Starting A New Bible Study, May I Offer A Suggestion?

Is your church or study group getting ready to start a new Bible study or Sunday School class?  If this is a new group study, I would like to suggest starting with a strong foundation, really understanding what your church believes and teaches (their Statement of Faith), and knowing your own beliefs. 

To help you accomplish that, I suggest watching and discussing the two short videos below: "What We Believe, Our Statement of Faith" and "Essential and Non-Essential Christian Doctrines."   Actually all believers should be able to put their own personal Statement of Faith in writing and make sure it is Biblically sound.

From there you can venture into a chosen book of the Bible.  New studies often start with the book of John which is foundational to our faith, but that is up to the group.  

Let me suggest a way of viewing Scripture:  Genesis - John - Revelation.   Genesis tells us of the beginning and how we and our universe came into being.  Revelation tells us where we are going, revealing what is going to happen one day to take us into eternity, in God's presence, or in a place void of God's love, aka, hell.  And in the middle we find the book of John, telling us that God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay our debt to Him and to offer us a ticket on the Glory Train into eternity.

And all the other books build upon the foundation laid by those three books.
 
Whatever book your group chooses to study, I suggest you consider taking a verse-by-verse walk through that book, stopping along the way for discussions on the verses or group of verses.  That way no one gets left behind in their understanding God's Word.  Keep in mind, it is more important to have everyone in the group well grounded in the Scripture passage or book you are studying - than to see how many verses you can "got out of the way tonight."   A good Bible study should never be a race for closure - but a mining for knowledge.

I have been in Bible studies where we covered a full chapter in one sitting - and I have been in Bible studies where some evenings we many have only discussed our way through a few verses.

In the mid-1980s, Dory and I were in a study of John and the first night we only made it through three verses.  But I promise you, everyone in our group left with a good understanding of those three verses.  A successful Bible study evening should not be measured of how many verses you made it through - but did all in attendance leave with a good understanding of the verses you did study and discuss?

With that said, let me offer, for your consideration, five short videos I have made for Bible studies and Sunday School classes:

1.  ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES ~ IBBC-Riverside Sunday School - November 18, 2018

"Essential And Non-Essential Christian Doctrines" was created for the Inaugural Senior Sunday School Class at IBBC-Riverside - November 18, 2018.  Class leaders:  Danny Garcia and Bill Gray.

2.  WHAT WE BELIEVE - Our Statement Of Faith ~ Edited July 23, 2018

In 2009, when we were beginning a new Adult Sunday School class at the New Beginning Christian Fellowship in Norco, California, I prepared a PowerPoint presentation titled "Inaugural Class - What We Believe" and I have made that into this video.  Why begin with doctrinal beliefs, i.e., a Statement of Faith, or Statement of Beliefs?  Because that should be the very first piece of business established for any ministry, personal or corporate.  If you do not know what you believe from Scripture and cannot explain those beliefs - your ministry has no solid foundation.

3.  END TIMES Bible Study - Week One ~ Edited July 23, 2018

4.  END TIMES Bible Study - Week Two ~ Edited July 23, 2018

In 1991, I was a relatively new believer, it was during the Gulf War, and smoke from the burning oil wells in Kuwait blackened the sky.  That prompted a discussion in our Friday Night Bible study about End Times Prophecies and showed me that I was totally lacking in knowledge of these important prophecies.  Shortly after that fateful 1991 Bible study, I began my own personal study of End Times Prophecies - and have continued since 1991, gaining new insight and knowledge almost daily. 

I spent four years creating the End Time Charts in these videos - and over the years, I have made a number of corrections.  As I gained new insight, or as someone made me aware of an error - I made changes.  Just recently, reviewing the PowerPoint presentation from which these videos were made, I recognized a need for several more corrections.  Even though I believe these charts to be accurate, I still view them as a work in progress.  If you believe you see a mistake, please tell me.

The two short videos:  "END TIMES Bible Study - Week One ~ Edited July 23, 2018" - and  - "END TIMES Bible Study - Week Two ~ Edited July 23, 2018" reflect the understanding I have gained in the past 28 years of study.   I pray you will find them helpful in your own personal study of the End Times Prophecies.

5.  IT ALL BEGAN WITH CREATION ~ Edited July 23, 2018.

In 2006, our daughter, Lana, needed one credit to graduate with her BS degree in Business Management.  She chose to take a class in World Religions at our local Norco Community College.  To help her earn extra credit, she asked me to speak to the class on our Christian faith.  I created this video from that PowerPoint Presentation.

Interesting sidebar:  Lana told me the class consisted of believers and non-believers, with one atheist.  She did not identify anyone.  After I spoke to the class, she and I met in the hallway.  I told her, "The atheist was the man with the goatee sitting in the last desk to my left." 

"How did you know?"   

"His body language and facial expressions identified him."

Please feel free to use these videos in any way that will benefit you, your church group, and friends.  I only ask that you do not modify any of the videos.  If you believe you see an error, let me know and I will definitely take a serious look at it and make any necessary corrections.

Bible Study Videos - 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12I5SQD5dw4&list=PL_YT3Rttutrh_xm8_8mwdZHjvzQMwVXp9

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Our Christian Faith - Two Commandments And Two Ordinances!

We often hear Christian believers saying, "I don't have a religion, I have a relationship - a relationship with Jesus Christ."   Is that really true?  Well, yes and no.  True, a religion is a belief system.  The world religions believe in their gods, sometimes thousands of them, and their rituals.  Judaism believes in God, but not Jesus Christ.  Islam believes in Allah, but denies Jesus Christ.  Satanism is a religion, believing in and worshiping Satan.  There are New Age religions, including Wicca, which worship everything except God.   Even atheist have a religion.  They supposedly believe strongly that God does not exist.  That is a belief system, aka, a religion.

Basically, most religions are anchored in many traditions, rituals, creeds, and myths.  While in our Christian faith we look only toward Jesus Christ, God the Son, as our Savior.  And we do not have a lot of rituals to perform, not a lot of prewritten prayers, oaths, slogans, creeds, etc., to repeat in our relationship with Him and in our services where we worship Him.  

The typical Christian worship service is very simple.  It consists of:  Worship in Prayer, Worship in Fellowship, Worship in Music, Worship in Giving, and Worship in Hearing The Word of God proclaimed.  No creeds, no rituals, no oaths or slogans, no prewritten prayers or chants - only Worship.  Clean, sweet, and beautiful.  Yet we have a very close one-on-one relationship with Him.  Once we believe, He becomes our very best Friend.

Is a Christian relationship really that simple?  Yes.

God gave the Jews Ten Commandments and over 600 Laws.  The Ten Commandments are still very valid for Christian believers today.  But Jesus Christ compressed those Ten Commandments into Two Commandments to make our Christian faith simpler and more "user friendly."   However "user friendly" is definitely not the same as the "feel good" religion as we find in many Liberal Theology churches today.  Conservative Christian Theology still has sin, hell, and Satan in our teachings - and we know that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to eternal life.  He has just made it simpler and easier to recognize those facts and for us to make sure "we have the Son" (1 John 5:12).

Jesus breaks the Ten Commandments down into two easy to understand commandments.  The first and most important is our relationship with God the Father - Commandments 1 through 4.  And the other, according to Jesus Christ, is our relationship with our fellow man, Commandments 5 through 10: 

(1)  Your relationship with God  ~  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" - Matt 22:37

(2)   Your relationship with your fellow man  ~  "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself" - Matt 22:39

And Jesus Christ left us Two Ordinances to follow as Christian believers:

(1)  Baptism  ~  "Go - Make disciples -  Baptize them - Teach them."  (Matthew 28:19-20)  ~  Only done once.

(2)  Communion / Lord's Supper  ~  "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  (Luke 22:19)  ~  To be done as often as Your Church Fellowship chooses to Remember Him and what He has done for us.

We know that a Christian believer need only be baptized one time, as we follow Him in Baptism.  Just as He died, was buried, rose again, and ascended into heaven only once - we follow Him in baptism only once.  Understanding what He did for us is key to believing and baptism.  That is why Infant Baptism does not make sense, since an infant does not have that understanding.  We dedicate our infants to the Lord and pledge as parents and grandparents to guide them in His teachings.  When the child is old enough to understand, then that child is responsible and must choose to follow Him in faith and in baptism.

But the Lord's Supper is not a one time event.  Jesus tells us to do this "in remembrance of Him."   How often does your church remember Him?   How often does your church celebrate the Lord's Supper?

Should we call it Communion or should we call it the Lord's Supper?  Either is correct, but let's examine both.  Calling it the Lord's Supper is probably most common and, for me, has a deeper meaning.  What is more personal and intimate than sitting at the table sharing an evening meal with friends and family? 

Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  That is the ultimate intimacy, being at the Lord's Supper Table.  That implies we are in personal communion with Him - just as when we sit, pray, and eat with our immediate family.  It is a form of Communion, but I personally prefer to consider it dining at the Lord's Supper Table.

Let's look at the way several leading theologians define the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper:

A.  Dr. Wayne Grudem tells us in "Bible Doctrine, Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith" - chapter twenty-eight, pages 387-394:

The Lord Jesus instituted two ordinances (or sacraments) to be observed by the church.  Last week we discussed baptism, an ordinance that is only observed once by each person, as a sign of the beginning of his or her Christian life.  This week we discuss the Lord’s Supper, an ordinance that is to be observed repeatedly throughout our Christian lives, as a sign of continuing in fellowship with Christ .  .  .

The meaning of the Lord’s Supper is complex, rich, and full.  There are several things symbolized and affirmed in the Lord’s Supper.

1. Christ’s Death:  When we participate in the Lord’s supper we symbolize the death of Christ because our actions give a picture of his death for us. .  .  . “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

2. Our Participation in the Benefits of Christ’s Death:  Jesus commanded his disciples, “Take, eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26).  As we individually reach out and take the cup for ourselves, each one of us is, by that action, proclaiming, “I am taking the benefits of Christ’s death to myself.” .  .  . 

3. Spiritual Nourishment:  Just as ordinary food nourishes our physical bodies, so the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper give nourishment to us.  But they also picture the fact that there is spiritual nourishment and refreshment that Christ is giving to our souls; the ceremony that Jesus instituted is, in its very nature, designed to teach us this.  

4. The Unity of Believers:  When Christians participate in the Lord’s Supper together they also give a clear sign of their unity with one another.  In fact, Paul says, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17).

Who Should Participate in the Lord’s Supper?

Despite differences over some aspects of the Lord’s Supper, most Protestants would agree, first, that only those who believe in Christ should participate in it, because it is a sign of being a Christian and continuing in the Christian life. .  .  .

Second, many Protestants would argue from the meaning of baptism and the meaning of the Lord’s Supper that, ordinarily, only those who have been baptized should participate in the Lord’s Supper. .  .  .  

But others, including myself, would object to such a restriction as follows:  A different problem arises if someone who is a genuine believer, but not yet baptized, is not allowed to participate in the Lord’s Supper when Christians get together. 

In that case the person’s non-participation symbolizes that he or she is not a member of the body of Christ which is coming together to observe the Lord’s Supper in a unified fellowship (see 1 Corinthians 10:17: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread”).

Bill Gray Note:  Personally I believe the question of who should participate in the Lord's Supper falls upon the individual person.  For you and I cannot tell a person he or she is not saved, not a believer in Christ.  Such a decision falls upon the individual to do a self-examination such as: 

1. "Have I truly received the Lord?"  Keep in mind that the thief on the cross was not baptized. 

2. "Am I currently harboring an unrepentant sin which would prevent me from participating in the Lord's Supper?" 

I cannot answer those questions for this individual, nor can any pastor.

B.  Dr. Ron Rhodes tells us in "The Complete Book of Bible Answers" - chapter twenty-four, pages 229-230:

What are the different views of the Lord’s Supper?

There are four primary views:

The Roman Catholic view is known as transubstantiation.  The advocates of this view say that the elements (unleavened wafers and wine/grape juice) actually change into the body (and blood) of Jesus Christ.

The Lutheran view is labeled consubstantiation.  According to this view, Christ is present in, with, and under the bread and wine.  Christ is truly present, but no change occurs in the elements.

The Reformed view is that Christ is spiritually present at the Lord’s Supper.  It is a means of grace.  The proponents of this view say that the elements contain a dynamic presence of Jesus, and it is made effective in the believer as he partakes.

The memorial view (my view) is that the elements do not change.  The ordinance is not intended as a means of communicating grace to the participant.  The bread and wine are (only) symbols and reminders of Jesus in His death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).

Since we participate in the Lord’s Supper in Remembrance of Him and His Redemptive Work on the cross - it would seem that we should do this fairly often.  Since becoming a believer in 1987, I have been in different Filipino-American Baptist churches in Southern California -  and typically we have always celebrated the Lord's Supper once a month, as part of our regular worship service. 

At the end of our regular worship service once a month we will close that service by having the elders, or other spiritually mature members, pass the elements (unleavened wafers and grape juice) to the congregation, as this is being done our pastor will review and share Scripture relating to the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and then we all participate by, together, eating the wafer symbolizing His body and then drinking the grape juice symbolizing His blood shed for us.

Our pastor will explain that the Lord's Supper is a time for all believers to do a spiritual examination of himself or herself, that it is a time to for all believers to renew our focus on Christ, our Christian walk, and our Christian obedience.  Then our pastor will remind the congregation present in our worship service that day that the Lord's Supper is only for those who have believed and received Him as Lord and Savior.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24, "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'  ~  All believers then together take the wafer symbolizing His body broken for us.

1 Corinthians 11:25-26, "In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood.  This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."   ~  All believers then together drink of the grape juice symbolizing His blood spilled for us.

So, how often does YOUR church fellowship "Do this in remembrance of Him"?  Daily, weekly, monthly, once a year, once every three years, never?  Once again, my personal feelings are that it should be done frequently enough to stay in faith with His teaching, yet not be so frequent that it becomes a ritual and loses its flavor.  Taking Communion every day or every week, for me, would bring it into the realm of being a ritual.

Yet a church which only partakes of the Lord's Supper only every six months, or once a year, or once every several years - gives me the feeling that this church places no real value on His declaration, "do this in remembrance of Me."   Again it is my personal view and belief, but I believe that the Lord's Supper should be celebrated on a monthly basis in every church - and that ALL believers present that day, local members and visitors, should participate.  Food for thought?  I pray this has given you sincere Christian food for thought.

While there are churches which teach that only members of that local church fellowship can partake of the celebration - I personally believe that when our Lord told us in Luke 22:19, "do this in remembrance of Me" - He was speaking to ALL believers, not just a local fellowship.

The following two short videos will help us better understand the meaning and responsibility of participating in the Lord's Supper. 

The first video is a short, 4 minute, animated explanation taken from GotQuestions (dot) org and is a good review of that special form of worship:

What Is The Importance Of The Lord's Supper / Christian Communion? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfB23DmeWWw

The second short video (3 1/2 minutes) I made from a PowerPoint Presentation based upon chapters 48 through 50 of Dr. Wayne Grudem's book "Systematic Theology - An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine."  This 1311 page book published in 1994 has virtually become a standard textbook in most Christian seminaries.  There is a shorter version of his book titled "Bible Doctrine, Essential Teachings Of The Christian Faith" published in 1999.  A pastor Friend, Pastor Ed Dacio, gifted me this shorter book of Christian doctrines which has been a true blessing in my writing ministry.  And I have Dr. Grudem's initial book "Systematic Theology" downloaded into my computer in Adobe PDF format. 

In this short presentation video, chapter 48 speaks of the church, chapter 49 speaks of Baptism, and chapter addresses the Lord's Supper.  Below is a copy/paste of a particular slide in the presentation which speaks of what I have tried to express earlier regarding participating in the Lord's Supper:

"The Lord’s Supper looks forward to a greater feast (Matt 26:29, Rev 19:9).  From Genesis to Revelation, God’s aim has been to bring his people into fellowship with himself, and one of the great joys of experiencing that fellowship is the fact that we can eat and drink in the presence of the Lord."

You can view this PowerPoint based video at:

"Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Bible Doctrine" by Dr Wayne Grudem, Chapters 48, 49, 50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqLMu7xI2Wg&list=PL_YT3RttutrgBgasKH52cypQO_ADjr5ns

I pray this discussion of the "Two Commandments And Two Ordinances" has been helpful to you - and that your church family is regularly enjoying the spiritual blessings of regular visits to the Lord's Table.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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Will The Real Saints Please Stand?

About a month ago, a Christian sister, Krista B., asked me in Facebook Messenger, "Hi Bill, May I ask you another question?  I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but someone wants actual Scripture for this and I can't give it to them.  Do the Christians who die in the Tribulation go to heaven?  I am sure they don't, but where DO they go (Scripture)?  Do you know?"

Looking back at my notes, I don't think I gave her an answer.  For that, Krista, I apologize.  I am not sure how I let this slip through the crack, but I will attempt to give you an answer now.

First, who are the saints?  Let's clear the air of one fallacy.  Man cannot bestow that title, position, and honor upon anyone.  That comes only from God, through a relationship with Him.  Sainthood is not a title, it is a relationship, a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.   So if any man, regardless of his position or title, tells you that he has investigated and has the power to declare a person to be recognized as a Saint, walk away from that person.

Another point, all the saints, i.e., the body of Christ, are alive on earth and, prayerfully, working to bring more people into a saving relationship with Him.  All who have been designated "Saints" by man - are dead and can do nothing for the those still on earth.

Look at Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He Himself (Jesus Christ) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."   Do you see "Saints" mentioned there by Jesus Christ?  Neither do I - for all believers are saints.

I suggest the Bible tells us there are, or will be, four groups of saints:  (1) The Old Testament saints (see Hebrews 11), (2) the New Testament saints, i.e., church age saints, aka, the betrothed bride of Christ, (3) the Martyred Tribulation saints, and the Surviving Tribulation saints. 

Martyred Tribulation saints are those non-believers who will be "left behind" at the PreTribulation Rapture - then will become believers during the seven year Tribulation, and then killed for their faith.  Upon death they will go immediately into heaven.   Those who become believers during the Tribulation and survive the horrors of the seven year Tribulation, when Christ comes again in glory at His Second Coming, will go into the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom of Christ on earth in their mortal bodies.

Let me share what I believe the Bible tells us about the saints.

The Old Testament saints were those who put their faith in their coming Messiah, even though He would not come for hundreds or thousands of years after they lived.  We read about many of them in Hebrews 11, often referred to as the Faith Hall Of Fame chapter.  We view the death of John the Baptist and the repentant thief on the cross as the last two OT saints - for they died before Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again.  John the Baptist was already in Hades/Paradise when Christ died - and the thief went into Hades/Paradise with Christ (Luke 23:43).

The OT saints did not go directly into heaven upon death - for no one can enter heaven except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  Upon death those OT saints went into Hades/Paradise (Luke 16:19-31), also called the Bosom of Abraham.  They stayed there in joy and peace, knowing that one day their Messiah was going to come and lead them into heaven.

When Christ died He went into Hades.  I believe He went into Hades/Paradise to celebrate His victory with all His saints waiting there - for He told the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). 

Upon death, Jesus Christ went into Hades/Paradise to celebrate with the OT saints - and then (Hebrews 4:8) He effectively closed Hades/Paradise and led all those saints into heaven.  Today, when we believers die, we go directly into Heaven/Paradise to join those OT saints.

The New Testament saints, i.e., the church, which is also called the body of Christ and the bride of Christ, are all who have become believers from the Day of Pentecost 33 AD until the Rapture occurs.  That is called the Church Age.  We New Testament saints will be in heaven during the seven year Tribulation.  We will stand before Christ at the Believers' Judgment, aka, Bema Seat Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10), a judgment of rewards, where we will receive our own righteousness (Revelation 19:8), and we will become His eternal Bride (Revelation 19:6-9), returning with Him at His Second Coming (Revelation 19:14) along with the OT saints and the Martyred Tribulation saints.

Since the Day of Pentecost 33 AD, all believers are said to be the church, i.e., the body of Christ, or body of believers worldwide.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27, "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  For in fact the body is not one member but many. .  .  . Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."

The Tribulation saints:  The church, all believers worldwide, will be taken into heaven at the PreTrib Rapture.  Because God is omnipresent, all places present, the Holy Spirit will still be on earth and still be in the business of saving souls.  Today the Holy Spirit saves us, but He most often works through the church, the body of believers, to accomplish His task of bringing folks to the foot of the cross.  When the Rapture happens, the church which represents the influence of the Holy Spirit, His Restrainer Force, will be gone.  I believe that is what Scripture is alluding to in 2 Thessalonians 2 when it says that "He who restrains will be removed," v7) - the work of the Holy Spirit through the body of Christ, the church, will be removed.  And for seven years, the Antichrist will be the dominant power on earth.

The Martyred Tribulation saints:   During the seven year Tribulation, a great multitude will become believers in Christ ("a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues," Revelation 7:9) - and many of them will be martyred for their faith.  Those who are martyred are the Tribulations saints found in Revelation 7:9-14.

At His Second Coming after the Tribulation - "His armies which are in heaven" will accompany Him to earth to establish His 1000 year Millennial Kingdom.  Who makes up this heavenly army?  It will be the Old Testament saints, the bride of Christ (His church), the martyred Tribulation saints, and His legends of angels.  When He returns He will establish His Millennial Kingdom from the throne of David (Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 3:17) in the holy city Jerusalem.  And all we saints who return with Him will reside in His Millennial Kingdom in our immortal bodies.

Also at His Second Coming, all survivors of the horrible seven year Tribulation will stand before Him at His Sheep and Goat Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).  The Goats, all surviving non-believers, will go into eternal punishment, the lake of fire. (verse 46) - and all Sheep, all surviving Tribulation believers, will go into His Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies (Matthew 25:34).  They will still have their innate sin nature inherited from Adam, but since Satan has been locked in the abyss for 1000 years and his Antichrist and False Prophet are already in the lake of fire - there will be no one to cause temptation.  The surviving Tribulation believers who went into the Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies will have the innate sin nature, but are saved.   All children born during the Millennial Kingdom must still individually receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

For 1000 years those in their mortal bodies will be marrying and having children:

The believers who live through the Tribulation will be mortal.  They will live and repopulate the earth during the Millennial Kingdom.  Without the devastation of sin taking its toll, we can imagine the population increase during the Millennium will be enormous, almost incomprehensible.  All those who are born during the Millennium will enjoy the benefits and blessings of Christ's reign on the earth.  But they will still be born with a sin nature - and they will still have to freely repent and believe the Gospel, personally choosing Christ as Savior and Lord.   (https://www.gotquestions.org/release-Satan.html)

Unfortunately, because of apathy and lack of temptation during the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom, many born during that time will not bother to come to faith in Christ.  Satan will be released after 1000 years for one purpose - to be the final test of those born during the Millennium.  If they continue in their apathy, continue to ignore the Holy Spirit's ministry toward salvation - they will easily be recruited into Satan's army.  And there will be billions of apathetic non-believers by the end of the Millennium.  Satan and his army of non-believers will come against Jesus Christ and the holy city Jerusalem one last time, and God will destroy them (Revelation 20:7-9) - sending them into the lake of fire to be with Satan, his Antichrist and False Prophet, and all past non-believers, eternally (Revelation 20:7-10).

Then the non-believers in Hades/Torment (Luke 16:19-31) will be resurrected into their eternal immortal bodies to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, a judgment of punishment.  After their judgment hearing, they will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

Finally, the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem - our new home where we will live eternally in the Sonshine.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Rapture & Prophecy Dialogue From June 2018

A few years ago, a Christian brother and good Friend asked me, "Bill, why do you bother posting on forums where there are atheists and other non-believers who just argue with you?"  My Friend, although a long time Christian believer, has no patience with folks who argue against our Christian faith or who argue for a different theology. 

And my answer to him is always, "Because in our dialogues I also learn and grow in my knowledge of God's Word.  It is difficult to properly defend the Word - without gaining a greater personal understanding of the Bible and God's message to all of us."

A year ago, on the YE3C-Eschatology Facebook group page (which is short for "Young Earth Christian Creationist Coalition - Eschatology") a member, HP, posted the following questions and I considered them good questions, deserving answers:

HP posted:

I have a few questions.

1.  If the Rapture is imminent, why is Prophecy important?

2.  If the Rapture is imminent, could that also mean the church is still here during the Tribulation?

3.  Could the PreTrib Rapture become a stumbling stone, if the Church is still here during the time of the Tribulation?

4.  Could the expectancy of a PreTrib Rapture be the cause of the Great Apostasy?

Bill Gray:  Let me attempt to answer your questions:

1.  If the Rapture is imminent, why is Prophecy important? 

Although our salvation is not affected by our prophetic beliefs - prophecy must be important to God for He chose to put over 1800 prophecies in His Bible.

Also, prophecy is very important to Christian believers because it validates our Bible.  No other sacred book of any world religion contains prophecy, only the Bible.  And to date the Bible prophecies have been proven, by religious and secular sources, to have been fulfilled with no exceptions. 

The only prophecies left to be fulfilled are those of the future End Times - and since all the other prophecies have been fulfilled and proven accurate, there is no reason to doubt that the End Times prophecies will also be fulfilled as written in the Bible.

2.  If the Rapture is imminent, could that also mean the church will still be here during the Tribulation?

Because the Rapture is the imminent event we are expecting - it has to occur before Daniel's prophecies of the 70th week, the seven year Tribulation, can occur.  Neither the seven year Tribulation nor His Second Coming are, or could be, imminent - for people will be able to set a day and time for them prior to their occurrence.   That negates the doctrine of Imminency for either of those events.

We know that the Rapture, which is imminent, must occur before either of them.   First, the Rapture of the church will occur, but no one can know the time, season, day, nor hour (Matthew 25:13, Acts 1:7), for it is imminent.  Shortly after the Rapture occurs, the seven year Tribulation will begin (Daniel 9:27).   Then at the end of the seven year Tribulation Jesus Christ will return to earth, His Second Coming in Glory (Revelation 19:11ff).

Acts 1:7, "And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority."

Matthew 25:13, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

3.  Could the PreTrib Rapture become a stumbling stone, if the Church is still here during the time of the Tribulation? 

If that could happen, yes it would become a stumbling stone.  However, we know from Scripture that the PreTrib Rapture is the only viable rapture scenario found in the Bible.  So based upon that, the church cannot be on earth during the Tribulation (Revelation 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10). 

Of the three End Times events, Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming - the only one which can be imminent is the PreTrib Rapture.  Consider this, there will be two appearances of Jesus Christ during the End Times:  Since no one can know the time nor the day of His initial appearance - that only fits the PreTrib Rapture.  In the Rapture, He does not come to the earth, but appears in the clouds above the earth - to catch up, snatch out, rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17) His church. 

Once the seven year Tribulation begins (Daniel 9:24-27) - all people with a knowledge of Scripture can know exactly when He is coming again, His Second Coming.  It will occur at the end of the seven year Tribulation.  All they have to do is see the Antichrist appear, experience the beginning of the Tribulation - and count seven years to the day.  That is when His Second Coming will happen, hardly imminent.

The only harm done in denying the PreTrib Rapture is to rob believers of their sense of eternal security and their assurance of rescue from the Tribulation wrath.  Jesus Christ has promised both to all believers.

4.  Could the expectancy of a Pre Trib Rapture be the cause of the Great Apostasy?

I will share two things: First the church will be Raptured, then the earth will be in a condition of total apostasy, no believers will be left on earth. All believers will have been taken out of this world and into heaven.  Second, let me share a short audio discussion of the Bible passage found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5, speaking of the apostasy or falling away.  This audio was made by the great Bible teacher, Dr. J.Vernon McGee, and in it he explains the Great Apostasy, the Rapture, and the Day of the Lord, in very down to earth language. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOvkNrtGE8&feature=youtu.be

HP replies:  Thanks Bill Gray, but I find that your answer to Question 2 contradicting in a sense of the definition of Imminent, which basically means it could happen at any time.  But according to you, (you say it is imminent) as long as it is before the tribulation.  You can see the implications that has.

As for Question 1, I'm referring to future prophecies like Gog and Magog and prophecies in Ezekiel that relate to End time Prophecy before the 70th week even begins.  And yes I agree salvation is not effected by our eschatology, but we are to still handle God's Word as a workman who has no need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.

On Question 3, you cannot be 100% on your theological presupposition, Bill.  It's an area where there is no room for dogmatics.  But you still didn't answer the question.  Well you did, but more of an eluding answer.  And the same for Question 4.

Bill Gray:  Hi HP, Regarding my answer to your Question 1:  You are right in your supposition that the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 (Gog and Magog) will happen just prior to the PreTrib Rapture.  I show that in the 3rd chart in my End Times Charts graphic below (page 2 of 3) - that the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 will happen, those armies destroyed supernaturally, and shortly after that event (maybe days, weeks, even months) the Antichrist will sign a seven year peace accord with Israel - which triggers the beginning of the seven year Tribulation. 

Once again, because these two events, the battle of Gog and Magog and the Rapture, will happen before the Tribulation can begin - the Tribulation cannot be considered imminent.

Regarding my answer to your Question 2: Yes, the Rapture, because it is imminent, must occur before the Tribulation begins - for if it happens after the Tribulation begins, then it is not imminent.  Remember that Matthew 25:13 tells us, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

In Matthew 24 we are warned, and assured, a number of times that the Rapture is Imminent, i.e., will happen PreTribulation:

Matthew 24:27, "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

Matthew 24:42, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."

Matthew 24:44, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Matthew 24:50, "The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,.  .  ."

Regarding my answer to your Questions 3 and 4 answer:  You tell me that I am being dogmatic and cannot be 100% sure of my PreTrib Rapture position, that it is a presuppositional position.  Not so, if you will study my End Times Charts below you will see that I give specific Scripture references throughout them.  My position is not "Bill Gray's presupposition" - but is based upon Scripture and taken from years of studying Biblical eschatology, starting in 1991.

With that said, let me offer, for your viewing pleasure, four short Bible study videos I made for Bible studies and Sunday School classes:

1.  END TIMES Bible Study - Week One ~ Edited July 23, 2018

2.  END TIMES Bible Study - Week Two ~ Edited July 23, 2018

3.  WHAT WE BELIEVE - Our Statement Of Faith ~ Edited July 23, 2018

4.  IT ALL BEGAN WITH CREATION ~ Edited July 23, 2018.  I originally created this in 2006 as a PowerPoint Presentation for a talk I gave in my daughter Lana's World Religion class at our local college.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUwF_igeTQk&list=PL_YT3RttutrhPFj_GxNr9bXqlaei7eJaQ

HP wrote:  Oh, and I'm not really big on commentaries.  But if you can compress a dialogue in your own way, (as lengthy as it might be), I'm happy to read it.

Bill Gray:  Hi HP,  I will admit that my explanations are often not brief.  But I would rather bore a few, rather than leave one who is seeking to understand - wondering why I would try to explain the Gospel in 100 words or less.  In the beginning of this blog I mentioned a Christian brother who asked why I bother to dialogue with non-believers.  I often joke with that same Friend when he complains that my blogs are too long, telling him, "If it is more than three sentences, I realize that is your limit."

And I offer this suggestion:  If it is too long to read in a sitting, just browse for any "golden nuggets" you may find.  While some may only pan for "gold" - others will take the time to read more.  And still others will read to the end.  Several have told me they archive my blogs for further study.  Years ago when my Friend complained about the length of my blogs, I sent an e-mail to all the folks (then close to 1000) on my Friends Ministry eNewsletter mail list, asking for any suggested changes in format, length, etc., of my blogs and eNewsletters.  Some may have ignored that request - but all who did respond unanimously said, "Don't change anything."

With that clarification out of the way, for me I find that commentaries are a great way to begin a personal study.  While I am in full agreement that the Bible is our final authority - I find that opening several commentaries before I start a study or a writing gives me food for thought on that passage.  But here I will state emphatically that one should be sure of the person, or persons, who wrote the commentaries - for not all theologians, scholars, and pastors are good sources for Bible exegesis.

That said, when we find reliable Bible teachers, scholars, and theologians whom we can trust - why waste their many years of study and knowledge by ignoring them?  Look at what they have to say, study the Scripture passage yourself, and pray for guidance.  I find that the best way to prepare for a study or a writing. 

HP:  Hi Bill, Sorry, but I have been encamped in the PreTrib Rapture teaching for most my Christian life -  I've heard all the theology on it from Dr Ice, Andy woods, John MacArthur (whom I hold in high esteem), and my own Church.  Like I said, if you let Scripture interpret itself and follow the the clear trail, you will come to a Post-Trib or Pre-Wrath Rapture.  So I think in our case we must agree to disagree.

Also on the commentaries position, if you go to commentaries first you develop a presupposition that often leaves little space for the Holy Spirit to reveal what is intended to be understood in Scripture.  My line of thought is: Read the Bible and gain a comprehensive understanding through solid hermeneutics.  If you want, then (visit the commentaries to) see what other trusted teachers are saying on the matter.  If it differs from the application you discovered, review each of the commentary writers' theories and see which holds to the scrutiny of the Scriptures, "searching Scripture to see if these things are so."

Bill Gray:  Hi HP, First let me address the issue of developing a presupposition based upon reading commentaries written by trusted theologians, scholars, or pastors.  I assure you that while there are many such people whom I trust very much on theological issues, I have never met one that I always agree with 100%, all the time.  I study their work to get ideas - realizing that only God's Word is inerrant.  I look at the Scripture passage under that light and go from there.   Have I ever been wrong in my understanding of the Bible and the commentaries?  Yes.

Let me give you an example:  The charts shown in my composite graphic below took me four years to complete. Since completing them years ago, a number of times, through further study and dialogues such as this one - I have found mistakes.  When I did, I made the correction - in my thinking and on my charts.  Having done that over the years, I am at the point where I feel rather confident in their accuracy.  However, that said, if someone does prove an error in my charts - that correction will be made.

In our dialogue I am not necessarily trying to change your mind, for in most cases that would be a fruitless effort.  So why have the dialogue?  Because I am constantly trying to grow more mature in my own Biblical knowledge - and in such dialogues when I defend my understanding of Scripture - one of two things can happen:  In defending my faith, I learn.  I am open to new ideas, new understandings - so if the person with whom I am having a dialogue has a persuasive new perspective, I want to explore that thought.

In our dialogues, I learn - and hopefully you learn.  And prayerfully people reading our dialogue will learn and gain a greater knowledge of God's Word.

But I will say that I have spent the past 28 years studying the End Times and can find no Biblically correct Rapture - other than the PreTrib Rapture.

Now let's look at your at your leaning toward the PreWrath or Post-Trib Rapture position.   Like you seem to have done, I also found Marvin Rosenthal's and Robert Van Kampen's PreWrath books intriguing.  I have their books in my personal library.  But when I stood their teachings next to the Bible - they drew the short stick.  

Concerning a Post-Trib Rapture, we know that two things must occur in heaven before His Second Coming - the Believers' Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12) and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).  Those things could not happen in heaven if we are raptured when Christ is on His way to earth in His Post-Trib Second Coming.

Two things I know: (1) The doctrine of Imminency is Biblical, and (2) all Rapture scenarios except for the PreTrib Rapture MUST deny the doctrine of Imminency for them to be true.  Imminency can only apply to the Rapture - and it can only apply to the PreTrib Rapture. 

Bill Gray:  Hi HP, You tell me, "Also on the commentaries position, if you go to commentaries first you develop a presupposition and often leaves little space for the Holy Spirit to reveal what is intended to be understood in Scripture. . . . "

Not so.  Let me offer a real life analogy for pre-trip preparation.  In past years I have driven across American a number of times.  And once I drove around America solo, an 8000 mile trip.  Before I began my trips, I sat down with my Thomas Maps to plan the best route.  That got me started.  Once I began my journey, I found that, at times, I had to divert from my original planned route in lieu of a better route.

My study of a Scripture passage is very similar.  I sit down with my Bible and several trusted commentaries.  First, I study them all to get the thoughts of trusted commentary writers.  Then, from the Bible, with suggestions from the commentaries, I begin to write my Bible study notes or blog.  There will be times when I will divert, if I discover a point or issue I had not anticipated.  That approach works for me.

You are not alone in your mistrust of commentaries.  I have had other Friends who feel the same.  No problem, that is their choice and that is your choice.  I am not trying to tell you how to study Scripture, only how I do it.

But using that same logic of ignoring the many years of accumulated knowledge found in the commentaries - compare that to a person who will go to college or seminary - and then refuse to listen to his professors, for they are only men (or women).   Isn't that a tremendous waste of their accumulated years of knowledge?  And if you can learn it all by yourself - why even go to a college or seminary?  Just my thoughts. 

HP:  Wow, Bill, the Bible, which is the Word of God, is totally different than planing a trip around the country.  The greatest theologians in the world would be flabbergasted at your comment.  The road paved by our founding fathers relied on the Holy Spirit - not commentaries.  Thank you for your views, duly noted.

And I don't mistrust Commentaries.  Like I said in my earlier statement, I first get a comprehensive understanding through solid hermeneutics - and then if need be, I go to trusted Commentaries.  

Bill Gray:  Hi HP, I agree that what works best for one person is not always best for others.  The main thing is to keep our eye on the goal.  In my solo trip around the country by car, my goal was to reach Alabama, Virginia, Boston, and then return to Southern California.  You may have chosen to take a different route - but we both would end up at our desired destination.

That is our goal in studying and sharing God's Word - to end up in His presence.  And to bring as many souls as possible with us.

It is always good to have discussions such at this.  From them we ALL learn and grow in our knowledge of God's Word. 

Lea G enters the dialogue:  I find it amazing how everyone just assumes that Futurism is a fact and that the Jesuit scholar Francisco Ribera was correct, along with John Nelson Darby!

Bill Gray Note:  Futurism is the same as Dispensationalism, i.e., belief in a PreTrib Rapture and PreMillennial Second Coming of Christ.

No one questions the absurdity that there are 69 weeks which are continuous.  Then there is a mysterious gap (the church age), and the 70th week is an unknown future event.  Also disgusting that these believers in this (eschatological belief) reckons its NOT about the prophetic coming, ministry, and death of the Messiah.  But this honor (seems to be?) is actually about an Antichrist.  Does anyone ever question the foundations anymore - or is everyone so blinded by axiomatic dogma that they forget we are supposed to be Berean?

Bill Gray:  Hi Lea G, You tell us, "I find it amazing how everyone just assumes that Futurism is a fact and that the Jesuit scholar Francisco Ribera was correct, along with John Nelson Darby!"

No, I did not, and do not, look to a Roman Catholic priest, nor to a Baptist pastor, nor to any man - to understand and believe in a PreTribulation Rapture of the church and a PreMillennial Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish his Millennial Kingdom on earth.  I look only at the Bible and the Bible does affirm my belief in the Imminent Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church.

On the other hand, in the 1800s we find a fellow named William Miller, an American Baptist preacher, who decided he knew when Christ was returning.  So he set a date and time for His return - and Miller gathered many believers who followed him.  He is credited with beginning the mid-19th century North American religious movement known as the Millerites.

He told his followers the Second Coming would happen sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844.  When that failed, he adopted a new date, April 18, 1844, which also passed with no Second Coming.  Then he set the date at October 22, 1844 and when that came and went, the date became known as the "Millerites' Great Disappointment."  

Miller set many dates, which predictably did not happen.  Many of his followers began to drift away.  Then one evening two of his deacons were walking home from a meeting - and while walking across a corn field one of them had a revelation.

His revelation was that Christ has already returned - but not to earth.  His return was to a special compartment of heaven - where He is working out our salvation right now.  

That teaching is unBiblical.  Keep in mind that on the cross Jesus Christ told us, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) - meaning that on that cross, He had accomplished all that is necessary to make eternal salvation available to all who will believe and receive his Gift of Eternal Life.  The rest is up to each of us individually.  We either receive the Son and eternal life, or we reject the Son and have eternal loss (John 1:12, John 3:16, 1 John 5:12).

The Seventh-day Adventist Church had its roots in the Millerite movement of the 1830s to the 1840s, during the period of the Second Great Awakening - and was officially founded in 1863.

So, if you want to talk about a confused and confusing eschatological scenario - that was it.  In the Adventist church, eschatology is defined by a man, primarily William Miller.  While in the conservative Baptist church - we get our eschatology from the Bible. 

Lea replies:  Nice straw man there, Bill.  Seventh Day Adventist know of the "Great Disappointment" - but what you have done is use a "guilt by association" logical fallacy.

The reality is, what I said in my above post is VERY true and you have stated NOTHING but a strawman argument to change that stance.

I believe in the eschatology of Biblical Historicism, i.e., prophesy unfolds over time throughout history.  So yes, I can state perfectly well how the "dark ages" fit into Scripture, and how the Papacy and its influence is seen in Scripture.

Bill Gray Note:  Let's review three possible views on the timing of prophetic events:  Preterism (past), Historicism (present), and Futurism (future). 

Preterism is the view that the majority of prophetic events found in Revelation were fulfilled in 70 AD, when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem.  In other words, the book of Revelation is a history book, not a book of coming prophecies.

Historicism equates the current church age with the time of the Tribulation.  In their theology, the church age, which began on the Day of Pentecost 33 AD and will culminate with the beginning of Daniel's 70th Week (the seven year Tribulation) - is the Tribulation.  According to them we in the current church age today are already living in the Tribulation.  Christ will just appear at some later undetermined date and take us into eternity.

Futurism, which is the same as Dispensationalism, looks at the approximately 300 prophecies which were fulfilled literally in the first coming of Jesus Christ - and based upon those fulfilled prophecies, we believe that the book of Revelation reveals what will happen in the future.  It all hinges upon the Imminent PreTrib Rapture of the church, followed by the seven year Tribulation, and then the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Lea continues:  And please, do not tell me it is only Scripture you used to come to your conclusions of a PreTrib Rapture based on Futurism, because the reformation came about when theologians began a strong study - and unrelated people saw a Biblical Historicism picture which led to the reformation.  It wasn't until the Council of Trent which was called to address and stop the reformation - that the orders were sent out to give explanations other than the biblical Historicist position. 

It was the Spanish Jesuits Francisco Ribera and Luis de Alcasar who fleshed out Futurism and Preterism respectively.  Futurism wasn't popular until John Nelson Darby fleshed it out and became the "father of the PreTrib Rapture" and Dispensational theory.  So please don't say it is from Scripture only, as history testifies that if Scripture is all you have, then Historicism is what you get.

Bill Gray:  Hi Lea G, You tell me, "And please, do not tell me it is only Scripture you used to come to your conclusions of a PreTrib Rapture based on Futurism, . . . Futurism wasn't popular until John Nelson Darby fleshed it out and became the 'father of the PreTrib Rapture' and Dispensational theory."

Lea my Friend, although I have studied the writings of many theologians and Bible scholars regarding the End Times - I base my belief in a PreTrib Rapture and PreMillennial Second Coming strictly on Scripture.

John Darby merely highlighted for the church - what the early apostles and Biblical writers wrote and taught in their time.  The PreTrib Rapture is definitely in the Bible - but erroneous teachings in later generations have clouded the issue.  John Darby merely pushed back those clouds to show us what was earlier written by the apostles and Bible writers.

In these short videos I explain the eschatology as taken from the Bible - with Scripture references.  I suggest that your Adventist teachings are derived purely from the teachings of modern men - beginning with the misled William Miller and his followers, the precursor of your Adventist theology.

At this point you have two choices: You can refuse to view my short videos and dismiss them.  Or you can view them and tell me where you disagree. That is up to you. God bless, Bill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUwF_igeTQk&list=PL_YT3RttutrhPFj_GxNr9bXqlaei7eJaQ&index=1

Angela joins the discussion:  There is no secret Rapture.  The second coming of Christ has been misinterpreted and many have been misled as a result.

Bill Gray:  Hi Angela, you are absolutely right, there is no Secret Rapture.  However there will be an Imminent Rapture which will start the End Times ball rolling.  It is not a secret, for all believers know it will happen.  Yet when it does, only believers will see Christ in the clouds and be "snatched away" to join Him there.

Some folks may call it a "secret Rapture" since it will happen imminently, with no warning.  However, all who know Scripture know to be looking for Him and will rejoice when He does appear to Rapture His church, the bride of Christ, into heaven.

Christ warns us in the Bible to be ready, for we do not know when He will come to Rapture His church.   An example of that teaching is found in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, i.e., ten bridesmaids, found in Matthew 25:1-13.  Five are ready, prepared to meet the Bridegroom when He appears.  These are symbolic of believers who have a relationship with Him and are ready when He does come to snatch us away.

The five bridesmaids who have no oil for their lanterns are symbolic of unbelievers who are still following the world and are not prepared to meet Him when He comes.  Having no oil, they are in darkness - just as they will be in eternal darkness when they die in disbelief. 

So, in that sense it could be viewed as a "secret Rapture" - but only to those still following the darkness of this world.

My Friends, I pray that this dialogue from the past has been helpful to you.  And I pray that it encourages you to dig deeper into Scripture to prove to yourself who is correct.  Is what HP, Lea, Angela, or I believe Biblically correct - or have we all erred in our interpretation of Scripture?

I am asking you to be Bereans, testing what we say in this dialogue against Scripture - for the Bible is never wrong.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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