Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 213

(Part 4)

B. Mark

The Gospel of Mark was written for the Romans, written for the Roman mind. He wrote his short presentations to match the Roman legal system. To the people in Rome, everything had to match up with the law (the law of the land). And so, Mark's presentation is to present Jesus to the Roman mind.

And Mark wrote his gospel under the influence and testimony of Peter. Mark wasn't there. Peter was there and he gave Mark the testimony, and Mark wrote it. Mark wrote to present Jesus as the Suffering Servant, and he ends his gospel with the ascension.

C. Luke

Then there's Luke. Remember I told you Luke and Acts used to travel together. Luke was written to the Gentiles. It was written to present Jesus as the Son of Man. And Luke, being a physician, he emphasized the human side of Jesus as the Son of Man.

Luke ends his gospel with the promise of the Holy Spirit. And that opens up his next volume (the book of Acts), with the coming of the Holy Spirit. So that sets us up for his sequel.

D. The Gospel of John

Only the first three gospels are synoptic. They were all written in the 60's A.D. The Gospel of John was written to the church around 95 A.D. So approximately 30 years after the other three gospels were written, the Gospel of John was written.

He wrote to present Jesus as the Son of God, His deity. And he ends his gospel with the promise of His return. And that opens it up for John's sequel, as he wrote the book of Revelation, and talked about the return of Christ. So, it is very interesting how these books were arranged.

I will begin with the introduction to Matthew next.

God Bless!!!

(Part 3)

From the beginning of Paul's letters, all the way through to the end of Revelation, that is 63 years of church history. So, if you want to know in 63 years of the early church history, with all of the apostles there, and all of the apostles who have their testimony, why in 63 years of church history didn't Paul or anybody else teach that new teaching that some person just told you about? It's because it is not in the word and it is not God's word.

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPELS



I. The Synoptic Gospels

The word Synoptic comes from the Greek word SUNOPSIS, and it means "to view together."

A. Matthew

Matthew wrote his gospel in five sections. Most Jewish writers did this in order to lineup with the first five books of the bible, the Torah, or Law. So, Matthew wrote his gospel in five sections.

Matthew's gospel was written to the Jews. It was written to present Jesus as the coming Savior/Messiah. Notice I said "Savior/Messiah?" The Jews were not just expecting the Messiah, but they were expecting the Messiah to come as a Savior.

We see in Matthew 1:21 that it says, "And she shall bring forth a Son, (the angel said this about Mary), and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." That's what the Jews believed, that when the Messiah would come, He would save His people from their sins.

Matthew is presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of the coming Savior/Messiah. Matthew ends with the resurrection. It is all good Jewish literature. All Jews hold to a resurrection. So, Matthew ends his book with a resurrection.

(Part 2)

Now, back to Paul's writings:

Paul's writings are at the beginning of the teaching section. And in Galatians 1:8-9, Paul makes a very bold statement. He says, "If anyone preaches any other Gospel than that which I have preached, let them be accursed." Even if an angel comes down, or if we change our teaching and give you a different gospel, it is only the gospel that Paul preached.

And that is what the early church went by, and that is why the New Testament is laid out the way it is. It is so that they would have history, and then they would have Paul's writings at the beginning of the teaching section. And everyone else's teachings had to line up with Paul's. If it was different than Paul's, it was not considered legitimate because the early church had already accepted the fact that Paul was chosen to be the instrument to reveal the mysteries of Christ. Nobody else!

This layout of the New Testament is "Foolproof!" If we are presented something from scripture that doesn't seem quite right, all we need to do is go to Paul's teachings. What did Paul teach about that? Well, we know that Paul was taught by Jesus Himself while he was out in the desert for three years. So, if we are presented something, we have the responsibility to search the scriptures. What did Paul teach? If it is different from what he taught, we are not to even entertain it!

We in the church today are under the same thing as far as what we preach and teach. If we preach any other gospel than what Paul preached, we are in trouble, and that's paraphrasing it lightly!

Even in the Jewish literature section (Hebrews through Revelation), in their writings, they would make reference back to Paul's teaching, and you'll never find anything in the Jewish literature section that contradicts anything that Paul said. They all blend together.

Richard H Priday I hope you don't mind me responding to your comment to Giannis. Your last paragraph really stood out to me Richard, you said "No matter what opinion we have on the subject (subject is when is the rapture) being prepared to die with Christ NOW is in order; and that starts with dying to self a little more each day. Anyone who thinks the Seal Judgments aren't too bad need a serious reality check. If we have to be in it it's one thing; none of us should WANT to go through the Trib if logical".

Very wise words Richard!

You see it as, if a pre-tribulation rapture doesn't happen you will be prepared. Many, many pre-trib believers think its 100% going to happen there are no other options. No preparations, mainly what should be spiritual strengthening as putting on the whole armour of God ( Eph. 6:10-17) to stand against the (wiles) of the devil ( Eph. 6:11) in the evil day ( Eph. 6:13)

I'm sure you're right about nobody wanting to go through the tribulation period as it will be a time of testing like there has never been before. I think its much better to go into something with a knowledge of what is coming at you, rather than expecting to be taken out of a bad situation, but then having to go through that bad situation along with pure deception and evil, and not expecting it.

( 2 Thess. 1-3) v3 Tells us "for that day shall not come, except there come a (falling away) first. The words (falling away) #646; it means defection from truth [properly the state] ("apostasy"), forsake, something separative, divorce, (writing of) divorcement. Those (falling away) are True Believers or they would not receive a (writing of) divorcement from Jesus Christ.

It just so happens this (writing of) divorcement (falling away) happens when the man of sin is revealed. ( 2 Thess. 2:4) "so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God".

Do you see what could be happening here Richard if there is no pre-tribulation rapture?

Blessings to you.

(Part 1)

Hello all,

Before I share my introduction to Matthew, I would like to share how I began the bible study I led. I began with a brief rundown of the New Testament, followed by a short introduction to the Gospels. Here is how I laid it out:



The original language of the New Testament was Greek. Its contents are History and Doctrine, or Teaching. Greek is an exact language, and in order for God to give teaching and doctrine, it had to be through an exact language. The New Testament is laid out perfectly. The first part, Matthew through Acts is History. It is an historical account of the earthly public ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, along with the book of Acts, because originally, the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts travelled together. They were actually known as Luke Part 1 and Luke Part 2. They were both written by Luke. And it wasn't until later on in the second century that those two books got split up and divided into two. So, from Matthew Chapter 1, all the way through the end of Acts, that is called the historical section of the New Testament.

The second half of the New Testament is called the doctrine or teaching section. This section was purposely designed with books in order, because the books are not chronological. They are not in the order in which they were written. The first books in the teaching section are Paul's letters. All of Paul's letters, from Romans through Philemon, are at the front of the teaching section for a reason. And I'll share that with you in a minute.

From the book of Hebrews, all the way through Revelation, that is known as Jewish literature. From the book of Revelation alone, out of the 400 and some verses, there are over 800 references to the Old Testament. If we want to understand Jewish literature, we have to understand the Old Testament, because all of the language and the symbols and representations of the book of Revelation, Peter, James, all of them, have been taken from the Old Testament.

Final final thoughts

The question exists; of course if all those left behind are unbelievers or if some have either not produced fruit at present and ARE His children. That could result from living in unrepentant sin; perhaps for quite some time. As far as a lifestyle of sin; it is certain that there are some who not only will miss the Rapture but continue on afterwards and be deceived by "THE LIE" and ultimately worship the Antichrist because they didn't LOVE the truth even though they knew it. The main reasoning I have is to have garments in the first place we must be saved; making them white in the blood of martyrs is basically the only way to produce fruit in the Tribulation. God has created us for good works; but the lukewarm church today is largely indistinguishable from the world. God knows ultimately if we are saved; His sheep or not.

Further insights on the matter of eschatology

I would say it is possible the firstfruits would be indicative of ALL those from Christ Himself; then those who rose out of their graves at the Resurrection; then the "last trump" Resurrection and Rapture event; then the 144,000 being (likely) translated and finally the two witnesses (can't remember which comes first). Anyway; some will not be Resurrected it apears in Revelation 20 until the Trib is over. Some of these could be those left behind who may either have already been believers or new believers. Those at His coming indicate the Second Coming as to those physically alive or Resurrected at that time.

The O.T. timing of the OLD TESTAMENT saints seems to show their Resurrection right around the midpoint of the Trib; PERHAPS indicating a different timing from the rest of the church saints. One difference not mentioned yet here is the sounding of THE archangel Michael at the Rapture; as opposed to angels (plural) at the Resurrection of the elect later on in the Trib.

There is probably a lot more I could say. It is clear that Christ coming at a time of relative prosperity is likely showing an event before the Trib begins. That also fits into the Restrainer being removed; which I would contend as others indicates the Holy Spirit's ministry during the Church Age; as compared with the signs and wonders predominating afterwards. I don't believe even if the Rapture is "secret" many open graves can be explained away or hidden (even if we are considered "reprogrammed" as the unenlightened ones). We probably will be considered the aliens when Christ returns in my opinion.

No matter what opinion we have on the subject being prepared to die with Christ NOW is in order; and that starts with dying to self a little more each day. Anyone who thinks the Seal Judgments aren't too bad need a serious reality check. If we have to be in it it's one thing; none of us should WANT to go through the Trib if logical

Dear Giannis: I have looked at a possible solution here to integrate all the scriptures that the Rapture may be a reward rather than just a salvation issue. There are types and shadows with those who escaped FROM and event such as Enoch from the Flood judgment (who pleased God and walked with Him) and those such as Lot who escaped THROUGH an event (namely going through the fire as it will but in some sense suffering loss).

Arguments have come up here as to the statement in Thessalonians and Corinthians in regard to ALL the church being raptured at the time of the Resurrection of the rest of the Church saints. This; however would in some sense make verses such as the one in Luke about praying to be worthy to escape moot. Clearly not ALL saints; in fact only few meet the Malachi 3 "Book of Rememberance" status in regard to them speaking often of the event and fearing God; etc. We also need to consider the "white and unspotted/unwrinkled" state in Ephesians discussing those who are part of the Bride; as well as those in Rev. 4 who appear as "kings and priests"; compared with the fate of those whose garments are tarnished and appear to have the made white through martyrdom as Rev. 6 indicates.

Clearly complexities arise as to whether these are some of the Christians left behind; or purely a new batch of saints after the witness of the 144,000. Daniel shows the difference; saints WILL be overcome whereas now in this era the gates of hell will not prevail against the church (I'll let you look up the verses). Perhaps going through the fire so to speak is simply limited to the Bema Seat or it involves being purified along with those Jews in Jacob's trouble. Surely the churches appear absent after Rev. 3 ends; the first part of chapter 4 seems to indicate that. There are also tricky verses later on such as that in Rev. 19 where the thief in the night analogy of being naked is indicated. That could be the last holdouts that get in "as through the fire

Hi Jesse,

Sounds good.

RLW

Hi Ideas,

Should be Revelation 12:27 And chap. 19.

Sorry about that

Hi Oseas,

I did not see your reply, some are not going to my Email for some reason.

I have heard interpretations of who the woman is, Israel, the Church, and some say, Mary.

Rev. 12:1-4

The word wonder Greek semeion, means something extraordinary, or miraculous, mostly translated sign. Sign with a meaning of divine power or purpose made known. Sometimes the word is used to denote a sign of future things these wonders are in heaven, so it is a vision John was shown.

We know the dragon is Satan because scripture says so and most would agree the man child is Jesus the one who will rule all nations with a rod of iron, Psalms 2:9, Revelation 2,12 and 19. The scripture is clear this starts before Jesus was born, the dragon was going to devour the child as soon as it was born. We see this effort of Satan when King Herod ordered not only the killing of all the children in Bethlehem but on all the coasts, from two years old and under.

Rev. 12:5-6 The woman flees to a wilderness prepared by God to be there for 1260 days. This is after the ascension of Jesus, not just after, but in the future. As for the Church is the woman; when the dragon was standing in front of her, Jesus was not yet born, the Church was formed after he was born, the Church did not birth Jesus, the Church is His body.

The woman cannot be Mary, even though she was the mother of Jesus, we are not of the seed of Mary as we see in verse 17, "the remnant of her seed". So, this leaves the third choice, which is Israel. If we look back at Genesis 37:9-10, we see a pretty good picture of this woman.

Israel plays a prominent role in the end-time prophecies of the Bible. Israel will endure into the end times and play a primary part in God's plan for the final days. There are unfulfilled unconditional covenants God made with Israel. "Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled". The first woe is future.

God bless,

RLW

Oseas thank you for your response. Sorry for the late reply. We will go through the great tribulation, but in ( Mt 24:21-22) v22 Tells us "but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened". Those days are the days of great tribulation.

The great tribulation will not be a 7 year time period according to the Words of Jesus in these verses.

Blessings to you.

Hi Frankie J

The Holy Spirit is my only guide and teacher in my studies of God's word. I do not take other people's understanding and beliefs to conform to my study. If we do that what happens, is somebody writes something that sounds good and fits our mindset, not Christ, and then we find a verse or two that fits, and aha! That must be true, but it turns out not true.

The meaning was, this is a discussion site we should treat every discussion with love and respect, and if we address these discussions with an I am right you are wrong attitude how can anyone learn? The Holy Spirit works through us and if someone has a different meaning of a subject we can go to God's word and study and pray for the truth, we may be given a reply that both will grow.

In the other parts of your post, it is hard for me to respond, you reveal an allegorical, deeper spiritual meaning behind the scriptures, I understand the meaning but there is also a literal meaning. I know many things in the Bible must be taken in a deeper symbolic meaning. It is like hiking in a beautiful forest, with all the smells, sounds, and sites that seem to speak and overwhelm our souls.

We can get so engulfed in all the beauty, same as in the bible, I also have while reading it seen the beautiful deeper meaning and get so peaceful that it is almost like a dream. But it is like the trail in this beautiful forest, we are so overwhelmed with the beauty we trip over a literal stone and fall off a cliff.

In love, God bless,

RLW

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:" Colossians 2:6 KJV

Good morning all! I found a simple confession of faith regarding The Trinity. The regenerated in Christ must hold to this belief in the Trinity.

Simply "God manifests Himself to us in three different ways, impressing us as three distinct personalities"

1. "GOD THE FATHER.- We (I) recognize Him as the Giver of the Son, and jointly with the Son, as sender of the Holy Ghost. When we call upon God, we usually mean the Father."

2. "GOD THE SON.- We (I) recognize Him as the Son of immaculate conception, the only begotten of the Father, born of a virgin, Mary.- God incarnante in the flesh- sent into the world as the Redeemer of fallen man. Jesus declares Himself one with the Father and is also recognized as God."

3. "GOD THE HOLY GHOST.- We (I) recognize Him as the Spirit of the Living God, sent forth by the Father and the Son, the Reprover of the world and the Guide and abiding Comforter of God's elect. He is to the world today what Christ was to His followers while He lived in the flesh among us." John 4:24

Hello Jesse,

i will so appreciate these study helps.

I was just thinking of you last night since we have not heard from you much lately. Always love your posts.

Thank you Brother Jesse!

Yes Please. I would appreciate it very much. Thank you

Good morning too brother Spencer! I hope the work day goes well. Between work and still having all children at home is part of the reason for sometimes wanting to write here. Glad you seem to have the willingness to keep the subject of Christ and His coming moving ahead. God bless your thoughts and our conversation in Christ.

Friend

Your in my thoughts, may the Lord strengthen you!

1 of 2

Hi Ronald

From what you've express in your open statement, it seems your understanding comes from a searching of collective consciences in their studying of the Scriptures, from the conceiving of one's own brain from the letter.

Friend.. please bear with me,

There's a surer Way, & that is to choose the better part Luke 10:39 Luke 10:42

The Spirit who inspired the Scriptures, is alone the Opener of them, freely giving us their true import. 1Cor 2:13,14

For this He was sent John 16:7, John 16:13

His words are a certainty, a infallible foundation that we can bottom on or trust in.

I wasn't giving my opinion of these Scriptures, referencing Jesus own words with His disciples on the question they ask of Him, Matt 24:3 quoting His words several times in His disclosure to them, for in Him is Psalms 36:9

You've stated; "We also see things that have not yet been fulfilled" in a sense, yes, in a sense, no,

I'll explain; Jesus plainly states, 24:34 its clear He's referring to these end time events in a "present tense", many time to His disciples, They were fulfilled in them, & to all in their generation & every generation since, & will be fulfilled in the generations to come until Rev 11:15

2 or 2

You quote me: Christ words out of His own mouth, which shall not pass away refutes all these words & belief concerning His 2nd coming, meaning this so call "rapture myth" The misunderstanding lies in who report will we believed,

Jesus gives His report of this present oracle here surrounding His 2nd coming. He says Matt 24:33 the door was open on the day of Pentecost, His kingdom came, the disciples became apostles, that day they were change in a twinkling of an eye. Its important to note they finally understood Jesus commendation to Mary, & chose the better part.

Jesus prayed in John 17:15, I pray not that Thou should take them out of the world, John 17:20 including us. We all can be assured that Christ prayers are answered. Jesus accomplish many things for us in His sacrificial life, one is that we may fulfill the great commission of Genesis 1:26, in truth expanding it , on earth as it is in heaven.

Friend, Jesus has already return & that by His Spirit. John14:18 2Cor 3:17 1Cor 3:16 Titus 2:11 a living personal experience in Spirit for each individual soul as His Spirit appears in everyone of us bringing us the words of salvation.

As far as your 2nd response concerning the sun, moon & the stars

It appears you maybe rejecting Light, that His Spirit has shine upon these Scriptures which are given to us, which also were fulfilled in their season.

Concerning these outward trauma, I agree, the Scripture gives plenty of examples of this, the flood, Sodom & Gomorrah, the rebellion of Dathan, etc; God makes use of His creation to discipline His creatures, noting that it like a last resort to Him, deriving from their inward rebellion, which all begins with a departure from the Truth/Light, that's known & manifested in them. Rom 1:19

Let's reverence the Light, the Anointing , John 1:9 the Spirit of Christ. John 6:63 the Spirit who speaks His words in our hearts.

In love & truth

Hi Brother Carleton.

Goodmorning.

You asked; When Christ was on the Cross while still alive, the dead arose from the grave and the veil was torn. How did this event affect the House of Israel?

Inside the Veil is where the High priest went in and made the sacrifices for the people of Israel,

The veil separated the people from the Glory of God.

First the High priest would offer a sacrifice for himself before he go in.

If not he would be killed.

If his sacrifice wasn't accepted he would be killed.

This is why they had bells and a rope on him when he went in.

If you no longer hear the bells, that means something happened to him.

You would have to use the rope to pull him out.

These sacrifices had to be offered often, Christ was offered once and for all.

Christ was ending that Priesthood.

See Romans 10:1-21.

Verses 19-20

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Jesus we can enter in!

I will touch on Daniel 12:9-13

later on today,

I'm getting ready for work.

God bless

Biblical authority should come first in a Christian heart . If it contradicts the Word then where does it come from ? I'm sure we all know that the word devil is also meant as a ' deceiver ' . If we stick to what the Bible says we will not be deceived , the Spirit of Truth never contradicts the Word of God .

Thanks Brother Jesse.

I will be looking forward to reading abs adding them to my collection!

God bless you.

Amen to you !

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

About 10 years ago, I presented and led an online bible study on my website of the New Testament, Matthew through Revelation. I covered 1-2 chapters per week. Before I began each book, I presented a detailed introduction to that particular book we were studying.

I typed out all the studies and introductions and I still have everything that I shared. I would like to share them with anyone here who might be interested. What I am going to share are the introductions that I put together for each book, beginning with Matthew.

It is my hope that these introductions might be of use to anyone who might be looking for a breakdown of what each book is about, when it was written, who wrote it, why it was written, the theme of each book, and also the chapter outlines for each book.

My prayer is that these introductions might be a blessing to some (even if just one). I will start with the introduction to Matthew and (Lord willing) go through Revelation. Please bear with me. I will post Matthew soon, hopefully tomorrow.

May the Lord continue to bless you all, and may we all (through a continuous study of His word), grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessings!!!

Thank you brother Spencer. I am more understanding your view. Only I am very slow like one thought at a time. :)

The last verse in Daniel 12 still has me meditating on something. When Christ was on the Cross while still alive, the dead arose from the grave and the veil was torn. How did this event affect the House of Israel?

If I were to think of the most blessed members of the House of Israel it was those whom knew no conflict or resistance to the Cross at the time of their literal death ahead of Christ coming. Daniel would have been with many brethren of this lot when he fell asleep in rest.

What is your view?

Brother Carleton.

Part 2.

Touching on their blindness.

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, (until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.) This is their current position.

26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Paul opens up this chapter with this. "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Verses 27-29. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

This is a covenant of God unto them! And it is without repentance!

He do this for his name's sake as mentioned in Ezekiel 36:23-38.

This happens in the literal Millenium Kingdom right here on earth. It's to many details to say it happens spiritually or in our hearts.

So, if we take the Millenium kingdom to be right after the 70th week of Daniel, these conditions haven't been met yet.

So, if hold to a post-trib viewpoint where all the saints is raptured up at the end of the tribulation and judgement is poured out on all the rest of the world, Who's going to populate the Millenium?

God bless you Brother.

Hello Ronald Whittemore

Greetings in Christ JESUS

You said above:

"When the sun and the moon are darkened my understanding, this is literal...In the mid-500 AD, there was when the sun and moon were darkened which caused famine and plagues that was caused by volcanic eruptions... , meteorites, or something else it will be a sign before Jesus's second coming... in Joseph's dream, he does see the sun, moon, and stars, my understanding of this is a representation of Israel and the woman who had the man child, Jesus, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron we see in Rev.12:1"

In my view you need to meditate more deeply the Word of GOD, unfortunately your description above is from a human perspective,a stumble,not from GOD's perspective.Rev.12:1-There appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the Sun, and the MOON under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: Here JESUS is not referring unto them which received Him not, and killed Him, quite the contrary, He is referring to His true Church in the world, He is the Sun, the Greater Light, the Light that came to the world,and it is He who clothes the woman with His Light.And under her feet who gives her support is the Holy Spirit sent by JESUS here- John 15:26 and 16:7-15-take a look. And the twelve stars of her crown are the twelve APOSTLES of our Lord JESUS,the Sun of Justice-Mal.4:2.

On the other hand,"When the sun and the moon are darkened my understanding,this's literal"according your human imagination What matters and prevails is the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD, self-executing or self-executable: And the Word is revealing that a STAR fall from heaven( Isaiah 14:12-15)unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit,as the smoke of a great furnace;and the SUN and air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Get ready