The next course I selected as part of my Unschooled Master of Theology program was the KI course, Romans part 2, which covers the second half of the Book of Romans. Here are the Discussion Questions for the entire course along with my responses.
As a reminder, you can find all of my course assignments for the uThM here.
So, let’s get started….
What Do I Already Know?
Romans is a deep subject. I’ve finished the first course, which covered Romans 1-9:5. The rest of the book: 9:6-16:27 covers election, the stumbling stone, faith according to Moses, Israel’s history, Israel’s future, the kingdom parables, the practicalities of the church, civil responsibilities, maturity in Christ, and relationships.
While chapters 1-8 dealt primarily with faith, chapters 9-11 will deal primarily with hope. Chapters 12-16 will deal primarily with love.
I reread my answers to the discussion questions from the Romans 1 class. It was interesting to see where I was at that time, just entering into a new marriage, just starting out. Now, a year into our marriage, our first anniversary coming up in just a week, I’m reluctant to say the marriage has been a success (on account of me). I’m not sure if I’m adjusting correctly to married life. I know I’m certainly failing as a father to our children and a husband to my wife.
I know the race of faith is often a marathon that is slow going and requires persistence and fortitude. I’m drawn back to the old life I had. Not that it was a spectacular example of which countless envy. Rather, though, it was a simple life. It was a leisurely life. It was one that I should have taken more advantage of, though I think I was conscious and present for much of it – grateful for it in the moment.
Romans – it is a black box of sorts. I’m having difficulty remembering, drawing from what I read in it. I could not summarize it if asked. I could not explain its purpose or theme other than the just shall live by faith and all Israel will be saved and God made vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy.
What Do I Want to Learn?
I would like to have a clear picture of what the message is of Romans. I would like to be able to see more clearly the teachings of the letter itself. Close open loops.
Session 13
Explain why all of the physical descendants of Israel are not the children of the promise.
This is from Ro 9:6: “they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they ll children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”
Abraham and Sarah, in their own efforts and under their own power, intended to “help God” by Abraham taking on Hagar and having Ishmael. This started back when Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to be his second wife (Ge 16:3) for the purpose of Sarah having a surrogate child. This occurred and there was no shortage of drama between the three of them.
But, in Abraham’s old age, God claimed in Genesis 17:16ff that Sarah would have another son and that through this child “she shall be a mother of nations.” Abraham, of course, laughed, fell on his face and begged God, “oh, that Ishmael might live before you!” God insisted, “Sarah…shall bear you a son, you will call him Isaac, I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his descendants after him.” This is echoed again in Ge 18:10ff, when the Lord again predicts that Sarah would have another son in their old age – she laughs and the Lord calls her out on it. But he reiterates the prediction. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
This is fulfilled in Ge 21:1 “the Lord did for Sarah as he had said, for Sarah conceived and bore a son, at the set time. Abraham called him Isaac.” As things progressed, Sarah was upset by Ishmael’s behavior against her son and (by God’s will) Ishmael and Hagar were sent away to live in the wilderness where Ishmael grew up, married an Egyptian woman and because a prince of ….
We find in Genesis 25:4-5, as Abraham was close to death, he gave his inheritance to Isaac, but also gave gifts to all the children he had with the other women he married (it is unclear which women were considered “wives” and which were considered “concubines.” Afterward, he sent all his other children and their mothers away to the lad of the east, away from Isaac (Ge 25:6).
Ishmael is not heard from again until his father’s death in Genesis 25:7. Both sons, Ishmael and Isaac, bury Abraham in the same cave Sarah was buried in. Ishmael’s genealogy is dealt with in Ge 25:12-18. The last time we hear of Ishmael is in Ge 28:9 when Esau married into his family by marrying his daughter, Mahalath.
It was established: the second would rule the first. Not Cain but Abel. Not Japheth but Shem. Not Ishmael but Isaac. Not Esau but Jacob. Not Manasseh but Ephraim. Not Aaron but Moses. Not Eliab but David. Not the OT but the NT. Not the first Adam but the last Adam.
Paul reiterates, “those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. This would be produced through the “word of promise,” rightly the birth and lineage of Isaac.
Contrast Jacob and Esau. How is God’s sovereign choice NOT due to His omniscience?
It is not a matter of God’s omniscience, in that he simply “knows that Jacob is good and Esau is evil.” It clearly states that Jacob was elected “before he had done any good or any evil” (vs. 11). This was specifically done for “the purpose of God according to election.” It is not based on what Jacob or Esau do/did in the pasts, present, or future (i.e. Esau sold his birthright so God preemptively selects Jacob before either of them are born). We are told in Ro 9:15, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” Again, “it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
This was already illustrated once through Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was the firstborn but Isaac was selected (not based on anything either of them did and neither of them were perfect), but on God’s plan for his redemptive narrative. Ishmael is the product of the flesh while Isaac is the product of faith. This is the same for Esau and Jacob. Yes, Esau was impetuous and rash. Yes, he did forfeit his birthright. But, this was predicted before either of them were ever born: “two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Ge 25:23) and “Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated” (Mal 1:2) and Paul echoes this again in Romans 9:13.
In addition to this pattern repeated throughout the Old Testament and into the New of the younger being preferred over the older, we also have the genetic history to refer to. The lineage of the promise was passed first starting with Abraham, then to Isaac, then to Jacob and to his twelve sons who became the Nation of Israel. Then it was through them, specifically the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah came, whose death provided the way of adoption, that the gentiles could be grafted into the vine. Likewise, all of Israel will be one day re-grafted into the vine (just as the church was/is), but this is only for those who are of the twelve tribes who came out of the Land of Egypt after they spent 430 years in captivity there.
The other offspring of Abraham are not part of this promise (i.e. Ishmael or Zimran), and neither does it extend to other children of Isaac (such as Esau). Esau become part and parcel with Ishmael when he married Ishmael’s daughter, Mahalath (Ge 28:9). Granted, him doing so was in no way a qualification or disqualification of being part of the promise. He simply was not made by God to be part of the promise, nor were any of their descendants.
All of these today are known collectively as “Arabs,” all the descendants of Esau, of Ishmael, of Zimran – all the children of Abraham and Isaac who are not part of the promise.
Explain how the Davidic Covenant is critical to your understanding of eschatology.
The establishment of a rightful ruler on the throne of David has been prophesied in several places (Mt 23:37-39; 1 Chronicles 17:11–14; Jeremiah 23:5; 30:9; Isaiah 9:7; 11:1; Luke 1:32, 69; Acts 13:34; Re 11:15). If one does not acknowledge this, they will quickly slip into theologies like Amillennialism and Post-Millennialism, which are typically accompanied by allegorical interpretation.
There are four covenants in the Bible that appear to be unconditional: the Abrahamic Covenant (being challenged today by disbelief), the Land Covenant (being challenged today by Islam), the Davidic Covenant (being challenged by most churches), and the Everlasting Covenant (being challenged by disbelief). The issue, of course, is the world and much of the church, do not want to acknowledge the reality of these prophetic statements and try desperately to deny them, to prove them false, or to utterly corrupt them.
There is, certainly, a danger in premillennialism to begin setting dates and viewing all prophecy through the context of the evening news and world events. This has been a tendency for most every generation in Christendom for the last 2000+ years. Every generation seems to be convinced that they are the last generation, that they are the generation that will experience the rapture, and will be present at the ushering in of the Millennial Kingdom. And, while we are instructed to be always ready and looking for and even hastening the day of Christ’s return (Matt 24:44; Luke 12:35–40; 1 Thess. 5:6; 2 Pe 3:12), we are not to use the Bible as a crystal ball or to predict when he will return. There is a reason why God says, “you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matt 25:13) and also “that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).
But, despite this risk, there is no biblical bases for amillennialism or post-millennialism because both deny the kingdom of God on earth for 1000 years and they also deny that Jesus will rule from David’s throne.
The millenarianism of the early church was premillennial, and this was first denied by none other than Origen, who introduced allegorical interpretation. Augustine’s millennialism could not be accurate, knowing that 2000 years later, the age between the first and second advents were not 1000 years and also there has not been a subsequent resurrection of the dead or a judgment. Basically he taught that the millennium should be interpreted spiritually and not literally.
Post-millennialism was created by Daniel Whitby, but as we can see, its tendrils stretch back to many of the Reformers, to Augustine, as well as to Origen.
How can our not understanding God’s plan for Israel affect our view of the current situation in the Middle East?
If we do not recognize or realize that God is not finished with Israel, that the church has not actually replaced Israel, then we are susceptible to misunderstanding how Israel has a covenantal relationship to the land itself, a perpetual promise, as God stated to Abraham, “To your offspring I will give this land” (Ge 12:7; 15:18). It was established as an “everlasting possession” to both Abraham and his descendants (Ge 17:18). It was a promise extended to Isaac (Genesis 26:3–4), and a third time to Jacob (Genesis 28:13). This land is mapped in Joshua 1:4. God made this promise, that even if they are banished from the land for disobedience, they would still be brought back at some point (Deuteronomy 30:4–5). This is the Palestinian or Land Covenant found in (Deuteronomy 29:1—30:10).
If we do not recognize Paul’s argument in Ro 9:31ff that Israel, despite pursing God, did not do so attain righteousness because they pursued it outside of faith (by works). They “stumbled at the stumbling stone” the “rock of offense.” But this is not permanent. The covenant is perpetual. There is no amount of negotiating, no amount of compromise that the world can levy against Israel or on behalf of them that will remove them from the land that God has promised to them. We can see this is God’s plan unfolding just by the sheer fact that this small strip of land that is virtually useless and uninhabitable by most standards, is the most contested piece of land on the planet. It will remain so until the Ezekiel 37 “dry bones” resurrection and “all of Israel” (who are not part of the mystery of God that is the church) are brought back to life and their “great army” allow them to dwell once again in the land in safety.
Explain the three themes of Matthew 23:37-39. Relate how these themes can be useful tools in your witnessing to Jewish people.
Dr. Missler claimed that this section of Scripture is about the purpose, tragedy, and triumph of all history. This passage is, of course, the account of Jesus lamenting that Israel did not accept him when he came, but ultimately rejected their messiah’s visitation.
I can understand how this could be a valid statement, when operating from the perspective of a biblical worldview. The Bible focuses all of its thematic capital on Jesus being the center of God’s plan for the entire human race and the sum total of human existence (all who have every existed on earth). It is a purpose which God predestined and determined before the beginning.
It is a tragedy in the truest sense because Israel abandoned their God, he forsook his provision for them, and even the Messiah that they waited thousands of years to be revealed, they rejected and even murdered by crucifixion. It is the quintessential object lesson in irony, in the worst hypocrisy, and in just fruits.
Lastly, it is the greatest triumph because, despite Israel’s utter and complete failure to meet even part of God’s foundational covenant for them, he still used their wickedness and their failure for the benefit of the rest of the world, and ultimately, for them as well. What they could not accomplish by following the law (or by not following it, which is to say being made righteous), God made possibly by dying for us himself. He did all the work. He brought about the impossible by the work of his own righteousness and glory and mercy. He not only saved the Jews, but he also saved the gentiles as well, which had been his plan from before the foundation of the world.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
I wouldn’t say there was anything noteworthy in this lecture. It was a lot of review.
I do think I would like to re-read Romans at some point while I’m still taking this course in the segments that Missler points out: Ch 1-3 (Sin), 4-5 (Salvation), 6-8 (Sanctification), 9-11 (Israel), 12-16 (Practical Instructions). Most often I read through Romans and quickly get lost within his arguments and cannot see the forest for the trees. I will have to get back to you on this.
Session 14
Explain what is meant by “Justification.” How does one become justified?
Justification is one of three distinct aspects of salvation: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. This first part describes the predestined state in which you have been called in Christ. God has justified you by the work Jesus did on the Cross, is able to do so solely because Jesus willingly died for me (having no sin himself to pay for) and I am now a purchased possession (Eph 1:14). Justification accomplishes what the Law could not accomplish: to make me righteous in the sight of God. It resolved the enmity that was placed between myself and God when Adam fell in the Garden. This is, as Paul states, “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:9) and “that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls” (Ro 9:11).
Explain the difference between “Justification” and “Sanctification.”
While Justification is the process of God “declaring” us righteous, Sanctification is the process by which God brings about Christ-likeness within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Each one of us is sealed with the Holy Spirit when we are justified (Eph 1:13-14; 2 Co 1:22; 5:5). This is a slow, methodical, organic, lifelong process by which the Holy Spirit moves us, maneuvers us, convicts us, and steers us toward “being conformed to the image of his son,” (Ro 8:29; 2 Co 3:18). This process is different for each individual person. It can be easy or difficult, the majority of it can be long or short, but it is inevitable for the genuine believer to undertake. If there is no sanctification then there is no justification because sanctification will follow justification as a requirement. But, it is also not something that can be done outwardly or by will of the flesh. Sanctification is not something we “do” it is something that is done “to us.”
Explain the difference between “Sanctification” and “Glorification.”
Sanctification is the process by which we grow increasingly closer toward being conformed to the image of God’s son. Glorification is the moment in which we put on immortality (1 Co 15:53-54; 2 Co 5:4). This is the “revealing of the Sons of God,” (Ro 8:19; John 1:12), when we will be “changed…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Co 15:51; Philippians 3:21). We see in 2 Co 3:18; Ro 12:2 the word μεταμορφούμεθα being used which is translated “transformed.” In 1 Co 15:51-52 the word μεταμορφούμεθα is used, translated as “changed.” In Ro 8:29 we find συμμόρφους being translated as “conformed to.” All of these are the descriptors for an event which is termed by Paul in Ro 8:23, “the revealing of the Sons of God” (1 John 3:2). This is what Jesus said would happen to us when we become “like the angels” (Matt 22:30; Mark 12:25).
Glorification is the final product of the “becoming” of Sanctification while the Justification is the foundation by which the Holy Spirit can be empowered in our lives to bring about our sanctification and be the seal for our future glorification.
Explain what is meant by “rights of the first born.”
The rights of the firstborn are spelled out in Deuteronomy 21:15–17 out of practicality within the context of polygamy (which I find ironic). But, the issue of the firstborn rights is repeated again and again throughout the Old Testament and into the New, but not in asserting or sustaining the rights of the firstborn, but by violating them (Gen 21:8–14; Gen 25:29–34; Gen 48:14; Gen 49:3–4).
Typically, the firstborn possesses privileges that the others do not have access to. He inherits double of what the rest of the children inherit. It is forbidden for the firstborn to be disinherited. This is the same kind of language used for Israel as God’s firstborn (Ex 4:22; Her 31:9). Which is again quite interesting since the prophecy remains still unfulfilled that Israel herself will “they will look on me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zech 12:10).
Jesus is referred to as the firstborn (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15; He 1:6) and that, “among many brethren (Rom 8:29). He is the firstborn from the dead and over all creation (Col 1:15-18; Re 1:5). He was the firstborn of Mary’s children (Matt 1:25; Luke 2:7). Prophetically we see this in Psalm 89:27, “I will make him my firstborn, the highest of the kinds of the earth.”
The word κληρονομίαν occurs 14 times in the NT and 163 in the LXX (OT). It is always translated as “inheritance” in the NT and in the OT it is predominately “inheritance” with other translations being “possession, lots to be captured, estate, inalienable, heredity, acquisition, property.” It is defined as the “act of inheriting” the “taking possession of” a thing, to “gain as a possession something valuable.”
I see nothing in the text or literature that points to the inheritance being based on “faithfulness” or resulting as a reward. In fact, for the firstborn, it was a legal right, regardless of merit. As already stated, there are numerous examples of the rights of the firstborn being violated and given to a younger sibling, but this was not done based on merit or “works” or how faithful an individual was or was not. It was entirely based on God’s sovereign will. We see this nowhere else more clearly than in Mal 1:2 where he says, “Jacob I have loved; but esau I have hated.” Paul elaborates, “Rebecca also had conceived by one man [selection was not based on heredity], even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him who calls) [the choice to violate the rights of the firstborn has nothing to do with merit or faithfulness, but election – God’s choosing], it was said to her, “the older shall serve the younger” (Ro 9:10-12). Even with the desire Esau had to seek his inheritance, he could not (He 12:17). Not because he had rejected it, not because he had done something incorrect. But because he had not been chosen of God from before he was even born. The idea that we need to be faithful and have patience (He 6:13) so that God will reward us is missing the point. He 10:37 tells me, “he who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” What does this mean? I see this as a warning: do not draw back. If you draw back, you might not be saved at all. If you are living a “Christian life” on your own efforts, he will have no pleasure in you (because at some point you will draw back if you have not been called and sealed by the Holy Spirit). We can see this is accurate in vs 39, “we are not of those who draw back to perdition.” He is not referring to “drawing back” and losing a reward. He is taking about their very salvation.
I would disagree that the Bible is talking about two different kinds of rewards: rewards of salvation and rewards of inheritance. I believe that the reward that we get as a Christian is being a Christian. It is the sate of salvation. And if we are sealed by the promise of our redemption, the Holy Spirit, then we stand as another example of the younger being preferred over the older: we are not the firstborn yet we have the privilege of such 1. In relation to Christ, 2. In relation to Israel, 3. In relation to history.
The term “join heirs” is a single Greek word, συγκληρονόμοι, simply put, someone who receives a possession with someone else (Ro 8:17; Eph 3:6; He 11:9; 1 Pe 3:7). It is focused on an “unearned gift” as suggested by Louw-Nida. This word occurs only four times in the NT and does not occur in the LXX. In none of these references does it indicate anything about being conditional based on perseverance.
In answer to Dr. Missler’s rhetorical question: Are we all going to be “joint heirs” with Christ? I would answer, “yes,” if we are saved by grace through faith. And I would agree with the statement, “if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together” (Ro 8:17). There is a great and terrible possibility that our salvation is predicated on the genuineness of our conversion. Because if we 1. Have made Jesus our Lord 2. genuinely believe that God raise him from the dead 3. have truly been predestined, called, and justified 4. Been indwelled by the Holy Spirit as a seal for the day of redemption, then it all stands to reason that we will experience some level of tribulation, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). If you are saved, you are guaranteed entry into everlasting life. This is our reward. We will be spared the results of our guilty verdict at the Great White Throne judgment (the Bema Seat) because our names are written in the Book of Life. Once there, we will be co-heirs and “co-rulers” with Christ (2 Ti 2:12). I would argue that entry is actually ownership – in the sense that we have ownership in heaven, which I don’t think we would. Reigning is not ownership in the sense that all that belongs to the Father and when he “puts all things under him” still belongs to the Father who is “excepted” (1 Co 15:27).
Discuss the two kinds of inheritance.
This is the idea that there is salvation and then there is reward (or inheritance). I would argue that these are one in the same, that our inheritance, our reward, is actually our salvation and being written in the Book of Life, espaping our just punishment of being cast into the Lake of Fire.
What does it mean to be a “joint heir with Christ”? How does your life qualify you to be one?
This has been adequately answered above.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
Okay, there are several statements made in this lecture that I would like to go through.
First, Dr. Missler makes the statement that “time is a physical property, but also that time is relative.” How can this be the case?
Time moves slower the closer to a massive body (such as earth) but moves quicker the further away you travel from that particular body. This is how time is relative dependent upon your proximity to a massive body.
Time, unlike space, has only one dimension and only one direction (that we can access – it is quite possible that God and the angels can access other dimensional and directional aspects of time). This is known as the “arrow of time.”
It is a physical property because it is not derived from mass or length but it remains independent of them. Time is said to be a measure of change, but this is not entirely accurate. It is a measure of change only to the extent that things typically change if left to other forces. Absent other forces, there would be no change to an object and time would cease to measure change (since it does not actually measure change). Relativity would also negate the idea that time measures change since relativity states that time moves differently (measures differently) dependent upon its proximity to other things (massive objects in space). The idea that time is a ratchet of moments is plausible. But one question to be asked is: is everything truly in motion in the universe? What about outside the universe?
Dr. Missler mentioned that the love people have for darkness rather than light in John 3:18-20 is actually ἀγαπάω which we refer to as the highest love, the love of Christ. It is not an erotic love (physical or passionate) nor a brotherly love like φιλέω, but is a self-sacrifice love of Christ who puts the best intentions above their own.
How can an individual have this kind of “love” for darkness? We too often think of those who are mired in sin, those who are unrepentant, those who are lost, as being selfishly ravenous. But this passage would indicate that they are sacrificing themselves for darkness or for the sin they commit.
Another statement: Dr. Missler claims that no one will be in hell for their sins. Rather, they will be in hell for rejecting the provision God has made for them in Christ. I would emphatically disagree with this conclusion. We all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Ro 14:10), “Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess” (Ro 14:11) that Jesus Christ “is Lord” (Phil 2:9). All will be found guilty based on what we have done, what has been recorded in the books (Rev 20:11ff). But, those whose names are found in the Book of Life, these will be spared the sentence of being cast into the Lake of Fire (Re 11:15).
Now, I will cautiously admit, there is an argument to be made that judgment has no penalty of the second death (Lake of Fire). It simply states, “and they were judged, each one according to his works (vs 13). Then Death and Hades are cast into the Lake of Fire. Then, as an addition, separate of the judgment itself, anyone not found in the Book of Life is cast into the Lake of Fire. So, in this sense, Dr. Missler is correct – “hell” is the result of “not having their name written in the Book of Life,” not the result of the judgment and being found guilty of their works.
Another statement: I would agree with Dr. Missler that God’s salvation is ultimately a mixture of both predestination and human response. Even if we are predestined to be saved, are drawn by the Father, and are walking in the works he has predestined for us to walk it – we will must be willing to walk. Jonah was not and God eventually course corrected him – harshly. I would argue this is the same for myself. Some individuals are given clear choices and the freedom to choose. But, I was not given such choices. I was not given the choice to abandon Buddhism and seek Christ in the Bible. I was not given the choice to abandon my solitude and isolation and seek a wife and family and serve the body of Christ practically. These things he provided supernatural course corrections for me. To believe that God existed and that the Bible was true was simply placed in me. I could not and still cannot help but believe this. It is simply reality for me. But, while in Texas, I remember coming to a point where I had read enough of the Bible to know and to make a commitment, a decision. I wanted Jesus to be the Lord of my life and I got down on my knees in my barracks room and I asked him to be. I surrendered. But, I would argue that this is about all we can do in the matter. And I do not think it is a synergistic process, because even though God does give some the freewill to choose, the ability to choose was given by God and the desire to choose right is only found in God’s provision within us.
This leads us to the question of Pharaoh. Did he “choose” his fate? Did God know his heart and simply “harden it” or solidify it in the direction it was already going?
I don’t think so. Paul states concerning Pharaoh, “Fro this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you, and that my name may be declared in all the earth” (Ro 9:17). God not only solidified a particular choice in Pharaoh, but it says God was responsible for the ruler’s entire rise and that he was brought to such a particular place, status, and authority to serve God’s purpose (it had nothing to do with Pharaoh or his choices). This is fitted in the passage that talks of God “He has mercy on whom he wills, and whom he wills he hardens” (Ro 9:18). It is not that Pharaoh did anything wrong it position God against him. This is comparable to the account of Jacob and Esau. It is God’s sovereign choice.
Another statement: Dr. Missler mentions that Paul is in Ro 9ff quoting from Jeremiah 18:3-6. I looked this up and was quite surprised. I had never actually seen this passage before. But, cross-reference notes do identify this passage.
Another statement: 1 John 2:1-2 is an indictment of limited atonement, in that Jesus “died for the sins of the whole world.” There is no way around it. He says, “he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” John even divides them to be clear, not just for believers, but for everyone in the world.
Another statement: Dr. Missler states the reason Cain’s offering was not accepted is that he offered fruit from the cursed ground, while Abel offered a blood offering of a living sacrifice. While it is true that “without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (He 9:22) this does not extend to Cain’s offering. It is clear why Cain’s offering was rejected if we look closely at the text, especially in the LXX.
Cain brought the “fruit of the ground” while Abel brought the “firstborn of the flock and of their fat.” It’s not, as Dr. Missler states, because it was vegetables (or because it was cursed). We know this is not the case since all of the earth was cursed at the fall, not just the plants. The animals also – in fact, the entire creation was “subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope” (Ro 8:20). So the animal is just as tainted by the consequences of the fall as is the produce of the ground.
We see in the Masoretic Hebrew (most English Bibles), God’s explanation, “Why are you angry?…If you do well, will you not be accepted? If you do not do well, sin lies at the door. It’s desire is for you, but you shall rule over it.” This gives us some information, but not really anything useful. The LXX, though, states, “Have you not sinned if you offer rightly but do not divide rightly?”
Notice back in the actual verse in question, describing their sacrifices. Cain brought an offering of “the fruit of the ground” but Abel brought “the firstborn” and “of their fatness.” The issue at hand is not what kind of offering was made, but what portion of offering was made. Abel made the offering of “firstborn” and “the fatness” of it. This was the choicest portion of his produce. The very best of it. Cain, on the other hand, gave “an offering of the ground.” The LXX tells us that Cain, while he “offered rightly” he “did not divide rightly.”
The reason Cain’s offering was rejected because he did not give God the very best he had. The first 10%. The fatness of his produce. Abel did do this. It is the same as for Ananias and Sapphira, who were attempting to do the right thing by selling what they had and giving it to the apostles, but they were disingenuous, holding back something for themselves (Acts 5ff).
Session 15
Discuss the legacy of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri.
Kaduri was 108 when he died. Over half a million people attended his funeral and he was considered the most prominent rabbi in Israel’s ultra-orthodox community. He was also a Kabbalist. He moved to the old city of Jerusalem, where he became a book binder, which allowed him to continue his studies of ancient texts. He had a photographic memory and memorized the Talmud by heart. After a subsequent fire during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and the burning of all the kabalistic books, he was appointed as the head of the kabalists in Israel. He would not teach Kabbalah or the Talmud to a non-Jew or a woman and was openly critical of the popular interest in the subjects among Hollywood elites and modern people.
Overall, he lived a life of poverty and simplicity, ate little, spoke little, and was known for praying each month at the gravesites of the fathers. His first wife died in 1989, and he subsequently remarried a woman half his age in 1993.
Before his death, Kaduri stated that he believed the messiah would come soon, that he had already met him. He left his followers a note that purportedly should not be opened for a year. After it was opened, it was discovered to read: arim ha-am veyokhiakh shedvaro vetorato omdim; translated as “he will raise the people and confirm that his word and law are standing.” Taking the first letter of each word spells “Yehoshua.” Many of his disciples and sons have testified that there was never a note. There is likewise contention over what the supposed note actually says, claiming it reads Joshua, not Yehoshua.
Dr. Missler also claimed that the Rabbi’s website states there is to be one messiah not two and that he quoted from Rev 19:10. Personally, I’m not certain I understand the point of this topic. I also do not think this is the beginning of the lifting of the blindness that Israel has suffered for the last 2000+ years. I do not really think we are close to the start of the End Times, but have several hundred years to go still. I could be wrong, but every generation seems to be convinced it is the generation that will see the rapture and the resurrection and they have all so far been incorrect.
I simply wait for my Chirst to return, I remain watchful, sober minded, and try to obey my Lord with whatever it is he has given me, whatever work he has predestined me to walk in. Thankfully, I believe he has, in this season, called me to spend my life writing fiction books. Right now, for whatever reason, he has called me to serve the local church body through teaching and serving (administrative work). I have also been blessed to have a ferocious appetite for studying the Word of God, which, even after my formal education was finished, this has not faded. I receive great personal joy from Bible Study, Academic Research, and Fiction Writing (and writing in general). I am blessed to be able to do all three of these in my daily life.
As for Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, there is too much controversy now pertaining to the note in question. The rule apparently was not enforced (or did not exist to begin with) that they cannot speak ill of someone after they’ve been dead for a year, as everyone involved seems to deny the claims. This is how, most often, these kinds of sensational events transpire. I think it is a lot of smoke but no flames. I do not put much stock in such claims.
List and discuss the four unconditional covenants God has made with Israel and the challenges to each covenant.
There are the Abraham, Land, Davidic, and Everlasting covenants that are considered unconditional, meaning they require nothing from the party in question and are fulfilled entirely upon God’s action or choice.
The Abrahamic Covenant is the promise made by God to Abraham that from his seed all the world would be blessed. This is a prophecy of Jesus and is the basis of all of our privileges in Christ. It is the mechanism by which salvation is exercised in the world. It is being challenged by the entire world as inauthentic, incorrect, or perverted by time and personal opinion (of the Jew and the Christian).
The Land Covenant is the promise that Israel would inherit the specific peace of land known as Israel which includes Jerusalem and that this inheritance would be perpetual, being passed into every subsequent generation from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to Moses and down through the twelve tribes. This covenant is being challenged primarily in the modern era by Islam, but also by Palestinian supporters: i.e. the UN and world authorities. This idea is that the Palestinians were there first, that the Bible is not a historic or legal document and that the Israelites do not hold claim to the land in modern times.
The Davidic Covenant is the promise that David himself or a descendant of David would sit on David’s throne and reign forever with David’s authority over Israel (and possibly the entire earth). This is the concept of the Millennial Kingdom and is being challenged by most churches in the modern era that claim Israel has forfeited all its promises by rejecting the Messiah at the first coming, and those promises and blessings have subsequently passed to the church. They claim there will be no millennial reign on earth or that it is a spiritual, allegorical reign that is occurring right now.
Lastly, the Everlasting Covenant is the promise of the resurrection and everlasting life in paradise; basically a restoration of the position held formerly by Adam and Eve. This is predicted somewhat in Ezekiel 37-38 and elsewhere. It is for Israel but claimed by the church – despite there being a distinct destiny for both groups.
Discuss the popular idea of the ten lost tribes of Israel and what, in fact, happened to them.
This is the argument that the ten tribes of the northern kingdom (the southern kingdom comprised of Judah and Benjamin) were lost after they were carried off into captivity by the Assyrians. The issue is that the God fearing Jews in the Northern Kingdom fled south during the civil war, and the idol worshiping Jews moved north. When the northern tribes were wiped out, their representatives still existed in the southern kingdom.
Why is zeal without knowledge so potentially dangerous? What does this tell us about the apostle Paul? What have your own life experiences taught you about this?
We see so propionate in the modern church today and throughout the history of the church, zeal without the twin guiding rudders of the Holy Spirit and the whole counsel of the Word of God, tends to lead to authoritarianism or emotionalism. There are many groups that claim to be Christian when in fact they worship demons or devils or Satan himself or angels or any number of made up idols. Experienced based religion is a trap, that tends to imprison the individual in continually seeking tangible signs for their worthiness, their standing, and their uniqueness in God. It either ends up as one or a few ruling over the masses, or everyone doing whatever they want and having no clear purpose in Christ.
Dr. Missler points out that sincerity by itself is not enough. You need to submit to the whole word of God and pray for discernment because the only means by which we can understand Scripture is through spiritual discernment.
Paul himself experienced this as a persecutor of the church in the early days (Acts 26:11; Gal 1:13-14) and in his own confidence in signs and credentials (Phil 3:4-6). But, he did eventually come to understand that “what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Phil 3:7).
In my own experience, I have been exposed to many a cult. I was first exposed to the chaos of charismania when in Germany, my dear brother in Christ sought to get me “baptized in the Holy Spirit” by taking me to a multitude of Pentecostal churches. It never did take for I had already had a sure foundation in the apostles and the prophets. I also had experienced some of this when I was in Amway and seeing people like Kenneth Copeland telling me that I needed to be materially and financially successful so that God’s message could be spread around the world.
I also saw the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses claiming to have the message of God, yet contradict the Word of God again and again. The same could be said for the positivity and productivity movements, the popular secular religious of popular groups that water down the message of the Bible (or dispense with it entirely) for the sake of sensitivity, inclusion, and of course money.
I’ve also experienced over the years, and especially now, that just because I have a zeal for what the Bible says, if it is not practically applied, poured into other people’s lives, it is not of much used. I do think there is an argument for the individual who is convicted of a call to the solitary, to the contemplative, for they are building the church by building themselves, and there is typically some sort of indirect outreach in such a context (mine was a blog and with writing), and there is no telling what God has in store for one who in this seasons is called to isolation to prepare.
But Zeal in and of itself is nothing but a flash in the pan. Only with the twin rudders of experience and the word of God can we be hopeful to remain on the course of Christ.
Discuss the purpose and limitations of the Mosaic Law in relation to salvation. What was Christ’s relationship to the Law?
For us as latter fruits, there is no mechanism in the Law that can make us righteous before God. It simply convicts us and makes our debt to God increase. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, was able to be born, to live, and then to die with a sinless life. The fact that he died without sin means he has nothing to pay for of his own, and this somehow allows him to pay for all of our sin (did he actually experience a limitless number of deaths in order to pay for all of our sins, or is the fact that a sinless person died on our behalf multiples that one death a limitless number of times – it remains unclear). Jesus fulfilled the Law completely. This gave him the power to overthrow death and take possession of it, authority over it. He was able to escape the intermediate state of imprisonment and now sits at the right hand of the father interceding for us.
We cannot keep the law and become lawbreakers if we try. Only through Christ, because he was able to keep the law fully, do we have hope of escaping the coming judgment and the Lake of Fire.
Discuss Israel’s rejection of the Messiah and the reasons for it. Are Israel’s excuses valid? Why or why not?
I have always wondered why God held Israel responsible for his coming if it was not predicted precisely in the Bible and if they had not been warned to look for him or what would happen if they rejected him. But in De 30:1-10 Dr. Missler claimed that they were warned.
I would disagree. From a cursory reading (I may be wrong here) but it does not specifically include anything to link to the time of Jesus’ visitation. The entire chapter 30 of Deuteronomy does discuss if the Israelites choose him they will live but if they do not they will perish. But it speaks nothing of the messiah.
Israel’s objections are valid up and to the point that they are predestined to reject. Yet, God still holds them accountable to all their choices. But it was God’s plan from the very beginning that the mystery would unfold from Israel’s rejection. That they would be blinded in part (no forsaking God entirely, but only their messiah) so that the fullness of the Gentiles might come in (Ro 11:25). Why they thought their Messiah would come in the for of two individuals remains unclear to me. Why they did not see the fulfillment of prophecy in the individual of Jesus remains unclear. But, it was God’s purpose that there be a first fruits in the time of the Apostles, of Paul – the first coming. I imagine there will be a time of first fruits at his second coming as well. After all, the entire world will rally against him, and this after 1000 years of peace and tranquility and justice on earth and the absence of the influence of the adversary.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
Dr. Missler stated that Anna knew she was from the tribe of Asher, one of the supposed lost tribes of Israel. This is a nail in the coffin of the argument that there were 10 lost tribes.
I think it is fascinating that the Essene community looked for a Messiah. But so did the Jews at the temple. There were certainly differences between the Qumran views and that of the orthodox Pharisees and Sadducees. But this does not mean they were believers in Jesus or would have accepted him. I know there are arguments that Jesus was part of the Qumran community, that John the Baptist was also part of this community. Personally, I have not seen evidence to support any of this.
I do think it’s interesting that there are three separate groups during the church age: Gentiles (all non-believers), Jews, and the Church. Once the church is removed (along with the Holy Spirit), then there will only be two again: Gentile and Jew. I wonder if, at this point, there would be no opportunity any longer for people to be saved. We know there would be no option for grace as there was through the church. But what does this mean for the Tribulation Saint and those who will be martyred for their testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God and for their unwillingness to take the mark or worship the beast?
The remark that Ro 10:11 quotes from Isaiah 28:16 adds “whosoever.” In the NT it reads, “Πας ο πιστευων επ αυτω ου καταισχυνθησεται” but in the Hebrew it reads, “Whoever believes will not act hastily.” In the LXX, though, it reads, “καὶ ὁ πιστεύων οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ.” The added Πας seems to support Dr. Missler’s claim.
I have heard it said multiple times that the Rapture is not found anywhere in the OT (or in the NT as the actual word). I think the references provided are interesting, thought not definitive (Isaiah 26:19-21; Zephaniah 2:3; Psalm 27:5).
Session 16
Today, radical Muslims deny the Holocaust and are bent on Israel’s total destruction. Can you see similarities between these Muslims and the Nazi agenda of World War II? Explain.
The nazis wanted to wipe Israelis off the map. Today, Arabs want to do the same with the entire state of Israel. What is shocking more than anything else, the ease and rapidity the Arab propaganda campaign has been accepted and championed by the rest of the world. One fascinating similarity between the Arabs and the Nazis is they both claim that they are victims of the Jews.
During World War II, an estimated 6 million Jews were murdered as a “Final Solution” to the Jewish Question in Europe. An estimated 3 ½ million Jews were cruelly tortured and killed in the so-called “death camps” such as Auschwitz, Dachau, and Buchenwald. Where was the outcry of the church over these cruelties? Describe your personal thoughts and feelings about this.
The lack of outcry from the Churches in Europe and in America stems from the pervasive acceptance of antisemitism in Christianity overall and most particularly the development of Supersessionism or Replacement Theology. This idea states that Israel, because she rejected her messiah at Jesus’ first coming, they have consequentially forfeited all the promises that God made to them, and the Church has replaced Israel as a “spiritual Israel.” They would, in turn, have no claim to the land, they would have no claim to salvation, and no claim to the Bible (or the OT). They would essentially be cut off. This provided a great deal of ammunition, and, Luther’s work “On the Jews and Their Lies” was used extensively during the rise and propagation of Nazism in order to pitch the German population against the Jews.
Churches subsequently did not speak out against the holocaust because there would be no reason to. Personally, I think God is responsible for the Jews becoming the enemies of the entire world. I think part of it was simply punishment. Part of it was a requirement because geopolitically there would never have been a reestablishment of Israel in 1948 if it had not been for the Holocaust. Lastly, I think this tragedy was a prophecy in typology, as we see in prophecy in the end times, that the world under Satan’s leadership and through the anti-christ that the Jews will once again be persecuted to the brink of extinction. This has to do with the relationship and work God is doing with Israel and what their response will be after the Millennial Reign of Christ for the 1000 years. But, why God deals so harshly with Israel remains a mystery to me. I do not accept the claim that they willfully choose to reject him, because they are predestined to be blinded so that we can be grafted in. It rests on Romans 9:21. There are those who are vessels of wrath, prepared for destruction. There are those who are vessels of mercy, who were prepared for glory. The determination on which would be what was made beforehand. The Jews were predestined and called and equipped specifically to endure all these sufferings and persecution, for God’s purposes. But what purposes those are remain a mystery to us.
Dr. Missler made the statement that, “When the organized Church became anti-Semitic, it lost its Jewish roots.” To what is he referring?
It is a fact that Jesus was a Jew. It is also true that salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22). We have a Jewish God, who was born Jewish, was raised Jewish, and who died Jewish. He is the only human to have ever been able to fulfill the entire law perfectly (which is the only way to fulfill the law without becoming a law breaker).
Additionally, this shift has had disastrous consequences in what Christianity focuses on in the Bible. Rather than using the OT as it was intended, as a tutor, as a guide by example of what not to do in relation to God, we have neglected it almost entirely, to the point that most people do not know what is in the OT at all. Of course, this has become in the modern era only part of the much bigger challenge of biblical illiteracy altogether. But those who do study their Bibles at all, typically will focus on the NT and sacrifice the OT as something that has nothing to teach us today.
Why is personal Bible study and research so important? Is quiet devotional time that big of a deal? Why shouldn’t we totally rely upon the words of our pastors, teachers, and great Bible scholars?
Relying on what authority figures and leaders in the church say the Bible says was done in the first five hundred years of the church out of necessity which resulted in the dark ages. It also created the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, both rife with disastrous and heretical doctrines and teachings.
The men of the Reformation and after, many who were willing to fight and die, gave their lives so we could have a Bible in our native language and we didn’t have to rely on someone else to interpret it for us.
While I do grant this is, at least in the modern era, an essential part of what it means to be Christian, it was not always the case. Only since the invention of the printing press and the amount of time it took for books themselves to become ubiquitous do we see the rise of Bible Study as a kind of quasi-sacrament or ordinance in the church. In fact, it has usurped the importance in many ways of other once sacred activities like the fellowship table (sharing a meal together), washing others feet, and good deeds. In the American version of Christianity in the modern era we see Christianity transformed into a hybrid of capitalism, business, religion, and pop psychology.
For myself, Bible Study has been an integral part of God’s redemption of my soul. He used study and research as mechanisms for change, growth, education, and now he is using it as a means of building up the body of Christ – through teaching (despite my personal objection to such tasks).
I think the question remains and is an important one. Does a Christian need to spend time studying the Bible? I would argue that Christians today, indeed, do need to devote consistent time to studying the Bible for themselves. One reason is that they need to be intimately familiar with what is in the Bible so they can easily spot counterfeit teaching. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing today. Plus, it is important to study the Bible because it is a mechanism used by the Holy Spirit for our sanctification, edification, and transformation.
Do I think it is necessary for someone to possess and study and research about the Bible in order for them to be saved, to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and to be redeemed at the second coming? No. The first century church did not have the “bible” that we have today. They had the OT and those were divided into individual scrolls and were deposited safely in Synagogues. Some had the word of God memorized (such as Paul) and many of them who were Jews were familiar with the stories, but the gentiles were not, and they were being saved just as the Jews were. All through church history until recently, the common person was without direct access to the Bible as a book or text. They relied on God’s providence entirely.
Is it a good idea to study and research the Bible? I can think of no better hobby or past time than this. But, I also know that – bizarrely – each one is given his own gift. One this gift and the other that gift. Each should use his gift in proportion to the provision given him. I cannot be an ear any more than the foot can be a mouth. We are set in the body with specific functions and purpose. This is a much more important endeavor in the Church, which has also fallen away in American Christianity, the determining of how I am to be used by God to better my brother in Christ?
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple occurred under Roman General Titus in 70 AD. What is the significance of this not being mentioned in any of the Gospels or epistles?
This would indicate that the gospels were not written after the destruction of the temple but before. This would mean that the prophecy Jesus made about the temple being destroyed (Luke 19:43-44; 21:6; Mark 13:2; Matt 24:2) were actually prophecies and not pseudo-prophecies (written afterward to claim prophetic insight).
For most of their existence, the Jews have experienced persecution, hostility, ill-treatment, harassment, and untimely death. Why have the Jews been so mistreated?
All we can say with certainty is this is God’s will for them. He brought them out as a people for himself. He led them out of Egypt and gave them everything. He gave them food to eat. He gave them clothing and shoes that would not wear out. He gave them victory after victory when they entered the promised land. He gave them the land to dwell in. And every single time they went the other direction. They went after the lusts of their heart. They married foreign women. They sought other gods. They cursed God and killed the prophets he sent them. When the Messiah came, they rejected him and killed him and crucified him. Now they are forever blinded to the truth of God and their destiny until they come to a point where they will turn and acknowledge the Messiah they rejected. Then they too will be saved by grace (but probably not by faith).
But why did God decide to do this? We have no idea. It is not said in the Bible that I’m aware of. We know God holds them (all of us) accountable for what we do. But, at the same time, we also know that he predestined us from before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4; 1 Pe 1:20) and this “world” is not just the earth but the κόσμος which is “that which has order, the universe, cosmos” as compared to γη which is “earth.” Before Genesis 1:1 when the entirety of creation was formed out of nothing and became the known (and unknown) universe (the aggregate of all that does exists). He knew us before we were ever born, he knew what we would do before we or those things that we would do even existed (Eph 2:10: Psalm 139:16).
Yet, there is no answer as to why, other than it served his good pleasure and purpose. It would be like asking why did God save me when I was 17 and put in me an insatiable desire to spend the rest of my life, the next 30+ years ferociously studying the Bible without aim or intent. Now he has me married with a family, he has me teaching local and at a distance believers and I would not be at all surprised if he does not make my dreams come true with a book deal in the future, just because of the things he’s done for me thus far to put me in position for things in the future. But if he did this for me, why didn’t he do it for others? Why has he allowed other people to languish and to be let go, and to be turned over to the lusts of their flesh. I had just as many lusts as they did. I was living in just as much flesh as they were. Why not convert them rather than me? There is no other answer other than “Lord, may your will be done.”
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
There wasn’t really anything additional to add to this lecture. It was quite a bit of repetition.
There was a lot of discussion of the history of Israel including the modern day history of its restoration. There were comparisons made between Czechoslovakia and Israel and how they would both be treated. I thought it interesting that between 1948-1952 over 800,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries with most going to Israel while 650,000 Arabs fled Israel and, rather than be absorbed into other Arab countries, they were confined to refugee camps. They have since been used as a political football to gain favor and support against Israel.
Session 17
Do you feel peace in the Middle East is obtainable? Why or why not?
I would argue that there is no peace to be had in the Middle East in at least the near future. But, with that said, there is also no way to really tell. I’ve become convinced that prophecy in the Bible has never been meant to be predictive, but to illustrate God’s sovereignty over the world and the affairs of human beings after the fact.
The prophecies of Cyrus were meaningless until Cyrus invaded. We can now look back on that fulfilled prophecy and marvel at God’s accuracy. The same for the prophecies concerning the first coming of Jesus Christ and his death. They were so cryptic before it happened that the Jews mistakenly thought their Messiah would be two people, or that their Messiah would be a political leader rather than the Suffering Servant. The term “afar off” in He 11:13 consists of over 1500 years, of those who looked for the Messiah but never saw him in the flesh. They did not receive that which was promised, but now, that which was promised has been fulfilled in Christ.
Israel, for whatever reason, has been given the task to be the object of the world’s wrath. They are never seemingly given a moment to breathe, but are subjected to persecution and torment, even potential and persistent threats of genocide throughout their generations. It will be God, specifically Jesus, who will return at the last moment before the Jews are annihilated in the war against the rest of the world, when Jesus will destroy all their enemies and they will see who it is they have murdered, they will mourn, and they will turn to him. At that point, they will finally be saved by grace through faith (by grace but not necessarily through faith as the Church is saved) and will be redeemed corporately as a people, as Paul states, “All Israel will be saved” (Ro 11:26).
Until this point at the close of human history, there will be no solace for the nation of Israel. There will be no peace.
This, of course, does not take into account the “dry bones” resurrection of all the Israelites who ever lived to form a great and exceeding army (Ezek 37:10). I’m not certain when this will take place, but at some point this will allow them to dwell in the land in peace and safety, if only for a time.
Romans Chapters 9 through 11 make the point that “God isn’t done with Israel yet.” Which verses (in these chapters) really convict you of this? What other scriptural references can you find to support this idea?
There is a host of verses, specifically in Romans 11. There is verses 11-12 that talk about through the fall of Israel we have received salvation as Gentiles. In verse 15 he states that if their (the Israelite) castaway is the reconciling of the world, then their acceptance of Jesus will be life from the dead.” Verse 17 states that “some branches were broken off, so that we might be grafted in” and verse 23 states “if they do not continue in disbelief, they will also be re-grafted in” that (from verses 25-26) “blindness in part has come to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. After this, Israel will be saved.” And lastly, verse 28-29, “they are enemies of the gospel, but according to the election they are beloved, for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”
From my thinking, this means that God has predestined Israel to fall. They were “preprogrammed” to reject the Messiah, in the same way that Pharaoh was “raised up” (programed) to reject Moses’ plea. This was the calling of God on the Israelites, to be the whipping post for the entire world. It was designated that through them, the smallest, the weakest, that God would reveal the savior of the world, and by their blindness (that was given to them) a doorway would be opened to the Gentiles (who had no option of salvation), and in the end, the Jews will be saved in the same fashion that the Gentiles are saved in.
Personally, I’m not certain that the Jews will be saved through faith. I say this because they will “see” Jesus when he returns and wipes out their enemies round about. Faith is “hope for what we do not see.” If we see it, then it is no longer hope. Hope that is seen is not hope. Faith, likewise is not faith as a mechanism of salvation. The Jewish people, I believe, will experience not only a corporate resurrection of every Jew who has ever lived (Ezek 37:10), but they will also receive a corporate salvation, as Paul states, “All Israel will be saved.” They will not inherit heaven, but will inherit the earth for eternity.
I also am convicted of Israel’s salvation and God’s desire to continue dealing with them based on several other passages outside of Romans, specifically Isaiah 59:21; Zech 12:10; 13:6 and Re 1:7.
Compare and contrast the different “judgments” that will occur in the future. Use scriptures to support your response.
Dr. Missler lists three separate judgments: Israel’s Judgment at Christ’s 2nd coming (Ezek 20:32-38), the Gentile Judgment at Christ’s 2nd coming (Mt 25:31-46), the Bema Seat Judgment (2 Co 5:10; 1 Co 3:15-11); and the Great White Throne Judgment (Re 20:11-15).
Ezek 20:32ff does seem to indicate some kind of judgment or determination, or a setting Israel upright and apart from the rest of the world and God is “pleading” with them as he pleaded with their fathers in the desert when he brought them out of Egypt. But I could argue that this will occur during the time of the Tribulation, during the End Times, or even at a different time in human history that has already occurred (haven’t they had enough already?), or at some point in the future after they are resurrected corporately. This really seems to speak of the time adjacent to the resurrection of the dry bones and them dwelling in the land in peace and safety because of the massive army in which they have built, becoming themselves a world power. I do not see it as the same kind of Judgment as the Great White Throne.
Matthew 25:31-46 immediately sounds like the Millennial Kingdom when Christ returns to the earth and reigns for 1000 years. But, there are sheep and goats in this judgment and he does seem to be basing the guilt or innocence based on their works. Ultimately, the sentence is the “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” and we know this to be the Lake of Fire from Re 20:15.
The Bema Seat of 2 Co 5:10; 1 Co 3:15-11, I believe to be a misunderstanding. It appears to be a projection of a concept onto the biblical text that does not exist through proper exegesis. It is certainly described by these verses that everyone in Christ will stand before Christ and give an account for what he did on earth. This, of course, is quite fascinating to me, since we are predestined and everything we do was preconfigured before we even existed and before we had done anything or had determined to do anything – we are simply walking in these “works” that he has prepared for us (Ps 139:16; Eph 2:10). How we are held accountable for things that we had no choice but to do is beyond my ability to comprehend. It rests on Paul’s argument in Romans 9:19-29 “Does not the potter have power over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” And likewise, “wanting to show his wrath and make his power known, endured with long-suffering the vessels of wrath (that were prepared for destruction) that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy.”
But, regardless, there is no definitive references to the Bema Seat Judgment, being anything other than the judgment found in Re 20:11ff.
Lastly, the Great White Throne (Re 20:11-15) is the only legitimately supported judgment I’ve found in the Bible. It is where everyone is gathered. It is where everyone will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ. We are told that “in that day” God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus. There is an argument though that those being judged here at the Great White Throne are only those who were not 1. Resurrected and Raptured at the 2nd coming 2. Who were not resurrected at the “dry bones” resurrection. Everyone who was part of the End Times, the Tribulation, The Millennial Kingdom would all be included in the Great White Throne judgment because at some point along the way they would have died of natural causes or harm or in the end, they would be destroyed by God for coming out to war under the leadership of Satan. Once everyone in the human race is dead, then there is at some point in the future (it is unclear when this actually occurs or how long of a time span exists between the final war and the judgment) a resurrection of all the dead (from both hades and the sea – which is a fascinating thought in and of itself). But, without more evidence (which does not exist) there is no way we can conclude that the Bema Seat Judgment is different than the Great White Throne or that any of these other possible “judgments” will even occur. All we can be sure of is 1. Everyone who has ever lived or will ever live will one day stand before Jesus Christ and will give an account for everything they have done 2. The church will, despite being judged and found guilty will be spared the sentence of the Lake of Fire 3. This could be delineated between multiple judgments or aggregated to one universal judgment. All we can say for certain is that everyone will stand before Christ and give an account.
As Paul states, “It is appointed for men to die one, but after this the judgment” (He 9:27).
Twelve areas of judgment are mentioned in this study. Pick 5 and discuss what “grade” you might get in those areas at the Judgment Seat. Concerning these areas, what can you do to improve your “final grade?”
How we treat other believers (Heb 6:10; Mt 10:41-42).
For a long time I was convinced that God had sidelined me from influencing or helping other believers because I was somehow deformed or that my faith was malignant in some way. I was okay with this assessment because I really had no interest in involving myself with other people or other believers. They are difficult, obstinate, quick to point fingers, and are usually all around heretical (I’m not any different but I enjoy my own company where I do not really enjoy the company of others). God gave me an insatiable thirst for his word and that has sustained me and nurtured me all these years (30+) outside of the Church. But now, in the last year, I’ve come to understand that all this (30+ years worth) was training. It was a preparation, just like Moses spent 40 years in the desert most likely preparing him for another 40 years in the desert. Now I am serving the body of Christ tangibly, physically, locally, and exercising gifts I never knew I had, nor would want to actually use them. I find myself having to say, “Here I am, Lord” as he is now calling on me to serve – having nothing to do with myself or my own agendas or my own self-interest, but simply to serve because there is a need and it would help others. I would, of course, rate myself with a C – passing but by the skin of my teeth.
2) How we exercise our authority over others (Heb 13:17; Jas 3:13).
I would say I pass this one. Maybe a B. I don’t really hold authority over anyone. I do over my wife and family. I try my best in this respect. But given this, I would actually change my grade to a C or D, given that I’m too quick to anger, slow to listen, and prone to all sorts of malfeasance against them. I would say concerning the rest of the body of Christ, I actually run from authority so that is my hinderance.
3) How we employ our God-given abilities (1 Cor 12:4, 11; 2 Tim 1:6; 1 Pet 4:10).
I have abilities to administration and organization, to media, to music, to study, to teaching, to possibly preaching, to possibly counseling. I try desperately not to use any of these abilities around or for other people. I do think I will be called to a pastorate at some point in my life. I do not want this. I would hate it. But it is the only thing I can imagine that all of the things I”m going through now would make sense as preparation for. He has brought me under the headship of a pastor who is introverted, who has been a pastor for 10 years and has a family of his own. He has put me in a position where, though I’m not a pastor, I have to deal with the politics of a church body, of church leadership. I feel his conviction to move me into worship music (though I have no interest in doing so) and also to prepare our family for this. I have a conviction to prepare our children and my wife biblically and also for practical ministry (even though I despite modern practical ministry concepts and prefer the contemplative approach to ministry). So, this being said, I would give myself another C since I will be doing what God has predestined for me to walk in, kicking and screaming all the way.
4) How we use our money (1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor 9:6-7; 1 Tim 6:17-19 ).
I would argue that in this area I actually would get a B or even possibly an A. I seem to be able to handle money rather well, and this has led to God giving me much more money through our incomes. Not only has he provisioned much more money than I used to manage before, he has also given me the ability to make money without having an actual job to go to each day. The horizon does not look bleak either. It appears as if he is preparing us for a kind of windfall. Either we will get a book deal for my novels or we will be the beneficiaries of a large wrongful death settlement for my father (possibly millions), or both. It is quite possible that in the next five years I could be managing a multi million dollar net worth for our family and for whatever purposes he has designed. We know we want to build the houseboats and we now want to also build a house on the Paradise property for one of our children to live in (whoever is willing to be our caregiver in our old age – our older daughter has already volunteer and she says that is her job and her house). We also know that we want to do some extensive travel in the next five years around the country, while there is a country to still travel safely in. We want to go to Mexico, Alaska, and the Caribbean. All of these trips would be geared around educational activities for the kids and their homeschooling. Aside from these financial goals, there is really nothing else my wife and I desire. So it is entirely possible that he is gearing us up for some other kind of ministry that will require self-funding: either the local church, the books, an online ministry, or he is calling us to a pastorate somewhere or maybe to launch a seminary (doubtful) or a church discipleship program that multiple churches or individuals can participate in. It might all just be a reward for good stewardship thus far. Then again, I could be completely off my rocker and I could be the servant who buried his talent in the ground for safe keeping. Only God is the arbiter of my faithfulness to what he has provided me.
5) How we spend our time (Ps 90:12; Eph 5:16; Col 4:5; 1 Pet 1:17).
Most of my time is spent in study. The last 8 years was spent in near constant study of the Bible and the pursuit of academic degrees in Theology and Christian Philosophy. The last 13 years has been devoted to pursuing God through research and study. Before that I served God through house churches and before that through local assemblies. For awhile now my time has been his. This, of course, is not because of anything inherent in me or by nature I have as a particular trait. Though I have always been studious. This is from a thirst he has put in me when I was 17 and it has never failed to drive me to the Word. I would give myself a B for the way in which I spend my time, though I could have watched less television possibly.
6) How much we suffer for Jesus (Mt 5:11-12; Mk 10:29-30; Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17; 2 Pet 4:12-13).
So, I would get an F for this one. But I’m not certain that is the case. We all walk in the calling and election in which we are placed. God has, for whatever reason, chosen to place me in the American context of Christianity in a time period where there is no persecution for believing in America. This could, of course, completely change in the coming years. It is possible that all the suffering for Christ that has not existed for my entire walk with Christ will not come in full at the end of my life. But, countless generations have come and gone who did not experience any kind of persecution for their christian walk, who am I to argue with what we are exposed to. We are not to go out and purposefully find persecution. We are to live at peace with all men if it is at all possible. So, rather than an F I would give myself a “not applicable” at this time.
7) How we run that particular race which God has chosen for us (1 Cor 9:24; Phil 2:16; 3:13-14; Heb 12:1).
I have indeed struggled in my walk with Christ. When I left the military I immediately went back to my old ways and fell into temptation. When I was single in my 20s I struggled, desperate to find a wife to love me. In my 30s I fell short of honoring my wife and dying for her appropriately. I don’t know if there was anything I could have done to save our marriage, but I know if there was I did not do it. The same can be said for today and my current marriage. There is so much I am unable or unwilling to do. I struggle with being a good man, a good husband, and a good father – let alone a good Christian (not sure what that actually is). I keep trying. I hope that is enough. If not, I am fine with his righteous judgment against me. I would give myself a C for this area.
8) How effectively we control the old nature (1 Cor 9:25-27).
This would be an F. I struggle in this. Daily. Just when I think I have my predilections in check, they overtake me and slam me back into reality. I pray for his mercy. It is all I can do.
9) How many souls we witness to and win to Christ (Prov 11:30; Dan 12:3; 1 Thess 2:19-20).
This is interesting, though I have no idea what my influence has actually been over the years, I can say I have never knowingly led anyone to Christ. I don’t know if there is anyone I have ever actually witnessed to that wasn’t already in some capacity a believer. But, I am convinced that this is not the call or responsibility of every single believer. I would say that some people are called to be evangelists. Others are called to be teachers. The multitude are called to do other things for their king that are not included the ministry gifts. These are “works of service.” With this I would argue for “not applicable” in that I don’t think it is the responsibility of every Christian to witness to other people.
10) How we react to temptation (Jas 1:2-3; Rev 2:10).
This has become better over time and with increased age and maturity. In my 20’s if a woman smiled at me I wanted to marry them. Over the years I’ve found myself in a multitude of experiences and circumstances in which I was tempted but God always provided me a way out. Even against my will. There were things offered to me that I really wanted to do. Looking back on them now, I cannot believe I said no! But in the moment, God gave me the words to speak, he gave me the ability to reject that which was not from him. Now I see the fruit of this. I would not give myself a grade for this, but would grade Jesus as A+ for continually, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, saving me from my own worst enemy – myself.
11) How much the doctrine of the Rapture means to us (2 Tim 4:8-9).
Not only I desire for him to return, but I desire earnestly for this all to be over. That is most often received as quite harsh. People seem to think that I don’t like my wife or my family or that I hate everyone, but this is not the case. I simply do not want to live in a fallen state any longer. I do not want to be subject to the monotony and the brutality of mortality. I also no longer want to see the wicked triumph and the helpless be abused and molested. I want things to be set right (however that might shake out for me) so that things are as they should be rather than as they have to be because of the two in the garden. I long for the return of my King, I desire to shorten that time of waiting if possible and I long to hopefully and prayerfully have a walk with him, just the two of us. For some reason I miss him. I do not feel as if I belong here any longer and I want to go home. I would give myself a B.
12) How faithful we are to the Word of God and the flock of God (Acts 20:26-28; 2 Tim 4:1-2; Pet 5:2-4).
To the word of God I try to measure everything by it (as my wife says of me). To the flock of God, not so much. I struggle with the church, especially the modern expression of the Church in America. I do not believe the church is a healthy entity, that it is broken beyond repair. Up until a year ago, I had not stepped foot into a church for 20+ years. Because of this, I would give myself a B for the word of God and a C for the people of God.
What parallels can you find between ancient Jewish wedding traditions and the glorious future wedding of the “Bride of Christ” and Jesus?
The “marriage fo the Lamb” is found in Re 19:7-9 and Matt 22:2 and the bride is arrayed in her “fine linen” which are the “righteous acts of the saints.”
Dr. Missler points to the symbolic nature of Ruth 3:3 and the reference to the five virgins in Matt 25:1-13. There are references to the bride that in Rebekah (Ge 24:64-65). She needs to “keep her garments” (Re 16:15). If these be the garments in Re 19:8 that we are told are “the righteous acts of the saints” then it would stand to reason that the Re 16:15 reference to “garments” is the righteous acts that the individual is keeping. He is blessed if he keeps those righteous acts.
I don’t think the parable of the 10 virgins is referring to two groups of believers, but people who are believers (the 5 wise virgins) and non-believers (the 5 foolish virgins). I would argue this because when the foolish virgins went off to buy more oil (because they were unprepared to meet the Lord) they missed him entirely and the “door was shut” in the path to their salvation. Once they returned and asked to be let in, Jesus let them know that “I do not know you.” There is no possible scenario where Jesus does not know part of the body of Christ but the other part he does know. He tells us with certainty, “I know my sheep” and we are told by Paul, “the Lord knows those who are his” (2 Ti 2:19; John 10:14). I do not think there are two subsets of the body of Christ: the general believers and then a special group allowed the inner sanctum of God’s approval. There is one group of believers: the body of Christ which is synonymous with the Bride of Christ.
Why should we Christians not boast in our salvation? How should we act?
We are told not to “boast against the branches” and if we do boast we should “remember that we do not support the root, but the root supports us” (Ro 11:18). He warns us “not to be haughty, but to fear.” The reasoning: “if God did not spare the natural branches, he may not spare the unnatural branches either.” (Ro 20).
This is quite straight forward and simple. Do not be snobbish or superior because the very nature of our salvation is predicated on the loss of Israel receiving their own messiah and the promise they have in Abraham. We have been adopted. They were of natural birth. If God is willing to cut them off, the natural branch, then he will not think twice in cutting us off if at some point that is determined necessary or righteous.
Then again, our salvation was established before the beginning of the foundation of the world. It was established before any of us existed in its entirety. We are simply walking in the works in which he predestined us to walk in. So, while there is no reason to be haughty, snobbish, or feel in any way superior to Israel, there is also no reason to think that God will cut us off as he did the Israelites – though there is a possibility that this has already been predestined at some point in the future for our ultimate fate.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
There are different groups of people who are or will be saved who are not in the body of Christ. Old Testament Saints. Tribulation Saints. Millennial Saints. Post-Millennial Saints. None of these will be part of the first resurrection and the rapture (if the church is resurrected before the “dry bones” resurrection in Ezek 37:10). Everyone will be gathered in the end at the Great White Throne for judgment, though. Even the Church will have to give account of what they did in this life. The passage does not say, “it is appointed for men to die once, then the judgment(s).” But singular, “judgment.” The Jewish People as well will not receive their promise promised to them until the very end of human history, until after all these things and the bitter end when they are about to be destroyed, the Lord will save them and the veil will be lifted from their eyes and they will see the one whom they have pierced.
Session 18
Describe the appearance of David’s millennial throne. Does David actually sit on it? Are the scriptures that speak of it symbolically referring to Christ?
This was actually not something I had ever heard of before this course, that David would actually be resurrected and would reign with Christ during the 1000 year millennial kingdom. I knew it would be the Davidic throne but I always thought it would be Christ reigning as well as the martyrs from the Tribulation.
His throne will be reestablished in Jerusalem and then will forever be there, even beyond the Millennial Kingdom on earth (1000 years). I don’t see this in Gen 17:2-8, but I do see this in Ezek 34:23,24; 37:24,25; Hos 3:5, though. In Ezekiel 37:21-28 we see that David is specifically named and that they will be drawn back to the land (which has already begun). But, they will have one king forever (the king David) and they will be given peace and will be established there forever.
The passages that talk about the Millennium and the curse being lifted do not specifically or directly mention the curse being lifted, but do describe a place in which there appears to be no longer a curse on the creation (Isa 11:1-13; 65:17-24).
Micah 4:1-5, Zeph 3:14-20 do not seem to mention anything that would indicate the absence of the curse, only that people will stop fighting in wars.
Zech 14:1-21 seems to be focused on the “day of the Lord” or the day when the entire world gathers together against God, against Christ, and against the believers and the Jews who are alive at the time. This is when the wrath of the Lamb will be poured out onto the earth and onto the unbelieving inhabitants.
Hosea 5:15 is a traditional verse for Jesus’ reason to leave the earth and to return to the Father, waiting on Israel to “acknowledge their offense and seek him.” This, on the face, appears to be that the Israelites must choose of their own volition the Messiah and that Jesus is simply waiting, incapable of doing anything to turn the toward him. But, the text does not actually say this. He could be waiting for the predetermined time that has already been established by God, since he has already prearranged everything beforehand.
Zechariah 13:8,9 seems to indicate that 2/3rds will be cut off with 1/3rd going through “the fire.” It is certainly speaking of people and does seem to be talking about believers (or those to be made believers) those it does not specifically mention Israel. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter” is typically used as a reference to the church and “in all the land” seems to indicate throughout the world. So, this could be referencing Israel but I’m not completely convinced.
I would argue that these passages that refer to David are not symbolic. There is no reason for them to be, and the Bible does not explicitly say that the name David should mean anything else, such as the lamp stands in Revelation are actually the seven churches. the Bible tells us that the seven lamp stands are symbolic of something else. Nowhere in these passages do they indicate that David is to be interpreted symbolically.
What do the scriptures say in regards to “one-third” and “two-thirds” of the Jews through the time of “Jacob’s trouble?” What are the implications of this?
Dr. Missler provides the statistic that 1 out of every three Jews were killed during the Holocaust. The Zech 13:8-9 passage states that (whoever these people are) 2 out of every 3 will be killed and the remaining third will be subjected to fire and the crucible. It does not state these are the people of Israel so there is no way to be certain of their identity.
If it is the Jewish people, it would stand to reason, though I’m not certain what would be the point. The Jews were subjected to blindness through predestination so that the Gentiles could come in. I guess I don’t understand how God still holds them accountable for something they had no control over. But, the same could be said for the Apostle Paul, who had a zeal for the Lord, but was subjected to all manner of suffering for the sake of Christ and for the sake of the first century church and for the sake of all believers who came after them. God does not have an issue with people suffering to fulfill his purposes. Maybe the Jews simply are called his “chosen people” not because he protects them or saves them from calamity, but because they will have to suffer to accomplish his good purpose.
The passage in question most specifically has these ratios concerning a people who God is going to kill 2/3rds of them while those remaining will be subjected to a great deal of suffering. Who they are, when this will happen, we cannot know with any kind of certainty until after it has occurred. Prophecy was never meant to be a mechanism by which we predict the future, but is a means of looking back at Scripture that is fulfilled to illustrate that God is in control and his fingerprints are on everything.
If the Old Testament and the New Testament complete one another, why do all of these mysteries appear as previously unrevealed?
Most of these have to do with a specific dispensation, a specific time period in which God is working with a particular group of people. Before this point there was no need to reveal it to the world. The other issue is contending with the likes of Satan. God had to hide the gospel in the OT and not reveal what he was doing until it was already done in Christ, otherwise the devil would have gone to great lengths to thwart his plans. But, it appears as if Satan already knew the plan of God in Christ since he tried to poison the well with the blood curse of Jehoiakim.
I was actually only able to find 8 mysteries listed in the NT, with none showing up in the OT using that same word
But the only “mysteries” found in the OT are the mysteries in Daniel that do not pertain to this list. There are also μυστήριον (mysterion) found in the OT extra-biblical deuterocanonical material such as in Wisdom, Tobit, Enoch, Sirach, Judith, and 2 Maccabees. I could not find the locations of 7 of his “mysteries,” but this could be due to my combining groups into one while he separated them to get to the number 12. I would argue that the Kingdom of Heaven is the same as the Kingdom of God (I see no reason to support any difference – I do not see a distinction between the kingdom that is established in the supernatural realm and that which will be established on earth during the millennial kingdom). I could not find the mystery of the Incarnation. Nor one of the Gentile Fellowheirs. Not the Bride of Christ. Not the mystery of the Consummation.
I would argue that the church mystery is not found in the OT. I think it is just hidden within prophecy that has no discernible way to interpret until the times in which it is meant to be properly understood. I will have to undertake this study.
Mystery of the Kingdom (Matt 13:11; Mark 4:11; Lu 8:10)
Mystery of the Church (Ro 16:25; 1 Co 2:7; Eph 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19; Col 1:26; 2:2; 4:3; 1 Ti 3:9; 3:16; Re 10:7)
Mystery of his Will (Eph 1:9)
Mystery of the Resurrection and Rapture (1 Co 15:51)
Mystery of the Blindness of Israel (Ro 11:25)
Mystery of Lawlessness (2 Th 2:7-8)
Mystery of the Seven Stars (Re 1:20)
Mystery of the Mother of Harlots (Re 17:5-7)
All the Mysteries of God (1 Co 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; )
2 Samuel 7:12-16 – David is promised that through his seed his throne would be established forever.
Isaiah 2:1-3 – Speaks clearly of the millennial kingdom being centered in Jerusalem and it being a global government and there being no war.
Daniel 2:44 – Daniel speaks of a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
Compare the Kingdom of Heaven to the Kingdom of God. Why do you think Matthew is the only Gospel writer to write about this mystery Kingdom?
I would argue that these are actually synonymous, though it is possible that one is referencing the supernatural realm, or the spiritual dimension where God and the angels exist. The other would be referencing the millennial kingdom to be established on earth that will exist first for a 1000 years, and then possibly end at the great white throne with the destruction of the earth and the universe and their recreation with the New Heaven and New Earth and the New Jerusalem which appears to be the liaison between the supernatural realm and the earthly kingdom.
The Kingdom of God was created prior to “creation” and consists of angels, god, and all manner of what we do not know and that has not been disclosed. The Kingdom of Heaven resides on the earth, has a political institution, and has a capital in the current city of Jerusalem.
We know that there are three views of οὐρανός or “heaven or the heavens.” These are, 1. The atmosphere or sky 2. Space in general or what is known as the κόσμος or “cosmos – human existence, that which is well ordered, the universe, all that exists” and 3. The supernatural realm, the dwelling place of God and the heavenly host – whatever it is that is other worldly (#2), in that it does not belong to our dimensionality. It is the actual reality that subsumes our digital simulation.
I am not sure why none of the other NT writers spoke about the millennial kingdom. There is nothing distinct about him that I am aware of that would separate him as there was with one such as Paul or Peter.
If the Jews were held responsible to know “this thy day”, do you think there is an equal accountability for Gentiles? Explain your answer from scripture.
I would argue, because the Jews rejected their messiah and subsequently they were blinded, that in doing so a door for the gentiles was opened to enter in and be grafted in. It was their denial that allowed for the entire church to be brought into God’s grace. Is there something similar for the gentiles? For the church? Nothing so similar as for the Jews. There is the great commission, given to the apostles, but this has been completed in one sense and is in the process of being completed in another. We, as the church, are responsible for making disciples as a whole group, each one using our individual gifts to build up the body of Christ to the full knowledge of Christ. But we are being called to minister to and mentor and disciple those who are being added to the number, not “making” per se. So, the idea that the church not being full is our fault due to our unwillingness or uncomfortableness in witnessing to our neighbors is ludicrous. It is Christ who is building his church (Matt 16:18; Eph 2:20). We simply walk in the good works predestined for us to walk in (Eph 2:10).
Do a study on the use of parables prior to Matthew 12 versus post Matthew 12. Include why and how they are used and what caused that change in Matthew Chapter 12.
Dr. Missler states that by Matt 12:22-37, when the Pharisees contributed his miracles to Satan that Jesus stopped teaching directly to the general public, but would only speak or teach in parables and likewise stopped explaining those parables in public, but did so only to his disciples and apostles.
A cursory reading does not really present this way. It does state in Matt 13:34, “all these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable he did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: [Ps 78:2 LXX]”(Matt 13:34). By Matt 13:10, the disciples came to him and asked him why he’s speaking to them in parables. His response was, “to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” This would indicate, by Dr. Missler’s definition of terms, that the parables were used strictly for the purpose of the apostles and disciples learning about the Millennial Kingdom, but that the general public had not been given such provision. He also says (vs 13) that he wanted to confuse the people and have them continue “seeing so they do not see, and hearing so they do not hear nor do they understand” (vs. 13). Lastly, Jesus says he did so to fulfill prophecy, specifically the prophecy of Isaiah (Isa 6:9-10; Mt 13:13-15; Eph 3:1-5ff).
It would be interesting to undertake a detailed analysis of all the parables found in the Bible and see if there is a purpose or theme in what they are saying and if there is an actual shift from the biblical perspective.
Parable of the Salt of the Earth (Matt 5:13; Mk 9:50)
Parable of the Lamp (Matt 5:14-16; Mk 4:21-25; Lk 8:9-14)
Parable of the Speck and Log (Matt 7:1-5)
Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matt 7:24-27; Lk 6:47-49)
Parable of New Cloth on Old Garments (Matt 9:16-17; Mk 2:21-22; Lk 5:36)
Parable of New Wine in Old Wineskins (Matt 9:17; Mk 2:22; Lk 5:37-39)
Parable of the Two Debtors (Lk 7:40-43)
Parable of the Divided Kingdom (Matt 12:24-30; Mk 3:23-27)
Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23; Mk 4:1-20; Lk 8:4-15)
Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37)
Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Lk 11:5-13)
Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk 12:13-21)
Parable fo the Watchful Servants (Mk 13:35-37; Lk 12:35-40)
Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat (Matt 13:24-30; 36-40)
Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9)
Parable of the Growing Seed (Matt 13:31-32; Mk 4:26-30; Lk 13:18-19)
Parable of the Lowest Seat at the Feast (Lk 14:7-14)
Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mk 4:30-34)
Parable of the Leaven (Matt 13:33-34; Lk 13:20-21)
Parable of Hidden Treasure (Matt 14:44)
Parable of Pearl of Great Price (Matt 13:45-46)
Parable of the Net (Matt 13:47-50)
Parable of the Owner of a House (Matt 13:52)
Parable of the Heart of Man (Matt 15:10-20; Mk 7:14-23)
Parable of the Great Feast (Lk 14:16-24)
Parable of the Cost of Discipleship (Lk 14:28-33)
Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matt 18:10-14; Lk 15:3-7)
Parable of the Lost Coin (Lk 15:8-10)
Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32)
Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Lk 16:1-13)
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31)
Parable of the Master and His Servant (Lk 17:7-10)
Parable of the Persistent Widow (Lk 18:1-8)
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14)
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18:23-35)
Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16)
Parable of the Two Sons (Matt 21:28-32)
Parable of the Tenant Farmer (Matthew 21:33-45; Mk 12:1-12; Lk 20:9-18)
Parable of the Marriage Feast (Matt 22:1-14)
Parable of the Budding Fig Tree (Matt 24:32-35; Mk 13:28-31; Lk 21:29-33)
Parable of Faithful vs. Wicked Servant (Matt 24:45-51; Mk 13:34-37; Lk 12:42-48)
Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13)
Parable of Ten Talents (Matt 25:14-30; Lk 19:11-27)
Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matt 25:31-46)
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
Concerning the Key of David or the Keys of the Kingdom, if this/these are used to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven (or the Millennial Kingdom) then this would fit right into my storyline of the Seven Keys. They would be responsible to fight alongside the army of the Lord and Christ to put down the antichrist (Derek) and his bride (Skye-Anna) and the Harlot (Willow), and the False Prophet (???).
There are actually multiple keys in the Bible:
The Key of the House of David. It is mentioned twice in the Bible (Isaiah 22:22; Re 3:7). It appears to be that which was placed on the shoulders of God’s servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, after God deposed Shebna. It appears as if Shebna was made subsequently a scribe for the next king (2 Kin. 18:18; Is. 36:3, 22; 37:2). It comes with what appears to be the final authority on the earth, that what “he shall open, and no one shall shut; and [what] he shall shut, and no one shall open.” He is “fastened as a peg in a secure place.” He is not related to David, but seems to have received the authority of the Key.
The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 16:19). This is the only place these keys are mentioned in the Bible, leaving them wide open for speculation. It is most likely connected to Matt. 18:18; John 20:23 concerning the “binding and loosing, forgiving and being forgiven.” There is a grammatical issue in vs 19 that corrects the English, stating is should read, “will have been bound….will have been loosed” indicating that which occurs in heaven will precede that which institutes it on earth. There is nothing else mentioned of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Since there are no specific numbers assigned, or purposes given, I would describe these in my fiction series, the Seven Keys, as seven individuals who are are imbued with supernatural power and they are used to fight the forces of evil, the antichrist and his bride, the false prophet, and the harlot. It is because of their efforts (fighting alongside Christ) that the Kingdom of Heaven is ushered in on earth and the thousand year reign of Christ, David, and all those who were martyred during the 3 year tribulation begins.
The Keys of Hades and of Death is quite fascinating. These are mentioned only once in the Bible (Re 1:18). And we know that Death and Hades are both places/states as well as personified individual beings (Re 6:8; 20:13-14). There are multiple keys mentioned, but it is unclear to me if there is one specific key for each or multiple, unspecified number of keys for each. We know that Jesus is saying in Re 1:18 that he is the one who “has the keys of Hades and of Death” indicating that he has authority and power over both of these. These will have to be factored into the fiction story, but I have not determined how so just yet.
In Re 3:7 we find that the Church in Philadelphia, also the 6th in the list, as well defined by Dr. Missler as the Missional Church, the church that will experience at least in part the rapture, they have the “Key of David.” This church is proceeded by the 7th church, the Laodicean Church, also known as the Apostate Church, or the church describe by Paul as the one that experiences the “falling away” (2 Th 2:3). Though, of course, we can see evidence of the beginning of the falling away even today (though we cannot be certain of this). It is possible that we are the very beginnings of the Apostate Church and the Missional Church has already passed. But, if this is the case, then the rapture would occur in the 7th and not the 6th. It specifically says in Re 3:10, “I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.” If this is actually referring to the rapture and sparing this particular portion of the church from the wrath of God, then the rapture must occur during the 6th and cannot pass to the 7th, which means we must still be in the Missional Church today. But, this causes difficulty for Paul when he says the “falling away must come first” (2 Th 2:3).
The Key to the Bottomless Pit found in Re 9:1 is just as perplexing as the keys of Death and Hades or even the others already mentioned. This location, of course, is referencing Tartarus, the portion of Hades cordoned off for the fallen angels of Genesis 6:2, who left their position in the supernatural realm and came to earth and procreated with earthly women. There is apparently some kind of “key” used to secure this location, to keep not only the fallen angels “imprisoned” but it is also used to keep Satan bound for 1000 years. Nothing else is mentioned of this key, though it appears to be located in heaven prior to its use (or, at least, the angel [the star] came from heaven and then was given the key – so it is quite possible the key resides somewhere on the earth, quite possibly near the lock that it opens). This would be an interesting interchange between Christopher Ward in the Ashen Monk Chronicles, receiving the visitation from the Angel and presenting him with the key to open the Gate, the Abyss which the Monks have been protecting since the founding of the Order, and the beginning of the Angels’ imprisonment. But, we know the first time it is opened is in Re 9:3-12, when the “locust-like” creatures came out of the pit, given the power of the scorpion. Nothing is said of these creatures other than they were released onto the earth to torment for five months. Their final disposition is not recorded.
The last key mentioned in the Bible that I could find is the Key of Knowledge (Luke 11:25). This is the discussion Jesus has with certain Pharisees after he cast out a demon from someone. They attributed the act to the ruler of the demons, then demanded a sign from heaven to authenticate his abilities and teachings. He responded by saying that “a kingdom divided against itself will not stand” and gives them the parable of the Strong Man, the Parable of the Unclean Spirit. A woman from the crowd comments that the woman who gave birth to him and nursed him was blessed. But Jesus said that the one who hears the word of God and keeps it is more blessed than the woman who raised him.
He gives them then the sign of the Prophet Jonah, saying this is the only sign they would receive because they were an evil generation. He provides the Parable of the Lamp put under a basket, talks of the lamp of the body being the eye, then condemns the Pharisees because they are graves being ignored by the living. He then goes after the Lawyers, stating they load down people with burdens and do not carry anything themselves. That these made tombs for the prophets that they actually killed. It was the lawyers that he said, “you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
It is wholly unclear what the Key of Knowledge actually is, only that there appears to be one.
Session 19
Dr. Missler suggests that the Bride of Christ is not all inclusive of the “Body of Christ.” Explain the Mystery of the Bride of Christ and share how this might affect your walk with Christ.
Dr. Missler argues for a distinction between the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. He states that the Body has no class distinction but that the Bride has differences between the individual people based on their “righteous acts” that they did while on earth. Once the Body is raptured, he claims there will then be an invitation sent out to those who have been faithful in doing “good works” and they will enter in to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, while the rest will have to remain outside in the “outer darkness.” This is an intimate subset of the body, arrayed in their righteousness. The support he gives is Ge 2:21-23 when Eve was taken from Adam, and Ge 24:4 when Eleazar selected a wife for Isaac.
I would argue this is not consistent with God’s working with people in the church age. First, there does appear to be some kind of hierarchy in heaven, but such appears to be practical rather than meritorious. Yes, the saints are righteous, but the righteousness they possess is not their own; it is the righteousness of Christ.
At the rapture we will be glorified, putting on immortality over our mortality, exchanging our corruption for incorruptibility. But this is not a stepping into our own form of righteousness, it still remains the righteousness of Christ in which we are “clothed with salvation” and “covered with the robe of righteousness” just as (surprise) “a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isa 61:10).
Lastly, the creation of a hierarchy in heaven that is based on past meritorious acts is setting the stage for bitterness, jealousy, and resentment to take root in those who have not.
For me, the mystery of the body of Christ and the mystery of the bride of Christ are synonymous. The body/bride is selected by God from before the foundation of the world (Matt 13:35; 25:34; Eph 1:4; He 4:3). There is nothing we have done to merit salvation or any other status, for it is God’s workmanship, as are all the “good works” we are to walk in (Eph 2:10). The body of Christ is the bride of christ, otherwise, what would be the purpose of the body of Christ? Would not, based on good works and hierarchy in the afterlife, make the bride of Christ the defacto body and the body of Christ the runner up in heaven. I certainly could be wrong, but I do not see enough Scriptural support for a distinction.
In what ways are you seeking God’s righteousness? What hindrances do you frequently encounter?
I am seeking God’s righteousness several ways. I sought his righteousness in the beginning, after he drew me and made it possible to seek him. I them submitted to him and to the truth of his Word (though I supernaturally came to the understanding that his Word was true).
I also attempt (try my best but fail miserably again and again) to seek God, to seek his will for my life, and to submit to whatever it is he brings into my life, good or evil, peace or hardship (Phil 4:11). I try to bring my requests to and make them known to God, and I learn to be content in all things (James 4:7; Phil 4:6-7; Eph 4:11-16; 2 Ti 4:5).
I also try to remain in the same calling in which I was called (1 Co 7:20). I was called into service to learn. To apply my time and intellect to reason and to study and to the things of God. I did this, not knowing or recognizing that he would later, many years later, begin to utilize that knowledge and learning for the benefit of others. I do not want to teach or be a teacher. But, I do as he convicts, I serve in the place where he has asked me to serve (2 Ti 4:5).
Lastly, I do struggle with the same difficulties that Paul seemed to struggle with. Maybe not the exact or specific challenge (for we do not know with any certainty what his struggles were) but the description he provides in Ro 7:15-25 seems quite universal. The way he describes it is exactly how I feel when experiencing it firsthand. That which I desire to do I do not do, and that which I do not want to do, that which I hate, I seem to keep doing.
In fact, the moment I think I have been doing well with some struggle, it rears back in that moment, as if to let me know I am helpless against it. I do not feel as if I am a good husband to my wife or a good father to our children. I do not feel as if I measure up among those who meet together as the church or in life in general. But these feelings are contrary to what others say to and of me.
So what am I to do?
I simply “forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ” (Phil 3:13-14). I throw myself at the mercy of my Lord, knowing that without him, without the intervention and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, there is nothing I can do and there his no hope for me.
May Christ be seen in me if anything at all.
Explain Biblical meekness. In what ways are you seeking meekness? What hindrances do you frequently encounter?
Zephaniah 2:3 says that if we are the “meek” or “humble ones,” if we perform judgment, if we “seek righteousness,” it may be that we are “hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.” This would imply that the “meek, humble, gentle” will be spared experiencing the tribulation, the wrath of the Lamb.
The Greek word πραΰτης means just this, “gentleness, meekness, humble.” It is found throughout the OT and NT (2 Corinthians 10:1; Colossians 3:12; James 1:21; 3:13; Matt 5:5; 1 Co 4:21; Ga 6:1; Eph 4:2; Tt 3:2). Peter tells us that we should be “ready to give a defense to everyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that we have,” and that this should be done with “meekness and fear” (1 Pe 3:15).
It is a fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:23. And it is explicitly given to teachers to exercise when dealing with their students (2 Ti 2:25). Jesus himself was said to be “meek, gentle” (Matt 11:29), and this kind of idea is often associated with some kind of oppression or suffering on the part of the meek.
Interestingly, it is the meek that will inherit the earth (Ps 37:11). But how would this be? Will the meek, who are spared the wrath of God (rapture) live in the afterlife on earth? No, we presume to be residing in heaven with the Lord. I personally think we inherit the earth because Jesus takes legal possession of the earth (especially the new earth) in Re 11:15 “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!” We are joint heirs with Christ (Ro 8:17) which means we are entitled to share in everything he possesses.
My hindrances toward this are the works of the flesh. I am stubborn. I am hot headed. I am argumentative. I am contrary. I am opinionated. I am paranoid. I am often unrealistic. I can be irrational. But, the last 8 years have brought me a long way, yet I had no idea what it was actually leading me to. Now I wonder if I have been doing anything at all right, even though every thing in my life, all of my possessions, all of my hard work has paid off and has been utilized for the betterment of my family. Getting out of debt, my persistent desire to study and research. My decision (it was not a decision at all) to return to school and to go on and get my MTS and my ThD, these things have also paid off to the point that I am not only qualified and accepted to teach in the local assembly, but I am also a Professor teaching both the Bible and Christian Philosophy. God seems to have set us up financially so that my wife and I can both devote our daily lives to the church, to ministry pursuits, without worry for money or the burden of external employment. The horizon seems even more promising.
I have been able to continue writing fiction books, even to the point that my wife is encouraging me to do so. I have been able to continue my personal studies at KI for personal enrichment. The lake property that I purchased over 8 years ago with the full intent on living and dying there as a hermit was even utilized to the point that not only will we be able to use the first property but we will be able to use the second property as well.
But meekness is difficult because I do not want to be gentle with people. I don’t want to put their interest ahead of my own. I do not want to look out for their good. There is a part of me, despite being buried deep within me, that still wants to hurt and cause as much damage as possible while I’m here. It is very possible (only God knows) that I would have gone down this road and been a menace and a monster if he had not intervened. Regardless. He did. But it is still a struggle to be like Christ.
1 Timothy 3:9 states that we are to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. What are you doing to maintain a pure conscience in your daily Christian walk?
This text is actually directed toward deacons as qualifications. For they must be reverent (person of integrity), not double-tongued (insincere), not inclined to consume large quantities of alcohol, and not greedy for money. They “hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience” meaning that they possess and handle the mystery (hidden truth) of the faith (Christianity, the gospel, or possibly the church itself) with a pure conscience. They are not given to indulgences or ulterior motives or money making schemes. And it is in this way that they are “genuine, a person of integrity.” They operate in such ways that they have a clear conscience before God.
Personally, unless one of us is expecting to be chosen or desires to be a deacon, this text does not actually apply to us. This is not to say that we should not to pursue a pure conscience before God in our Christian walk. But this Scripture simply is not for the general believer. Rather it is expressly for the leadership of the church.
We are, as general believers, commanded to “love, from a pure heart, from a good conscience, from a sincere faith” (1 Ti 1:5). I would use a passage like this rather than one that is specifically addressing deacons.
As for myself, I pursue a pure conscience before God naturally. I was re-born outside of the modern evangelical church so I never learned pretense or the hypocrisy that often accompanies the groups. I try to be as honest as I possibly can, I do not suffer fools or really any people very well, especially those who pretend to be something they are not. I would rather not participate at all in the world around me, isolate, and spend my time on important aspects of life such as: studying the Bible, learning academic subjects, and enjoying a simple, quiet, peaceful, drama-free life. Even this, my wife and I are trying to recapture in the new life we are creating together.
May God’s will be done.
What elements in your life have been built on the foundation of “wood, hay and stubble?” What elements have you built upon the foundation of “gold, silver and precious stones?”
The “wood, hay, stubble” that I have been building appear to be my attempts to isolate and remain dispatched from people or their difficulties. I spent much of my adult life trying to get away from people, to not be around them, to separate. I was a and still am a misanthrope.
That said, God had other plans for me. He knew all along that I would come to a point when he would switch back on my desires for married life, and specifically to repurpose in me a love for one particular individual that I had never met. It only took four long months of “preparation” before he brought us together and then another 2 1/2 months before we were married.
But, I cannot say that anything else in my life has been this category, since much of what I had was provision from the Lord in the first place. Second, it has all been utilized for the good of my family, down to the last penny or the last board. The house, the property, the car, the money hidden in the wall, the job, the schooling and degrees, the 30 years of studying the Bible – it has all been utilized perfectly by God, fit together like an intricate puzzle. To the praise of God.
The “gold, silver, precious stones” I am not one to say. I have not, as evangelists tend to claim is necessary for every believer, been much of an evangelist. I do not talk to people about my faith. Of course, if they asked I would certainly. But most do not and so I do not as well. If my gold in Christ exists at all it would be my preparation and now my willingness to serve in capacities that I do not find particularly pleasing or comforting. I do not know what he has in store for me. It does not matter, really. He has predestined my days before any of them existed. It is up to him what my life will shape into. I gave him all the credit. I give him all the glory. May he have mercy on me.
Share a brief exposition of the passage “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
Ro 11:29 is talking specifically about Israel and how, despite being enemies of the gospel, “concerning election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.”
The Jews, as Paul claims, will be saved (Ro 11:26). And this is where the verse comes into play. The Jews will be saved, and concerning the election they are beloved because of the fathers BECAUSE “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Ro 11:29). We can see this playing out in our own disobedience, yet we have obtained mercy through their disobedience (the Jews). But it will be through the mercy shown us by their disobedience that they will be forgiven just as we were forgiven. This is done expressly so that “God might have mercy on all” (Ro 11:32).
The world in the time of Noah was incapable of find righteousness in itself. As God concluded, “the intent of the thoughts of their heart is only evil continually” (Ge 6:5). The same was true after the flood, despite the promises made to Abraham, beside the adoption of his sons Isaac and Jacob. So, too, was it impossible for the nation of people that came out of Jacob to find a righteousness of their own in their current state. Adam and Eve had destroyed the possibility back in Ge 3.
If God had saved the Jews when he sent the Messiah to them the first time, there would have been no avenue by which the gentiles would be saved. The Jews would have fought alongside Jesus to throw off the yoke of the Roman Empire. They would certainly have won. This would have inevitably ushered in the Millennial Kingdom and Christ would have reigned for 1000 years with Satan already imprisoned in Tartarus. Then everything that was predicted by John in the Book of Revelation (despite this book never having been written) would have occurred. But it might be possibly different. There might not have been the last interval where Satan is released and the whole world goes after Israel. There would be no church in heaven for all of the Gentiles would still be dead in their sins. The final battle would ensue, Jesus would destroy them all. Then the Great White Throne judgment seat and the only ones who would be spared would be the Israelites, who would inherit the earth for eternity. There would be no first fruits of the church (the OT saints, the 1st Century saints, or the Tribulation saints).
By blinding the Israelites, God is now made a provision by which his full justice is satisfied, and the scales can be properly and legitimately measured and no one found still wanting. He makes a way for the Gentiles to be saved (or a remnant of them nonetheless), and then Israel will corporately be grafted back into the vine at the Fullness of the Gentiles. This way his original plan could come to fruition: “wanting to show his wrath and to make his power known, enduring with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom he called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Ro 9:22-24).
God worked this all out in the very beginning, I would imagine even before iniquity had been found in Satan (Ezek 28:15). God knew everything. It is possible that nothing that we know of our existence is even real, that we all exist solely in the mind of God and it is all playing out on a single passing day of his own time-frame of existence (2 Pe 3:8).
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
So, mystery of the 7 Stars and the mystery of the Seven Lampstands are two distinct mysteries (Re 1:20). It is not just a mystery about the church, but about the angels as well.
I find the 7 Churches in Revelation 2-3 very fascinating. Their depiction of each church locally at the present time, as well as each one of our churches (and all churches) as they function, each having all the traits of the others at some point, and also the panoramic view of church history laid out in prophetic fashion seems too good to be true.
The two churches (Smyrna, Philadelphia) have no concerns. This is interesting given that the church at Smyrna is considered the Persecuted Church and the Philadelphian Church is the Missional Church that will be raptured (explicitly stated). At the opposite end, both Sardis and Laodicea have nothing good said about them (the Denominational Church, the Apostate Church).
The “promise to the overcome” is outside the text in churches 1-3, but it is inside the text in the last four churches as these are existent churches all the way to the rapture. I would say, then, that the Medieval Church (Thyatira) would be the Catholic Church (both Roman and Eastern Orthodox), which is the Church threatened to go through the tribulation if they don’t repent.
The first three churches are historical and no longer exist as active entities on the earth: the Apostolic, Persecuted (of the 1st century), and Compromised churches. Though, I’m not entirely certain that the Compromised church is not the Roman Catholic Church, since it was established in 590 A.D. The Compromised Church surely extends through the Medieval period as well, would this not drag the Compromised Church back into existence?
I can see the Denominational Church (Sardis) as the main-line denominations. I would argue these would be the set of denominations that arose directly from the Reformation: Lutherans (proto-Evangelical); Episcopalian (Anglican); Presbyterian (Reformed); Anabaptist (proto-Baptist); Quakerism (proto-Charismatic); Calvinism (Reformed). These were established and grew through the 17th – 20th centuries. I would argue that the Missional Church (Philadelphia) began in the 21st century (1900-1999) and possibly the Apostate Church began in 2000-Present. This would be nice and neat, but the Missional Church is promised to escape the Wrath of the Lamb, so there is no end date yet to this iteration. The Apostate Church will not begin until after the Missional Church has been removed. So, even as bad as things appear, they are not as bad as they will eventually get and we cannot determine until the prerequisites have been fulfilled 1. The Falling Away 2. The Man of Sin is Revealed (possibly by him sitting in the temple as God).
Other point Missler makes which is VERY important, quite crucial, at 40:20 min of the lecture, “Why have you been saved? To bring good works to the Kingdom. Not “good works” you create. The works the Holy Spirit does through you. The ones you do are for nothing: wood, hay, stubble. The only works that count are the ones that you allow the Holy Spirit to do through you.”
I think it is quite interesting that Dr. Missler has finally come out and admitted that the works are all predestined. He is still clenching tightly to the autonomy and self-governing will of man, but he does at least admit that there is nothing we do of our own volition that is pleasing to God. The problem, of course, with his statement is what this admission does to his hierarchy theory of heaven: if the only “good works” are the works that God has predestined for us to “walk in” then, in reality, there are no “good works” in which we are able to do. The credit, ultimately, for all these good works will be given to God.
I liken it to the concept that once we get to heaven, all the crowns and rewards we receive will be in turn cast at his feet and we will kneel down and praise the God of heaven and earth for his mercy and his grace. God is all in all (Eph 4:6; 1 Co 12:6).
Lastly, Dr. Missler mentions the state of the 10 Virgins in the parable. He states all 10 virgins are actually saved, but that the five foolish virgins have lost their rewards and the five wise virgins received them. The issue here is in the actual text quite clearly.
In Matthew 25:10 it clearly shows that when the five foolish virgins went out and purchased their own provisions for the wait, the bridegroom came and he went into the wedding with those who were ready, and the door was shut. Not only this, but after they foolish virgins returned and realized the door had been shut on them, they pleaded with the Lord to be let in and the Lord said, “Assuredly, I do not know you.”
The Bridegroom, of course, is Jesus and the 10 virgins are the “church” of this world. But, the hidden church, the body of Christ, is preparing herself to be the bride of Christ. When he is not far off (the beginning of the Tribulation), there will be a falling away and the foolish who are not actually saved and a part of the body of Christ will wander off after worldly things. We are seeing this already today in many of the mainline denominations.
It is only those who are “ready” (saved) who will be brought into the feast with Jesus at his second coming. I would even go so far as to speculate if the “feast” is symbolic for the immediate fellowship we will have with him at his coming, as we are raptured up to meet him in the air, transformed ourselves in the twinkling of an eye into immortal beings.
This is not indicative in any way of rewards. Those virgins outside of the wedding feast are not told, sorry, you can just hang out there until we are finished eating, this is a VIP section only. They are told by Jesus himself, “I do not know you.” This is reminiscent of “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord…’ but I will declare to them, ‘I have never known you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt 7:22-23). I don’t think it can be said that these individuals here are welcomed in the kingdom and are simply without rewards. In Luke 13:27 he adds, “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves are thrust out.” This is pretty clear it is referring to 1. The Kingdom of God (not the millennial kingdom to use Dr. Missler’s own interpretation) 2. It is clearly talking about salvation.
I was grateful that Dr. Missler pointed out Ephesians 2:8-10 and how we too often skip the first verse, which explains why he is doing 8-10 in the first place. “That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” In the ages to come. Does this mean other creations? Other iterations beyond our own? Does this mean the angels had their own iterations as well? Are we at the pinnacle of God’s creative acts, with those that came before looking toward this moment in time and all those to be created in the future looking back to what here was done on the cross of Christ? It is not the first time that God has hidden something in the Scriptures. He did this with the gospel itself, hiding the idea of salvation of the Gentiles in the OT, only revealing it’s true reality through the apostles and through most particularly Paul.
Lastly, I appreciate what Re 10:7 about the church, “in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God will be finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets.” This actually takes place at Re 11:15, at the sound of “the last trump” (1 Co 15:52; 1 Th 4:16). It says, “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!” It simply fits together. I’m not sure how it could be argued any other way biblically.
Session 20
Describe in your own words what the Holy Spirit means in Romans 12 verses 1 and 2.
By the mercies of God – It is alone by God’s mercy as described in Romans 9:16, 22-23. They are called here his “vessels of mercy.” It is only through his mercy (his kidneys to those who are most certainly in need) that we are able to do anything that follows.
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God – Christianity is not a religion. It is not an earthly spiritual endeavor. It is a supernatural transformation, as the individual, through the entrance into the body of Christ, which is the mystery hidden from before the foundation of the entire existence, that takes upon the immortality of God and renews us to new life in Christ. The sacrifice has been made for us, while yet we were still sinners. Even before any of us were born, he paid the price for our sin. This, Paul argues, is to be our response, because it is, ultimately, what God has desired, that we would prove the shadows and the types and the tutors true, and exemplify the Messiah in his ultimate sacrifice. Of course, this is impossible without the indwelling and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher and equipper and supplier of all that we need to accomplish this task.
Which is your reasonable service – It was considered by Paul to be the natural outpouring, the natural response to the work on the Cross. Because Jesus died for us, because he offered himself up as a living sacrifice for us, being himself holy (without sin) and a living sacrifice (of only in this life are we living until the resurrection from the dead – all those in the intermediate state simply exist). For we have something to offer, this life. And God desires it all (Gen. 22:1–14; James 2:21; He 11:17).
Do not be conformed to this world – This world is a snare and a trap. It is an assault on our sense. It pricks our flesh toward sin on a daily, moment by moment basis. Everything in this world is an invitation to sin and is entirely propagated on corruption and greed and on the compromise of the mind and body. It is an affront to God. Instead of being “conformed” to this world, we are to reject the world and be conformed to Christ, through our sanctification, we are to venture into a process of becoming ever more christ-like.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
[so that you] prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – The word “prove” means to “learn the genuineness of something by way of examination and testing, often through actual use.” It is the same word used in 1 Co 11:28 for what we are to do with ourselves before we take of the Eucharist “examine ourselves.” As in James 1:3, “the testing of your faith produces endurance.” We are to be transformed from the inside out, with the renewing of our mind, that by taking captive each thought, we might weed out the sin that arises from the heart and be renewed in ourselves.
What are the two “world views” discussed in this session? How do they affect the life of an individual?
Dr. Missler states there are primarily two different worldviews in the world. There is the view that we are all from random chance and have no destiny, and then there is the worldview that we were deliberately and purposefully created. He argues that every question we could possibly have relates back to these two distinct worldviews and that what our view is will determine how we answer those questions.
Questions like: Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going? To whom am I accountable? These are all directly related and directed by what worldview we choose.
I disagree, though, that the worldview we “choose” is a choice at all. This is the very thing that, at 17, God made for me. He chose what it was I would believe, instantly. One moment I believed in the karmic worldview, a worldview that said the physical reality that we lived in was dualistic and required us to escape from it through meditation and focused concentration on nothing. There was no avenue for me to change that view because I simply did not believe in the alternative. I did not know about a messiah or sin and did not acknowledge that I was embattled within the flesh.
But, he changed all that for me by setting up an elaborate ruse. He lured me to a particular place at a particular time (for what reason he chose these I have no idea) and so then, reading 2 Peter 2, he somehow (I still don’t comprehend the mechanism by which he worked other than the Holy Spirit or why he chose to work in this elaborate way) removed the worldview I had chosen (Karmic) and replaced it with a fully formed worldview of design and creation and theism. I would not come to understand who Jesus was for several months of reading after the fact, and then I surrendered my will and my life to him, asking him to be my Lord and to take over what I was and make me his. The second part of Romans 10:9 “and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead” along with a knowledge that the God of the Bible was not only a living deity, but that he was the God who created the heavens and the earth and also created me intimately. This he gave me instantly, immediately, and fully formed. That understanding, that knowledge (ἐπίγνωσις = “recognition, full knowledge”) has remained with me for over 30+ years.
I don’t pretend to understand. It is possible that other people are given the choice in these kinds of instances. I just know I was not. The choice was made for me.
Prayer is a Christian’s heavy artillery and the most powerful thing you can do, yet it does not appear to be all that important to some people anymore. Why? What part does prayer play in your spiritual life?
I would argue that we are being strangled by the things of the world and this is why we do not put more of an emphasis or priority on prayer. Also, I think it reveals our hearts toward God. If we would desire God truly we would make time for prayer and actual pray.
I know in my single life, prayer was a much more important aspect of my daily life. I still struggled and “practices” such as scheduled daily prayer really seemed to not work well. But I often prayed, especially in times of trouble, in times of dismay or confusion. I would also pray quite frequently on my commute to and from work as this gave me at least two days a week 45 minutes each way of undivided attention to him.
When he told me to “prepare for a future wife” my prayer life exploded. I was praying nearly constantly all throughout the day. Conjoined to this conviction he had given me about a future wife, he had also reignited my desire (quite abruptly I might add) to be married and to share my life intimately with a woman. I had not previously had that for nearly 18+ years, since my first marriage fell apart. But with this directive, he also seemed to renew my heart and made it capable of loving someone else. It was a whirlwind of emotions and chaos and misunderstanding that rushed back into me all at once one day while laying in my hammock studying.
I very quickly developed a daily prayer habit of coming home from work, or finishing up my studies when I was off work, and I would jump into my hammock and would spend several hours just talking to him. I argued with him. Discussed the situation with him and brought up all the complications and possible roadblocks. He would impress upon me as I would pray the things he wanted me to know, the things he wanted me to feel, and he would make decisions (such as how many kids we would have – the answer was 10 – which is how many kids my future wife actually had through foster care and ultimately adoption). He brought me during those times a new kayak (new to me), and serendipitously illustrated for me how the experience of getting the kayak would be just like how my wife would come into my life. Unexpectedly. Abruptly. She would fulfill all my personal requests for a wife. She would fulfill request I had not asked for and didn’t even know I needed (such as the rudder on my kayak working perfectly to steer with especially when storming out on the lake for trips back and forth in the winter which never even materialized but I think he used it to prove his point).
These are, of course, all antidotal and mean very little to anyone else but myself. But to me, they mean the world. They were a comfort in a time of desperate need. Of confusion. Of loss of an old way of life. And this was all wrought through intense and hyper-personal prayer.
Today, prayer should be play more of a central part in my life. Unfortunately, it does not. I do pray with a few men of the church on Fridays. And we do pray in church. But all of these are, at least in my view, very superficial and not at all genuine prayers. I need to blot out time (doesn’t matter how long) and devote myself to prayer. I need to pray for the church. I need to pray for the Kingdom to come quickly. For Jesus to come quickly. I need to pray for my wife and children specifically since they were given to me as a charge and as a precious possession to mentor and to love and to raise in the faith of our Lord. I need to pray for my wife’s adult children (5 who are on their own already), for none of them are really pursuing Christ, despite my wife’s concerted efforts. But I know it is not a reflection on her, since we are each individuals and we each have a particular destiny and that can only be played out in their lives as they live it. May God have mercy.
I need to pray more, for I have been given a promise and a holy charge: the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (Ja 5:16). The word here is ἐνεργουμένη and is translated by the NKJV as “effective, fervent.” It literally means “to cause a state to be” that is, to make prayer occur. So the “actual” prayer of a righteous man produces a great deal. But, it is not the prayers that he considered praying but never actually got around to praying did anything. It is only those prayers of him who actually takes the time to pray. Likewise, the “righteous” man is the man who has surrendered himself to Christ. For we know there is no righteousness outside of Jesus and none of us can be made righteousness in and of ourselves. So the Christian man who actually and I would argue consistently prays will achieve a great deal through his prayers (because he is actually praying and because he is praying by the power of the righteousness afforded to him by Jesus the Christ).
What is meant by “Cosmic Warfare?”
Dr. Missler points to Eph 6:12, “that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against” all these ranks of evil in the “high places.” In the NKJV this is “heavenly places” and is the word ἐπουράνιος or “place in which God dwells.” This is the supernatural realm, the other dimension that is superimposed on our physical reality. It is a tangible world (and in fact more real than our world), but is not perceived by the naked eye. I liken it to being wrapped around or encapsulating the physical universe, that the end of our known universe is actually where it begins again and that the supernatural realm somehow wraps around our universe and can interrelate with our world as needed. There is a point at which our universe and the existence therein will cease to exist and all there will remain is the supernatural world, until after the Great White Throne judgment. In Re 21 we see “a new heaven and a new earth,” which I would speculate is a new universe with a new earth within that universe, one that is distinctly different from our current ones.
The cosmic (since it is a battle throughout and for and about all of that which is created and ordered, the universe, even to include the supernatural realm, since Satan is from here as are the fallen angels from Gen 6:2) war is fought not with hands or conventional weapons (though there is some of this playing out on the world stage), but with supernatural weapons: faith, mercy, spiritual gifts, prayer, and prophecy. These are the weapons of our war, but we are only pawns and the real battle is between God and Satan (though this is not a matched fight as God already has the victory – the actual cause or impetus for this battle on Satan’s part is altogether unclear and not revealed in Scripture).
I think this is best captured in the Bible in 2 Kings 6:15-16 when the eyes of the young man were opened and he could see the horses and chariots of fire round about. As the prophet stated, “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” This is indicative of two realities: 1. There are “theys” that are with us who believe and 2. There are “theys” that are with those who are our enemies (this may be speaking of just human forces, but I think they are speaking of what Paul calls: “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the supernatural realm” (Eph 6:12).
Is there a difference between Christian Character and Christian Conduct? Explain. Give several real-life examples.
As Dr. Missler defines it: Christian Character is who we are, Christian Conduct is what we do. Personally, I believe that a man is to marry his wife and to remain faithful all his life to her. But, if I were to go out and sleep with several other women besides my wife (whatever the circumstances might be), then my supposed Character is not producing the right Conduct. It is clear here that there is something wrong. It is obvious that I either 1. Don’t really hold to this character trait or believe that a man should remain faithful to his wife or 2. I struggle with the sin of adultery and fornication and lust.
My Christian Character is played out though my Christian Conduct. If I truly have the belief (whatever it might be) then that will come through in how I act and behave. This does not in any way remove the idea that we can struggle in a particular aspect or with a particular sin (or just sin in general). Paul spells this out for us in Ro 7:15ff. “What I am doing I do not understand. What I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do….with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”
But, as we continue to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus and of God, we will inevitably come to put away these divergences between our Character and our Conduct. This is due to sanctification, if we are indeed saved and indeed indwelled by the Holy Spirit. For if we are these we will inevitably be transformed from the inside out.
List and describe the “Armor of God.” What are its functions? How is it “The Most Advanced Weapons Technology in the Universe?” Does this Armor direct us to Jesus? How?
We are instructed to put on the “whole armor of God.”
These are:
Truth (girded waist) – this operates as a organizational mechanism, putting things in its proper place for the battle. A solder that is in disarray (or ate up) is not one who will be effective on the battle field. He needs to know where his equipment is at all times and how to access it quickly and efficiently.
Righteousness (breastplate) – This is a protection for us in battle as we enter into the immediate combat zone, we must be able to protect ourselves from the “wiles of the devil.” We may not always be able to do so actively though conscious parry, but the breastplate protects us for those blows that actually get through our defenses and lands, though they do not hurt us because we are protected by this righteousness. This righteousness, of course, is not our own but is the righteousness of Jesus who is the Christ.
Preparation of the gospel (shoes) – Anyone who has spent any time in the military knows that your shoes are the most important piece of equipment you have in your arsenal. If you feet are not well cared for, then you will be a disaster and ineffective and ineffectual. But the one who has clean and dry socks, who has properly fitted shoes, who understands the need for care and repair, he is “prepared” for what is to come when he needs to be prepared most. We are called here to be prepared ahead of time in what Paul calls the “gospel of peace.” This can only be the message of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. This requires preparation before the battle (not during it). It requires learning, and this is to be done within the context of the church (not the brick and mortar building, but the dynamic body that assembles locally).
Faith (shield) – This is a first line of defense for us (the breastplate being the secondary), for it is active and can be moved in all directions to parry the attacks of the enemy. It clearly states here, it is used so that we might “be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the wicked one.” This shield (that is our faith) is active, purposed, and ready for the impending attack. It is to be exercised for maximum coverage and utility (much is given much is required – Lu 12:48).
Salvation (helmet) – The helmet is also a defensive tool. It is stationary and operates much like the breastplate. It is to protect us as a secondary defense in case something gets through our primary defenses. Just as with righteousness, our salvation is not dependent upon anything we have done, since we have been “predestined, called, justified, and will one day be glorified” (Ro 8:30). We are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). It is not dependent on us in any way “lest anyone should boast.” But it is entirely dependent and provisioned by God. For we are chosen vessels of wrath or vessels of mercy by him who chooses and makes what he wishes from the clay (Ro 9:21; Je 18:4).
The Word (sword) – this is primarily an offensive weapon. It is active. It is strategic. It is aggressive and quick, and pointed (literally). As Dr. Missler mentions, it requires specialized training to be used effectively. Anyone can hack and slash at an opponent, but only the trained swordsman can deliver a precise blow at the most opportune time. It requires the reading of your opponent – their movements, their strategies, etc. The word of God is similar in that you must know the Bible intimately so that you can quickly recognize the counterfeits. Additionally, to be informed about what the Bible actually says will keep you from 1. Deception and 2. Disillusion. It is the active and first method by which we are to do battle in this life. Through the Word of God.
Prayer (heavy artillery) – lastly, this is often not included in the armor of God but it should be. Prayer is, indeed, a long range weapon, used to decimate and dismantle the enemy’s infrastructure and interrupt their processes and prevent them from functioning. It is never used during the immediate battle (since it would hit many of our own troops or it is somehow rendered ineffective in the moment), and requires consistency in use to be effective.
Lastly, do these direct us to Jesus? There is no truth without Jesus since whatever is true would testify of Jesus’ true position as creator and sustainer of all that exists. Righteousness can only be had and truly only exists in Jesus Christ, so it remains self-evident. The preparation of the gospel speaks of Jesus and what he has done for us. Faith is that which is exercised in us: a faith in not just anything but in Jesus. Salvation is the consequence, the bi-product, the outcome of a saving faith, for “by grace you have been saved through faith.” Lastly, prayer is direct communication to God the Father “through” Jesus who is the Christ. All of the gifts speak directly of and direct us to a living and all encompassing relationship with the one who makes us and holds us up, for he is able to make us stand.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
Dr. Missler stated in this lecture, “You see an attractive woman, you feel a sense of lust, it is not sin until you failed to deal with it.” Is this possibly right? I personally think it might be.
I know it was, bizarrely, much easer to deal with this exact kind of temptation when I was single. I would assume that, because now I am in a relationship with my wife, that temptation to look at other women increases because the lust and desire for the opposite sex has been turned on. Before I knew where I stood. I know my relationship with my wife is solid, but the temptation occurs, much in line with Ro 7:15.
I personally think this is intricately connected to James 5:16, that our ability to immediately respond to temptation is proportionate to the quality and consistency in which we apply to prayer. Of course, James tells us “if you ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures (James 4:3). But, as Dr. Missler states, prayer is the heavy artillery that must be used afar off from the actual battle to be effective. I believe that the way of escape talked about in 1 Co 10:13 is, indeed, prayer. Or, more specifically, a consistent and genuine prayer life.
Dr. Missler states that we should “take every thought captive” (2 Co 10:5) at the moment that it appears to us, and that doing so, it means that the temptation is not accredited to us as a sin. I would agree, and this, again, is tethered directly and proportionally to our prayer life.
He states that the pursuit of truth is rare in today’s world where truth is denied. This is seen as far back as the first century when Pilot asked, “What is truth?” in his mocking retort to Jesus. Truth is rejected out of hand in our culture today. They argue that there is no such thing as absolute truth. There is no such thing as accountability to the God of Creation or that there is even a god to begin with. There are no genders. There is no right and wrong. Sin is praised as the noblest good and righteousness is condemned to be hate.
Pursuing truth is the obligation of the biblical Christian.
Lastly, Dr. Missler points out “this is what we are called to do. Minister to the body. To sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the body (Matt 20:27-28). I find this very poignant in this current season that God has led me in, as I am finding that after an abundance of time in isolation and solitude where I could study and research and complete my credentials, God has now placed me in a position where I am serving in the local assembly, not for anything they might provide me (though they do provide me some edification through teaching), but solely to serve others in Christ. There are several things I do not want to do, several things I do not want to be involved with. But I do find myself being led into these positions regardless of what I might want.
Session 21
Discuss the covenant between God and Noah in relation to the other seven covenants of the Bible. Which covenants apply to mankind in general and which apply only to the nation Israel? Which are conditional and which are unconditional?
The covenant of Noah was made after the flood. God said: 1. He would never again curse the ground because of man. 2. He will not destroy everything on the earth again. 3. While the earth remains, there will be agriculture, seasons, and night and day. 4. They were to “be fruitful and multiply” and fill the earth. 5. They were given meat to eat. 6. Capital punishment. 7. The covenant was for “Noah, his descendants, all living creatures.” 8. The sign of the covenant was the rainbow: a covenant between God and the earth (including everyone on it).
The Noahic Covenant was not the first. There were two before, the Edenic and the Adamic. But both of these were conditional, while the Noahic covenant was unconditional. Both precursor covenants were compromised by angelic interference. The Edenic was shattered by Lucifer (the Serpent). The second was (at least) aggravated if not entirely instigated by the subset of angels that abandoned their proper positions in heaven and copulated with human women (Gen 6:2-5; Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4). It was immediately after this event (or some time after it, we are not given the timeline) that God determined “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Ge 6:5). So much was the pitiful condition of humanity that God “comforted himself” or “regretted” having made mankind at all. It was through the Noahic Covenant that the earth was cleansed of the human race (and the meddling of the angels) and gave them a reset of sorts so God could work with them once again. He did this through the Abrahamic Covenant. It is through this covenant that all of humanity would be blessed. It was through the Abrahamic Covenant that Israel was given adoption by God. It was through this promise (though hidden until Christ) that he made a way to bring out for himself a people among the Gentiles. It is even though this covenant that Israel will ultimately be grafted back into God’s grace (through the mechanism of the church: faith).
The first three covenants are for all peoples. The Mosaic, Palestinian (land), and New Covenants are for Israel only. And, while the Davidic Covenant pertains specifically to the Jews who live during the 1000 year period of Jesus (and apparently David’s and those martyred during the tribulation) there will also be Gentiles alive during this period who will also benefit (and also suffer) under this Covenant.
The first two covenants (Edenic and Adamic) as well as the Mosaic were all conditional, based on men. The Noahic covenant was unconditional as well as was the Abrahamic and Davidic and Palestinian, and New Covenants. It was through the keeping of the Mosaic Law, though, that Jesus was enabled to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant.
What is your opinion of capital punishment? Should Christians support it? Is the concept of deterring crime relevant?
I would personally argue that Christians should be neutral in secular things, in politics, in society, except to show mercy and love and to declare what is truth from the Bible. As a Christian I do not pursue causes or laws, etc. I am not a revolutionary. I do not even consider myself first a citizen of any country on earth before I consider myself a citizen of heaven (Ephesians 2:19). As Dr. Missler points out, I am a monarchist and I serve at my King’s pleasure.
Governments are to God a beast of burden, a necessary evil by which he brings about his own will. I don’t particularly care any more about politics or how the government functions. They are an enemy to the Christian or at least will be in the future. It is commanded by the Bible to “as much as it depends on your, live peaceably with all men” (Ro 12:18).
I have no stake in the death penalty either way. This is something that the secular world and especially secular governments contend with and make decisions about. They are God’s rulers and he has placed them in these positions. My responsibility is to pray for them and to be at peace. Not to meddle in the affairs of the world, but to be about my Father’s business.
Does capital punishment deter crime? I don’t really think so. Beside, I doubt that anyone is really put on death row anymore anyway so people are free of the threat. If not now, then soon capital punishment will be removed as an option as will all laws and all justice.
I pray for his swift return and for his Kingdom to be ushered in. Then there will be true justice in this world, and not until them.
Discuss the rise and fall of civilizations cycle. Based on the average civilization lifespan, how much “time” does the USA have left?
Dr. Missler states that all the major civilizations or empires that have existed average 200 years. It typically cycles from bondage to spiritual faith to great courage, to liberty to abundance to complacency to apathy to dependency to and then back to bondage.
If this is the case, we are already beyond complacency. This occurred back when I was growing up. The last two generations are now in apathy or even dependency, to the point that all the systems of culture that made the west a superpower are being rejected outright. Marriage, family, capitalism, meritorious system, it is all being branded as patriarchal. The next generations would rather live on the government (or off their parents) than have a work ethic. There are help wanted signs everywhere we go these days because there is simply no one willing to work at entry level jobs.
If we are to gauge by what Missler states here, 200 years, the US has been a country for 247 years. This means we are 47 years over due. That’s pretty good, but it means that we are doomed as we speak. It is clear the empire is crumbling. Something will happen – either an electromagnetic pulse from one of our many enemies, or economic collapse, or takeover from within – and we will cease to be the governing power over the world. When this happens, the Chinese and Russia will fill the vacuum created. Then there will be untold number of years before the antichrist presents himself in the temple as God and the falling away is complete within the church. But that will be a gloriously terrifying day when it does come. It is quite possible that we are still living in the days of the early church and have another 1000 or 10,000 years remaining until the rapture.
What are you, as a Christian, doing to help keep your government in check? Do you have any power in this area? Do you vote? (Adapt your answers to reflect the political system under which you live.)
Personally, I am serving God. This is the highest aim I have in this life remaining in me. There is no other agenda, other than to see my children grow up and to live lives in service to Christ (if, indeed, they have been drawn by the Father). I do not hold any allegiances to America or to my citizenship on earth. I actually have several grievances with my own country that I’ve had to put in Christ’s hands because I am convicted that I must give place to vengeance because it is the Lord who avenges. I would rather all governments on earth be removed and the rightful authority installed on earth – the millennial kingdom with Jesus (and David?) on the throne.
Personally, I do vote when ballots come in. This is partially out of habit. I was raised to be just shy of a patriot, so I have a sense of civic duty to vote and participate. But, being in a blue state, I recognize that my vote except for very local issues, has no power at all. It is every single time ignored because of the sway of the literals in control. There are predominately two or three metropolitan areas in this state that are extremely liberal. These areas carry the votes for the rest of the state, regardless of the desires of the rest of the constituents. So, despite voting having no power at all, I still continue to do so.
Lastly, for awhile I considered leaving this country; the old adage I think is still true: if you don’t like this country then get out. But, a cursory look at the state of affairs around the world and you quickly discover with all the issues pressing us in the US today, the rest of the world is still far worst and offers even fewer protections for its citizenry. For a long time I wanted to move to New Zealand, but this was squashed when COVID hit and the authoritarianism rose in that region.
Lately I have been convicted (I presume and hope) by God that I and my family are to remain here on the coast, in this particular area, to serve this particular people. If things get back, if the US breaks up, erupts in civil war, or is invaded by a foreign aggressor, we are to remain here and do what we can – to serve Christ. If the west coast is banded together into an authoritarian region, we are to remain here. If persecution begins, we are to remain here. This is our home. This is our paradise. It is, for us, the front lines. Our chosen destiny is to serve the church, to try and teach and educate as many as our being saved and added to the church as we can until the time of the end or until our days are numbered.
This is our reasonable service.
Discuss the purpose, establishment and location of the Levitical cities of refuge.
There were no prisons in Israel. It was a five-fold restitution and habitual criminals were killed. If someone murdered another by accident, they had to flee to one of the Cities of Refuge. There were three beyond the Jordan to the east and three in the west. These were the only safe places to be to escape the “open season” that would be placed on your head by the victim’s family. Once the high priest died, then the families could not longer try to murder you and you could return home. It is quite a bizarre system, but it is an Israeli one and not one that we must contend with today. Though, similar kinds of things take place today. If you are poor, you will more likely be prosecuted. If you have some money, you will more likely be sued in civil court. But if you have a lot of money or a lot of influence (if you have one you usually have the other now), then you can pretty much do whatever you want without recourse. Money seems to buy justice.
Discuss the function of elected officials in a democracy. Are you a business owner? How would you handle subordinates that threw away your money, encouraged corruption, ignored your directions, and bribed you with your own money at performance review time?
Yes, of course, anyone you employ who did not work, who was corrupt, who ignored my instructions, who tried to bride me with money they stole from me, I would dismiss. But, this analogy does not hold water. The very mechanism by which the employer in this scenario could use to “fire” said employee has been stripped away. Now the employee has too much power, has been in their position for far too long, and if you try to fire them, they will come back after you. If you are poor or middle class or have any kind of dependent interest (you are not independently or generationally wealthy) they will come after you and destroy you or try to put you in jail.
This last election in the US, I am convinced, was a fraud. I don’t think Mr. Biden was legitimately elected as president. I don’t think he beat out everyone. I don’t think he beat out Trump. But, it really doesn’t matter. The mice in the circus are going to do what they will, but in the end, God will have them in derision.
The last election, the person I wanted to vote for never even made it to the ballot and then he simply disappeared from the public scene. Even when the elected officials do get into office, they do not do anything. But you also cannot remove them. The systems they have in place for “change” and “airing grievances” is a sham and nothing is ever changed.
We do not live in a republic, a represented democracy. We live in an oligarchy and the wealthy people and those born to influence are the Lords and we are the indentured servants. They would rather dispense with the contracts and just make us slaves.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
There was nothing of note.
Session 22
Have you ever felt condemned by those who profess to be Christians? Have you ever condemned another and what was the motivation? Did you feel justified?
Everyday. Especially when I was younger. In my 20s I spent about 10 years trying to serve in various churches or in church groups. I have always felt judged by them. Looking back, I’m not certain I know why that is. I’m not certain why I am so uncomfortable with people. I think it is tied to distrust because of the hurt that people have caused in my life. I also for some reason don’t feel at all adequate or don’t want to appear inadequate or don’t want to be discovered to be inadequate.
I can’t recall a time when I’ve condemned another person. There are people by which I make judgments. It does not take very much for me to write an individual off as someone I would not want to be around. Most people, in fact, I write off and do not associate with. This has changed over the last year because I now am involved in a church where I don’t get the option to simply stop associating with people that upset me, or people I don’t agree with.
We all make judgments concerning others. We all make determinations. It is impossible to go through life without trying to determine someone’s motivations, the prompts that caused them to do the things they are doing. I know in my previous life I was quick to cut and I would make it clean. My ex wife’s children’ grandparents are an example. I knew they were former addicts. I had suspicious the “former” was not all that accurate. But, their behaviors were altogether irresponsible. They were pretty selfish. They were adamant that they just wanted to “get over” on us and make a point. They wanted to see the kids and wanted to do so without any of the rules we had established for them.
When they broke the rules, I simply said they are done. There was, for me, no going back. There was no making things right. I didn’t hold anything against them. I honestly didn’t care enough about them to hold a grudge. But I wanted peace in the home and the only way to do this was to remove that which was the source of irritation.
I’ve experienced this in my second marriage with my wife’s family members. There are people in her life (now our life) that I simply do not care for. I don’t feel they are responsible, that they are interested in the wellbeing of others (especially my wife) and that they are continually trying to take advantage of people. I would cut them out completely, but I have learned that this would not be beneficial for my wife. Because of our marriage and other factors, my wife has lost contact with a foster child she loves dearly and I can see how painful it is for her. I know it is in her best interest that she is not part of the child’s life given who her parents are and what kind of people they are. But this knowledge (opinionated as it is) in no way makes the loss or the pain any less for my wife. There is nothing I know of that I can do to repair whatever it is that is broken in the child’s parents minds. They are obstinate and a rabid dog will bite your hand regardless of your intentions when you try to reach out to help them. There is no reasoning with someone like this. You must turn them over. But, I cannot say this to my wife. It is not beneficial.
Today I try very hard to pause in my initial conclusions about others. I try to adjust my thinking, and consider first what is in their best interest, regardless of what they do to me or say about me. This is what Christ did for me. I was a blasphemous creature who rejected him and the Father and had no inclination toward him. Yet, despite this, he still loved me. He loved me enough to do what was in my best interest even if I would have told him not to bother if he had asked.
Describe the difference between those who are weak and strong in the faith. Are those who are weak or strong in the faith the same as those who are mature or immature in the faith? Explain.
The weak and strong are, according to Paul, the one who has imposed rules on them and those who have liberty in Christ. As Paul states, “there is nothing unclean of itself” (Ro 14:14), but to the one who is burdened that something is wrong, to them it is actually wrong. They should not do that which they are convicted not to do. Transversely, the one who is strong in his faith is one who recognizes that he can do anything in Christ. He is free of the self-imposed or externally imposed (by a church or denomination or any other organization or culture) rules and regulations that so often accompany man-made religion. But, this individual is not to cause to stumble or anxiety in the individual who is weaker.
We are called to not superficially judge one another, because God receives both of us. Christian maturity is considering the benefit of the other before ourselves.
Ro 14:13 says, “let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”
Maturity in Christ is not paired with weak or strong faith. Maturity is not using our liberty in Christ as an excuse to cause another to falter in their own faith. We are to build up one another, and Paul says “I would rather never eat again if it means my brother would be spared from stumbling” (1 Co 8:13).
It seems there are more people who know Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” than there are those who know John 3:16. Why do you think this is? Do you think Matthew 7:1 is misquoted in order to allow more tolerance? If we say Hitler was evil and Mother Teresa was good, aren’t we making judgments?
This is most often used by those who do not want their sinful deeds to be pointed out or called sinful. They do not want disciple or correction. But, this passage in context is really speaking to the individual that is passing judgment on another person (not from the perspective of the person being judged).
It is not saying we should be tolerant of sin (condoning sinful activities or licentiousness), especially habitual sin within the church, but that we must be careful in the assumptions and conclusions we make about other people, because the measure we use to measure other people will be the same measure God uses to measure us.
He is calling for mercy, for discretion, for consideration, and for tactfulness. But he is not calling us to compromise. He tells us in Matt 7:5 “remove the blank from your own eye, and then remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” In the full context, the removal of sin occurs in both individuals: the one who judges and the one being judged. Jesus wants the sin removed, he just wants the judge to make sure he has first judged himself to the same degree.
It is a misapplication of the passage to use it to say “stop judging me so I can continue in my sin.” It simply does not say this. It says from the Judge, “Give me a minute while I clean up my own house before I go over and help you clean up your house.” Both houses will inevitably get cleaned.
Compare Romans 14:11-13 with 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 and Matthew 7:1-2. What can you conclude from these passages in light of this session? Does Matthew 7:1 disallow the right to make moral and spiritual judgments within the congregation?
These passages do not preclude judgment or church discipline in identifying sin in a person’s life and helping them correct it. Jesus is saying in Matthew 7:1-2ff that we should not just judge people about their sin, but we should first judge ourselves and remove our own sin, then we should help our brother identify and remove his sin as well. It doesn’t remove the identification and removal of sin (judgment) but simply prequalifies it with self-judgment.
Ro 14:11-13 says, because we are going to be judged by Christ, we should not be focused on judging one another, but should resolve to help our brother with whatever is challenging him. We should not burden our brother with the exercise of our own liberties, but should consider them before we do anything.
Lastly, Paul is pretty harsh: we should not associate with the confessed brother (a Christian) who openly and habitually sins. There is a difference, I think, between the brother who is struggling with some sin (adultery, fornication, homosexuality, anger, etc) and the brother who claims Christ but who in his life involves himself in these things unrepentantly.
If we have been saved, why are we as Christians encouraged to persevere? What is the difference between rewards and salvation? Describe what it means to gain a reward for a life of faithfulness.
I personally do not accept the idea that we will receive rewards in heaven based on some kind of merit system that grades us on the works we have done on earth during our human life.
I do think Paul, in references like this 1 Ti 1:19; 4:1; Ga 1:6-8; 5:4; 2 Ti 4:4; He 6:4-6; 1 Jo 2:19, is speaking of salvation and not works or rewards. These individuals are “departing” from the faith, they are “estranged” from the Christ. They are “not of us.” They “turn away from the truth.” This is not wordage that denotes they are still “part of” the body of Christ.
The reward of a life of faithfulness is everlasting life. Peter says the end of our faith is our salvation (1 Pe 1:9). But, that being said, I’m not certain it is even possible for a person who is truly saved, who has been sealed by the Holy Spirit, can actually escape the Father’s hand (Ro 8:35-39).
Personally, I would argue with John, if they departed from us it means they were never of us to begin with (1 John 2:19).
Where did observing the Sabbath on Sunday originate in the Scriptures? What is the Sabbath all about? Briefly summarize what you have learned about Jesus and Paul in regard to the Sabbath?
During the 2nd century, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria all attacked the Sabbath. Tertullian followed in the third century. It was actually at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD when Constantine established Sunday as the official day of rest. Constantine had been (or was still) a Mithraic when he also became a Christian. It is Sunday, the first day of the week, that these pagans worshiped their god of the sun. Now these pagans, who were a major competitor of Christianity in the first three centuries, were worshiping on the same day as Christians.
Later, at the Council of Laodicea in 365 AD, Sunday Sabbath was made a requirement and people were obligated by law to work on Saturday so as not to become a “judiazer.”
Augustine in 400 AD stated that “the holy doctors of the Church have decreed, all the glory of the Jewish Sabbath is transferred to Sunday.”
It is clear, the early church was wrong in this instance. They were certainly anti-Semitic and Constantine was still either clinging to the old religions of his past or he was more interested in uniting the diverse groups of people under his authority than in proclaiming the truth of Christ and the Bible.
The Sabbath itself was given before the Law of Moses. We find it in Ge 2:3 when God “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.” So, the argument that we are not bound by the law in and of itself does not really extend to the Sabbath since the Law only reminded us to observe the Sabbath and make it holy. The passing of the law in Christ does not remove the obligation of the Sabbath to be kept.
What does remove this obligation is what Paul says in Col 2:16-17. “Let no one judge you in food or in drinks, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” We in Christ are at liberty. If we observe a special day and are convinced in our own mind, then we should do it. It, in fact, would be a sin not to do it. But, the reverse is also just as true.
Dr. Missler also points out in this lecture the reality that the Sabbath will be part of the Kingdom of God (Isa 66:22-23), in the new heavens and new earth, with the temple being closed six days out of seven, and it being opened only on the Sabbath and on the New Moon (Ez 46:1ff). This would, though, make sense since the Millennial Kingdom government and culture will be Jewish and the completed Jewish people (resurrected – Ez 37) will be the principle nation with David and Jesus as co-rulers.
Dr. Missler makes the point that in reference to the Sabbath, we as Christians are not accountable to each other but to the Lord alone. This is not entirely true. We are to submit ourselves to those in authority including secular and church leaders (Ro 31:1). We are also to submit to one another in love (Eph 5:21).
But, in all this, it is difficult to ignore 1 Co 3:14-15. “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; be he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
In this lecture there was some discussion about losing one’s salvations. The word for “disqualified” in 1 Co 9:26-27 is ἀδόκιμος. It is also used in 2 Co 13:5 when Paul is most certainly talking about salvation: “exam pin yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.” There are simply too many of these kind of references in the Bible to prove eternal security. It is apparent, some of those who are considered part of the church will be lost or disqualified.
Dr. Missler states there is this requirement that to reign with Christ we must suffer with him (Ro 8:17). This is supported by Acts 14:22, “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Session 23
Romans 15:2 commands us to edify our neighbor. How long has it been since you encouraged someone in Christ?
I try to do so with my wife and children every day. I try to explain, to uplift, to teach. I try to teach and inform the people in the church during Sunday school classes, something that I apparently do now. But, encouragement and one on one discipleship, I’m not certain this is a gift I have been given. But, neither are the others. I know he has given me a thirst for his word. He has given me a desire to understand. He has given me a desire to write and communicate with the written word the truth of God and about the mysteries of God and the brokenness of human experience. He has given me a provision in which to teach these things to others directly, both in person as well as at a distance.
I don’t know what the future holds. I know I would like to continue my studies at KI. I never thought I would actually finish the entire program. I would like to pursue my fiction writing and see what God has in store for me. I am open to continuing the teaching he has given me to do. I do not yet (may never) actually enjoy it. But I do enjoy the process of it. The teaching could and may lead to further teaching in the future, with the ultimate goal really of developing lectures for the workbooks. I have considered a community that is focused around the books. Mighty Networks has a good system. I don’t know. I will have to pray about it. It is possible I could set up a subscription system with a membership price where everyone could study together. I could link these courses to the books and to the workbooks. If you subscribe you don’t need the workbooks with everything already built in. But, then again, why reinvent? Why not have a community where there are live classes where we have discussions together on various topics. But, then again, again, why do we need the community if we already have the workbooks? The community could be the books, workbooks, blog, podcast, and then the communication with those. Then it could all remain asynchronous, which I ultimately prefer.
But, I am tempted to do a live community where we could have discussion groups, a book reading club, live classes (where the workbooks are included, but you get live discussions together). I will need to pray more about this.
Diagram Psalm 69. Describe how it discusses the childhood of Jesus.
Verses 1-7 could be about anyone. They are not about Jesus since it says in verse 5 it says, “O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You.” Jesus does not have any sin which could not be hidden from God, nor would I agree that Jesus has any “foolishness,” so this must be about another.
Dr. Missler points to verse 8 “I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children.” This certainly would describe what happened to Jesus but I’m not so sure it refers to his childhood. More so his ministry.
Of course, there is verse 9, which is quoted in John 2:17 and Ro 15:3 as a fulfillment of prophecy at Jesus’ death.
There is verse 21, “they also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” This, again, is not about his childhood but about his death.
Verse 28 is rather frightening for those to whom it is directed, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous.”
Personally, I do not think this psalm is about Jesus’ childhood. There are references scattered throughout the text that point to fulfilled prophecy in Jesus’ crucifixion, but that is all.
A remez is “a hint of something deeper.” What are 5 remezes found in the Bible?
I did not find any mention of remez in the notes nor in the lecture itself, and I went back through and checked all the slides again. But, despite this, let me see if I can put together the five in question.
Given that Peshat is literal, Remez is allegorical, Derash is practical, and Sod is hysterical, I would argue that there are many more than five Remez or allegories found in the Bible. But, of five that I know:
1. Genesis 5 – This is a controversial topic and has been disputed by Dr. Heiser here (https://drmsh.com/allegorical-interpretation-names-genesis-5/). Personally, if I get the time, I would like to go through Dr. Heiser’ criticisms of Dr. Missler’s theory and discuss the finer points. Basically, it is claimed by Missler that hidden in this genealogy is the gospel of Jesus. It is based on the names and their devotions. It is allegorical because the message is not at all the meaning intended by the author originally.
2. Genesis 24 – The servant and Rebekah at the well. This is an incredible story of Abraham sending out his servant to find a wife for Isaac. If we pull back on this story, though, we see that allegorically, the unnamed servant (Eliezer) is the Holy Spirit, Isaac is the Church, Abraham is God the Father, and Rebekah is the Church.
3. Genesis 22:1-19 – the Sacrificing of Isaac. This story depicts Isaac (who is Christ), being brought up onto the mountain by his father, Abraham (who is God the Father), and is to be sacrificed there. At the last moment, Isaac is spared and God provides his own sacrifice in a ram. Then Isaac is not mentioned again for the three day journey home, indicative of Christ’s death.
4. Gen 5:22-24 – Enoch being raptured is a short, only a few verses mention of a man who “walked with God” or with whom “God was well pleased” and “he was not for God took him.” This is viewed by Dr. Missler as an allegory of the church being raptured. This is also depicted in the story of Ezekiel being ushered away from earth in a fiery chariot.
5. John 8:48-59 – I Am of Jesus story depicts Jesus arguing with the Jews, stating, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” But they responded, “You are not even 50 years old and you’ve seen Abraham?” Jesus replied, “before Abraham was, I am.” This was allegorical, Jesus speaking of himself as the voice in the burning bush (Ex 3:14).
The precision of the Bible demonstrates its supernatural origin. Why is this research too important to delegate to others, even well-known Bible scholars?
The preciseness of the Bible lends itself to its supernatural origin. As you study the Bible for yourself, as you discover some of these fascinating aspects of the documents, it changes how you view the book itself, your attitude toward it, and it increases their reliability in your own life. This cannot be left to a secondary source, such as a Bible teacher or pastor. If the only food you are receiving of the word is through second hand sources, you will never experience this transformation for yourself.
This, of course, sounds good on the surface. But, it discounts generations of Christians who became believers, lived, and died Christians throughout much of Church history who did not have direct access to the Scriptures, did not have the Bible in the current form it is today, and who lived at a time in history when reproduction of the Scriptures was painstaking and costly so there were not many copies available.
There are also the first 100 years of the church that had only the Old Testament as its Scripture before the New Testament was written or while it was being written and before it was cataloged and chosen for inclusion. Are we to discount all of these believers as not being part of the church? Are they not part of the body?
Describe how God has given “patience” in your life.
God often lets me go through suffering just for that reason, to have me develop patience. There are several instances in which I can recall over the years where he put me in a particular situation, or more of a perceived situation that seemed dire to myself. It’s as if he goes out of his way to put me into jeopardy or what appears to be jeopardy just so he can bail me out of it, just to show me that he is faithful.
He also took me through a period in my life where just about everything I wanted was being threatened of being taken away from me. My house, my lake property, my livelihood, my faith in the things I trusted in. He brought me right to the edge, and did this for about 10 months, dangling me off the edge of a cliff until I recognized that it didn’t matter if I lost everything in my life – God would be there to protect me, to provide for me, to support me. He had my best interests at heart always with every turn of every event.
After the 10 months, once I had learned this lesson quite well, he simply turned events abruptly in the opposite direction and overnight all the issues, all the concerns were simply gone. Overnight, nothing was in jeopardy, and everything was restored to me in my life. And yet, I still had a renewed sense of knowing and believing and trusting that God would be there in everything.
Describe how God has given “consultation” in your life. What opportunities do we have to provide “consultation” to others?
He does this through his Word and he also does it, especially in times of trial, through prayer and a kind of direct communication where I will pray, ask him for solution, pour out my soul to him, and he responds with convictions, some kind of direct telepathy or thought transference, where he implants the answers into my head and I just know his answer or his solution or his correction. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it even myself. I just know it is true and I have experienced it many times.
The opportunities to provide this kind of consultation with others is spirit led. I would argue that we need to remain always open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to his guidance and conviction. But we should not necessarily seek out opportunities to do so because if we manufacture such things then it is operating in the flesh and is not of the Spirit and is, as Dr. Missler stated, worthless works.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
I have nothing here to report.
Session 24
Dr. Missler says that Biblical Christianity is increasingly becoming “politically incorrect” in America. Do you agree or disagree? Support your opinion.
I would agree with this. In the last 30 years, we’ve gone from a place where American Christianity was so entrenched and the American governmental system was so successful that I never could conceive of a time in my lifetime where the government would have given way to a one world government or authoritarianism. But in just 30 years, I’ve seen not only the government bow to a new religious ideology, but as well masses of the church (or what is called the church today) has accepted with open arms evil that is called good and increasingly rejects and is hostile to good that is called evil.
Covid shined a light on the things that were happening behind the scenes, and made people stand up and have to make a decision. It also illustrated how the masses are so willing, without any evidence whatsoever, to brand, convict, and punish people who differ from them (sometimes for the craziest of reasons).
But, I think God used this event (the 2 years of it) to wake up biblical Christians that were previously asleep. They now have no excuse for when the genuine things occurs. They have been given the warning, knowing that if authoritarianism comes, their government has no desire to protect them. If we are invaded by a foreign power, there is no rescue on the horizon. The government will leave us for dead. They will leave us to die.
Biblical Christianity is the last stand of the church in the modern era. This is, of course, if we are genuinely in the end times. If so, this is a great thing. It means that the rapture may very well occur in our lifetime. Our children will not have to endure an entire lifetime on this earth, suffering the tragedies, the setbacks and the burdens of living. Then again, it could be, once all is said and done, that we will be seen as still part of the Early Church with many, many years remaining to go before the end. It is all in God’s plan.
Do a study on name changes or “new names” in the New Testament.
There are only three people that I know if in the New Testament that have different names or were given different names. Paul (Saul), Matthew (Levi), and Peter (Simon/Cephas).
I don’t see anything particularly interesting about the name changes. Saul was changed to Paul, which means little. Levi means joined in harmony, while Matthew means gift of God. Peter, of course, means Rock.
Relate an incident from your life in which the ninth commandment made a significant impact. Don’t forget to include forgiveness, if applicable, and how it entered into the events of the incident.
The ninth commandment is “you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Personally, I do not know of a time or incident when this is applicable. I became a believer at the age of 17. To my knowledge, I don’t remember ever lying about someone else before then. I, of course, lied quite often about something I did or didn’t do when younger, when I thought I would get in trouble.
After becoming a Christian, I don’t recall another instance when I lied about or on behalf of another believer. I’m sure there are some instances, but my memory is not very good as it is. Against my neighbor: the issue here is that for much of my adult life I have not interacted with my neighbor or with society at large. I’ve always tried to live in remote areas, and I do not have any kind of a social life to speak of. Even today, with married life, and despite being very active with kids activities and church activities, I still do not have a need or reason to lie about a friend, associate, or really anyone.
List the “amanuenses” of the New Testament and the books they scribed.
Sosthenes – 1 Co
Timothy – 2 Co; Phil; Col; 2 Th; Phile;
Silvanus – 2 Th; 1 Pe;
The best example of these is found in the comparison between 1 Peter and 2 Peter, with 1st Peter being written by Silvanus, but 2 Peter being written by Peter himself (or someone else). The language of the first is perfect and of high quality, while the second is much different, and more rudimentary.
Contrast Paul and Jesus’ regard for women as related to the prevailing culture of their era.
We, of course, should begin with Jesus’ view, as much of it as we can assemble, which is not much at all. We see that Jesus’ view of marriage was much different than the Jewish or the Roman view. Jesus did not desire divorce under and circumstance, but allowed it for infidelity (Matt 19:3-12). This is a limitation to the Roman woman who could divorce her husband, but a liberation to the Jewish woman who could not divorce her husband but could be divorced by her husband for any reason. We also have the instance of Jesus talking to the woman at the well, which was anathema both for him to speak to a woman and to speak to a Samaritan (John 4:7-26). Then we also have the casting of the first stone account in John 8:1-11, but this has less to do with her being a woman and more to do with her being a sinner (and all of us being sinners).
Clearly, Jesus did not have an issue with women supporting him, serving him, administering aid to him, or being a disciple for he had all these and more so. In fact, he sided with Mary over Judas (John 12:3-9). It says he loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (John 11:19). But this is about all we have of his views.
Paul, on the other hand, had several things to say on the matter. First, there are a number of women referenced in his letters: Pricilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus’ mother, Nereus’ sister, Phoebe, his own mother as well. Timothy’s mother is also mentioned as is his grandmother.
Phoebe is considered an envoy of Paul, listed as a διάκονος a “servant” or “minister” of the church in Cenchrea, a neighborhood in Corinth. Unless this title/term is used differently today, this would preclude the prohibition of women serving the church as ministers or servants or missionaries per se. She was, after all, entrusted to carry a letter of the church, precious correspondence in those days.
1 Timothy 3:10 would limit the role of servant, minister, or (in our vernacular) deacon to men. It is certainly clear according to (Phil 1:1; 1 Ti 3:8ff) that this was, indeed, an established role in the church. But, the deacon, regardless of the controversy, holds no real authority in the church itself, at least not inherently, according to the actual function of the position (this does not include the misappropriation some modern denominations are guilty of in calling elders deacons rather than calling pastors ministers, if there is even such a position in the church to begin with.
But, the nail in the coffin of pastorate women (because this is what the argument really boils down to typically) is “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church” (1 Co 14:34-35). Likewise, he reiterates, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Ti 2:11-14).
They are to be in ὑποταγῇ or “submission” which is the core issue. He applies this to learning, teaching, and having authority and he invokes the fall for this ordinance. This in no way prohibits a woman from teaching younger women, or children (Titus 2:3), which, again, is the issue at hand. It is a rebellion against the curse itself, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Ge 3:16b).
I would argue that the culture had little to no bearing on the views of Paul or Jesus. In fact, Jesus, on several occasions went against the prevailing culture when interacting and speaking to women. The source of their objections to women in leadership was from the OT, originating from God himself (rather than Moses).
What was the most meaningful knowledge you gleaned from this study of Romans? Why? How will the knowledge change your actions?
This would be difficult to say. I started out hoping to get a better view of Romans. I think I might have done this to a certain extent. I’m hoping reading though it based on the major sections Dr. Missler had it split up into and doing a summary of each section will help in this respect. It’s been difficult for me to keep a consistent view of the entire letter, especially since the course is spread out over a long period of time, like this one was.
K-W-L Self Assessment: L- Describe what you LEARNED from this session.
I find it fascinating that we are given the one exception to the obligation of hospitality every Christian is required to provide: the brother that causes divisions and offenses. These we are to identify, mark, and then avoid (Ro 16:17). This is a hard pill to swallow for those in the modern American Church that thrives on sensitivity, compromise, acceptance, and non-confrontation. But, enemies we are to forgive. The wicked we are to invite in. The sinner we are to turn the other cheek. But the brother who consistently stirs up strive, who is backbiting, who is contentious, this one we are to have nothing to do with (Ro 1:30; 2 Co 12:20; James 4:11). I would argue for Dr. Missler’s approach in that gossip comes to you regardless of your desire to receive it. But it is up to us to spread it further. We do not have to.
Concerning the ministries that purpose themselves in accusing the brethren. I’m not certain I’ve ever come across something like this. Don’t get me wrong. There is a lot of finger pointing in the modern church today. Just about everyone does it and it is usually not based on any biblical issue but is generally a denominational issue. While I would agree that it is Satan who is the accuser of the brethren, I think it is a bit harsh to correlate this with the accusing brother. Their intentions are good, but maybe misplaced. But I would argue for Mister’s alternative: correction being done privately through the eldership of the church. This should not be held in a public forum. But, with that being said, I don’t think the church should be attended publicly. I think the gathering and fellowship of the brethren should be secret. Those who are invited to join, should first be qualified. There should be an outer circle and then an inward circle. This, of course, is accomplished by and large by interest and attendance. The more activities in the church you attend, the more devout you are perceived. Of course, this is no accurate gauge. Rather than this, we should focus instead on systematic, contextual, organic, and dynamic discipleship. We should not be focused on “convincing” but on uncovering. We do not convince people to become believers but we uncover those who are being called by the Father to Christ.
It is an interesting statement to be “wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Ro 16:19). Wise is, as he states, wisdom. But simple here is ἀκέραιος or “being unmixed.” It is being uncontaminated by evil. Speeding is a good example. If someone speeds, they are committing a sin (if nothing else they are not obeying the authorities God has put over them). This makes them inherently evil. But I may go to lengths so that I can speed, such as by a radar detector, or use the Google App that points out when police are pulling people over and where speed traps are. Paul would rather here that I never speed and not even know about radar detectors or use apps that aid in me avoiding the law.
Conclusions
In the end, this is an essential course if you want to get a handle on the books of the Bible. Unfortunately, I did not have the extra time to do a second reading of all of Romans and follow Dr. Missler’s outline. I would like to do this in the future. I would recommend this course.
Until my next assignment….
Please consider supporting my writing, my unschooled studies, and my hermitic lifestyle by purchasing one or more of my books. I’m not supported by academia or have a lucrative corporate job – I’m just a mystical modern-day hermit trying to live out the life I believe God has called me to. So, any support you choose to provide is GREATLY appreciated.
Excerpt from Our Daughter:
“Okay, mom,” Randy said.
“You behave yourself and be nice. You’re lucky to have company while you wait for the doctors.”
The woman turned and started back the way she came.
“The nurse said it would be twenty or thirty more minutes, so we’ll eat quick and be back up here before they take you in, okay?”
“Okay, mom.”
“Sorry for him,” the woman said to Katie as she walked by.
“He’s funny.”
Katie grinned.
As the woman left, Katie noticed the boy moving around again on the bed. Before she realized what was happening, the tiny lump disappeared and she could hear the faint sound of bare hands and feet on the tile floor.
He was low crawling under the beds toward her.
A moment later, Randy popped his head out from under the nearest hospital bed, craning his neck around to look up at her.
“Hello, there,” Katie said.
Randy disappeared back under the bed, the bed sheet draping down almost to the floor. Katie could still see three little fingers pressed to the tile.
“What are you here for?” Katie asked, readjusting her seat in the chair, trying to get the ache in her chest to lessen.
For whatever reason, the wheelchair was really uncomfortable.
“Why are – “
Randy’s voice trailed off for a moment as he looked around.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m getting my leg fixed,” Katie said. “See?”
Randy poked his head back out from under the bed and looked at the leg she was pointing to.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“The doctor said it’s broken,” Katie said. “Shattered.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. Ouch.”
“Can you feel it?” Randy asked, able to stay out from his hiding place.
“I can feel it, but it’s not too bad,” Katie said, then tapped the IV in her arm. “This thing is giving me medicine of some kind for the pain. At least that’s what the nurses said.”
“Why are you – “
Randy stopped mid-sentence.
He scooted out from under the bed entirely and slowly crept over to er on all fours.
“What are you, some kind of spider?” Katie asked, giggling a little.
“What are you?” Randy echoed.
He was now only about a foot away from her chair and sat there, his legs folded up under him, gawking up at her.
“What are you staring at me for?”
“I’ve never – “
Randy put out a hesitant hand and ever so gently touched her arm.
“Are you some kind of ghost?”
He looked around again.
“Are you – ”
He leaned in, talking in a whisper.
“Are you dead?”
A nurse came around the corner and stopped abruptly, spotting the empty bed in the far corner where Randy should have been.
“Randy Andrews,” the nurse said, her hands now on her hips. “You get right back into the bed and you stop playing around, please. They are ready for you in surgery.”
Katie watched as Randy scrambled on all fours under the beds and back up onto his, pulling the sheet back over top of himself again.
She started to ask him about his question, but couldn’t get the words out before his parents appeared at the door.
Katie sat there quietly, watching Randy stare back at her from under his sheet. She glanced over at his parents and the nurse, noticed Randy’s dad had no hair on the top of his head.
Are you dead?
What kind of question was that?
The snap of the wheel locks being disengaged on Randy’s hospital bed jarred Katie out of the confusion she was in.
The doctor she’d first seen was now at the door, waiting for Randy.
He was his surgeon.
They wheeled Randy out of the room, his parents following right behind, disappearing to the left, heading for his operating room.
The pre-op room was empty again.
Dead.
Are you dead?
What kind of crazy question was that?
The nurse came back through the double doors.
“It won’t be long now,” she said.
“Okay.”
Katie tried not to think about the dull ache growing just behind her sternum.
The nurse disappeared around the corner as Katie watched the double doors to the operating rooms slowly shut.
Buy my book Our Daughter and begin the adventure of a lifetime, as you uncover the mysteries behind Katie Cadora’s new life after the horrible accident that stole her mother away from her. Will she find sure footing again? Will the pain ever stop? Will she discover the secrets her new foster family are keeping from her? Is the boy’s question right? Is Katie Cadora actually dead?
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