have been clear.
Still much of it was very clear.
There were many passages like,
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”
Isa 35:5
It didn’t take a PhD in biblical studies for the crowds to see the point of Jesus healing people. So many saw and understood that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ of God!
Key Point: you don’t have to understand EVERYTHING,
to get enough to save your life!
Many things are told from multiple points of view, so if you don’t get it one way, you may get it another way. Few got it all. Many got enough to save their souls.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901