Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas – Joy in the Good News

Merry Christmas to everyone. My family and I have already had an eventful Christmas Eve morning. We are blanketed by a new coat of snow here in Burnsville, Minnesota. And we are having our kitchen remodeled, and yesterday one of the workers was working on our gas line in the kitchen. I woke up this morning to our home having a temperature in the 50's. With no hot water. And even our gas fireplace wouldn't start. I had no idea of what to do. So I did what any youngest child would do – I called my big brother. He is a saint, and came right over. He found out all of the gas lines were turned off, and he was able to turn them on, and re-lit all of the pilot lights. Yikes! Where we would be today without heat, no hot water (we have four females in our family, mind you), and a bad snow storm around us. May God bless my brother for rescuing us today.

Which brings me to Christmas. What do you think is humanity's biggest problem facing us today? What do we need to be rescued from? Could it be Global Warming? The Financial Crisis that we are in? Vikings Coach Childress and Brett Favre fighting? Well, God saw mankind's foremost problem – and it is Sin. Sin separates us from God, other people, and gives us the mindset of a sinner. Having the mind of a sinner is to think about things that your body craves – lustful thoughts, desires of wanting more things, and of course, the desire for power and fame and to be recognized as the special person that you are. A friend recently mentioned to me that all sin is centered on the human error of pride. I don't know if I agree with this, but that idea will have to hold for now, and perhaps be the subject of another post. The bottom line though is that sin is fun. It is desirable. And it ensnares us all.

And how did God go about solving humanity's problem of sin? Immanuel – God with us. He came to Earth, the Son of God born in a humble manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes (what does swaddling mean? – sorry for my ADD moment). But it is an Angel that proclaimed so clearly this Good News/Gospel about the baby that was born:

The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David's city." (Luke 2:10-11).

And so, what was God's response to humanity's Sin-problem? He reached down and sent a Savior – His Son. This Savior lived the perfect life that we cannot. And He died on the Cross paying the debt that is owed for our sins. And by doing this, if we repent of our sinfulness and make Jesus our Lord, He also frees us from having to sin – sin no longer rules over the Christian. And the hope is that we start living our lives more and more like Jesus. What great news this is!

Merry Christmas - /s/Tom.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Apologetics – why we know Christianity is true.

My question for you this beautiful, lightly snowing day here in Burnsville is this – what are the reasons that you believe in God? God reveals Himself in many ways to us Earth dwellers, and some are easier to see than others. In this post, I thought I would touch on three (3) of the best reasons I believe in the 'truth' of Christianity. Now if you think there are better choices than the three (3) I list here, I say YES! I am providing this list based upon my observations and issues I have dwelt with through my life. Because each of us has different life experiences and viewpoints, the reasons we may believe in Christ will differ from person to person. And so I hope that by thinking about our reasons to believe, that we will be more willing to share with others these reasons. You know, we should always be prepared to share the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. So let's get started with a list of what I see as the most persuasive showing God's presence.

Why did I entitle this post as 'Apologetics'? Apologetics is the study of the defense of the Divine origin and authority of Christianity (Websters). And so, Apologetics is the proper way of discussing reasons to believe in the God of the Bible. I have three reasons for believing that Jesus is the only way for a person to receive a saving faith. Tomorrow, I might have three different reason, but for today, these are my top three (3):

1).    The Bible. Yes, it's the most widely read book in the world. Yes, it's the most widely published book in the world. And if you're an atheist or any other kind of unbeliever, if you have not read the Bible, any words you say about the Bible or anything about spiritual or philosophical topics can be dismissed summarily. And so, if you haven't read the Bible you are a culturally illiterate person. There is only one way to understand great authors like Shakespeare, the founding documents of our country, or not-infrequent comments by all of our nation's Presidents when invoking God, you must have read and understood the Bible. Why not start today?

But this isn't the reason why the Bible has made my Top 3 reasons for why we know Christianity is true. Instead, because there is common belief that there is an Intelligent God who is involved in this world, it is logical that God would reveal Himself in different ways. Yes, God reveals His character through nature. Yes, God reveals Himself to us in times of trouble, through providing peace, comfort, strength and answered prayers. But the way God most clearly reveals Himself is through Jesus the Messiah, and the Holy Bible. (See, Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:3). And ALL of the Bible testifies about our Lord Jesus. See, John 5:39. Am I saying that the Books of the Old Testament are about Jesus, even though they were written hundreds of years before He was born? Yes, I am as John 5:39 makes clear.

And yes, the Bible is filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), which comes to us as we read the Scriptures. We hear God's Voice through the Bible verses we read or when we hear it preached. And we become transformed through this "living" Book. It is an amazing Book that can reveal God's Mind to us puny humans. Yet, even the Bible which sometimes describes God's anger and wrath to us, is more clearly a Book of God's love. We receive salvation through the Gospel of Christ provided in its pages (Romans 1:16). And so, this is easily the first reason to believe in God – the power of His Word, the Bible.


 

2).    Israel, God's Chosen People. I am not an expert on the history of the nation of Israel. But I can see that it is the world's most hated ethnic group. And we see in the Holy Scriptures descriptions of other people and nations that have tried to eliminate God's Chosen People – from the nation of Persia, as shown in the Book of Esther (the only Book in the Bible that does not mention God), to the destruction of Israel the generation following Jesus' death by the Roman Empire (See, Luke 21:20-24 describing the upcoming destruction of Israel, and that Jerusalem would be "trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled."

The continued existence of a distinct group of people, who have remained religiously and culturally distinct for over 4,000 years, is a great proof of God's having spoken to the world through the Bible. The Bible gives a prophecy in Genesis 15:18 that Abraham's descendants would have their own country, and that it would be between the river of Egypt and the river Euphrates. This is commonly called the 'Promised Land'. Are they really all that different? Let me give you one example to show that they are – circumcision. Only the Jewish people keep a 'covenant' with God through the ritual of circumcision. And this made them physically and nationally a distinct group. Add in their observance of the Sabbath, dietary restrictions, distinct head coverings, etc. and it is easy to see that the people of Israel are a distinct group that God has a future purpose for (See, Romans 11). The continued existence of Israel as a distinct cultural and ethnic nation is a powerful reason for believing in the existence of the Christian God.


 

3).    Cell's Do Not Change. Science provides us with clear evidence that Darwinist/natural means of cell reproduction cannot create a new species. Through the published scientific studies involving E-coli, HIV/Aids, and malaria, the scientific evidence shows that through many generations of reproduction, there is a limit of changes that can take place in an organism of only up to three (3) amino acids from a parent. Three (3) lousy amino acids?! And Darwinism is based on this measly performance? So remember Darwinism's claim – all animals descend from a single parent. And this all had to have taken place 530 million years ago, when the Cambrian Explosion took place. Wow, 530 million years sounds like a lot of time doesn't it. But Darwinists have the completely nonsense belief that Natural Selection and Variation is the mechanism that can cause all of the variation we see in our world today including bacteria, viruses/germs, birds, frogs, fish, whales, squirrels, bears, cows, and ultimately mankind through changes made in only the past 530 million years.

Think about all of the systems that have to be created brand new and working during this timeframe – male and females sexual organs, a spinal cord / central nervous system, blood, circulatory system, lungs, respiratory system, and of course, the human brain. And through the scientific studies involving malaria, e-coli, HIV/Aids cells, at the end of thousands of generations of mutations, natural selection/variation was only able to build up to three (3) amino acid changes. These changes were helpful for the bacteria because it helped them in fending off / provide resistance to its anti-biotic medicine enemies. But c'mon, no new species were created through these many generations – no new proteins were created. And nothing distinct was ever made through the many generations – an e-coli cell made other e-coli cells. As any animal breeder will tell you – a cat makes more cats, and not dogs. And the claim that invisible changes are being made over time is now demonstrably false – at best, three (3) amino acids is the most that can be changed even over thousands of generations. And so, we now know enough about mutation rates, error corrections within a cell, and the greater likelihood of deterioration / harmful errors, rather than helpful errors within a cell, to confidently say that Darwinism cannot be the tool by which all of the world's species were made. Unless you believe in aliens, this leaves you with one other choice: the God of the Bible is responsible for the Earth's vast diversity. Because Darwinist evolution cannot provide an explanation for life's diversity, it leaves us with one rational explanation: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1). And that by Jesus, all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). The world of the cell, and because it does not change much even over many generations is the reason why I have included it in my top three (3) reasons to believe in Christianity.


 

I hope you have found this post helpful in thinking about the reasons why you believe. And if you have different reasons, then think about those reasons, and be prepared to share the reasons why you believe with someone else this week. The week before we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. In Christ, /s/Tom Wolff.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Odds n’ Ends (16)

Hi anyone who still checks in on my Blog posting. It was nice having highs in the 50's today, and I was able to get a few more leaves up from our lawn. This Odds n' Ends should have a little something for everyone. So let's get started:

1).    Buy Your Burial Casket/Urn at Walmart. See Here. It seems like an industry to get into with inexpensive funeral caskets or urns. Is anyone else scared that Walmart is going to take over the world? I found the article from the Internet Monk website (see sidebar).

2).    Big Bang Machine Blows Itself Up. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/11/16/shubert.big.bang.bust.cnn.

3).    Now a story to make the Pre-Tribbers out there craaaaazzzzzy! The European Union has created a new post, called the "President of Europe". No, it's not an elected position. No, former British Prime Minister was not given this post. No, the first person to hold this position (Belgium Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy) is a relative unknown. And yes, this is a historic move. The Pre-Tribbers see this as another fulfillment of end-times prophecy, because of what they see as the importance of Europe during the last days.. Here's the story: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/eu-creates-historic-undemocratic-new-president-of-europe-post/.

4).    Ah, those romantic Darwinists. Now we know why people kiss – it's to spread our germs! Article is here.

5).    First time home buyers in Dakota County get loans at record low rates: The article is here.

6).    Do you want to get a job at Google? Then you would have to answer some really strange questions, like how many golf balls will fit in a bus. And how much would you charge to wash all of the windows in Seattle. If you want to see the other questions, here is the link: http://www.businessinsider.com/15-google-interview-questions-that-will-make-you-feel-stupid-2009-11#how-many-golf-balls-can-fit-in-a-school-bus-1. And they also provide at the end the answers and the reasons why this sort of question is being asked of Google job applicants.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Thy “Kingdom” Come

I have always been fascinated with the idea of what Jesus meant when he started out His ministry by saying "Repent for the Kingdom of God/Heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17). My initial thinking in looking at verses like this was that all of the world was God's Kingdom, and that Jesus was just explaining this idea – that the Earth belonged to God (or was God's Kingdom), and we should be mindful of this by repenting of our wrongdoing.

But as I've learned more of God's Word, I see now that my original understanding of 'God's Kingdom' was wrong. And now through a book I am reading ("More of the End Times Made Simple" by Samuel E. Waldron), I am understanding more clearly the concept of God's Kingdom, and the importance of one's end-time's view in applying an understanding of how God's Kingdom works in the real world.

OK, I know I said a mouthful there, so let me break it down this way. First, I will discuss the definition of the 'Kingdom of God'. Then I will take a look at one of Jesus' Parables (The Parable of the Wheat and Tares) that describes the Church in the Gospel Age, after Jesus' first advent. So let's get started:

  1. Definition of the Kingdom of God. First, I believe it's widely understood that God's Kingdom is synonymous with God's reign, or a place where God reigns. Where God reigns, God's Kingdom is present. God reigns undisputedly in only one place today, in the unseen heavenly realm. But when God answers prayers, even miraculous prayers, His Kingdom breaks through into our world. A healing is God's Kingdom setting what is broken and putting it the way it is supposed to be – healthy and working properly. God's Kingdom breaking into our world is also shown through a believer's life being transformed from rebellion into obedience. Yet the greatest example of the Kingdom of God breaking into our world, this side of Jesus' return. is when a sinner repents and moves from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, or into the Kingdom of God. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in this new life of a Christian, this person is now a living, breathing part of the Kingdom of God. A moving, serving and talking part of God's Kingdom!


     

  2. Parable of Wheat and Tares. So with this background let's take a look at Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and Tares. It is contained in Matthew 13:24-30, :36-43. And it's one of the few Parables that Jesus provides us with an explanation. So please allow me to draw out a few items from this Parable: This Parable is a description of the Kingdom of God (v. 24). There is sown good seed by Jesus (v.24 and v. 37), which causes grain bearing plants to grow (v. 26). The enemy who sows weeds alongside the plants is Satan (v. 39). And most importantly, the field is not the Church, but the entire world (v. 38). And the grain bearing plants are the elect of Jesus Christ, and the weeds are everyone else in the world (v.38).

    Jesus' next two parables in Matthew chapter 13 express the same concept. First the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matt. 13:31-32) and then the Parable of Yeast (Matt. 13:33) come together to speak the same truth – during the Church Age, the Kingdom of God grows. Where the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached, the Kingdom of God grows until the end of the age (v. 41-42). Yet there is also the continuous presence of the "weeds" in the world growing alongside the grain bearing Plants.


     

    So how does one's end-times/eschatological view effect one's interpretation of these Parables? This is where it gets really interesting. I remember going through a Bible Study course and being taught that the simple Parable of the Mustard Seed, where the tiniest seed grows into a large tree where birds can rest in the branches, is really not so simple. The Pre-Trib view explains that the birds are really a picture of Satan and his false teachers. These birds would attack the work of the Church. Yet this view seems at odds with Ezekiel 17:23, which explains that all of the Gentile nations will be at rest in the branches of the Kingdom of God. Similarly, in the Parable of Yeast, it is not God's Kingdom like yeast that causes the growth of the bread. Instead, the Pre-Trib view holds that the yeast is Satan and his followers, including the false teachers who will one day cause the downfall of the Church.

    So how did we get from a fairly straightforward set of Parables that explain that during the Church age, the Kingdom of God will continue expanding, to the opposite view held by those of the Pre-Trib view who believe that the Church of Christ is not expanding and that only Satan's kingdom is expanding? The Pre-Trib explanation that these Parables are describing the Church instead of the entire world is in direct opposition to Jesus' explanation in v. 38, which says "the field is the world". The simple picture portrayed by Jesus in these three Parables is that the Kingdom of God is expanding, and providing blessing to the rest of the nations is too clear to allow such a twisted explanation as provided by those of the Pre-Trib persuasion.


     

  3. What about Post-Millennialism? Yes, and these Parables are also important to the Post-Millennial viewpoint. They view God's Kingdom as continuously growing until it brings in the Millennial 1,000 year golden age. And while there is a clear description of the Kingdom of God expanding during the Church age, it seems that the Post-Millennialists ignore the weeds also growing alongside the grain-bearing Plants. The Plants do not choke out the weeds, as Post-Millennialists believe, with the spread of the Gospel one day consuming the peoples of the Earth.. Instead, the weeds grow just as vigorously as the Plants. It is only the removal of the weeds by Jesus and His angels to judge the non-believers (v.42), which allows the righteous Church of Christ to shine forth (v. 43). And so, the message of these Parables is equally clear in opposing the Post-Millennial view. The only end-times view that correctly describes the growth of both the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan until Judgment Day is the Amillennial view. Therefore, the Parables of the Wheat and Tares, as well as the other two related Parables, support the Amillennial view that the Gospel and the kingdom of darkness will continue growing until Jesus' return.

    So that's what is on my heart today. Let me know if I have missed something. May God continue to bless us all with continued growth in our faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

A Saturday in Stillwater

I am in a happy place today. I spent yesterday in Stillwater with my family, and it was a good day. Peggy and the younger three kids are now into birds. And there was a bird sale / show there yesterday. It was fun seeing the different kinds of birds that are out there. And yes, Elijah bought a parrot. Don't ask me what kind, but he is a good, loving pet owner. And so, we now have three birds which stay in the basement with Olivia and Maggie.

I really enjoy spending time in Stillwater. It's not just because they have such a fun main street where we can shop. It's not just because they have an old-fashioned candy shop (yes, I bought too many jelly-belly jelly beans). And it's not just the small town feel being on the river, with the river boats passing by, and the amazing cliffs. No, it's all of this PLUS it having wonderful book stores. I spent some time in the amazing Loome Theological Bookstore, which is a converted church. I picked up a couple of interesting books – a book on the Protestant Reformation written by a Catholic scholar. And a second book on Logic and Religion. This one has already presented me with some interesting insights which I hope to share on the Blog in weeks to come. But I am glad this store in still in business and hasn't changed its unique character, of selling older Catholic/Lutheran books that cannot be found anywhere else.

Oh yes, this is also a good day because the Gophers opened their new on-campus stadium with a victory. And it's opening weekend in NFL Football. I am once again playing Fantasy Football, and I went the homer-route: I picked Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, and Visanthe Shancoe. So I am very excited about this year's football season, and I am especially excited to see what the Vikings will do this year.

Yes, I have a new Vikings jersey (Adrian Peterson's 28). I also bought a Brett Favre print, with him holding up his purple Number 4 jersey (it's beautiful). So finally, I hope this day finds you also in a good place. Take care. /s/Tom

Monday, September 7, 2009

Design: The Brain versus a Grove of Trees

A smart man once said a foolish thing – that if he saw a grove of 35 mango trees all in rows, he would conclude that this was more likely a product of design than even the human brain. I have recently read TIME magazine's special issue on the brain, and so I wanted to write about why the brain is clearly shown to be a product of intelligent design, or more specifically designed by the Christian God.


 

Is the brain really amazing? One writer puts it this way - One-quadrillion "connections" (synapses) between the one-hundred-billion cells (neurons) of an brain. The brain's one hundred billion neurons match the number of stars in the Milky Way, and the number of connections active in the brain's functioning verge on the number of stars in the entire known universe. To fill the capacity of all those synapses, a person would have to learn a one-billion volume encyclopedia (a million "letters" per encyclopedia). That's enough to fill a bookshelf 10,000 miles long. In contrast, the Library of Congress (The largest library in the world) only has 17 million volumes. The brain is the most complex structure in the known universe, far surpassing, by many orders of magnitude, the most advanced supercomputers. One human brain generates more electrical impulses in a single day than all of the world's telephones put together. This is all done with the power equivalent of a single flashlight, 12 Watts. All of our senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, feeling) are transformed to electrical impulses which are sent to general regions of synapses in the brain where we, after complex transformations, finally become conscious of it. To accomplish all this thinking, the brain uses 20 to 25% of the body's oxygen and 20% of its sugar, even though it is only 2% (2.8 pounds) of the body's weight.


 

But this really only scratches the surface of the uniquely special nature of the 'brain'. Here's a few more things that show the brain's special position in the universe:

  1. Energy Consumption. The only way the brain can work if it is supplied with energy. So what came first, the chicken or the egg (or in this case the brain or the energy source/connection)? How does Darwinism explain this?
  2. Motherboard. The brain is the motherboard of all of the other systems in the human body, including the respiratory system, the circulatory system, the central nervous system, seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, smelling all of which only work when tied into the brain. And they all work simultaneously;
  3. Incredibly Efficient. Despite weighing only 3 pounds, the brain can store multiples of all of the books contained in the Library of Congress;
  4. Incredibly Fast System. Each of the some 300 trillion cells in every human body, the words of life churn almost flawlessly through our flesh and nervous system at a speed that utterly dwarfs the data rates of all the world's supercomputers. For example, just to assemble some 500 amino-acid units into each of the trillions of complex hemoglobin molecules that transfer oxygen from the lungs to bodily tissues takes a total of some 250 peta operations per second. (The word "peta" refers to the number ten to the 15th power — so this tiny process requires 250x1015 operations. – this all obviously from another writer.) Something faster than what the greatest computer geeks in the world can design and create? Does this sound like something designed through a random process?
  5. Unique Genes. TIME: 6,000 genes out of a total of 30,000 are expressed in the brain and nowhere else, meaning that our genome is 20% brain;
  6. And there are many more similar examples than what is provided here from my simple understanding of a non-science geek. But here is the crown jewel of reasons showing that the brain is designed – consciousness. Even the best computer in the world has no idea that it exists. You do. No one knows what creates that ineffable awareness that we're here, although you and I disagree how this took place. Rene Descartes' famous line that "I think, therefore I am", hits it on the head. Our own consciousness is the most indubitable, concrete thing there is. All of the views of the world around us, starts with our own self-awareness, our first person viewpoint. Do you really believe that our brain is nothing more than a collection of electrical impulses?

Alright, this is a good point to stop. Mr. Edward Oleander how do you view the brain, the mind, consciousness, and this special 2.8 pound supercomputer? Does anyone else have thoughts on this topic? Otherwise, with the end of summer, and most kids going back to school tomorrow, here's my prayer for our children this school year: Heavenly Father, keep our children safe this next school year. Bless the principals, school leaders, and teachers with a hunger for truth, that will point to and lead our children inexorably to You. Help them to be less concerned about hurting the feelings of those with an untrue understanding of the world, and instead my prayer is that You are glorified through everything that takes place this school year. Help us all to grow in our faith through a more clear understanding of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The ELCA Convention and the Wednesday Tornado

Thank you, Ed for providing the City Pages' article on the ELCA assembly's Wednesday vote in favor of the Social Statement on Human Sexuality, which approved a social statement that, among other things, acknowledges the validity of same-sex relationships that are "chaste, monogamous and lifelong." Here is why I think Pastor John Piper is correct when he says that the Wednesday afternoon tornado was a simple, yet clear message of God's displeasure. And you probably saw the news reports, yesterday they also approved allowing homosexuals in committed relationships (unrepentant) to be Pastors in ELCA Churches.

The ELCA assembly vote on the Social Statement came up on Wednesday, August 19th at 2:00 p.m. Outside of the Convention Center, beer vendors in tents were selling their libations to the Convention attendees. And across the street of the Center is a liberal Lutheran Church called Central Lutheran Church. This is the Church where the homosexual assembly attendees would gather last week. At this time a "curious" tornado hit downtown Minneapolis. Here is the way one eyewitness described the storm:

This curious tornado touches down just south of downtown and follows 35W straight towards the city center. It crosses I94. It is now downtown.  

The time: 2PM.  

The first buildings on the downtown side of I94 are the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran (Church). The tornado severely damages the convention center roof, shreds the tents, breaks off the steeple of Central Lutheran, splits what's left of the steeple in two...and then lifts.   

Central Lutheran Church is a liberal Lutheran Church, and the picture of the Cross that was torn down by the tornado, literally tearing it off of the steeple is mystifying. (See the picture at Pastor John Piper's Blog, entry for August 20, 2009 - http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/). The beer tents were shredded. And the roof of the Convention Center was severely damaged. And the 2:00 p.m. time of the storm was the same as that of the ELCA scheduled vote. The assembly passed the Social Statement by a single vote (two-thirds majority required – the vote was 676 to 338, 66.67%).

And so, Pastor John Piper said this tornado was God's condemnation of the ELCA assembly's approval of the Social Statement. Here is his statement: The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction…

So is Pastor Piper right? Was God sending a message to the ELCA because of its vote? Of course He was. It is nearly too obvious to provide support for, but allow me to connect the dots:

  • The storm came out of nowhere. I don't know of any weather forecasters who called for severe storms on Wednesday;
  • It was raining heavily on Wednesday. Tornados and rain don't go together;
  • Tornado in a downtown area;
  • It happened at the same time of the vote;
  • Central Lutheran Church was also damaged. This Church was the meeting location for the homosexual leaders attending the convention;
  • The Cross on the steeple of Central Lutheran Church was torn from the steeple;
  • The tornado hit the Convention Center and the Central Lutheran Church, and then disappeared, as if it was directed to a single target;
  • The beer seller's tents outside of the Convention Center were also destroyed.

And finally, why do I believe the tornado was sent by God? Because God's Word says so. Every calamity's message is the same, we are to repent and turn from sin (Luke 13:1-5).

Sunday, August 16, 2009

ELCA Convention Starts Monday (and my prayer)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is the largest Lutheran body in the United States with something near 5 million members. The next closest is the Missouri Synod (LCMS) with about 2.5 million American members. On Monday, August 17, 2009, a national churchwide assembly of ELCA leaders takes place here in town at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Church I belong to is a member of the ELCA, and I fear for what is going to take place this week. Here are a few of the issues they will address:

  1. This summer, the ELCA adopted a new hymnal. According to reports, their new worship book contains some very serious theological flaws. The chief concern I have read about is the increasing use of gender neutral language in reference to the Deity.
  2. The second, and more widely publicized, issue has to do with homosexuality. Basically, there has been a movement to ordain practicing homosexuals and bless homosexual unions. One of the key phrases being used is the idea of having a "bound conscience" (the ELCA website makes reference to Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 - regarding the acceptability of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.)
  3. The theme of the convention is "God's work. Our hands."
  4. Recommendation of a Social Policy Statement entitled 'Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.'


 

Being at least a second generation (possibly third?) ELCA member, I don't want to see my church go through what the Episcopal church is recently going through including the rapid decline in membership (you remember the name Bishop Eugene Peterson?) And I don't want the ELCA to call into question any issue of sin, nor permitting non-repentant leaders in the pulpit or as Bishops, nor do I want anything done at the ELCA to stain the name of Jesus Christ, the only way of salvation. And so, here is my small prayer for the ELCA convention:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, have mercy on us who are sinners saved only by Your Grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice on the Cross. Bless all those who are attending the ELCA convention, and especially those who will vote with greater discernment of what is Your Will as is taught in Your Holy Word. I also pray for their Wisdom, and as Your Word teaches, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Send Your Holy Spirit and give us all teachable hearts. And if it is Your Will, protect the name of Jesus Christ and Your holiness at this convention. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Will you join me in this prayer, and add your own prayers? Thank you. In Christ, /s/Tom Wolff


 

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Discerning Good from Evil

Here is a quick update on my job situation – I am now working at Machtig and Associates, which is a financial planning firm in Bloomington. The people there are great, and I have a nice office. The transition is going smoothly, and my old office is now closed with all of my old stuff removed. Thanks for your help and prayers.


 

Today, I wanted to start a two-part series on a spiritual gift given to some Christians – the gift of discernment of the spirits. Discernment is the ability to test and understand evil spiritual action versus action by God's spirit. Why am I writing about this? I am writing because Jesus thought enough about this subject that His one of His final warnings for those who fear God, was for us to be aware of Satan's most common tactic – the use of false teachers. Here is Jesus' warning: "See that you are not led astray." (Luke 218; Matthew 24:4). And those who would try and lead us astray are false-christs, false prophets and teachers. This means that as the last day approaches there is a growing danger of Satan inspired false teachers who try and destroy a Christian's faith. And here is what is at stake - an ominous warning is contained in Luke 18:8, which asks that when Jesus returns will He find faith? The implication is that a strong, passionate faith will be hard to find at Jesus' return, and so my hope is to help us be better informed of discerning truth from falsehood, protecting our faith, and to also help us know how to handle false teaching when it is near us.

In part 1 of my post, I will write generally about the gift of discernment, how we can help it to grow, and to write briefly about the enemies' tactics. Then in Part 2, I will write about God's voice, and how to have confidence in knowing when we hear God's voice versus Satan's lies and deception, or even knowing the difference between God's voice and our own inner voice. So let's get started!

The Gift of Discernment. 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 provides a partial list of spiritual gifts for those who are sealed by God's Holy Spirit. I count 14 different spiritual gifts provided in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 by the Apostle Paul. But the one I wanted to focus our attention upon is the gift of discernment described in verse 10:

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other… He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. (NLT – 1 Cor. 12:7-10).

So every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, and one of the wonderful God-given gifts is the ability to discern between the Spirit of God and other spirits. Hebrews 5:14 provides some helpful information about this gift: "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." From this we can see that the gift of discernment is only for mature Christians, and that it takes training with "constant practice" And so, discernment means being able to rightly distinguish between good and evil. In the New Testament perfect discernment is shown by Jesus and His battles against Satan and demons; And two verses show discernment in action ("Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…- 1 John 4:1), and ("Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said." - 1 Cor. 14:29.)

The gift of discernment might seem easy to understand and use. But let me suggest a couple of pitfalls that Christians may have in using their discernment. First, Satan is the great deceiver (John 8:44), and he uses others to attack Christians and the Church. This includes his use of false teachers, who may even be inside the Church (2 Cor. 11:15). And so, do not be fooled – everyone can be deceived.

Second, Christians may fall for the great temptation of judging others, instead of exercising "right judgment" (John 7:24). This is a big topic, and Pastor Greg Boyd has written an entire book on it ('Repenting of Religion'). For now, let me suggest that Christians may feel passionate anger against the ungodly and their actions. This is hard to challenge, but as the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 6 that our battle is not against other people. Instead, the real enemy is Satan and the unseen powers of darkness. And so, we may be either sinning or being used by Satan when we attack other people. So be careful!

So how do I reconcile teachings that tell us to love our enemies, and to 'turn the other cheek', with verses that tell us to contend (or argue) for the faith (Jude 3)? I think the difference is to recognize the nature of our opponent. If there is a false teacher, someone who is leading others away from the faith, or someone who is harming others, then Christians should use our sharpest attack against these people. But if the opponent is not a teacher, but is merely an ungodly person, then more restraint is called for. With the ungodly person, Christians should show gentleness and respect – these are the people we are trying to draw to Christ, after all. But to those who are false teachers, or harming others, we can look to King David as a model, who wrote against one of his enemies:

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.

     2     Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

     3     You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah

     4     You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. (ESV, Psalm 52:1-4)

To end, let me provide a quick summary of my points in this post. Discernment is a God-given gift, given to elders and those who are frequently studying the Bible. Discernment can grow through constant practice, and helps us to recognize the difference between good and evil. And it should be used to help the Church by exposing false teachers and doctrine. While we must be careful that we are not charging about against everyone who has a different opinion than us, we still must follow Jude's instruction to contend for the faith. Like King David we should feel comfortable in calling someone's actions evil, when they are hurting others. But more restraint is needed when a Christian is dealing with an ungodly person, and also our leaders. One final point – 1 Cor. 12:31 tells us we should earnestly desire more spiritual gifts. And with the battles our Church is facing today, we need more Christians crying out to God for discernment (Proverbs 2:3, NKJV). So my take away application is this – will you ask God for more discernment, so that you can help others in recognizing the difference between good and evil? If so, we need more people like you. May the Triune God bless you this week, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

How Does a Christian Survive Tough Times?

Hi everyone. I read the news and I see a lot of people having tough times. Although I don't hear a lot of people speaking about how the tough times in America are affecting them. So I thought I would start the ball rolling. Yes, my family and I have been hit pretty hard by the downspin of the economy. But it looks as though I am coming out of some tough financial times. I'm not out of the woods yet by any means. But there is hope. And so, while I am able to catch my breath, I thought I would pass along how I have survived our latest struggle without going crazy. And my hope is that I am able to help others out there by what has worked for me. My hope is that from what I've learned that it may also help others who may be going through tough times. Here are three thoughts that I hope will help you:


 


  1. Faith, Faith, Faith, Faith, Faith! As Christians we are given such valuable and powerful resources at our disposal. We are given a direct line of access (through prayer) to the Creator of the universe. Hmmm, could He help us out? Of course! And God hears our prayers – not because we are such wonderful people, but because of our faith that Jesus' sacrifice provides us with an open line to God. Instead of God looking at our sins and mistakes, God looks at us as if we are clothed with Jesus' own righteousness (Romans 13:14, 1 Cor. 15:53-54, Gal. 3:27). Wow! A direct line of contact to the Sovereign over all creation? Who can truly fathom what this means. But let's make better use of it – are you with me?

    Next, what are we to have faith in? It's easy for us to trust in things like our brains, experience, our hard work, etc. But isn't it God Who is in control? Isn't it God Who brings blessing and trials in our lives? And so, the starting point for our faith in times of trial is believing that the trial helps us to know God better. And the best way to grow in faith and the knowledge of God's character is by taking in God's Word.

    Faith comes from God's Word (Romans 10:17). And if we believe we are saved by Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, and that by our faith and repentance of dead works we have received God's Grace and forgiveness, then we are trusting in God's Word. This is the essence of what a saving faith is – trusting in God's Word and the promises that God's Word contains. So here are two of the foundational promises that Christians are to have faith in:

    Those who fear God and repent and are baptized receive God's salvation (Mark 16:16);

    Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, Jesus has fully paid for any punishment that is owed for any sins we have committed. And by faith and God's Grace we are forgiven by what Jesus has done (Eph. 1:7);

    And so, if it is easy for us to accept in faith that Jesus provides us our salvation and forgiveness, why can't we just as easily accept these other promises of God's Word:

    Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Tom: these "things" include at least God's provision of food, drink and clothing.)

    Romans 8:32-33 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

    **Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

    1 Peter 5:7 - casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

    Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

    Lord's Prayer – give us this day our daily bread… (Luther rightly taught that this Petition in the Lord's Prayer was meant to include all of our daily needs including food, clothing and shelter);

    Isaiah 41:17-20 - When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

         18     I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. … that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

    Psalm 69:32-34 - When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.      33     For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

    As Christians, we will face tribulation (John 16:33). (I bet you didn't expect this one, did you?)


     

  2. Who is God? If we can accept the promises that are listed above that God provides for the needs of those who fear Him, then why is it so hard to trust in these wonderful promises? Why do I struggle so easily to accept these promises when trouble comes knocking at our door? I think there are two reasons for this – first, that because we are so sinful, it is difficult to believe that God will REALLY help us in this battle. But as I read these promises, I understand them as unconditional.

    But I think the second reason is what is really at the heart of our lack of trusting in these promises. Maybe I'm the only one, but I have a tough time in seeing God as super-loving towards me. Instead, it is much easier for me to see God as the angry-nun-with a ruler. And this nun is just waiting for me to mess up and give me a whack! But this picture of God could not be farther from the truth. Yes, of course, God wants us to grow in our faith and obedience. But God wants Christians to grow in faithfulness through an understanding of His love, and not through His power and wrath. I base this on Romans 2:4 which says:

    Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (see also, Philippians 2:12-13: …work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.)

    And so these verses show that it is God's kindness leads us to remove the dead works in our lives. And God keeps working in us to no longer desire the things that we used to desire when we were ungodly. God does it all, and if we understand with humility the limited role we play in the process, we might be in a better position to see more clearly how God is responsible for helping us and cleaning us up.

    So praise God with a Psalm like these two:

    Psalm 3:7 - Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! (Tom: I love this picture of a silent Giant God rising to save the day)

    Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.


 

  1. This struggle is only temporary. Romans 8:18: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

    Our final plane ticket is already written, and each day brings us closer to this destination: in heaven with our glorious God. Keep focused on this and it can't help but make the trial seem puny in comparison.

And so, here is my quick summary:

God loves me.

God will provide for my family and me.

This is only temporary.

I hope you will take these Bible promises to heart. And so, if you are going through a financial struggle like we are, or if there is something else that is difficult in your life, I understand your pain. But get up, read God's Word, sing a Psalm, and remember that even in tough times, we must be thankful that God thinks we are up to living faithfully through this tribulation. As God Word teaches:

Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; (1 Thess. 5:16-19).

May God bless you and your loved ones through whatever battle you are facing this week. In Christ, /s/Tom

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Jesus of Nazareth is Fully Man. Jesus is also Fully God.

There are a few stumbling blocks to people coming to Christianity. But one of the larger stumbling blocks is the idea of the Trinity –

One God in three persons – Each is same in substance; Equal in Power, and Equal in Glory. (I believe this comes from the Westminster Confession.)

I think the real problem of accepting the idea of the Trinity is accepting that Jesus is God. Although all four of the Gospels repeatedly refer to Jesus as the "Son of God" (The Gospels refer to Jesus as the 'Son of God 28 times – here are examples from each of the Gospels: Matthew 26:63-64; Mark 1:1; Luke 3:38; and John 1:34. Some may consider this description of Jesus being the 'Son of God' somehow means that Jesus is less than God the Father. This understanding is wrong. Jesus is fully Divine, equal to God, yet fully human. The purpose of this post is to show the Biblical support that shows Jesus is not only fully human, but also fully God. The Divine Jesus is:

Jesus is Fully Human. Two great verses showing this –

First, Galatians 4:4 (
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law – (ESV)); and,

Hebrews 2:17 (Hebrews 2:17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. (NLT)).

And so, these verses show Jesus was but a man born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), and that He was in every respect like every other person (Hebrews 2:17). OK, I hope you are still with me. Let's get to the real question now – Is Jesus really God, not just a child of God?


 

Jesus is Fully God. Several verses show that Jesus is Divine, the visible picture of the invisible God. Here are several of many verses showing the Divinity of Jesus (from the NIV):

Hebrews 1:3 -
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being…;

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God. And the Word was God.

John 8:58-59: "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.. (I AM is the Holy Name of God, which is why the Pharisees tried to stone Him, because they thought Jesus committed blasphemy.)

Phil. 2:9-11 - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Lordship only belongs to God.)

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

And there are more verses that show that Jesus is not only the Son of God, but God with us (Emmanuel), God in the flesh. But I think I've made my point. And so, my hope is this helps you in better understanding the nature of Jesus. Jesus is the only fully pure and righteous Man to have lived. And by His righteousness through faith we can receive and have credited to us His righteousness. This is the only way to God (John 14:6). Thanks be to our Lord and Savior Jesus, Who is fully Man and fully God.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A New Book Released on Intelligent Design

A new book is now released dealing with Intelligent Design. It looks to focus on the importance of 'Information' that is contained in the DNA of each cell. Here is an excerpt of Chapter 1 of this book:


 

SIGNATURE IN THE CELL

DNA AND THE EVIDENCE FOR INTELLIGENT DESIGN

STEPHEN C. MEYER - Discovery Institute | Seattle, WA | (206) 292-0401 x128 | www.signatureinthecell.com;

www.stephencmeyer.org;


 

Here is an Excerpt of Chapter 1

DNA, Darwin , and the appearance of Design.

When James Watson and Francis Crick elucidated the structure of DNA in 1953, they solved one mystery, but created another.

For almost a hundred years after the publication of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin in 1859, the science of biology rested secure in the knowledge that it had explained one of humankind's most enduring enigmas. From ancient times, observers of living organisms had noted that living things display organized structures that give the appearance of having been deliberately arranged or designed for a purpose, for example, the elegant form and protective covering of the coiled nautilus, the interdependent parts of the eye, the interlocking bones, muscles, and feathers of a bird wing. For the most part, observers took these appearances of design as genuine. …

But with the advent of Darwin, modern science seemed able to explain this appearance of design as the product of a purely undirected process. In the Origin, Darwin argued that the striking appearance of design in living organisms—in particular, the way they are so well adapted to their environments—could be explained by natural selection working on random variations, a purely undirected process that nevertheless mimicked the powers of a designing intelligence. Since then the appearance of design in living things has been understood by most biologists to be an illusion—a powerfully suggestive illusion, but an illusion nonetheless. As Crick himself put it thirty-five years after he and Watson discerned the structure of DNA, biologists must "constantly keep in mind that what they see was not designed, but rather evolved."

But due in large measure to Watson and Crick's own discovery of the information-bearing properties of DNA, scientists have become increasingly and, in some quarters, acutely aware that there is at least one appearance of design in biology that may not yet have been adequately explained by natural selection or any other purely natural mechanism. Indeed, when Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA, they also discovered that DNA stores information using a four character chemical alphabet.

Strings of precisely sequenced chemicals called nucleotide bases store and transmit the assembly instructions— the information—for building the crucial protein molecules and machines the cell needs to survive.

Crick later developed this idea in his famous "sequence hypothesis," according to which the chemical parts of DNA (the nucleotide bases) function like letters in a written language or symbols in a computer code. Just as letters in an English sentence or digital characters in a computer program may convey information depending on their arrangement, so too do certain sequences of chemical bases along the spine of the DNA molecule convey precise instructions for building proteins. Like the precisely arranged zeros and ones in a computer program, the chemical bases in DNA convey information in virtue of their "specificity." As Richard Dawkins notes, "The machine code of the genes is uncannily computer-like."3 Software developer Bill Gates goes further: "DNA is like a computer program but far, far more advanced than any software ever created."

But if this is true, how did the information in DNA arise? Is this striking appearance of design the product of actual design or of a natural process that can mimic the powers of a designing intelligence? As it turns out, this question is related to a long-standing mystery in biology—the question of the origin of the first life. Indeed, since Watson and Crick's discovery, scientists have increasingly come to understand the centrality of information to even the simplest living systems. DNA stores the assembly instructions for building the many crucial proteins and protein machines that service and maintain even the most primitive one-celled organisms. It follows that building a living cell in the first place requires assembly instructions stored in DNA or some equivalent molecule. As origin-of-life researcher Bernd-Olaf Küppers explains, "The problem of the origin of life is clearly basically equivalent to the problem of the origin of biological information."

Much has been discovered in molecular and cell biology since Watson and Crick's revolutionary discovery more than fifty years ago, but these discoveries have deepened rather than mitigated the enigma of DNA. Indeed, the problem of the origin of life (and the origin of the information needed to produce it) remains so vexing that Harvard University recently announced a $100 million research program to address it. When Watson and Crick discovered the structure and information bearing properties of DNA, they did indeed solve one mystery, namely, the secret of how the cell stores and transmits hereditary information. But they uncovered another mystery that remains with us to this day. This is the DNA enigma—the mystery of the origin of the information needed to build the first living organism.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Jesus in the Old Testament – Part 2, Jesus Shown in the Prophets

Hi and happy Father's Day weekend to everyone. Today, I am again writing about Jesus, and the Old Testament verses that describe and prophesy about Him. I began a couple of weeks ago by writing about Jesus in the books of the Old Testament Law. And today in part 2 of this series I am writing providing the verses revealing Jesus in the Old Testament books of the Prophets.

This section of 32 different sets of verses is the meat of the verses showing Jesus as described in the Old Testament. The most famous prophecy about Jesus is contained in the book of Isaiah and the prophecy of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). By the way, this prophecy written by Isaiah approximately 700 years before Jesus the Messiah was born (that is 700 B.C.) And this prophecy which is contained in the Masoretic text, the Septuagint, and in the Dead Sea Scrolls, provides the best proof that the Bible was not changed or rewritten, and that "myths" were not added later to it. If you don't believe me, please ask me and I will explain my reasoning for saying this. But otherwise from these books we see the prophecies of Jesus' birth, His Divinity, His Kingship, His Righteousness, and even His Second Coming.

One quick note of explanation. A number of these verses describe the Messiah as coming from David's line (including his father Jesse), or that the Messiah is "a branch", or "a stump". And so, everywhere you see a branch or a stump of Jesse mentioned, it is a reference to the prophecy that the Messiah will be a descendant of King David.

And secondly, remember the timeframe involved here: Abraham lived approximately at 2000 B.C., Moses lived around 1500 B.C., and King David is born close to 1,000 B.C. The Prophets in the Old Testament lived after King David. And the Prophets lived during the years 750 B.C. to approximately 400 B.C. And so, the Prophets are sandwiched between the lives of King David and Jesus, with hundreds of years separating them in each direction. And so, I hope you see how unusual it is for the Prophets to write about the Messiah coming from the line of David, when David had died hundreds of years before they wrote.

Remember from my first post on this topic, we see in Luke 24:27 and 24:44 that Jesus after being resurrected taught the Disciples about Himself using the Old Testament Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. The wonderful resource of J. H. Smith, the 'New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge' breaks down these verses. And in today's post, I will show what verses in the books of the Old Testament Prophets Jesus may have used for His teaching. And so, without further ado, here is the list of the 32 sets of verses in the Old Testament Prophets that describe Jesus the Messiah:


 

Luke 24:27 - And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (i.e., Jesus) interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:44 - Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

Jesus in the Books of the Old Testament Prophets:

Isaiah +*7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Tom's note: Immanuel means 'God with us'.)

Isa. +*9:6, 7 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;           and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,           on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.           The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isa. *11:1-10 - There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.      2     And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.           He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,      4     but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.      5     Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.      6     The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,           and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.      8     The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 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, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Isa. 28:16 - Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Isa. *40:1-11 - "Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned.

Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins."      Listen! It's the voice of someone shouting, "Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!

     Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.

The Lord has spoken!"     A voice said, "Shout!" I asked, "What should I shout?" "Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.      The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord.

And so it is with people.      The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever."      O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, "Your God is coming!" 10      Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 11      He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Isa. *42:1-4 - Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights       I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.           He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;           a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.         He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

Isa. 49:1-8 – (to v. 7?) - Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar.           The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.      2    He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me;           he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.      3     And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."

     4     But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;           yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God."      5     And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,           to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him—           for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—      6     he says:

          "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel;           I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."      7     Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,           to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers:

          "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;           because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." (Jesus reaching all nations – but also God's Way of reaching Israel –see vv. 5-7)

Isa. 50:2-6 - Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer?           Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?

          Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert;           their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

     3     I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering."      4     The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught,           that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.           Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

     5     The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.

     6     I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;           I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

Isa. *52:13-15 through Isa. ch. +*53 - He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions

 13Behold, my servant shall act wisely;   he shall be high and lifted up,   and shall be exalted.
14As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,   and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
15so
shall he sprinkle[b] many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

Isaiah 53

 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us?[   And to whom has
the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,   and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces   he was despised, and
we esteemed him not.

 4 Surely he has borne our griefs    and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions;    he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;    we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him    the iniquity of us all.

 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,   and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,   so he opened not his mouth.

8By oppression and judgment he was taken away;    and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living,    stricken for the transgression of my people?

9And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence,   and there was no deceit in his mouth.

 10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;    he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt,   he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see
and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
   ( make many to be accounted righteous,   (and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death    and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many,    and makes intercession for the transgressors.


 

Isa. *61:1-3 - The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,           to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

     2     to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

     3     to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,           the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;           that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Jeremiah +*23:5, 6 - "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'

Jerem.33:14, 15 - "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'

Ezk 17:22-24 - Thus says the Lord God: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it." (This is a Messianic prophecy showing that the Christ will come from the line of David.)

Ezk*34:23, 24 - And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

Dan *2:44 - And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever

Dan *7:13, 14 - "I saw in the night visions,           and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man,           and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

     14     And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,           that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,           and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Dan +*9:24-27 - "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."

Hosea 1:7-11 - But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen."

8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the Lord said, "Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God."

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Hosea *3:5 - Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

Joel +*2:28-32 - "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;           your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

     29     Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Amos 9:11, 12 - "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,

     12     that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the Lord who does this.

Micah +*5:1-4 - Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us;           with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

     2          But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,           from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,           whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

     3     Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth;           then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

     4     And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.           And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.      5     And he shall be their peace.

Haggai *2:7-9 - And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.' "

Zech 6:12, 13 - And say to him, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." '

Zech 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zech 11:8-13 - In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. 9 So I said, "I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another." 10 And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. 11 So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. 12 Then I said to them, "If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them." And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. 13 Then the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter"—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.

Zech *12:10 - "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Zech 13:7 - "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts.

          "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. (This Verse describes several things: first, Jesus' Divinity, the Crucifixion and the Disciples desertion of Jesus as He was crucified.)

Zech *14:4 - Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4
On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. I added v. 3 – a powerful picture of Jesus' return as standing on both sides of a split mountain to rescue Jerusalem on the Day of the Lord.)

Malachi *3:1-3 - "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. (A verse describing John the Baptist's work before Jesus. It also looks like a description of Jesus' Return, and so does this mean that there will be another person in the future who comes along the same type as John the Baptist?)

Malachi 4:2-6 - "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." (I added verse 1 to place the verses in proper context. This is a description of Jesus' Second Coming. A couple of things to note – those who fear God will be there at Jesus' Return to "tread down" the wicked. Also, here is another description of God sending Elijah (or John the Baptist) to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children's hearts to their fathers. Otherwise, God would utterly destroy the world..)

Acts 28:23 - When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him (i.e., Paul in Rome) at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.


 

I hope this list put together helps give you a new appreciation for our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. For me, it has helped me in seeing how many of these prophecies there are. And how perfect and powerful God's Word is. I hope you will join me to Praise God whose Word is true and trustworthy, Amen.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Don’t All the End-Times Events Take Place at the Same Time?

A beautiful, sunny, warm day here in the Twin Cities. And a good day to remember how thankful we are that wonderful Olivia is in our life (she is now 12 years old). And so, while I am in my happy place (a reference to the Happy Madison movie), and I am still working on Part 2 of my list of references to Jesus the Messiah in the Old Testament, I thought I would write about the end-times again. This post is to support the Amillennial view by showing that the references speaking about Jesus' return have all of the events taking place at the same time. Let me start with an example:


 

The Last Trumpet:

At the "Last Trumpet", both the Rapture of the Elect takes place, but also the wrath of God takes place upon the nations. For those who fear the Lord,

  • At Jesus' Second Coming, Jesus sends out His angels with a Loud Trumpet call to gather the elect (Matt. 24:31);
  • At the Last Trumpet, the elect will all be changed, and the dead are raised (1 Cor. 15:52);
  • Jesus will descend from heaven with a loud trumpet call, with those in Christ, both living and dead meeting Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17);

BUT, also at the Last Trumpet:

  • The nations will rage that God's wrath has come, that the time for the dead to be judged had come, and also a time for Jesus to reward His servants (Rev. 11:15, :18; remember that in Revelation 8:6 through Revelation 10 there is a description of the 7 Trumpets. In Revelation 11:15, :18 there is a description of God's Judgment taking place at the Last Trumpet – the 7th Trumpet). Thus, at the Last Trumpet there is both the gathering of those who Fear the Lord, and the Judgment of the ungodly.


 

OK, hopefully you see what I'm doing. Here is another one:

Angels at Jesus' Return:

At Jesus' Second Coming, Angels will be used to separate the wicked from the Elect, and to gather the Elect to Jesus. This all takes place as one event, at Jesus' Second Coming.

At Jesus' Second Coming, Angels work to take out the ungodly and throw into them into Hell:

  • Angels will separate out those that offend (Matt. 13:41);
  • Angels separate the wicked from the just (whoops, I lost this reference);
  • When Jesus returns in His glory with His Holy Angels with Him, He will separate the sheep from the goats before His Throne (Matt. 25:31-33);
  • When Jesus is revealed from heaven, with His Mighty Angels, to take vengeance on those who do not know God, and who disobey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:6-:10);
  • The Lord comes ten thousands of His Holy Ones to execute judgment on the ungodly (Jude 14-15)

Yet, also at Jesus' Second Coming, Angels work to gather the Elect:

  • The Son of Man will come in His glory with His Angels and reward each according to his works (Matt. 16:27);
  • At Jesus' Second Coming, He will send His Angels to gather the Elect from the four winds (Matt. 24:31/Mark 13:27)
  • When Jesus comes in His glory with His Angels, the world will gather before His throne and He will separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:31-32);


 

I hope I am showing that when Jesus' return is discussed in the Bible, both the taking up of those who Fear the Lord, along with the removal of the ungodly, all are taking place at the same time. As believers in Jesus Christ we love the promise of Jesus coming for us "in the clouds". Here is another example of verses that describe God coming in the clouds":

Clouds:

Jesus will Return for Those Who Fear God in the CLOUDS:

  • And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
    11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-10);
  • Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:17);

Yet for the ungodly, seeing the Lord Coming in the CLOUDS will cause wailing and trembling at the Judgment that is approaching:

  • Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. (Revelation 1:7);
  • Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. (Revelation 14:14 – note that the sickle Jesus is carrying is a tool to deal with the ungodly;), and in the Old Testament there are a bunch of examples given of God riding in the CLOUDS as a description of God's impending Judgment upon the enemies of God. Here's a couple of examples:
  • Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. (Isaiah 19:1 – God's Judgment upon Egypt);
  • Behold, he shall come up like clouds, And his chariots like a whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are plundered!" (Jeremiah 4:13);
  • The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet (Nahum 1:3 – isn't this a powerful picture? The clouds are the dust of God's feet coming in Judgment.)


     

I could go on with other examples, but I think I have made my point; when significant end-time events like the Last Trumpet, Jesus coming with His Angels, and Jesus returning on "Clouds", it is always a two-sided coin – a day of rescue for those who Fear the Lord, but also a day of Judgment upon the ungodly. And I believe only Amillennialism has all of these events taking place at the same time, on the same Day. There is no separation of these vents of 3 ½ years, 7 years, or 1,007 years. At the Day of Jesus' Return we will see the rescue of His people, but also the Judgment upon all nations. Friends, Today is the day to repent.