Month: February 2012

The Mount of Olives

Sunday, February 19, 2012

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey” (Acts 1:9-12 KJV).

The Bible makes 13 references to the Mount of Olives (or Mount Olivet). We read, for instance, that David wept while ascending Olivet (2 Samuel 15:30). Several times during His earthly ministry Jesus Christ stood near Olivet (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29,37). As today’s Scripture indicates, He ascended into heaven from Olivet. Furthermore, according to today’s Scripture, Olivet holds an even grander purpose.

Jesus gave His great “end times discourse” while sitting on Olivet (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3). After teaching in the temple, Jesus slept one night on Olivet (Luke 21:37; John 8:1). Shortly after the “Last Supper,” Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39).

Olivet is actually three peaks, and today’s Scripture says that they are a “sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem” (about 0.56 mile/0.9 km to the east). In Jesus’ day, the Mount of Olives was famous for its olive trees (today, the olive groves are gone because Roman general Titus destroyed them when he overran Jerusalem in A.D. 70).

In today’s Scripture, the men in white apparel (angels) tell the apostles that Jesus will “come in like manner” as they saw him go into heaven. How? According to Zechariah 14:4, the first place where Jesus’ literal feet will stand at His Second Coming is Olivet, the last place He stood on earth before He ascended into heaven 2,000 years ago!

Olivet is still awaiting that glorious day when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns!

Peace and Safety… Or Not!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3 KJV).

For millennia, religious and political leaders have unsuccessfully attempted to achieve world peace, especially in the Middle East (the focus of Arab, Palestinian, and Israeli conflict). One day, two men will establish world peace: first, the antichrist, and then, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, the world will be deceived into thinking the antichrist’s peace is that which Jesus Christ will establish years later.

Daniel 9:27 explains, “he [the antichrist] will confirm the covenant with many for one week.” The book of Revelation tells us this “one week” is a week of years—that is, seven years (two periods of 1,260 days each; Revelation 11:3; Revelation 12:6). The seven years begin once Satan uses the antichrist to sign a Middle Eastern peace treaty, causing Israel and her enemies to cease hostility.

Israel, wrongly believing that the antichrist is Jesus Christ, will relax, led to conclude that she is living in the peaceful earthly kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament. Jeremiah 23:5,6 says that when Israel’s Messiah-King comes, “Israel shall dwell safely.” Israel will apply this to the antichrist (when it was actually speaking of Jesus!). Remember what Jesus said to Israel? “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43). Jesus was speaking of the antichrist!

Halfway into the seven years, the antichrist’s flattery will vanish. His true motives now exposed by his breaking that covenant and desecrating Israel’s rebuilt temple (Daniel 9:27), and persecuting God’s people (believing Israel) by instituting capital punishment (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-18). Israel will then realize (Isaiah 28:15), “We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement!”

As Paul wrote in today’s Scripture, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Notice the pronoun “they”—we, the Body of Christ, are not in the Tribulation.

Save Thyself, and Come Down from the Cross!

Friday, February 17, 2012

“And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross” (Mark 15:29,30 KJV).

Here is Israel’s mighty JEHOVAH, the God who spoke the heaven and earth into existence, dying helplessly on Calvary’s cross. His body is beaten and whipped beyond recognition. As His blood pours onto Mount Calvary, His critics stand before Him and sneer, “Come down from the cross!” Why does He hang there silently? Can He not come down and destroy them all?

Israel’s chief priests and the scribes mock, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe” (verses 31,32). What stupidity! Even those crucified with Jesus ridicule Him. Amazingly, some 1000 years before Christ, David wrote, “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake their head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him” (Psalm 22:7,8). The Bible says they even have the audacity to sit down and watch Jesus hang there in agony (Matthew 27:36)! And yet Jesus never answers them and does nothing to retaliate. Why?

Jesus had the power to simply speak the word and easily toss these critics into hell. But, remember, this is His meek and lowly coming. The prophet Isaiah foretold of Christ 700 years earlier, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (53:7). It was God the Father’s will that Jesus die (Matthew 26:42), so Jesus was quiet and let them nail Him to Calvary’s cross. Furthermore, had He come down from the cross, God’s plans for eternity future would never be accomplished (see Colossians 1:20).

By not saving Himself, Jesus Christ was actually accomplishing our salvation! He willingly stayed there on Calvary’s cross… PROVING GOD’S LOVE FOR US!

Cheerful Giving

Thursday, February 16, 2012

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV).

The other day, I happened to meet an old friend, a dear brother in the Lord who has been studying the Bible dispensationally for a few years. He told me that, after decades of bondage in denominational systems, he finally understood his Bible, and added, “I realize much of today’s ‘Christianity’ is money, money, money!” My, sad to say it, but these few words contain much truth.

Months ago, another Christian brother told me that he watched a famous preacher’s television program. Shaking his fist, the pious preacher warned, “If you are not tithing, you are under God’s curse!” (Certainly, the preacher was biblical, for he was quoting Malachi 3:8-11. However, he was not dispensational because he willingly ignored that the “cursed nation” spoken of there was Israel, not America… according to Malachi 1:1 anyway).

According to the Bible, preachers such as the aforementioned heretic were besieging Corinth. The dear Corinthian believers were enthusiastically (!) letting false teachers slip in and “take of [them]” (2 Corinthians 11:20)—people were swindling them in the name of “God”/religion! In fact, Paul calls these false teachers “fools” (verse 19). Paul would use this term to describe the thousands of pastors who are still extorting, “robbing their church members blind!” If God should be unhappy with someone, it would be with the greedy preachers, not the meager givers.

Beloved, never, ever let someone make you give a certain amount. That is legalism (tithing), and legalism is against grace. Grace leads us to give “as [we] purposeth in [our] heart.” Unlike Israel, we do not give “grudgingly” or “of necessity.” We give “cheerfully” (happily, wholeheartedly), and as much or as little as WE decide (today’s Scripture). God is not cursing anyone today, and that includes people who do not give money to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

God’s grace is not against giving, for Paul taught giving under grace in 2 Corinthians chapters 8, 9, and 10. God’s grace is against tithing (obligatory giving, giving under law).

The Unholy Trinity

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2 KJV).

Satan is the master counterfeiter. Before his fall from heaven, he declared: “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Satan mimics everything that God does, thereby getting man to focus on the counterfeits rather than paying attention to God’s original. Take, for instance, the unholy trinity, which will manifest itself after our dispensation closes. The Bible, in Revelation chapter 13, describes the “unholy trinity.” Just as God exists in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7)—the devil has his “trinity.”

In today’s Scripture, we see two of the members of the “unholy trinity.” The first is a dragon, a metaphor for Satan (cf. Revelation 12:9). Next is the antichrist, the world ruler of the future seven-year Tribulation, who is described as a “beast” (not a literal animal, but a man with a bestial, or cruel, nature). In Revelation 13:11, we read of “another beast,” an additional bestial (vicious) man, “the false prophet,” a religious leader who will perform satanic miracles and serve as the antichrist’s assistant (Revelation 19:20).

God’s Word tells us in today’s Scripture that the dragon (Satan) will give power to the beast (antichrist). Just as God the Father will give the earth’s kingdoms to Jesus Christ one day (Psalm 2:6-9; Daniel 7:13,14; Revelation 11:15)—which will occur after the seven-year Tribulation—Satan will first give them to the antichrist. See how that mimics God’s program? Did you notice how Satan will mimic God the Father?

The antichrist will pretend to be Jesus Christ, thus he will mimic Him (Revelation 6:2; cf. Revelation 19:11-13). According to Revelation 13:11-15, just as the Holy Ghost directs worship to Jesus Christ (John 16:13), the false prophet (the counterfeit Holy Ghost) will direct worship to the antichrist (the counterfeit Jesus Christ). That unholy trinity, like Satan today, will deceive the masses during Daniel’s 70th week.

God is Love

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

“…God is love… God is love… We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:8b,16b,19 KJV).

The word “love” is used very flippantly in today’s world. Of the many who speak about “love,” few know what it is. On this Valentine’s Day, we offer sound doctrine from God’s Word to correct the misunderstandings of what love really is. What is love, according to God’s Word?

Today’s Scripture says that “God is love”—God does not simply love, but His very nature is love. What does that mean? In 1 John 3:16, we read: “Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:” Our Apostle Paul put it this way: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s nature is love—selfless, self-sacrificing!

God’s Word defines love and charity in 2 Corinthians 12:15: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” Love is seeking the best interest of others, even if it costs you something (time, energy, resources, et cetera). Charity is love in deed (demonstrated, manifested in action). God loved us, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. It cost God the Father His Son, and it cost God the Son His life. What a selfless act!

Our nature in Adam is selfish, but our nature in Christ is not. Paul declares, “the love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). We who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, our Christian lives are driven and motivated by Christ’s love for us, not our love for Him. It is this unselfish love of Christ working in us that causes us to look on the things of others, to seek their edification and their benefit, not ours (Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:1-11). This will result in charity, our selfless actions reflecting that love of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:15).

As the lost world observes our Christian service, they will see, “God is love.”

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

Our Gospel Hid #4

Monday, February 13, 2012

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

God’s will is “to have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4). That is, God wants every lost person saved from hell, and He wants every Christian saved from religious tradition. The goal of Satan’s policy of evil is the opposite: to keep lost people unsaved (lost) and to keep Christians unaware (spiritually immature) of God’s doctrine for them (Paul’s epistles). Satan accomplishes this using over 4,200 world religions, 38,000-plus “Christian” denominations, in excess of 200 (corrupt) modern English Bibles, and various false gospels (some even mention “Christ!”). This is how Satan “blinds the minds of them which believe not.”

To Satan’s dismay…

  1. By the grace of God, we are “saved!” We who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as Saviour can rejoice today that “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” shone unto us despite Satan’s attempts to keep us lost (today’s Scripture)!
  2. By the grace of God, we have “come unto the knowledge of the truth!” We who use the King James Bible can rejoice that we found God’s preserved and inerrant Word for us English-speaking Christians! By the grace of God, we who understand the “revelation of the mystery” (Paul’s special ministry) are no longer deceived by vain church tradition.

As King James Bible believers and Pauline dispensationalists who have trusted in Christ Jesus alone for salvation, we praise the Lord. Despite all the deception out there, we sought truth, and God made sure we found it!

How we are eternally grateful to God our Father to have found our Saviour (the Lord Jesus Christ), to have found God’s Word (the King James Bible), to have found our apostle (Paul), and to have found our place in God’s program (the Church the Body of Christ).

Our Gospel Hid #3

Sunday, February 12, 2012

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Satan’s modus operandi is to multiply the counterfeits so you never discover God’s will for you. Over 4,200 world religions keep lost people from finding Christ. Religious tradition of 38,000-plus “Christian” denominations hinders Christians from discovering sound doctrine and spiritual growth. Over 200 (perverted) modern English Bibles keep Christians and lost people from even finding God’s pure Word in the first place! People “handling the word of God deceitfully” is how Satan “blinds the minds of them which believe not.”

Recently, I spoke with a family member about salvation. I asked her, “What is the gospel of your salvation?” Her reply was, “I believe in Jesus and I do the best I can!” This is the false gospel that God condemned in Galatians 1:6-9. It sounds good, deceptively mentioning “Jesus,” but this is “another Jesus,” what Satan’s men preach to send lost people to hell, and to confuse believers and ruin their Christian lives (2 Corinthians 11:3,4; Galatians 5:1-5)! This gospel mixes faith in Christ and man’s works, and God will NOT tolerate it—with lost people and with Christians (Romans 4:1-8; Galatians 2:16-21; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 2:8,9; et al.).

Sinful men cooperate with Satan’s policy of evil by fabricating religious systems to mimic God’s work. But, they have also polluted Christianity (resulting in “Christendom,” the paganized version of Christianity). There are some people who have genuinely trusted in Christ alone. They are totally secure in the salvation in Christ Jesus, but they are “taken captive by [the devil] at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).  They are told they need to work to make God happy, never being told that God has permanently accepted them in Christ (Ephesians 1:6)!

Paul’s Gospel—Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and raised again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)—is the only way to heaven. NO WORKS FOR SALVATION! NONE!

Our Gospel Hid #2

Saturday, February 11, 2012

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

The prostitutes, drug lords, atheists, and prison inmates all know that they need to be made right with God. But not those in religion! They have been brainwashed into thinking that they are “good enough” for God as long as they stay busy with their denomination’s rites and rituals. Beloved, according to the Bible, this is how Satan “blinds the minds of them which believe not!”

Satan sidetracks lost people using the 4,200-plus counterfeit world religions, making salvation in Jesus Christ nearly impossible to find. Perchance someone does find the Bible, and does trust Christ as Saviour—what then? Well, Satan now threatens his or her Christian walk by subsequently confusing the Christian using Christendom’s 38,000-plus denominations. Each group claims to “follow Jesus,” but this new Christian may never learn proper Bible study or sound doctrine. Additionally, the new Christian faces another discouragement: selecting one of the 200-plus modern English Bibles.

Disturbingly, many preach “Christ” today, but they are not preaching the Jesus Christ who Paul preached! Paul warns of “another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4). These individuals use Bible terms, but they are certainly not serving God. They preach false gospels, sometimes even quoting Scripture like Acts 2:38 or 1 John 1:9 (making you believe God was speaking to you, when the context says this is Israel’s salvation). Paul called this “handling the word of God deceitfully.” Yes, they use the Bible to lead people to hell!

Surely, Satan would never use someone who declares “Jesus is Lord,” would he? Satan would never work in a church where the Bible is taught, would he? YES! YES! Christendom today is thoroughly confused. “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Hence, we conclude that God is not working in Christendom today. Who is? Satan… hiding our gospel!

Our Gospel Hid #1

Friday, February 10, 2012

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

How does Satan, “the god of this world,” keep our gospel hidden from lost people? Does he use drugs, alcohol, fornication, and the occult? According to the context of today’s Scripture, he uses something far subtler, what you would least expect.

God’s Word exposes the heart of Satan’s policy of evil. Previously, the Apostle Paul stated that he has “renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully” (verse 2). Where was this “dishonesty” and “craftiness?” Paul explains, “nor handling the word of God deceitfully.” It was in religion! Before Paul’s salvation, he, as a Pharisee (Jewish religious leader) and participant in Satan’s religious system, had used God’s Word (of all things!) to send people to hell (Galatians 1:13,14; Philippians 3:3-7). Thankfully, Paul claimed, “Now that I am saved, I have given up that foolishness!” Sadly, today, preachers still use the Bible to guide over 100,000 people to hell every day! How?

Satan hides the Gospel of God’s Grace (what God has done for you at Calvary) by having you focus on religion (what you can do for God at church). These “ministers” (!) of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) tell you that Christ died for you, but that you need to work for salvation (Acts 15:1-5). How deceptive! They mention Christ (sounding godly), but they are totally anti-God because they exalt man’s efforts to please God (thereby ignoring the sufficiency of Christ’s finished crosswork). God warned against this “false gospel” in Galatians 1:6-9. God’s attitude toward one who preaches this heretical gospel: “Let him be accursed [removed from fellowship]!!!”

The Gospel of the Grace of God says you can do nothing, nothing, nothing to merit salvation.

Friends, either Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are sufficient for our salvation, or He is dead for nothing (Galatians 2:16,21)!