Mystery of the Rapture

Pastor Perry Stone spent a few sessions teaching about the mystery of the Rapture during his recent broadcasts on Manna Fest. It is an advanced teaching, so I encourage us all to study it further; for those interested in the original broadcasts, they are freely available for download as podcasts in the iTune Store or via Perry Stone's website:

http://media.voe.org/Manna_fest/

As a bit of background, there are several mainstream theories about the Rapture and the Tribulation (See my notes from study of Revelation with Dr. Chuck Missler). In his Manna Fest program, Pastor Stone goes through the Scripture to explain 1) why the Rapture is real; 2) how it occurs; and 3) why it takes place BEFORE the Tribulation (i.e., "Pre-Trib" theology).

I did not include notes on his two teachings on showing why Post- and Mid-Tribulation theories result from incomplete understanding of the Scripture and why a full understanding of the Scripture leads to the Pre-Tribulation theory because his teachings were just too dense for me to effectively write it down. That is, I need to do a lot more studying of my own before I can even begin to explain what all the fuss is about.

However, I can explain this: Understanding that the Rapture will take place is critical. The Parable of the 10 Virgins is the most vivid example I can think of to illustrate the importance. The 10 virgins represent Christians. Only 5 of them made it to the wedding banquet because only 5 of them diligently looked for the coming of the groom (Jesus). This means that those who are not looking for the return of Christ will miss the "catching away". It does NOT mean they are not saved. It simply means, they will be left behind and have to endure the horror and hardship of the Tribulation--a period of God's wrath meant for enemies of God.

Now, whether we believe the Rapture will happen before, during, or after the Tribulation, that is not going to change our salvation. It is purely a theological debate, because the Bible doesn't directly tell us when it's going to happen. This is why there is a debate in the first place, because biblical scholars who spend hours studying this have to depend on their knowledge of the history, the culture, and the Scripture to piece together the clues for their "answer". And I put answer in quotation marks because it's really their best guess at best. And it's okay if Christians differ on their views about when the Rapture will take place. As long as we are all looking for the return of Jesus, we will be caught away and not be left behind.

With that, my notes below:

Revelation of Jesus Christ's ascension and return to earth to take the living saints in the air and also to resurrect the dead John 14:1-2

John 5:28

John 6:40

Acts 1:11

The Gospels and the Book of Acts reveal Jesus will return.

Paul wrote about 7 mysteries in the New Testament, and one of them is about the return of Jesus to resurrect the dead in Christ and the return of Jesus to catch away the living.

There are 4 different Greek words used to describe what has been translated as the concept of "Rapture" in English

1 thesselonian 4:16-17

Paul writes about how Jesus will return to catch up or rapture the living saints "caught up together" = to seize or to pluck by force

Ephesians 1:10

"gather together in one" = to sum up or to gather in one

2 thesselonian 2:1

"gathering together" = a complete collecting of something, of individuals

Hebrews 12:22-24

"General assembly" = to assemble all This is a Jewish teaching that every 7 years, there would be a great assembly that takes place at the temple.

The Book of Revelation is written around 20-25 years after 70 AD, thus throwing out the theory that Revelation has already occurred in 70 AD

Amillenialists believe that there is no thousand year reign of Christ

There are some who do not believe in the Rapture based on the idea that the Bible does not mention the word Rapture in the English translation.

So... why do Christians even use the word, Rapture?

Well, consider the following first: The words demons, 2nd-coming, trinity, millennial reign etc. are not translated in the English version either. However, these words sums up the concept that is clearly stated in the Bible. That is, it is easier to say "demon" than "an evil spirit that possesses", or "trinity" than "God the Father, the Son, an the Holy Spirit" etc. Similarly, there is a reason why the word Rapture was chosen to sum up the event of Jesus catching away or assemble His people. Any version of the Bible, not written on its original language of Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, is a translation!

When translating the Bible, words are carefully chosen to reflect the original language, that is, in parallel. The word Raptus was used in the Greek to describe the act of catching away, hence the English word Rapture was chosen.

If people disagree with using such a word to describe this event, then use the general term that describes the event, which is found throughout the Bible: general assembly. The word "translation" can also be used, as Enoch was translated. However, the use of these terms can be confusing because these terms are also used to describe other functions. Thus, Rapture is preferred because it is the universal word that describes the unique event readily understood by CHRISTIANS.

The Old Testament speaks about the Rapture:

Zephaniah 1:18, 2:1, and can be explained by New Testament texts

"Lord's wrath"--Revelation 6:16, 11:18

"Gather yourselves together"--Ephesians 1:10, 1 Thesselonians 4:16-17, 2 Thesselonians 2:1

"a nation will provoke you"--Matthew 21:43, 1 Peter 2:9 reveal this nation is the Church; Deuteronomy 32:21 mentions God will raise up a nation that would provoke Israel to jealousy

"before the decree is issued"--Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12:14 reveal this decree is the 7-year peace treaty made by the anti-christ

"before the Lord's anger comes upon you"--Romans 1:18, 2:8, Ephesians 5:6, 1 Thesselonians 1:10

Prophesy: "the day of God's wrath is coming and the land will be destroyed"--Isaiah 13, All through judgments of Revelation

We are told to gather together BEFORE the decree is issued, meaning PRIOR to the last 7-year covenant the anti-christ will make in Daniel 9:27

That is, Rapture can also be called:

Gather together: 2 Thesselonians 2:1

Caught up: 1 Thesselonians 4:16-17

General assembly: Hebrew 12:22-24

Translation: Hebrew 11:5

The concept of Rapture is mentioned in the Torah: Galatians 4:24-25

This happened when Moses was on Mount Sinai. Paul was also on Mount Sinai when he got the revelation of the Rapture (Galatians 1:15-17). On Mount Sinai, the Lord showed Paul the mystery of the Rapture, captured in Paul’s writing in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. No one had gotten a direct revelation of this mystery before, which God had hidden from men since the beginning of the world.

Why did God have to wait to reveal the mystery of the Rapture until Paul’s time?
1. The mystery of the Church: the Church had to be formed!

2. The Gentiles had to be grafted into the covenant, because the Gentiles are a part of the great catching away that is going to take place. The Gentiles were not grafted into the covenant until Acts 10.

The Tribulation is mentioned in...

Jeremiah 30:7

Isaiah 13:13

Matthew 24

Revelation 7:14

Daniel 9:27 mentions that the Tribulation will last 7 years

Zephaniah 2:3

Psalms 27:5

Isaiah 26:19-21

"We may be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger"--suggesting the Rapture occurs BEFORE the Tribulation

Isaiah 26:9

Jesus will be raised along with the dead--This is talking about the resurrection of the righteous

1 Thesselonians 4:16-17

The dead in Christ will be raised first

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The resurrection upon Jesus' return is a mystery, which Paul goes on to explain what that mystery is

Isaiah 26:20

Shut the door: Matthew 25:1-13, Revelation 4:1--once you enter through the door, the door is shut

Indignation: Daniel 11:36--the judgments or wrath of God Hide yourself for a little moment: This little moment is not forever, and Revelation 5, 8, 16 talks about God's wrath and judgments during this period

Isaiah 26:21

God will punish the inhabitants of Earth for the shedding of innocent blood: Revelation 6:10--Martyrs cry out to God, asking how long would He wait to avenge their blood on those who dwell on the Earth; Revelation 18:21-24--Mystery Babylon is judged because she shed the blood of Christ and the blood of the saints and the prophets Hence, the wrath of God in these end time judgments is based on more than anything else the shedding of innocent blood--For example, at least 50 million babies have been aborted in our world!

God does not judge the righteous in the same manner as the unrighteous. God provides an escape of His wrath for the righteous (1 Corinthians 10:13, Luke 21:36)--another support for the "catching away" of God's people PRIOR to the Tribulation

God has always provided “escape” for the righteous, aka the overcomes (Revelation 2-3), while He released His wrath on the unrighteous, aka the wicked (Psalms 71:2, 141:10; Isaiah 37:32, 66:19):

* In the days of Noah (Hebrews 11:7)

* And as Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37), and “It was the same in the days of Lot” (Luke 17:28-30), these are other evidences for the pre-Tribulation Rapture theory

* In the days of Lot (Genesis 18:25, 19:22; 2 Peter 2:9)

* Israelites escaping Egypt (Exodus 12:23)

* Rahab escaping judgment (Hebrews 11:31)

* Christians escaping Jerusalem during its demise (Luke 21:21)

* A group of people will escape from the Anti-Christ to Jordan (Daniel 11:41)

* 144,000 Jews will be sealed and protected from the destruction of Anti-Christ (Revelation 7:3)

* Noah, Daniel, and Job will escape God’s judgment (Ezekiel 14:13-14)

Parallels between Jesus’ 2nd coming and Israel under Moses’ leadership show that Moses on Mount Sinai is a clear picture of the Rapture:

* Israel was a peculiar people (Exodus 19:5); the Church is a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9)

* Israel was a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6); the Church is kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:6)

* God appeared to Moses on the 3rd day (Exodus 19:11); Jesus will raise us up on the 3rd day (Hosea 6:1-3)

* God came down on Mount Sinai in the clouds (Exodus 19:16); Jesus is returning in the clouds (Acts 1:9-11)

* God’s voice sounded like a trumpet (Exodus 19:16); when the Lord returns, the trumpet of God will sound (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

* God answered Moses in a voice (Exodus 19:19); when the Lord returns, we will hear the voice of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

* God came down in fire (Exodus 19:18); Christ returns in fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

* God descended from Heaven (Exodus 19:20); Christ will descend from Heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

* God called Moses up (Exodus 19:20); the Saints will go up upon the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Reasons for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

1. The tribulation is a time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

2. It’s a trial that Israel has to go through in order to bring about the return of the Son.

3. This trial is not for the Church; the Church is judged at the Lord’s table!

4. God reserves His wrath for His enemies (Nahum 1:2). He chastises His children.

5. The tribulation is a time to judge the nations for their sins (Revelation 11:18), not the Church, not the saints!

6. The tribulation is to destroy the Earth of sinners (Isaiah 13:19); it has nothing to do with destroying the righteous!

7. The tribulation is to bring forth a remnant of Israel (Isaiah 1:9, Revelation 12:17)

8. The Lord has not appointed us to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

9. The Lord said we should pray to escape these things (Luke 21:36) – If we aren’t meant to escape, then why would God tell us to pray to escape?!

10. The Lord said He would keep us from the hour of testing (Revelation 3:10)

11. The Church will have a Sabbath of rest in Heaven (Hebrews 4:9)

The Rapture is a blessing for those who have been faithful and overcomers.

Halloween... What's the harm?

Dr. Chuck Missler did a couple of sessions on his radio show discussing how we should view Halloween.


I list the following thoughts shared by Missler that helps put Halloween in perspective:


Genesis 6 speaks about conditions that led to the flood


2 Peter 2 and Jude 1:6
If God didn't spare the sinning angels, why would He spare you?


Angels who sinned in the days of Noah are currently chained up in Hell--some say these are the angels that are released in Revelation 9


The point?


God has warned us that near the end times, numerous methods would arise to deceive that there is no creator and that he has not made salvation possible through his son.


Partying all night long, dressed in costumes may not seem like a big deal--and there is nothing wrong with having fun--but we should realize the history of Halloween is satanically inspired.


As we grow as Christians, ignorance is no longer an option. We should know better than anyone by now that God gives us the freedom to choose, and to choose wisely, we need to do the research.


At the end of the day, it always comes down to loving God. We live our lives for God, not for ourselves. Anything we do, we do in the glory of God. As devoted Christians, how great would we feel if we party for the sake of partying? Partying without God? Is that really a party? Forget not, the world's greatest party is waiting for us in Heaven, when Jesus returns for us!


And again, forget not that right now, we're still in the middle of a spiritual war. Satan will do whatever he can to garner as many souls as he can for himself.


What can we do?


Understanding the bigger picture is the obvious first step. However, no amount of knowledge will help us fight him because, as Dr. Missler said, "This is a spiritual battle, not an intellectual exercise."


2 Thesselonians 2
The Holy Spirit is the main restrainer of sin UNTIL He is removed from the world. "Greater is He (Holy Spirit, but also God and Jesus) that dwells in you that that of the world (Satan)!"


If we think the world is messed up now, imagine what would happen when the Holy Spirit is removed from Earth!


Ephesians 6: Armor of God
Hence, our best bet is to understand what the Armor of God is, how to put it on, and how to make sure it remains impenetrable to Satan's tactics.


The above is not an in-depth analysis. My main hope is that it inspires us all to learn about the rituals that we get involved with and not be content with just going along with the flow. Understand our actions, and be fully responsible with our decisions.


Satan is a formidable enemy; his deception is skillful. As if it's not enough that we're our own worst enemies, we have to be on our guard not to fall into Satan's traps. Daunting, yes, but that's why we should always be equipped with the Armor of God. Study Ephesians 6 carefully and learn every detail of this armor. Because with great care given to maintaining this armor, Satan won't be able to harm us. Be inspired by Job. His Armor of God was impeccable.


For those interested to learn about the history of Halloween, check out this article:
http://theresurgence.com/2011/10/31/what-christians-should-know-about-halloween

Luke

Notes from Dr. Chuck Missler's commentary on the Book of Luke


The miracle of healing occurred more often and more consistently prior to Jesus' death on the cross. One possible reason is because the gift of healing given to the disciples was prove that they were God's people.


Upon Jesus' death on the cross, thus fulfilling OT prophecies, the need for these miracles was diminished. This is not to say that God no longer heals. But rather, The disciples of today no longer need to depend on the power of healing to prove that Jesus is our savior.


When Adam and Eve first ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge and immediately covered themselves with leaves, that was the world's first act of religion. Religion is man's attempt to reconcile with God by himself. This is not possible for we are sinners and can never make ourselves perfect.


Luke 16:19-30
Concept of Hell found in the Bible:


* Sheol (Hebrew):
- a place for disembodied spirits
- can be regarded as synonym for Hades
- inhabitants of Sheol are the congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21), the abode of the souls of the wicked (Numbers 16), also the location of the good in the OT (Psalm 16)
- described as the deep and the dark in the Book of Job
- the dead go DOWN to it
- connotatively translated as grave, but that's not technically correct--grave is a physical thing and can be owned; Sheol is none of those characters, hence is not to be equated with a grave


* Hades (Greek):
- has two compartments
- paradise and tartarus (really, really dark place)
- the abode of the unsaved dead prior to the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20)
- a prison with gates and bars and locks (Matthew 16, Revelation 1)
- the righteous and the wicked are sent there but are kept in separate compartments; the blessed dead are sent to the paradise portion of Hades, aka Abraham's Bosom (Luke 23)
- though Hades is also located downward, we see from the story of the rich man and Lazarus that the rich man looked UP to see Abraham's Bosom, suggesting the two compartments have a hierarchal difference; there is an impassable gulf between the two compartments


* Gehenna (Greek):
- was a city dump
- became an idiom for a lake that burns with fire and brimstone
- Hades will later be dumped into it
- Gehanna is therefore forever, whereas Hades is temporary


* Tartarus (Greek):
- the deepest abyss of Hades
- a place of incarceration for angels of sins (2 Peter 2:4) 


* Abusso:
- beast of Revelation comes out of here
- where Satan will be bound for 1000 years
- where demon Locust emerge in Revelation 9


A few things Luke teaches us about one's existence in Hell:
- The rich man was fully conscious; there is no soul sleep in Hell
- The rich man could speak
- The rich man had memory
- The rich man was in eternal pain
- The rich man expressed desires
- The rich man's eternal destiny was irrevocably fixed AND HE KNEW IT. Once he was there, there was no second chance. He knew it was over. He knew what he was experiencing was fair and just. He knew what his brothers needed to do to avoid his fate. He knew they needed to repent! He prayed that somebody tells then!
- Essentially, the rich man had a tremendous amount of awareness. He's not yet in Hell in the sense of Gehenna, but he is in Hell in the sense of Hades.


Insights? For me, it means there is no turning a blind eye to Hell.


People might be flippant and say they'd rather be in Hell to escape all the rules of God. Well, really? The rich man may have had a great life on earth, but when his physical body ran its course, he ended up in Hell because he chose to go without God. From Luke's documentation, it does not sound like the rich man enjoys Hell much. He was in eternal suffering, and more importantly, he KNEW his fate was fair and just. He also KNEW it was too late for him; his fate had been sealed. Furthermore, he KNEW the only way to escape this fate is repentance. He is filled with so much regret and pain, he wished someone could warn his brothers so that they can avoid his fate. This does not sound like someone who was happy with his decision to reject God.


Also, to those who think of God only in terms of never-ending rules, I'll just briefly offer the perspective that perhaps it is the lack of understanding of love that leads to viewing God only in terms of rules. Think about it this way: When a man loves a woman, he is only focused on doing the right things to make her happy. There are no rules. Only when he starts to tire of her does he then think of hustling home to eat dinner together, waking up early to help with chores, skipping a night out with the boys for a romantic evening out with his gal, etc. as "restrictions" or "rules"!


Jesus told us that our number one duty is to love our God. When we learn to truly love God, we don't see rules; we see just God.


Luke 17
This passage describes an intimate prayer between Jesus and God


Luke 22
These 3 Spring feasts speak of Jesus' first coming:
* Feast of Passover
* Feast of First Fruits (morning after Shabbat)--Jesus was raised on thus day; He's our first fruit!
* Feast of Unleavened Bread


The day of Pentecost (middle feast) occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is the day when the Church was born.


The 3 Fall feasts thus speak of Jesus' second coming.
* Feast of Trumpets
* Feast of Yom Kippur
* Feast of Tabernacles




Exodus 6:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10
These verses describes the meaning of the 4 cups of Passover. God said...
* I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians = cup of the bringing out
* I will free you from being slaves to them = cup of delivery
* I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment = cup of redemption or blessing
* This is what we use for communion I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God = cup of taking out 


Jesus has never touched the last cup. Jesus drank only from the first 3 cups. He is waiting to drink from the last cup when we are all with Him (Luke 23).


Each Gospel links the Crucifixion with a different offering, as described in Leviticus 1-5
* Matthew: trespass offering, speaks of Christ dying to pay for the sins actually committed against God and man
* Mark: sin offering, speaks of Christ dying for what we are, not only for what we've done
* John: burnt offering, speaks of Christ dying to glorify God, as Abraham told Isaac that God will provide Himself the lamb
* Luke: peace offering, speaks of Christ bringing peace between God and man by shedding His blood on the cross


7 cries from the Cross:
1. Father forgive them for they know not what they do
2. Today thou shall be with me in paradise
3. Woman behold your son: Jesus telling John to treat Mary as His mother (2 John is a letter to Mary)
4. My God My God why hast thou forsaken me: the only time in eternity that Jesus did not call God "my Father"--why? Because Jesus took on the sins of the world
5. I thirst
6. It is finished!
7. Father, into your hands I command my spirit: Temple curtain is torn from top to bottom; Roman soldiers admitted that surely He was the Son of God


Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus and documented in the Gospels:
1. The triumphant entry (Luke 19)
2. Betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver
3. Like a smitten shepherd, His sheep would be scattered
4. He'd be given vinegar and gull to drink
5. They would cast lots for His garments
6. His side would be pierced
7. Not a bone will be broken (Exodus 12, Numbers 9, Psalms 34)
8. Would die amongst the malefactors
9. Dying words foretold (Psalm 22, 31)
10. He would be buried by a rich man
11. He would rise from the dead the 3rd day
12. Resurrection would be followed by the destruction of Jerusalem

Hebrews 1:1-2:4

Compiled notes from my BSF group


Hebrews 1:1–3; 2:1; 3:6; 6:1


The author of Hebrews wished to remind all Christians that we must anchor our faith in Christ, because Christ is faithful to us. We also must be diligent in our faith and mature in Christ.


Zondervan NIV Introduction to Hebrews:


* The letter was addressed primarily to Jewish converts who were familiar with the OT and who were being tempted to revert to Judaism or to Judaize the gospel (cf. Gal 2:14). Some have suggested that these professing Jewish Christians were thinking of merging with a Jewish sect, such as the one at Qumran near the Dead Sea. It has also been suggested that the recipients were from the "large number of priests who became obedient to the faith" (Ac 6:7).


* The theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and as mediator of God's grace. The prologue (1:1-4) presents Christ as God's full and final revelation, far surpassing the revelation given in the OT. The prophecies and promises of the OT are fulfilled in the "new covenant" (or "new testament"), of which Christ is the mediator. From the OT itself, Christ is shown to be superior to the ancient prophets, to angels, to Moses (the mediator of the former covenant) and to Aaron and the priestly succession descended from him.


* Practical applications of this theme are given throughout the book. The readers are told that there can be no turning back to or continuation in the old Jewish system, which has been superseded by the unique priesthood of Christ. God's people must now look only to him, whose atoning death, resurrection and ascension have opened the way into the true, heavenly sanctuary of God's presence. To "ignore such a great salvation" (2:3) or to give up the pursuit of holiness (12:10, 14) is to face the anger of the "living God" (10:31). Five times the author weaves into his presentation of the gospel stern warnings (see note on 2:1-4) and reminds his readers of the divine judgment that came on the rebellious generation of Israelites in the desert.


The author encouraged people in difficult times with the following phrases:


* Christ is faithful (3:6)


* We need to make every effort to observe the Sabbath (4:11)


* We need to hold firmly to the faith we profess (4:14)


* We need to move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity (6:1)


* We need to take hold of the hope set before us (6:18)


In Hebrews 1:2-5, we learn the following about Jesus:


* Jesus was appointed heir of all things


* Through Jesus, God made the universe


* Jesus is the radiance of God's glory


* Jesus is the exact representation of God's being


* Jesus sustains all things


* Jesus provides purification for sins


* Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven


* Jesus is superior to the angels


* Jesus is God’s son


Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Hebrews 1:2-3 The superiority of God's revelation through his Son is demonstrated by seven great descriptive statements about him: 1. appointed heir of all things.The incarnate Son, having performed the work of redemption, was gloriously exalted to the position of the firstborn heir of God, i.e., he received the inheritance of God's estate ("all things"). See Ro 8:17. 2. through whom he made the universe. See Jn 1:3; 1Co 8:6; Col 1:16 and note. 3. radiance of God's glory. As the brilliance of the sun is inseparable from the sun itself, so the Son's radiance is inseparable from deity, for he himself is God, the second person of the Trinity (see Jn 1:14, 18 and notes). 4. exact representation of his being. Jesus is not merely an image or reflection of God. Because the Son himself is God (see note on Ro 9:5), he is the absolutely authentic representation of God's being (see Jn 14:9; Col 1:15 and note). 5. sustaining all things. Christ is not like Atlas, the mythical Greek god who held the world on his shoulders. The son dynamically holds together all that has been created through him (Col 1:17). 6. provided purification for sins. Through is redeeming death on the cross (see 7:27; 9:12; Tit 2:14 and note). 7. sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Being seated at God's right hand indicates that Christ is actively ruling with God as Lord over all (see v. 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Mt 26:64; Ac 2:23; 5:34; Ro 8:34; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; 1Pe 3:22).


Hebrews 1:4–14


Old Testament references to verses in Hebrews:


Hebrews 1:5; Psalm 2:7
"You are my Son; today I have become your Father"


Hebrews 1:5; 2 Samuel 7:14, 1 Chronicles 17:13
"I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"


Hebrews 1:6; Deuteronomy 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
"Let all God's angels worship him."


Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4
"He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire."


Hebrews 1:8-9; Psalm 45:6-7
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."


Hebrews 1:10-12; Psalm 102:25-27
"In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."


Hebrews 1:13; Psalm 110:1
"Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"


By using Old Testament references, the author provides scriptural proof of Christ's superiority to angels, that Christ is the Son of God.


Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Hebrews1:5-14 Christ's superiority to angels is documented by seven OT quotations (see NIV text notes), showing that he is God's Son, that he is worshiped by angels and that, though he is God, he is distinguished from the Father.


Another example of Old Testament passages speaking of Christ is Isaiah 53.


*Isaiah 53:5
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."


*Isaiah 53:6
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."


Based on the above examples, we need to realize that understanding the Old Testament is critical. The Old Testament documents historical events and prophecies that culminate in the birth of Jesus and His sacrificial death. Without knowledge of the Old Testament, one cannot fully comprehend 1) Jesus’ death on the cross; 2) central role of Israel; 3) the rise of the Gentiles; just to name a few. And why is that important? Because Jesus told us to know the times we are in (Matthew 24), and one of the most important books filled with prophecies that have yet been fulfilled is the Book of Revelation. Without knowledge of the Old Testament, we would not be able to appreciate nor comprehend the mysteries listed in Revelation. That is, we would not have the most important tool we need to understand the times!


Hebrews 1:4–14


Jesus is superior to angels:


* Jesus is the Son of God, whereas angels are only messengers


* Angels worship Jesus


* Jesus is a ruler; angels are only servants


* Jesus is the Creator


* Jesus will live forever


* Jesus sits at the right hand of God


* Angels serve us; we serve Christ; that makes them at least two tiers lower than Christ


http://www.gci.org/bible/hebrews1
The author uses a chain of scriptures to support his point that Jesus is superior to the angels. He does not stop to demonstrate that these scriptures are really about Jesus — that seems to be something he figures the readers already agree on. On this topic, he is writing to a sympathetic audience, not a hostile one. But in preparation for the subjects that he deals with in later chapters, he does want to remind them of how great Jesus is, and he begins by comparing him to angels. Hebrews 1:5: "For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?" The answer is that God never said this to any angel, but he did say it for Jesus. The first quote comes from Psalm 2:7, which was originally about the kings of Israel, but was often understood as a messianic prophecy. The second quote is from 2 Samuel 7:14, which was originally about Solomon, but came to be applied to the end-time Son of David, the Messiah. The point in both quotations is that Jesus is the Son of God, whereas angels are only messengers. Although angels are great and powerful, they aren’t even in the same league as Jesus. They are the hired help; Jesus is the Son of God. The next two quotations are about angels. "And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’ In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire’" (Heb. 1:6-7). The first quote is from the Greek version of Deut. 32:43; the Hebrew original doesn’t say this. And even in the Greek version, the scripture is about the angels worshipping God. But the author makes no attempt to explain why he can use this verse for Jesus — he apparently knows that these readers already understand the verse in this way. The second quote is from the Greek version of Psalm 104:4; the Hebrew version has a different emphasis. Like God in every way The next two quotes are much longer. "But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy’" (Heb. 1:8-9, quoting from Psalm 45:6-7). Again, there is no attempt to explain why these verses can be used for Jesus Christ, even when they plainly call him God: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever..." Apparently the author is reminding the readers of something they have already been taught. The point is that the Son is a ruler, but the angels are only servants. The next verses are quoted from Psalm 102:25-27: "He also says, ‘In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end’" (Heb. 1:10-12). The original psalm is about God. In Hebrews, it is applied to Christ, saying that he is the Creator and that he will live forever. In every respect, Jesus is greater than angels. "To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?" (v. 13). As in verse 5, the answer is "none." God never put an angel at his right hand, but he did put Jesus there. This is quoted from Psalm 110:1, the Old Testament verse that is quoted the most often in the New Testament. This verse will be used again in Hebrews, but here, it is used simply to say that the Son is better than the angels. They are merely "ministering spirits," as it says in verse 14, "sent to serve those who will inherit salvation." Angels serve us; we serve Christ; that makes them two steps lower than Christ is. He is really great — exactly like God, called God, creating like God and living like God. 9. a. What have you learned about angels from this passage? Answer: Although angels are powerful, they are in no way greater than Jesus Christ.


Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Hebrews 1:4 superior to the angels. To most Jews angels were exalted beings, especially revered because they were involved in giving the law at Sinai (see 2:2) and to the Jews the law was God's supreme revelation. The Dead Sea Scrolls reflect the expectation that the archangel Michael would be the supreme figure in the Messianic kingdom. name. See Php 2:9 and note. What follows indicates that this name was "Son" - a name to which no angel could lay claim.


Hebrews 2:1–4


We are warned not to drift away from God’s Way.


The message of the Gospels help us remain faithful in God's Way, for it reminds us that Christ died for us on the cross to wash us of our sins and that we are all saved through the grace of God in Christ.


Zondervan NIV footnote:


* Hebrews 2:1 what we have heard. The message of the gospel, including that of Christ's person as the God-man and his redemptive work on the cross. drift away. From the greater revelation given through the Son.

How should Christians view Halloween?

Houdini and The Witch of Endor

from the October 18, 2011 eNews issue
http://www.khouse.org (visit our website for a FREE subscription)

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"Houdini: Art and Magic" opened October 2 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, complete with Houdini's private journals, handcuffs, and a re-creation of his water torture cell. The exhibition explores the life of the death-defying illusionist. Houdini is known for his magic and fantastic stunts. As a side note, he also attended hundreds of seances, where he tried to discern the tricks of mediums and debunk them as frauds. Houdini died on October 31st, and in a bit of irony, Houdini fans still try to conjure up the man's spirit on Halloween every year.

Another Jewish man went to call up somebody from the dead several thousands of years ago, and it did not end well. Halloween seems like an appropriate time to review what is perhaps one of the strangest events recorded in the scriptures: the account of King Saul's encounter with the Witch of Endor.

The Impending Battle

In his preoccupation with the pursuit of his rival David, King Saul had neglected the growing Philistine threat to Israel. Meanwhile, the Philistines undertook a new strategy and marched into the Jezreel Valley where they could use their chariots to advantage, thus cutting Saul off from the northern tribes. (This same valley is destined to be the site of the future battle of Armageddon.) The Philistines were encamped at Shunem, a city in the Valley of Jezreel situated on the south slope of the Hill of Moreh. The Israelite forces were camped five miles to the south at Mount Gilboa.

When Saul saw the Philistine army he was so afraid that his heart "greatly trembled." He was gripped with fear. Saul inquired of the Lord, but there was no answer. The prophet Samuel was dead. No encouraging word from the Lord would be forthcoming.

Consulting the Witch

With the heavens silent, Saul sought out a medium to enable him to determine the outcome of the battle with the Philistines. God had commanded Saul to rid Israel from those delving in the realm of the occult. However Saul was informed by his servants that at Endor, between Mount Tabor and the Hill of Moreh, there lived a medium who had escaped the purges. The Old Testament law forbade occultic practices of any kind and called for the death penalty on any who would consult mediums. This would be fulfilled literally in the case of Saul himself.

Saul disguised himself and traveled under the cover of darkness to Endor to consult the medium. Assuring her that she would not be punished for practicing her forbidden profession, he requested that she bring up Samuel from the dead. The medium carried out Saul's instructions, but rather than using the tricks of her trade to deceive Saul, she herself was shocked to see an old man appear, whom Saul identified as Samuel!

Alternative Views 

Some have suggested that the appearance of Samuel was psychological - in the mind of Saul. However, the woman also saw Samuel, and Saul actually talked with Samuel. Some of the early church fathers held the view that a demon impersonated Samuel and appeared to Saul. But the message in 1 Samuel 28:16-19 would have hardly come from a demon.

Still others have concluded that the medium was a fraud and tricked Saul into thinking that he saw Samuel. Yet the medium was surprised herself by Samuel's appearance and that would not have been the case if it were a contrived trick.

The Rabbinical View

The traditional rabbinical view is that these verses record a genuine appearance of Samuel that God Himself brought about. There are at least five arguments that favor this view:

1) The medium was surprised, indicating that something happened that she was not expecting;
2) Saul identified the figure as Samuel and bowed down in respect for the prophet. It is unlikely that Saul, who knew Samuel so well, would have been easily tricked by an impersonation;
3) The message that Samuel spoke was clearly from God;
4) The Biblical text itself says that the figure was Samuel. It is clear that the intent of the Scripture is for the reader to understand that Samuel actually appeared to Saul.
5) A similar appearance of one returned from the dead occurred at the Transfiguration - when Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus.

The Prophet's Counsel 

Samuel proceeded to remind Saul that the kingdom had been taken from him because of his disobedience in the Amalekite war, and then predicted Israel's defeat and the deaths of Saul and his sons at the hands of the Philistines. Samuel never really answered Saul's initial question, "What should I do?" There was nothing that could be done. Because of his disobedience, his fate was sealed.

Saul was understandably terrified because of the message of doom that Samuel had communicated to him. Judgment was imminent and certain. All that had been Saul's as king would soon be lost because of his rebellion and contempt for God's will.

The Defeat at Mount Gilboa 

The battle was a disaster from the beginning. Saul's army was quickly routed, then slaughtered, including Saul's sons: Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchishua. The king himself was wounded by an arrow. In agony, Saul begged his armor-bearer to thrust him through with a sword but he refused. In desperation, Saul fell on his own sword and ended his life in ignominy.

So great was Israel's defeat that many of the cities in northern Israel were abandoned as their citizens fled to regions safe from the Philistine menace. As a result, the Philistines were able to occupy many Israelite cities. When Saul's body was found by the Philistines, they dishonored it by cutting off the head, stripping off the armor and hanging the naked body on a wall in the open square of Beth-Shean. The armor was put on public display in a temple. The inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead, whom Saul had helped early in his reign, at great risk removed the bodies from the wall of Beth-Shean and gave them a proper burial. A week of fasting as a sign of public mourning for the king was observed.

Saul appeared to be full of promise as a young man, but proved impulsive, prideful, and ended his own life in disgrace. The great failure of Saul as king was his lack of obedience to the will and Word of God.

The Dark Side of Halloween

There is a great deal of controversy about whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween. On the surface Halloween appears to be a harmless celebration defined by costumes, candy, pumpkins, and other fun family traditions. Those traditions may seem very innocent, but we cannot forget that Halloween has a dark side. Satan is an expert at parading as an "angel of light." If he did not make evil look attractive, people would not be deceived and drawn in by it. Witchcraft is practiced in the real world today and it has been made to look appealing. However, the Bible absolutely condemns witchcraft and sorcery, consulting with "familiar spirits" or attempting to contact the dead. The Bible clearly says:

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)."

At the same time, Halloween can be an opportunity to talk openly about the occult, its emotional pulls and its dangers.  Many churches use Halloween as an outreach opportunity, doing precious work to show people the love of Christ.   We have additional information and resources available about the origins of Halloween and what the Bible has to say about it.

Several years ago we sponsored a contest for the best script of Saul and The Witch of Endor, a Biblically based play suitable for high school students or youth groups to use as an alternative to Halloween. Copies of several of the entries are available on our website free of charge.  See the links below.

Related Links:

  •   Halloween Plays: Saul and the Witch of Endor - Koinonia House
  •   Topical Study: Halloween - Koinonia House
  •   Halloween: Invitation to the Occult? - MP3 Download - Koinonia House
  •   Your Seasonal Favorites - MP3 CD-Rom - Koinonia House
  •   Houdini Unlocked: CJM Exhibit Reveals The Man Behind the Magic - JWeekly.com