Transcript Document 7107716

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Lesson 10
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Topic Outline
 Recap Last Week’s Lesson
 Further Explanation (rising from Q/A session)
 Return [10] – New Earth
 Application to Us
 NGF Change in Viewpoint
 10 Lesson Summary Chart
 God’s Selection of Faithful People
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Recap – Return as King
Kingdom to last forever
brings peace
Drawing by Richard Hook
rules with iron rod
in Jerusalem
King of kings
Jesus shares throne
on David’s throne
over all the world
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Further Explanations to last week’s Q/A
• What do you have to say about Hal Linsey’s book “The Late
Great Planet Earth”? Short answer: I agreed with the first 70 pages,
and then he and I went in very different directions. For my viewpoint,
see 3 handouts: “Suggested Sequence of Events In and Around
Christ’s Coming” , “The Inevitable Ultimate Middle East Conflict”
and “What Will We Do in the Kingdom?”
• Explain 2Thes 2:3-6 “the man of sin (lawlessness)…”
• Explain “the mark of the beast – 666” (Rev 13:16-18)
• Explain Col 1:15-19 “for in him [Jesus] all things were created
in heaven and on earth”
• How was the ‘selection’ of the ‘inspired’ books and letters of the
New Testament done, and by whom? Why don’t other ‘gospels’
of that first century get considered as Scripture? – discuss
handout paper by Norm Zilmer.
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A Jesus-centered Viewpoint
Commentary on the Sequence
Jesus
4
Born of Woman
needs to be born first
Relevant
3
Relevant
Relationships
Alive body
Prophecies
needs to live first
2
Dead body
needs to die first
1
Resurrected
needs to ‘prove’ alive
+ give instructions
6
Appeared
7
Empowered
needs to give power
to help in the doing
needs to be non-dying,
non-sinning
8
5
Spiritual body
10
needs to go to God yet
still help while gone
Ascended
needs to put whole world
right, then give to God
9
New
Earth
To Return
needs to come back to raise
friends, give reward, and
share the rulership
6
A Jesus-centered Viewpoint
Jesus
4
Born of Woman
3
Alive body
Relationships
Prophecies
2
Dead body
1
Resurrected
6
7
New
Spiritual body
Earth
5
Appeared
Empowered
10
New
Earth
8
Ascended
9
To Return
7
What will the immortal saints be doing on earth?
Start
X
X
And those who are wise shall shine like
the brightness of the firmament; and
those who turn many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever.
(Dan12:3)
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Earth -1
10. New Earth
• new heavens & earth in which righteousness
dwells (2Pet 3:11-13, Is 65:17-19, Rev 21:1-5)
• fulfillment of “thy will be done on earth” (Matt
6:10, Is 11:9,62:11-12, Rev 1:5-7,5:9-10,21:22-27)
• renewed earth in every way (Is 2:2-4,65:20-25,
Zech 8:3-8, Ezek 37:24-28, Rev 22:1-5)
• Christ’s reign ends with Death destroyed and
the Kingdom delivered to God (1Cor 15:24-28)
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Earth -2
2Peter 3:11-13
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons
ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and
hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! 13 But
according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in
which righteousness dwells.
Points:
1. “new heavens and a new earth” = a completely new world order,
to be set up and administered by Jesus and his co-rulers
2. “in which righteousness dwells” = the result of being led and
controlled by righteous people; there will be opposition however
3. Wickedness of men in Noah’s day was destroyed by water (v.5);
wickedness of men in ‘the last days’ will be destroyed by fire (v.7)
Application:
Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by
him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (2Peter 3:14-15)
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Earth -3
Isaiah 65:17-19
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former
things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice
for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing,
and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
Points:
1. This passage is the OT background to 2Pet 3:13; the parallel idea
to “I create new heavens and a new earth” is “I create Jerusalem
a rejoicing” = what God will do through Jesus Christ when he
comes back to set up his Kingdom, with Jerusalem as its center.
2. The “rejoicing” is the result of “no more…weeping…cry of
distress” = what Jerusalem experienced by being “trodden down
[attacked/taken] by the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24, Rev 11:2, Zech 14:2)
Application:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6) is the action enjoined upon
believers today, as being comparable to Thy kingdom come (Matt 6:10)
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Earth –4a
Revelation 21:1-5
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband; 3 and I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will
wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither
shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things
have passed away." 5 And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make
all things new." … "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Points:
1. “new Jerusalem” is the
centerpiece of the new order
established by the Lamb of
God (Jesus); notice it comes
“down out of heaven from
God” to the earth and = “the
dwelling of God is with men”
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Earth –4b
Revelation 21:1-5
Points:
2. But the city is not literal walls,
gates, streets, but “the Bride,
the wife of the Lamb” = it is
composed of the faithful, built
on the foundation of apostles
and prophets (v.14, Eph 2:20)
with Christ Jesus himself being
the cornerstone (Eph 2:21)
Application:
in whom the whole structure is joined
together and grows into a holy temple
in the Lord; in whom you also are
built into it for a dwelling place of
God in the Spirit. (Eph 2:21-22)
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Earth -5
Matthew 6:9-10
9 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven
Points:
1. Repeat Lesson 9’s “So What”: This makes complete sense
for the believer to want Jesus to return to earth, since that is
the time he will raise from the dead & reward those who have
faithfully served him, and that is the place where Christ will
be in his Kingdom
2. But where does it put the teaching that “you go to heaven when
you die, to live forever there in God’s kingdom”?
Application:
It appears that the two foregoing teachings cannot both be correct:
one, or both of them are wrong. The Bible case has been made for
#1 being correct. Assuming it is true, then #2 needs to be let go.
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Earth -6
Isaiah 11:9-10
9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall
be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse [Jesus] shall stand as an ensign to the
peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.
Points:
1. This is 1 of 3 passages which refer to the overarching plan of God,
to fill the earth with the knowledge of Him = intimate relationship
of John 17:3 = “I will be their God, and they will be my people”
theme found throughout Scripture (see sample list)
2. “holy mountain” = Mt. Zion; Jesse was David’s father, but here
the “root of Jesse” points to Jesus, as the one who is the real source
(cf. Rev 5:5) + why has title “everlasting father” (Is 9:6, Gen 45:8)
Application:
While Solomon was sought out by the nations for his wisdom
and to be awed by his glory in Jerusalem, Jesus was/is/will be
far greater than Solomon (1Kings 10:1-5, Matt 12:42, Rev 5:12)
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Earth -7
Isaiah 62:11-12
11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the
daughter of Zion, "Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is
with him, and his recompense before him." 12 And they shall be called
The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called
Sought out, a city not forsaken.
Points:
1. This prophecy is the basis of Matt 21: 5 (Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem)
and Rev 22:12 (Jesus’ declaration* of his return)
2. “your salvation comes” = your Jesus, the Christ, comes
3. “called the holy people” = a basis of 1Pet 2:9-10
4. “the redeemed of the LORD” = a basis of Rev 14:5
5. Clearly seeing how these OT prophecies provide a rich and exciting
background to the NT application to the followers of Jesus
Application:
*Jesus proclaimed “I am coming soon, bringing my recompense,
to repay everyone for what he has done” = both a warning and
an alert to believers of all ages (cf. Rev 22:17-19, 16:15)
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Earth -8
Revelation 1:5-7
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the
ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by
his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him
be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming
with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and
all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Points:
1. “made us a kingdom, priests…” = begun now (1Pet 2:9) but fully
takes place upon Christ’s return, when instruction to mortals starts
2. “he is coming with the clouds [of glory] and every eye will see him
[totally visible], every one who pierced him [Jew and Gentile –
Acts 4:10], all the tribes of the earth will wail [Jews – Zech 12:10]
3. “ruler of kings on earth” & “dominion for ever and ever” = same
points as Lesson 9; “Amen” (twice!) = Yes, let it happen [soon!]
Application:
All happens because Jesus was “the faithful witness” [totally
obedient to the Father] and “first-born of the dead” [resurrected]
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Earth -9
Revelation 5:9-10
9 and they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the scroll and
to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for
God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and hast made
them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth."
Points:
1. “hast made them a kingdom” = accomplished by the combo of
Jesus’ sacrifice+resurrection; the ‘done deal’ [past] will produce
the chronological results [future] when the saints begin to reign
2. “every tribe and tongue…” = both Jew and Gentile (cf.Gal 3:28)
3. “worthy art thou” = Jesus has been proclaimed worthy by God
because he “has conquered” (v.5) = the reason why the Lamb is
given the blessing, honor, glory, & might for ever & ever (v.13)
= the man made perfect now has 7 symbolic horns & eyes (v.6)
Application:
Those who conquer … overcome sin by the blood of the Lamb, will
be rewarded by ruling with him (Rev 2:26, 3:21, 7:14, 12:10-11)
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Earth -10
Revelation 21:22-27
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the
Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to
shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth
shall bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates shall never be shut by
day--and there shall be no night there; 26 they shall bring into it the
glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean shall enter
it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those
who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Points:
1. The symbolic city = the faithful saints (v.9-10) and thus no need of
a temple, for they already have the indwelling of God & Jesus
2. “the nations walk … kings of the earth” = mortals in Kingdom who
now come to give gifts to Jesus in Jerusalem (cf. Haggai 2:6-9)
Application:
Against this Haggai 2 background, Heb 12:28 says “Therefore, let us be
grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us
offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” (cf. Rom 12:1)
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Earth -11
Isaiah 2:2-4
2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that… 3 many peoples shall come,
and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of
the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in
his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide
for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and
their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
Points:
1. Things will be dramatically different in the Kingdom: nations will
want to be taught God’s ways, and to be directed by Jesus
2. Unlike today’s world, nations will turn from weapons of war to
instruments of farming; violence will cease, since the root cause
will be identified & crushed: inflamed human passion (James 4:1-3)
Application:
The United Nations building has a statue depicting the above ideal, along
with the quote from Is 2:4 – but it will take Jesus to make it happen
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Earth -12
Isaiah 65:20-25
20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man
who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the
sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. ..23 They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity; for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the
LORD, and their children with them. 24 Before they call I will answer, while
they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They
shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD."
Points:
1. Longevity and right-living will be a feature of the Kingdom age, as
will fruitful labor and blessed offspring = going back to the days
before the curse; the animal kingdom will also reflect the new ways
2. “I will answer … I will hear” = still, the servant God (cf. Deut 4:7)
Application:
For those who submit to God’s ways, He will show himself to be at their
‘beck and call’: “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you
shall cry, and he will say, Here I am” (Is 58:9, cf. Dan 9:20) What a God!
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Earth -13
Zechariah 8:3-8
3 Thus says the LORD: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of
Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the
mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the
LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of
Jerusalem, each with staff in hand for very age… 7 Behold, I will save my
people from the east country and from the west country; 8 and I will bring
them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people
and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness."
Points:
1. Jerusalem will be transformed by its inhabitants, the chief of
which is Christ the king; the righteousness etc. will spill over
into the safety of its senior citizens (contrast today’s city streets)
2. Initially, it will be Jewish people who will be re-instated, a great
sign & lesson for a world that has been steeped in antisemitism.
Application:
Today, the nation of Israel is hostile to the gospel; but they are still loved
by God for Abraham’s sake, and some will be saved (see Rom 11:25-32)
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Earth -14
Ezekiel 37:21-23
21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people
of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them
from all sides, and bring them to their own land; 22 and I will make them one
nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king
over them all; and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided
into two kingdoms. 23 They shall not defile themselves any more with their
idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will
save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will
cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Points:
1. “one king” = the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, who will reunite the
divided kingdoms into a single Kingdom of 12 tribes (Matt 19:28)
2. A restoration of Israel entails a re-gathering of the Jews from all the
places they had scattered (by choice & persecution), but it will only
be a remnant that is actually delivered and saved (cf. Zech 13:8-9)
Application:
As promised by the LORD, a new covenant will be offered and
accepted by Israel,for they have not been cast off (Jer 31:31-37)
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Earth -15
Ezekiel 37:24-28
24 "My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one
shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my
statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land where your fathers dwelt… they and
their children and their children's children shall dwell there for ever; and David
my servant shall be their prince for ever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace
with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them
and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for
evermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD
sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is in the midst of them for evermore."
Points:
1. “David my servant” could be the resurrected king David, but more
likely is a way to describe the “beloved” Christ, the good shepherd
2. Savor the details: rebellious no longer, dwell in peace forever under
the new covenant, in a restored land, with God in their midst, and
the world will know that Israel is the LORD’s people once more
Application:
Thus Israel will be ‘proof’ of the LORD’s mercy (cf. Ezek 36:22-36)
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Earth -16
Revelation 22:1-5
1 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing
from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of
the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds
of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations. 3 There shall no more be anything accursed, but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship
him; 4 they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads.
5 And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the
Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Points:
1. Clearly, getting back to the garden of Eden prior to the curse.
2. “healing of the nations” = God still wanting all men to be saved
and come to a knowledge of Him and His truth (cf. 1Tim 2:4)
3. “see his face” = finally, that wonderful privilege is granted
Application:
The reign of the faithful is “for ever and ever”, for they share with Jesus;
however, what happens after the 1000 years is not revealed in Scripture
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Earth -17
1Corinthinians 15:24-28
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father
after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must
reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to
be destroyed is death. 27 "For God has put all things in subjection under
his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is
plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. 28 When all things
are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him
who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.
Points:
1. “the end” = of the 1000 year reign (Rev 20:7), and the symbolic
dragon (that ancient serpent, called the devil and satan) who had
deceived the nations one last time, is destroyed in the lake of fire;
since sin is now destroyed forever, so is death! [everyone now immortal]
2. “will also be subjected” because Jesus is still the servant Son
Application:
We started off Lesson 1 with 1Cor 15:20 and the fact that “Christ has
been raised”. We’ve come full circle to that foundation Bible passage.
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Earth -18
Summary – New Earth
God reigns supreme
Death totally destroyed
Drawing by Richard Hook
Israel is restored
fulfills thy will be done
tree of life healings
nations learn peace
a kingdom of priests
key characteristic: doing right before God
total makeover of things on earth
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Earth -15
So What?
Now these [Bible students in Joliet] were
more noble than those in [other place],
for they received the word with all
eagerness, examining the scriptures
daily to see if these things were so.
Many of them therefore believed
(adapted from Acts 17:10-11)
And now I commend you to God and to the word of His
grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the
inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32)
I thank God for this, that when you received the word of
God which you heard from me, you accepted it not as the
word of a man, but as what it really is, the word of God,
which is at work in you – adapted from 1Thes 2:13
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Questions
&
Answers
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1 of 5
Q&A Material #1a
NGF Change in Viewpoint Over The Years
Subject
Initial Understanding
Resurrection
of Jesus
“Apostle’s Creed”
• point in a list
Nature of Man Immortal Soul
• good go to heaven & reward
• make-up
• when die
The Devil
Current Understanding
Apostle’s teaching (1Cor 15)
• pivotal point of Christian belief
Body + Spirit = Soul (person)
• good go to Sheol & sleep
• bad go to hell & torment
• why have a resurrection?
• bad go to Hades & perish
• must be resurrected for reward
• reward = granted immortality
Why come back to earth?
Christ must come back to earth
to raise dead/reward faithful
External being
• seeks to make me sin
Internal tempter
• natural desires seek satisfaction
• rebel angel against God
• the flesh is carnal, against God
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2 of 5
Q&A Material #1b
NGF Change in Viewpoint Over The Years
Subject
Initial Understanding
Current Understanding
Satan
External being (= Devil)
• seeks to make me sin
Adversary/Opponent
• can be anyone/thing that hinders
Saint
Heaven
Hell
• rebel angel against God
• God was an adversary to David
• the Holy Spirit opposes the flesh
One of the select few
• person who was very pure
All believers (called ones)
• person made pure by Christ
• recognized for especially
good deeds
• does ‘good works’ as natural
outcome of one’s faith
‘Home’ of the blessed
• many mansions for faithful
‘Home’ of God, Jesus, angels
• from whence comes the Kingdom
• where faithful go when did
• faithful ‘inherit earth’ as reward
‘Home’ of the wicked
• eternal fire
‘Location’ of all who die
• Jesus was in Hades, in tomb
• everlasting torment
• is Gehenna fire, but = annihilation
31
3 of 5
Q&A Material #1c
NGF Change in Viewpoint Over The Years
Subject
Initial Understanding
Current Understanding
God
God the Father (Trinity)
• angry with a sinful world
God, who is our Father
• mourned the state of sinful world
• it took Jesus to turn away
His wrath
Jesus
Holy Spirit
• He sent Jesus as demonstration
of His love, desire to save world
God the Son (Trinity)
• co-eternal, co-substantial
The Son of God (born/became)
• came into actual existence when
with the Father
• willing to die as the ‘price’
to appease wrath
• concurrently divine and
human = the God-man
born of Mary = a human being
• willing to die in obedience to the
Father’s will
• a man given the divine nature as
reward of a ‘perfected’ life
God the Holy Spirit (Trinity)
• co-eternal, co-substantial
The power of God (divine ‘wind’)
• the power that enabled Mary to
with the Father & Son
• lives in a believer to make
them be & do right for God
conceive Jesus
• works in mind/heart of believer to
choose to do right before God
32
4 of 5
Q&A Material #1d
NGF Change in Viewpoint Over The Years
Subject
Initial Understanding
Current Understanding
Kingdom of
God
= Kingdom of heaven
• to be in heaven(when die)
= Kingdom of heaven (i.e.,divine)
• God’s literal Kingdom of the past
• spiritual presence (now)
• Jesus’ presence in 1st century
• metaphor for Kingdom life (now)
• God’s literal kingdom to be set up
on earth when Jesus returns
God’s
promises
to Abraham
& David
Not taught
‘Essential’ teaching
• basis of the gospel of the Kingdom
Israel in the
plan of God
Not taught
• seen as irrelevant OT
teaching
• seen as irrelevant OT
teaching
of God + provides solid hope
• confirmed by resurrected Jesus +
to be fulfilled by returned Christ
Israel a microcosm (example)
• how God dealt/deals with Israel is
presented as a ‘type’ for us
• the nation continues to be God’s
witness to the world; it will be
restored to God’s favor in the end
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5 of 5
Q&A Material #1e
NGF Change in Viewpoint Over The Years
Subject
Initial Understanding
Current Understanding
Baptism
= sprinkling of (holy) water
• usually done for infants
= total immersion in water
• step before ‘confirmation’
• optional
• no connection with death of
Jesus
• step 1 in becoming member
of the church congregation
• no linkage with any promise
Discipleship
Little emphasis
• aside from attendance at
church and giving money,
hardly any emphasis
• no Bible study encouraged
• ‘theology’ left up to the
‘reverend’ (‘priest’)
• for those convicted of their sins
• the act of being “born again“
• mandatory to get into Kingdom
• specific connection with death &
resurrection of Jesus
• single step to get “into Christ” &
be part of his body (the church)
• become heirs of the promises
made to Abraham
Much Emphasis
• always a tie-in for applying Bible
principles to daily life, besides
value of fellowship and giving $
• personal Bible study encouraged
• Scripture understanding is urged
upon all individuals (brethren)
34
Q&A Material #2
10 Lesson Summary with Bible references
35
Q&A Material #3
God’s Selection of Faithful People
36
37
…ended (for now)
38
Supplemental Reference Material #1
Primary Sources
– ‘feeds’ from other Bible books
The Apocalypse uses details and symbols from all these sources
Old Testament Books
Is
Gen
Jer
Zec
New Testament chapters
Olivet Prophecy
Mt 24, Mk 13, Lk 21
Revelation
Dan
Eze
Mal
Daniel is resource for time periods & beast symbols
39
Supplemental Reference Material #2
Primary Sources
1 of 2
– Daniel’s Prophecy {beast symbols}
The sum of the heads (7) and horns (10)
of Daniel 7’s beasts = the same count as
the Revelation beast (13:1-2)
+
The beast is composed of aspects of the
leopard (body), bear (feet) and lion (mouth)
+
The warlike and blasphemous activities are
the same, as is its ultimate destruction
40
Supplemental Reference Material #3
7 Heads of Beast
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
This calls for a mind of wisdom: the seven
heads are seven hills on which the woman
is seated; they are also seven kings, five
of whom are fallen, one is, the other has
not yet come, and when he comes he must
remain only a little while (Rev 17:9-11)
2 of 2
Egyptian (Ezek 16:26-27)
Assyrian
Babylonian (Dan 7,8)
past
Medo-Persian
Grecian
Roman - current
?? - Last Days power
- char of Dan 2:44
- char of Dan 7:19f
- 10 horn link (Ps 83)
- action of Zech 14:2
- action of Lk 21:24
- action of Rev 11,13
Points: kings rep kingdoms (cf. Daniel), all related to Israel (woman),
5 in past history (from date of writing),1 current, 1 future (Last Days, short time)
41
Supplemental Reference Material #4
Knowledge of LORD to fill the earth
20 Then the LORD said, "I have pardoned, according to your word;
21 but truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory
of the LORD, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs
which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to
the proof these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice, 23 shall
see the land which I swore to give to their fathers; and none of those who
despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a
different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into
which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. (Numbers 14)
12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and founds a city on
iniquity! 13 Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor
only for fire, and nations weary themselves for nought? 14 For the earth
will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the
waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2)
9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the
sea (Isaiah 11)
42
Supplemental Reference Material #5
I will be their God & they shall be my people
Gen 17:7–8 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your
descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you, and
to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of
Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Ex 6:7 - and I will take you for my people, and I will be your God; and you shall
know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the
burdens of the Egyptians.
Lev 26:12 - And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be
my people.
Jer 7:23 - But this command I gave them, 'Obey my voice, and I will be your
God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you,
that it may be well with you.'
Jer 11:4 - which I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land
of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I
command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,
Jer 30:22 - And you shall be my people, and I will be your God."
Ezek 36:28 - You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you
shall be my people, and I will be your God.
43
Supplemental Reference Material #6
Man of lawlessness (2Thessalonians 2:3-6)
3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless
the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the
son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every socalled god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of
God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I
was still with you I told you this? 6 And you know what is restraining
him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
Points:
1. Context: concern over the coming of Christ (v.1-2) and other ‘last
days” events (1:7-10, 2:8) but also about what was occurring then.
2. “the son of perdition” = a Judas (Jn 17:12) an apostle who had
rightly preached & healed (Lk 9:1-6) but then betrayed his Lord; so
also this lawless one (v.3,9) seemed to be a true disciple, but was
really a treacherous false teacher in the temple (household) of God
3. Paul exposed and resisted this man\movement = the Judaizers (Gal
2:, 2Cor 11:12-14, Jude 4, Acts 15:1, Gal 2:15, Col 2:16-23, 1Tim 4:1-5, 2Tim
3:1-3, 4:1-4); no explicit link to “antichrist” (see separate handout).
44
Supplemental Reference Material #7
Mark of Beast
(Revelation 13:16-18)
16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free
and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no
one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the
beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let him who
has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human
number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Points:
1. Context: the dragon has given power to the beast (v.2-4), who in
turn empowers a 2nd beast [the false prophet] (v.11-12), who introduces
idolatry and worship of the beast by deceit and by force (v.12-15)
2. The beast is evidently a political power, promoted by pseudo
religion, with both backed by the dragon (= serpent / Sin, 12:9-12)
3. 666 = the number of man, a triple focus on falling short of the
perfect /complete no.7; on forehead = mindset of Self; this is in
deliberate/striking contrast to the sealing of God (7:3, 14:1, 3:12).
4. For further details, see separate handout “The Mark of the Beast”
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Supplemental Reference Material #8
All things created through him (Col 1:15-20)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 16 for
in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were
created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him
all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he
is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he
might be pre-eminent. 19 For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to
dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth
or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Points:
1. To understand v.16-17, first understand v.15 & 18. If “first born
of all creation” = pre-Genesis, then it teaches a non-eternal Jesus.
Rather, it points to the “new creation “ in Christ (see NT usage)
2. “all things” (6 times) = “everything” totally & completely new in
Christ; nuance between Jesus & God is seen in 1Cor 8:5-6 “there is
one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one
Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist”
46
Supplemental Reference Material #9
The New Creation
The Book of Genesis of Jesus Christ (Matt.1:1 in Greek)
• “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;
what counts is a new creation” (Gal.6:15)
• “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Cor.5:17)
• “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over
all creation. For by him all things were created: things in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible….” (Col.1:15)
• …thrones, powers, rulers, authorities; all things were
created by him and for him. He is before all things and
in him all things hold together. (Col.1:16-17)
• And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the
Beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Col.1:18)
• {Jesus is}…the beginning of God’s creation (Rev 3:14)
[thus a start, not eternal]