Category Archives: BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED

Are lost people already forgiven?, Are lost people already forgiven?, BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Are lost people already forgiven?

ARE LOST PEOPLE ALREADY FORGIVEN? WHAT DOES 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 MEAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” Is this verse teaching that everyone’s sins—whether they are saved or lost—are forgiven? (This idea began to circulate throughout Facebook about a year ago.) Does Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork make everyone automatically saved? Will everyone make it to heaven eventually? Let us search the Scriptures for the answers.

Firstly, we should read 2 Corinthians 5:19 within its context (2 Corinthians 5:18–6:2): “[5:18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [5:19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [5:20] 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. [5:21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [6:1] We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. [6:2] (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 is the day of salvation.)”

Now, read Romans 3:24-25: “[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” And Romans 4:5: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted [imputed] for righteousness.”

Note the key terms in the above verses: “reconciliation,” “imputation,” “righteousness,” “grace,” “salvation,” “justification,” “redemption,” and “propitiation.” We will briefly discuss each of these terms, and define them according to the Bible.

“Reconcile” means “to call back into union and fellowship; to restore to friendship or favor after estrangement;” “reconciliation” is “the act of restoring a former friendship.” Two of the Bible’s clearest examples of reconciliation are Genesis chapter 3 and 2 Corinthians 5:19.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). Originally, mankind was completely compatible with God: his spirit was alive with God’s life, his soul was illuminated with God’s truth, and his body executed God’s will. Having no sin to divide them, Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and with each other.

“Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). When Adam capitulated to Satan’s tempting in Genesis chapter 3, that perfect relationship he had with Eve and their Creator was severed.

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). “For every one that doeth evil hateth light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds be reproved” (John 3:20). Adam and Eve needed help in addressing their sin, but they never approached God until He went looking for them and called them to fellowship (Genesis 3:9-13)… and He shed animal blood to cover their sins. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (verse 21).

All of Adam’s descendants inherited a sin nature, a character that is anti-God, a hostile attitude toward their Creator. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), thus necessitating a worldwide reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19), which Genesis chapter 3 typified.

Satan had already declared war on his Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, mankind, the Lord’s ally, willfully switches sides and becomes Satan’s servant by submitting to his will! Sin infiltrates planet earth, as it had the heavenly places sometime earlier. Adam and Eve know they are now in a major dilemma. Genesis 3:7 says they, in a feeble, desperate attempt, try to cover their sins by gathering fig leaves and sewing them to make aprons for their now naked bodies (the first act of religion, or as a dear Christian brother calls it, “Operation: Fig Leaf!”). In the coolness of the day, as the voice of the LORD God rings out, Adam and Eve flee and hide amongst the trees (verse 8). Sinful man cannot and will not approach his righteous Creator God, so man’s Creator will come and find him!

After the LORD God brings Adam and Eve to accountability, He declares to Satan, the serpent: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (verse 15). We will discuss this important verse later, but let us focus on verse 21 for now: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” The LORD God graciously provided a solution—a blood sacrifice—to Adam and Eve’s sins, for their attempt to “cover up” their own sins with fig leaves was useless! Note that they never asked for His help either.

Some 4,000 years later, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That love that sent Him looking for Adam and Eve, motivated Him to come seek us “hiding amongst the trees,” and to offer another blood sacrifice—Himself!

As God looked down at the “Blue Marble,” He could see nothing but widespread rebellion. Such wretched creatures that He could squash with the breath of His mouth, and yet, He let them continue to exist! Adam and Eve never asked God for help with their sins, and neither did the rest of mankind, but God would seek out those sinners hiding behind religion. No person came forward to ask, “Wouldst Thou, God of heaven and earth, wouldst Thou die for my sins?” Regardless, that is exactly what He would do!

The LORD God promised Satan, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This is the first message of Good News in the Bible: the seed of the woman would come one day and crush Satan’s head, defeating Satan’s evil plan and restoring creation to God’s headship.

It is beyond human comprehension just how many individual sins God tolerated for those next 4,000 years, but He patiently endured man’s wickedness—indeed, He was LONGsuffering! When the predetermined date arrived in order to fulfill the promise of Genesis 3:15, John 1:1,14 says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Sinful mankind had not approached God, so He sought him by coming to the planet on which he lived! God, rather than pouring out His wrath on wicked man, had come in the form of a man, Jesus Christ, to span the mighty gulf (sin) that had separated man from Him (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Our sin and sins gender God’s wrath, and we sinners in our natural state are separated from God, but God Himself provided a solution. Man had severed the relationship, but God was still friendly toward man. From the ministry of the Apostle Paul, we see how that salvation from sins through Jesus Christ is no longer limited to Israel (Matthew 1:21), but that it is now available to all people, everywhere!

We read in Romans 11:11,15: “[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” God is behaving friendly toward all nations today, including Israel—He has sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for them all, whether Jew or Gentile, and that salvation is now available to all who trust that message. (More on this later.)

Let us return to 2 Corinthians 5:19 and its context (2 Corinthians 5:18-20): “[18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing 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.

Due to warped theology, confusion and questions have arisen regarding this simple passage. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” at Calvary’s cross, so does that mean…. That lost people no longer go to hell? That every person’s sins are completely forgiven? That everyone will make it to heaven eventually (the heresy of universalism)?

Let us be extremely careful to understand that the word “reconciliation” in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 is two-fold—it does not refer to a single event, but it is actually two events (reread the passage above and notice the two boldfaced terms “reconciling” and “reconciled,” which refer to separate issues). Confusion results because people assume these verses only teach a one-fold reconciliation, a single event. As we will see, the key to understanding “reconciliation” in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 is the phrase in verse 20, “as though God did beseech you by us.”

Sin has separated man from God, thus necessitating reconciliation. Actually, the Greek word usually translated “reconciliation” in our King James New Testament is once rendered “atonement” in Romans 5:11. “Reconciliation” means “at–one-ment,” or “bringing two opposing parties together and making them one.”

When Jesus Christ died and shed His perfect blood, God the Father made Him a “propitiation” (Romans 3:25), a fully-satisfying payment for sin. Instead of punishing the world for their sins, God blamed Jesus Christ and made Him suffer God’s wrath instead (“not imputing their trespasses unto them;” 2 Corinthians 5:19). “For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21a).

The Bible calls Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork and its merits the “atonement” (Romans 5:11), for they pay the sin debt that keeps man from fellowshipping with God. When the Bible says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19), this reconciliation deals with the whole world, not just Christians—it involves all people, saved or lost. God changed the status of the world. “For if the casting away of [Israel] be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15). Through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, God is now dealing with the entire world, not just with Israel as He did in the past (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Now, note verse 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.” Notice “as though God did beseech you by us”—Paul is referring to the past (notice past tense “did”), to the time when the Corinthians were lost, when he first preached to them about Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork (verse 21). Here, Paul said that although God reconciled the world to Himself (verse 19), Paul urged the Corinthians to be “reconciled to God” (verse 20)—this is the reconciliation for Christians. Again, reconciliation needed for soul salvation is two-fold, which brings us to the doctrine of imputation.

Let us return to 2 Corinthians 5:19 and its context: “[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing 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” (2 Corinthians 5:19,20).

Again, reconciliation in the Bible is two-fold. God sent Jesus Christ to pay man’s sin debt, thus demonstrating His friendliness toward mankind in making a way to escape His righteous wrath. God is not angry with wicked man today because we live in this the Dispensation of Grace, and we, both Jews and Gentiles, receive an opportunity for salvation from sins. That is the reconciliation of 2 Corinthians 5:19. But, Paul urged the Corinthians when they were lost, to be “reconciled to God” (verse 20). This is another type of reconciliation, one that comes through imputation.

The clearest Bible passage regarding imputation is Romans 4:3-8,23-25: “[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin…. [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Interestingly, “counted” (verse 3), “reckoned” (verse 4), “counted” (verse 5), “imputeth” (verse 6), “impute” (verse 8), “imputed” (verse 23), and “imputed” (verse 24) are all the same Greek word, and they all mean, “to apply to someone’s account, as in a debt or credit.” What is the reconciliation of 2 Corinthians 5:20, where Paul told the Corinthians be “reconciled to God?” It is imputation. Yes, Jesus Christ died for their sins, but it is not until they believe/trust it (Romans 4:24) that that forgiveness is imputed. It does not count for eternity unless that righteousness is credited to them by faith.

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; however, that does not mean that everyone will eventually go to heaven. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:10:“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.” While salvation from sin and hell is being offered to everyone through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, the phrase “specially of those that believe” proves that the merits of Christ’s work at Calvary cannot profit each individual until he or she trusts it.

“[5] Now to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith in counted [imputed] for righteousness. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him [Abraham] for righteousness. [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:5,22-25). Imputation is conditional; the righteousness of Christ’s finished crosswork will not be applied to one’s account until one trusts it. Soul salvation is not automatic: it must be imputed by faith. There must be a believing heart in that finished crosswork to benefit a person.

God applies that forgiveness by faith when we trust the Gospel of Grace—that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). God placed our sins on Jesus Christ (imputation to Jesus Christ’s account), but then He gives us salvation through that sacrifice when we believe it (imputation to our account). It was the greatest exchange of all time—Jesus Christ took our sins, and God gives us His righteousness. Now, to the doctrine of justification.

Romans 3:20-28 best explains justification: “[20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. [21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; [22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Man cannot be made right in God’s sight (justified) through his so-called “Law-keeping,” but the Bible says, “his faith [in Jesus Christ’s righteousness] is counted [imputed] for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Forgiveness and righteousness are offered to all through the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary, but those merits are of no benefit to an individual unless he or she trusts that Gospel of the Grace of God. Paul never wrote that the whole world is forgiven—“reconciled” (2 Corinthians 5:19) and “forgiven” are different. Only believers are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:13; Colossians 3:13). Once an individual hears that Jesus Christ offers to pay for and forgive his or her sins, that person is expected to trust it unto forgiveness and justification.

“The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Romans 3:22). God’s righteousness is available “unto all,” but it is only “upon [imputed to] all them that believe.” “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). Jesus Christ died to save all, but only those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary, are “the children of God”—justified, “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The ascended and glorified Lord Jesus Christ first committed unto the Apostle Paul—and now to us Christians—this Gospel of Grace. When the ascended Lord Jesus Christ saved wicked Saul of Tarsus (Acts chapter 9), He declared: “[17] Delivering thee from the people [Israel], and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, [18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:17-18).

Jesus Christ first entrusted the “word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19) to Paul. Acts 26:18 affirms Paul had to preach to the Gentiles so they could receive forgiveness—they did not receive forgiveness until they believed the Gospel of the Grace of God that Paul preached. Forgiveness must be imputed by faith: every verse in which Paul mentioned forgiveness, it involved God forgiving Christians, or Christians forgiving Christians—“the world” is absent from Romans 4:7; 2 Corinthians 2:7,10; 2 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:13; and Colossians 3:13.

Beware! “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19) and forgiveness IN Christ are indeed separate issues: the heretical dogma of universalism—that all will make it to heaven eventually—is obviously unscriptural.

Let us summarize the mechanics of soul salvation:

  • SEPARATION – Sin separates man from God: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
  • GRACE – Everything God can do for you—not what you can do for God—through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
  • RECONCILIATION #1 (God’s work) – The Gospel of God’s Grace declares He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for man’s sins, to suffer His wrath against man’s wickedness: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
  • RECONCILIATION #2 (man’s faith) – Each individual should trust Jesus Christ’s performance at Calvary as sufficient payment for his or her sins (PROPITIATION; Romans 3:25); otherwise, the individual will continue on his or her way to eternal hellfire (DAMNATION; Romans 2:8-11). “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20b).
  • REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS – Jesus Christ’s blood pays the price to free the Christian from sin’s power and penalty. “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7ab).
  • IMPUTATION – By faith, Jesus Christ’s righteousness is applied to the believer’s “But for us also, to whom it [righteousness] shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:24).
  • JUSTIFICATION – One who has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ alone as personal Saviour is now “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21b).
  • SALVATION – The Christian’s deliverance from sin, death, hell, and the lake of fire: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Consider this simply analogy to learn how soul salvation operates. A certain project needs funding, and a wealthy investor is willing to supply the funds. However, until the funds are appropriated, the debt is still there. Likewise, a trip to heaven is expensive, and we are too poor to pay. But, Jesus Christ is righteous and He can pay that debt for us. However, until that righteousness is imputed by faith, our sin debt is still there! If we die having never trusted Jesus Christ to pay it for us, the sin debt remains, and God’s wrath against our sins is appeased by us suffering forever and ever in complete isolation in eternal hellfire.

Returning to our earlier comments about the reconciliation described in Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve broke their perfect relationship with their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, by disobeying Him. They attempted to resolve their sin problem through religion (their “good” works)—they sewed fig leaves to clothe their vile bodies (Genesis 3:7). Adam and Eve finally had to come to the place to admit their sinfulness, and by faith, they accepted that blood sacrifice that the LORD God shed for their sins (verse 21).

Mankind is in the same position today. He has free will to come to God through Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God forever (2 Corinthians 5:20). Or, he can “despise the riches of [God’s] goodness and forbearance and longsuffering,” which will only “treasure up unto [him] wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:4-6). Dear reader, God has done everything to keep you from going to hell, but He will never take away your free will. If you want to go to hell, God will not stop you. This is how much God Almighty loves freedom!

At Calvary’s cross, Jesus Christ suffered God’s wrath against all of the world’s sins (2 Corinthians 5:19). In this the Dispensation of Grace, mankind is currently (but temporarily) being offered an opportunity to be reconciled to his Creator forever. Jesus Christ died to pay for mankind’s sins, but until an individual trusts that alone for eternal salvation, that finished crosswork is of no help to the person. Jesus Christ’s righteousness manifested at Calvary must be imputed (applied, credited) to one’s account if God’s wrath, hell and the everlasting lake of fire, is to be avoided.

Before they trusted Christ, Paul urged the pagan Corinthians to “receive not the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). Grace is everything that God can do for you through the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ. God expects you to trust that! If you do not trust it, you are receiving God’s grace “in vain” (to no purpose).

Romans 3:24,25: “[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;….” You can be “justified” (declared righteous in God’s sight) freely—without any cost to you—by faith in Jesus Christ, who shed His sinless blood to pay for your sins, who died your death, and suffered God’s wrath on your behalf.

Soul salvation is not to be taken flippantly: “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 is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2, quoting Isaiah 49:8).

Will you trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour today? Or, will you receive the grace of God in vain?

Also see
» How can a loving God send people to an eternal hell? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Can people die and go to heaven or hell and come back? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Could God ever forgive me for what I have done? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, ESCHATOLOGY (END TIMES) / PROPHECY, THE NATION ISRAEL, What does “my kingdom is not of this world” mean?, What does “my kingdom is not of this world” mean?, What does “my kingdom is not of this world” mean?

What does “my kingdom is not of this world” mean?

WHAT DOES “MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD” MEAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

It is commonly believed that Jesus Christ’s kingdom was not a literal, physical, and visible kingdom, but rather a “spiritual kingdom,” an invisible kingdom where He would “reign in the hearts of men” (a belief called “amillennialism”). John 18:36 is perhaps the main Bible verse used to teach such a doctrine, so it behooves us to study this verse and understand what it actually teaches. “We are certainly not satisfied to have denominational tradition as our guide, so we will study and believe the Scriptures and have Jesus Christ thereby glorified!”

We focus on the following passage in John chapter 18: “[33] Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? [34] Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? [35] Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? [36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

Jesus Christ, just hours before His crucifixion, is standing before Judaean governor Pontius Pilate. What did Jesus mean when He said in verse 36, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence?” Was He saying that His kingdom was not literal, not physical, not earthly, and not Davidic? That, as some religionists claim today, it was just some “spiritual reign in the hearts of men?” As a general rule of thumb for Bible study, it is always important to not base a doctrine on one verse. Furthermore, we should never, ever, ever grab a verse that is strange, and use it to confuse verses that are clear. It is always helpful to look at the context of verses that are difficult, and to use verses that are clear, to explain verses that are unclear. That is what we will do here.

Earlier, we read that Pilate asked Jesus how His own nation, Israel, and its chief priests could deliver Him to the Roman government to be sentenced to death (John 18:35). Our Lord’s reply was simple: (sinful, unbelieving) Israel rejected Him as their Messiah-King because He was righteous. They did not want God ruling over them, as the psalmist David prophesied: “[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth [Roman rulers] set themselves, and the rulers [of Israel] take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed [Messiah/Christ], saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1-3; cf. Acts 4:25-28).

Psalm chapter 2 also provides details about that coming kingdom of Jesus Christ: “[6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. [7] I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. [8] Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. [9] Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” According to Psalm 2, the passage being fulfilled there in John chapter 18, what type of kingdom was Jesus purposing to establish on the earth when Israel rejected Him and demanded that Rome crucify Him? Was it a spiritual “reign in the hearts of men?” The Holy Spirit through David said it so expressly, so clearly, we would have to want to miss it to miss it: “I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion… Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession… Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” The only kingdom that would be in Zion, the only kingdom that would involve the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth, and the only kingdom involving Jesus Christ ruling over nations would be a literal, physical, visible kingdom. (We will learn more about kingdom of Christ destroying the Gentile kingdoms in Daniel chapter 2, later.)

The Bible says in Luke 1:31-33: “[31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” The only kingdom Jesus Christ came to set up was a kingdom that was modeled after King David’s; the Bible is quite plain about that. Now, did King David “reign in the hearts of men?” Did not David rule over a literal, physical, visible Israel in a literal, physical, visible land? That is the same kind of kingdom Jesus Christ would have established long ago, and will yet establish on planet Earth.

Interestingly, our Lord said in John 18:36, “but now is my kingdom not from hence.” His kingdom would be established on earth, just not “now,” not during His First Coming. This is important to notice—“now” is a word that is commonly overlooked in John 18:36. As He knew, He could not reign as King until after He had gone to Calvary’s cross and died for man’s sins (Luke 17:24-25). In addition, the institution of our 2,000-year-long Dispensation of Grace has further delayed Christ’s reign on earth.

Upon Jesus’s Second Coming, to conclude the seven-year Tribulation, Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit during the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1-3). Satan’s evil world system, and all its governments, will be demolished when Christ establishes His earthly kingdom (see Daniel 2:31-45). “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (verse 44). Again, notice, this kingdom of Jesus Christ will demolish all other kingdoms of Earth—it is a literal, physical, visible kingdom, one that will crush those that exist today!

Jesus Christ came to earth and left 2,000 years ago as Israel’s rejected King: He never did rule Israel, for Israel declared in John 19:15: “We have no king but Caesar!” So, how can Luke 1:33 say Jesus Christ will rule Israel “for ever?” Dispensational Bible study relieves us of confusion and consternation. Luke 1:33 is to be taken literally, but it is to be believed dispensationally. Israel’s prophetic (kingdom) program, the program to which Luke 1:33 belongs, is currently suspended. God is not restoring the earth’s governments today. Instead, He is forming the Church the Body of Christ, a heavenly people whom He will use to restore the heavenly governments in the ages to come (see Colossians 1:16-20). While our Dispensation of Grace is operating, Israel’s kingdom program is delayed. Once our dispensation ends (at the rapture), then God will resume Israel’s program and Christ will return at His Second Coming to fulfill Luke 1:33 (establishing His literal, physical, visible earthly kingdom). You can read about that in Romans 11:25-36.

So, returning to Jesus Christ saying, “my kingdom is not of this world,” we now analyze this phrase. What did Jesus mean here? His kingdom is a literal, physical, visible kingdom, so how is it “not of this world?” We will study the Scriptures for the answer.

Again, John 18:36 is often misconstrued to deny a literal, physical, visible reign of Christ on earth. Because Jesus Christ is not literally, physically, and visibly ruling on earth today, it is assumed that the kingdom spoken of in the Old Testament and Four Gospels was an invisible, spiritual kingdom. This belief is without merit. The apostles inquired in Acts 1:6: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” What type of kingdom did Israel have? A literal, physical, visible kingdom! The apostles are asking if Christ at that time would “restore again” Israel to her glorious kingdom days, especially those of Kings David and Solomon. They were obviously speaking of a literal, physical, visible kingdom.

Jesus never corrected them, or told them they were wrong in asking such a question. He merely told them in Acts 1:7-8: “[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Jesus just told them that it was not for them to know the time-schedule of that literal, physical, visible kingdom. He did not deny its existence; He did not chide them for not paying attention to His preaching during the last 40 days. The only kingdom Jesus spoke of in Acts 1:1-5 during those 40 days was a literal, physical, visible kingdom (which was why the apostles asked in verse 6 when it would be established).

In the book of the Revelation, which is still unfulfilled, we read of voices in heaven saying: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (11:15). (Here is when Luke 1:33 will be fulfilled.) What kingdoms exist in the world? Invisible, spiritual kingdoms? No, they are literal, physical, visible kingdoms, and, at His Second Coming, Jesus Christ will reign over them all. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9). The Bible says Jesus Christ will have preeminence in all the governments of heaven and earth. That means that the same earthly government first entrusted to Adam (Genesis 1:26-28) but lost to sin and Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4) is what Jesus Christ will reign over one day.

When Jesus Christ admitted that His kingdom was “not of this world,” He was not implying that it was spiritual and/or invisible. Actually, He meant that His kingdom is separate and distinct from the system upon which the world’s governments of Pilate’s time (and even those of today) are built. It will be a kingdom that God Himself, not some mortal man, will establish and administrate, a glorious monarchy in which God’s will shall always be accomplished on earth.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Within these two realms, God also created governments: “For by him [the Lord Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

God also made creatures to occupy those offices of government: He formed the angels to rule in heaven for His glory, and mankind to rule on the earth for His glory. One of God’s chief angelic-like creatures, a cherub named Lucifer, rebelled against God by wanting to rule for his glory: Lucifer proclaimed, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14b). This title “most High” means “possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19,22). Essentially, Lucifer (Satan) purposed to usurp all of God’s authority, in heaven and in earth. Satan was able to recruit a portion of God’s angels to follow him in his rebellion in heaven (Ezekiel 28:18; Matthew 25:41).

When God placed man on the earth, man was to rule earth for God’s glory (Genesis 1:26,28). Unfortunately, man (Adam) willingly chose to relinquish his God-given authority to Satan, by sinfully following Satan in his rebellion against God (Romans 5:12). Today, the governments of heaven (Ephesians 6:12) and earth (2 Corinthians 4:4) are in rebellion. Earth’s governments are corrupt because Satan is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). In fact, Satan tempted Christ with a proposal: if Christ would worship him, Satan would give Him the world’s governments (Matthew 4:8-9; Luke 4:5-7).

In John 18:36, when Christ claimed His kingdom was “not of this world,” He meant that His kingdom would not originate from the evil world system underlying today’s governments. His reign would restore earth’s governments to God (Colossians 1:20).

“Iniquity”—a selfish, rebellious, anti-God attitude—existed first in Lucifer/Satan (Ezekiel 28:15), who is now “the god [ruler] of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Hence, the world’s governments abound with injustice and iniquity (“not equal;” that is, “not fair”). “[T]he mystery of iniquity doth already work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7), whose context describes the seven-year Tribulation, when the Antichrist will epitomize this world’s blasphemous political system by claiming to be and exalting himself as God (Daniel 8:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), just as Lucifer did in Isaiah 14:14.

Daniel 2:31-45 is King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and God’s interpretation as spoken through the prophet Daniel. Essentially, Nebuchadnezzar saw a giant image, symbolizing major Gentile world empires (most of which were future from his time). Nebuchadnezzar then saw a “stone cut out without hands” demolish this image, which stone “became a mountain [kingdom], and filled the whole earth” (verses 34-35).

This stone is “cut out without hands,” meaning it is not of human origin: it is “not of this world” (this is what Jesus meant in John 18:36). This stone is Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:6-8) at His Second Coming to set up His glorious kingdom on earth, a kingdom established by “the God of heaven” (Daniel 2:44), one not founded by “the god of this world,” Satan, nor influenced by his autonomous spirit.

Try as we might, political reform is impossible in this world. Though politicians can and are replaced, the underlying corrupt political system (described earlier) remains the same. Political reformation is only possible if the existing satanically inspired world system is replaced with God’s, and none of us mortal humans can achieve this. In God’s own time (Christ’s Second Coming), He will abolish Satan’s evil world system that has dominated earth for 6,000 years, and replace it with His righteous world system.

Indeed, Christ’s kingdom is “not of this world,” and how we cannot wait for it to come!!

CONCLUSION

We find the following written in a popular, modern-day Bible study aid book: “What was the kingdom that Jesus came to found? Not a political kingdom, but God’s reign in the hearts of people that will control and transform their lives.” Beloved, I will be completely honest with you—the above quote is heretical and actually quite stupid. No one who honestly read the Bible from cover to cover could ever arrive at such a dumb conclusion. Amillennialism is a false doctrine. Surely, we do not need people outside Christendom attacking the Bible; people within the professing church are doing quite well in sabotaging, corrupting, and “disproving” the Bible.

We read in John 18:36: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Did David ever rule “in the hearts of men?” If he did not, and it would be senseless to say that he did, then Jesus Christ reigning from David’s throne could only indicate that Jesus Christ will one day sit on a literal, physical, visible throne in Jerusalem, Israel—that is the only type of throne David ever had!

One day, Jesus Christ would reign as King over all Israel, yea over all the Earth, but He knew it was not going to be at His First Coming. He knew He would have to die for man’s sins first, He knew He would be rejected of Israel first, and so on. He also knew there were be a 2,000-year-long window of time between His sufferings at Calvary and His reigning as King, our Dispensation of Grace. Since Jesus Christ is not reigning on a throne in Jerusalem today, people assume that that kingdom He and the prophets spoke of was not a literal, physical, visible kingdom. What ignorance! Such nonsense is the result of a failure to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), a negligence to understand and believe the Bible dispensationally. Of course, Jesus Christ is not reigning today on Earth; that prophetic program is suspended for a time. God is doing something else today beside reclaiming Earth, beside redeeming Israel, beside restoring David’s throne, and so on. He is forming the Church the Body of Christ, of believing Jews and Gentiles who will simply trust His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His death, burial, and resurrection as the fully-satisfying payment for their sins. He is forming a heavenly people by His grace, everything He can do for them through the finished crosswork of Christ! May we read and study Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, for they describe what God is doing today; they alone contain our doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny. The Bible is ever so liberating, ever so clear, ever so enjoyable, when we simply use it God’s way!

Also see:
» When will Jesus Christ come back? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» What will the Millennium be like? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Who will reign with Jesus Christ during the 1000 years? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, CREATION AND EARLY MAN, How is mankind “lower than the angels?”, How is mankind “lower than the angels?”

How is mankind “lower than the angels?”

HOW IS MANKIND “LOWER THAN THE ANGELS?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Bible thrice uses the expression “lower than the angels”—Psalm 8:7, Hebrews 2:7, and Hebrews 2:9. These verses, along with one other, will be helpful in answering our question. To the Scriptures to answer, “How is mankind ‘lower than the angels?’”

Psalm 8 is descriptive of mankind in general, particularly Adam. Mankind was to rule planet earth for God’s glory; it was in God’s foreknowledge to use mankind to defeat Satan and counter his sinful activities.

It would be best to read Psalm 8 in its entirety here: “[1] O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. [2] Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. [3] When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; [4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [5] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. [6] Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: [7] All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; [8] The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. [9] O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

Genesis chapter 1 describes the creation week. We want to focus on the creative acts of Day 6: “[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

It is at this point that we ask an important question. Psalm 8:5 says that God “made [Adam] a little lower than the angels.” Yet, Genesis 1:26-27 says that God “created [Adam] in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” How could Adam be “made in God’s image” and still be “lower than the angels?” It actually is simpler than you might first think.

The writer of the book of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8, demonstrating by the Holy Ghost that that psalm also describes Jesus Christ (who will do what Adam and the rest of mankind failed to do; rule earth for God’s glory). We read in Hebrews chapter 2: “[6] But one in a certain place testified, saying, 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. [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.”

It is at this point that we ask another important question. The Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ is JEHOVAH God the Son manifest in human flesh (John 1:1,14; John 20:28; Philippians 2:6; Revelation 1:8,11,17). Yet, the Bible says that Father God “madest him a little lower than the angels” (verse 7) and “Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death” (verse 8). So, how could Jesus Christ be God and also be “made a little lower than the angels?” If you are observant, you should have noticed that “lower than the angels” is defined within verse 8 of Hebrews chapter 2. (We will focus on that shortly.)

In His discussion with resurrection-denying Sadducees about the raising of the dead in the future, Jesus said in Luke 20:36 that people who die are “equal unto the angels.” “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” To be “equal unto the angels” is to be unable to physically die. So, being “lower than the angels” means that one is a mortal, one who is subject to physical death; unlike humans, no angel dies in the Bible. When Adam sinned, God allowed his body to be subject to physical death. When Jesus Christ became a man, the God-Man, Father God made His physical body, that it be able to physically die on Calvary’s cross for us. Hebrews 2:9 once more: “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.”

We are “lower than the angels” in that we are mortal, subject to physical death. However, the good news is that, once we are resurrected with glorified bodies, we will be “equal unto the angels,” meaning that we will never experience physical death again. How simple!

Also see:
» How were Adam and Eve “created in God’s image?” (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Did Jesus die for “many,” or did He die for “all?” (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Exactly how could Jesus Christ’s death on Calvary sufficiently pay for our sins? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, ESCHATOLOGY (END TIMES) / PROPHECY, Is John 1:29 really a reference to Calvary?, Is John 1:29 really a reference to Calvary?, Is John 1:29 really a reference to Calvary?

Is John 1:29 really a reference to Calvary?

IS JOHN 1:29 REALLY A REFERENCE TO CALVARY?

by Shawn Brasseaux

When John the Baptist preached, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), it is commonly assumed and taught that he was predicting that Jesus Christ was going to Calvary’s cross to die and pay for the world’s sins. Did Messiah’s forerunner really know of Calvary in advance? Beloved, may we have an eye to see what the Holy Spirit has said in His Word, may we have an ear to hear what the Holy Spirit has said in His Word, and may we have a heart to believe what the Holy Spirit has said in His Word. Yes, the Spirit of God will teach us through His Word in order to tell us what He wants us to believe about John 1:29.

Let us begin by reading John 1:29 in full: “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” A similar expression is repeated in John 1:36: “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”

Paul’s Gospel—Christ’s finished crosswork—is usually read into these verses. While many entertain the idea that John the Baptist was telling his audience that Jesus would go and die for the sins of the world, we would have to disagree with them on the basis of how John worded his claim. The phraseology of the Scriptures is important. As opposed to John saying that Jesus would “die for (or forgive, or cleanse, or make atonement for, et cetera) the sins of the world,” which would be a reference to Calvary, John the Baptist said that Jesus would “take away the sin of the world.” The terminology indicates John is referring to Jesus Christ removing sin (the system of sin, or the nature of sin, that is prevalent in creation), sin being the overall cause of sins (the actions). We will now present three reasons from Scripture why we do not believe John 1:28 refers to Calvary.

REASON #1 FOR BELIEVING THAT JOHN 1:29 IS NOT REFERENCING CALVARY

We read the following in Matthew 16:21-23, which is near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry: “[21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. [22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

If John the Baptist were telling his audience about Calvary back in John 1:29 (at the beginning of Jesus Christ’s ministry, almost three years prior to Matthew chapter 16), then why did Jesus begin to explain His death and resurrection to His disciples in the weeks just prior to them occurring? John the Baptist’s converts—such as the Apostle Andrew—had heard John the Baptist speak (John 1:40), and yet Andrew seemed to know nothing about Jesus’ death in Matthew chapter 16. Notice how in Matthew 16:22-23 that Peter actually began to deny that Jesus was going to die. The Scriptures never indicate Andrew corrected his brother. Andrew heard John’s message, but he did not know about Calvary any more than Peter.

REASON #2 FOR BELIEVING THAT JOHN 1:29 IS NOT REFERENCING CALVARY

John 1:29 could not have been a reference to Calvary, since we read in Luke 18:31-34: “[31] Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. [32] For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: [33] And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. [34] And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

Jesus Christ is just about a week or two away from dying on Calvary, and the 12 apostles do not have a clue that it is about to happen. Even after He tells them all about His suffering, death, and resurrection, they do not understand because God hid that information from them and they did not know what was spoken! Again, how could Calvary be revealed to John the Baptist, but kept secret from Peter and the 11 (all of whom heard John preach)? It makes no sense.

REASON #3 FOR BELIEVING THAT JOHN 1:29 IS NOT REFERENCING CALVARY

According to Israel’s prophetic program, the schedule in effect when John the Baptist’s ministry was operating, Jesus Christ would not die for the whole world, but only for Israel’s sins. The Old and New Testament Scriptures make this very clear:

  • The Prophet Isaiah, a Jew, wrote in Isaiah 53:8: “…for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” Gentiles were not Isaiah’s people; who were Isaiah’s people? Isaiah was writing strictly about Messiah dying for
  • The angel said in Matthew 1:21: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Again, Jesus was a Jew; Gentiles were not “his people.” Jesus was coming to save Israel from their sins.
  • Jesus Himself said in Matthew 20:28: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” While this is a favorite verse of Calvinists, this does not refer to Gentiles selected for heaven; in keeping with the earlier divine revelations (see two verses above), Jesus meant that He was coming to die for Israel.

Even after Calvary, Christ’s death was only beneficial for Israel:

  • The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter said to Israel in Acts 3:26: “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” There are no Gentiles in this verse.
  • The Apostle Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:31: “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Clearly, John the Baptist would not have been talking about Jesus dying for the sins of the whole world. According to the prophetic program, Jesus would die only for the sins of Israel. Israel, God’s chosen people in the earth, had to be saved first, before they could reach Gentiles, the nations of the world. That was the whole goal of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3).

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul says that Jesus Christ made Paul an apostle so that he could declare to the whole world that Jesus Christ died for all. Paul was the “due-time testifier” of Jesus Christ’s crosswork being available to everyone, Jew and Gentile. We read in 1 Timothy 2:4-7: “[4] [God] 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 [For which purpose] 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.”

Had John the Baptist been preaching that Jesus would die for everyone’s sins, then the apostles of Israel should have done the same thing, and then there would have been no need for Paul’s apostleship. If we make John the Baptist’s message the same as Paul’s Gospel, then Paul’s apostleship and ministry lose their distinction. Whenever Paul’s ministry is attacked, the Lord Jesus Christ whom Paul served, is attacked, for the Lord Jesus Christ magnified Paul’s ministry (Romans 11:13), and Paul’s ministry exalted the Lord Jesus Christ.

WHAT JOHN THE BAPTIST MEANT BY USING THE TERM “THE LAMB OF GOD”

Whenever trying to understand a verse of Scripture, we need to look for similar verses or phraseology elsewhere in the Bible. Let us do that here.

According to The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the New Testament uses the term “lamb” 30 times to refer to Jesus Christ:

  • The first two times are John 1:29 and John 1:36, the verses we are currently explaining, and they call Jesus Christ “the Lamb of God.”
  • “Lamb” appears a third time in the New Testament in Acts 8:32, when Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch read Isaiah 53:7 to learn that Jesus “was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.” Here, Jesus Christ is not called a lamb but is rather likened unto a lamb (simile).
  • We read of “lamb” connected to Jesus Christ a fourth time in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 1:19, “[Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot….”
  • There are 26 remaining instances of the word “lamb” used to apply to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and they all appear in the book of the Revelation. It is important to note that, unlike the above four instances being examples of similes (Jesus Christ likened unto a lamb), these instances are used as a proper name. Jesus Christ is called “the Lamb” 26 times in the Revelation. (The serious Bible student will carefully read and consider Revelation 5:6, 8, 12, 13; Revelation 6:1, 16; Revelation 7:9, 10, 14, 17; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 14:1, 4 [x2], 10; Revelation 15:3; Revelation 17:14 [x2]; Revelation 19:7,9; Revelation 21:14,22,23; and Revelation 22:1,3).

In summary, the only Bible book where Jesus Christ is often called “the Lamb” is the book of the Revelation. Although Isaiah, Acts, and Peter liken Jesus to a lamb being led to the slaughter, the title of Him being “the Lamb” (the language of John the Baptist) is identified with a future time, the time well beyond John the Baptist’s day, far beyond Calvary’s day, and actually beyond our day as well. What John the Baptist was talking about was not a lamb that would die on a cross, or a lamb that was meek and lowly, but “the Lamb,” the wrathful Lamb that would take away the wickedness of the world. The main theme of the book of the Revelation is not Jesus dying at Calvary, but rather His glorious return to planet Earth in power, to rid the world of Satan and sin (evil), and to establish His everlasting kingdom of righteousness. The Apostle John wrote how Christ would punish sinners, how He would come to set up His kingdom, how He would stifle satanic activity on Earth, how He would deal with sin promptly.

In fact, we read about the “wrath of the Lamb” in Revelation 6:15-17: “[15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

With this now in mind, we can look again at John the Baptist’s preaching. John the Baptist’s own testimony confirms what he was preaching concerning “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” The words of the sermons that John the Baptist preached to Israel can be read in Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18, and John 1:15-36. Rather than preaching that Jesus was going to die on a cross, John the Baptist said the following:

  • Matthew 3:7-12: “[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
  • Luke 3:3,7-9,16-17: “[3] And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; …. [7] Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [9] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire…. [16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

John the Baptist is warning Israel, not of Messiah Jesus coming to die on the cross, but that Messiah Jesus is coming to “baptize with the Holy Ghost” and “baptize with fire” (notice how Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21 agree). Messiah is coming to pour out His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, on those who believe on Him; He is coming to pour out His wrath, the seven-year Tribulation, on those who reject Him. There is a Spirit baptism that can be accepted, which will save a Jew through that wrath, or a Jew can reject Messiah and His Spirit and be destroyed in that wrath. This is exactly what we discussed earlier regarding the events of the book of the Revelation.

John the Baptist had received revelation from Father God (John 1:6ff.), but not full divine revelation as we have in the completed Bible. As his sermons demonstrate, John was waiting for the baptism with the Holy Spirit and the baptism with fire, but they still had not come as much as two years after he began his ministry. John never thought that he would wind up in prison, but he did; he assumed that Messiah would shortly establish His earthly kingdom, where evil kings and wicked religious leaders would be destroyed. Thus, John, once in prison, now discouraged, now “offended in [Jesus],” sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He was the Messiah they had been seeking (Matthew 11:1-6; Luke 7:18-23); John heard about Christ’s compassionate miracles, but was wondering when the Holy Spirit and the wrath were to be poured out.

Thankfully, however, that wrath of God has yet to come on planet Earth. It is still in abeyance—the seven-year Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ are still scheduled to occur one day, just not today. Until then, the God of the Bible is so gracious, so longsuffering. Had our Dispensation of Grace not interrupted Israel’s program, prophecy would have finished—the time of God’s wrath on the nation Israel would have transpired and concluded (again, see Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21). John the Baptist talked about this wrath to come and so did James and Peter. Even Jesus had words to say about that wrath that Joel predicted centuries earlier. It was just when that wrath was about to be poured out (Acts chapter 7) that God brought in our program and offered grace and peace to Israel and all the Christ-rejecting world rather than His wrath and war to all the world (Romans 11:31-32). He has delayed that wrath and ushered in our Dispensation of Grace, where all can be saved from His wrath (the Second Coming of Christ and the everlasting lake of fire) by simple faith in Jesus Christ’s sinless bloodshed, His death, His burial, and His resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins. God’s righteousness is ours in Christ, and it is a gift; we cannot work for a gift. May we not procrastinate regarding eternal salvation from our sins. May we rely exclusively on Jesus Christ today, and receive a right standing before God today.

CONCLUSION

The phrase, “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” is best understood in light of Jesus Christ pouring out His wrath on wicked Israel and wicked Gentiles; to make it a reference to Calvary is to contradict the overall testimony of Scripture. It is to diminish Paul’s special ministry and message, and it is to undermine the dispensational layout of the Holy Bible. May we rejoice in these simple truths of God’s Word rightly divided, and may we not be sidetracked by denominationalism.

Also see:
» Why did Jesus stand in Acts 7:55-56?
» Why was John the Baptist preaching out in the wilderness? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Did Peter and Paul preach the same Gospel?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, ESCHATOLOGY (END TIMES) / PROPHECY, What does “at the last trump” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:52?, What does “at the last trump” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:52?, What does “at the last trump” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:52?

What does “at the last trump” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:52?

WHAT DOES “AT THE LAST TRUMP” MEAN IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:52?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Is there such an event as a “pre-Tribulation Rapture?” If so, it is asked and/or contended, then why does the Apostle Paul link the Rapture’s timing with the seventh trumpet judgment of the seven-year Tribulation? (Or, we must interject, does the Apostle really link the two events at all?) Dear friends, in this day and age of “itching ears” and multitudes of religious charlatans willing to stroke them, we need to look at the Bible passages, and allow the Holy Spirit to show us what to believe. While there are many opponents of and misconceptions about the Rapture, the issue that is under discussion in this study is the timing of the Rapture with respect to the Revelation’s trumpet judgments. Let us not take anyone’s word for it, and let us not arrive at a conclusion until we first arrive at the pertinent Bible verses!

Sometime ago, an individual replied to one of our Bible studies about the Rapture by emailing me the following:

“In a moment at the LAST Trump.. Matt24 says ‘at the end of the tribulation, so does Mark 13;’ at the end of the tribulation we shall see him coming in the clouds. Luke 21 says what? at the end of the tribulation he shall decend, Please don’t be an unprepared believer. But guess what, it gets worse, the anti-christ will overcome us and many will get their heads cut off! I once was a pre-trib paperback book false teacher follower. I’d like to challenge you to look at … or another website to see what they use as evidence for their stand on preparing for the post-trib rapture.”

Dear friends, I must be honest here: this man’s language is typical of the absolute theological silliness rampant in so many Christian circles. I have never, ever read a single “paperback book” about the Rapture, and I have never, ever derived my theology from novels, “Christian” bestselling authors, and the like. The only reason I have ever believed in a pre-Tribulation Rapture is because I read verses in my Bible and believed the verses. I understand why people entertain a “post-Tribulation Rapture;” they have their verses too. As the above quote demonstrates, they grab Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, ignoring the contexts that these verses delineate Christ’s coming for Israel (“the Second Coming”). They assume that that coming of Christ in the Four Gospels is the coming of Christ that Paul wrote of in his epistles. There is no careful survey of the contexts, just Bible skimming and repeating, on their part. As the above quote also proved, one argument these people use is to claim that Paul associated the timing of the Rapture with the trumpet judgments of the book of the Revelation. In this Bible study, we will look at verses and their contexts, and see what the Bible really says. Then, we can place our faith in the words of God rather than believe the words of men.

THE THESSALONIANS, THE TRIBULATION, AND THE RAPTURE

The Bible student will find it quite fascinating that the Holy Spirit through Paul warned long ago, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Verses 14-18 then discuss how there is coming a day when the Lord Jesus Christ will leave heaven, come to the skies of planet Earth, quickly snatch His people (Christians) and bring them to their home in the heavens, and there they will serve Him forever. The Rapture is a glorious event that should comfort Christians (verse 18), and yet, the Holy Spirit knew that there would be people—even professing Christians—who would be totally ignorant of the Rapture, who would be so confused that they could not give a Scriptural definition of it. That was 2,000 years ago! Today, we have all sorts of “experts” and “authorities,” even within the professing church, who are denying the Rapture, robbing us of the comfort the Rapture-hope is to provide. They are conflating the Rapture with Christ’s Second Coming after the seven-year Tribulation, or claiming it is a “pre-wrath (mid-Tribulation) Rapture,” et cetera. Ignorance! Ignorance! Ignorance! Despite the Bible providing clear testimony, there are millions and millions who still wonder exactly what God would have us to believe and do. Yes, it is as if the Bible was never written at all. What a sad, sad, commentary!

The Christians in Thessalonica were greatly suffering for their stand in sound Bible doctrine (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:13). Satan was determined to discourage and/or destroy these faithful saints; he wanted to silence their testimony, their stand in preaching the message of God’s grace and His Word rightly divided as the answer to true Christian living. In fact, the language of Scripture is that Satan’s policy of evil was operating so intensely in Thessalonica that some of these precious saints had already been murdered for the Gospel’s sake! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 is the reply to those who were wondering what happened to the souls of their deceased brethren in Christ.)

Bearing in mind their intense persecution, we understand why the Thessalonians were then misled to believe that they were suffering because they were experiencing God’s wrath, the seven-year Tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:2ff.). The Apostle Paul wrote two epistles to them —1 and 2 Thessalonians—to remind both them and us that the Rapture will occur before the seven-year Tribulation (just as Paul had told them in person some time earlier; 2 Thessalonians 2:5). Remember, “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). “…Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9). We in Christ will never face any of God’s wrath—hell, the lake of fire, or the seven-year Tribulation—because Jesus Christ already suffered God’s wrath on our behalf. It is that simple. The Apostle wrote to the Thessalonians to reassure them that they were not living in those horrible seven years. See, there was confusion regarding the timing of the Rapture, nearly 20 centuries ago.

Today, religionists, those who still ignore the dispensational layout of Scripture, and who still completely disregard these simple Bible truths, and who still attempt to advance their denominational traditions. They twist the Scriptures to cause us to believe that we Christians will go through some or all of the seven-year Tribulation (just like the false teachers who were bothering and confusing the saints in Thessalonica!). They combine instructions God gave one group in history with instructions God gave another group of people; they are quoting Scripture and are still leading so many astray! They grab Israel’s verses and claim, “Ours! All ours!” Friends, spiritual larceny, stealing God’s promises to other people and making those promises fit us, is certainly an unsound method of Bible handling. Beloved, we need to beware of these people. We will continue to allow the Scriptures to demonstrate that the mid-Tribulation or post-Tribulation Rapture belief they want us to adopt is greatly flawed.

THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS OF THE REVELATION

The judgments of the seven-year Tribulation are three groups of seven—the “seals” (Revelation 6:1–8:5), the “trumpets” (Revelation 8:6–11:19), and the “vials” (Revelation 16:1-21). We read the Apostle John’s words in Revelation 8:2: “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.” The last of these trumpets—the so-called “seventh trumpet”—is sometimes assumed to be associated with the Rapture. We want to now focus on that last trumpet judgment.

The last of the trumpet judgments is meted out in Revelation chapter 11: “[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, [17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. [19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

FOUR DIFFICULTIES WITH LINKING THE “LAST TRUMP” WITH THE REVELATION’S TRUMPET JUDGMENTS

  1. The Bible’s language in the Revelation, when referring to the last of the trumpet judgments, is not “seventh trumpet” or “last trump” but “seventh angel” (Revelation 10:7; Revelation 11:15). It is illogical to link the term “seventh angel” (or even “seventh trumpet”) with the expression “last trump”—these terms describe a spirit-being, an instrument, and a musical sound, respectively. No one could confuse these diverse terms unless they had an agenda to promote. The Bible’s terminology should be noticed and not abused; it should not be twisted out of context to make it say something it did not say.
  2. There is nothing in 1 Corinthians 15:52 about a “last trumpet” (musical instrument); the language is “last trump” (the sound of the musical instrument). In fact, there is one trumpet—“the trumpet”—in 1 Corinthians 15:52 making at least two sounds; Revelation involves seven trumpets making seven different sounds in succession at various To combine 1 Corinthians 15:52 with the Revelation is to fabricate a connection; it is to see a relationship that the Holy Spirit never made in His Word.
  3. The Apostle John would have mentioned the Rapture in Revelation, right in the context of the seventh angel sounding his trumpet (Revelation 11:15-19). He did not! In fact, Revelation 10:7 speaks of “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound”—the seventh angel’s trumpet blast is not in an instant as the trumpet sounds in 1 Corinthians 15:52. In John’s mind, he was writing about things that had no relation to the Rapture whatsoever. We can search the Scriptures in vain looking for a catching up of believers into heaven, in the time period of the trumpet judgments. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John never made the connection, and if we want to be sound in our Bible understanding, we should not make that connection either.
  4. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which sits in the companion passage of 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, we read about “the trump of God.” At the Rapture, God is the Person blowing the trumpet, and God is causing this trumpet blast to sound. The trumpets of Revelation, as we have already seen, involve angels blowing trumpets. There are no angels blowing trumpets during the catching up of the Church the Body of Christ. Only one angel, an archangel, is mentioned in reference to the Rapture, and this archangel is speaking, not blowing a trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

SO, WHAT DOES “AT THE LAST TRUMP” REALLY MEAN?

With all of the foregoing verses and comments now under consideration, we understand that “at the last trump” is unrelated to the trumpet judgments of the book of the Revelation. Let us closely examine the passage of the Bible term in question. Dear friends, note how the context will define the phraseology for us.

We read in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58: “[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [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. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Note how the Apostle Paul wrote that he was writing about a “mystery” (verse 51). It was not an event in Israel’s prophetic program. It was a “mystery,” something kept secret until Jesus Christ first revealed it to the Apostle Paul (cf. Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:1-5; Colossians 1:25-27). No apostles or prophets prior to Paul wrote about what he proceeded to discuss in the above passage. This is more proof that this coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was not His Second Coming in wrath to conclude the seven-year Tribulation, for, years or centuries before Paul was even converted, the Old Testament prophets, and even Jesus in His earthly ministry, spoke of His Second Coming (Job 19:25-27; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2:15-17; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 24:27-31; Mark 13:26-37; Luke 21:27-36; Jude 14-15; et al.). The coming of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:51ff. was a special coming, one kept secret until Paul learned it from the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Jesus Christ, and then wrote about it in 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians.

When 1 Corinthians 15:52 says, “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,” this is talking about a very quick event. The word “trump” is the blast (sound) that a trumpet makes, and the expression “the last trump” indicates there are at least two blasts, or two sounds, of the trumpet. If we are mindful of the context, we understand why two blasts are necessary. There are two groups of people being resurrected—deceased Christians first, and living Christians afterward. In other words, one trumpet blast is to resurrect deceased Christians and another trumpet blast is to transform living Christians.

You should especially note how the term “last trump” is linked not to the entire event of the Rapture (as the mid- or post-Tribulation-Rapture people assume), but is limited to the transformation of the living Christians. “[51] We shall not all sleep [die physically], but we shall all be changed [transformed], [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.” When are living Christians given new glorified bodies at the Rapture? “At the last trump.” This means that deceased Christians are resurrected just prior, or, by extrapolation, “at the first trump.” Again, there is nothing in the passage about “seventh trumpet, “last trumpet,” or “seventh angel.” We do not read about trumpets (plural), but “the trumpet” (verse 52)—there is one trumpet, not seven! Noting what is not present in a verse or passage is just as important as noting what is present.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, we need to be very candid. There is such ignorance—oh, such a shame, such ignorance!!!—about the Rapture of the Body of Christ, the catching up of the Church of this Dispensation, when Jesus Christ returns to remove His Body from this planet. It is especially pitiful that people who do not study or believe the Bible quite regularly appear to be Bible authorities (and are heralded as such by people equally destitute of Bible understanding). When people confuse the term “at the last trump” with the so-called “seventh trumpet” judgment of the seven-year Tribulation, there is bound to be confusion and heartache. However, when we just look at the Bible and read it, we can rejoice in its simple truths and throw away everything else!

Today, Father God is currently forming the Church the Body of Christ by the Gospel of the Grace of God. When no one else wants to rely exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ’s dying for our sins, shedding His sinless blood, His burial to put away our sins, and His resurrection to give us a right standing before God (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; cf. Romans 4:24-25); God will conclude our Dispensation of Grace and return to Israel’s program, resuming it where He paused it nearly 20 centuries ago. When the Church the Body of Christ is caught up into heaven, there will be one trumpet emitting at least two sounds; one sound to call the deceased Christians to life in new bodies, and the other blast to transform and assemble the living Christians in new bodies, so they can all be brought up into heaven with Jesus Christ. In contrast, the book of the Revelation involves seven angels and seven trumpets, and they involve God’s wrath on sinful mankind, particularly the nation Israel. The Rapture involves God causing a trumpet sound; angels are blowing trumpets and causing some of the judgments described in the Revelation. No thoughtful Bible student could ever honestly conclude that the language of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is even remotely connected to the events of the seven-year Tribulation. The terms are different and should not be confused, or we will become confused.

To cause the Church the Body of Christ to endure most or all of the seven-year Tribulation is to completely ignore the dispensational nature of the Bible. It is to completely confuse the purpose of the seven-year Tribulation with what God is currently operating today in our Dispensation of Grace. It is to confuse the nation Israel with the Church the Body of Christ. It is to muddle up and obscure the simple Bible truths associated with the glorious catching up of the Church the Body of Christ. It is to “wrest the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16), to destroy the simplicity and clarity of the Holy Bible. May we guard against such Bible mishandling, and may we rejoice in God’s pure Word!

Also see:
» Why should I believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Are the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ the same event? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» What is the purpose of the seven-year Tribulation? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, BIBLE VERSIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS, What does “saved if ye keep in memory” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:2?, What does “saved if ye keep in memory” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:2?

What does “saved, if ye keep in memory” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:2?

WHAT DOES “SAVED, IF YE KEEP IN MEMORY” MEAN IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:2? COULD YOU ALSO EXPLAIN “BELIEVING IN VAIN?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, when the Apostle Paul penned the Gospel of the Grace of God that he preached, he included the phrase, “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” This verse is quite a stumbling block to many, and it is such a burdensome verse to most. However, such an expression is not difficult to understand when we study and consider the context. Context! Context! Context! (Who would ever guess that a verse that appears confusing is quite liberating when you let it speak for itself?!)

Dearly beloved, whenever we are attempting to understand a puzzling Bible verse or passage, it is always critical to first examine the context for enlightenment. Think of the human writer of the specific Bible book. Notice the audience of the particular Bible book. Consider the overall theme of the certain Bible book. Had the Church the Body of Christ strictly observed these basic keys to Bible study from the day the Bible canon was completed almost 20 centuries ago, we would have saved ourselves from myriads upon myriads of headaches and heartaches, prevented tens of thousands of denominations from forming, and avoided millions upon millions upon millions of thoroughly confused church members. Many mouths in religion need to be stopped, and this is especially true of those who abuse 1 Corinthians 15:2 and confuse Bible readers.

Can our soul salvation unto eternal life be lost? Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:2 are often used to deny the “once saved, always saved” position because it reads: “[we] are saved, if [we] keep in memory what [Paul] preached unto [us], unless [we] have believed in vain.” Does that mean we will go to hell if we forget Paul’s Gospel? Additionally, what does it mean to “believe in vain?”

Let us look at 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 first, as it is found in our King James Bible: “[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Interestingly, the (Roman Catholic) New American Bible reads in 1 Corinthians 15:2: “Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain.” The NIV agrees: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” The NKJV affirms: “by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” These perversions do not make the Bible easier to understand; contrariwise, they intensify the confusion surrounding 1 Corinthians 15:2. Must we “hold firmly/fast,” lest we lose our salvation, as these modern translations suggest?

If not approached properly, you can see how 1 Corinthians 15:2 can be very confusing and troubling. In fact, some modern Bible translators, misled by denominational thinking, end up distorting the wording of 1 Corinthians 15:2 (see above), thereby giving credence to the Calvinistic doctrine of “the perseverance of the saints,” the idea that we Christians must do our best to hold firm to Christian morality and behavior so we can be saved from hellfire and go to heaven. (Perhaps there were some modern version translators of the Calvinistic persuasion who gave us such a corrupted verse?!) Calvinists deny the Christian’s eternal security, and thus greatly emphasize our performance, which frustrates/hinders the grace of God (Galatians 2:21). Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 12:13-17, and 2 Peter 2:20-22 are some of “proof texts” of the Calvinist’s “perseverance of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 15:2 is another misused verse in that regard, so it behooves us to settle the matter concerning 1 Corinthians 15:2.

Over the last 2,000 years, Christendom has made countless false assumptions that have caused literally billions of people to completely miss profound teachings of the Scriptures. For example, Matthew 24:13—“He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”—is explained in verse 22 as physical salvation (“except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved”). This “salvation” is people physically surviving the horrors of the entire seven-year Tribulation period, and has nothing to do with us Christians in the Dispensation of Grace—Matthew 24:13 is not even discussing anyone’s soul salvation from hell anyway!

With that in mind, we now proceed to examining 1 Corinthians 15:2 within its context. The common assumption is that the “salvation” referenced in 1 Corinthians 15:2 is salvation from hellfire and salvation unto eternal life. Is this assumption valid? As we will see, nay, it is not a valid assumption.

To repeat, one of Christendom’s costliest mistakes is its assumption that there is only one type of salvation taught in the Scriptures. Whenever the Bible uses the terms “saved” or “salvation,” it is imperative to read the context to see what type of salvation it is. The Bible does not only speak of salvation from hell and sins, unto eternal life. This false assumption of only one type of salvation in Scripture, coupled with the conditional statement in 1 Corinthians 15:2 (“ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you”), only confuses the average Bible reader… and translator!

Forget idle speculation—the context of 1 Corinthians 15:2 interprets the verse for us! Verses 12-17 provide insight into the meaning of the mysterious verse: “[12] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: [14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. [15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. [16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: [17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

One of the 10 major problems in Corinth was a denial of Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection (hence, Paul devoted all of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 to the doctrine of physical resurrection). The general context of the puzzling verse is the heresies and carnality prevailing in the spiritually immature church at Corinth; the immediate context is the denial of bodily resurrection. This is how we should view 1 Corinthians 15:2. The verse is made astonishingly clear.

According to the above verses, to “believe in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:2) is to believe to no purpose. Stated another way, it is to believe a gospel that is not true. Paul is saying that if Jesus Christ did not resurrect, then it is pointless to believe the Gospel of the Grace of God that teaches that He was in fact raised again the third day (verse 4). By clarifying the matter of “believing in vain” of 1 Corinthians 15:2, the issue of “saved, if ye keep in memory” becomes astoundingly clearer, too.

Again, verses 12, 14, and 17 explain that to “believe in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:2) is to believe to no purpose, to believe a gospel that is not true. It has nothing to do with not having “enough faith,” not having the “right kind of faith,” et cetera. These are theological gimmicks invented because people do not understand how to handle the passage. All the nonsense aside, Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 15:2 that if Jesus Christ never resurrected, then it is pointless to believe that Gospel of the Grace of God that teaches that He did resurrect bodily. We will proceed to the “salvation” issue.

Now, notice the “by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you” portion of 1 Corinthians 15:2. The word “saved” is to be defined according to the context. Verse 19 is very clear: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” The salvation of 1 Corinthians 15:2 is salvation from misery and hopelessness! 1 Corinthians 15:2 has nothing to do with salvation from sin, hell, et cetera.

Some of the Corinthians failed to remember what the Apostle Paul had preached to them regarding Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection (verse 12). They erred in this regard, probably influenced by the pagan mythology (the culture of Corinth) that denied bodily resurrection. These Corinthians had not “kept in memory what [Paul] preached unto [them],” so they “believed in vain.” By abandoning the doctrine of bodily resurrection, the Corinthians were setting themselves up for disappointment. If we fail to keep foremost in our minds Jesus Christ’s literal, physical, visible resurrection, then we will not be saved from despair and misery on a daily basis.

CONCLUSION

So, in conclusion, if we fail to keep foremost in our minds Jesus Christ’s literal, physical, visible resurrection (like the Corinthians referenced in 1 Corinthians 15:2), then we will not be saved from despair and misery (verses 12,14,17,19). If He did not resurrect, then we have no hope of seeing our deceased Christian loved ones (verse 18). All of our ministry work such as preaching and teaching would be for nothing and our believing would also be pointless (verses 14,17). In short, without the reality of bodily resurrection, our Christian service would be a waste of time!

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (verse 19). However, by constantly reminding ourselves of the reality of Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection, we are saved from all that misery listed above. We do not simply have “hope in Christ” now in this present life, but we have “hope in Christ” after death because we will be bodily resurrected just like Jesus Christ was (verses 20-23,35-58). This mentality saves us from the despair that results from denying bodily resurrection.

Verse 58, the concluding verse of the Apostle Paul’s exhaustive resurrection chapter, summarizes: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Our Christian service—that is, Jesus Christ living His life in and through us—is not in vain, for we will be resurrected bodily to receive a reward, enabling us to function in the heavenly places forever for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10; Ephesians 2:6-7; Colossians 3:23-25).

May we always keep Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection in mind, thereby remembering we too will be resurrected, so our Christian service is not in vain in the Lord! 🙂

Also see:
» Can Christians lose their salvation?
» We are saved by faith, but are we blessed by works?
» Is Calvinism a sound theological position? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Do not Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6 disprove dispensational Bible study?, Do not Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6 disprove dispensational Bible study?

Do not Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6 disprove dispensational Bible study?

DO NOT HEBREWS 13:8 AND MALACHI 3:6 DISPROVE DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY?

by Shawn Brasseaux

In an extremely desperate attempt to salvage their denominational system, opponents of dispensational Bible study argue, “God never changes therefore His dealings with man never change.” They appeal to Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 for Scriptural “support.” They certainly sound convicting when they quote, “For I am the LORD, I change not” and “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Still, we are not going to take two verses and just ignore the contexts. We will examine these two verses, as well as others, and let the Bible speak for itself.

MALACHI 3:6

If we read Malachi 3:6 in its entirety, which anti-dispensationalists rarely do for obvious reasons, it says: “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” All this verse means is that God is faithful; if God was as “faithful” as sinful Israel, He would have destroyed them long ago! Since God was, “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6-7), He had grace, mercy, and forgiveness for and toward Israel.

Malachi’s book primarily focuses on Israel’s corrupt priests, and it was because of God’s goodness that He tolerated that wickedness for that long (even after He had already scattered the nation Israel centuries before because of their pagan idolatry). The Prophet Jeremiah, writing about Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s dispersion amongst the Gentiles about 200 years prior to Malachi, “[22] It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Malachi 3:6 is thus interpreted for us: God is always faithful, and His faithfulness keeps sinners from being consumed by His righteous indignation and wrath.

HEBREWS 13:8

Rereading Hebrews 13:8, it says: “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” The context of the book of Hebrews is “the world to come” (2:5). During the seven-year Tribulation, the nation Israel will come under intense pressure and persecution. The Antichrist will be ruling, as well as slaughtering those who refuse to accept him as Messiah, instituting a false religious system that will resemble the Mosaic Law. We find these passages in the Bible books of Daniel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 2 Thessalonians, and the Revelation.

Instead of using Hebrews 13:8 to advance our denominationalism, we simply let its context interpret it for us: “[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; 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 to day, and for ever.”

While Israel’s little flock hiding out in the wilderness will not enjoy unfathomable riches until Jesus Christ returns (His Second Coming), the writer of the book of Hebrews encourages them to be thankful for the basic necessities that JEHOVAH will meet out in the wilderness (Matthew 6:24-34; Luke 12:22-34; Revelation 12:6,14). Just as Moses told Israel (Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 31:6,8), just as God told Joshua (Joshua 1:5,9), and just as David told Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:20), JEHOVAH, even in disappointing circumstances, will never disappoint because He will never leave or forsake His people. Jesus Christ, whether in the Old Testament, or the New, He will never forsake His people. He is just as faithful today, and He was yesterday, and as He will be tomorrow. God never changes, but His dealings with man change because man changes.

SUPPLEMENTAL: FOUR OPPOSING DIETARY SYSTEMS IN SCRIPTURE

Anyone who simply reads the Holy Bible with an open mind will see how God gave various instructions to different people at various time periods—even if the average church members cannot see them (too blinded by religious tradition), the Bible critics and skeptics enjoy pointing out these “Bible contradictions!” Below are extremely simple examples of God changing His instructions to mankind. Dispensational Bible study is the only way to make sense of the following Bible passages.

ADAM AND EVE, BEFORE SIN. “[29] And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. [30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so” (Genesis 1:29-30). In Genesis chapter 1, God told Adam and Eve to eat things that grew naturally—nuts, fruit, seeds, vegetables, and so on. They were vegans, not even partaking of animal products (such as eggs or milk). Before the curse of sin and death, every animal and human strictly ate vegetation. Originally, all people and animals were herbivores; they only ate vegetation. Once man fell into sin, this changed.

NOAH, AFTER THE FLOOD. About 1600 years after Adam, we see Noah and his family getting off the ark. Once the global flood waters have receded, God gives the following instructions to Noah: “[1] And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. [2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. [3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. [4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat” (Genesis 9:1-4). Once the curse and the global flood came, God directed Noah and his family to now eat any animal they could trap or catch, provided they did not consume its blood. From the time of Noah until Moses, mankind was free to eat vegetation and animal meat. See how, one sin entered, God incorporated meat into the human diet. Friends, if you have noticed, in the book of Genesis alone, we have already seen two opposing dietary restrictions imposed by God. But, there are two additional sets of dietary regulations yet to come in Scripture, verses that say other things!

NATION ISRAEL, UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW. When we come to Moses, about 800 years after Noah, the nation Israel is receiving the Mosaic Law from the LORD. In passages such as Leviticus 11:1-31 and Deuteronomy 14:1-21, God gives Israel some very specific instructions: they can only eat “clean beasts,” not just anything like Noah had been instructed centuries earlier. To the Jews, creatures such as bats, owls, camels, vultures, lizards, and swine were “unclean,” and were not to be eaten. “Clean” beasts were animals such as sheep, locusts, oxen, goat, and fallow deer: these could be eaten. The kosher food laws of Judaism remained in effect for the next 1500 years.

APOSTLE PAUL, IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE. When we come to the Apostle Paul, about a year after the cross, the Dispensation of Grace has begun, and a new group of believers exists, separate and distinct from the nation Israel—the Church the Body of Christ. Look at what Paul writes: “[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” (1 Timothy 4:3-5). Now, all creatures can be eaten, as long as we give God thanks. We can even eat the animals that God forbade Israel to eat in time past (Colossians 2:16-17)! In this the Dispensation of Grace, regardless of what some religious authority may tell you, there are no diet laws. Our apostle, Paul, says to eat what you want, and give God thanks!

In the Bible, God gave various instructions (dispensations) to different people at various time periods. On four separate occasions, God gave different dieting instructions to various people. Dispensational Bible study is the only answer to understanding and explaining these so-called “contradictory” portions of the Holy Scriptures. While the Bible may seem contradictory, notice these directions were not given to the same group of people! Each set of directions was given in a different dispensation. God’s Word never contradicts itself as long as you apply the principle of right division: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). As long as we leave the directions in the proper dispensation during which God gave them, and understand that God’s directions to us come from the Apostle Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon like Romans 11:13 says, then all of the confusion disappears!

When we ignore the fact that God gave us all animals to eat, and we demand that others must also abstain from certain foods for religious (or meat for nature-worshipping) purposes, the Bible says that that is a “doctrine of devils” in this dispensation (1 Timothy 4:1-5). The creature should not be worshipped; only the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be worshipped (Romans 1:25). As long as we thank the Lord for whatever creatures we eat, the Bible says that consuming animal flesh is acceptable and godly.

CONCLUSION

God never changes: that is the meaning of Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8. His essence and nature never change, but He does change His dealings with man from time to time. While He provides a progressive revelation (revealing more of His Word and will as we read from Genesis through Revelation), while He gives various dispensations (instructions) to man through the ages, He is always faithful, whether strengthening and providing for His people (Hebrews 13:8), or faithful in longsuffering, tolerating His people when they are very rebellious (Malachi 3:6). These two verses do not disprove dispensational Bible study. Actually, there are far too many Bible verses to ignore if we are going to argue that God never changes His dealings with mankind. To take two verses to disprove scores upon scores upon scores of other verses is ridiculous. Let us just use God’s Word, God’s way, and not worry about enhancing a manmade system that is bound to pass away anyway!

Also see:
» If dispensational Bible study is true, then why do few believe it? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Is dispensational Bible study heresy? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» What is dispensational Bible study?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, Could you please explain Romans 2:14?

Could you please explain Romans 2:14?

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN ROMANS 2:14?

by Shawn Brasseaux

I would be glad to!

The best way to understand any “obscure” Bible verse is to first look at its general context (the surrounding chapters, for example). Concerning Romans 2:14, let us consider the fact that the first five chapters of the book of Romans discuss salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary as sufficient payment for our sins. As we will see later on, Romans 2:14 relates to that general context.

Romans chapter 1 examines mankind’s moral and spiritual deterioration, his various sins of the flesh in which he engaged when he rejected the God of heaven and earth. In that chapter, God is accusing the nations (Gentiles) of the world of willfully rejecting Him and preferring their vain idols, sinful deeds, and so on. Perhaps read Romans chapter 1 on your own in order to grasp the chapter’s thought flow. It sounds just like our local and global news reports!

Romans chapter 2 deals with various objections that man makes in attempting to defend himself against God’s accusations listed in chapter 1 (some spill over into chapter 2). The Jews believed that they were not as sinful as the Gentiles (non-Jews) so the Jews would attempt to argue that God should grant them some leniency when He would judge them—“We are not as depraved as those pagan Gentiles, so do not be so harsh on us!” In fact, some Jews believed that because they were Abraham’s children, they were inherently sinless! However, Romans 2:11 says, “For there is no respect of persons with God.” When it comes to judging sin, God does not treat any one nation or ethnic group different from another nation or ethnic group; no nation escapes because He judges them all in the end. Romans 2:12-16 is a further explanation of verse 11, and this is the passage that contains the verse that concerns your question. With that said as background, we can proceed to looking now at the verse’s immediate context (the surrounding verses).

We read in Romans chapter 2, remembering to note the immediate context of the “enigmatic” verse 14: “[12] For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) [16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

Verse 12 is talking about how sin needs to clearly be identified. The Ten Commandments are God’s standard of righteousness; we do not have to wonder what God accepts as “good” and what He rejects as “bad.” The Mosaic Law (Exodus chapter 20; Deuteronomy chapter 5) was given to the nation of Israel through Moses as irrefutable proof of man’s sin, in order to prove to Israel that they as sinners could not keep God’s laws, that they could not honor them and they could certainly not obey them (see Galatians 3:19). However, a Gentile at that time did not have the God of Israel as his God (see Ephesians 2:11-12; cf. Exodus 19:3-6; Deuteronomy 4:1-13; Romans 9:4-5; et cetera). In Romans 2:12-16, God is addressing the Jews’ argument that they should be dealt with less harshly because they were (supposedly) “less sinful” than the Gentiles. God is replying to the Jews that the Gentiles are certainly not going to get away with their sins because although they did not have the Law engraved in stone like Israel did, the Gentiles had the Law written in their hearts, conscience. Israel is without excuse because even the Gentiles have some sense of right and wrong. Again, God is fair in judging both Jew and Gentile. The Jew is without excuse (because he had the written law of God in stone) and so is the Gentile (because he had the law of God written in his heart); neither group can blame-shift to the other. They are equally guilty of being law-breakers before God.

Okay, let us return to Romans 2:13-16 and try to summarize. Please note that the verse you are inquiring about is part of a parenthetical statement (verses 13-15) that interrupts the thought flow of verses 12 and 16: “[12] For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; ) [16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

It is written in the heart of every person—in the conscience—which beliefs and behaviors are acceptable and which are not acceptable (“their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another”). This very concept of conscience governs any and every society, whether the society is Christian or non-Christian. Conscience is what keeps law and order, even if it is in a very primitive form. The Gentiles know right from wrong by virtue of their conscience, even though they did not have the written laws of God in stone like Israel had. Often, people ask, “What about those who have not heard about Jesus Christ?” Well, the Bible says they have a consciousness that there is a righteous Creator God and they know that they will face Him in judgment (Romans 1:18-20). If they are receptive to this spiritual light that they do have, then they will be willing to hear any missionary or read any Bible they come across in order to learn about Jesus Christ and trust Him to be saved.

When all lost people stand before God Almighty one day to be judged (even those who live in remote jungles), whatever spiritual light they were exposed to, they will be held accountable to God. Revelation 20:11-15 speaks of this “Great White Throne Judgment.” No one will be able to say that they did not have a chance to know the Lord Jesus Christ. As Romans 1:20 says, everyone is “without excuse” in that regard. Those who rejected what spiritual light they did have (a conscience of right and wrong), they actually rejected a chance to later hear or read Paul’s Gospel—1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day.” They do not want to know any further truth. As Peter said, they are “willfully ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5).

CONCLUSION

Romans 2:14 means this—the Gentiles did not have God’s Laws written in stone like Israel did, but the Gentiles naturally have orderly societies that punish murder, theft, adultery, lying, et cetera because the Gentiles have a conscience that leads them to govern themselves. That fact makes Israel unable to use the “we-are-not-as-sinful-as-the-Gentiles” excuse. If the Gentiles act more decent or better than the Jews, and the Gentiles do not have God’s laws written down like Israel, then Israel is that more accountable because they had those laws written down in stone and broke them anyway.

Also see:
» What happened at the Tower of Babel? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Why did God create the nation Israel? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Were Gentiles saved before our Dispensation of Grace?

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, Who is “the great cloud of witnesses” of Hebrews 12:1?

Who is “the great cloud of witnesses” of Hebrews 12:1?

WHO IS “THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES” OF HEBREWS 12:1?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Does Hebrews 12:1 suggest that our loved ones in heaven are watching us live our lives right now? It is definitely a common view (I used to believe it), but is it a Scriptural view? What would be the Bible’s view; what would be the Bible believer’s position? As Bible students, we are bound to study the Bible about the matter.

It comes as a surprise to many that the Bible can be used to teach just about anything. If you study the cults in professing “Christianity,” they all quote Scripture to some extent, and they even use verses to teach some very strange—and absurd—material! They may quote a few Bible verses here and there, or use a few Bible terms here and there, but they fabricate the rest of their “Christian” doctrine (using extra-biblical books, their imagination, et cetera). What they never do is quote the Scripture in its context; they seize Israel’s verses and apply them to us, they take verses that apply to Jesus Christ and apply them to us, they take verses that apply to the Body of Christ (us) and make them fit with Israel. They “wrest”—yes, wrestle with!—the Scriptures as the Apostle Peter says (2 Peter 3:15-16)!

Beloved, context is critical during Bible study. If you ignore the context of a verse, you will absolutely miss the Bible’s teaching in that verse. The confusion regarding Hebrews 12:1 would never have come about had people stayed with the context instead of quoting that single verse. This is largely because of the chapter break. Still, even if the chapter break causes us to overlook the previous verses, the first word of Hebrews 12:1 shows us that there is more to the concept than what is found in that verse.

Notice Hebrews 12:1-2: “[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The first word of Hebrews 12:1—”wherefore”—points back to Hebrews chapter 11. “Wherefore” means “as a result of which.” Hebrews 12:1 is the result, the conclusion, so we must look to the previous verses to grasp its meaning. Logically, we must look at chapter 11 if we are to understand the opening statements of chapter 12.

Hebrews chapter 11 lists many Old Testament saints: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Israelites who left Egypt, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, the prophets, et cetera. It was to these people of faith that God promised an earthly kingdom, a kingdom that He had promised since He created the world (Matthew 25:34). Had sin not come into creation, God would have come down and dwelt with Adam and Eve some 6,000 years ago. Hebrews 11:39 says, “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.” These saints are still waiting to see their kingdom, thousands of years later!

The author of Hebrews encourages believing Jews to endure the adversity and persecution of the future seven-year Tribulation. The “great cloud of witnesses,” not our loved ones watching us from heaven, is actually the saints listed in chapter 11. They testify to God’s faithfulness, that He will see them through all the vicissitudes of life. Believing Jews living during the awful events of the seven-year Tribulation will be reminded of those saints of old who endured persecution and yet God was faithful in delivering them (Hebrews 11:33-38). These Tribulation saints are encouraged to endure those seven years—”the race” of Hebrews 12:1—by following the ensamples of the saints of old (that “great cloud of witnesses” of God’s faithfulness, the importance of relying on Him).

Hebrews 13:5-6 says: “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews is not written to us members of the Church the Body of Christ, but we are comforted in that just as God will not forsake those Jewish believers enduring the horrible Tribulation, He will not abandon us in Christ (Romans 8:35-39).

God will keep His promise to those saints to bring them through the Tribulation and into their earthly kingdom, so we can be sure He will keep His promises that He made to us in Paul’s epistles! If God will comfort those believing Jews during the worst period of human history, surely, God will comfort us in our Dispensation of Grace, to one day deliver us and usher us into our heavenly kingdom.

Finally, it should be noted that Romans through Philemon, Paul’s epistles, never say that deceased believers in heaven watch us in this the Dispensation of Grace—1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 seems to have been the place to write it, had it been true. Our assumption is that believers in heaven do indeed remember us, and they know we are still here on earth (because they see we are not in heaven with them), but we see no reason why they would need to watch us. Rest assured that they are at peace, and one day we will meet them, to be with them and the Lord Jesus Christ forever. “To be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). For now, we must remember that our earthly ministry must be completed. Let us not lose sight of our Christian ambassadorship. Dear friends, let us be faithful in teaching and preaching God’s Word rightly divided while we still have opportunity!

Interestingly, according to the book of the Revelation, during the seven-year Tribulation, during Israel’s program, martyred Jews in heaven will be aware of their brethren suffering at the hands of the Antichrist down on earth (Revelation 6:9-11).

Also see:
» Do people become angels when they die? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» What are Christians doing in heaven right now? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Is it really true that angels watch us? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, BIBLE VERSIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS, CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT, What is the “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10?, What is the “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10?, What is the “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10?

What is the “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10?

WHAT IS THE “THAT WHICH IS PERFECT” IN 1 CORINTHIANS 13:10?

by Shawn Brasseaux

What is the “that which is perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10? We have no interest whatsoever in appealing to Bible “scholars,” commentaries, a preacher’s study notes, a modern perversion, a denomination, or any other man-made reference or group for enlightenment—they have caused more confusion about this verse than clarity anyway. Let us see what the Holy Scriptures teach. “For what saith the Scriptures?”

Firstly, we must read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 to get the context of the verse in question: “[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Generally, there are three interpretations concerning the meaning of the phrase “when that which is perfect is come” of 1 Corinthians 13:10: (1) Some people believe that it is a reference to us dying and going to heaven, (2) others argue that it refers to when Jesus returns to earth, and (3) others affirm that it refers to the completed Bible. Again, if we are really interested in learning what the Bible actually teaches, then it is mandatory that we look at the Bible instead of reading books about it (commentaries, Greek grammars, interlinears, and so on). In this study, we will systematically evaluate each of these three views and see which one agrees with the context of the verse.

1. IS “WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME” A REFERENCE TO US DYING AND GOING TO HEAVEN?

Let us take another look at the verse whose phrase is in question: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:10). This verse says nothing about us going anywhere, but it does teach that something is coming to us. Something coming to us and us going somewhere are two completely different situations. Often, because of verse 12, 1 Corinthians 13:10 is conflated with 1 John 3:2. However, 1 Corinthians 13:12 and 1 John 3:2 are not cross-references—the contexts are discussing separate issues.

Read 1 John 3:1-2: “[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [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.” Because of a famous hymn, verse 2—“for we shall see him as he is”—is used to explain 1 Corinthians 13:12’s phrase “face to face.” It is then assumed that 1 Corinthians 13:10—“when that which is perfect is come”—is descriptive of us going to heaven and seeing Jesus for who He really is, when we no longer wonder what He looks like but when we actually see Him “face to face.” Yet, beloved, a hymnal is not our authority; it is not inspired of God. Just because someone wrote a hymn lacking doctrinal clarity and accuracy, does not mean that we are to accept the hymn for sake of tradition. We should discard the hymn and we should believe the Bible for what it says rather than that what it is presumed to teach. After all, the hymn is to be written based on Bible truth; the Bible is the authority, not the hymnal. It would save us much disappointment and misery when we realize that the opinions of men are not going to profit us in eternity.

The phrase “when that which is perfect is come” has nothing to do with us dying and going to heaven. It is talking about something coming to us, not us going to a place. The real reason why people (particularly charismatics) take the view of us dying going to heaven in reference to 1 Corinthians 13:10 is so that the spiritual gifts—especially the gift of tongues—can be viewed as still operating (for, it is said, the spiritual gifts will not cease until we go to heaven). This is a very faulty position to take, for there is nothing in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 about dying and going to heaven. On the authority of the Scriptures, we must reject this view.

2. IS “WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME” A REFERENCE TO WHEN JESUS COMES BACK TO EARTH?

This view is similar to view #1 because it too is based on a faulty reading of 1 John 3:1-2: “[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [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.”

Certainly, 1 John 3:2 is speaking of Jesus Christ’s return to planet Earth (often called His “Second Coming”), but to link this to 1 Corinthians 13:12 and then interpret verse 10 in light of it, it is to read something into Paul’s writings that the Apostle did not write. Despite what the Scofield Reference Bible has in its marginal notes, 1 Corinthians 13:12 and 1 John 3:2 are not cross-references—the contexts are discussing separate issues. As it is said, a text without a context makes one a conman! We must consider contexts whenever looking at any verse.

Additionally, to say “that which is perfect is come” is a person, is to support strange and awkward grammar. Do you actually think that Jesus Christ would be called “that which is perfect?” It is quite clear that this phrase is referring to an inanimate object, not a person. The phrase “that which is perfect is come” of 1 Corinthians 13:10 does not refer to Jesus Christ or His return.

By the way, modern translations re-translate 1 Corinthians 13:10 in order to make its teaching less clear, probably in attempt to make it more appealing to those who want the verse to support their denominational doctrine (if left alone, the verse would put their religious system out of business!). The Ryrie Study Bible, New American Standard Version, for example, reads in 1 Corinthians 13:10, “but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” Its footnote says, “The perfect. A reference to Christ’s second coming.” Nothing could be further from the truth—the context does not allow such a strange view!

The real reason why people (particularly charismatics) take this view of “that which is perfect” refers to Jesus Christ’s return is, like view #1, so that the spiritual gifts—especially the gift of tongues—can be viewed as still operating (for, it is said, the spiritual gifts will not cease until Jesus comes back). Like view #1, this is a very faulty position to take, for there is nothing in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 about Jesus coming back to Earth. On the authority of the Scriptures, we must reject this view as well.

3. IS “WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME” A REFERENCE TO WHEN THE BIBLE IS COMPLETED?

Let us take another look at the verse whose phrase is in question: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:10). As previously mentioned, this verse says nothing about us going anywhere, but it does teach that something is coming to us. The question is, what is coming to us

We should look at the verse in its context (1 Corinthians 13:8-13): “[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

The thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is the heart of Paul’s three-chapter-long discourse on spiritual gifts and the Dispensation of Grace. The Corinthians were spiritually immature (1 Corinthians 3:1-2), and they were ignorant of spiritual gifts and they were misusing and abusing them (1 Corinthians 12:1–14:40). Rather than focusing on sound doctrine, the Corinthians, like today’s charismatics, were too engaged in emotional experiences—especially the gift of tongues (refer to the 40 verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 14). Paul wrote chapters 12-14 to show them that their Christian lives were not functioning properly, and if they did not correct their thinking, when the spiritual gifts would fall away, their Christian lives would fall apart!

  • 1 Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child, I spake as a child.” This would be a reference to the gift of tongues (verse 8), the ability to speak forth God’s Word in intelligent human languages never formally learned.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child… I understood as a child.” This would be a reference to the gift of knowledge (verse 8), the supernatural ability of knowing and understanding deep spiritual truths of God’s Word before they were written down in Scripture (see verse 2).
  • 1 Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child… I thought as a child.” This would be a reference to the gift of prophecy (verse 8), the ability to preach and identify God’s Word before it was written.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:11: “But when I became a man, I put away childish things.” This would be spiritual maturity, when all revelation from God is given. It is then that we do away with the immature things.

Paul wrote that there was coming a day when the gift of prophecy would fail, the gift of tongues would cease, and the gift of knowledge would vanish away (verse 8). The Church the Body of Christ would move away from doctrinal immaturity and into doctrinal maturity. In other words, the completed revelation from God would be given, and this would bring about mature saints, people who fully grasped what God wanted them to know (Ephesians 4:11-14).

Let us look back at 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Paul acknowledged that he had not received all of the information God wanted him to have and give to us. Later, the Apostle wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:1: “I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” Up to the time he had written 1 Corinthians during Acts, Paul had already penned Galatians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He still had to write 2 Corinthians and Romans. Years afterward, once Acts ended, Paul wrote his prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy. All 13 Pauline epistles are the full revelation of God for this the Dispensation of Grace.

After all, Paul wrote in Colossians 1:25-26 that one of his divinely-ordained roles was to complete God’s Word: “[25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” Ephesians 3:1-4 explains: “[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)….” We learn the knowledge God revealed first to Paul, by reading his epistles of Romans through Philemon.

“When that which is perfect is come” is a reference to when partial knowledge and partial prophesying are done away. Verses 9 and 10 again: “[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” This is talking about the completion of the Bible’s canon of books, which was settled in God’s mind in the first century A.D. Once Paul wrote the epistle of 2 Timothy, the Bible was complete, and there was no more revelation needed from God (cf. Colossians 1:25 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17). This is the only view that the context of 1 Corinthians 13:10 allows. For God to have us grow up spiritually is something He wants now, not when we go to heaven (view #1) or when Jesus comes back (view #2): God wants mature Christians now (view #3).

By the way, the word “perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10 is not sinless perfection, but the completion of God’s revelation (the Holy Bible) and the spiritual maturity it brings to those who read and believe it. Notice some examples of how the Scriptures use the term “perfect” in that sense:

  • Philippians 3:15: “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
  • Colossians 1:28: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”
  • Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
  • Hebrews 5:14: “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.”

CONCLUSION

Generally, there are three primary interpretations concerning the meaning of the phrase “that which is perfect is come” of 1 Corinthians 13:10: (1) Some people believe that that is a reference to us dying and going to heaven, (2) others believe that it refers to when Jesus returns to earth, and (3) others believe that it refers to the completed Bible. The only sound view—in light of context, in light of grammar, in light of Scripture—is that 1 Corinthians 13:10 is referring to the completed canon of Scripture of the first century A.D. There are no spiritual gifts
operating today because we have the completed 66-book Holy Bible. If we are to be people of faith, we must throw away our doctrinally-deficient hymns, we must discard our faulty theological systems, and we must break away from our pre-conceived ideas. We are to embrace the simple truths of the English Bible. In the end, God’s Word—not theological systems, not Bible commentaries, not preachers or teachers—alone will matter.

Also see:
» Must I pray or speak in “tongues?”
» Can I trust the Holy Bible? (TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» What about spiritual gifts in the Dispensation of Grace? (TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)