Daily Bible Nugget #800, 1 Corinthians 8:6

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

My Comment:

A related verse, a verse that is related to Deuteronomy 6:4, from the New Testament, is found at 1 Corinthians 8:6,

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Many who do not believe in the Trinity refer to this verse to teach there is only one God, the Father. Therefore, they conclude, Jesus cannot be God.

But the fact that Paul refers to Jesus by calling Him the “Lord Jesus Christ” shows that Jesus is included in the Godhead.

Paul affirms the Deity of Christ by calling Him Lord.

When Paul states of the Lord Jesus Christ that by Him “are all things,” Paul refers to our Lord Jesus Christ as the creator of all things. This truth is affirmed in other places in the New Testament. Jesus is called Lord (Luke 2:11. John 13:13. Acts 10:36. 1 Corinthians 12:3). Jesus is called the creator of all things (Colossians 1:16. John 1:3. Hebrews 1:2). Since only God can create, this confirms that Jesus is God.

The Holy Spirit is also called God in the New Testament:

Act 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Peter said that Ananias had lied to the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. Then Peter said Ananias had not lied to men but had lied to God. Therefore, Peter identified the Holy Spirit as God. Yet the Holy Spirit is not the Father, but a separate person in the Godhead. So since the Holy Spirit is identified as God, and the Father is identified as God, and our Lord Jesus Christ is identified as God, and each of these are individual eternal persons in the Godhead, the doctrine of the Trinity is proven to be the teaching of the Bible.

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Daily Bible Nugget #799, Deuteronomy 6:4

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Deuteronomy 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

The Question:

Can you explain the trinity?

My Answer:

Yes I can!

My Explanation, Part One

The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but that does not mean that the Trinity is not taught in the Bible.

Many who do not believe in the Trinity quote a verse like Deuteronomy 6:4 to support their claim:

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (KJV, King James Version)

Deu 6:4 Hear, Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah; (Darby translation)

In the Hebrew text the word for God is Elohim, the same word used in Genesis 1:1.

In the Hebrew text the word for “one” is echad. Echad means “one” in our numerical sense, as at Ecclesiastes 4:8,

Ecc 4:8  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.  (KJV)

The word echad is also used to express a compound unity, as in Deuteronomy 6:4. It is used as a compound unity in Genesis 2:24 where it refers to one made up of two in the expression “one flesh”:

Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The word echad is used in Genesis 3:22 to refer to one made up of three in the expression “one of us”:

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

The word echad is used in Numbers 13:23 to refer to a bunch or a cluster of grapes. Many grapes made up the cluster:

Num 13:23  And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

In Hebrew, another word, yahed, is used to refer to a single or only one.

It is used in Genesis 22:2 to refer to Isaac as the unique and only son of promise, in the expression “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac”:

Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Yahed is used to refer to a single or only son in Proverbs 4:3 in the expression “tender and only beloved”:

Pro 4:3  For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Therefore, Deuteronomy 6:4 does not exclude the idea or concept of the Trinity, but carefully affirms it by the Hebrew word choice echad instead of yahed when stating “our God is one Jehovah”:

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: (ASV, American Standard Version)

This confirms there is more than one person in the Godhead.

For example, there are TWO Jehovahs on the scene at the same time at Genesis 19:24,

Gen 19:24 Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven; (ASV, American Standard Version)

One Jehovah is upon earth who rained brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven.

Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;  (KJV, King James Version)

More to come! This is just the start of my answer to your question, “Can you explain the trinity?” to which I answered, “Yes I can. I will come back later and do so for you.”

Thank you in advance for carefully reading my answer so far.

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Daily Bible Nugget #798, Jeremiah 4:10

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Jer 4:10  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

My Comment:

Many verses in the Bible are hard to understand when read by themselves. To understand what a verse means, (1) read the context, (2) recognize the Figures of Speech the writer has used, (3) compare Scripture with Scripture.

A very striking Muslim challenge:

Christianity has a false god a liar god 2 Thessalonians 2:11 and an ignorant god Genesis 18:21, Mar 13:32, and a deceiver god, Jeremiah 4:10. Clearly Christianity has Satan as god and Christians worship Satan not God. Come to Islam.

My Response to Muslim Challenge explaining these verses:

You have made reference to several interesting Bible verses.

(1) 2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

In order to understand this verse correctly you must:

(a) read the verse in context

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The context shows that God has given us free will. We can choose to believe the lie. We can choose not to believe the truth, even love of the truth, truth about our Lord Jesus Christ, truth which must be believed in order to be saved.

(b) Understand the presence of Figures of Speech, such as Idiom, used in 2 Thessalonians 2:8

When the Bible states “God shall send them strong delusion,” the Bible is NOT saying God is a liar. Rather, this is saying God gives permission or freely allows people to be deceived because they loved not the truth. God did not deceive them, but allowed them to be deceived.

(2) Genesis 18:21

Gen 18:21  I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

In order to understand this verse, you must:

(a) Read the verse in context

Gen 18:20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Gen 18:21  I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

The Bible does NOT state that God is ignorant. In context, God most certainly knew what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah. God intervened in response to Abraham’s earnest prayer in behalf of Lot who lived in Sodom. Abraham prayed that Lot would be spared from the destruction God intended for those wicked cities.

(b) Understand the presence of Figures of Speech

When the Bible reports that God said “I will go down,” this is spoken figuratively; and as the Jewish writers speak, according to the language of men. So eyes, ears, hands, and other members of the body are attributed to God, for effecting those things which men cannot accomplish without these members.

When the Bible reports that God said “I will know,” this does NOT mean the Bible teaches God is ignorant! Rather, this is the Figure of Speech called Anthropomorphism, a Figure that attributes human actions to God, here in Genesis 18:21, “knowing,” or the acquiring of knowledge, as if God was before this action ignorant. Figures of Speech are used as a way to emphasize what is said and what is going on.

(3) Mark 13:32

Mar 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

To understand this verse you must:

(a) Read the verse in its immediate context

Jesus is answering one of the three questions the disciples Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked about the striking prophecy Jesus made as reported in Mark 13:2,

Mar 13:1  And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Mar 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

(b) read the verse in its related context:

The disciples then asked Jesus privately three questions:

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, [1] when shall these things be? and [2] what shall be the sign of thy coming, [3] and of the end of the world [Greek, age]?

In answer to “When shall these things be?” Jesus states in Mark 13:32 that only the Father at that time knew the day and hour. In His humanity Jesus was not given to know the day or hour of the fulfillment of His prophecy. Rather, Jesus taught them and us that we are to “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey,”–clearly indicating by “far journey” that considerable time would pass before all of the three predictions were fulfilled. In accordance with the grammar of prophecy seen throughout the Bible, some of a prophet’s predictions would be confirmed in the lifetime of those who heard them (here, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD), to confirm that the prophet was of God. That provided the basis for believing in the fulfillment of those predictions that belonged to the distant future (here, the sign of thy coming and the end of the age).

(4) Jeremiah 4:10

Jer 4:10  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

To understand this verse you must:

(a) read the verse in context

The context will reveal that the false prophets outnumbered Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a minority of one. But truth is not determined by a majority vote! The false prophets proclaimed peace and prosperity were at hand and would continue. Jeremiah, the only true prophet, said the opposite.

(b) Understand the presence of Figures of Speech

When Jeremiah wrote that God had “greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem” he prophesied that this People shall be deceived. By the figure Metonymy of the Subject, the action is put for the declaration concerning it: or where what is said to be done is put for what is declared, or permitted, or foretold as to be done: or where an action, said to be done, is put for the giving occasion for such action. This is also the figure Idiom, whereby active verbs were used by the Hebrews to express, not the doing of the thing, but the permission of the thing which the agent is said to do. Thus here, “thou hast greatly deceived this people” is an idiom for “thou hast suffered this People to be greatly deceived, by the false prophets, saying: Ye shall have peace, etc.” Jer 7:8, +**Amos 3:6.

Thank you for posting a very interesting challenge using some very good verses from the Bible.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget 797, Psalm 119:130

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook Post:

“AND THERE WAS LIGHT “

JOHN 8.12
Then spake Jesus again, unto them,
saying, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD :
he that followeth Me
sjhall not walk in darkness,

but shall have the light of life.

JOHN 9.25
He answered and said,
Whether he be a sinner or no,
that, whereas I was blind,
now I SEE

2 CORINTHIANS 4.6
For God, who commanded the LIGHT
to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ

COLOSSIANS 1.12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath qualified us
to share of the inheritance

of the saints in light.

13 For He hath delivered us
from the domain of darkness
and hath transferred us to the

kingdom of His beloved Son.

14 In whom we have Redemption,
the Forgiveness of sins.

HEBREWS 2.3
How shall we escape,
if we neglect so great a salvation?
After it was at first spoken through the Lord,

it was confirmed to us by those who heard..

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee,
Sweetly the light has dawned on me;
There I was blind ,but now I can see;

The light of the world is Jesus.

So Great a Salvation! How shall we escape

if we neglect?
( Whoso Offereth Praise Glorifieth Me!)
PSALM 50.23

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Would You Even Notice If …

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Jerry

 

My Comment:

Many years ago my friend Don Rees remarked that if the Rapture would take place the weekly Sunday routine at church would go on like normal and few would even notice. Ken Sagely’s post begins with a comment that if the Holy Spirit were to be removed, church services would continue as if nothing had happened–He would not be missed.

From Ken Sagely’s Facebook Post:

The Indispensable Holy Spirit

Romans 8:1-17
If the Holy Spirit were to suddenly exit this earth, most churches would continue on as if nothing had happened! Yet, those who are tuned to the Scriptures know how INDISPENSABLE the Holy Spirit is.

JOHN 16.8

“And when He is come, He will reprove( convict,convince) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” We cannot be saved apart from the Spirit’s convicting.

JOHN 3.5
” Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” We cannot be regenerated apart from the Spirit.

ROMANS 8.9
” Now if any man have not the Spirit in you, he is none of his.” No one belongs to Christ apart from the Spirit’s indwelling.

ROMANS 8.16

” The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” We cannot enjoy assurance of salvation apart from the Spirit’s inner witness.

1 CORINTHIANS 12.13

“For by one Spirit are (were) we all baptized into one body. “
We cannot be a member of Christ’s Church apart from the Spirit.

JOHN 16.13 1 CORINTHIANS 2.9-13

When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth” . We cannot learn truth apart from the Spirit’s teaching ministry.

GALATIANS 5.22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness. We cannot bear fruit apart from the Spirit’s filling.

PSALM 117.1-2
Oh, Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye people
2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. PRAISE YE THE LORD.

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Ascension of Jesus not mentioned in the Four Gospels claim

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Jerry


The Muslim Claim:

Ascension of Lord Jesus
It is not mentioned in
Four Gospels
Translators changed text

My Response:

There is no credible documentary evidence that I have ever seen which would confirm your assertion.

Muslim Reply:

ASCENSION OF JESUS

Ascension of Jesus can’t be proved from the four gospels and Acts.

Matthew is completely silent on the subject.

John is also silent but it appears from his following statement that perhaps he did not want to go into the details. John 21:25

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Mark tells his vision as he saw Jesus on the right hand of God.

The case of Luke and Acts is quite complicated. Both Luke and Acts were written by Luke and both did not mention Ascension in Greek version.

Luke and Acts were both modified by translators to include it.

Luke 24:50-51 is quoted as under according to Greek version.

“And he led out them until toward Bethny and lifting up his arms he blessed them. And it came to pass in the blessing him he withdrew from them while he blessed.”

To compare it, Luke 24:50, 51 is quoted hereunder:

“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany he lifted up his hands (51) While he was blessing them he left them AND WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVENS”

The words in capital letters at the end of verse 51 were added by the translators.

Similarly in Acts 1:2 the words “he was taken up” had been added.

The above modifications have been discussed by famous Bible scholar Mr. F. F. Bruce, a professor of University of Manchester in his book titled The New Testament Documents. Are they reliable?

We quote page 24 of his book as under:

“When the four gospels were gathered in one volume it meant the severance together of the two parts of Luke history. When Luke and Acts were thus separated, one or two MODIFICATIONS were apparently introduced into the TEXT at the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts.

“Originally Luke SEEMS to have left all mention of ascension to his second treatise, now the words “AND WAS CARRIED UP INTO HEAVENS” were added in Luke 24:51 to round off the narrative and IN CONSEQUENCE “WAS TAKEN UP” was added to ACTS 1:2.

“Thus the  inconsistencies which some have detected between the accounts of Ascension in LUKE and ACTS are most likely due to the ADJUSTMENTS made when the books were separated from each other.”

The confession by F. F. Bruce about the modification in text by the translators is greatly appreciated as it reveals that in Greek manuscripts of Luke and Acts it did not existed.

The Ascension can’t be proved from gospels and we still have to search the place Jesus went after 40 days of his saving from death on the cross and coming out of Tomb!

My Refutation of Muslim Claim:

From the same book by F. F. Bruce:

The date of the writing of Acts will depend on the date we affix to the third Gospel, for both are parts of one historical work, and the second part appears to have been written soon after the first.

Bruce, F. F. (2018). The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (pp. 17–18). Kingsley Books.

From the same book by Bruce:

When the four Gospels were gathered together in one volume, it meant the severance of the two parts of Luke’s history. When Luke and Acts were thus separated, one or two modifications were apparently introduced into the text at the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts. Originally Luke seems to have left all mention of the ascension to his second treatise; now the words ‘and was carried up into heaven’ were added in Luke 24:51, to round off the narrative, and in consequence ‘was taken up’ was added in Acts 1:2. Thus the incongruities which some have detected between the accounts of the ascension in Luke and Acts are most likely due to these adjustments made when the two books were separated from each other.

Acts, however, naturally shared the authority and prestige of the third Gospel, being the work of the same author, and was apparently received as canonical by all except Marcion and his followers. Indeed, Acts occupied a very important place in the New Testament canon…

Bruce, F. F. (2018). The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (p. 30). Kingsley Books.

I choose to disagree with F. F. Bruce regarding his statement that “Originally Luke seems to have left all mention of the ascension to his second treatise” because:

(1) Regardless of the proposed status of Acts 1:2, the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ is reported in full later in the same chapter, Acts 1:9-11,

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11  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.

(2) What F. F. Bruce claims about the separation of the book of Acts from the Gospel of Luke,

“When the four Gospels were gathered together in one volume, it meant the severance of the two parts of Luke’s history. When Luke and Acts were thus separated, one or two modifications were apparently introduced into the text at the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts.”

assumes that Luke and Acts comprised a single manuscript volume. The likelihood of this is nil, because:

(a) Manuscript rolls were not made to be this length.

(b) The internal testimony of the text of Acts indicates it was written separately at a later time than Luke,

Acts 1:1  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

(c) F. F. Bruce admits this in my first citation from his book above:

“The date of the writing of Acts will depend on the date we affix to the third Gospel, for both are parts of one historical work, and the second part appears to have been written soon after the first.”

(3) There is no textual evidence that supports Bruce’s claim that Luke originally had a different ending than it does now or that Acts had a different beginning than it does now. Bruce’s claim is based on conjecture not on textual evidence based on extant early manuscripts.

My statement can be verified by consulting Bruce Metger’s A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament with reference to Luke 24:51,

24:51 καὶ ἀνεφέρετο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν {B}

Here א* and geo1 join D and ita, , , , , , in supporting the shorter text. (The Sinaitic Syriac condenses ver. 51 by omitting διέστη and εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, reading ܘܟܕ ܒܪܟ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܬܪܝܡ ܡܢܗܘܢ “And while he blessed them, he was lifted up from them”; thus, though shortened, syrs still alludes to the ascension.) A minority of the Committee preferred the shorter reading, regarding the longer as a Western non-interpolation (see the Note following 24.53).

The majority of the Committee, however, favored the longer reading for the following reasons. (1) The rhythm of the sentence seems to require the presence of such a clause (compare the two coordinate clauses joined with καί in ver. 50 and in verses 52–53). (2) Luke’s opening statement in Acts (“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up [ἀνελήμφθη]”) implies that he considered that he had made some reference, however brief, to the ascension at the close of his first book. (3) If the shorter text were original, it is difficult to account for the presence of καὶ ἀνεφέρετο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν in so many and such diversified witnesses, beginning with 75 about A.D. 200. (4) If the clause were a copyist’s addition, prompted by his noticing the implications of Ac 1:1–2 (see point (2) above), one would have expected him to adopt some form of the verb ἀναλαμβάνειν, used in Ac 1:2 and other passages referring to the ascension, rather than the less appropriate ἀναφέρειν, which in the New Testament ordinarily has the specialized meaning “to offer up.” Finally, (5) the omission of the clause in a few witnesses can be accounted for either (a) through accidental scribal oversight occasioned by homoeoarcton (καια … καια …) or (b) by deliberate excision, either (i) in order to relieve the apparent contradiction between this account (which seemingly places the ascension late Easter night) and the account in Ac 1:3–11 (which dates the ascension forty days after Easter), or (ii) in order to introduce a subtle theological differentiation between the Gospel and the Acts (i.e., the Western redactor, not approving of Luke’s mentioning the ascension twice, first to conclude the earthly ministry of Jesus, and again, in Acts, to inaugurate the church age, preferred to push all doxological representations of Jesus to a time after the ascension in Acts, and therefore deleted the clause in question as well as the words προσκυνήσαντες αὐτόν from ver. 52—for when the account of the ascension has been eliminated, the mention of Jesus being worshipped seems less appropriate).

Metzger, B. M., United Bible Societies. (1994). A textual commentary on the Greek New Testament, second edition a companion volume to the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (4th rev. ed.) (pp. 162–163). United Bible Societies.

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Daily Bible Nugget #796, John 15:16

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The Muslim Challenge:

BIBLE: PRAYER FORMAT TAUGHT BY JESUS CHRIST
The prayer format taught to the disciples by Jesus Christ:

Luke 11:1-4
1 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And Jesus said unto them, When ye pray, say, “Our Father which Art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in Heaven, so in Earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
LUKE 11:1-4

TAKE NOTE:
1- There is no “in the name of Jesus” in the prayer format taught by Jesus;
2- The prayer format is directed straight unto God, without channelling it through any intermediary; not even through the pious mother of Jesus;

Please Christians;
– Who taught you to pray in the name of Jesus ??
– Who taught you to pray through an intermediary ??
– Why did you abandon the teachings of Jesus Christ ??

My Response to Muslim Challenge:

(1) Jesus Himself directed us to ask of the Father in His name:

John 15:16
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
King James Version

(2) Jesus is our intermediary:

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

There is no basis in Scripture to introduce additional intermediaries such as Mary the mother of Jesus or the saints. To do so is directly contrary to the explicit teaching of God’s Word in Scripture in this text, and contradicts the statement of Jesus that no one can come to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). Neither Mary nor any other saint in heaven is aware of what now transpires upon earth (Isa 63:16, 1Co 15:23), though they are very much alive (Luke 20:38; Luke 23:43 note).

(3) Bible believing, Bible studying Christians have not abandoned the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Until you experience the spiritual benefit and renewal that comes as a result of your own reading of the New Testament long enough each day (at least 20 minutes), often enough each week (at least 4 days a week) on a continuing basis, you will miss out on the salvation and spiritual growth that only our Lord Jesus can bring.

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This Needs to Happen More Often to More People

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Jerry

 

Today (November 7, 2023) marks the 70th anniversary of the day I first understood what I must do to be a genuine, born-again, Christian.

I had been reading a pocket New Testament daily since August of 1953. By Saturday morning of November 7, 1953, I realized that although I had attended Sunday school all my life, I had never committed my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

That all changed when I stopped to pray for forgiveness and I received Christ as my personal Savior while delivering papers that cloudy Saturday morning. I have told my story many times here each November 7 anniversary date.

Not everyone enters a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ the same way. Many genuine Christians may not remember the time, date, and place when their life was transformed by this experience.

Times are much different now than they were in 1953. Just the same, I believe there are many practical lessons from my experience that apply to people today.

(1) I was motivated to start a serious and continuing practice of reading the New Testament for myself because I had been challenged all too often by my excellent high school Sunday school teachers at the Highland Park Baptist Church, John Boykin and Dean Sawdon, with questions I could not answer about the Bible. Rather than continue to be embarrassed by my lack of knowledge of the Bible, I decided to read it and study it for myself in self-defense!

(2) At the same time, a wonderful neighbor, Mrs. Helen Cole, who lived kitty-corner across the street from my home, asked me to babysit her two young children. While in her home I found that she had several Bibles on a shelf in the living room. That is where I first saw a Bible with center-column cross references. I followed them and soon learned how they worked.

(3) I was in the Boy Scouts and Mrs. Cole asked me to be her “Den Chief.” She had a Cub Scout Den which met at her home and I assisted her during the Cub Scout meetings.

(4) Mrs. Cole invited me to attend the high school youth group at Thoburn Methodist Church. The church was just two blocks away from my home, so I started attending the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) there on Sunday evenings before the evening service.

(5) About the second or third time I attended, I participated in a contest to see who would represent our MYF at the Holiness Youth Crusade annual Bible Quiz to be held on November 7, 1953. I won that local youth group contest–I’ve often thought the Lord had all the smarter young people stay home that day. The winner at the HYC rally at the Detroit Institute of Arts would receive a Bulova watch. I have never owned a Bulova watch, so you know I did not win the contest that day, but gained something better and more permanent! In preparation for that quiz I continued reading the New Testament diligently. I recall reading from Matthew to Revelation and then again from Matthew to 2 Corinthians from September through the first week of November.

(6) It was while thinking about what I had read in the New Testament that I realized that I had never committed my life to Jesus Christ. So the cloudy morning of the quiz date, I stopped on Lumpkin Street after crossing in the middle of the block. As I folded the next Detroit Shopping News paper, I paused under the oak tree in front of the next house and prayed. I  remember whistling the Gospel tune to “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity” as I continued to deliver the rest of my papers.

I have since learned that researchers have found that anyone who will read the New Testament long enough each day (20 minutes or more, not necessarily all at one time), often enough each week (at least four days a week), consistently on a permanent basis, will experience real positive change in his or her life. I did that “by accident,” and have been reading the Bible ever since.

(7) From my Bible reading, I learned what it takes to receive eternal life. Just one verse in the Gospel of John tells enough for anyone to know what to continue to do:

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Cross Reference Bible Study for John 5:24 from:

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

John 5:24
He that: Joh 3:16, Joh 3:18, Joh 3:36, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:47, Joh 8:51, Joh 11:26, Joh 12:44, Joh 20:31; Mar 16:16; Rom 10:11, 12, 13; 1Pe 1:21; 1Jn 5:1, 1Jn 5:11, 12, 13

and shall not: Joh 10:27, 28, 29, 30; Rom 8:1, Rom 8:16, 17, Rom 8:28, 29, 30, Rom 8:33, 34; 1Th 5:9; 2Th 2:13, 14; 1Pe 1:5

but: 1Jn 3:14

The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

John 5:24

Verily. +Joh 1:51

He that. T1119. ✓Joh 3:16; Joh 3:18; Joh 3:36; Joh 6:40; Joh 6:47; Joh 8:51; *Joh 11:26; Joh 12:44; ✓Joh 20:31; Mar 16:16; *Rom 10:11, 12, 13; ✓Rom 14:12; 1Pe 1:21; ✓1Jn 5:1; 1Jn 5:11, 12, 13

heareth. Joh 8:43; +*Luk 8:18

believeth. Joh 20:31; Act 16:34; 1Jn 5:9, 10, 11, 12, 13

hath. Eternal life is a present possession. ✓1Jn 5:13

everlasting. Gr. aionios, +Mat 18:8

and shall not. ✓Joh 10:27, 28, 29, 30; +*Joh 17:6; ✓Rom 8:1; Rom 8:16; Rom 8:17; Rom 8:28, 29, 30; Rom 8:33; Rom 8:34; ✓Eph 4:30; 1Th 5:9; *2Th 2:13; 2Th 2:14; 1Pe 1:5; *Jud 1:24

but. Mat 18:8; *1Jn 3:14

passed. ƒ144 (C1), +Gen 21:1

The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

John 5:24
Verily. Joh 5:19, +Joh 1:51, +*Num 5:22, +Mat 5:18, +Mar 14:18.

He that. T1119, **Joh 3:16; **Joh 3:18; **Joh 3:36; Joh 6:40; Joh 6:47; Joh 8:51; *Joh 11:26; Joh 12:44; **Joh 20:31, Mar 16:16, *Rom 10:11, 12, 13; **Rom 14:12, 1Pe 1:21, **1Jn 5:1; **1Jn 5:11, 12, 13.

heareth. or, is hearing (Young). +Joh 8:43; Joh 12:37, 38, 39, 40, +**Isa 55:3, Mat 13:9, +*Mar 4:24, +*Luk 8:18, Act 3:22; Act 10:22, Rom 8:17, Heb 3:7.

my word. Gr. logos, Mar 9:32 note.

believeth. or, is believing (Young). +*Joh 3:16 note, Joh 3:36; **Joh 20:31, Act 10:43; Act 13:39; +Act 16:34, Rom 3:28; *Rom 4:5, Gal 3:22, Eph 2:8, 1Ti 1:16; **1Ti 4:10, Tit 3:8, Heb 6:1; *Heb 10:39, *1Pe 1:21, **1Jn 5:9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

that sent me. Joh 5:23; Joh 5:38.

hath. Eternal life is a present possession. Joh 5:26; Joh 5:39, +Joh 8:12, Luk 10:42, **1Jn 5:13.

everlasting. Gr. aionios, +Mat 18:8, Joh 3:15, 16; Joh 6:68, **Rom 6:23.

and shall not. **Joh 10:27, 28, 29, 30; +*Joh 17:6, Rom 5:1, 2; Rom 5:9; **Rom 8:1; **Rom 8:16; **Rom 8:17; **Rom 8:28, 29, 30; **Rom 8:33; **Rom 8:34, **Eph 4:30, 1Th 5:9, *2Th 2:13; *2Th 2:14, 1Pe 1:5, *Jud 1:24.

into condemnation. or, will not suffer the consequences of judging (Newman and Nida, UBS Handbook: John). The proper translation here is condemnation, not judgment (cf. Mat 25:31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46; Rom 14:10; 2Co 5:10). Note that comes not into condemnation is conditioned on keeps on believing! Thus the test of true eternal security is to love God and keep His commandments (1Jn 2:3; 1Jn 5:2) [LNT, fn x]. Joh 5:22; Joh 5:29, Joh 3:18, **Rom 8:1, Rev 20:11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

but. Mat 18:8, *Col 1:13, *1Jn 3:14.

is passed. or, has already passed. Gr. metabainō (S# G3327, Mat 8:34). FS144C1, +Gen 21:1, *Psa 37:28, Isa 45:17; Isa 51:6, Col 1:13, 1Jn 3:14.

from death. A reference to spiritual death. +Gen 2:17 note. Pro 8:36; Pro 21:16, Isa 9:2, +Eze 18:4; +Eze 18:21, Luk 15:24; Luk 15:32, Rom 5:15; Rom 6:13; Rom 8:6, 1Co 15:56 note. *2Co 5:14, *+Eph 2:1, 2, 3; *+Eph 2:5; Eph 5:14, Col 2:13, 1Ti 5:6, Jas 1:15; Jas 5:20, 1Jn 3:14, Rev 3:1.

unto life. Psa 133:3, Pro 16:22, Rom 6:4, 2Co 5:15, Col 1:13; Col 2:13; Col 3:3, 2Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:10, 1Jn 3:14; *1Jn 5:12.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #795, 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

2Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (KJV)

2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (ESV)

2Th 3:3 But the Lord is true, who will give you strength and keep you safe from evil. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (NET Bible)

2Th 3:3 But the Lord is to be trusted, and He will give you strength and guard you from the evil one. (Williams NT)

2Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and keep you safe from the Evil One. (GNB, Good News Bible)

2Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you against the evil one. (GW, God’s Word translation)

2Th 3:3 But the Lord can be trusted to make you strong and protect you from harm. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Cross Reference Bible Study:

From The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

2 Thessalonians 3:3
the Lord: 1Co 1:9, 1Co 10:13; 1Th 5:24
stablish: 2Th 2:17
and: Gen 48:16; 1Ch 4:10; Psa 19:13, Psa 121:7; Mat 6:13; Luk 11:4; Joh 17:15; 2Ti 4:18; 2Pe 2:9; Jud 1:24

From The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

2 Thessalonians 3:3

the Lord. See on 1Co 1:9; ✓1Co 10:13; 1Th 5:24; *1Jn 1:9
stablish. See on 2Th 2:17; +*1Pe 5:10; +*2Pe 1:10
and keep. Gen 20:6; Gen 48:16; 1Ch 4:10; Psa 19:13; Psa 121:7; +*Mat 6:13; +*Luk 11:4 n. *Joh 17:15; *1Co 10:13; 2Ti 4:18; *2Pe 2:9; *1Jn 5:18; ✓Jud 1:24
from evil. 2Th 2:17; +Mat 13:19

From The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

2 Thessalonians 3:3
the Lord is faithful. Deut 7:9, See on +1Co 1:9; **1Co 10:13, 1Th 5:24, 2Ti 2:13, Heb 10:23, *1Jn 1:9.

stablish. See on 2Th 2:17, Deut 28:9, *Job 36:7, Psa 90:17, Pro 4:26, Rom 1:11; Rom 16:25, 2Co 1:21, *+1Pe 5:10, +*2Pe 1:10.

and keep. or, guard. Gr. phulassō (S# G5442, Mat 19:20). +*Gen 20:6; Gen 48:16, 1Ch 4:10, Psa 19:13; Psa 121:7, +*Mat 6:13, +*Luk 11:4 note. *Joh 17:12 g, Joh 17:15, 1Co 1:8; *1Co 10:13, +*2Co 13:7, 1Th 5:23, 2Ti 4:18, *2Pe 2:5 g, 2Pe 2:9, *1Jn 5:18, **Jud 1:24.

from evil. or, the wicked one. 2Th 2:17, Mat 5:37; +*Mat 6:13; +Mat 13:19, Luk 11:4, Joh 17:15, Eph 6:16, 1Th 2:18; 1Th 3:5, 1Jn 2:13, 14; 1Jn 3:12; 1Jn 5:18.

Here is the Luke 11:4 note:

lead us not. FS111, +Gen 18:27. Luk 8:13; Luk 22:40; Luk 22:46, +*Jer 29:11, Mat 6:13; *Mat 26:41, Mar 14:38, **1Co 10:13, 2Co 12:7, 8, **Jas 1:2; **Jas 1:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, Rev 2:10; +*Rev 3:10.

There is no suggestion intended here that God might “lead us into temptation.” The balanced sentence employs a contrast, where the first member (“lead us not into temptation”) is employed solely to emphasize the last member (“but deliver us from evil”). For other instances of this construction, see Joh 20:27, Rom 12:21, 1Co 10:24, 2Co 3:6, Eph 5:17, 18, Php 2:4, Col 3:2. Compare +**Mat 24:35 note and 2Ti 1:8 note.

Here is the Matthew 24:35 note:

shall pass away, but. FS111, Gen 18:27. This is most assuredly the Figure Meiosis, also known as Litotes (Luke 11:4 note), involving a Balanced Sentence where the first statement is contrary to fact or reality, and is used in a contrast to most strongly emphasize what is affirmed in the last statement.

In this form of statement the last statement is frequently introduced by the word but, which helps to mark this figure (see Isa 51:6; Isa 54:10, +Luk 11:4).

Scholars can wrangle with my assertion all they please; their contrary opinion only demonstrates they have not studied the Scriptures carefully enough. I have.

Jesus does not, and absolutely could not, affirm that heaven and earth will pass away. The expressions used here are frequently reflected elsewhere in Scripture (see the preceding Parallel Passages).

Surely our Lord Jesus Christ and His Jewish hearers, intimately acquainted with the Hebrew Scriptures (T1122, +**Joh 6:14), were aware of the context, for example, of **Psa 102:26 note as seen in Psa 102:28, something apparently missed by some modern scholars.

God’s Covenant Promises are absolutely guaranteed as being more sure than the promise that the earth abides forever and shall never perish, so sure are the sure mercies of David, mercies above and greater than the heavens (Psa 108:4); note carefully in the context of Psa 102:26 the statement of Psa 102:28 that the generations of “thy servants shall continue” (+**Psa 72:5) and be “established before thee”—surely the Bible writers who cite or allude to Psa 102:26 were most aware of its context and the assurance of Psa 102:28, so when Jesus states “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away,” His words are the guaranteed words of the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants, which are more sure than the heavens and will certainly come to pass.

God Himself appeals to the promised eternal constancy of the universe (Jer 31:35, 36, 37) to affirm the absolute certainty of the “Sure mercies of David” (+**Isa 55:3).

To suggest the heavens or the earth shall literally pass away would violate the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant (+**Gen 12:2 note) and the Davidic Covenant (+**2Sa 7:10 note), which would contradict the very character of God Himself (+*Mal 3:6), which is utterly impossible (+**Gen 18:25 note. +*Titus 1:2).

If our Lord Jesus Christ is to rule eternally here upon this earth in Jerusalem on the Throne of David forever over the whole earth (+**Isa 24:23, Dan 7:13, 14, +*Zec 14:9, +*Mat 5:5, **Luk 1:32; **Luk 1:33, Rev 11:15), then the earth as we know it will stand forever (**1Ch 16:30, **Psa 148:5; **Psa 148:6). Psa 58:8; +**Psa 108:4, +**Luk 1:32; +**Luk 1:33.

From A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures, on 2 Thessalonians 3:3,

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful (pistos de estin ho kurios).
But faithful is the Lord (correct rendition), with a play (paronomasia) on pistis by pistos as in Rom 3:3 we have a word-play on apisteō and apistia. The Lord can be counted on, however perverse men may be.
From the evil one (apo tou ponērou). Apparently a reminiscence of the Lord’s Prayer in Mat 6:13 rusai hēmas apo tou ponērou. But here as there it is not certain whether tou ponērou is neuter (evil) like to ponēron in Rom 12:9 or masculine (the evil one). But we have ho ponēros (the evil one) in 1Jo 5:18 and tou ponērou is clearly masculine in Eph 6:16. If masculine here, as is probable, is it “the Evil One” (Ellicott) or merely the evil man like those mentioned in 2Th 3:2? Perhaps Paul has in mind the representative of Satan, the man of sin, pictured in 2Th 2:1-12, by the phrase here without trying to be too definite.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #794, Matthew 21:43

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Mat 21:43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

My Comment:

There is much misunderstanding about Bible prophecy today. Some of this mistaken understanding is inexcusable. Many who would try to interpret the Bible on this subject have simply not done their homework first!

There is an ongoing discussion on this site regarding a post I wrote about Genesis 12:3. This verse is very relevant to what is happening in Israel right now.

One of the participants in the discussion kindly referred me to a book that she believes refutes the positions I have taken about Bible prophecy on this site.

Here is my refutation of that book:

I have just finished reading The Parousia by James Stuart Russell. This book is 561 pages long, so it has taken me some time to carefully read and study it.

On this site in the October 2010 Archives I have posted 24 Rules of Interpretation which must be carefully followed in order to correctly interpret the Bible. Rule 9 states:

(9) You cannot leave out material which, if included, would require or necessitate a change in the interpretation. Mat 4:6.

As I read through The Parousia, I found that the author most helpfully arranged his discussion in the order of the New Testament books.

I eagerly looked forward to reading his discussion of a most important text found in Matthew 21:43,

Mat 21:43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

The author makes no mention of this text anywhere in his book.

I have discussed this text at least three times on this site quite thoroughly:

Daily Bible Nugget #612, Matthew 21:43

Daily Bible Nugget #452, Matthew 21:43

Daily Bible Nugget #400, Matthew 5:20

Anyone who genuinely desires to understand Matthew 21:43 is encouraged and invited to read those three posts to learn more about what the Bible teaches about Bible prophecy.

Matthew 21:43 is a crucially important text about Bible prophecy and must not be neglected or avoided if we are to understand Bible prophecy correctly!

James Stuart Russell’s book, The Parousia, has this to say about the Antichrist:

 

ANTICHRIST NOT A PERSON, BUT A PRINCIPLE

1 JOHN 2:18.—‘Even now are there many antichrists.’

In the opinion of some commentators the name ‘the antichrist’ is supposed to designate a particular individual, the incarnation and embodiment of enmity to the Lord Jesus Christ; and as no such person has hitherto appeared in history, they have concluded that his manifestation is still future, but that the personal antichrist may be expected immediately before the ‘end of the world.’ This seems to have been the opinion of Dr. Alford, who says:—

‘According to this view we still look for the man of sin, in the fulness of the prophetic sense, to appear, and that immediately before the coming of the Lord.’*

There is here, however, a strange confounding of things which are entirely different,—‘the man of sin’ and ‘the apostasy;’ the former undoubtedly a person, as we have already seen; the latter a principle, or heresy, manifesting itself in a multitude of persons. It is impossible, with this declaration of St. John before us,—‘Even now are there many antichrists’—to regard the antichrist as a single individual. It is true that in every individual who held the antichristian error, antichrist might be said to be personified; but this is a very different thing from saying that the error is incarnate and embodied in one particular person as its head and representative. The expression ‘many antichrists’ proves that the name is not the exclusive designation of any individual.

Russell, J. S. (1878). The Parousia: A Critical Inquiry into the New Testament Doctrine of Our Lord’s Second Coming (pp. 331–332). Daldy, Isbister & Co.

Even though Mr. Russell does quote the entire text of 1 John 2:18 a few pages back, he quotes only the latter part of the verse at the head of this discussion. Of course the first part of the verse contradicts what Mr. Russell has to say about the second part of the verse.

Mr. Russell makes frequent reference to Matthew 24:3,

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

He very correctly points out that the “end of the world” should be translated “end of the age.”

Mr. Russell also points out that the word “end” here translates the Greek word “sunteleia,” but here he goes astray. Mr. Russell fails to point out that “sunteleia” refers to the conjunction of two ages, the culmination of one age and the beginning of another age.

I placed this note in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury at Matthew 24:3,

the end. Gr. sunteleia, *S# G4930. The joining of two ages, the consummation or completion of the various parts of a scheme. Vine states “The word does not denote a termination, but the heading up of events to the appointed climax” (Dictionary, vol. 2, p. 27).

Preterists like Mr. James Stuart Russell make the astonishing claim that all the prophecies Jesus gave in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 were completely fulfilled by 70 AD, the Fall of Jerusalem. For Mr. Russell, this includes what Jesus said to the High Priest and Sanhedrim as recorded in Matthew 26:64,

Mat 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Other related texts make the same prediction:

Matthew 24:30
30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
King James Version

Luke 9:26
26  For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
King James Version

Luke 17:24
24  For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
King James Version

The text that Mr. Russell believes requires this immediate fulfillment to be witnessed by at least some of those who heard Jesus give this Olivet Discourse is Matthew 16:27, 28,

Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

I have furnished the following note for Matthew 16:28 in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and also The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

see. Note: This appears to refer to the mediatorial kingdom which our Lord was about to set up, by the destruction of the Jewish nation and polity, and the diffusion of the gospel throughout the world.

The preceding original Comprehensive Bible note reflects a mistaken prophetic position still held by some Amillenarian interpreters, answered directly by Peters (Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, Proposition 153, Observation 4, Note 4, p. 562), who states “who urge the destruction of Jerusalem (which John only survived) as the fulfillment (of Mat 16:27, 28).

How this can be reconciled with a coming in glory, with a coming of the Son of Man (i.e. in His humanity), etc., we are not informed.

More than this: this coming is specifically predicted, over against all such assertions, to be one, not for the destruction of Jerusalem but for its salvation, as e.g. Psa 102:16, “when the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory,” with which compare Mic 3:12 in connection with following chapter; Zechariah 14; Amos 9:11, etc.”

In context, however, the experiences on the mount of transfiguration reported in chapter 17 may be the fulfillment of this prophecy. Peters also notes in connection with the transfiguration, that “the glorified condition of Christ, Moses, and Elias thus indicates…the futurity of the Kingdom.—a Kingdom not to be realized at the First Advent in humiliation, not during the absence of the Bridegroom, but at the Second Advent, when He and His saints come ’in glory.’”

The transfiguration furnished “an earnest, actual reception of glory,” and served as “a most direct proof that the covenant and prophets would yet be fulfilled.”

The transfiguration reveals the relationships of those who will be with Christ in his future eternal earthly kingdom. Peter, James, and John, represent unglorified, mortal men living on the earth, who personally witness and rejoice in the manifested glory of the Messiah.

Jesus is personally present in this kingdom in His state of glory, as are Moses and Elias, who also appeared “in glory.” Moses and Elias are purposely chosen as a correct exhibition of the two parties, forming one class, who shall appear in glory with Christ: (1) the dead saints, and (2) the living saints translated. Peters notes that the transfiguration “stands forth, pre-eminently, as a Divine confirmation of the Theocratic Kingship of Jesus, of the glory of His saints, and of the happiness of the nations who shall witness it—a fact so striking and corroborative of the ultimate Redemption of saints and of the race, that Peter seizes upon it as a grand proof that Jesus shall come unto so great Salvation” (Theocratic Kingdom, vol. 2, p. 561).

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