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EXPOSITION OF I CORINTHIANS 13 – PART 9

March 12, 2010

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I Corinthians 13:8-10 –Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

I covered verses 8 through 10 in Part

8. I will now repeat the last paragraph of Part 8, which is as follows: The first “that” in I Corinthians 13:10 refers to the New Testament as we know it today, while the second “that” refers to spiritual gifts, which have either faded away or been put

away since they are no longer needed to edify the local church.

The contextual subject I Corinthians 13 is love, and “that” is the book of God’s love, the fully completed and all sufficient New Testament. The word used for “perfect” is “teleion,” which means “complete or perfect,” and the New Testament is both.

With that in mind, let us take a look at verse 11 in its proper context.

I Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Paul uses the actions of a child as it grows to maturity to compare with the things it considered important when it was very young.

The early New Testament churches were like small children with growing pains while they grew in faith, hope, and love, with the ultimate goal in each

church being the love of one another as the love of God. The spiritual gifts, as great as they were, and as much as they accomplished, were not to be compared with the major instrument of love, the inspired epistles being written and spoken to them by the Apostles.

As these epistles were copied and recopied over and over again, they eventually were collected and, over a period of time after the Council of Carthage in about 400 A.D., gradually became available to the churches in what we would call a loose bound document.

I suspect the spiritual gifts of knowledge and prophecy may have continued in some churches that did not have such a document until as late as 500 A.D., but by the dark ages even these two gifts had apparently disappeared from use in the churches. They revived again in the 18th Century in the very earliest stages of the “shakers”-Irvingites – Pentecostal – charismatic era. There is no gray area in this issue, either they are still in the local church or they are not – I am not angry at those who believe they are, but I definitely believe they gradually phased out when the New Testament was available to the churches in its most elemental form, and are no longer needed in the church to build it up in faith, hope

and love. They were inspired gifts from the Spirit, but through Paul the Spirit compares them to the things of the joy we experienced as children when we found some new thing, but tells the reader the day was coming when the gifts would be “put away” or “fade away” like our fascination did with the things of our youth.

I Corinthians 13:11,12 – When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also

I am known.

The “glass” to which Paul refers was brass polished to a high sheen, such that a human face could be seen in it, but the image, compared to our mirrors today, would seem very blurred because it did not reflect a perfect image of the face, in that it

was lacking in detail. The Spirit saved us to transform us into a new image, into the image of his Son who indwells us, and the ultimate transformation of a mature child of God is manifested by a mature love for the brethren.

John 13:34,35 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The many spiritual gifts in the early churches were a wonderful blessing from God, and the inspired epistles were even more magnificent, but they were not the full revelation of God, and when one looked into these two great blessings, not all the details necessary to focus the love of God into a clear picture were available. It was only when the perfect book, the perfect law of liberty, was available, that one could clearly see the things which could produce the changes necessary to let the love of God shine out of him.

James 1:23-25 – For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. [25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The greatest blessing a saved man can receive from God is the transformation of his soul into a mature, loving soul, who manifests God’s love.

Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

ONE OR TWO Wars BEFORE Armageddon?

The Teaching changed after the Evangelical

Movement swept across England and America

And many changes began in prophecy Teaching

In 1740, accelerating after the Wars of Napoleon!

March 11, 2010

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As a young man, living in the pre-Hal Linsey books age, I was taught that only one war occurred during the “latter days” before Armageddon. It was a war that began in the Middle East when the antichrist attacked the nation of Israel, and ended some 3 and ½ years later with the final battle of this age – Armageddon. But I now find myself surrounded by a large array of preachers and teachers who are convinced that the war led by Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and found in Ezekiel 38 and 39, occurs before the war that commences some 3 and ½ years before the battle of Armageddon, and that the antichrist is not Gog, but comes out of the war led by Gog, and then leads 10 European Union nations against Israel. They teach that when Gog and his armies come against Israel they will be slaughtered, and that Israel will be absolutely successful in thoroughly routing them. Perhaps I overlooked it, but in all my years of looking in many old musty religious archives, I never found a manuscript published before 1812 that taught there were two back-to-back wars just before the battle of Armageddon. I do not say some do not exist, but I never found one prior to 1812. It would seem to me that the arrival of Napoleon in Europe set the stage for a shift from bringing the antichrist out of the southern flank of the old Roman Empire to a new scheme of bringing him out of the northern flank.

This shift necessitated the invention of two wars. I do not believe the shift should ever have been made.

I believe the attack of the antichrist is found in the following Scriptures, and I believe the initial attack by 10 Islamic nations is made some 3 & ½ years before the end of this age at Armageddon.

I do not believe Russia (land of Magog) comes down until final battle of Armageddon. Before 1740 the teaching that the “he’s” in Daniel 9:27 represented the Antichrist did not exist. They taught it represented Christ.

When they first began to teach it represented the Antichrist after 1740 it turned the world of prophetic teaching upside down in the eighteen hundreds. Very few people realize how most of our prophetic teachings radiate from interpretation of Daniel 9:27.

Ezekiel 38:1,2 – And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Gog is a person, the antichrist. Magog is a land, the land of Magog. God tells Ezekiel to set his face against a person, Gog, and against a land, Magog, which is Russia. Gog is NOT the chief prince of Magog (Russia). He is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. At the time of Ezekiel’s writings the descendants of Magog were settled in Russia, while the descendants of Meshech and Tubal were settled in Syria.

The antichrist will come out of Syria to launch the initial attack. Some 3 and ½ years later Magog (Russia) will come down to join him at Armageddon.

Ezekiel 38:10,11 – Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: [11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

It is the Palestinians who are walled in, not the Israelis.

The Israelis are confident their IDF and IDF can whip any Arab force in the Middle East, and who dwell with a mind set of “Peace and Safety,” such that they are at rest, thinking they cannot be defeated in a conventional war. However, Israel will be driven into the Negev, and will be surrounded there by Islamic forces of Antichrist for three and a half years.

Daniel 11:41 – He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Daniel 7:24,25 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 13:5,6 – And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. [6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Revelation 17:12.13 – And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power

and strength unto the beast.

I believe that the following names all apply to the antichrist: He is Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in Ezekiel 38 and 39, the eleventh horn in Daniel 7, the king of the north in Daniel 11:40, the Assyrian in Micah 5, the seventh wounded head on the beast in Revelation 13, and the eighth head on the beast in Revelation 17.

The 3 and ½ year war in all accounts follows a certain pattern from start to finish.

(1) The initial attack occurs, and is successful.

(2) After Jerusalem falls, then Israel is driven into the Negev
(3) The Lord leaves Israel in the Negev for 3 and ½ years.
(4) God protects Israel in the Negev during that period.
(5) Antichrist (Gog) attacks Israel in the Negev and God fights for Her – Russia (The land of Magog), China, and all the known world of Daniel’s day come down at his request to help him destroy Israel in the Negev.
(6) The Lord leaves most of the enemy bodies on the hills of Israel at the final battle of Armageddon.

Ezekiel 38:8,9 (1) – After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. [9] Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.

Zechariah 13:8 (1) – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Zechariah 14:2,3 (2) – For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

[3] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Daniel 7:25 (3) – And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Revelation 12:6 (4) – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Ezekiel 39:1-5 (5) – Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: [2] And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: [3] And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. [4] Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. [5] Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.

Revelation 19:17-21 (5) – And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

[20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

[21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Ezekiel 38:1,2 – And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

Gog is a person, the antichrist. Magog is a land, the land of Magog. God tells Ezekiel to set his face against a person, Gog, and against a land, Magog, which is Russia. Gog is NOT the chief prince of Magog (Russia). He is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. At the time of Ezekiel’s writings the descendants of Magog were settled in Russia, while the descendants of Meshech and Tubal were settled in Syria. The antichrist will come out of Syria to launch the initial attack. Some 3 and ½ years later Magog (Russia) will come down to join him at Armageddon.

To make a long story short – I believe there is only one war, the war that begins when Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, attacks Israel, and ends three and one-half years later when Magog (Russia), along with all of Europe, Eurasia, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, comes down to join him against Israel at the final battle of Armageddon – Only to find the bodies of their great armies end up as buzzard bait on the hills of Israel.

BUT AM I PREPARED TO BE WRONG? CERTAINLY! WHAT WILL I DO IF THERE ARE TWO WARS? WELL, I WILL JUST SAY I WAS WRONG, AND WAIT FOR ANTICHRIST TO COME OUT OF THE FIRST WAR, THAT IS, IF I AM STILL HERE.

BUT WHAT IF THERE IS ONLY ONE WAR

? WELL, ONLY ONE THIRD OF ISRAEL WILL SURVIVE, JERUSALEM WILL FALL, ISRAEL WILL BE DRIVEN INTO THE NEGEV, AND YOU WILL BE WAITING FOR AN ANTICHRIST THAT IS ALREADY ON THE SCENE, THAT IS, IF YOU ARE STILL HERE.

My advice is to be prepared for either eventuality, even one that may be quite different from how many of these verses are commonly interpreted. I think that falls under the category of “watching.”

Mark 13:37 – And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

EXPOSITION OF I CORINTHIANS 13 – PART 8

March 11, 2010

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I CORINTHIANS 13:8 – Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

CHARITY (LOVE) NEVER FAILETH:

The word translated “faileth” means “to fall.” God’s kind of love always remains positioned on the highest pedestal, and never crashes down below it.

God’ s love never cea

ses. It never ceases because it lasts as

long as God lasts, and he lasts forever, and he is love. His love is as eternal and true as the words of his Son.

Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

PROPHECIES, THEY SHALL FAIL;

The word translated “fail” means “done away.” There was coming a day when they would be done away, in the sense

they were no longer needed.

Men spoke directly the true word from the Lord in the midst of the local churches by the Spirit. It was a gift from God to the local church given by and through his Spirit, while his Spirit was being given as a gift to those he was inspiring to write the gospels and epistles to the local churches, which were distributed and read to all the churches. It was a time when the churches were edified by God from the word spoken directly in the assembly as a gift to the one speaking it, and edified by the gospels and epistles as they were completed and read to the churches. The whole purpose of the spiritual gifts to individuals was to edify the local churches. But there was to come a day when the gospels and epistles were completed, placed together, and canonized as a single document, which occurred in stages. The Muratorian Canon of Scripture was compiled near the end of the second century, the Origin collection was compiled in the midst of the third century, and the Eusebius collection was in place near the end of the third century. There were more than 15 Synods held at Carthage in North Africa between 391 and 429 A.D., and in one of them, probably in 400 A.D., called the Council of Carthage, the New Testament was canonized as we know it today, and eventually became available to the churches in handwritten format. I am persuaded the spiritual gifts, listed in I Corinthians, gradually faded as it was passed from church to church, and are no longer necessary in local churches today. In fact, I believe only the gifts of prophecy and knowledge survived after the New Testament was completed before the end of the first century, and I do not believe these two persisted after 400 A.D. Paul refers only to these two gifts in I Corinthians 13:9, and omits tongues. It must be noted that the subject of tongues is not found in any of the writings to the other churches, and it is quite possible they had ceased prior to Paul’s demise. The epistle to the church at Corinth was his fourth among

the many he wrote, Galatians being the first, and the two epistles to the Thessalonians being the second and third. All four were written between 48 and 56 A.D., and Romans was written about the same time as his second epistle to the church at Corinth. The remaining seven of his epistles were written between 61 and 66 A.D.

TONGUES, THEY SHALL CEASE;

There was coming a day when they would no longer be necessary. I believe the completed word of God is his full revelation, and tongues are no longer necessary to edify the local body of Christ in love. God’s completed word is perfect and all that is necessary for a rule and practice of acceptable worship to God.

The singular and plural uses of the word “tongues” as a spiritual gift, appears only once in the four Gospels. It appears in the later verses of the last chapter

of Mark. Following Mark, as a spiritual gift, when applied to speaking in a different “gift” language, it does not appear in any of the New Testament books other than Acts and First Corinthians. As singular and plural it is found 22 times in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, but it does not appear in Second Corinthians. It would certainly seen that the gifts were rapidly disappearing after 56 A.D., because there is not even a hint of them in the 7 epistles Paul wrote after that time, nor do any of the other writers refer to the “gifts” after that time. In the 17 centuries following, “speaking in tongues” only occurred rarely and sporadically at best. None of the writings of the early church fathers so much as casually mentioned them in their writings, which are of greater volume than the completed New Testament. The only recorded case of any thing of this sort in that age was a movement led by Montanus in the second century, who claimed divine revelation continued through him after the apostles. All of the church leaders and teachers of this age maintained that tongues ceased after the age of the apostles. Speaking in tongues went out of existence until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It first reappeared in several Catholic groups in Europe and among the “shakers” in New England. The nineteenth century Irvingites in England were said to speak in the tongues. However, for some 1700 years “tongues” went out of existence in orthodox Christianity. In the late part of the nineteenth century “tongues” became a big part of the holiness movement, which evolved into the Pentecostal movement. The charismatic movement was sweeping the world in the early sixties when I lectured in England, and has grown to an enormous giant in our present day world of religion, penetrating into virtually all of the so-called orthodox beliefs.

KNOWLEDGE, IT SHALL VANISH AWAY.

The word translated “vanish away” means to be “done away.” There was coming a day when it would be done away. I believe that the full revelation of the knowledge necessary for the practice of acceptable worship to God is found in the perfect, completed, word of God revealed in the New Testament.

So, in summary, there was coming a day when the gifts of prophecy, tongues (languages), and knowledge would no longer be practiced, but the gift of God’s love, which he placed in us by t

he new birth, was eternal, and would never pass away.

The New Testament is the document that has the full capacity to edify the local church body in his love. The textural subject of I Corinthians 13 is love and how it was to be built up in the local church. In the beginning of the local church, both the epistles and the gifts were necessary to accomplish that purpose, but the gifts are no longer required.

I CORINTHIANS 13:9 – For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
Concerning the gifts of knowledge and prophecy, the same word concerning their demise is “katargue,” which means “to abolish, to stop, or to do away with” by an action or force acting on those performing the two gifts. Both forms of “katargue” in verse 8, and also in verse 10, are passive, which meant that “something” would cause them to stop. The individuals exercising them would not voluntarily stop exercising them, but the “perfect” thing of verse 10 would cause them to stop.

In the case of tongues, the word translated “cease” is from “pauo,” and is in the middle voice rather than in the passive. And the middle voice, used in the case of persons, means that whatever it is, it will cease by the internal actions of the individuals themselves. I believe it is tied to their spiritual growth, and that the gift of tongues simply faded away as the individuals in the churches grew toward spiritual maturity. The two gifts of knowledge and prophecy are said to end when “that which is perfect is come,” whatever it happens to be. But tongues as a gift is not mentioned as pertaining to the “perfect” in verse 9.

I believe tongues had faded away by the time of John the Apostle’s death, but that the gifts of knowledge and prophecy possibly continued to as late as 400 A.D.

The gift of knowledge revealed parts of the truth, but was not completely mature in all truth. The gift of prophecy revealed parts of the truth, but was not all of the truth completed. All of the spiritual gifts placed in the church at Corinth were involved in presenting the truth to build up the Church body at Corinth, but there was to come a day when they would all be done away.

I CORINTHIANS 13:10 – But when THAT which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Volumes have been written on the single word “that” in this verse, and most commentaries today say that it is the person of Christ when he returns to earth at his long awaited Second Advent. While I certainly agree that he is perfect, and that he is coming again, I do not believe “that” refers to him personally but rather what he once delivered to the saints before and after his departure to his throne in heaven. First of all, if you will go back through the writings of Paul and count the number of times he used the words Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, and Christ Jesus, it will astound you, and since this is such a critical matter, and since Paul loved him so much, I am convinced he would have used some form of his name, rather that an obscure “that.” Secondly, the statement he makes concerning “that” infers whatever it is has not come in the past, and Jesus had come and gone when it was written. So, if it refers to Jesus, it would seem Paul would say “when that which is perfect comes again.”

Thirdly, the entire discourse in chapter 13 has one single subject as its main theme, charitable love, God’s kind of love, love given anticipating nothing in return. So, I must conclude the “that” is referring to the love of God, which is fully revealed in his completed book of his Son’s life and teachings, the completed, perfect, book of his love revealed in the person of his Son, what we call the New Testament. I believe “that” refers to the Bible, particularly the New Testament.

When an infant is born it needs very special care. All the New Testament churches were infantile, and needed these special direct revelations of God visibly seen and spoken among them, but when a baby matures to the age it can read for itself from books containing the same information its parents gave it, then the parents let it mature on good literature of which they approve. God personally put his stamp of approval on the Bible as the way we can grow to maturity, and nothing else should be added to it, nor is necessary to supplement it. All the gifts in I Corinthians either faded away or were stopped as the churches received the completed word.

Revelation 22:18 – For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

I CORINTHIANS 13:9,10 – For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

I believe that Paul had begun to understand that all of the epistles being written would one day be collected into a single document for all the churches to study by the time he wrote his first epistle to the local church at Corinth. And by the time of his departure from this life I believe he was sure that one day all the writings would be compiled into one document, what we call today the New Testament. Please allow me to take what I wrote in a previous exposition of I Corinthians, and include it here. The extract follows.

Paul’s love for the Word of God is clearly manifested in the last thing he wrote before his departure from this present life.

II Timothy 4:8-13 – Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that LOVE his appearing. [9] Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: [10] For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. [11] Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. [12] And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. [13] The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

Why in the world did Paul want Timothy to being John Mark with him, when he knew he was about to die? It was John Mark who was instrumental in causing Paul’s breakup with his great brother in Christ, Barnabas!

John Mark has bailed out on his Uncle Barnabas and the Apostle Paul when the going got tough at the foot of the steep mountains of Turkey. Paul and Barnabas met in Syria during Barnabas’ trip to Antioch.

The account is carried in Acts 11:22-26.

Acts 11:22-26 – Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnab as, that he should go

as far as Antioch. [23] Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. [24] For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. [25] Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: [26] And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Paul, along with Barnabas and his nephew John Mark, later left Antioch on their first missionary journey, and it was a fairly easy mission until they reached the base of the foothills of the Taurus mountains at Perga on the flat southern coastline of Pamphylia. Mark looked up at these vertical slopes and, knowing they had blizzards and great snowfall on the upper plateaus, as well as many robber bands living in them, he headed for home.

Acts 13:13 – Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they
came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

I do not wish to judge Mark for his conduct, for I am confident I would have done the same, being the coward that I am in the flesh. But Mark’s action a this time caused Paul to believe Mark could not be trusted to take on future missionary journey’s and caused Paul and Barnabas to part ways on their planned second journey.

Acts 15:36-40 – And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. [37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; [40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

Paul was not a man who preached as “sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.” Paul’s motivation was the love of God manifested in him by his love for the Word of his God. So why in heaven’s name would he want Mark in the last days of his life?

II Timothy 4:11 – Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

So what possible use could Mark be to the man who had refused to let him go on the second missionary journey because of his forsaking the work

? The answer is found in 4:13, and is one of the great examples that it is not so much how a man starts the race, but how he finishes it.

II Timothy 4:13 – The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

The word translated “books” is “biblion,” which is a paper of letter written on papyrus bark (the inner part of the papyrus plant). “Parchments” is “membrane,” which consisted of stretched and dried animal skins on which papers and letters were written.

The first books of the New Testament were written on papyrus bark and animal membranes. Most sources put the time of the writing of this last epistle of Paul no earlier than 66 A.D. and no later than 68 A.D., so with this in mind, it is important to acknowledge that only one of the four Gospels was finished by that time, which was the Gospel of Mark.

So we have a worn out old man, cold, tired, and waiting to be executed, in a damp Roman dungeon. What was, and had been his motive for preaching the Gospel? It was his love for his Master manifested in his love for his Word? He wanted John Mark to being him all that he had written as the account of the first Gospel, and he wanted to read it before he departed to the one who gave it to Mark. I believe that by this time, nearing the end of his earthly life, Paul knew that God would one day being all the early writings into one book.

I Corinthians 13:10 – But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

The first “that” in I Corinthians 13:10 refers to the New Testament as we know it today, while the second “that” refers to spiritual gifts, which have either faded away or been put away since they are no longer needed to edify the local church. The contextual subject I Corinthians 13 is love, and “that” is the book of God’s love, the fully completed and all sufficient New Testament.

The word used for “perfect” is “teleion,” which means “complete or perfect,” and the New Testament is both.

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Israel cannot escape the Great Tribulation Period!

They are now SAYING “Peace and Safety”

More than at any time since 1948,

But what must come is War,

Beginning before 2015!

March 10, 2010

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Isaiah 26:19-21 – Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. [20] Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. [21] For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Daniel 12:1 – And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Two Excerpts from our Archive Blogs follow the Excerpt from U.S. and World News

Begin Excerpt from U.S. and World News via Syracuse.com

Turkey says Syria-Israel talks may restart

March 9, 2010

The Associated Press

(AP) — ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s prime minister said Tuesday that Israel had accepted that his country again mediate talks with Syria but the Israeli prime minister said no decision had been made.

“Syria wants Turkey’s mediation,” the state-run Anatolia news agency quoted Recep Tayyip Erdogan as telling journalists during a visit to Saudi Arabia. “Israel has accepted this.”

“I hope that we can start the new process,” the agency also quoted him as saying.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying “No decision has been taken to renew the Turkish mediation.”

It added: “but if these comments reflect Turkey’s desire to strengthen its relations with Israel and to contribute to peacemaking in the region-then Israel would clearly welcome that aspiration.”

Erdogan’s spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Turkey mediated several rounds of indirect negotiations between the Mideast rivals in 2008, but little progress was made.

Syria later suspended the talks in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, and Israeli officials said Turkey’s scathing criticism of Israel’s role in the conflict had disqualified it as a mediator.

Begin Excerpt from Blog Archive Heading on May 23, 2008

They All do seem to be Saying “Peace and Safety”

May 23, 2008

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Is it possible that the sudden destruction may come on the woman Israel as judgment, probably at some point in time between 2010 and 2015

? Is it possible this prophecy is judgment the woman cannot escape because it has been predetermined by her God, but that one-third will flee into the Negev

? Is it possible the woman will be trapped there for three and one-half years prophetic years or 1260 days by the Antichrist

? Is it also possible Israel will call on His Son’s name as Messiah at the end of that period, at which time God will hear them, restoring them as His Chosen People? I do believe all things are possible with God!

Zechariah 13:8 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into

the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Daniel 7:24,25 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 13:9 – And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Zechariah 14:8,9 – And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. [9] And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name

one.

Begin Blog Archive Heading from December 2, 2009

Crying for Peace and Safety,

Having a desire for it

to Happen,

Where there is only more Confusion,

That will blossom into a great final War,

Likely to start some time twixt 2010 & 2015!

Many now still waiting for 1260 Days of Peace,

Followed by last 1260 Days of Age of the Gentiles,

But there shall be no 1260 days of Peace and Safety,

Only 1335 DAYS OF WAR Terminating at Second Advent!

December 2, 2009

Most believers are now waiting for a catching out (rapture) before 1260 days of peace and safety begins when the future Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel in the Middle East. This will be followed by 1260 days of great tribulation and war. I do not believe this is correct, but I am prepared for it. I am also prepared for the other multiple positions taught among believers. The Church I pastor knows these multiple positions. It is prepared to go through none of the tribulation period, part of it, most of it, or all of it. I have never advocating making it a test of fellowship, but I have always advocated it a wise thing to present church members the different things taught on the subject, such that they are prepared for any eventuality.

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

The two Excerpts from the Khaleej Times and the Arab News, following our lead-in, give a description of the most confused peace scenario that has ever existed in the turbulent Middle East. I believe the one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is the CRY WHERE THEY KEEP SAYING “PEACE AND SAFETY,” BUT IT IS DOOMED TO END IN “SUDDEN DESTRUCTION.”

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Daniel 12:12 – Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

I BELIEVE THE LAST 1335 DAYS OF THE GENTILE AGE BEGINS AT SOME POINT IN TIME BETWEEN 2010 AND 2015.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THE “HE” IN DANIEL 9:27 IS ANTICHRIST – IT IS THE MESSIAH JESUS CHRIST!

Daniel 9:27 – And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FROM INITIAL ATTACK TO END OF THIS AGE

Event 1 – Israel is attacked 1335 days before the end of the Tribulation Period

Event 2 – 30 days later the two witnesses begin their testimony in Jerusalem

Event 3 – 45 days later Jerusalem falls as IDF withdraws south to Beersheba and the United Nations brokers a truce or hudna agreed to by Islam and Israel.

Event 4 – Israel remains surrounded in the Negev Wilderness for some 1260 days after the truce agreement.

Event 5 – Some 45 days before the end of the Age of the Gentiles the two witnesses will be killed by the Antichrist after having testified for 42 months (1260 days). The Antichrist will declare himself to be God on the Temple Mount – This is the abomination “that maketh desolate.”

Event 6 – Three and one half days later three events occur in rapid succession. They all three occur on the same day.

I call them boom, boom, boom.

Boom 1 – The two witnesses ascend up to heaven through the clouds.

Boom 2 – A great earthquake occurs in the same hour the two witnesses depart.

Boom 3 – The last trump (7th) Trump sounds and all the saved are caught up.

Event 7 – All the saved are judged in heaven while the seven vials of God’s wrath are poured out on unbelievers.

Event 8 – Christ returns with all the saved some 1335 days after the initial attack of Islamic forces against Israel.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.

We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107

of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more detailed information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

You may use material originated by this site. However, if you wish to use any quoted copyrighted material from this site, which did not originate at this site, for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner from which we extracted it.

EXPOSITION OF I CORINTHIANS 13 – PART 7

March 10, 2010

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

I Corinthians 13:7 – Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

“BEARETH ALL THINGS,”

Love carries and endures under heavy burdens, without disclosing to the world its stress or complaint.

It does not brag over the weight of stress it is bearing, or has borne. The most common weight it bears is putting up with those who place the burden on it. I am deficient to a great degree in this characteristic of love. A church member, who practices this kind of love, loves the local church of which he or she is a part. The degree of love we have for maintenance

of unity within the local body of Christ is a direct manifestation of our personal love for him.

Ephesians 4:2 – With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Colossians 3:13 –Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

The King of the Jews went to Golgotha bearing his cross in love for those who had rejected him without a word of complaint.

He carried it outside the walls of

the city of Jerusalem, which represented being outside the camp of Israel, so that he would be the Savior of both Jew and Gentile. This is the manifestation of the fact that God is love, and that in Jesus dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Isaiah 53:7 – He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

John 19:15-19 – But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.

Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

[16] Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

[17] And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: [18] Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. [19] And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

It is only by the love of his Spirit in us that we can bear all things, even reproach for our faith in him.

Hebrews 13:13 – Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

“BELIEVETH ALL THINGS,”

This does not mean that love is so mentally blind that it believes everything it hears or reads. The love we have from God examines everything by truth, and believes all the things it finds to be true. In order to be in accord with the local body of Christ, one must examine the Word in truth, and it is the love of the truth that binds each local church into one accord, the love of God according to his Word.

Philippians 2:1-3 – If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, [2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

[3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

A person who believes all things written in the inspired word of God are true, loves with the love of the one who inspired them, the Spirit of truth. Such a love does not impute evil intent to those who believe his word is truth.

“HOPETH ALL THINGS,”

The faith by which we are justified in Christ, gives us peace with God, and it gives us access by his grace to rejoice in hope of the glory we will one day see in the glory of God, which fortifies us to glory in tribulations, because each one he leads us through assures us he will continue do so along the future path we travel. And the growing experience we gain, in watching him deliver us time after time, builds up in us an ever increasing hope he will always deliver us in all our trials.

This hope came by the growth of our faith in him by the love of God shed in our hearts when he saved us.

Romans 5:1-5 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

A growing hope is the sign of someone who overcomes because he or she sees the love of God manifested in all of his promises.

Revelation 21:7 – He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

“ENDURETH ALL THINGS.”

The love of God is manifested by the willingness of his children to endure all persecutions and tribulations they incur. The application of his love in us will allow us to endure all things that cause us adversity.

II Thessalonians 1:3-5 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; [4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Hebrews 10:34-39 – For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better

and an enduring substance. [35] Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. [36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. [37] For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

[38] Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

[39] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.