Blog Archives

The 7 churches of The Revelation, 3 of 4

8/27/2022

Hi all,

So far we've seen the outward religion of Ephesus who needed to repent and regain their first love, the suffering of Smyrna who's noted leader Polycarp has provided an example for us all, and the church at Pergamos thriving in the midst of Emperor worship, though with some who had compromised with the world.

Thyatira: Compromising with the world for the sake of money
In The Revelation 2:18-29 we again have the Lord's rebuke for compromising with the world. Thyatira's compromise was to a greater degree than Pergamos because at least there, the threat was immediate death. But in Thyatira persecution was not as intense, and some believers compromised just to make money.

Just 38 miles (61km) from Pergamos we find the city on the river Hermus, along a main trading route. It was home to the cult of Apollo and the center for the dying of indigo fabric. It was also the leading city for guilds, the forerunners of modern labor unions.

The guilds were incorporated and could own property in the city, and two of the larger guilds were coppersmiths and dyers. Lydia in Philippi was from Thyatira we are told, and was a seller of purple (Acts 16:14-15). I have speculated that perhaps she left Thyatira for Philippi due to the need to compromise with the guilds in order to do business, and found she could import the purple fabric to Philippi. We don't know, one day we can ask her.

In nearly any business contract in the city, a person had to involve a guild. Upon striking a deal, the two individuals would go to the temple for the god or goddess associated with that guild, and make sacrifice to the idol and then have sex (man or woman) with a temple prostitute to 'seal the deal' and pray it would be a 'fertile' contract. The temple prostitutes danced around a pole made into a phallic symbol, the ancient forerunner to pole dancing women in strip clubs - same pole in spirit.

There was a woman in the church the Lord nicknamed 'Jezebel' for she preached compromise like the real Jezebel (Ahab's wife) did. It would be like in modern times signing a contract and then going to a strip club to become involved with one of the dancers there - and say it's okay to do that even though you are a Christian, God wants you to make money and be blessed so He overlooks it. Wrong, the Lord said to them.

In 2:20 the Lord says He gave her 'space to repent' but she did not. She knows what she is doing, she knows what she is preaching and the false prophecies are wrong - but she continues anyway. The Lord in so many words says He is removing His hand of grace if she doesn't repent with this last opportunity, and they will experience the consequences of their actions: Sickness and pain (and STD's??)

What I find interesting is that His promise to those who have not compromised and those who repent of their compromising, will be allowed to rule nations. There is a direct connection in that now in this life they have the backbone to stand against sin, against compromise, so are found worthy to rule over others in the future - they have lived it, they know how to walk with God against the opinions and temptations of others. He promises to give them the 'morning star', which is how the Lord describes Himself in The Revelation 22:16, so He promises to give them Himself as they overcome opportunities to compromise which is all around them.

Sardis: The dead church
The city is 32 miles from Pergamos (51km) on the river Pactolus, which in ancient times had golden sand - a gold rush made the city wealthy, and the capital of ancient Lydia in the 500's BC. The world's very first gold and silver coins were made there, so it was an impressive city.

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

The city had an upper and lower part, and when an enemy came they would climb up the cliffs to the top by a secret path, and no one could reach them. They were only conquered 2x, when enemy guards below watched someone from the upper city descend the path, inadvertently giving their secret away. The entire population was asleep both times, and it is to their history the Lord refers.

Historical note: They were so confident they could not be defeated that neither time had they even posted guards. Sardis was like that spiritually. Not 'on guard' or valuing their salvation and walk with the Lord. They ignored what they had, thinking they were set for eternity.

He says in name they are Christian, but in fact they are not. Spiritually there are a few truly born again, and He encourages them to strengthen what they have. He threatens the same fate their city suffered before - coming as a thief in the night, not knowing when He will come.

Paul used the same terminology earlier, which they would have known, when he wrote to the Thessalonians. In I Thessalonians 5:2 Paul says the rapture will appear to unbelievers as the Lord coming like a thief in the night to take that which doesn't belong to Him. Here the Lord uses that metaphor to point out they are unbelievers, or on the edge of walking away from Him. In verse 5 He says to those who overcome - repent and start walking with Him - He will not blot their names out of the Book of the Living.

For those who think once saved always saved, this and other verses show that folly. That said, it was a decision that got you saved, and it takes another decision to get you 'unsaved'.

We've seen Ephesus who once had a zeal that caused a riot, faithful Smyrna with its leader Polycarp, Pergamos struggling with compromise and the rise in man-made hierarchy of the Nicolaitanes, compromising Thyatira who had a woman giving false teaching and false prophecies saying the Lord was fine with going to the pagan temples and prostitutes because the Lord wants to bless them financially, and Sardis, mostly dead, at least asleep in the light, and a cautionary tale for our day.

There is something for everyone in the 5 we've covered so far. What I find interesting is that each city's body of Christ was unique with its own issues, good things, and troubles. We find the same in our network of house churches - each church is unique, each within a culture of a city or nation that provides challenges for the Christian.

With each church the Lord urges humility, repentance, a seriousness about one's faith and walk with Him. And what I find especially true to this day, He has little patience for those who call themselves Christian while teaching and prophesying compromise with the world. Next week, the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, and Laodecia, the one who thought because they were so blessed financially it was God's blessing and they had need of nothing.

As I said, something for everyone...until next week! Blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

0 Comments

The 7 churches of The Revelation, 2 of 4

8/20/2022

0 Comments

Hi all,
Last week we covered Ephesus, who had experienced a great zeal documented in Acts 19. But the Lord's message to them less than 50 years later, found a church full of religious works but little zeal. But they did hate the teachings of the Nicolaitanes, which the Lord also hates - He told them to stop just going through the motions, remember their past zeal and repent, and gain that zeal again. Remember, they met in homes, so even then, in their small groups, some were loosing their zeal for the Lord.

The Lord's second message was to Smyrna. In The Revelation 2:8-11 it's just 4 verses long - that's it. Yet one of the most important men and quotes in all Christianity came out of Smyrna.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyra write; These things says the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue (gathering) of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which you will suffer: behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have tribulation ten days: be faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life. 11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He that overcomes will not be hurt of the second death.”

Smyrna is modern Izmir, about 35 miles north of Ephesus. Smyrna was the birthplace of Homer, had a 20,000 seat amphitheater, and was a port city with about 100,000 people at the time The Revelation was written. It had a large Jewish population in the midst of Roman gods and goddess, and as they did with Paul's ministry, the zealous Jews stirred persecution against Christians. (synagogue of Satan)

The 10 days of persecution has been understood several ways, including the 10 year reign of terror under Diocletian. But some have recognized the number 10 is a number of completion, like we use it today - a '10' is the best something can be. It is no coincidence the word Smyrna is derived from myrrh, which was used in embalming at that time - it is bitter to the taste but sweet smelling - so this encouragement from the Lord includes a statement their trouble won't last past 10 years - there will be a limit to their troubles. It is merely a season of persecution, then rest will come. But He does mention being faith unto death, playing on the myrrh root word of Smyrna.

Smyrna is most known for Polycarp, one of the most important leaders who lived during and after the apostle John. Polycarp lived from 69-155AD, meaning he was born after Paul and Peter had died, but was an apostle of John, and was martyred roughly 50 years after his mentor's death.

At this time, very often the local governments were more bloodthirsty than was Rome, so Christians were often given an opportunity to renounce their faith. Polycarp's statement when given the opportunity remains a pillar for Christians:

"Eighty and six years I have served Him. How can I blaspheme my Lord and King?"

With that, he was tied to a stake and they lit the fires - but he wouldn't burn - the glory of the Lord was seen on his face. Finally, a soldier took a long spear and stabbed him through the flames, ending his life. The Lord's message to the church was do not fear, even unto death, and He who was dead but is alive forever more, will give you the crown of Life. Amen! Remember too one of the gifts the wise men brought baby Jesus was myrrh, a reference to His own future death. (Matthew 2:11)

Pergamos; The Revelation 2:12-17
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."'

Pergamos was the home of Emperor worship, (Satan's throne) and its governor had authority to execute judgement on the enemies of Rome - including Christians. Roman citizens were executed with a 2 edge sword: This is why the Lord said He is the one with the two-edge sword - the true Judge and executor of justice.

The Lord had issues with the believers in the city, including holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitanes, 'victory over the people' which created a hierarchy of leaders, taking participation out of the hands of the people.

There were some who put stumbling blocks before the people, specifically making sacrifice to gods and goddesses and the sexual visits to the temple prostitutes that went with it. We will look at Thyatira next week who had the same teaching - they taught a person could be a Christian while still participating in offerings to idols and sexual sin. That is what we see in our day - people teaching compromise with the world is 'okay' for the Lord loves us and is fine with it, He knows how we are - and other such things soundly rejected by the Lord.

In His last line the Lord promised to give a white stone to those who overcome with a new name written on it which no one will know but the one who receives it. This is a cultural item like the 2 edged sword reference at the start of His message.

Today we have business cards and in older times a person might receive a note or post card addressed to them. In that day when someone demonstrated hospitality by having them share a meal and spend the night in their home, the guest would give their host a white stone. The stone had their address and sometimes a short invitation or message with the intent that when their host is in the guest's city, they would stay with them.

Jesus is saying to those who overcome, they have a home with Him in His home, and the message is personalized just for them - a note of endearment, a special name or godly characteristic or message the Lord has written on it just for them. It is full circle with what Jesus said in John 14:1-2 - In my Father's house are many rooms, and I'm going to prepare a place for you..." And...for us...Amen, what a blessing.

How wonderful to know we have that invitation to visit the Lord in His home...a standing invitation, and more than that, a reservation we might say.

To Thyatira and Sardis next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

0 Comments

The 7 churches of The Revelation, 1 of 4

8/13/2022

0 Comments

Hi all,
The Lord's messages to the 7 churches in The Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, have been understood in different ways for centuries. Some of what the Lord says seems very harsh, including a threat to one church to blot their names from the Book of Life.

They are filled with cultural references that we, over 1900 years later, miss. Some understand the 7 as church ages, with our time being the last, the time of Laodecia, the rich church that thought it needed nothing. This series is not about debating views, but will focus on the cultural elements which when understood, make for an 'ah ha' moment and 'now that makes sense'.

The situation
In The Revelation 1:10 the apostle John, who has been exiled to the island of Patmos, off the coast of modern Turkey, has a visitation from the Lord. More than that, he says "I was in the Spirit" and saw the Lord in glory. He uses the same term later, in 4:2 when he was 'in the Spirit and heard a voice saying, Come up here' and was taken to heaven.

There in chapter 4, he saw the Father on His throne, with the rainbow over it, the clear flooring before it, and the cherubs crying out 'Holy, Holy, Holy' around Him. In chapter 5 he sees the Lamb that had been slain but is now alive, 'take the book out of the right hand of Him who sits on the throne' - so we see the Father in chapter 4, and the Lord in chapter 5, given the scrolls and opening them one by one, which is the rest of The Revelation of Jesus 'which the Father gave to Him'. (1:1)

Being 'in the Spirit' can mean a couple things, including being taken away out of one's body in the Spirit realm to heaven, or seeing the Lord in glory - a glory that might kill the frail earth body if a person were to see the Lord in glory. Moses we are told spoke to God face to face as a man speaks to a friend, and clearly he was 'in the Spirit' when that happened. Later, in the flesh, he had to be physically moved to a cleft in a rock to shield himself from the glory of the Lord. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 12:2 that when he went to heaven he didn't know if he was in his body or out of his body. Such is the way of being 'in the Spirit'.

When you are 'in the Spirit' our earth body is not a factor and you can experience things you wouldn't be able to if you remained in your body. One day we will receive glorified bodies, which Paul explained in I Corinthians 15, which are made of heavenly material in a higher state of existence, so can handle the unshielded glory of God. As the apostle John wrote in I John 3:2: "...we will see Him as He is" on that day.

John sees the Lord in glory
John says in 1:11 he was 'in the Spirit' and heard a voice behind him - the Lord in glory - saying, "What you see, write it down and send to the 7 churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicia."

In v16-18 the Lord says "I am the one who was dead but now is alive forevermore" and that He held 7 stars in His right hand. The significance of this is that the Emperor Domitian had issued a coin that had an image of his dead son. He claimed to talk to his dead son in seance's and issued a coin showing his dead son holding 7 stars, which stood for the 7 main regions Rome had conquered. So when John sees Jesus and He says "I was the One who was dead but am now alive forevermore", and He has 7 stars in His right hand, it is an 'in your face' rebuke to the Emperor and assurance to the believers the True and Living King is theirs!

Chapter 2:1-7 is the letter to Ephesus
Acts 19 records the amazing things that happened in Ephesus. It was the principle city of a Roman state in modern Turkey known as 'Asia'. It was a small state on the western-central coast, and the 7 principle cities are the ones the letters are directed to.

When he first went to Ephesus Paul found about 12 men who he assumed were believers, but they told him they had only heard of John the Baptist. Paul had asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed - showing us that even then there was often a time gap between being born again and receiving the Holy Spirit. I find it amazing that upon first meeting these men, that's what Paul is most concerned with - have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? It was important to him, maybe a good point for us as well.

Paul ended up teaching in a school for 2 years, and the Word spread throughout the state of Asia. That region had a 'siesta' from about 11am until 4pm (16:00), so most likely that is when Paul taught. People were so zealous for the Lord they burned their books on the occult, and caused a huge disruption in the economy.

The estimate is that Ephesus had about 250,000 people, and it is beautiful even in ruins. The temple to Diana was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Covered and tiled sidewalks with inlaid mosaics, a 24,000 seat amphitheater which has been used even in modern times (Elton John and Sting played there, and it's still in use today). When they burned their occult books a riot ensued with many gathered in the amphitheater demanding answers. Paul wanted to address them but had to be taken out of town for his own safety.

With 250,000 people in the city, I've seen estimates that for the economy to have been affected to the point a riot broke out, about 10% or 25,000 people were probably believers. That's huge! Paul's later letters to Timothy were about organizing resources among the (house) churches of the day, and how to raise up leaders, dealing with those in need and much more. If we allow 50 people per house church, that's 500 house churches they had to organize, with some becoming full time in ministry serving and coordinating resources for all the needs.

Timothy died in Ephesus in the year 97, shortly after John was exiled to Patmos. He preached to a crowd who then turned on him and beat him severely, and he died 2 days later from his injuries.

It is shortly after his death that John receives a word from the Lord for Ephesus: "You've lost your first love. Repent." Get it back. You're doing good things, but in your heart, repent and put me back on the throne of your heart, in so many words. He said to remember the former days, and that is good instruction for us. Religion makes us 'human doings' instead of 'human beings'. And that is what Ephesus was guilty of - in their hearts they had lost their first love even while doing good things for others. On the outside all looked good, but the Lord sees the heart.

He also commended them for hating the teaching of the Nicolaitanes, which He also hates. That word has been debated for centuries, for it means 'victory of/over the people'. The company Nike and the name Nicolas have the same root - thus 'victory' (nike) over the or of the people' (laity) - nicolaitane.

This would suggest it was about a growing tendency to form a hierarchy, taking authority and participation away from the people. It would complicate their simple home gatherings, transforming them closer to the auditorium structure of today - into a 1 person speaks at each meeting with a few others with authority to do so as well. And some without that authority to participate. It could be argued that tendency towards hierarchy came into fullness when Christianity was legalized about 200 years later. Constantine took over pagan temples and turned them into buildings for the people of God, called people out of the home meetings - that new structure required such a hierarchy like the pagans for such a structure.

Jesus threatened to take away their candlestick unless they repented. He would shut the church down if they continued in their error - that was the threat. Ephesus was indeed destroyed in 262 by the Goths, and later abandoned when its harbor silted up. It is in ruins today.

The take aways are that they had lost the zeal in their hearts for the Lord while still doing 'Christian' things. They (perhaps) were becoming lazy, allowing selected individuals tell them what God was saying rather than the participation oriented house church format of sharing what He was doing in their hearts. Jesus concludes His instructions in 2:7: "Let him who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches..."

The same is true in our day - some would have no doubt read the letter John sent to them, and repented. Others 'didn't have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying', and went about their business as usual. For us, don't stir up guilt or condemnation or self-doubt for that's not in you by the Spirit. The Lord convicts, not condemns. Conviction is all about God and brings us to Him. Condemnation is all about you and drives you away from God.

More cities, more lessons to glean next week....until then, blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

0 Comments

Why the rapture comes first, 4 of 4

8/6/2022

0 Comments

Hi all,
Today we'll look at I&II Thessalonians to bring all we've covered full circle. But first the summary:

Judaism teaches when the Last Trumpet is blown during the new moon phase at the start of their year, dead believers in Messiah rise to meet Him. Paul added his own revelation that we who are alive at that time will join them. While they are judged and have a celebratory 7 year feast in heaven, the earth enters into the Days of Wrath*, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, and Birth Pangs of Messiah. Daniel prophesied this as a 7 year period of time when a man of sin will make a 7 year treaty with Israel, then betray them at the half way mark, 3.5 years into the treaty.

*Note these mentions of the days of wrath: Revelation 6:16, 11:18, 14:10, 19, 15:1, 7, 16:1. Isaiah 13:13, Jeremiah 10:10, 21:5, 32:37, Nahum 1:2. See also Joel chapters 1-3 for 'the day of the Lord'.

When you read in The Revelation, about 'the wrath of Him who sits on the throne' and 'the day of His wrath has come' in Revelation 6:16-17, know that is a very Jewish thing. It isn't a casual use of the word 'wrath'. Paul and the writers purposely use that word to communicate a specific time. It is distinct and unique to the time of Jacob's Trouble, also known as the birth pangs of Messiah.

I & II Thessalonians.
In I Thessalonians 1:10 Paul sets the theme of his letter: "And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who has delivered us from the wrath to come." (Notice the sentence structure, that he specifically mentions Jesus having been raised from the dead, alluding to the dead in Christ rising and we who are alive to be changed at that time).

We can clearly see the use of '(delivered us from the) wrath to come' and that we have been delivered from that time, is a very specific time frame. But if a person isn't knowledgeable of the Jewish use of the word or phrase, they will miss it.

Having assured them we will be delivered from the wrath to come, he explains those days in 4:13-16:

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have died, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have died in Jesus, will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord shall not come before those who have died. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"

That is of course exactly what he said in I Corinthians 15 - all things in order, the dead in Christ 1st, then those alive, in his explanation of how we will be delivered from the wrath to come.

He repeats his statement of 1:10 in 5:9-10 to drive the point home: "For God (Father) has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. So whether we have died or are alive, we will live together with Him."

This agrees with his teaching of I Corinthians 15, his use of the temple prayer at the Feast of Trumpets in Ephesians 5:14-16, and assertion the New Moon is a shadow of something to come (the blowing of the trumpet so the dead and alive are changed and with the Lord). The Father has delivered from the Days of Wrath.

The Thessalonians wanted more detail about the events around the Lord coming for them...
So Paul wrote a second letter to the Thessalonians with more detail about 'the rapture'. In chapter 1 of his 2nd letter he spoke once again about how we will be with Him as He pours His wrath out on unbelievers at that time. Then chapter 2 opens:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a departure (falling away) first, and then the man of sin will be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Don't you remember that when I was with you, I told you these things?

And now you know what withholds him that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: Only he who now restrains will continue to restrain him, until he is taken out of the way.

And then the Wicked one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. (2nd coming)"

Departure debate
The focus of many is on the word 'apostia', 'departure', or 'falling away'. Also used to describe a revolt, a leaving of one for the other, a falling away. Therefore when Paul says a 'falling away' must happen before the man of sin is revealed, many assume it means a 'falling away from the faith'.

There is no 'of the faith' in any Greek manuscript. Paul didn't say a falling away from the faith, just that a falling away, a departure must happen first. But to those who think it is a falling away of the faith, they believe Paul to say the man of sin cannot be revealed until there is a massive departure from the faith.

But that makes no sense grammatically. Read this as 'falling away from the faith' to see the contradiction: "That day will not come until the massive falling away from the faith happens, then the man of sin will be revealed...and now you know what is preventing him from being revealed, and so he who restrains him from being revealed will continue to do so, until he is taken out of the way."

How does that make sense? A massive departure from the faith must happen and THEN the man of sin is revealed, and somehow anti-Christ is restrained until there is a massive falling away from the faith? Then who is 'he' that is restraining him who must be removed or 'taken out of the way' so anti-Christ can be revealed? It makes no sense.

What does make sense is following Paul's teaching in the rest of the NT
The Amplified Bible in its notes, and Kenneth Wuest's NT make notes that reveal the word 'apostia' at their root, mean departure, falling away from view, or departure on a journey. In Bible school in 1979 I learned the original use of the word described the act of a ship leaving port and 'falling away' out of site over the horizon as it departed. THAT understanding of the word is consistent with the rest of the NT and grammatically here:

"That day will not come until the rapture (Jewish catching away of believers in Messiah) comes first, and then the man of sin will be revealed...and now you know what is restraining him that he may be revealed at the right time...and he who restrains him will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way, then he man of sin will be revealed." (II Thess. 2:3-7)

The 'he' who is restraining him is the body of Christ, Christ in the earth, acting as a salt or preservative that must be removed for the man of sin to be revealed. Some would suggest it is the Holy Spirit who is removed so the man of sin may be revealed. I would say it this way, it is the Holy Spirit in us and His time of ministry to us, Jews and Gentiles alike who have been part of the last 2,000 years of the age of the Gentiles, must be removed.

The Holy Spirit will remain on the earth for people are born again in the Tribulation.
But His ministry as we know it in the body of Christ, will be removed. God will deal with Israel in the last 7 years which is Daniel's 70th week, which is why we see the 2 witnesses of Moses and Elijah - God will be on 'Jewish time' so to speak.

So the body of Christ and the Holy Spirit's ministry which is uniquely to us in this 'church age' must be removed from the earth so it may 'go bad' we might say. I know we want to always refer to us as the bride, but the NT references to the body of Christ being the bride of Christ are very few (4 of them, all in The Revelation), while the references to us being the body of Christ and one body with Christ are by far the more numerous, around 130 times saying we are in Him and He in us in context about being His body in the earth while He as the head guides from heaven.

Now we have consistency in all Paul wrote on the subject. In I Corinthians 15:35-56 he mentions the Last Trumpet which identifies the Jewish belief that at the Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah, when it starts at the New Moon, the dead in Messiah will be resurrected with glorified (heavenly material) bodies. Paul adds his own revelation that those alive at that time will also 'be changed in the blink of an eye'.

He repeats this assertion in Colossians 2:16-17 stating among other things, the New Moon is a 'shadow of things to come'. He again confirms this to the Ephesians in 5:14-16 translating the temple prayer from Hebrew to Greek, saying: "Rise you who sleep, rise you who slumber, and Messiah will give you light. See then that you live soberly, not as fools (fools say 'there is no God') but as wise, for the days are evil."

He tells the Thessalonians the same things - the Father has not destined us to wrath, but to obtain our salvation. The Lord will descend with a shout and the sound of the trumpet, and to the unbeliever He will be like a thief in the night - a thief breaks in to take something that doesn't belong to him - but we belong to Christ so Him taking us is legal and right. But to the unbeliever, the rapture will be like Jesus breaking into homes and taking that which doesn't belong to Him - but we do.

Then finally, providing the last bit of detail for the Thessalonians, he reveals the man of sin cannot be revealed until the departure comes first, which is restraining the man of sin from being revealed. But once removed, the body of Christ's departure will allow the man of sin to be revealed.

And that is why consistently Paul writes to 'therefore comfort one another with these words' (I Thess. 3:2, 4:18, 5:11, II Thess. 2:17). Amen. Let yourself be comforted, let it resonate in your spirit....and rest....new series next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

0 Comments