What Is The Difference Between The Cross And The Crucifix?

Today Facebook reminded me of a blog I had written in 2012, while posting on the TimesDaily Religion Forum.  It is a dialogue between a Roman Catholic Friend and a nominal, at best very liberal, Christian Friend.  When I challenged my Roman Catholic Friend about showing Christ still hanging on the cross, i.e., the crucifix - my nominal Christian Friend challenged the Protestant church's use of the empty cross in our churches.

I pray that my brief explanation from 2012 will be useful to you.

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What Is The Difference Between The Cross And The Crucifix?
June 21, 2012 at 10:13 PM

In the TimesDaily Religion Forum discussion begun by my Roman Catholic Friend, Vic, titled "The Commandments" I shared the reason why I believe the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments is more faithful to the Biblical Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17).   It is because we retain Exodus 20:4, "You shall not make for yourself an idol" (nasb) or "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" (kjv) - as the Second Commandment.

My Protestant Christian Friend, O No, tells me, "And by the way, Catholics don't worship 'idols' any more than protestants do.  What is the difference between a crucifix and an empty cross?  Do 'YOU' worship that cross hanging in your church?  Why is it OK for protestants to hang a symbol in their churches, but not Catholics?"

I am surprised you have to ask that question.  But, since you have, I have to assume there may be one or two others who also do not understand the difference between the cross and the crucifix.

The cross is the symbol of what Christ has done for all of us, for all people.  He left his heavenly home, his divine existence, to come to earth in a frail human body.  He became like us so that He could be our high priest before God the Father:

Hebrews 2:17, "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

He came to die a cruel death on the cross in our stead.  Then, as He hung on the cross, He declared, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) and died.

What was finished?  The work of redemption which He came to earth to accomplish - making redemption and salvation available to every person who will, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12) believe and receive this "free gift" which He has "paid in full" with His precious blood.

When He resurrected, that was to assure that ALL people will resurrect into immortal, eternal bodies.  Those who believe to a resurrection of life, those who will not believe to a resurrection of judgment (John 5:29).

And, when He ascended into heaven - this was so that He might be the one and only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) between man and God.

So, when Christ died, resurrected, and ascended into heaven - His full work of redemption and salvation was finished, fully accomplished.  There is no longer any reason for Him to be hanging on a cross as we see on the crucifix.

He is not hanging on the cross, or crucifix.  He is in heaven with God the Father.  So why put Him back on the cross, i.e., the crucifix?  Why continue to re-crucify Him daily, i.e., the Eucharist in the daily mass?

Therefore, when we come to the foot of the cross for redemption - it is in recognition of the work He accomplished and finished there.  It is not to find Him still hanging on the cross.  It is to honor Him for the work He has finished, over 2000 years ago, upon the cross.

That, my Friend, is why you will see only the empty cross hanging in mainstream Protestant Christian churches today.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Don't The Sincere Beliefs Of Non-Christians Matter To God? - Greg Koukl

The video below from the Stand To Reason ministry is only 4 minutes long, but it is definitely worth watching and sharing.

Greg Koukl, who is presenting the message in the video, is the Founder and President of "Stand to Reason" - a Christian ministry whose goal is to equip Christian ambassadors with knowledge, wisdom, and character.  .  .  .  STR focuses on the basics, the fundamentals of theology and ethics, and the fundamental tools of thought. .  .  .  While STR may not be unique in the information they give, they are distinctive in the way they use the information.

STR teaches careful reasoning and well thought-out answers - so that Christians will be able to participate in public discussions (at home, at work, or at the university) - and present the Christian worldview in the debate.  STR encourages Christians to develop coherent answers to questions that challenge Christianity so that your faith is deepened, and thereby (you) are emboldened to share the Gospel in a gracious and compelling manner.

Greg Koukl received his Masters in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University), graduating with high honors - and his Masters in Christian Apologetics with honors from Simon Greenleaf University.  He is an adjunct professor in Christian apologetics at Biola University.

Greg has spoken on more than 70 college and university campuses, both in the U.S. and abroad, and has hosted his own call-in radio show for 27 years advocating “Christianity Worth Thinking About.”  He has debated atheist Michael Shermer on national radio, and Deepak Chopra on national television on Lee Strobel's “Faith Under Fire” television series.

Greg Koukl tells us:

"I’m animated by the conviction that Christianity and Christian values, if properly understood and properly articulated, can “stand to reason” in the public square.  The truth is on our side, but whether that truth will make a difference depends on whether or not the church (you and I) is trained to engage others in gracious yet incisive dialog.

There’s a desperate need to equip followers of Jesus Christ to explain and defend Christian beliefs and values with people who don’t understand our language and who don’t accept our source of authority (the Bible). 

That need is especially acute for two groups: (1) an emerging post-modern generation that has lost confidence that any claims to truth are legitimate, and (2) an increasingly relativistic church grounded more on personal experience than in biblical truth."

We see two effects of the 1963 decision by the Supreme Court to remove God from our schools, and eventually from the public square: 

(1) the Post-Modern, i.e., Secular Liberal worldview which declares there is no absolute truth, and

(2) the spread of Liberalism in many churches and denominations, based upon their view that the Bible is not the Holy Spirit INSPIRED, Holy Spirit INERRANT, Holy Spirit LITERAL Written Word of God - but is a only a metaphorical, mystical, but effective guideline for Christian living.  Based upon that Liberal view of the Bible - a theology can be defined which will support any pre-chosen theological compromise with the Secular world.

There is a name for those beliefs.  It is called RELATIVISM - and its only criteria is:  "If it feels right to you, it IS right for you!"   Since 1963 the government controlled American Education System has been teaching those Relative Moral Values to our children, starting in Kindergarten and extending through their college/university life. 

Standing on the strength of that 1963 Supreme Court Decision - Relative Moral Values have replaced Positive Moral Values in our educational institutions all across America.

In this short video, Greg Koukl emphasizes standards that I have long espoused:

1. Your theology, your Christian beliefs, must be based solely upon the Bible - and YOU should be able to defend, from Scripture, your Statement of Faith, your Statement of Biblical Beliefs.  I would suggest that EVERY Christian should take the time to put your personal Statement of Faith in writing.  That affirms in your mind what you believe - and it gives you the Biblical knowledge and courage needed when witnessing to non-believers.

2. When you encounter a new ministry, be it a church (pastor, teacher, theologian, scholar) - a parachurch organization or ministry - or any alleged Christian online ministry  ~  the first thing you should should look at is their Statement of Faith.  Why?  What they declare in their Statement of Faith - is what they teach.  And if that is not built upon and supported by Scripture - it is a false theology. 

I once had a church in the Midwest tell me that they will not post their Statement of Faith on their web site - "Because they do not want to offend anyone."   Really?  You will hide what you believe about God and His Word - to not offend the non-believing world?  Folks, would YOU be comfortable worshiping in such a church?  Not me!

This I found on the Stand To Reason "Statement of Faith" web page:

10. Men are justified on the simple and single ground of the shed blood of Christ and upon the simple and single condition of faith in Him Who shed His blood, and are born again by the quickening, renewing, cleansing work of the Holy Spirit, through the instrumentality of the Word of God.  These alone become children of God and receive eternal life.

After viewing this video, you might want to further explore that web site.  I would suggest that since you are already on their web site, click on ABOUT, then on Statement of Faith - and explore that page more thoroughly.

Now, take four minutes and see what you think about the STR video:

DON'T THE SINCERE BELIEFS OF NON-CHRISTIANS MATTER TO GOD?
Greg Koukl, Stand To Reason, 2-12-2018
https://www.str.org/video/dont-sincere-beliefs-non-christians-matter-god

I pray that this discussion and video have been edifying for you and that it suggests ways to enhance your Christian faith and  your Christian witness.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

A Great Article From A Great American - About President Trump

A GREAT ARTICLE ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, written by one great American Conservative, Mychal Massie, and often erroneously attributed to another great American, Charles Krauthammer.  Let's set the record straight.

The Courier-Tribune of Asheboro, North Carolina, posted an op-ed titled “A different take on Trump the pragmatist” - that it credited to Charles Krauthammer, along with an editor’s note claiming that “Krauthammer is back on a partial basis after taking time off for surgery.”

Note: Charles Krauthammer is in his final weeks of terminal cancer.   Fox News, June 8 at 9:04am, shared on Facebook a post titled: "A letter from Charles Krauthammer" - and it shares his thoughts on his career and on this, his final battle.

Charles Krauthammer has spent decades as a leading commentator, expressing clear and new perspectives - on politics, foreign policy, and culture, often from the right.

However, Krauthammer, is NOT the author of the essay below which has been attributed to him.  That essay was written by Mychal Massie in January 2016 and posted on his personal blog at the time.  Since then, the article has been misattributed to Krauthammer several times.  ("Fact Check: Did Charles Krauthammer Write an Op-Ed Arguing for 'Trump the Pragmatist'?" - The Weekly Standard, May 3, 2018 4:42 PM)

The real author is Mychal Massie, also a nationally syndicated op-ed columnist and former host of the talk show“Straight Talk with Mychal Massie” on the Rightalk Radio Network.  He is a former self-employed business owner of 30-plus years.  Mychal is an inspirational / motivational speaker and a regularly featured guest on TV / Talk Radio programs. 

The online version of his column is carried by WorldNetDaily.com and enjoys a loyal, supportive readership around the world.  Mychal has appeared on every major news-talk television and radio program in the U.S., as well as top international news programs.  He is recognized as one of America’s most articulate, passionate, and outspoken conservative voices.

Mychal Massie is also an ordained minister who spent 13 years in full-time Christian Ministry.  Today he serves as founder and Chairman of the Racial Policy Center (RPC), a think tank he officially founded in September 2015.  RPC advocates for a colorblind society.  He was founder and president of the non-profit “In His Name Ministries.”  He is the former National Chairman of a conservative Capitol Hill think tank; and a former member of the think tank "National Center for Public Policy Research." 

In his official capacity with this free-market, public-policy think tank, he has spoken at the U.S. Capitol, CPAC, participated in numerous press conferences on Capitol Hill, the National Press Club, and testified in private session concerning property rights pursuant to the “Endangered Species Act” before the Chairman of the House Committee on Resources.

That said, I believe his blog below about President Trump, written in 2016 is absolutely on target: 

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We recently enjoyed a belated holiday dinner with friends at the home of other friends.  The dinner conversation varied from discussions about antique glass and china, to theology and politics.  At one point, reference was made to Donald Trump being a Conservative, to which I responded that Trump is not a Conservative.  I said that I neither view, nor do I believe Trump views himself, as a Conservative. 

I stated it was my opinion that Trump is a pragmatist.  He sees a problem and understands it must be fixed.  He doesn't see the problem as Liberal or Conservative.  He sees it only as a problem.  That is a quality that should be admired and applauded, not condemned.  But I get ahead of myself.

Viewing problems from a Liberal perspective has resulted in the creation of more problems, more entitlement programs, more victims, more government, more political correctness, and more attacks on the working class in all economic strata.

Viewing things according to the so-called Republican Conservative perspective has brought continued spending and globalism to the detriment of American interests and well being - denial of what the real problems are: weak, ineffective, milquetoast, leadership that amounts to Barney Fife Deputy Sheriff (type) appeasement oriented and (is) afraid of its own shadow.  In brief, it has brought Liberal ideology, with a pachyderm as a mascot, juxtaposed to the ass of the Democrat Party.

Immigration isn't a Republican problem, it isn't a Liberal problem - it is a problem that threatens the very fabric and infrastructure of America.  It demands a pragmatic approach - not an approach that is intended to appease one group or another.

The impending collapse of the economy wasn't a Liberal or Conservative problem, it is an American problem.  That said, until it is viewed as a problem that demands a common sense approach to resolution, it will never be fixed - because the Democrats and Republicans know only one way to fix things, and the longevity of their impracticality has proven to have no lasting effect.  Successful businessmen like Donald Trump find ways to make things work, they do not promise to accommodate.

Trump uniquely understands that China's manipulation of currency is not a Republican problem, nor a Democrat problem.  It is a problem that threatens our financial stability and he understands the proper balance needed to fix it.  Here again, successful businessmen, like Trump, who have weathered the changing tides of economic reality understand what is necessary to make business work.  And they, unlike both sides of the political aisle, know that if something doesn't work, you don't continue trying to make it work - hoping that at some point it will.

As a pragmatist, Donald Trump hasn't made wild pie-in-the-sky promises of a cell phone in every pocket, free college tuition, and a $15 hour minimum wage for working the drive-through at Carl's Hamburgers.

(Definition: A pragmatist is someone who is practical and focused on reaching a goal.  A pragmatist usually has a straightforward, matter-of-fact approach and doesn't let emotion distract him or her.)

I argue that America needs pragmatists because pragmatists see a problem and find ways to fix them.  They do not see a problem and compound it by creating more problems.

You may not like Donald Trump, but I suspect that the reason some people do not like him is because:

(1) he is antithetical to the "good old boy" method of brokering backroom deals that fatten the coffers of politicians;

(2) they are not accustomed to hearing a president speak who is unencumbered by the financial shackles of those he owes vis-a-vis donations;

(3) he is someone who is free of idiomatic political ideology;

(4) he says what he is thinking, is unapologetic for his outspoken thoughts, speaks very straightforward using everyday language that can be understood by all - and is offensive to some who dislike him anyway - making him a great communicator.  Who, for the most part, does what he says he will do, and;

(5) he is someone who understands that it takes more than hollow promises and political correctness to make America great again.

Listening to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders talk about fixing America is like listening to two lunatics trying to "out crazy" one another.  Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Marco Rubio are owned lock, stock, and barrel by the bankers, corporations, and big dollar donors funding their campaigns.  Bush can deny it, but common sense tells anyone willing to face facts, that people don't give tens of millions without expecting something in return.

We have had Democrats and Republican ideologues and what has it brought us?  Are we better off today or worse off?  Has it happened overnight or has it been a steady decline brought on by both parties?

I submit that a pragmatist is just what America needs right now.  People are quick to confuse and despise confidence as arrogance, but that is common among those who have never accomplished anything in their lives.  Or politicians who never really solved a problem, because it's better to still have "issue(s) to be solved - so re-elect me to solve it" - which never happens.  And those who have always played it safe.  Again, all politicians not willing to risk failure, to try and achieve success.

Donald Trump put his total financial empire at risk in running for president and certainly did not need or possibly even want the job.  That says it all.

He wants success for the U.S. and her citizens because he loves his country.

God Bless America!

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My Friends, first I ask that we all join together to pray for Charles Krauthammer and his family - in this, the final leg of a long journey - his battle against cancer.

Then let us really listen, and share, what Mychal Massie, a true Conservative American, an articulate American, and by the way, an American of African-American ancestry - as he tells us about the true Donald Trump - the president America has been needing for the last 30 years. 

The last truly Conservative American president was Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.  And America has desperately needed to get back to that level of Conservative leadership in the White House again.   In 2016 we began that transition to a stronger, better America - when we elected President Trump.

I believe that Mychal Massie is smack on target with his assessment of President Donald Trump.  And I strongly believe that, if we want to have a strong America to leave to our children and grandchildren - WE MUST get behind President Trump and support his efforts to Make America Great Again.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the graphic to make it larger:

God's Surprise ~ Bible Study Notes - June 9, 2018

In 1937, John Steinbeck took the title of his novel "Of Mice and Men" from this line contained in the poem “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns:  "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley" (paraphrased in English as "The best-laid plans of mice and men / Go oft awry").

Well, that is exactly what happened to our Friday night Bible Study last week.  Since we only had one week to cover the subject.  And since the subject of our Bible study is the End Times - well, you know that one evening can only scratch the surface.   So we were going for an Overview of End Times Prophecy.

Before our study began I was standing in our church Assembly Room chatting with one of our young adults, Jonelle Vega, and we saw a couple on the sidewalk looking into our door.  Right away Jonelle and I went out to greet them and invite them to come in and join us.  We talked a while and they asked about our Sunday services.  Again I invited them to come into our Bible study that evening, but they declined and walked on, promising to come Sunday.

In the middle of our study discussion, the couple walked in to join us.  Wow, I was excited.  Since we moved into our new church building several months ago, we have been praying to be a beacon of His Light to this new neighborhood.  Every week people from our church go door-knocking, talking to folks, and inviting them to church.  Our door-knockers had not made it to their block yet - but God brought Diego and Micki to us.

As I mentioned earlier, "the best laid plans of mice and men" - not knowing the spiritual position of this new couple - how to adjust our End Times Prophecies discussion to include them?   I may not have done a very good job of adjusting - but the new couple, Diego and Micki, did come to our 2:30 PM worship service this past Sunday and asked that we pray for them.  Jonathan Dave Nolasco, who was giving our message last week took time before his message, I escorted Diego and Micki to the altar, and Dave and I prayed for them.

I pray that Diego and Micki are just the first of a flood of our new neighbors who will come and join us in worship.   May God always continue to interrupt our meetings, discussions, and services - when He wants to bring new folks into our church family.

That said, the following are the study notes I planned to use last Friday, hoping to get active discussions started:

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BIBLE STUDY NOTES - JUNE 9, 2018

LET'S SIT AND HAVE A FIRESIDE CHAT.   From your history classes, does anyone remember who made the "Fireside Chat" famous?   Yes, it was President Roosevelt during World War 2 - history for most of you.  But Dory, a few of our senior members, and I lived through that period of history.  I was 4 years old when Pearl Harbor happened, 8 years old when the war ended.

Dory's family in the Philippines struggled to survive the Japanese occupation, often in caves - and seeing a family member executed.

My high school teacher's son died on the USS Arizona, the first war death from my home town area of Colbert County, Alabama.

Opening Prayer.

Normally I like to lead a Bible study expositionally, with us studying a book of the Bible by starting in chapter 1, verse 1 - and, together, reading and discussing that passage or chapter verse by verse.  That way we know that no "meat of the Word" is skipped over or ignored, for any reason.

However, since our study tonight is a one-shot event - let's take a key book of the Bible and do an overview.

In 1991 during the Gulf War in Kuwait and Iraq there was a point in the war where Iraqi soldiers set fire to many oil fields in Kuwait - and the sky for hundreds of miles was literally filled with black smoke.  The result - many Bible studies that week dwelt on the book of Revelation and the End Times.

Revelation 6:12, "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood."

I was a relatively new believer, knowing virtually nothing about Revelation, the End Times, prophecy, etc.  So that fateful Friday evening when our Bible study leader, Tom Fletcher, began to talk about the Tribulation, the Rapture, the End Times, etc. - I had no idea what he meant.  But no way was I going to admit that I was totally lost - prophetically illiterate.  So, I just smiled and kept my mouth shut -  not wanting to show my apparent Biblical ignorance.

 Why is it important that we study prophecy?

1. Prophecy validates our Bible:  There are over 1800 prophecies in our Bible - and except for those relating to the End Times, to the Second Coming of Christ - all have been proven, by secular and religious writings, to have been fulfilled - 100%

2. No other sacred book of any of the world religions contain prophecy. 

3. Many people pay lots of money and spend years of their lives - seeking to know the future.   They go to psychics, fortune tellers, and others who deal in dark spirits.  They open themselves up to the power of Satanic spirits.  And since non-believers do not have the protection of an indwelling Holy Spirit, they put themselves at great spiritual risk.

Yet, God has told us our future.  He has put it in writing, the Bible.  He has told us what will happen in the End Times.  He has told us about our eternal home and our eternal life.  We can know, for the price of a Bible and sincere Bible study, what will happen to us throughout never-ending eternity.  What else is important?

Virtually every book of the Old Testament contains prophecy.  And while many prophecies are referenced in the New Testament - the New Testament concludes with the key prophecy book, Revelation.

Matthew 1:23, "'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'"

Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

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John 1:23 He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD," ' - as the prophet Isaiah said."

Isaiah 40:3, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'"

1.  Christ was to be of king David’s Family  (John 7:42  -  Isaiah 9:6-7)
2.  Christ was to be Born of a Virgin (Matthew 1:23  -  Isaiah 7:14)

3.  Christ was to be Born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:6  -  Micah 5:2)

4.  Christ would Sojourn in Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15  -  Hosea 11:1)

5.  Christ would make a Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12-15  -  Zechariah 9:9)

Let's look at an overview of the book of Revelation, encapsulated in Revelation 1:19:

Revelation 1:19, "Write the things which you have seen (Past: Jesus' earthly ministry and His glory)  -  and the things which are  (Present: church age)  -   and the things which will take place after this  (Future:  Rapture, Tribulation, Millennial Kingdom, Eternity)."

1. The things which you have seen:  John was to write the things he had just seen in his vision of the glorious, heavenly Jesus. (Rev 1)

2. The things which are:   John was to write about the things of his present day, the things reflected in the seven churches.  (Rev 2-3)

3. The things which will take place after this:  John was to write about the things that will happen in the last days.  (Rev 4-22)

Chapter 1 ~  The revelation given:  God - to Jesus Christ - to His Angel - to His bond-servant John - to the Seven Churches and to us.   His promised blessing for all who read or hear this book of prophecy.

Chapter 2 - 3  ~  Jesus' messages to the Seven Churches.

Chapter 4  ~  Rapture and Heavenly Worship; Bema Seat Judgment (part of the Rapture, during Tribulation).

Chapter 5  ~  Scrolls opened and the Lamb adored.

Chapter 6 - 18  ~  The Tribulation: Trials for Israel – purging of Israel and the nations.  The church is conspicuously absent in these chapters.

1.  The Seven Seals

2.  The Seven Trumpets

3.  The Seven Bowls of Wrath

Chapter 19  ~  Wedding Feast of the Lamb - King of king returns - Battle of Armageddon - Antichrist defeated.

Chapter 20  ~  Satan to the abyss - Millennial Reign of Christ - Satan released and final battle - Great White Throne Judgment.

Chapter 21  ~  New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem, Eternal Sonshine!

Chapter 22  ~  ETERNITY!    Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!   

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Now let's look at some key promises and teachings:

1. We often hear the word "Imminent."  What does it mean and, more important, WHICH event is Imminent?

2. Where do we find the doctrine of Imminency taught in the Bible?

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

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

Luke 12:40, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

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.' "

1 Thessalonians 5:2, "For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night."

3.  What is the Rapture?   Does it occur before the Tribulation (Pre-Trib)  -  in the middle of the Tribulation (Mid-Trib)  -  4/5 of the way through the Tribulation (Pre-Wrath)  -  or at the end of the Tribulation (Post-Trib)?

4.  Consider those Rapture alternatives:  Which Rapture scenario can truly be Imminent?  And why can't the others be Imminent?

5.  Is the "Rapture" really in the Bible?

About 400 AD the Bible was translated into Latin, called the Latin Vulgate.   In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 we are told, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. . .”   In Strong's Bible Concordance, the Greek word “harpazo” means “shall be caught up.”  In the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, the Greek word “harpazo” is translated into the Latin word “rapiemur” or “rapere” - from which we get our English word Rapture.  So, yes, the Bible does teach the Rapture, both in word and in concept.

6.  What Scripture verses/passages teach the Rapture?

John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

1 Corinthians 15:50-54, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' "

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.   Therefore comfort one another with these words."

7.  Based upon the following Scripture verses, I believe the Bible teaches that the Christian church will be taken out before the Tribulation begins, i.e., a “PreTribulation” Rapture:

Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep (when the Rapture occurs), we will live together with Him.”

        
8.  What is theTribulation and what is God's purpose in the Tribulation?

Often in Scripture, some event must happen before a prophecy can occur.   For example, in Daniel 9:24 the Messiah had to be cut off (crucified) before the Holy Spirit would come into all believers in the Upper Room, indwelling those 120 disciples, and beginning the church age. 

In Daniel 9:27 the Antichrist must sign a false peace covenant with the nation Israel before the seven year Tribulation can begin. 

That seven year period, the Tribulation, is God's planned time to bring the remnant of His chosen people, Israel, back into His family.  That is the main purpose of the Tribulation, to bring the remnant of Israel into the family of God:

Daniel 9:24. "Seventy weeks are determined For your people (Israel) and for your holy city (Jerusalem), To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy."

The Tribulation, Israel's reconciliation with God, must happen before Christ will come again, His Second Coming in Glory.   Only one event, or prophecy, remains that is a gating factor for those End Time prophecies - (Tribulation, Second Coming, Millennial Kingdom, Great White Throne Judgment, Final Battle, Eternity) -  to be fulfilled.  That event is the Imminent Rapture of the church.  The Tribulation clock will not start ticking until after the PreTribulational Rapture when Israel signs a seven year covenant with the Antichrist.

What is the gating factor for the Imminent Rapture of the church?  There are no signs, no prophecies, left which must occur before the Rapture.  Does that mean that the Rapture is going to occur in my lifetime?  I cannot say and neither can anyone else.  We just know that it can happen at any moment - for there is nothing left which can hold it back.

Shortly after the Rapture the seven year Tribulation begins (Daniel 9:27).  The Tribulation is God's Judgment of Israel (Ezekiel 20:32-38, 34:17-22), His Refiner's Fire which will bring the remnant of His chosen people, Israel, into the fold - along with many Gentiles who will also be saved during the Tribulation:

Malachi 3:2-5, "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap.  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years.  And I will come near you for judgment.  .  ."

Revelation 7:9-10, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number (Jews and Gentiles), of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' "

The church, the universal body of Christ, will be in heaven during the Tribulation (Revelation 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9).   We are told that, at this time prior to the Rapture, the Holy Spirit is restraining the Antichrist.  After the Rapture, the Holy Spirit will no longer be a restraining force holding back the appearance of the Antichrist.  But, He will still be working among the people left behind during the Tribulation, bringing many to faith.

9.  What is the Millennial Kingdom?

When "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" - He created a perfect Garden of Eden environment to be the home of all His creation - man, animal, fish, and fowl.   When Christ returns to earth in glory, He will rule over an earth which has been restored to Edenic glory.  He will rule the earth from the throne of David in Jerusalem.

Who will populate the Millennial Kingdom?  We who return with Christ at His Second Coming will be there in our glorified immortal bodies.  And, at the end of the terrible Tribulation when Christ returns, although billions will have died during the Tribulation -- there will be many survivors, believers and non-believers.  What is Christ to do with these mortal survivors of the Tribulation?  He will convene the Sheep and Goat Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) and mortal non-believers who have survived the Tribulation will go into eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46).  However, the believers who have survived the Tribulation will go into His Millennial Kingdom in their earthly mortal bodies (Matthew 25:34). 

10.  What are the Judgments of the End Time?  

Bema Seat Judgment / Believers' Judgment  -  Must happen concurrent with the Rapture (Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54)

Sheep & Goat Judgment  -  Follows the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ (Matthew 25:31-46)

Great White Throne Judgment  -  Follows the Millennial Kingdom  (Revelation 20:1-15)

11.  What are the Final Battles of history?

Battle of Ezekiel 38, 39  - Prior to the Tribulation ~ Gog, Prince of Magog (Russia), with Iran, Ethiopia, Libya (Put), Gomer (Germanic and Crimean nations), and Beth-Togarmah (Armenian area) come to make war against Israel.  God will supernaturally destroy their armies.

Battle of Armageddon  - Following the Tribulation  ~ Revelation 16:14-16 (Preparation), Revelation 19:17-19 (Antichrist & False Prophet defeated, into lake of fire)

Satan's Final War with Christ  -  Following the Millennial Kingdom  ~ Revelation 20:7-10 - Satan will gather an enormous army from the apathetic Millennial born and come against Christ and the holy city, Jerusalem.   God will supernaturally destroy his army and send Satan to the lake of fire.

12.   My Acts 17:11 Moment with Dr. Tim LaHaye and other End Times expositors.

Dr. Tim LaHaye, in his book "Revelation Unveiled" page 325-326, tells us there are three phases to the First Resurrection (Revelation 20:5b):

1. The Church at the Rapture - the dead in Christ resurrected, those alive "caught up" or raptured.

2.  Seven years later the Old Testament Saints - after the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, but before the Second Coming.

3.  The Tribulation Saints will be resurrected at or following His Second Coming.

In Revelation 5b and 6, John merges them all together when he says, "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection."

Let's just take a common sense look at that position.  We know from 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 that the only way to enter heaven is in spirit, such as happens for our church age believers, or in glorified bodies, such as we will be at the Rapture. We will have glorified bodies like Christ when we meet Him.

1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

We are told that upon His death Christ went into Hades/Paradise (Bosom of Abraham) where all Old Testament saints waited to enter heaven through Jesus Christ.  In Ephesians 4:8 we are told that He led the captives (those saints waiting in Paradise) into heaven.

Since when we meet Him in the air at the Rapture and receive our glorified bodies to be like Him - why would He not have given those OT saints their glorified bodies when they met Him in Paradise and He led them into heaven?  So I am convinced that the OT saints are in heaven in their glorified bodies and we will join them at the Rapture.

Revelation 7:9-10 tells us that a large multitude, too large to count, of martyred Tribulation saints are in heaven, standing before the throne of God. Are they still in spirit only - while the church and the OT saints are already in their glorified bodies?  Since they and the OT saints are surely all invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb - I would suggest that the Bride and the guests, OT saints and Tribulation saints are all in our glorified bodies.

Those Tribulation believers who were not martyred, but survived the seven year Tribulation - will stand before Christ at the Sheep & Goat Judgment - and then enter His Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies.

Revelation 7:9-10, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number (Jews and Gentiles), of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' "

13.  Let's talk about the Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3:

A discussion of the Seven Churches of Asia is very important - for in those seven ancient churches we see so much of what is good and what is bad in our churches today.  It is important for us to have a good understanding of these seven churches - for they give us a clear picture of what Jesus sees in our churches today.  And Revelation chapters 2-3 gives us a vision of how He will judge the false, apostate, dead, and compromising churches of our day.

 

Church Ordinances vs Church Sacraments - Which Is Biblical?

THERE IS OFTEN CONFUSION between Ordinances and Sacraments in the church today.  What is the difference?   Are they binding upon Christian believers?  Are they means of grace and salvation?  Are they inclusive (all believers) or exclusive (only your local church family)?  For the sake of new believers, and to make sure that we more mature believers are on the same page - and that page is the Bible - it is good to occasionally step back and take another look.

Sacraments: in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and a few other Protestant liturgical denominations are seen as a means of attaining and keeping God's grace and salvation.  The seven sacraments are baptism, confirmation, holy communion, penance (confession), marriage, holy orders (ordination), and anointing of the sick. 

According to the Roman Catholic Church:  “There are seven sacraments. They were instituted by Christ and given to the Church to administer. They are necessary for salvation. The sacraments are the vehicles of grace which they convey.”   In the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, "The sacraments are efficacious (effective) signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us" (#1131).

Ordinances: in most Protestant churches are symbolic expressions of our faith, not a means of attaining, keeping, or losing God's grace.   In the Bible, as interpreted by the majority of Protestant churches, Jesus Christ left only two ordinances for all believers:   Baptism, where we follow Him in symbolic death and resurrection as we publicly declare our eternal commitment to Him as members of His family ~ AND ~ Communion, which we do to symbolically remember His sacrifice on the cross when He suffered and died to offer eternal life and salvation to all who will follow Him.

Baptism and communion are separate from grace and are not a means to it.  The rituals of the church do not confer grace, and they cannot merit salvation.  It would be more proper to say the ordinances are the "signs of grace" ~ not the means of grace.

Water baptism is not a means of grace - it is the "outward expression of an inner change."  It is an act of obedience (accomplished) after salvation has occurred.  The examples of water baptism in Scripture all show that baptism happened after the person was born again (e.g., Acts 8:26-39).  Being immersed in water cannot change a person’s heart.  That is the Holy Spirit’s work.  “The Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).  Crucial to our salvation is faith in the heart, not water on the skin.

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is not a means of grace.  It is a memorial of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice and a picture of our fellowship with Him.  At the Last Supper, when our Lord shared the Passover with the disciples, He said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).  Jesus was telling them (and us) not to forget His sacrifice on the cross.  It was Christ’s death that provided the remission of mankind’s sin.  ("What is the difference between ordinances and sacraments?" - www.gotquestions.org/ordinances-sacraments.html)   

[underline, italic, and parenthetical emphasis is mine]

And,

What is an ordinance?   It is not a sacrament (a church ritual that is thought to have saving values).  The Bible clearly states that through Christ alone we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9, Acts 4:12, Titus 3:5).  It is a command to be obeyed (cf. "City Ordinance").  It works no grace or special spiritual operation. 

The two church ordinances are visible enactments of the Gospel message that Christ lived, died, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will some day return.  Put simply, the church ordinances are visual aids to help us better understand and appreciate what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in His redemptive work.

How is an Ordinance determined?  Three distinguishing marks characterize the New Testament ordinances:

• They were instituted by Christ.
• They were taught by the apostles.
• They were practiced by the early church.

www.new-testament-christian.com/ordinancebaptismandcommunion.html

Where in the Bible did Jesus Christ institute the two ordinances? 

Baptism, Matthew 28:18-20 tells us, "Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, Luke 22:19 tells us, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”  

How often should a church fellowship celebrate Communion, and in what manner?

It would seem that, since we take the Lord’s Supper to remember Christ’s death, we should take it often.  Some churches have a monthly Lord’s Supper service; others do it bi-monthly; others weekly.  Since the Bible does not give us specific instruction as to frequency, there is some latitude in how often a church should observe the Lord’s Supper. 

It should be often enough to renew focus on Christ - without being so often that it become routine.  In any case, it’s not the frequency that matters but the heart attitude of those who participate.  We should partake with reverence, love, and a deep sense of gratitude for the Lord Jesus, who was willing to die on the cross to take upon Himself our sins.  ("How often should the Lord's Supper / Communion be observed?" - www.gotquestions.org/Lords-Supper-observed.html)

And from Dr. Wayne Grudem's "Bible Doctrine, Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith":

How often should the Lord's Supper be celebrated?  Scripture does not tell us.  Jesus simply said, "As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup. . ." (1 Corinthians 11:26).  Paul's directive here regarding worship services would also be appropriate to consider: "Let all things be done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26). 

In actuality, it has been the practice of most of the church throughout its history to celebrate the Lord's Supper every week when believers gather.  However, in many Protestant groups since the Reformation, there has been a less frequent celebration of the Lord's Supper, sometimes once a month or twice a month, or, in many Reformed churches, only four times a year. 

If the Lord's Supper is planned and explained and carried out in such a way that it is a time of self-examination, confession, and thanksgiving and praise, then it does not seem that celebrating it once a week would be too often, however, and it certainly could be observed that frequently "for edification."    ("The Lord's Supper," from "Bible Doctrine, Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith " - Chapter Twenty-Eight, Pages 387-394 - by Dr. Wayne Grudem)

I have been in Filipino-American Baptist churches for the past thirty plus years, and all have celebrated the Lord's Supper on a monthly basis.  On the first Sunday of each month, at the end of our worship service and before leaving the fellowship, we find that partaking of the Lord's Supper gives us spiritual strength to enable us to stand firm in our Christian faith as we go back into the secular world around us.    We pass the elements to all believers, pastor reminds us Scripturally what we are doing and why we are celebrating this ordinance.  Then we, together, take the elements in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19).

If the Lord's Supper is celebrated only every three months, or once a year - are we saying that it is not really that important?  Once a month, to me, keeps His sacrifice fresh in my heart - whereas doing it weekly would tend to make it more of a ritual, done by rote.  If the Lord's Supper become only a ritual - are we missing out on that spiritual strength and on that great spiritual blessing?  Are we relegating the ordinance of the Lord's Supper to a lesser position of importance in our worship?

Once, for a special occasion, Dory and I attended a large non-denominational church in our area.  When time for Communion, the Lord's Supper, came - the ushers passed the elements to us.  And we were told beforehand by the pastor to just go ahead and do our own private celebration of the Lord's Supper when we received the elements.  There was no pastoral devotion, no sharing about the meaning of this ordinance - just, when you receive your elements go ahead and do it yourself.  Not celebrating the Lord's Supper in fellowship with all other believers present, to me, relegated it to the level of, "Have a cup of coffee."

At the same time that this individual Lord's Supper event was happening, on a large display screen in the sanctuary we were viewing a baptism which was occurring in some other part of the building.  It was as though they were telling us, "These are the two ordinances.  But for expediency sake, to save time, we will do both simultaneously.  Just watch the baptism on the screen as your take Communion by yourself." 

Somehow that Sunday I did not feel any spiritual connection with either event.   

There are other questions regarding the Lord's Supper besides timing and method.   Who should participate in the Lord's Supper?  Can visitors to our church participate with us?  Can only Baptists share the Lord's Supper in our Baptist church?  

So, let's clear the air. On the Day of Pentecost 33 AD, Jesus Christ instituted His church, His body of believers - which has grown as His body of believers worldwide.  He did not institute the Baptist church, nor the Roman Catholic church, nor the Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Nazarene, or any other denominational church - only His church - His body of believers worldwide.  There were no Baptists, Roman Catholics, etc., on the day of Pentecost 33 AD - only born-again, Spirit indwelled and sealed believers.

So, who should take Communion, the Lord's Supper, with us?  Answer:  Every born-again believer who has joined us for worship, regardless of which denominational hat he/she wears.  We are sharing His Supper with His family of believers - not just our local church family, but all present who believe and have received Him as Lord and Savior.

Is Baptism a prerequisite for receiving Communion?  If you answer yes, then you are saying that baptism is a requirement for salvation - which goes against the teaching of Ephesians 2:8-9, that we are "saved by grace through faith" alone.   Such a prerequisite for Communion would be a validation of the false teaching of Baptismal Regeneration, i.e., that we are saved through baptism. 

And, if Baptismal Regeneration is true - then the thief on the cross was not saved.  Yet, Jesus Christ told him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise"  (Luke 23:43).  Was Jesus Christ wrong - or are we, and the thief on the cross, truly "saved by grace through faith" alone?

I pray that my thoughts on Ordinances vs Sacraments has been helpful to you.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill