Author: nrfaught

I have spent 5 years in mission work in the West Indies and South America. I have preached mainly part time for 40 years, much of that time while working with a full time job in Christian education. I am currently at Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama and serving as a shepherd at the Monrovia Church of Christ. God has blessed me with a wife and 3 grown children (and their families) who are much more loving than I am!

1 CORINTHIANS 9 Paul chose not to use his rights

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1 Corinthians 9:9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or do only Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not consume some of the milk of the flock?

8 I am not just asserting these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does the Law not say these things as well? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? 10 Or is He speaking entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing in the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

Before we look at 1 Corinthians 9, we need to tie it in to 1 Corinthians 8. In chapter 8 (please read my article on 1 Corinthians 8-10) Paul discussed what it meant to cause a weak brother to stumble and sin. Without going through the chapter here, we want to just focus on his last statement in chapter 8: 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin. So in chapter 9, his basic point is: I am not an apostle like the other apostles (I saw the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus which qualifies me to be an apostle). He gave the Corinthians miraculous gifts by the laying on of his hands which made them the seal of his apostleship, proving that he was an apostle. I have the right to eat the meat offered to idols, but I choose to not eat. So he ends up discussing how he had. right to marry (like the other apostles) but chose not to; he had a right to not have to work for a living but chose not to. 15 But I have used none of these things. And I have not written these things so that it will be done so in my case. I chose not to use my freed to do these things, and I am not writing this to get you to start allowing me to do these things.15:for it would be better for me to die than that. No one shall make my boast an empty one! 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless. 18 What, then, is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. He sees his reward as being able to preach the gospel for free, not using his right to charge for preaching.

Paul says that he could have charged money for preaching the gospel to the Corinthians. He gave examples of soldiers getting pid, farmers getting to eat some of their vineyard fruit, and shepherds drinking some milk from the flock. He cited the Law: 9:9 You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing”, saying that applied to people and not just oxen. He cited the priests who ate some of the offerings of the people. 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”

Is Paul defending the paid local preacher system that most churches use today (not house churches)? I guess you could say that he was based on vs 14, but I don’t think he was! Remember, the church met in house churches. The leadership in the house churches was elders and deacons. They had teachers and maybe prophets, but there were no full time paid local preachers in house churches. Then you had apostles and evngelists. The evangelists would travel church to church, town to town, working with congregations on a short term basis or preaching the gospel to establish churches (“evangelists” comes from the word which meant “to announce the good tidings of the gospel”). These traveling evangelists were given food and a place to stay, but they did not become full time local paid preachers. That was started when churches left the house churches and built buidings in the 4th century with paid priests. It evolved into what. we have now with full time paid preachers in what could be called the “church business”. So I don’t think Paul was suggesting full time paid preachers. I think he was talking about those apostles and evangelists who traveled church to church, town to town, and therefore could not do self supporting jobs. They were worthy of support. 9: 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 

But Paul felt strongly about not taking any money or support from the congregation that he was working with. He made tents and supported himself in Corinth. He did receive some money/supplies from the church at Philippi while working in Corinth to allow him more time to preach the gospel. Philippians 4:15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.He told the Ephesian elders: Acts 20: 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that these hands served my own needs and the men who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” So to Paul this was a matter of deep conviction.

Is it a sin to have full time paid preachers? First of all, I suppose you could argue that that is a “right” someone or some church could use based on this chapter. It is not a Biblical system, but maybe some can justify it. But is it a wise use of the Lord’s money? Most churches haves several talented, knowledgable men who could preach and teach the word without paying a preacher. But most churches feel that they need a full time preacher who is a talented speaker to compete with other churches. We, like Israel (1 Samuel 8) want to have a “king to be like the other nations”! Then we hire full time youth ministers, educational directors, secretaries, etc.

Paul then tells why he chooses not to use his rights to eat meat, to be paid, etc. He did so for the sake of his influence among the lost, so they would not accuse him of preaching for money. 9:19 For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

One verse is interesting. 9:20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law.” But we know that Paul kept the Law strictly even after he became a Christian. In Acts 24 Paul challenged them to bring forth evidence that he was breaking the Law of Moses. Acts 21:20 And when they heard about them, they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to [e]walk according to the customs. 22 So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore, do as we tell you: we have four men who have a vow upon themselves; 24 take them along and purify yourself together with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and then everyone will know that there is nothing to what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law. 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is [k]strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took along the men, and the next day, after purifying himself together with them, he went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.” Notice vs 24: but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law.” He kept the Jewish vow to show that he had not been telling Jewish converts to quit keeping the Law after they became Christians. But this also was to show that he also was “keeping the Law”, which he was. But in 9:20 he says that “he was not under the Law”. Is that a contradiction? I actually did my thesis on this. Paul is not saying the he was no longer under any obligation to keep the Law after he became a Christian. All the Jewis Christians were under obligation to keep the Lw after becoming Christians all the way up to the end of the age in 70 AD. The Law was “perpetual”, i.e. age lasting. But Paul was no longer under the Law as a means of justification. Now he was under the new covennt law of grace and faith for justification.

But the main thought has to be 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” Back to the weak brother who believes it is a sin to eat meat offered to idols. If that brother sees Paul eating that meat and then eats also while having doubts and violating his conscience, then Paul has caused him to sin. If that be the case, then Paul says he would become like the weak brother and not eat meats ever in order to save that weak brother’s soul.

This requires self discipline, i.e. to not eat that meat even though you really want to eat it! So Paul closes with some comments on self discipline. 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

1 CORINTHIANS 8-10 WHO IS THE WEAK BROTHER?

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1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge [a]makes one conceited, but love edifies people. 2 If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4 Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is [b]nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

7 However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Now food will not bring us [c]close to God; we are neither [d]the worse if we do not eat, nor [e]the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this [f]freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge the one who is weak is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin.”

First let’s set the background for this issue of eating meat offered to idols. From Guzik: “The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided into three portions. One portion was burnt in honor of the god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the third portion was given to the priest. If the priest didn’t want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market. The meat served and sold at the temple was generally cheaper. Then, as well as now, people loved a bargain (including Christians). Things offered to idols: The issue raised many questions for the Corinthian Christians: Can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market? What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone’s home? Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple?” I don’t know if this was a Jew/Gentile issue or not. I don’t guess it has to be. But probably most of the Corinthian converts were of Gentile background. Some would have no problem eating meat that had been offered to idols since, as Paul said, there are no real gods behind those idols. Others might think it is wrong to eat that meat since it had been offered to a god and this might seem like participating in the idol worship that they had given up to become a Christian.

Paul’s points are these: 1) The correct “knowledge” on this issue is that it is ok to eat the meat offered to idols since there are no real gods behind those idols. 2) If you have this correct knowledge on the issue, don’t be arrogant with that knowledge when dealing with those who don’t have that knowledge. “Knowledge makes one conceited but love edifies people”. 3) Not all Christians have the correct knowledge on this issue. When they eat meat offered to idols, it makes them feel like they are still worshipping the gods of those idols like they used to do. Their conscience will tell them it is wrong to et that meat even if someone tells them it is ok. 4) If a Christian has a strong conviction, then it doesn’t matter if he eats or doesn’t eat the meat. It’s not a heaven/hell issue. 5) But if a Christian thinks it is wrong to eat the meat, then will violate his conscience in doing so and that is a sin even if it is not actually wrong to eat the met. The sin is that he violates his conscience. The “weak” brother in this matter is the one who violates his conscience whether he has the correct knowledge or not on the issue. 6) A brother with strong conviction and a strong conscience against eating the meat will watch you eat the meat and have no problem with it. He will not be tempted to eat the meat and violate his conscience. 7) But a brother with a weak conscience will see you eat the meat and he might be tempted to follow your example and eat the meat also even though the whole time he is violating his conscience. He is sinning if he does that. 8) You perhaps have unintentionally caused him to eat the meat and sin by violating his conscience. He might be thinking, “Jack is a mature Christian so if he eats the meat, I guess I can eat it (and yet the whole time he eats he is violating his conscience and sinning). You have caused him to sin. You might even be arrogant and flippant about it, telling him “there’s nothing wrong with eating the meat, so eat up” without asking him if eating the meat would violate his conscience or not. 10) Paul said that he would never eat meat if it caused a weak brother to sin (as just described).

We skip over to 1 Corinthians 10: 23 All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up. 24 No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered about that for which I give thanks?

These instructions in chapter 10 are for the brother who knows it is ok to eat the meat and his conscience doesn’t bother him when he eats. 11) If you have the correct knowledge that there is nothing wrong with eating the meat, then don’t even bother to ask if the meat you buy in the market was offered to idols. Just buy it and eat it. 12) If an unbeliever asks you over to eat, then eat the meat he prepares for you without asking where it came from. It will probably be meat from the market that has been offered to idols, but that won’t bother you and there are no Christians around to be concerned about. 13) But if you are at the unbeliever’s house eating and another guest is obviously bothered by meat offered to idols being served then don’t eat b/c you by eating might encourage him to eat and violate his conscience.

Now to one last section. 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?23 All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up. 24 No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his neighbor.”

This section adds another consideration in the discussion of eating meats or not. You might be one who can eat meats with clear conscience. You might could eat at a pagan feast where the meat is offered to idols. You might be strong enough to eat that meat without being tempted to worship the idol, and certainly the idol is nothing. But you are sharing in their worship just as you share with other believers when you take the cup and the bread in the Lord’s Supper. All things are permitted but not all things are of benefit. It is not wise to eat at the pagan feasts. It will hurt your influence and it cause a weak brother to sin if he sees you eating there. You have the Christian “liberty” or freedom to eat the meat but it might not be best for you to use that freedom.

So where would all this weak brother stuff apply today. The church I grew up in has a lot of such issues. Let’s just look at one: eating in the church building (and having a kitchen in the building). It might sound strange that someone would think that it is wrong to eat in the church building or have a kitchen in the building. After all, the church began in house churches where you would certainly eat meals and have a kitchen. The objection is that there are no “approved examples” of eating in the building. Also 1 Corinthians 11:34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment.” That passage is not forbidding eating in the building. The early church had a love feast when they met which was a meal, during which they also took the Lord’s Supper. So the verse can’t mean “don’t eat in the building”. The problem was that they were not waiting on each other to take the Lord’s Supper or eat the love feast meal. They were having cliques and divisions. Paul’s point is that, if you are just at the assembly to eat a meal b/c you are hungry, then eat at home. The love feast and Lord’s Supper should be a time when you all eat together in love. As far as needing an “approved example” to eat in the building, why do you need an approved example. Who says that you can only do something if you have an approved example? Who says that, if you do have an approved example of the early church doing something in a particular way, that that is the only authorized way you can do that?

Having said all that, what if you still have a brother who believes it is wrong to eat in the building. He would violate his conscience if he ate in the building. So your elders decide to have a kitchen and have church meals in the building. First of all, this is not a heaven/hell issue, so you can “agree to disagree”. Romans 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” The one who eats and the one who doesn’t eat should not judge one another. Certainly don’t withdraw fellowship from one another. If the church is having a meal in the building, then the one who feels it is wrong should simply not eat the meal. He should not expect the others to not eat just b/c he is not going to eat. He should not say to them, “if you eat then you will offend me and therefore you should not eat”. We had a lot of people using that logic in my church, but you shouldn’t restrict someone else’s liberty to do something just b/c you don’t do it. But what if a brother feels that it is wrong to eat in the building and yet he has a weak conscience. He sees others eating and thinks, “well I guess its ok to eat since they are eating”. And then he eats but the whole time he eats his conscience is bothering him. He has sinned then. Not b/c the eating is a sin but b/c he is violating his conscience. Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Your eating might have caused him to sin. So the key is communication and love. You need to make sure that anyone eating doesn’t have a problem with eating in the building. Let everyone know that they should follow their conscience on the matter.

That might sound like a frivolous example but it is a real example. Another might women be wearing the little doily in the assembly based on 1 Corinthians 11 wearing a veil when women pray in. mixed assembly. I won’t get into the right or wrong of the issue itself. But for sure it is not a heaven/hell issue. If a women feels she should wear the doily, then she should do so and not violate her conscience. Those who feel they don’t need to wear it should not judge those who disagree, and vice versa. The ones who don’t wear it should be careful to see if there is anyone who thinks they should wear it but don’t wear it b/c they see others not wearing it, and thus violate her conscience by not wearing it. I know that sounds frivolous, but it is a real issue in some churches.

Another more important issue might be drinking alcohol. If you believe it is ok to drink alcohol, then you need to be careful that you don’t influence someone to drink if they believe it is wrong. That would cause them to violate their conscience and sin. They might see you drinking and think “I guess it is ok” and then drink but the whole time violating his conscience. You may have, even unintentionally, caused him to sin by your drinking. So the key is to know how the other person feels about drinking, whether it is wrong. or not. Tell them to not drink if it bothers their conscience. It is not a heaven/hell issue so you can agree to disagree. I might add this. Even if you have the liberty to drink in moderation, you might decide not to drink alcohol at all since it might hurt your influence. Drinking is such a major issue nowadays. If you go to a social event where there is a lot of drinking, there will probably be a lot of drinking and some getting tipsy or even drunk. You are kinda like Paul’s example of attending the pagan feasts. It might be better if you didn’t drink at all if you attend (you might not have a choice on attending or not) or not attend at all.

I know this is long and drawn out, but a proper understanding of the weak brother issue is important.

1 CORINTHIANS 10

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1 Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea; 2 and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were spread out in the wilderness.”

Paul is going to warn the Corinthian believers that they could fall from grace, so he uses the example of the Israelites in the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The Israelites were baptized also, but in the cloud and the Red Sea. How is that? “Baptized” in Greek is baptizó: To baptize, to immerse, to dip. They had the cloud above them and the walls of the Red Sea on both sides of them as they passed through, so literally they were “immersed” in the cloud and the sea. The Israelites ate the manna in the wilderness, their “spiritual food”, just as the Corinthians ate Jesus, the bread of life. John 6:48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Israelites drank the water from the rock which “followed them”. (AI) “The idea that a single rock followed the Israelites in the wilderness is an ancient Jewish interpretation of the Bible. In the Bible, Moses struck two rocks in the wilderness, one at Rephidim and one at Kadesh, and named both “Meribah”. Some ancient Jewish interpreters concluded that these two rocks were actually one and the same rock, and that it followed the Israelites as a portable water source.” That rock was Christ. Was Jesus in his pre-incarnate form actually in that rock, or is it just a type of how Jesus gave the water of life to the Corinthians? John 4:13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Here is a picture of the “split rock at Horeb (Mt Sinai in Saudi Arabia east of the Gulf of Aqaba that some say could be the rock that water flowed from in the wilderness.

So the Israelites were blessed spiritually just as the saved Corinthians. God redeemed them from slavery in Egypt just as he redeemed the Corinthians by the blood of Jesus. “Nevertheless” (alla: but, rather, on the contrary), in spite of the blessings of God and His continual provision for them in the wilderness, they disobeyed God and God was not pleased with them. He punished them by making them wander in the wilderness for 40 years and. everyone 20 and older would die in the wilderness. There were about 1 1/2 million Israelites who came out of Egypt. According to Exodus 12:37 there were 600,000 fighting men (age 20 and older)who came out of Egypt. So probably the same number of women age 20 and older. So possible 600,000 husband and wives. If they just had one child, that’s 600,000 children. You can see why some estimate that there were over 2 million Isrealites who came out of Egypt. But that means that about 1.2 million men and women age 20 and older died in the wilderness. There were 1.2 million bodies scattered all over he wilderness during the 40 years they wandered.

On a side note, is there any archaeological evidence of the exodus from Egypt? Any evidence of the corpses for 1.2 million bodies in the Sinai wilderness? There is some evidence of chariot wheels found on the bottom of the Gulf of Aqaba where Israel crossed the Red Sea, but other than that there is no archaeological evidence. Here is a site (https://www.discovery.global/chariot-wheels-discovered-in-the-red-sea) that claims evidence of chariot wheels similar to those of the 18th century Egyptian dynasty, and human and horse bones in the Gulf of Aqaba, which means that the real location of Mt Sinai is east of the Gulf of Aqaba in Midian, which is now Saudi Arabia. Here is a site that discusses the real location of Mt Sinai east of the Gulf of aqaba. https://www.discovery.global/the-real-mount-sinai-in-saudi-arabia

Should we not find archaeological evidence for he 1.2 million bodies in the wilderness? Not necessarily so.. “The last stage of decomposition is skeletonization, which leaves behind nothing but, you guessed it, a skeleton. This can take anywhere from 1 month to several years, depending on the environment, burial, etc. You may be wondering: will a skeleton also decompose? The answer is yes. If animals do not destroy or move the bones, skeletons normally take around 20 years to dissolve in fertile soil. However, in sand or neutral soil, skeletons can remain intact for hundreds of years.” (From https://crimeclean-up.com/blog/human-decomp-without-embalming That’s just normal decomposition rates. If God can bring water from a rock and manna from heaven, then He can decompose bodies at any rate He chooses. But even with natural decomposition rates in a hot wilderness desert, the 1.2 million corpses could have completely decomposed and left no trace that they were ever even there. Just speculating!

Back to the real lesson in 1 Corinthians 10. The Israelites coming out of Egypt were saved from slavery, blessed with manna and water, protected by God. All they had to do was trust and obey God and they could in a short time have entered and possessed the Promised Land of Canaan. But they didn’t and God punished them with 40 years wandering in the wilderness and everyone 20 and older died. The Corinthians had been baptized, partaking of the spiritual manna of Jesus, drinking the water of eternal life. All they needed to do was trust and obey and they could enter the Messianic “rest” of Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” It is fascinating that there is a parallel between the 40 years in the wilderness and the 40 years from 30-70 AD. 70AD and the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem would be a critical date for those believers living in this transition period from 30-70 AD. The Hebrew Christians were tempted to leave Christ and fall away as 70 AD approached. Hebrews 10:24 and may we consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as a custom of certain [is], but exhorting, and so much the more as ye see the day (day of judgment in 70 AD) coming nigh. 26 For we — willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth — no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice, 27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to (mello) devour the opposers.” The Hebrew writer is saying that there is “about to be” (mello) a judgment which could only refer to 70 AD judgment on the evil Jews. The Corinthian believers would most likely not have been caught in the siege of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD, but the event still had a significant impact on them. 1 Corinthians 15 tells how Christ would come at the “end” of the Jewish Age (70 AD), destroying spiritual death, and giving immortality to believers dead or allve. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:51 lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed; 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we — we shall be changed: 53 for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality; 54 and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up — to victory” So the Corinthian believers needed to remain faithful till they would receive their immortality at the 2nd coming in 70 AD.

Paul then gives several examples where Israel disobeyed God in the wilderness. The Corinthians would be tempted in the same way to disobey God. 1 Corinthians 10:6  Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. 

1) Idolatry and sexual immorality: The golden calf. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”  That would be the incident of the golden calf in Exodus 30:When Moses was up on Mt Sinai receiving the 10 commandments, the poople persuaded Aaron to make them a golden calf to worshp. Exodus 30:6 So the next day they got up early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to engage in lewd behavior.”

2) Sexual Immorality: The sin at Peor. 8 Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.” Balak, the king of Moab, had hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel as they passed through Moab on the way to Canaan. Balaam tried 4 times to curse Israel, but the Spirit each time blessed Israel through Moab. But Balaam got his money later. He counseled Balak to get the Israelites intermingling with the Moabites at Peor, which led to having sex with the Moabite women. God sent a plague among the Israelites which was only stopped when Phinehas rammed a spear through an Israelite man having sex with a Moabite woman brazenly in the camp. Numbers 25:7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand, 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the inner room of the tent and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman, through the abdomen. So the plague on the sons of Israel was brought to a halt. 9 But those who died from the plague were twenty-four thousand in number.”

3) Complaining: The snakes and the bronze serpent. 9 Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and were killed by the snakes.” As they were passing around the land of Edom on the last leg to Canaan, even the new generation after the 40 years began to complain. Numbers 21:5 So the people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we are disgusted with this miserable food (i.e. the manna). 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.” It was then that God told Moses to put the bronze serpent on a staff so that someone bitten could, if he had faith, look at the serpent and be healed. Jesus referred to this in John 3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.”

4) Grumbling: Korah’s rebellion. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.” This incident would be Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16 (not the incident with the 12 spies as some have suggested). Korah, a Levite, and 250 leaders of Israel complained about the power God had given Moses and Aaron (especially the high priesthood given to Aaron and his sons). Numbers 16:28 Then Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for it is not my doing. 29 If these men die the death of all mankind, or if they suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have been disrespectful to the Lord.” 31 And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, and all the people who belonged to Korah with all their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!” 35 Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” But the grumbling mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:10 occurred on the next day. Numbers 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people (i.e. Korah, Dathan, Abiram and the 250 leaders)!” Because of their grumbling, God sent a plague among them. The plagued was only stopped when Aaron put incense from the table of incense in the tabernacle on his censer, making atonement for the people, and ran into the assembly, standing between the living and the dead. Numbers 16:49 But those who died by the plague were 14,700 in number, besides those who died on account of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been brought to a halt.” “The destroyer” of 1 Corinthians 10:11 would be the “angel of death”, the “destroying angel”, called Shammael by the Jews. This would be the same “angel of death” that destroyed the 185,000 Assyrians who were sieging Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s reign. 2 Kings 19:35 Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when the rest got up early in the morning, behold, all of the 185,000 were dead.”

The Warning. Paul then makes the application to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 

Idolatry. Sexual immorality. Complaining. Grumbling. These were the sins that caused Israel to fall. The Corinthians were guilty of the same sins as the letter constantly points out. The example of the Israelites was “written” for instructing the Corinthians (and any readers of the Old Testament). Thank God for his written word. Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The warning: 1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.”

Apparently the Corinthians were an arrogant group who did not think they could fall from grace. From AI: Yes, the Corinthian church, as depicted in Paul’s letters, exhibited traits of arrogance and pride, which were significant problems for the church’s health and unity. 

Evidence of Arrogance in the Corinthian Church:

Disregard for the Cross:The Corinthian church was tempted to embrace worldly philosophies and values, diminishing the importance of Christ’s crucifixion. 

Spiritual Superiority and Boasting:Some Corinthians boasted about their spiritual gifts and knowledge, creating divisions and factions within the church. 

Disregard for Paul’s Authority:Some questioned or even denied Paul’s authority as an apostle, indicating a lack of humility and respect. 

Sexual Immorality:The Corinthians were known for their tolerance of sexual immorality, even exceeding the norms of the surrounding pagan culture, which Paul condemned as a sign of spiritual immaturity. 

Legalistic Disputes:The church members engaged in lawsuits against each other, demonstrating a lack of love and a reliance on worldly legal systems instead of resolving conflicts within the church. 

Misuse of the Lord’s Supper:The Corinthians were criticized for their disorderly and uncaring participation in the Lord’s Supper, turning a sacred act into a social event. 

Emphasis on Human Wisdom:Some in the Corinthian church were more interested in human wisdom and philosophy than in the simplicity of the Gospel message, which Paul saw as a sign of spiritual immaturity. 

Am I guilty of arrogance and pride, thinking that I can’t fall? From David Guzik: “Temptation works like rocks in a harbor; when the tide is low, everybody sees the danger and avoids it. But Satan’s strategy in temptation is to raise the tide, and to cover over the dangers of temptation. Then he likes to crash you upon the covered rocks.” We staying in Tamarindo in Costa Rica for a few days. Our beach was a very rocky beach like the one below. When the tide was in, the sea covered all the sharp lava rocks and it looked like you could swim safely in the water. When the tide was out, you could see the dangerous rocks that would have dashed you into pieces if you had swam when the tide was in, when it looked safe.”

The Encouragement. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.“

After reading the example of the Israelite sins, I’m thinking, “I do those sins all the time! How am I going to keep from falling?” We see the temptations others face, but we tend to think that our temptation is worse or unique. Nope. Others have experienced the same temptation. But this verse sounds like God will not let you ever face a temptation that we would succumb to. But He is not doing a good job if that is the case since I give in to temptation often! But the truth is that, with enough faith and trusting God’s wisdom, I could handle every temptation I face without sinning. Satan would use temptation to totally destroy our faith and get us to fall if he was allowed to. But, as with Job, God put limits on how much he could test Job with. Job handled the loss of everything he had, including his children, and the terrible boils all over his body and the pain. But maybe there was some temptation or test that Job simply could not handle. God would not let Satan use that test. So I think there could be a temptation that God knows that, even with faith and trusting God’s wisdom, I could not handle. For example, if my 3 children, their mates, Deborah’s mother and brother and sister, and all 10 grandchildren died in a house fire at a party while I was on my way home from school, I don’t know if I could handle that like Job did. That might be my breaking point. God knows the breaking point of each believer. Maybe that’s Jesus’ prayer: “Lead us not into temptation”.

God will provide a way of escape.From Guzik: ” Barclay says the word for a way of escape is really a mountain pass, with the idea of an army being surrounded by the enemy, and then suddenly seeing an escape route to safety. Like a mountain pass, the way of escape isn’t necessarily an easy way.” But one must be looking for the way of escape. Then he must choose to run to the way of escape instead of just staying in the midst of the temptation. From Guzik: “At a market, a little boy standing by some candy looked like he was going to put some in his pocket and walk out the door. A clerk watched the boy for a long time, and finally spoke to him. “Looks like you’re trying to take some candy,” the clerk said. The boy replied, “You’re wrong, mister. I’m trying not to.” For the time being, he was able to bear it.”

1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” This verse leads into a temptation that the Corinthians were facing over the eating of meats, the weak/strong brother issue. So I will save the. rest of the chapter for future blog. But the “therefore” tells us that the last warning is tied to vs 1-13 and the bad examples of Israel in the wilderness. Apparently idolatry was the worst of the sins he cited. Idolatry might be the worst of sins in the church today. I close with these verses from Paul in Ephesians 5:3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” Greed is idoltry b/c we end up worshipping the things we lust after.

DID JESUS DELAY HIS 2ND COMING AND ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS KINGDOM?

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Jesus clearly predicted that his 2nd coming (coming back) would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to and that some would still be alive at his 2nd coming (Mt 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:30-34; 26:64; Mark 8:38-9:1). See the article “Was Jesus a false prophet” for more discussion on that. If he did not return within their lifetime as predicted, then he is a false prophet (Deut 18:20-22). I believe he did just what he predicted and came back in judgment on the wicked Jews in 70 AD, killing 1 million Jews, destroying the temple and the city of Jerusalem. That was the “2nd coming” of Jesus, just as he predicted.

But those who say that he did not come back soon as he predicted must come us with an explanation as to why he did not. I think this would have started soon after 70 AD. If someone living in 70 AD did not understand that his 2nd coming was coming in judgment using the Romans in 70 AD, then that person would keep looking for his 2nd coming, thinking that it would still be soon just as Jesus predicted. That thinking might continue for, let’s say, another 25 years after 70 AD. But by the year 100 AD, it would be 70 years after Jesus made his imminent 2nd coming predictions, and that would be getting past that time that would be “within that generation that Jesus spoke to”. But maybe, they might say, give it a few more years. So in 120 AD, some are still looking for Jesus to come soon, but now it is 90 years after Jesus made his predictions and no longer “within that generation” and no one would still be alive to see his 2nd coming (Mark 8:38-9:1). Now Jesus’ credibility as a prophet starts to be called into question. But who is bold enough to say that Jesus was mistaken and that he is just another false prophet, which is what the unbelieving Jews and Muslims and atheists say about Jesus b/c he supposedly didn’t return soon like he predicted.

So another explanation is needed to make Jesus’ predictions not look like false predictions. So Maybe he did predict that would return soon, but he delayed that return because the Jews rejected him as the Messiah. Now we can’t ignore his predictions about the coming kingdom. He predicted that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mark 1:15). He predicted that some would still be alive to see him “coming in his kingdom” (Mark 9:1). That kingdom of God (or of heaven, the same) was the 5th kingdom in Daniel 2:44-45. Nebuchanezzar’s dream was a statue. Daniel said the statue was 4 kingdoms in succession: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecian, Rome. Daniel 2:44-45 God said that he would set up his kingdom, a 5th kingdom, in the days of the Roman Empire. Jesus, in 27 AD, said that 5th kingdom, God’s kingdom, was at hand which was indeed during the Roman Empire.

I include all that b/c the Jews expected the Messiah to set up a physical kingdom just like the kingdom of David with the Messiah exerting physical power over all the nations around them, including defeating the Romans. The Jews would have accepted Jesus as the Messiah if he did that, but he did not. Instead, he said: John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.” But was the kingdom at hand as he predicted, or is he a false prophet on that prediction also? Was that kingdom established soon after his prediction? Yes, but not a physical kingdom. Instead, he established the church, a spiritual kingdom. That spiritual kingdom was established in Acts 2 in 30 AD when Peter preached the first completed gospel sermon and 3,000 were baptized and added to the church, which is “the saved”.

Thus we can see why most all the Jews, except for a “remnant” rejected Jesus as the Messiah b/c they didn’t think he established a physical kingdom. Also, if his imminent 2nd coming was to establish an imminent kingdom, you can see why they did not believe that he did indeed come back soon as he predicted. They would say that if the 2nd coming was in 70 AD, then he would have established a physical kingdom in 70 AD, but he did not (according to them). Therefore, according to them, his 2nd coming could not have been in 70 AD.

Thus the nature of the kingdom that Jesus established is tied directly to his predictions of an imminent 2nd coming. So in the 2nd century, most would still expect Jesus to come back in that century, a delayed coming but still relatively soon (instead of let’s say 2,000 years later). But they would also still expect his return to establish a physical kingdom.

Back to the delayed idea. Since, according to them, he did not establish a physical kingdom in 70 AD, then his 2nd coming could not have been in 70 AD. He did predict an imminent 2nd coming and imminent kingdom to be established, but since the Jews rejected him he must have delayed both his imminent prediction of his coming and his kingdom. But did he? There are no scriptures where Jesus or the apostles said that. he delayed those predictions. As a matter of fact, Hebrews 10 destroys that ided. Hebrews 10:37 for yet a very very little, He who is coming will come, and will not tarry (delay)” That has to be referring to his 2nd coming. He wil not delay that coming. That destroys the “delayed coming” idea completely.

So, when did early Christians give up on the idea that Jesus was not coming back soon and that he wasn’t going to establish an earthly kingdom soon (as he predicted for both). Basically for 2,000 years many just tried to predict a date for the 2nd coming based on a variety of texts and world events.

180 AD, Montanism grew from the teaching of Montanus in Phrygia as a reaction against a growing laxity in the established church. Two women, Priscilla and Maximilla left their husbands to follow him. They desired to see the use of spiritual gifts to continue, emphasising tongues and prophecy. Initially they were accepted as part of the church and later considered as heretical.They expected the imminent end of the age and establishment of the millennium in Pepuza, a small village in Asia Minor.

180 AD. Around the time of Montanus at least two bishops, one in Pontus and one in Syria, were expecting the early return of Christ. One bishop in Pontus declared that the last judgement would come in two years and those who believe him ceased to cultivate their fields and rid themselves of houses and goods. The bishop in Syria led his flock into the wilderness to meet Christ. (Latourette p.128-129).

250 AD. Commodianus, who lived in Palestine, saw prophetic overtones to the persecution commanded by the emperor Decius (249-251). He listed seven persecutions that the church had suffered and likened them to the seven last plagues in the book of Revelation. The end of the world is at hand. Rome is the Antichrist, and this is the last persecution which represents the return of Nero. But Nero will be destroyed by a Jewish antichrist marching at the head of a Persian host. He in turn will be slain by angels and cast in to the lake of fire. The lost tribes will then return to Zion and God will come for judgement and to destroy the wicked. (Wand p.101).

500 AD. Both Hippolytus (c 170 – c 236) and Augustine (354 – 430) believed in the ‘Cosmic week’. Jesus had come in middle of sixth millennium, so they expected the end in AD 500.

1000 AD. An ancient chronicler tells us that it was widely believed that Jesus would return at the end of the first 1000 years of Christianity. As the last decade of the first millennium dawned, there was great apprehension and anticipation. With the birth of the year AD 999 certain amazing things began to happen. People began to listen to their church with whole-hearted seriousness. There was no stealing; cheating became almost unknown; bakers gave their bread away free of charge, and there was a constant cycle of confessions, absolutions, and communion.

1500 AD. Savonarola (1452-98) was a wandering prophet in Italy, predicting an imminent improvement on the earth before the final judgement. The social and political turmoil in Italy caused Savonarola to see the world as a battleground between good and evil. The last days were approaching with disaster for Florence and Italy, which would be averted if the people of Florence would repent. The coming antichrist would be defeated and the Turks and pagans would be converted. He saw Florence as Zion, the city of God, and himself as its prophet. He thought that Charles VIII of France was the last world emperor. He took control of Florence in 1494, before being defeated by the Medicis and being executed in 1498. (Kyle p.53).

1650 AD. Columbus’s motivation for exploration was partly religious. He wanted to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean in order to reach Asia directly. He did not know that America was in between. Inspired by the earlier crusades, his plan was to conquer Asia and take wealth from there to finance a crusade to the Middle East to capture the Holy Land from the Muslims, which he will lead himself. In order to persuade King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his fourth voyage to the ‘Indies’ he presented them with his ‘Book of Prophecies’. From the Bible, he had predicted that the world will end in 1650, and before then he would lead a crusade to liberate Jerusalem.

1666 AD. Many combined 1000 (the millennium) with 666 (the mark of the beast) to arrive at the date 1666. 1666 was the year of the plague followed by the Great Fire of London. The Quaker George Fox wrote that in 1666, every thunderstorm aroused end-time expectations (Kyle p.67-68).

1770 AD. In the late 1700s, the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing also known as the Shakers, believed that the second coming of Christ would be through a woman. In 1770, Ann Lee became the leader of the Shakers and they believed she was revealed in “manifestation of Divine light” to be the second coming of Christ and was called Mother Ann.

1789 AD. Many English Bible interpreters thought that the French Revolution was the prophecies of Daniel chapter 7 and Revelation chapter 13 being fulfilled before their very eyes (Kyle p.72).

1843 or 1844 AD. William Miller (1782-1849) was a farmer from Western Massachusetts. After 14 years of intensive Bible study, he calculated the second coming in 1843 or early 1844. After it didn’t happen during that period, he re-calculated dates to 22nd October 1844. Many people were waiting in church on 22nd October, absolutely convinced that the Lord would appear during the service for all to see. His followers stayed together after the failed prediction and formed into the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. (Latourette p.1259) His calculations were quite elaborate, but his key was Daniel 8:14, the 2,300 days before the sanctuary will be cleansed. He said this described the second coming of Jesus, which would purge the world of evil and usher in the millennium. Miller took the 2,300 days to mean 2,300 years starting from 457 BC, when Ezra and 1,700 Jews returned to Jerusalem. This linked with the seventy weeks of years in Dan 9:24, so he counted back 490 years from AD 33 (the crucifixion) to arrive at 457 BC. Miller added 2,300 years to 457 BC to reach 1843. (Kyle p.89-93).

1874 AD (and several more). Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), was the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. He believed that Christ came in invisible form in 1874, and millennium had begun. (Latourette p. 1260). The Jehovah’s Witnesses are the most persistent date setters. The following years have been set by their leaders: 1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1984 (Kyle p.93).

1890 AD. Joseph Smith of the Mormon church. In a revelation dated 2 April 1843, and published as scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 130:14–17, Smith states: “I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter. I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time”. Smith was born December, 1805, which would put that date at no earlier than 1890. 

1934 (and other dates) AD. Herbert W. Armstrong (Worldwide Church of God of Prophecy) had previously predicted[citation needed] in a 1934 edition of The Plain Truth magazine that Christ would return in 1936. After that prediction failed, he stated in a 1940 edition of The Plain Truth[citation needed] that “Christ will come after 3 1/2 years of tribulation in October 43.” After those failed predictions and loss of members he moved his operation from Oregon to Pasadena, California.

1988 AD. Hal Lindsey published a book, The Late Great Planet Earth, suggesting Christ would return in the 1980s, probably no later than 1988.


1988 AD. Whisenant wrote a book titled, ’88 reasons why the rapture will be in 1988′ which sold two million copies. He predicted the date of the rapture as being between the 11th and 13th September 1988. He reasoned that even though Jesus said that no one can know the day or the hour of his return, we can still know the month or the year. He even predicted the date of the beginning of World War III as 3rd October 1988.He later wrote another book titled ‘The Final Shout: Rapture Report 1989. What went wrong in 1988’, explaining errors in his calculations.

1994 AD. Harold Camping was the president of Family Radio in USA, predicted the world would end in September 1994. His book ‘1994?’, and its sequel ‘Are You Ready?’ used his own elaborate, rather unorthodox, system of dating, numerology and allegory pointing to the second coming being in September 1994. Even after the date, Camping still believed that Christ would return soon.

1999-2009 AD. Jerry Faldwell predicted the 2nd coming within these 10 years.

2020 AD. Jeane Dixon. The alleged psychic claimed that Armageddon would take place in 2020 and Jesus would return to defeat the unholy Trinity of the Antichrist, Satan and the False prophet between 2020 and 2037.[48]

Most of these dates (and many more not included here) came from Julian Spriggs. Some of the dates came from Wikipedia.

https://www.julianspriggs.co.uk/pages/SecondComingDates. Sources: Carl E Armerding and W Ward Gasque – Handbook of Biblical Prophecy (Armerding/Gasque)
Richard Kyle – The Last Days are Here Again (Kyle)
Latourette – The History of Christianity (Latourette)
J.W.C. Wand – A History of the Early Church to AD 500 (Wand)

Obviously all of these predictions, and many others, failed. They failed b/c the 2nd coming was in 70 AD and there are no Biblical predictions of another “coming” (a 3rd?) after 70 AD.

So how did the views about the kingdom of God change over the centuries. Jesus had said the kingdom was “at hand” and that it was spiritual, not physical but Christians kept looking for a physical kingdom of God to be set up on earth. Many important authors from the first to fifth centuries believed in the Kingdom of God as a new age that would begin when Christ came (a physical kingdom on earth). The idea of the Kingdom of God was replaced by the idea of heaven or hell at death. Augustine’s rejection of the Kingdom in favor of heaven-at-death settled the matter for the Roman Catholic Church. We would call this view “a-millennial” (no millennial). Basically the Catholic Church became the kingdom on earth, a greedy physical kingdom. Groups on the margins of the institutional Reformation churches expected the Kingdom of God to come imminently. These groups formed sects based on this expectation of a physical kingdom to be set up on earth. Some groups today expect Christians to usher in the Kingdom of God on earth.

Most expect Jesus’ reign on earth to be 1,000 years (based on Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and the souls of those who have been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, and who did not bow before the beast, nor his image, and did not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, and they did live and reign with Christ the thousand years.” Some believe that the 2nd coming will be before the millennium, thus premillennial. Others believe that the 2nd coming will be after the millennium, thus postmillennial. I believe the 1,000 years of Revelation 20:4 to be figurative, representing the 40 year period between 30 AD and 70 AD (the destruction of the temple and of the city Jerusalem). The end of the 1,000 years: Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray, that are in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them together to war, of whom the number [is] as the sand of the sea; 9 and they did go up over the breadth of the land, and did surround the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them.” This beloved city must be Jerusalem. All the events predicted in Revelation were to happen soon. Revelation 1:1 A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify [it], having sent through his messenger to his servant John, 2 who did testify the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, as many things also as he did see. 3 Happy is he who is reading, and those hearing, the words of the prophecy, and keeping the things written in it — for the time is nigh (near). Revelation 22: 6 And he said to me, `These words [are] stedfast and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets did send His messenger to shew to His servants the things that it behoveth to come quickly. 7 Lo, I come quickly; happy [is] he who is keeping the words of the prophecy of this scroll.’ 10 And he saith to me, `Thou mayest not seal the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is nigh. 12 And lo, I come quickly, and my reward [is] with me, to render to each as his work shall be. 20 he saith — who is testifying these things — `Yes, I come quickly!’ Amen! Yes, be coming, Lord Jesus!” Thus, the surrounding of the beloved city (Jerusalem) by Gog and Magog (Rome) had to happen soon after the time of writing (63 AD). That could only be fulfilled when Rome sieged Jerusalem in 70 AD. The end of the 1,000 year millennium would be 70 AD. So the millennium would be the 40 years from 30-70 AD. There is no future millennial reign of Christ to be set up on earth, a physical kingdom.

As you can see, there are so many false theories and predictions that contradict Jesus’ prediction of an imminent 2nd coming and his prediction of a spiritual kingdom that was “at hand” even as he spoke. All the false predictions and expectations had simply caused confusion and frustration among believers for the past 2,000 years.

WAS JESUS A FALSE PROPHET?

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First of all, who is Bart Ehrman. (AI) “Bart Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar who studies the historical Jesus, the origins of Christianity, and the New Testament’s textual criticism. He is a James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.”

According to Bart Ehrman, Jesus was a false prophet. ” Historical scholars for over a century have maintained that Jesus predicted that the end of history as we know it was to come in his own generation. Conservative Christians — laypeople and scholars alike — have insisted that this is a complete misportrayal of Jesus. And many people — possibly most? — believe that if Jesus really did preach this message, not only was he obviously wrong but also Christianity cannot possibly be true. A Jesus who was *demonstrably* mistaken about a central element of his preaching could not be a prophet of God, let alone the Savior of the world.” (Bart Ehrman Blog, May 1, 2023).

“But then God would intervene in an act of cosmic judgment in which he destroyed the forces of evil and set up a good kingdom here on earth, an actual physical kingdom ruled by his representative. This cataclysmic judgment would affect all people. Those who had sided with evil (and prospered as a result) would be destroyed, and those who had sided with God (and been persecuted and harmed as a result) would be rewarded.Moreover, this future judgment applied not only to the living but also to the dead. At the end of this age, God would raise everyone from the dead to face either eternal reward or eternal punishment. And so, no one should think they could side with the forces of evil, prosper, as a result, become rich, powerful, and influential, and then die and get away with it. No one could get away with it. God would raise everyone from the dead for judgment, and there was not a sweet thing anyone could do to stop him.And when would this happen? When would the judgment come? When would this new rule, the Kingdom of God, begin? “Truly I tell you, some of you standing here will not taste before you see the kingdom of God come in power.” The words of Jesus (Mark 9:1). Jesus was not talking about a kingdom you would enter when you died and went to heaven: he was referring to a kingdom here on earth, to be ruled by God. Or as he says later, when asked when the end of the age would come, “Truly I tell you, This generation will not pass away before all these things take place.”” (Bart Ehrman blog, April 2,2022).

Of course, the test for a false prophet is found in Deuteronomy: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously….that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:22, 20). So, Bart Ehrman would be correct in saying that Jesus is a false prophet and certainly not the Savior of the world. Christianity would fall also since it is built on Jesus Christ.

The Quest for the Historical Jesus was written by Albert Schweitzer (Lutheran theologian, 1875-1965 AD). He believed that Jesus and his followers expected the world to end soon and that Jesus believed he was living at the end of time. Schweitzer’s book The Quest of the Historical Jesus summarizes his views on the subject: Schweitzer studied and cross-referenced many Bible verses that promised the Son of Man’s return. For example, he noted that Jesus told his disciples that the world would end before their generation passed. First-century Christian: Schweitzer believed that first-century Christians literally believed that Jesus’s promise would be fulfilled soon. Modern Christianity: Schweitzer believed that modern versions of Christianity ignore the urgency of Jesus’s message.

Schweitzer’s views on Jesus were different from those of his liberal contemporaries. He believed that Jesus was a heroic figure driven by an apocalyptic vision.” But, of course, Schweitzer believed that Jesus and the apostles were mistaken about their predictions of an imminent 2nd coming. Schweitzer would conclude that Jesus was a “heroic figure” but a false prophet nonetheless.

Schweitzer is technically correct when the says that “modern versions of Christianity ignore the urgency of Jesus’s message.” Allow me to explain why I say that.

Jesus only made 4 predictions about a “2nd coming” or “coming again”.

Matthew 10:23 `And whenever they may persecute you in this city, flee to the other, for verily I say to you, ye may not have completed the cities of Israel till the Son of Man may come.” This states that the “2nd coming” must occur within the generation of the apostles and their commission to preach the gospel to all of Israel and to the whole world.

Matthew 16:27 `For, the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father, with his messengers, and then he will reward each, according to his work.” The Greek for “about to” is mello and it always means something about to happen or about to be in a certain place.” https://parousiafulfilled.com/mello-about-tohappen/index.php#:~:text=Clearly%20the%20authors%20of%20the,very%20SOON%E2%80%A6%20in%20their%20lifetime. Jesus clearly predicted that He was “about to come” back in judgment. BTW only Young’s LIteral Translation and a few others translate mello consistently as “about to”, including its usage in “end of time” eschatological passages like this one. Most translatations just translate it as “certainly will come” when it is used with eschatological passages although they translate it as “agout to” in non-eschatological passages. Why would they do that? Probably because the translators realize the implications if Jesus falsely predicted an imminent 2nd coming that did not happen soon.

Matthew 24:30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth smite the breast, and they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of the heaven, with power and much glory; 34 Verily I say to you, this generation may not pass away till all these may come to pass.” The Greek word for generation is genea and it always means a period of about 40 years or the people living in a period of about 40 years. Thayer explains it, giving Matthew 24:34 and Mark 13:30 as examples, “the whole multitude of men living at the time . . . used especially of the Jewish race living at one and the same period” (Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979, p. 112). G. Abbott-Smith writes that the Greek word genea means “race, stock, family,” but in the New Testament always “generation” (G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 2nd ed., Edinburgh: T.&T. Clarke, 1923, p. 89). Arndt and Gingrich note that the term means “literally, those descended from a common ancestor,” but “basically, the sum total of those born at the same time, expanded to include all those living at a given time, generation, contemporaries” (W.F. Arndt and F.W. Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957, p. 153). (From Thayer explains it, giving Matthew 24:34 and Mark 13:30 as examples, “the whole multitude of men living at the time . . . used especially of the Jewish race living at one and the same period“. From Jews for Judaism, which is not a Jewish Christian site. Here Jewish non Christians are saying that Jesus definitely predicted that his 2nd coming would be within the next 40 or so years and that Jesus was mistaken. It also says that any attempt to make the word generation mean simply “race” is wrong and goes against reputable Greek lexicons.

Mark 8: 38 for whoever may be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also shall be ashamed of him, when he may come in the glory of his Father, with the holy messengers.’ Mark 9:1  And he said to them, `Verily I say to you, That there are certain of those standing here, who may not taste of death till they see the reign of God having come in power.'” Jesus clearly predicted that some of those he was speaking to would still be alive when he came back (his “2nd coming”). If someone still wants to say that generation just means “race”, and that Jesus is only predicting that the Jewish race will still exist at his 2nd coming, this verse is a killer. It says that some would still be alive. Period. That is either true of Jesus is a false prophet.

Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith to him, `Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you (i.e. Caiaphas the high priest), hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.'” We don’t know for sure how long Caiaphas lived, but I believe Jesus that he lived long enough to at least see the beginning of the events of the 2nd coming. Or else Jesus is a false prophet.

There are no other predictions (other than the parallel passages in Mark and Luke which read the same) from Jesus about his 2nd coming or the time of his 2nd coming. That’s it. Any doctrine about the 2nd coming must be taken from these passages. Period.

Schweitzer is right that “modern versions of Christianity ignore the urgency of Jesus’s message.” In other words, most Christians and Christian scholars simply read these predictions and ignore the fact that Jesus is clearly saying that his 2nd coming will be within the next 40 or so years. They might try to use the “generation” is “the Jewish race” but we see that isn’t the Greek meaning, and that doesn’t explain Mark 8:38-9:1 “some will still be alive”. Or they may say, “yes, Jesus predicted an imminent 2nd coming but postponed it due to his rejection by the Jews”. But Hebrews refutes that idea: Hebrews 10:35 Ye may not cast away, then, your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward, 36 for of patience ye have need, that the will of God having done, ye may receive the promise, 37 for yet a very very little, He who is coming will come, and will not tarry (chronizó: To delay, to tarry, to take time); 38 and `the righteous by faith shall live,’ and `if he may draw back, My soul hath no pleasure in him,’ 39 and we are not of those drawing back to destruction, but of those believing to a preserving of soul.”

Some might be so bold to say that “Jesus did predict an imminent 2nd coming but was “mistaken”. The classic on this is from C.S.Lewis who claimed that Mattew 10:23 and 24:34 were the most embarrassing verses in the Bible b/c Jesus was mistaken, thinking that his 2nd coming was imminent and within the generation of those he was speaking to. So, even though Lewis became a Christian, here is how he tried to explain Jesus’ mistaken beliefs: …” But there is worse to come. ‘Say what you like,’ we shall be told, ‘the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, “this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.” And He was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else.’

It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible. Yet how teasing, also, that within fourteen words of it should come the statement ‘But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.’ The one exhibition of error and the one confession of ignorance grow side by side. That they stood thus in the mouth of Jesus Himself, and were not merely placed thus by the reporter, we surely need not doubt. Unless the reporter were perfectly honest he would never have recorded the confession of ignorance at all; he could have had no motive for doing so except a desire to tell the whole truth. And unless later copyists were equally honest they would never have preserved the (apparently) mistaken prediction about ‘this generation’ after the passage of time had shown the (apparent) mistake. This passage (Mark 13:30–32) and the cry ‘Why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34) together make up the strongest proof that the New Testament is historically reliable. The evangelists have the first great characteristic of honest witnesses: they mention facts which are, at first sight, damaging to their main contention.

The facts, then, are these: that Jesus professed Himself (in some sense) ignorant, and within a moment showed that He really was so. To believe in the Incarnation, to believe that He is God, makes it hard to understand how He could be ignorant; but also makes it certain that, if He said He could be ignorant, then ignorant He could really be. For a God who can be ignorant is less baffling than a God who falsely professes ignorance. The answer of theologians is that the God-Man was omniscient as God, and ignorant as Man. This, no doubt, is true, though it cannot be imagined. Nor indeed can the unconsciousness of Christ in sleep be imagined, nor the twilight of reason in His infancy; still less His merely organic life in His mother’s womb. But the physical sciences, no less than theology, propose for our belief much that cannot be imagined.”

Wow! Lewis says that Jesus was mistaken in his belief in an imminent 2nd coming, but that’s okay b/c he then said that Jesus admitted his ignorance since “no man, not even the Son, knew the exact day of his 2nd coming. That is not an acceptable explanation! Jesus did not say that he “might be coming back soon”. He said that he was coming back soon. The test for a false prophet is Deuteronomy 18:“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously….that prophet shall die” Jesus would be a false prophet to be stoned to death if his prediction did not come true. Period. William Miller predicted that Jesus was coming back on March 23, 1843 and it didn’t happen. He will go down in history as a false prophet. Why would our assessmenet of Jesus be any different? Jesus added that he did not know the exact day, but that doesn’t take away his prediction about the 2nd coming to happen within that generation whild some were still alive. Jesus gave signs to look for the 2nd coming, but he never gave the exact date of it. If he gave the exact date, most would wait till that day to repent! I’m glad C.S.Lewis became a Christian in spite of his questioning of Jesus’ predictions, but he was wrong, and any atheist, Muslim, Jew, or agnostic can see the fallacy of his reasoning.

So, Jesus predicted he would come back (his 2nd coming) within that generation (Matthew 24:30,34)that he was speaking to (within the next 40 years or so), while some listening to him were still alive (Mark 9;1). Well did he? Yes. He came in judgment on the wicked Jewish nation in 70 AD when He sent the Romans to destroy the temple and the city of Jerusalem, which they did under Titus.

That coming is described with a lot of figurative language similar to judgments on nations in the Old Testament. For example, Matthew 24:29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” That had to occur within that generation (24:30), within the next 40 years or so. But did the “stars fall from the sky” withiin the next 40 years? Not literally. But Isaiah 13 predicted the fall of Babylon, which happened in 539 BC, using similar language. Isaiah 19:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash their light; The sun will be dark when it rises And the moon will not shed its light.” Did the stars quit shining (there are billions of stars) when that predicttion was fulfilled? No. That is tyypical apocalyptic figurative language, a way of saying a big catastrophic event was going to occur, a change in the way things were governed on earth. Isaiah 34:4 is another example: “For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash their light; The sun will be dark when it rises And the moon will not shed its light.” This again was a judgment on nations back in Isaiah’s time. So the stars did not have to fall in 70 AD for Matthew 24:30-34 to be fulfilled in 70 AD.

I hope this challenges you to study this topic if you haven’t already done so. Too many Christians just ignore the seriousness of this topic. We must defend Jesus as a true prophet. The alternative is that he was just another false prophet and our faith in Christianity is void and He is not the Savior of the world.

 

2 TIMOTHY 4: THE LAST DAYS; PREACH THE WORD; PAUL IS ABOUT TO DIE

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2 Timothy 4:1  I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign —2 preach the word; be earnest in season, out of season, convict, rebuke, exhort, in all long-suffering and teaching, 3 for there shall be a season when the sound teaching they will not suffer, but according to their own desires to themselves they shall heap up teachers — itching in the hearing, 4 and indeed, from the truth the hearing they shall turn away, and to the fables they shall be turned aside. 5 And thou — watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; of thy ministration make full assurance,

Another one of those “full preterism” verses in 4:1. Jesus is “about to” (mello, always means about to happen or about to be at a place). https://parousiafulfilled.com/mello-about-to-happen/index.php#:~:text=So%2C%20whenever%20something%20was%20%E2%80%9Cabout,(Matt%2017%3A12). For example For example, when Jesus prophesied his coming crucifixion, he told his disciples that the Son of Man “is about to” [Gk: μέλλει : mellei] suffer at the hands of certain men (Matt 17:12). Matthew 3:7 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to [Gk: μελλούσης : mellouses : which is about to] come (i.e. the judgment on the Jews in 70 AD). But mello is used in several eschatological passages like 2 Timothy 4:1 (a judgment of the living and the dead passage at his manifestation (epiphaneia: Appearing, Manifestation; used in 2 Thess 2:8 NAS: and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming) so this is a 2nd coming judgment passage. Matthew 16:27 – the Son of Man is going to i [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is about to] come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” Acts 17:31 – because he has fixed a day on which he will i [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is about to] judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”Check the site just given for more uses. Luke 21:36 – But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to i [Gk: μέλλοντα : mellonta : are about to] take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21 is all about the end of the age in 70 AD and the destruction of the city and the temple in 70 AD, so the use of mello in 21:36 makes sense. Revelation 1:19 YLT – Write the things that thou hast seen, and the things that are, and the things that are about to [Gk: μέλλει : mellei : is (are) about to] iii ) come after these things.” Revelation was written in about 63 AD about things “shortly to take place” (Rev 1:1-3), so mello makes sense here also.

Preach (kérussó: To proclaim, to preach, to herald) the word. The verb κηρύσσω (kérussó) is used in the New Testament to describe the act of proclaiming or announcing a message publicly. It often refers to the preaching of the Gospel. That is something an “evangelist” like Titus would do, to preach the gospel (good news) message to sinners. We call our sermons “preaching”, but technically our sermons are just teaching (occasionally preaching the gospel good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and how to be saved), but not preaching. Semantics I guess. I’m sure Titus preached the basic gospel message to unconverted sinners everywhere he could. There would be a season when people will not listen to sound (hugiainó: To be sound, to be healthy, to be well; the word we get “hygiene” from) teaching. They will have “itching ears” and will “heap up teachers” that will scratch their itching ears. (AI) “In the Greco-Roman world, rhetoric and philosophy were highly valued, and speakers often tailored their messages to please their audiences. This cultural context helps illuminate the metaphorical use of “knéthó” in the New Testament, where it warns against the tendency to seek out teachings that align with personal desires rather than divine truth.”

The number of false prophets and false teachers is amazing. Marshall Applewhite of Heaven’s Gate cult; Jim Jones of People’s Temple (Guyanaa tragedy). David Karesh of Branch Davidians cult. Charles Manson and the Manson Family. David Berg of the Children of God cult. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and the Rajneeshpuram,cult. Here is a site that discusses each of these false prophets and cults. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/most-famous-cults-history These are just a few of the many! Add Joseph Smith of the Mormons. Ellen G. White of the 7th Day Adventists. Rutherford and Russell of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Mary Baker Eddy of the Christian Science. L Ron Hubbard and Scientology. Warren Jeffs of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That list doesn’t include the many, many false prophets who falsely predicted dates for the 2nd coming.

But what is amazing to me is why so many people can be drawn to these false prophets. These false prophets and cult leaders obviously had charismatic appeal to people. But what was it that caused so many to be drawn to Joseph Smith and his Book of Mormon. Or to Marshall Applewhite and to Jim Jones, joining in mass suicide. (AI) “Cults prey upon the vulnerable among us, such as teenage runaways, drug addicts, abuse survivors, those who have lost someone close to them through death or a breakup, those suffering from insecurity or mental health issues, or anyone who feels disconnected from society.” But many are just well meaning people who like the personality and teachings of some preacher. Surprisingly the majority of those drawn to cults have higher education. Most have less religious and spiritual upbringing. Again it just amazes me that so many people would fall into the false teaching of cults and cult leaders. I’m not sure what the “fables” in 4:4 are that the false teachers are teaching, but the fables of the Book of Mormon would to me be a prime example. There are 17 million Mormons worldwide.

Next Paul turns to his expected imminent death. 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering (spendó: To pour out as a drink offering, to make a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” The Law had drink offerings (Exodus 29:40), libations poured out in worship to God. His death would be like that. The Christian life is a constant battle against sin and evil. Paul fought the good fight. It is a race filled with obstacles and difficulties. Paul finished the course. It is life filled with doubt and bad things that challenge your faith in God. Paul kept the faith. He would get his crown stephanos: Crown). (AI) “In the New Testament, “stephanos” primarily refers to a crown or wreath, symbolizing victory, honor, or reward. Unlike a royal diadem, which signifies sovereignty, a “stephanos” is often associated with the wreath awarded to victors in athletic contests or given as a mark of honor and celebration. It is used metaphorically to describe the eternal rewards and honors bestowed upon believers by God.”

Next is Paul’s personal concerns. Remember that this is last winter, spent in a Roman dungeon. He wants Timothy to come to him in prison soon,, before he dies. He is sending Tychicus to Ephesus, probably with this 2 Timothy letter, to relieve Timothy in his work there so that Timothy can come see Paul in prison. He is cold and wants his overcoat he left in Troas. He feels deserted by many. He is lonely, having only Luke with him at the time he wrote. We wonder why he left his books and parchments in Troas, but he wants Timothy to bring them. We are happy to see that Paul says that Maark is useful him for service. We assume that is John Mark who deserted Paul and Barnabas on the 1st missionary journey. That caused a big argument between Paul and Barnabas over whether to take Mark with them on the 2nd journey as Paul refused to take him. Paul and Barnabas split up after that, with Paul taking Silas on his 2nd journey and Barnabas taking John Mark with him on a journey somewhere. In his hour of need, Demas deserted Paul, having loved this present world. Maybe that means that Demas was afraid to stick around with Paul in prison for fear that he also might end up in prison. He was deserted by all at his first defense (possibly a trial during his 2nd imprisonment in Rome). Can we even fathom how Paul felt in his last few months in a cold dungeon in Rome? If you were writing your last letter before you died, who would you write to and what would you say?

Paul did not expect to get out of prison this time like he did after house arrest in Acts 28. He expected to be released from the 2 year house arrest of Acts 28. He wrote Philippians during that 2 year house arrest, his 1st imprisonment, and wrote Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” Not so this time in his 2nd imprisonment. But even if he died in prison this time he expected to be brought safely into the heavenly kingdom (i.e. wherever eternal life is).

2 Timothy 4: 9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12 But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.

16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

A reminder of Paul’s possible 4th journey after he was released from 2 years in house arrest in Rome (Acts 28). Notice Troas which is where he left his overcoat, books, and parchments. He left Titus in Crete and Timothy in Ephesus. He went through Troas where he left his overcoat and books and parchment. He planned to spend the winter in Nicopolis (Titus 3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there) and apparently did not make it there before being arrested and carried to Rome for his last winter during which he wrote 2 Timothy. He would have written the letter to Titus and the 1st letter to Timothy probably from Macedonia on his way to Nicolopis.

If you just had to try to read Paul mind as he is about to die, what do you think were his main concerns? 1 Timothy had a lot of instructions for Timothy to teach to the church about elders, deacons, roles of men and women members, widows, and false teachers. But 2 Timothy is more about instructions to Timothy to not be ashamed of Paul in prison, to be strong, to peach the word and rebuke false teachers. It is more personal as Paul mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother. He is very concerned about Timothy carrying on the work.

That concludes the study of 2 Timothy. Hope you enjoyed it.

2 TIMOTHY 3

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2 Timothy 3: 1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. 6 For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their foolishness will be obvious to all, just as was that also of Jannes and Jambres.

More verses on the last days. 2 Peter 3:3-4 ESV Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 1 Timothy 4:1 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” Hebrews 1:2 ESV But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Micah 4:1 ESV It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.” Hosea 3:5 ESV Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.” Isaiah 2:2 ESV It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.” Daniel 10:14 ESV And came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” 1 Peter 1:20 ESV He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” Jude 1:18 ESV They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” Jeremiah 30:24; 23:20  ESV The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” Ezekiel 38:8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.” Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these.”

My church taught that the “last days” was the Christian Age that started in 30 AD in Acts 2 and is still going. I believe the phrase refers to the last days of the Jewish Age, the period from 30-70 AD. In 70 AD In 70 AD the temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed. Hebrews 8:13 When He said, “A new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34),” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” That was written in about 60 AD. Some say the old covenant ended in 30 AD, but this verse clearly says that the old covenant did not disappear till shortly after 60 AD, which would fit 70 AD as the date it disappeared. So we start to see that it makes more sense that the last days are the last days of the Jewish Age, ending in 70 AD.

The passage that really shows that is Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, And your young men will see visions, And your old men will have dreams; 18 And even on My male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, And they will prophesy. 19 And I will display wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Peter was quoting Joel 2:28-32.

The “great and terrible day of the Lord” was predicted by Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” Of course, the coming of Elijah was fulfilled figuratively in John the Baptist. Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.” 17:10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did [d]to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.” That great and terrible day of the Lord would be when Jesus came in judgment on the evil Jewish nation, using the Romans, in 70 AD, killing a million Jews in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. That would be his 2nd coming. A lot of people say that the last days were the days between the 1st and 2nd coming, which is correct. They just think the 2nd coming has not happened yet. If you understand that the 2nd coming happened in 70 AD, then the last days were the days between the 1st and 2nd coming. See my blog articles on the “2nd coming” if what I just wrote sounds heretical! That imminent judgment day on the Jews in 70 AD is why Peter would cap off his sermon with a warning: Acts 2:40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on urging them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” It was that generation of evil Jews that would be judged. Matthew 23: 34 “Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

I think that establishes that the last days were the last days of the Jewish Age from 30 to 70 AD. We are not living in the “last days” today as many would have you believe. The apostles believed that they were living in the last days, and it doesn’t make sense that the last days would last going on 2,000 years now. During those last days the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit would be poured out on “mankind”. Of course, that would mean that it was available to all mankind b/c the only way the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit was given was by the laying on of the apostles’ hands. In the OT only a few received the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit (prophets mainly and Moses and the 70 men), but in the early church the miraculous would be given to all believers, men and women, servants and masters, as long as the apostles laid their hands on them. In Acts 8 the Samaritans were baptized but Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.” Paul laid his hands on the 12 men in Acts 19:1 Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.” They received the miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The only exception to this practice was when God directly poured the Holy Spirit, the miraculous, on Cornelius to show the Jewish brethren and Peter that the Gentiles could be saved just s they were. Also God poured out the miraculous on Saul when Ananias came that Saul might be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9). Ananias was not an apostle so I assume God just gave Saul the Spirit.

It would make sense that, since the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the apostles’. hands that the gifts would cease as they died off. Peter says in Acts 2 that the miraculous would be poured out during the last days from 30-70 AD, so that fits perfectly. Plus it is obvious that the miracles of those last days are not being done today.

As I said, my church taught that the last days was the Christian Age that started on 30 AD and is still going today until the 2nd coming. That’s a real problem since my church is mostly cessationist (i.e. the miracles ceased in the first century). According to Joel 2 and Acts 2, the miraculous would be poured out in the last days. If we are still in the last days, then the miraculous should still be abundant today, the same miraculous gifts found in the early church (1 Corinthians 12-14). But my church doesn’t believe they do exist today. The charismatics who believe in the miraculous today see that inconsistent interpretation and scoff at us. A correct understanding of the last days eliminates this problem.

That’s a long way to get back to 2 Timothy 3:1 but I thought it was a good place to basically do a study of the “last days” in the Bible. So Paul is saying that in the last days from 30-70 AD that all these sins would be rampant. There would be a falling away, an apostasy before 70 AD. Jesus predicted that: Matthew 24:9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time (i.e. the time of the end in 70 AD) many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” All that had to happen within that generation of Jews: Matthew 24:34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Also 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” Paul spoke of this in 2 Thessalonians 2:1Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” That “apostasy” could be the rebellion of the Jews against the Romans in the years before 70 AD that led to the destruction of the temple and city, or it could be an apostasy of believers (as Jesus predicted) who don’t endure in the face of persecution from the Jews and Romans.

As Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:9-12, this apostasy and falling away of believers would be led by false teachers who “slip into households and captivate weak women who are led on by various impulses”. They would “oppose the truth” just as the magicians, Jannes and Jambres, did when Moses came to Pharoah. Their names are not mentioned in Exodus, but they are here.

Then on a personal note to Timothy: 2 Timothy 2:10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Paul commends Timothy. Paul makes an interesting observation: All who want to live godly in Jesus will be persecuted”. That has been the general rule for the 2,000 years of church and Christian history. Martyrdom and persecution of believers has been the rule not the exception. The church was its strongest in the first 3 centuries before Constantine legalized Christianity. It got weaker when it became fashionable to become a Christian. Millions of Christians are still being persecuted for their faith in India, North Korea, Muslim countries, Iran, China, and many other places. The lack of persecution of the church in the U.S. has made the church weaker actually.

Paul closes with one of my favorite passages on the inspiration of the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:4 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture (graphé: Scripture, writing) is inspired (theopneustos: God-breathed, inspired by God) by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” This is the only one occurrence of this Greek word theopneustos, but the idea of “inspiration” of Scripture is found elsewhere. 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” “Men moved by the Holy Spirit to speak and write God’s word.” 1 Corinthians 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” Notice that inspiration was in words. The Holy Spirit somehow allowed the inspired writers and speakers to use their own vocabulary and thoughts but guided their thoughts and words so as to give the actual word of God, without errors (infallible). The apostles were promised this inspiration of the Holy Spirit: John 16: 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” So the Scriptures are verbal (in error free words) plenary (full truth, not just parts of the Bible but all of the Bible) inspiration (God breathed words by the Holy Spirit). Of course, only the original writings of the NT writers were error free. The copies and translations are not. However, a study of the transmission of the original writings will show that we have very, very accurate copies and translations even though we don’t have the originals We have over 5,000 partial or full manuscripts to use in making translations today.

This is AI and long but I think it is worth including:

The rejection of the inspiration of scriptures, often called biblical criticism or skepticism, stems from various viewpoints that challenge the traditional understanding of the Bible’s divine origin and authority. 

Reasons for Rejection:

  • Historical and Literary Criticism:Some scholars argue that the Bible is a product of human authorship influenced by the historical and cultural contexts of its time, questioning its divine inspiration or inerrancy. 
  • Scientific and Archaeological Discoveries:Some findings in science and archaeology have been interpreted as contradicting or challenging biblical accounts, leading some to question the Bible’s accuracy or reliability. 
  • Moral and Ethical Concerns:Critics point to passages in the Bible that they consider morally problematic, such as violence, slavery, and discrimination, questioning its divine origin or relevance for modern society. 
  • Internal Contradictions and Inconsistencies:Some argue that the Bible contains internal contradictions, inconsistencies, or errors that challenge its claim to be divinely inspired. 
  • Humanist Perspective:Humanists, who emphasize human reason and experience, often reject the Bible’s claim to be divinely inspired, considering it a product of human culture and history. 

Consequences of Rejection:

  • Loss of Authority:Rejecting biblical inspiration can lead to questioning the Bible’s authority as a source of moral guidance and religious truth. 
  • Doubt and Uncertainty:Rejection of the Bible’s divine origin can create doubt and uncertainty about religious beliefs and practices. 
  • Shifting Perspectives:Rejecting the Bible’s inspiration can lead to alternative interpretations of religious texts, emphasizing human agency and reason over divine revelation. 
  • Conflict and Debate:The rejection of biblical inspiration can lead to conflict and debate between those who believe in the Bible’s divine origin and those who do not. 

Different Approaches to Biblical Interpretation:

  • Literal Interpretation:Some believe the Bible should be interpreted literally, accepting its words as historically accurate and divinely inspired. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t figurative parts of the Bible. Context determines literal or figurative.
  • Figurative Interpretation:Others argue that the Bible should be understood figuratively, recognizing its symbolic and metaphorical language.This method means that the Bible can’t be taken literally period.

The “sacred writings” that Timothy was taught from childhood would have been the OT scriptures, the 39 books of the OT as arranged into 22 books in 3 divisions: the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets (Luke 24:27). But as time went on, the writings of the NT inspired writers would be considered Scripture also. 2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” Here Peter is saying that Paul’s writings are Scripture just like the OT writings were Scripture. Paul was an inspired apostle although he was not one of the original 12.

It is the responsibility of parents to teach the word of God to their children, just as Timothy’s mother and grandmother did (2 Timothy 1:5). A correct understanding of the OT Scripture would lead one to faith in Christ. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” John 5:39 You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; 40 and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” The Law would convict men of sin and their inability to save themselves by animal sacrifices. The Prophets or Writings would make many messianic predictions which were all fulfilled with 100% accuracy although written hundreds of years ahead of time. The OT and NT Scripture is beneficial for correction and training so that the man or woman of God might be fully capable, equipped for every good work. The Scriptures do have all the basic doctrines of truth, but the ultimate goal of the Scriptures is to equip us to do good works for God.

This was AI interesting: According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 49% of Americans believe the Bible is inspired by God, but not everything in it is to be taken literally: Fables, history, and moral precepts: 29% of Americans say the Bible is a collection of fables, history, and moral precepts recorded by man. Literal word of God: 20% of Americans believe the Bible is the actual word of God to be taken literally.” There is a lot of semantics here that can confuse the issue. I consider myself to be a literalists, but there are many portions of Scripture that are figurative and not literal. Such as the predictions in Matthew 24 that the stars would fall within that generation (24:34) which was obviously figurative. A lot of that 49% probably consider the Bible to be inspiring but not the word of God, and perhaps not completed inspired but full of errors. Groups like the LGBQT movement obviously do not believe that the Bible is word for word the word of God.

2 TIMOTHY 2:20-26

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2 Timothy 2:20 Now in a large (megas: Great, large, mighty, from which we get “mega”) house there are not only gold and silver implements (skeuos: Vessel, implement, container, instrument), but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

Let’s make this practical. In our house, our kitchen has several different types of vessels or containers that hold things. We have the fancy Christmas dishes that stay in a cabinet above the frig to be pulled out at Christmas only. We have some fancy crystal drinking glasses over in an antique china cabinet that we pull out for special occasions only. We heave regular dishes, glasses, cups plates, and saucers that we use all the time. We have regular cooking pots but then we also have fancy cooking pots. Obviously we have some vessels that are held in higher honor than others. But we also have a garbage bin or trash can that we put leftover food and trash in. We have a garbage disposal that we put leftover or bad food in. They do not have much honor in our kitchen. Even these vessels are needed and part of our kitchen.

It is the same with God’s vessels, i.e. Christians. Some Christians are very special to God, useful for doing His work. Some will bear more fruit and do more good works for God, but they are “useful”, “prepared for every good work”. Matthew 13:23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.” Some Christians are not useful at all. They might still be saved by God’s grace, but they bear little or no fruit. Maybe Luke 8:14 they are the thorny soil that is so preoccupied by the worries, riches and pleasures of this life that they bear no fruit. 1 Peter 1:8 For if these qualities (moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love) are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”

So how does a Christian become more “useful”, sanctified (i.e. set apart for special use), prepared for every good work? 1) By cleansing ourselves from worthless debates over words and issues, and foolish and ignorant speculations 2:23. 2) By cleansing ourselves from “youthful lusts” (youthful b/c Paul is writing to a young man Timothy but lusts apply to all of us. Then, once you have done a “self-cleansing”, pursue ” righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Back to the kitchen analogy. You might have a special Christmas pot, but it has some very old moldy food in it from being in the frig several days. It is of no use until you get rid of the old food, cleanse it (wash it), and then you can use it to put the meat or potatoes that you just cooked. But you must get rid of the bad food, cleanse it, and then you can use it for good food. Too many of us who are supposed to be special vessels of the gospel for God to us are of no value b/c we have so many hidden sins. Our motives for even going to church are not pure. We must get rid of the bad sins and pursue the good things Paul spoke of. Then we will be of use for the Master.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure (the saving gospel) in earthen containers (skeuos: Vessel, implement, container, instrument, same as 2 Tim 2:20), so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” It is amazing that God would send His Son to die horribly on the cross for our sins but then entrust the spreading of the gospel with weak, fallible humans. If God wants everyone to hear the gospel, which he does, and be saved, why not some miraculous way that doesn’t depend on humans? I can’t imagine how that could be. At least in the first century, He gave miraculous gifts to apostles, prophets, evangelists, elders and teachers (Eph 4:11) to spread the gospel and deliver the once for all time truth. But then (I am a cessationist who believe those miracles have ceased) the miracles stopped by the end of the first century and since then it is uninspired, fallible men who have interpreted and spread the Bible and the gospel. Not only that, men have engaged in endless debate over the Bible and what it means. Others have gone off into “foolish speculation” (like the book of Mormon) and cults. So if you are trying to teach the Bible and the gospel to others, it can easily end up in debate, arguments, quarrels, pride, dissention, division, etc. So how does that special vessel of the gospel handle such debates? 2 Timothy 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” With a gentle, loving disposition. Not argumentative or quarrelsome. Patient. Skillful in teaching (you must know the book backward and forward). You can’t let your pride get in the way. If the false teacher attacks you, you must turn the other cheek and turn it over to God. Be kind, not overly aggressive or pushy. Be a good listener and try to find points of agreement if there are any. I’m afraid a lot of the preachers in my denomination didn’t do all that. Many of them stood in the pulpit openly judging and condemning people in different denominations. Their attitude hindered many from accepting truth even if they were teaching truth. Many times they were too blind to see the legitimate points of the opponent.

So, an interesting section.

2 TIMOTHY 2: Soldiers, athletes, and farmer; has the resurrection of the dead already happened?

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Refer to 2 Timothy 1 blog article to get background of this last letter of Paul before he is beheaded in Rome by Nero about 65-66 AD. Remember he pretty well knows that this is his last winter. He is writing a very personal letter to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy. Instead of verse by verse, I am just giving some key texts and how they might apply to us.

2 Timoty 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. 5 And if someone likewise competes as an athlete, he is not crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Soldier. Athlete. Farmer. Paul challenges Timothy to practice the hard work, self sacrifice, suffering, and endurance in his ministry as an evangelist. 1) Soldiers normally leave the comforts of home to go serve in the forces of his country. He can no longer just say “what do I want to do today”. He can’t just entangle himself with the affairs of everyday life. bible hub.com “The verb “emplekó” is used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe becoming entangled or involved in something, often with a negative connotation. It suggests being caught up or ensnared in affairs that distract or hinder one’s primary focus or mission.” 2) Athletes have to exercise great mental and physical discipline and training in order to win the victor’s crown. Roman athletics evolved to include iconic sports like gladiatorial combat (Trained fighters, often slaves, prisoners of war, or condemned criminals, battled each other or wild animals in amphitheaters) and chariot racing in grand venues like the Colosseum and Circus Maximus.  Wrestling and boxing: Popular sports that helped to improve overall fitness and build strength and stamina. Running: A favorite activity in ancient Rome, with boys competing in footraces on the Campus Martius. Naval battles staged in flooded amphitheaters or specially constructed basins. 3) Famers work so hard to plant and harvest in all kind of weather conditions, exhibiting great patience when things go wrong. Timothy needs to be like these 3 things: soldier, athlete, and farmer.

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some.”  (Young’s Literal Translation) These verses interest me b/c of Hymeaeus and Philetus. I am a full preterist, so I believe that the resurrection of the dead took place in 70 AD at the end of the Jewish Age. So I also believe that the “resurrection (of the dead) ha already taken place). So am I a heretic to be withdrawn from? Some have indeed withdrawn from full preterists i their congregations. The difference is this: Those 2 false teachers were teaching that the resurrection of the dead had already taken place and yet it was only about 64 AD when Paul wrote 2 Timothy. So the resurrection had not taken place at that time. A similar issue in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.” The issue there was the 2nd coming, but the resurrection would occur at the 2nd coming, so the 2 events are tied together. Someone in Thessalonica was teaching that the 2nd coming had already happened when Paul wrote that letter in about 52 AD. But I am not denying the resurrection of the death. I just believe in happened in 70 AD. I guess in principle some would say that I am a heretic for my beliefs.

Why do I believe the resurrection of the dead has already happened in 70 AD. Acts 24:14 `And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written, 15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be (3195 méllō – properly, at the very point of acting; ready, “about to happen.”a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous.” Notice “there is about to be a resurrection”. Go to this site and look at how the word mello is used. https://parousiafulfilled.com/mello-about-to-happen/index.php The word always in context means “about to be at a place or about to happen”. Most of the translations translate it correctly “about to” except in eschatological passages like Acts 24:15. There they translate it “there shall certainly be a resurrection” which is totally inaccurate. Paul is saying that the resurrection is about to happen. Soon. Imminent. Either the resurrection did happen soon after Paul said that or he is a false prophet. Or he is just mistaken in his thinking which would mean he wasn’t really inspired by the Holy Spirit in his writings. And if he was mistaken here, then why would we listen to anything that he wrote?

So where did Paul get his prediction that the resurrection was “about to happen” when he spoke in Acts 24:15. He said that he got it from the “Law and prophets”. So where did the old testament predict the resurrection of the dead? That has to be Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Does Daniel tell us when that resurrection will take place? It will happen at “the time of the end ” (12:4, 9), not the “end of time”. It would occur at the same time as the “abomination of desolation: 12:11 and from the time of the turning aside of the perpetual [sacrifice], and to the giving out of the desolating abomination, [are] days a thousand, two hundred, and ninety.” Daniel 9:26 And after the sixty and two weeks, cut off is Messiah, and the city and the holy place are not his, the Leader who hath come doth destroy the people; and its end [is] with a flood, and till the end [is] war, determined [are] desolations. 27 And he hath strengthened a covenant with many — one week, and [in] the midst of the week he causeth sacrifice and present to cease, and by the wing of abominations he is making desolate, even till the consummation, and that which is determined is poured on the desolate one.'” The predicted end event of the 70 weeks was the abomination of desolation (and the end of the city and the holy place) of the temple. Jesus said in Matthew 24:15 `Whenever, therefore, ye may see the abomination of the desolation, that was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever is reading let him observe).” He then added 24:34 Verily I say to you, this generation may not pass away till all these may come to pass.” That word genea is always used in the NT of a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 years period (just as we say the baby boomers generation). Matthew 1 lists 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus, which is about 2,000 years if a generation is 40 or so years. So the abomination of desolation of Daniel 12:11 and 9:11 had to occur while the generation Jesus was speaking to would still be alive. That can only be the destruction of the temple and city in 70 AD by the Romans as God’s punishment on the Jews for all their evil sins.

Back to Acs 24:15. Paul was referring to the Daniel 12:1-3 resurrection, saying it was “about to happen” soon after he predicted that and he said that in about 55 AD. There is no other OT passages from the Law and the Prophets that predicts a resurrection of the dead. All the OT righteous and wicked went to the hadean world to await that resurrection of the dead at the end of the Jewish age in 70 AD. It was a spiritual resurrection. There were no actual bodies coming out of the tombs. But we trust that it did happen. The OT dead received their final sentencing when they were raised in 70 AD. The righteous received eternal life and immortality. The wicked received eternal separation from God, either in hell forever or being annihilated (a different subject not relevant here). Therefore, I am not a heretic for saying that the resurrection of the dead did happen in 70 AD b/c that is what the apostle Paul predicted. Yes, it has already happened but no heresy here.

BTW Paul was preaching a spiritual resurrection, not a physical bodily resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15, he said that the physical bodies would be raised as “spiritual, incorruptible, glorious, and heavenly” body. He said that “flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of God”. He then said 15:51 lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed.” He is saying that at least some of the ones he is writing to would still be alive when this resurrection of bodies would occur. He added” 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we — we shall be changed: 53 for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality; 54 and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up — to victory; 55 where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?’ 56 and the sting of the death [is] the sin, and the power of the sin the law”. The believers, dead or alive, would be given “immortality” at the resurrection which would occur within the lifetime of those he was writing to. That fits Acts 24:15 and Daniel 12:1-3 perfectly.

So, in my opinion, we are not still waiting for a resurrection of the dead some day in our future. After 70 AD every baptized believer receives eternal life and immortality when he becomes a Christian. He can lose it if he falls from grace, but he has immortality and will live forever even after he dies. John 11:25 Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” Is that not immortality?

Some say we die and still go to a holding place in hades like the OT dead. But most say that we die and go to be with Jesus immediately and begin enjoying eternal life with Jesus. I always ask those who say that, “if they go to be with Jesus immediately, then don’t they a spiritual body? why would they need to some day in the future at some future resurrection get their physical body raised from the dead so they could be with Jesus forever? they are already enjoying being with Jesus. They have all the spiritual body they need!” I never get much of an answer for those questions.

The key here is Acts 24:15 and mello. Please study that closely before rejecting all this. Is Paul mistaken in his prediction that the resurrection was about to happen when he spoke that? That has huge ramifications if Paul was mistaken. If he is correct, and he is, then that helps answer a lot of questions about the resurrection of the dead and when it happened.

Thanks for reading. This article might stretch your thinking a little bit.

2 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 Training leaders; How churches spend their money

On By nrfaughtLeave a comment

Refer to 2 Timothy 1 blog article to get background of this last letter of Paul before he is beheaded in Rome by Nero about 65-66 AD. Remember he pretty well knows that this is his last winter. He is writing a very personal letter to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy. Instead of verse by verse, I am just giving some key texts and how they might apply to us.

2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” This verse means a lot to me. When I finished 2 years at the school of preaching in West Monroe, La, the Lord guided my wife and I to do 3 years of mission work in Trinidad, West Indies. The work in Trinidad had been started all over on the island, mainly due to the work of Bob Brown. “Campaigns” all over the island led to thousands of baptisms. I went on one that baptized 150 in less than 2 weeks. That led to the starting of congregations all over the island. My coworker chose the southern part of the island b/c there were no missionaries or preachers, and the churches were young. But this verse was a key in our mission. We baptized more people and we established a few more congregations, but our mission was to train leaders in those churches that could carry on the work after we left without relying of U.S. money to pay preachers. After all, that is the way it was done in the New Testament early house churches.

We had seen the paid preacher system in mission work (foreign preachers paid by U.S. congregations) and wanted no part of that. It wasn’t Biblical and it wasn’t effective in the long run. We did start a full time 2 year school of preaching in Trinidad and we missionaries taught the classes, very similar to my school of preaching in La. That might have been needed since we brought in men from other islands as well as Trinidad to train. Looking back, I’m not sure how effective that really was, however. The best thing we did was a “Saturday” mini school of preaching for a year for local leaders, men and women, members who had regular jobs, those who could preach and teach the word. We did many of the same Bible courses, just cut back. We trained a customs agent, an oil company employee, a postman, etc. These men and women led the churches over the past 50 years since we were there! They have never had a paid by the U.S. preacher in that time. In turn, after we left after 3 years, they trained other men, just as 2 Timothy 2:1 says: entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” The congregations are still doing well. Some of the men we trained have established new congregations and have done mission work in Guyana, which is just across the bay in South America.

It was kinda ironic when they would come back from a short mission trip to Guyana and tell me that there were several paid by the U.S. preachers in Guyana that were “momaguying” (deceiving, fooling, tricking) the U.S. supporting congregations by putting on a show when their representatives were in Guyana on short trips. Our Trinidadian guys saw that the Guyana paid preachers were just putting on a show while they were there, but after that weren’t working hard at all.

Such is the paid by the U.S. preacher system everywhere. Granted, short term pay of missionaries might be necessary. After all, we were supported by U.S. congregations while in Trinidad. But it was never to set up a paid preacher system in Trinidad, which we did not do. I know that system works well is some places, but only as long as the U.S. money keeps coming. Is it still viable? Maybe so if the preachers are honest, sincere men who are not preaching for money, for a job. But often that is not the case. Often those preachers will stop preaching and evangelizing if the pay stops. Also, the paid by the U.S. preacher tends to become “the pastor” who runs the show in the congregations, instead of installing elders to shepherd the flocks. I was glad to see one of our Trinidadian congregations appoint elders recently. I do know of some mission works that train leaders in some way but then expect the leaders to get jobs to support themselves; the U.S. churches give them “working funds” to their travel, etc. as they minister to the local congregations and that seems to work pretty well.

I know Paul said 1 Corinthians 9:6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? Galatians 6:6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” But is Paul talking about paying full time local. preachers? There was no such thing in the local church. He must have been talking about traveling evangelists like Timothy and Titus, who might not be able to support themselves with a job like Paul supported himself with tent making. That full time traveling evangelist might even end up being supported full time without supporting himself. Paul personally would never take money from the church he was establishing and working with. Paul spent 3 years working with the church in Ephesus but he told the Ephesian elders Acts 20: 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.” Apparently he never took money from them. He made tents to support himself while working in Corinth. He did receive some help from the church at Philippi to give him more free time to preach (Philippians 4) while he was in Corinth, but he would not take money from the church in Corinth. Some elders actually received supplemental income if their shepherding took so much time from their jobs that they could not support their families. 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” But no full time local paid preachers.

But what amazes me is that we run the same paid preacher system here in the U.S. Usually there are several competent men leaders and elders who are “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2) , who “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). Men who have jobs and are self supporting. And yet we hired preachers, often at large salaries and benefits, to preach sermons (which is the main thing they do). We build large congregations and draw new members (usually from other congregations which swap members all the time with other congregations) around the paid preacher’s ability to deliver sermons that appeal to us. The pay might include visiting the sick, which is really the work of the elders and members, or the paid preacher might insist that is not part of his work. This paid preacher system is not Biblical. I’m not saying that it is a sin. It’s just not Biblical. In house churches, elders did the shepherding. There were teachers. Evangelists were not full time local paid preachers. They traveled to different churches, stayed for different periods of time, were given food and a place to stay while they were at a church, but then moved on. They never became full time paid preachers for local congregations. The Didache (100 AD) said that if they stayed for more than 2 or 3 days that they were preaching for money and should be sent away. Again, many congregations do this system well. They hire really good preachers who can do very good sermons and draw members. Other congregations deal with the complications of this faulty system when they hire a preacher who doesn’t turn out to be a good person, or they just get tired of him and his sermons. Or he just moves on to a higher paying or better church situation. How much money is spent on this paid preacher system? Millions. (

AI) “According to available data, the average church allocates around 50% of their contributions towards staff salaries and benefits, while typically dedicating another 25-30% towards building costs, including maintenance and utilities, meaning a combined percentage of roughly 75% of contributions go towards staff and buildings combined.” About 10% of money collected goes to ministry programs for youth and adults among the members themelves. About 10% goes to mission work, printing Bibles for mission work drilling wells for clean water in Africa, supporting widows and orphans. That leaves about 5% miscellaneous. Here is a good article on how churches spend their money. https://www.churchlawandtax.com/manage-finances/budgets/how-churches-spend-their-money/ Church buildings now cost in the millions and churches have many on staff. One local church built a $1 million dollar bell tower which is impressive, but how many wells could be drilled for clean water and how many poor children overseas could be supported with that money? But could large churches with buildings and paid preachers and staff function without full time employee? Probably not. So, we just continue to do the same non Biblical system whether it is a wise use of the Lord’s money or not. I know this is just my opinion. Others would say that the system works well and, even though 75% of collections is spent on buldings and staff, there is a lot of good edification of members going on and at least 10-15% is going to missions, benevolence, etc. But in effective churches, usually that edification really happens in small groups that meet. The assembly does edify many, but the most personal one on one edifications comes from small groups that meet in houses. Sounds like the early church house churches, doesn’t it?

How would the church do if we did away with church buildings and paid staff and went to only house churches? (AI) “Due to the nature of house churches often operating underground or without official registration, it’s impossible to give a precise number of churches meeting solely in homes across foreign countries; however, estimates suggest millions of people globally participate in house churches, particularly in countries like China, where religious restrictions drive many Christians to meet in private homes; conservative estimates for China alone could reach tens of millions of house church attendees.” From https://jcgresources.com/en/resources/church_planting/en_contemporary/ “The most rapid growth in the house church movement is in restricted access areas like China, Asia, and North Africa. I attended one mission gathering and heard a missionary representative for China talk about house churches springing up like wildfire. The representative spoke of one Chinese leader who had planted 30,000 churches—all house churches. This Chinese leader trains people and within three weeks they are expected to plant a church. Well-known pollster George Barna has estimated that by the year 2025, membership in the conventional church in the U.S. will be cut by fifty percent, while alternative movements (like house churches) will potentially involve thirty to thirty-five percent of all Christians in the United States. (I wonder if that 2015 prediction has come true now that we are about to begin 2025? ). Similar movements of house churches are also rising up in other western nations like Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.K. House churches do not require ordained, seminary-trained professionals to function effectively. House churches point to the fact that New Testament teaching does not recognize clergy and laity distinctions. Those who are seminary or Bible school-trained can be assets to house churches, sometimes serving as catalysts who plant the first few house churches in a given area or people group. But they don’t always have to be physically present for house churches to have legitimacy or theological understanding. House churches do need godly, mature leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-12, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4). The training, however, happens primarily through an informal approach, with basic Bible knowledge and practical ministry as the main components. House church leaders are volunteers. Financial resources are normally used to support itinerant workers, missions, or meeting the practical needs of members, such as the poor, widows, and orphans. In most cases, the house church does collect an offering. And in rare cases, a house church may decide to support one of the leaders.

Larry Kreider writes:The Chinese house church movement has made a commitment to the Lord concerning how the church will exist even when they are freed from communism in the future. They have already made a decision that they will build no buildings. They want to keep their method of training and sending intact, and not focus on constructing buildings but on building people. House churches are fully functioning churches in themselves. They partake of the Lord’s supper, baptize, marry, bury, and exercise church discipline. Many house churches, however, do network with other house churches for mutual accountability, encouragement, and cooperation. Those in the house church movement long to return to New Testament Christianity. Many in the movement are fed up with the modern day version of Christianity that emphasizes crowds, church buildings, and unnatural hierarchies. They desire to go back to the values of simplicity and the priesthood of all believers, just like the early church. And houses churches are well-positioned to meet this need. They thrive without money or traditional hierarchy to make things happen.” So if the house church system works in China and other poor or persecuted areas, why couldn’t it work in the U.S. also? It could and in some places in the U.S. does.

Another informative article: https://www.hitland.net/resources/articles/article-house-church-movement.html “Focusing only on those who attend some kind of church (which I recall is about 43 percent of us), 74 percent of themattend only a traditional church, 19 percent attend both a
traditional and a house church (i.e. small groups as part of a traditional church), and 5 percent are hard-core house church folks (house church only). Please don’t think of the house church as a new fad. For the first 300 years of Christianity, house churches were the norm. In fact, church buildings were quite rare until the fourth century, when the power-hungry Roman Emperor Constantine suddenly outlawed house church meetings, began erecting church buildings with Roman tax money, and issued a decree that all should join his Catholic Church. If you want to stick to a biblical model, the house church is your only choice. In China, the world’s largest church (120 million) is 90 percent based in homes.”

Of course, the reason that the house church only model might now work as well in the U.S might be that the average church member doesn’t really want it. He/she would rather go to a bigger, impersonal church assembly in a building, listen to a sermon, hear a band playing Christian music, and go home. That doesn’t mean he/she isn’t a sincere Christian who maybe has a Christian ministry somewhere, but many church attending members are only just “Sunday only” Christians. Also, house churches are a lot of work. My wife and I have had a Wednesday night small group (up to 25 people) every week for 30 years now. It is not a burden, but it does take commitment and work. My wife cooks for 25 people once per month (others do the same). We have to get ready for the meeting, etc. Also I’m not sure that most church members are evangelistic. Going to house churches is not just to save money. It is to try to bring in unchurched people who don’t like what they see in the modern church business system, who really would like to do simple early church Christianity. Or to bring in the unsaved and establish a close relationship with them so as to teach them the gospel. Once a house church gets to a certain size doing that (maybe 15-25), split off and start another house church. Again, a lot of church members might enjoy a house church group in someone else’s house, but they would never start another group in their own houses. Another issue might be providing for the members’ children in a house church model. But that should not be a hurdle. Parents take turns working with the children in each house church. Also, much of the meeting in a house church can be done with whole families being together for the singing, the Lord’s Supper, for encouraging words and family news, etc. Maybe the children can break off into children’s classes of some sort while the adults have a deeper Bible study.

Well, that is a lot! Sorry if you disagree and just like the current system. Enjoy it and get the most you can from it. It still has a lot of good things even if it is not Biblical.