Understanding the Times

Daniel 9

We live in uncertain days.  Wars, fires, terrorist attacks, hurricanes, earthquakes and a host of other calamities are happening all around the world.  What are we to think of the times we are living in?  Let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches about understanding the times we are living in.

We will start our exploration in the Old Testament, back before David became king of Israel.  During the last days of Saul’s reign over Israel, many of his military leaders were defecting and going over to David.  1 Chronicles 12:32 tells of some of these when it says:

From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.  (NLT)

These men were noted for their discernment in understanding the signs of the times, and therefore, made the choice to align themselves with David.  Since there were 200 of them, it does not seem that this was a unique giftedness as much as training or education.

Jumping forward in history to when Jesus was teaching in Judea, we find Jesus confronting the religious teachers of His day about their inability to discern the signs of the times.  Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day with the following statement:

“You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; ³red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!”  (Matthew 16:2-3, NLT)

Obviously, Jesus expected them to be able to understand the times they were living in.  In other words, understanding did not require special knowledge as much as attentiveness.

Because of their ignorance of the times, many of the people of Jesus’ day did not understand that He was their Messiah.  This is precisely what Jesus was pointing out in Matthew 16.  However, it is important to understand that their ignorance was willful.  God made it plain in His Word, and Jesus made it plain in His teaching, but many chose not to acknowledge or recognize the truth.

Scripture tells us that it will be the same in the last days.  Many will remain ignorant on purpose.  In 2 Peter 3:3-7, Peter tells us:

³Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. ⁴They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

⁵They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. ⁶Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. ⁷And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.  (NLT)

Pay special attention to the words, “They deliberately forget.”  Verse 3 specifically says that those who mock the truth follow their own desires.  Many truths of Scripture are inconvenient if we are determined to follow our own desires.  The promise of Jesus’ return and the judgment of God on those who suppress the truth by their ungodliness is just one of these inconvenient truths.

Knowing the signs of the times is not a prophetic gift.  It is a matter of knowing the Word of God, and applying it.  For example, Herod’s scholars were able to discern that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem when Herod inquired as to the location of Messiah’s birth.  While many of Jesus’ day did not recognize the signs of the times, there were many who did recognize the times.  We have the Gospel account of Nicodemus as well as many others who came to Jesus.  Acts 2 gives the account of 3,000 believers added to the Church in one day.  Therefore, we can assume that the signs of the times were clear to those who believed.

Many passages in the Bible speak of what is to come. Dr. John Walvoord, in his The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, discusses a thousand passages on prophecy, some of which are single verses and some of which are paragraphs or entire Bible chapters.  According to Dr. Walvoord, half of those passages, approximately five hundred, have been fulfilled.[i]

This gives us a couple of things we can build on.  First, we can see the reliability of Bible prophecy.  Everything has been happening just as it says in the Bible.  Second, it shows us how we can interpret prophecy.  The prophecies fulfilled so far have been literal.  For example, it was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and he was born in Bethlehem.  It was prophesied that Jesus would be born of a virgin, and he was born of a virgin.  From the way prophecies have been fulfilled in the past, we can see that the literal interpretation is what we can expect.

In Daniel chapter 9, we see Daniel interpreting the prophecies of Jeremiah in their literal sense.  Daniel 9:2 says:

I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.  (NLT)

He is referring to Jeremiah 25:11 that says:

This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

However, he prays for the rest of the prophecy to be fulfilled because Jeremiah 29:10 says:

This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.  (NLT)

These prophecies drove Daniel to pray.  We especially see this in Jeremiah 29:11-14 which says:

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. ¹⁴I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.

In Daniel’s prayer, recorded in Daniel 9, we see the wholehearted seeking of the Lord that Jeremiah is speaking of.  Daniel had spent over sixty years serving foreign kings as a captive from Judah, and knew from the prophecies that the time was drawing near for the end of the captivity.

As Danial was praying and seeking God, the angel Gabriel came and delivered a message to Daniel.  Daniel 9:21-23 says:

²¹As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. ²²He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. ²³The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

There are a couple of things that are worth noting in Gabriel’s opening statement to Daniel.

First, he tells Daniel that he came to give Daniel insight and understanding.

There are mysteries and things that we cannot understand.  For example, although we believe and teach the Trinity, it is a concept that we cannot fully understand or comprehend.  Even so, it is clearly taught in Scripture.  There are many things in prophecy that are difficult to understand because we do not have the ability to know what has not yet come about.  For example, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was foretold in the prophets and was clearly understood, but who would have pictured a stable and who would have understood He would be greeted by shepherds?  However, as difficult as prophecy is, it is given to give us insight and understanding.  In Amos 3:7 the Scriptures say:

Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.  (NLT)

Even the prophets had a difficult time picturing what was clearly given to them.  1 Peter 1:11 tells us:

They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. (NLT)

Prophecies are given to give us insight and understanding, but until the events actually unfold, we cannot picture all of the details.

I love the Covenant theologians.  However, there is a glaring weakness in their teaching on the end times.  In their view, the Church replaces Israel in God’s plan.  As a theology, Covenant theology developed largely before the 1940s.  Therefore, Israel was not a nation, had no prospects of being a nation and people living in the world of their day could not picture the world we live in today.  Now, when I look at the world in relation to prophecy, Ezekiel 37 and the Valley of Dry Bones makes a lot of sense.  God has kept his promise to make a dead nation live again. Certainly, I make no claim to be wiser than the Covenant theologians, but history has provided further revelation and will continue to do so as events unfold and we see how they fit with Scripture.

As events unfold, the clear and literal meaning of the prophecies is revealed.  This is why, as Luke 2:25-32 records, Simeon was able to understand so clearly that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel.  This is also why Anna was able to discern the same truth.  Neither of them would have been able to understand the truth if the Holy Spirit had not made it clear to them.  However, it is important to understand that not one of us is able to understand the Word of God without the Spirit of God.  The Spirit gives understanding to all who seek the Lord wholeheartedly as Daniel did.  God wants us to understand.  He gave us prophecy to give us insight and understanding, not to confuse us.

I said there were a couple of things worth noting in Gabriel’s opening statement, and insight and understanding is just the first one.  The second is that Gabriel tells Daniel, “…you are very precious to God.”

These word translated “very precious to God” in the NLT is translated “greatly beloved” or “highly esteemed” by other translations.  This is a translation of the Hebrew word “חֲמוּד֖וֹת,” (chamad) which means, to covet.  It is the word used in the Ten Commandments when it says, “Thou shalt not covet.”  When used in this bad sense, it refers to an inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire, such as lust or greed.  It is also used to describe idolatrous tendencies of delighting in things to the point of worship.  However, it is used in a good sense to describe the delight we can find in God’s Word in Psalm 119.  It is God’s delight in Daniel that explains His desire to make His plans clear to Daniel.  Notice the people that God has delighted in: Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Elijah, Isaiah and others.  They all received revelations of who God is and what He was or is planning to do. 

The Church is the bride of Christ.  We know that He loves us.  He gave His life for us.  He delights in us.  In John 15:15, Jesus says:

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.  (NLT)

Jesus said he had told the apostles everything the Father told Him.  In addition, because of His love, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. In keeping His promise, He has given us His Holy Spirit, and it is His Holy Spirit that makes the truth known to us.  In John 16:13, Jesus says:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  (NLT)

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth and tell us about the future.  He does this because He delights in us.  However, our understanding is not automatic.  We need to do what Gabriel encouraged Daniel to do.  In Daniel 9:23, Gabriel told Daniel, “Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.”  Paul gave the same sort of encouragement to Timothy when he said:

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15, NLT)

The KJV said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…”

There is much that can be discerned about the times we are living in just by paying attention to the Word of God.  As God’s people, we must be people of the Word.  If anyone teaches something inconsistent with God’s Word, they are not to be trusted.

As we look at the troubling events in the world around us, I want to encourage you with the word of Paul to the Thessalonians.

⁹For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. ¹⁰Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ¹¹So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, NLT)

---

[i] John F. Walvoord. End Times: Understanding today’s world events in biblical prophecy.  Word Publishing, 1998. pg. 11

The Tribulation

Daniel 9:20-27

What is the Tribulation?

In Matt 24 Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of war, and told us not to be alarmed because these things have to happen but they are not yet the end.  Let me read to you some of what Jesus said.

Matt 24:7-12

⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains. ⁹"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹²Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (NIV)

Notice that this says these are the beginnings of birth pains.  This is not describing the Tribulation.  This is describing the increasing wickedness in our world.  According to statistics gathered by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2010) an average of 159,960 Christians worldwide are martyred for their faith per year. 65% of all the martyrs in history were in the 20^th century.¹  False prophets and those claiming to be Christ have been numerous.  These things have been happening just like Jesus said they would. 

And yet verse 6 of Matthew 24 tells us not to be alarmed because it is not yet the end.  These are the beginnings of birth pangs.

Now let’s look at what the Bible tells us about the Tribulation.  First look at Daniels 12:1:

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-- everyone whose name is found written in the book-- will be delivered. (NIV)

We see here that there will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.  So all the suffering of World War 2 and the persecution of the Jews and the martyrdom of Christians in China and the communist nations will pale in comparison to the sufferings of the Tribulation period.  However, look at what it says – “at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered.”  I believe this is speaking of the rapture.

Now let’s consider what Jesus says about this same period of time in Matthew 24:21:

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again. (NIV)

Jesus repeats and confirms what Daniel said 600 years earlier.  There is a time of unprecedented and not to be equaled suffering coming to Earth.

We know that the Tribulation will be a period of 7 years.  We get this primarily from the prophecy of Daniel.  In Daniel 9:27 it says:

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one `seven.' In the middle of the `seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (NIV)

These sevens that it is speaking of here are 7 year periods.  There are a total of 70 of these sevens.  This prophecy of Daniel proved accurate to the day for Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and we can be confident they will prove to be just as reliable in regards to the Tribulation. 

I am not going to try to cover all the events of the Tribulation at this time.  What I am attempting to establish is that it will be a 7 year period of unprecedented suffering and distress.  The book of Revelation tells us many of the judgments that will be poured out and of many of the events.  All of this leads me to another question for today.

Why?

Why the Tribulation?

In consideration of this I want to read you a piece of ancient literature.  Let’s look at Psalm 2:

¹Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

²The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

³"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

⁴The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

⁷I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.

⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.

¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(NIV)

This Psalm was written perhaps 1,200 years before Jesus was born.  From before that time until the present, the nations continue to gather together and to take a stand against the Lord and against His anointed One, Jesus Christ.  Even in our nation, the most blessed and prospered nation in the history of the world, we are progressively kicking Jesus out of our public life.  This Psalm describes what is going to happen as a result. 

However, the Lord is not willing that any should perish.  He is actually using the Tribulation as a period in which individuals will have one last chance to repent and recognize Jesus as Lord.  People are doing just what Peter said they would do.  They are saying that everything is continuing just like it has always done.  But they do not realize that their destruction draws ever closer as they mock God and try to throw off what they see as chains and fetters.

Look with me at 2 Peter 3:3-9:

³First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

⁴They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

⁵But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

⁶By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

⁷By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

(NIV)

If it is drawing near, when is it?

When is the Tribulation?

Daniel gives us some information about this in Daniel 9:24-27.

²⁴"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

²⁵"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

²⁶After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

²⁷He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (NIV)

69 of the 70 “sevens” took place.  The end of these “sevens” was marked by Jesus being cut off “appearing to have accomplished nothing.” (Dan 9:27 NLT)   What remains is for the last “seven” to be accomplished.

Jesus told us this about the timing in Matt 24:32-33:

³²"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

³³Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.  (NIV)

So, we recognize that we need to watch the times.  We should be able to recognize the signs of the times. The best indicators are what we already read from Matthew 24:7-8

⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains.

These beginnings of birth pains are a good indication of what we are talking about.  A descent into evil is progressive.  As we have read today from 2 Peter 3 people will be saying, “Everything continues just as it has from the beginning.”  There is a constant increase in the problems in our world.  Earthquakes and tsunamis have increased.  Wars and conflicts continue to be waged all over the earth.  I think of the classic frog in a kettle.  I have never tried it, but I have heard that if you put a frog in a pot of water that is at a comfortable temperature and then slowly heat it up the frog will not try to escape and will eventually end up boiled.  People are saying everything is going on as always, but the pot is already near boiling.    

What then should we do?

What must we do to prepare?

First, I want to emphasize that Jesus has promised us victory.  He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)

Jesus said, “I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16)  We are not given the date or time, but we have marching orders.   By moving forward with courage and determination to influence our world for Christ, our forefathers accomplished great things.  The Lord has used our prosperity to send missionaries to the far reaches of the earth. 

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 says:

⁶And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.

⁷For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

(NIV)

We are part of what holds him back.  The Holy Spirit works through us.  The Bible warns that the love of many will grow cold.  This is what we must guard against.  We are not called and set apart to be defeated.  We are called and set apart to be salt that preserves and light that shows the way.  Difficulty is part of our calling.  Just like gold is refined by fire, our faith is strengthened by testing. 

Jesus is building His church, and we are to be part of it.  We are to be making disciples.

1. https://www.thoughtco.com/christianity-statistics-700533.  Accessed November 2012.

2.  Scripture quotations marked  NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

3. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

The Practicalities of Life

Philemon 21-25

The Gospel is powerful and life changing.

Jesus gives us eternal life and forgives our sins.  The eternal benefit is of utmost importance.  However, until we go to heaven, there are practical considerations that go along with life.  Our mission to make disciples cannot move forward without confronting the practicalities of life.  We see this in Paul’s letter to Philemon.  Today, we are going to see three ways in which Paul’s letter confronts the practicalities of life.  These three ways are materially, in prayer, and in caring.

First, as we consider how the material practicalities of life are confronted, we must realize that Paul was aging.  In Philemon 9, he says, “Consider this as a request from me-Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.”  NLT

We believe this letter was written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, where he spent two years under house arrest.  Paul wrote to Philemon approximately 26 or 27 years after the stoning of Stephen recorded in Acts 7.  Therefore, we calculate him to be in his 50s.  Writing five years before he wrote Philemon, in 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of some of the things he went through during the intervening years.  In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, he says:

23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.1

“Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.  Three times I was beaten with rods.  Once I was stoned.”  Think about these events.  Taken in the context of a life of travel, danger and endless toil, they are almost beyond belief.  By today’s standards, where the life expectancy in the United States is 79 years, 50 something is not an old man.2  50 something is not a young man, but Paul used the term, “an old man.”  I would suggest that Paul’s body was well used.  For the man whipped times without number, there was a lot of life in his years.

Paul was aware that his life was being spent.  In Philippians 2:17 he says, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” (ESV)  And again in 2 Corinthians 12:15 he says, “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” (ESV)  This aging and spending address the physical and material aspect of the practicalities of life.

Are you willing to pay any price as Paul was?  What price are you willing to pay for your faith in Jesus Christ?  

In Luke 14:26-29, Jesus said:

26“If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

28“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.

In Philemon 22 Paul says, “One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me…” (NLT)  This statement immediately made me think of the practicalities of life.  There are things that just have to be taken care of, as in, the practical things of life. These practicalities are all a part of the cost that must be counted.

We have in Paul’s example a person who was willing to pay any price to be Jesus’s disciple.  He was a prisoner at the time of writing and anticipated being dependent on Philemon’s hospitality when he arrived.  In fact, Paul was dependent on the generosity of the churches for his support while in prison.  There were times when he worked as a tentmaker in order to provide for his personal needs, but whenever possible, he devoted himself full-time to the ministry of the Word, depending on the Body of Christ to meet his financial and physical needs.  In 2 Corinthians 11:8, Paul says, “I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.” (ESV)3  In addition to financial support, Paul depended on the Church for other matters as well.  While he was in prison he was not alone.  We will see in the close of his letter to Philemon that Paul had a number of people with him.

In Philemon 21, Paul says, “I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more.”  Paul’s confidence is based on his knowledge of Philemon’s character.  Philemon’s character had been displayed in kindness and generosity toward other believers.  Paul mentions this in Philemon 7 when he says:

Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.  NLT

Philemon was one of the people that Paul depended on.  Non-Biblical tradition has it that later on Philemon also proved that he was willing to pay any price to be Jesus’s disciple.  However, at the time that Paul wrote to him, Philemon had a nice house with the ability to host a church and provide a guest room.  Philemon was not being called upon to leave his house for Kingdom purposes.  However, it is clear that Philemon was already using it for kingdom purposes.  Paul was able to call upon Philemon with confidence that Philemon would do the right thing, because Philemon already was living with Kingdom values.

How are you using what God has given you?  Are you using it for Kingdom values?  The mission that Jesus has called us to requires the resources of the whole Body.  For every Paul that is called upon to serve in a full-time capacity, it takes a number of Philemons who run households, and/or give and prepare guest rooms.  It only makes sense that if ten families give 10 percent, then the total giving adds up to the average of what each family is producing.  Some give more than 10 percent and some give less.  Paul addresses the amount of giving in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, when he says:

6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

In addition to using his resources to cover the practicalities of life, Philemon gave up time in another consideration of the practicalities of life.  He prayed for Paul.  Paul says, “...for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.”  (Philemon 22)

From this, I gather that it was the habit of believers to pray for each other.  Of course, Paul said:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  (2 Timothy 2:1)

And also, in Ephesians 6:18, he says:

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  

In a number of places, Paul mentions being helped by the prayers of the churches and his hope of deliverance by their prayers.

Acts 12 gives the account of Peter’s deliverance from prison by an angel.  He went to the house where the believers were gathered praying for him.  The girl that answered the door was so surprised that Peter was at the door that she forgot to open the door.  The prayers of other believers had a part in Peter’s deliverance. In the same way, Paul was confident that the prayers of other believers would work to his deliverance.

We have examples in our lives every day whereby we are reminded of our need to pray for each other.  Sickness, disease, hardship and accidents happen to all of us.  This is another of the practicalities of life.  Jesus has called us to make disciples, and as disciples we walk with Him and with each other in a broken and sinful world.  Part of the journey of discipleship is praying for and bearing each others’ burdens.

Besides material support and prayer support, we see a caring that was part of Paul’s life and ministry.  This caring was necessitated by the practicalities of life.

As I mentioned, Paul was aging.  Perhaps this is why Luke traveled with him.  At the close of the letter, we see that Luke was with Paul.  I make special note of Luke because he was a physician, and I suspect that because of all his beatings, travel and hardship that Paul needed some help.  However, I do not want to downplay the significance of the others that are listed as being with Paul.  Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus and Demas are all named.  We do not know what they were all doing, but they were all with Paul and involved in ministry with him.

We often know ministry by the names of leaders.  John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, John Piper, Matt Chandler and the list could go on and on.  However, not one of these people ministers alone.  There are hundreds and thousands of Epaphrases, Marks and Demases working tirelessly and namelessly behind the scenes helping, supporting, caring and sacrificing.

Every Sunday morning, every Youth group meeting and every children’s program is a group effort.  I say caring for this practicality because I believe Paul needed physical care.  But then again, so does anyone in ministry.  No one can carry the ministry alone.  We were not meant to.  

We have a mission to fulfill, and we are all called upon to participate in it materially, in our prayers and in our activities.  Are you a part of it, or are you a spectator?

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1. Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2. https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+average+age+of+death+in+the+united+states&oq=what+is+the+average+age+of+death Accessed September 30,2017.

3. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Millennium

In history, there have been a few men who have made an impact in their quest to rule the world.  Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great and Hitler are names that come to mind.  There have been others who have made a significant impact as they sought to expand their political influence.  History is most notably marked by the wars that accompany the expansion of kingdoms.  Granted, once political power is consolidated under one head, then peace and prosperity tend to grow. 

The Bible talks about a time when swords will be beat into plow shears, men will not practice war anymore.  Isaiah 65:25 says, “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD.”  (NIV)

The apostles and followers of Jesus were looking for Jesus to usher in this time.  In Acts 1:6, we are told about a meeting these disciples had with Jesus.  It says, “So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" (NIV) The apostles and early followers of Christ continued to teach on this subject.  Jesus will return.  According to Revelation 20, He will set up His kingdom for 1,000 years, during which time the devil will be bound.  At the end of that time the devil will be released from his chains to deceive the nations once again.

The thousand year reign of Christ on Earth is called the Millennium.  A millennium is a thousand years, and this is where the Millennium gets its name.  Besides the Revelation 20 passage we are looking at today, there are other Scriptures that speak of this period of time.

Why a Millennium?  When we try to understand what God is doing we must first realize that His ways are not like our ways, and there is no way we can fully understand.  This being stated let me give you a picture of what I think happened and is happening.  First, God put a man and a woman in a perfect environment with just one test.  Do not eat of the fruit of one of the trees.  Because mankind failed this test, God removed man from the Garden, and men depended on their consciences to direct their behavior.  This continued up to the time of Noah when God destroyed the Earth because of the wickedness of men.  God made a covenant with Noah and made the law that the man that killed a man was to be killed by Man.  This established an age of human government in addition to conscience.  As the rule of conscience ended with the flood, the rule of governments culminated in the Tower of Babel and the division of nations. God then chose Abraham and made him the father of a nation.  Through Moses, God gave the Law and the people entered into a covenant of works where at Mt. Sinai they promised to abide by all that was written in the Law.

These were four separate administrations that God had used with men:  First the perfect environment of the Garden, then conscience, then human government and then the Law.  There has always been only one plan of salvation and that is faith in Jesus Christ.  Adam and Eve knew Him only as the promised seed and those under the Law of Moses knew Him as the coming Messiah, the Anointed One. 

God set up these different administrations for mankind’s sake. 

Acts 17:26-27 tells us:

26        From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

27        God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (NIV)

God set up these administrations so that men would seek Him.  All the things that happened in history are examples for us that we might learn.

Speaking on the history of the Children of Israel, 1 Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” (NIV) This principle of teaching through history has remained constant as God has dealt with mankind.

So how did men do?  Well at the end of the time of the Covenant of Law God’s chosen people and the gentiles together rejected God’s Messiah, the Anointed One and crucified Him.  God has an everlasting covenant with Abraham but because of their rejection of the Messiah the nation of Israel was wiped out and dispersed throughout the world in 70 AD.

 

Since this time, there has been a new administration.  We call it the Church age.  Prior to this time in God’s administration, the plan of salvation was but dimly known.  Now it is plainly laid out for every person.  All that is required for any person is to accept what God has done through Christ.  In each and every age, mankind has rejected God’s administration.  When left to his conscience mankind sought evil until God destroyed the world.  When God established human government, mankind banded together and built a tower setting themselves up as supreme.  When God set up the Law, mankind rejected and crucified the Messiah.  Now that God has established His Church and sent His Holy Spirit to live among us, has the whole Earth yet bowed the knee to God and sought His kingdom and His righteousness?  Of course not, and we know that this age also will come to an end with the judgments of the tribulation.

There will be yet another administration set up, and this is why the Millennium.  In this administration the prophecies of Daniel will be fulfilled. 

Dan 7:27

27        Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.' (NIV)

As we read in Revelation chapter 20 the devil will be bound during this period.  He will not be allowed to deceive anyone for 1,000 years.  Everybody going into this kingdom will be redeemed.  They will have children.  And then at the end of the 1,000 years Satan will be released.  Let’s read again what happens.

Rev 20:7-9

7          When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison

8          and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth-- Gog and Magog-- to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.

9          They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (NIV)

Can you imagine this?  After 1,000 years of perfect government, godly parentage and all the lessons of history the rebellion that follows Satan will be like the sand on the seashore.  Even now it is almost unbelievable that as much as God has foretold, men still do not believe.  By the time of the end of the Millennium there will be even more history to show fulfilled prophecy, but it will not soften hard hearts.

So what is the point?  Why does God take the time to tell us all this?  Let’s look at Revelation itself and see what God says about why He is telling us this. Revelation 22:12-17 says,

12        "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

13        I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14        "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

15        Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16        "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

17        The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

(NIV)

Will you look at verse 17 again?

The Spirit is God Himself.  He says, “Come.”

The Bride is the Church, which is us.  We all with one voice say to all who will listen, “Come.” 

“Whoever is thirsty, whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

God is not willing that any should perish.  In every age, in every administration God has said this same thing.  He has taught us through History that the problem is not the system or the administration.  The problem is not with God.  It is us.  It is sin. 

Rom 3:10-12 explains it this way.

10        As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

11        there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

12        All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (NIV)

The history of the world teaches us that we are without excuse.  And still we make God our enemy.  Throughout history man has gathered himself together to oppose God.

The message of the Church and the Bible is simple.  Let me give you a synopsis.

It is found in John 3:16:

16        "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

Won’t you accept His free gift today?  The water of life is free.  God wins in the end.  Why would you put yourself on the losing side?  God loves you and wants you so accept His invitation today.