TheSower Volume 16 Issue 2 | 2nd Quarter 2014
The quarterly magazine of Spirit & Truth Fellowship International速
Opening Letter
2nd Quarter 2014
Is the end of our age really near? “People are concerned because they see increasing instability in many countries, an unstable global economy, natural calamities all over the globe, and even some possible warning signs in the heavens above.”
T
o some, the title of this issue of The Sower may seem controversial, possibly even somewhat provoking; after all, can anyone really say how near we are to the end of this Age? Rest assured, we are making no claim of having any special knowledge or insight about the timing of the coming of the Lord. Why would we devote an entire issue to this topic? Traditionally in The Sower we try address issues that are both pertinent and timely to our faith community, and the fact is that in the past several months we have received numerous inquiries regarding the “signs of the times” and the “end-times.” There is good reason for all the inquiries when we take into account the current situation of the world today. People are concerned because they see increasing instability in many countries, an unstable global economy, natural calamities all over the globe, and even
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some possible warning signs in the heavens above. Having an accurate understanding of the “signs of the times” and the end-times is essential to prevent deception. Satan, knowing the days of his rulership are growing shorter, is working hard to mislead, distract, and cause fear in people. Having a proper understanding and perspective of the times is essential to keeping us focused on the task the Lord has given us: the task of spreading the Gospel of Jesus and bringing people to him. We trust that this issue will help you keep these times in proper perspective as we all keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. One thing we are sure of is that Jesus is coming back and we do not have to be surprised when he does. Looking forward with you to his Coming,
Dan Gallagher
6 The Christian’s Hope
Credits Publisher Spirit & Truth Fellowship International
®
9 REV® 2014 Hardback
Contents
17 Monthly Audio Teachings
Volume 16 - Issue 2 - Apr/May/Jun 2014
23 Bible Manners & Customs Videos
20 AudioBooks 25 Updated TruthOrTradition.com 27 STF Mobile App
Executive Editors John W. Schoenheit Dan Gallagher Editors Janet Speakes Renee Speakes
Lead Article
The Contender
Is the End of our Age really Near?
Christians and the Wrath of God
by Dan Gallagher
by John W. Schoenheit
Page 4
Page 10
Featured Article
Bible Customs
End-time Signs that Christians Can Be Watching For
The “Firmament” Above Us
Magazine Designers Ryan Maher Travis Williams Staff Writers John W. Schoenheit Dan Gallagher Production Coordinator Dustin Williams
Research Websites TruthOrTradition.com Over one thousand articles pertaining to many biblical issues. BiblicalUnitarian.com Explore an entire website dedicated to the truth of One God & One Lord.
Home Office 180 Robert Curry Drive Martinsville, IN 46151 888.255.6189 or 765.349.2330 M-F 9 to 5 (ET) Fax: 765.342.8430 STF@STFonline.org STFonline.org
Can we know if predictions of the upcoming end-of-times are correct? Should Christians even be concerned with these things?
The best example of how to prepare to endure trials is Jesus Christ himself.
You may view the electronic version of this magazine at STFonline.org/sower View back issues at STFonline.org/sower All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. References taken from other translations or versions will be noted, e.g., King James Version=(KJV). In verses or quotations from other authors, the author has emphasized words by placing them in bold print. Words inside [brackets] have been added by the author. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
by Dan Gallagher Page 18
We are told that the Rapture will occur in close proximity to the events of the next dispensation.
by John W. Schoenheit Page 22
God’s creation speaks of times and seasons: a time to plant and a time to uproot.
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is the end of our age really near? by Dan Gallagher
A
s a child I was taught the story of Chicken Little, a fictional character who, while walking through the woods, has an acorn fall on his head. Not knowing that it was an acorn, he runs through the woods warning all the forest creatures, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” This is a popular children’s story, but even as adults many people use the phrase, “the sky is falling” to indicate a few different things. One way it is used is to call attention to something perilous that is about to happen, usually something that is quite cataclysmic. It is also used somewhat mockingly of those who falsely predict coming doom and gloom, just like Chicken Little did. Nowadays it seems there are a lot of “Chicken Littles,” people running around predicting the imminent end of the world, and there are also those who mock them, thinking they are crazy. The question on many people’s minds is, “Who is right?” For many years, discussions about the end-times seemed to be mostly confined to the conspiracy theorists and survivalist-type folks. Then in the 1970’s, the book, The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsay, took the Christian community by storm as he connected Old Testament prophecies with the then current world conditions. In the mid 1990’s, the best selling Left Behind series of books 4 The Sower 2nd Quarter 2014
by LaHaye and Jenkins reignited an end-times focus as it described the Rapture of the Church and the Tribulation period that immediately followed. Nowadays, talk about the end-times is not just confined to Christian circles but has even hit the “mainstream.” There are even popular television shows devoted to “Preppers,” a term used to describe those who are building bunkers and making other preparations for cataclysmic times ahead. This all makes sense when we consider that hardly a day goes by when the media is not drawing attention to some potential extinction-level event such as meteor impacts, massive solar flares, shifts of the earth’s poles, plagues, wars, famines, or disease. Financial markets are unstable, governments across the globe are in turmoil, and morality and traditional social institutions, such as marriage and sexual relationships, are openly being challenged. Further, there is a measurable increase in geophysical events including earthquakes, volcanic disruptions, severe weather, and even meteor strikes. Speculation about mankind standing on the threshold of the final days is popular in many Christian circles across all denominational lines. It seems that there are a number of questions we should be asking ourselves. How can we know
“should we Christians even try to understand end-time scenarios and their possible timing?”
if those who are predicting the upcoming end-of-times are correct or not, and should Christians even be concerned with these things?
The difficulty of end-times study Mankind has always sought knowledge of the future, and stories abound in most all cultures and throughout history of shamans and other “gifted” individuals who were revered for their “powers” to peer into the future. For the most part, seeing into the future has virtually been an impossible task, and in those instances when people have been able to see ahead, it has been much like trying to see the road ahead through a thick dark fog or blinding snowstorm. Nevertheless, there have been times when God has provided mankind prophetic insight, but these instances also often lack clarity because of the somewhat cryptic nature of the messages. Eschatology is the theological name used to describe the field of the study devoted to the understanding of endtimes events. After years of personal study in this area I have come to believe that Biblical Eschatology is one of the most challenging arenas to understand in God’s Word. For the most part, many Christians know major pieces of end-times
events, such as the Rapture of the Body of Christ, a final seven year time of great tribulation, and the predicted second coming of Christ. But there is also great misunderstanding and great disagreement, even among very reputable Bible Scholars, regarding many major events, especially when it involves details of their timing and who they involve.
The future has always been clouded One of the reasons for this confusion and the lack of a clear understanding of the end-times is the frequently enigmatic nature of prophecy. Prophetic messages often are much like a riddle that must be decoded. A prophetic word also may not tell the whole story, but must be pieced together with other messages to see the more complete picture, much like a puzzle whose pieces must come together. This is also why many times prophecies cannot be fully understood until after the event has actually come to pass. There is a very real sense that God has reserved for Himself alone the power to know His exact timing and the details of future events. Since the future is so unfathomable, should we Christians even try to understand end-time scenarios and their possible timing? Once while discussing current events with some friends, one person remarked that Jesus had instructed his 2nd Quarter 2014 The Sower 5
followers not to try to know end-times and dates (a reference to the record below in Acts). However, in closely examining this record, I do not believe that is really what Jesus was indicating. Acts 1:6-7 (NIV84) 6) So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7) He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. The apostles asked Jesus a question concerning the precise timing of his establishing the Millennial Kingdom, which is a very specific question about a very particular event. What they wanted to know was, “Are you NOW going to restore the KINGDOM…?” Jesus’ reply was not a blanket indication that they could not, or should not, seek any knowledge of the end-times. To the contrary, it was only a couple of months earlier that they had inquired about the “signs of his coming,” referring to his second coming, and he answered them in great detail (Matt. 24 and 25). Although he said that “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36), he also told them that they could know of the endtimes in the same way that a person knows the changing of the seasons. When we see new buds on a tree, the melting of the snow, or the increase in hours of sunlight, we know that winter is coming to an end and spring will arrive soon. In a similar fashion, when people see the signs that Jesus specifically spoke about, then they too will know that the season of time is about to change. Matthew 24:32-33 (NIV84) 32) Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs 6 The Sower 2nd Quarter 2014
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get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33) Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
God expects His people to know the “signs” and the “seasons” God has always desired mankind to be aware of future events. One of the very first things He did for Adam and Eve following their fall was to give them the promise for the future of a redeemer (Gen. 3:15). Throughout history He has also revealed extensive details of the final end-times to many prophets, which are recorded in the Old Testament books of Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and many others. Jesus gave some very clear details and specific instructions about the end-times (Matt. 24; Mark 13:137; Luke 17: 23-37; 21:5-36). The Apostle Paul also made end-times references when he wrote to the saints in Thessalonica about the Rapture, an end-time event for the Body of Christ. It is also noteworthy that the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, is filled with descriptions of the end-day scenarios and it also includes the promise that anyone who reads it, and takes the words to heart will be blessed (Rev. 1:3). In light of all the above evidence, it is only logical for us to conclude that God wants and expects His people to be aware of the signs of the times.
Why should Christians be concerned with signs of the end-times if we are going to be “raptured” beforehand? It could be argued that there is no benefit for us, the members of the Body of Christ, to be watching the “signs of the times” since our dispensation will end with the Rapture, an event when we, the members of the Body of Christ, will all be changed in an instant of time and meet Jesus in the air. While this is true, what is not certain is the exact timing of this event. No matter how many charts or dispensational graphs we may have, we understand that when it comes to the Rapture, there is biblical evidence that seems to support a number of timing positions. This is why in Christianity we have some who adhere to a pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation view of the timing of the Rapture. Each position has its strengths and weaknesses and each requires reliance on
“...when people see the signs that Jesus specifically spoke about, then they too will know that the season of time is about to change.” underlying assumptions about the meaning of key sections of Scripture. At Spirit & Truth Fellowship, we do believe the Rapture will occur prior to the final seven-year period of tribulation on earth, however, we are also aware that there is no direct teaching of Scripture that identifies the precise timing of the Rapture. That being the case, any timing position a person takes concerning the Rapture should be done with the humility to admit the bottom line is that no one really knows. Given the horrific nature of the events that will happen in the Tribulation, we hope we are right and that we are long gone before any of it begins. But we also should be mentally prepared to endure any situation no matter what. It is always wise to have an attitude like the saying, “Trust in God and keep your powder dry.” When it comes to the timing of the Rapture, we hope for the best but are prepared for the worst. God has absolutely promised us that as followers of Christ we are not objects of His wrath, but He gives us no promise that we are free from having to endure Satan’s wrath. To the contrary, we are told that as followers of Jesus we should expect persecution from the world. As the days draw nearer to the end we should expect increased 2nd Quarter 2014 The Sower 7
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attacks on Christians, and even greater martyrdom.
Awareness of the signs of the times can help increase our faith, hope, and reaching others! Seeing events that God foretold thousands of years ago transpire before our eyes helps to fuel our faith and increase our daily hope. The world has a way of drawing our attention away from God, but seeing God in action helps to bring our eyes back into focus on Him. Having tangible evidence of the changing seasons also helps us to stay connected to His plans and purposes. We know that Satan’s fury will increase as we draw closer to the endtimes. Seeing concrete evidence of the signs of the times reminds us that God’s plans are coming to pass, and that in turn helps to increase our hope that our Lord is coming soon. Having such a great and tangible hope will help us to persevere and endure the
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harshest of conditions, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Another tangible benefit to watching the signs of the times is that it should motivate us to reach out to others with the Gospel message of salvation. We know that once the Age of Grace comes to an end there will be great hardship upon all mankind, a period of unprecedented peril and suffering. Knowing that this is about to happen should motivate us to lead as many people as we can to the safety that can only be found in Christ. I have personally found it easier to witness to others when I can point to concrete signs of the coming end-times, unmistakable signs such as things that are written in the stars and how they confirm the truthfulness of God’s Word. It is also advantageous to know the signs of the times so that we are not deceived. Jesus and Paul warned that in the end-times many will fall away from the faith and will be deceived. Being aware of the times and seasons helps us to be on guard for deceptions that will influence the Body of Christ and lead many astray. We also need to accept that if we are not correct in our belief that the Rapture precedes the full seven years of the Tribulation, it is possible that some well-intentioned people may unwittingly follow false prophets or
unholy signs and wonders. Given the tumultuous financial times and other disastrous calamities that people will face, some well-intentioned people will mistakenly support a false world leader who rises as he “solves” humanity’s problems. Having knowledge of endtime signs and an accurate awareness of what is happening around us helps to safeguard God’s people from the great deception that will come upon the whole world.
We must keep our focus on winning people to Christ The world is moving in one direction, which is towards that great day when Christ will return, subdue all his enemies, and establish his Kingdom on earth. Each day that passes only brings us one day closer to the pinnacle point of time, the culmination of God’s plans and purposes for mankind. We should always be aware of what is happening around us, but no matter what the signs seem to be pointing to, our priority must always be to obey Christ’s great commission to “go make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:1820). As he said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14).
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The Contender
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Christians and the
Wrath of God
by John W. Schoenheit
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e know that a time of tribulation and of the wrath of God is going to come upon the whole world, and this is described in the Book of Revelation. But do we know when that time is coming, and is there anything we should do to be prepared for it? If you would have asked me several years ago if I was sure that I was not going to go through the events described in the Book of Revelation, I would have confidently said “Yes.” I still believe there will be a Rapture before the start of the events described in Revelation, but I am aware that the verses on which I base that belief can be seen in a different light than I have always seen them. I am also more keenly aware that the Bible does not actually say when the Rapture will occur, which means that any knowledge of that fact has to be built by piecing Scriptures together—and that is always a difficult task, and somewhat open to interpretation. As I have had more time to consider these things, along with more study, more deep conversations with those who hold contrary positions, and better tools with which to study the Scripture, I have come to believe that some of the positions I held as impregnable a decade ago are not impregnable after all, and perhaps not even correct. Those things, and also my growing understanding of what it is to live wisely and be prepared, have contributed to my writing this article.
What does the future hold? Christians are very divided about how the future of earth will unfold, and for good reason: “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror” (1 Cor. 13:12 NIV84).1 There is much about the future that is unclear. Even though we believe that the Christian Church will experience an event we refer to as the Rapture, there are many theologians who love God and study the Scripture who do not believe that there will even be a Rapture.2 Furthermore, those theologians who believe in the Rapture, like those of us at Spirit & Truth Fellowship do, are divided as to when it will occur. Will it be “pre-Trib” (i.e., pre-tribulation, before any of the horrible events of Revelation start); “early Trib” (after some tribulation starts); “midTrib” (midway through the Tribulation); “pre-Wrath,” (after the Trumpet Judgments but before the Bowl Judgments); or “post-Trib” (after the Tribulation but before Christ comes to earth to fight the Battle of Armageddon)? Since the Bible does not say when the Rapture will occur, theologians have reached different positions about it.
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verses I thought were “ironclad” a decade ago have more latitude for interpretation than I once thought.
An uncomfortable position
There is one thing that all these differences show us: the Bible is not crystal clear on the subject. There is no single section of Scripture that lays out the chronology or an order of events of what is coming in the future. The Book of Revelation has many events in chronological order, but not all of them are, and furthermore, it never mentions the Rapture or indicates clearly whether or not Christians are present for any of the events mentioned in the book. There are verses in the Church Epistles that say Christians will not go through God’s wrath, and many Christians teach that this means we will not experience the wrath of God that is revealed in the book of Revelation. Romans 5:9 (NIV84) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
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1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NIV84) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. These verses may indeed be saying that Christians will not go through the wrath of God that is manifested as the horrible times in the Book of Revelation. However, some dispensational theologians say the true wrath of God does not start until part of the Tribulation is over, and so Christians can escape the “wrath” but still experience the early tribulations described in Revelation. Other theologians point out that neither of the above verses says the “wrath” is equated with the Tribulation described in Revelation, and both verses contrast “wrath” with salvation and being reconciled to Christ. Thus they conclude that the “wrath” in these verses refers to God’s condemning people to Gehenna if they do not get saved, and in fact that could be what the verses are referring to. Once again,
Uncertainty is very uncomfortable. If my wife is really late coming home from work, and I call and get her voicemail, I become uncomfortable and wrestle with being anxious. There are times I have felt sure that the Scripture, “Do not be anxious about anything” (Phil. 4:6), is in the Bible for my sake. But I know that I am not the only one who dislikes being uncomfortable, and likes it when things are “neat and tidy,” especially when those things have to do with what is coming in the future. But we have to be honest about what the Scripture actually says, and not assert that it says what we wish it says. I know that God can be crystal clear when He wants to be. For example, when He writes that the Devil will be bound for 1000 years, He calls him, “the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan” (Rev. 20:2 ESV). No uncertainty there! The point is that God can be clear when He wants to be. So when He authors the Bible in a way that leaves enough “wiggle room” that theologians who truly love and believe God differ hugely in their interpretations, it is not wrong to have some uncertainty about it, even if that means being uncomfortable.
What can we know? What we can know with confidence about the future is this: before Jesus fights the Battle of Armageddon and sets up his kingdom on earth, there will be a time of tremendous tribulation.3 This time of tribulation is described in many different verses in the Old Testament, in the Four Gospels, in the Church Epistles, and in great detail in the
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Book of Revelation itself. We can know that this time of trouble will involve tribulation to a degree that the world has never seen before. Daniel 12:2 (NIV84) “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.”
“Being prepared for troubled times is a way of recognizing how important we Christians are to the world.” will not be protected when the person sometimes called “the Antichrist” is ruling:
Billions of people will be killed. Isaiah foretold: Isaiah 13:12 (NIV84) “I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.
Daniel 7:21 (NIV84) As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them…. Revelation 13:7 (NIV84) He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.
Jesus also spoke of how devastating those days would be to mankind. Matthew 24:22 (NIV84) If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive. One unsettling fact is that both the Old Testament and Book of Revelation make it clear that believers
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As bleak as things look for believers, mankind, and even the world, the Bible also says that this terrible tribulation will end when Christ comes down from heaven with his armies, conquers the earth, imprisons the Devil and his demons, and sets up his kingdom. After
“As children of God we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.”
Christ conquers the earth it will be restored and become a paradise. A very small sampling of the prophecies of the future earth include that the earth itself will be healed: “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs” (Isa. 35:6, 7 NIV84). There will be food for everyone: “On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines” (Isa. 25:6 NIV84). People will be healthy: “And no inhabitant will say, ‘I am sick’” (Isa. 33:24 ESV). There will be no war. “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Mic. 4:3 NIV84). The Temple and services that Christ will preside over as High Priest are described in detail in Ezekiel chapters 40-44. How the tribes of Israel will divide the land of Israel, and the size and name of Jerusalem in Christ’s earthly kingdom is described in Ezekiel 48. This wonderful Messianic Kingdom is coming after the Great Tribulation, and what any person’s individual position and responsibilities will be in it will be based on how he has obeyed and been faithful in his life on earth. This is why each of us should be prepared to endure and be faithful to the Lord in whatever circumstances we face. 2nd Quarter 2014 The Sower 13
“They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”
Being prepared Although the coming Tribulation is certain, how much, if any of it, we Christians will have to go through is less certain. But, from a practical viewpoint, does it matter if we are going to go through any part of the specifically foretold Tribulation events? The Bible says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Pet. 3:15 NIV84). There should be no difference in behavior between a Christian who thinks he will be Raptured off the earth before the Great Tribulation and one who thinks he will go through the Great Tribulation. We should always be prepared to evangelize unbelievers and help our fellow believers. Being prepared for troubled times is a way of recognizing how important we Christians are to the
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world. As children of God we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Beyond that, the knowledge of the Word of God that we have is a great treasure. Scripture says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay….” (2 Cor. 4:7 NIV84). The context shows us what the “treasure” we have is: “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” that shines to us off the face of Jesus Christ. We are valuable to God and to the world in many ways, one of which is that we are ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ, showing people the way to salvation. Not being prepared for some tribulation is not wise. When we are not prepared, we are people who need help (or perhaps we would be dead), instead of being able to offer help to others. The Boy Scouts started in 1907, and have helped people through two World Wars, and many other wars
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kind of danger or tribulation for which we should be prepared is great. Organized persecution, natural disaster, and/or civil unrest are always possible. A simple electrical blackout can result in civil disorder and famine very quickly. Christ said the Tribulation would include wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, ethnic violence, and persecutions.4 Those things do not generally happen overnight. Even if the Church is raptured before the “official start” of the Tribulation, those living on earth before that official start will see an increase in troubles. Being “prepared” does not mean spending all our time and money trying to be ready for long-term survival if the world falls apart around us. Being prepared means to exert a reasonable effort to be ready and able to help oneself and others for a short time. Some food, basic medicine, durable clothing, and a means of self-protection will help a lot in troubled times. Jesus certainly understood this, and he knew that after he ascended things would get difficult for believers. Thus, it is noteworthy that at the Last Supper, only hours before his arrest, Jesus said to his disciples, “if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36 NIV84). Jesus knew that being able to defend yourself from criminals or in times of civil unrest was part of being prepared, and it shows a recognition of the treasure we hold inside us and that we should not give our lives away cheaply to the Adversary. Sometimes people who have rejected the Word for years are suddenly ready to listen when times are tough, and we need to be alive and ready to speak about Jesus in those times.
Enduring
and disasters, both natural and man-made. The Scout Motto (for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) is “Be Prepared.” The Scouts learned through experience that people who were prepared could help others, and people who were not prepared needed help. Christians, above all people, should “Be Prepared,” especially in light of the signs of the times. Christians have gone through tribulations since Christianity started, both individually and in groups. The first recorded persecution of a group of Christians is in Acts 8, when the believers of Jerusalem had to hurriedly leave their jobs and homes and get out of the area. We do not know how many did not successfully escape the persecution in Jerusalem, but Ananias complained to Jesus about the “harm” Saul had done to the Church (Acts 9:13). The likelihood of our going through some
One of the threats and temptations of suffering is that we will turn away from the Faith. We learn from history that many Christians deny the Faith when faced with trials. Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower about the person who does not have the Word deeply rooted in himself, and said, “When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away” (Matt. 13:21 NIV84).5 Christ’s words have proven true in history, and they will prove true in the end times as well, when believers will be persecuted and “many will turn away from the faith” (Matt. 24:7 NIV84). We should want to do our best not to be one who turns from the Faith if times get tough. The best example of how to prepare to endure trials is Jesus Christ himself. Looking at his life we see many keys to how he endured the sufferings and crucifixion he went through. He certainly had the Word of God deeply rooted in his mind. Furthermore, he made it a lifetime habit to obey the Word; he did not take a “cafeteria
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“The best example of how to prepare to endure trials is Jesus Christ himself.” approach” to the Bible, obeying some but ignoring the “inconvenient” commands. He prayed a lot, both with his disciples and alone; he talked with others about what it would take to endure, and he had a clear picture in his mind about the Hope and the “joy” of succeeding. He loved us, and he had a great desire to win for our sakes as well as his own. These things helped Jesus Christ to endure tremendous suffering, and they will help us too. We should keep in mind the Scripture that says, “if we endure, we will also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:12 NIV84). Even though I believe the Rapture will occur before the Great Tribulation starts, I do not know that with certainty, and neither do I know how dangerous things will become on earth as we approach the Great Tribulation. In fact, I do not even know if I will live until the Rapture. Like everyone else, I have no guarantee about the length of my life. But I know that God’s promises are true; I know the value of the Word I hold in my heart and can tell others about, and I know I will be rewarded if I endure. Many years ago a wise man told me, “Expect the best but prepare for the worst,” and that is not bad advice in these troubled times. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV84) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Notes: 1. The King James Version’s rendition about seeing “through a glass, darkly,” is beautiful but somewhat unclear. In the King James English, a “glass” was a mirror, and in the Roman times when Corinthians was written, wealthy people used polished bronze or brass as mirrors, and the reflection was dimly lit and very unclear. 2. One reason that theologians cannot agree on the Rapture is that it is only clearly mentioned in one verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:17: “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
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so we will be with the Lord forever” (NIV84). Although other verses, such as 1 Corinthians 15:52, which speaks of being changed “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye,” might certainly refer to the Rapture, they do not mention being “caught up” with Christ or being in the air. Since there is only one verse that clearly mentions the Rapture, many theologians take it in a more figurative than literal way. 3. We say we can know with certainty about Christ’s future coming to earth and future earthly kingdom because it is so clearly spelled out in the whole Bible. The Old Testament refers to it in many different ways, Jesus himself spoke of it, the Church Epistles speak of the kingdom and our inheritance in it and us inheriting the promise God made to Abraham, and the Book of Revelation mentions it as well, showing Jesus coming to earth and conquering it. Sadly, the understanding of Jesus’ earthly kingdom was derailed by Saint Augustine, who spoke of the verses about it as being figurative (cp. City of God, written over 13 years, from 413-425 AD). After Augustine, the Church abandoned the idea of an earthy kingdom and just spoke of people “dying and going to heaven forever,” and sadly that is still the predominant belief in the Christian Church. There is no good reason to
The Contender
believe that the hundreds of verses that speak of a real kingdom on earth are figures of speech. 4. We get “ethnic violence” from Matthew 24:7, “nation will rise against nation.” The Greek word translated “nation” is ethnos, and it has several meanings. It can refer to what we would call a “nation,” but since Jesus followed it with “kingdom against kingdom,” ethnos has a broader meaning. Ethnos is often used of “Gentiles,” but that is not its meaning here. Here it has the broad meaning of people united by kinship, culture, or common traditions. This can mean a nation that has a very homogeneous population, an ethnic group, or a group of people united by their culture and beliefs. 5. People who fell away from the Faith caused problems for the early Church. During the Roman persecution, many Christians were tortured to death, and these were referred to as martyrs. Then there were people who were tortured but did not deny the Faith and yet were let go for various reasons. These people were referred to as “confessors.” The Church was divided about people who denied the Faith when faced with torture, but as soon as the persecution was over wanted to come back to the meetings, and no solution ever satisfied everyone.
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End-time Signs that Christians Can Be Watching For by Dan Gallagher
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here are no specific “signs” that we, the Body of Christ, have been told to watch for concerning the coming of the Rapture. It is an instantaneous event that closes our present dispensation—the Age of Grace– and it happens at an unknown time, much like a thief who comes when least expected in the night. However, we are told that the Rapture will occur in close proximity to the events of the next dispensation, and many of those happenings are foretold throughout the Word of God. So it is reasonable to conclude that when we see various conditions lining up for the final end-time events that our “season” is on the verge of change. When looking at the “signs of the times,” we must keep in mind that the nature of a sign is that it precedes the actual event. For example, a sign on the highway warns us of the conditions that are coming up ahead, like an upcoming curve or off ramp. Signs merely show us that events foretold are approaching. When we see an alignment of the stars on a particular day matching an event that is foretold in the 18 The Sower 2nd Quarter 2014
scriptures, it does not necessarily mean the event will occur on that very same day. It is an announcement that the event is coming, in the same way that we know the sun is about to rise because we see the light dispelling the night sky before it actually breaks the horizon. Signs can also be divided into a few categories. Some signs happen well in advance of the event and others in very close proximity to it. This is because some signs are a precondition, that is, they are things that must happen in order for the actual predicted event to occur. For example, in order for the Temple to be desecrated, it must first exist, and that means it must first be rebuilt. There are also some signs that are more general in nature, which tends to make them somewhat subjective in determining if they have actually occurred or not. On the other hand, there are some signs that are very specific, making them more objective in the sense that there is little doubt about when they occur.
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Article
Subjective signs One of the signs Jesus said would precede his coming was that there would be wars and rumors of wars (Matt. 24:6). However, determining if “wars and rumors of wars” have actually increased is somewhat subjective; that is, our individual perspective often influences our position. Those who lived during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) could have easily thought that they were in the end times since all they would have known their whole life was war. But then someone who was living at the same time but in a stable country where there had been a long period of peace might conclude that there was no increase in wars. And if we compared the world today to the early-to-mid 20th century when World Wars I and II were being fought, a time that involved virtually the entire globe, we might reasonably conclude that wars have actually decreased. Signs such as increases in wickedness, ungodliness, famines, or wars are somewhat generalized, and that makes it much harder to determine if they have actually occurred.
Objective Signs There are signs that are objective, meaning they are completely independent of our perspective and perceptions. If a celestial sign is foretold in the heavens above, it is easy to determine if it has occurred or not. The book of Daniel speaks of a time when a wicked man will rule the whole world (known as the Antichrist and the Son of Perdition) and he will cause an “abomination that causes desolation” in the Temple (Dan. 7:27). For this to happen the Temple must first be rebuilt, and it is easy for people to know if that has or has not happened. The signs of the end-times are found in all the major
prophets, especially Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, as well as Psalm 83, the Gospels, and the Book of Revelation. Listed below are some of the major signs that we know will happen before or during the final days. God has given His people these signs so that they are not caught unaware, and it is safe to say He expects us to know them.
Signs of the End-Times False prophets and mass deception • Many will come in my name claiming, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many. (Matt. 24:5) • Many false prophets will appear and deceive the people. (Matt. 24:11) Wars and great national unrest • Wars and rumors of wars. (Matt. 24:6) • Nation will rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom. (Matt. 24:7) Famines • There will be an increase in food shortages throughout the world. (Matt. 24:7) Geological upheaval • Earthquakes in various places. (Matt. 24:7) Persecution and martyrdom of believers • Great persecution and many put to death. (Matt. 24:9) • You will be hated by all nations. (Matt. 24:9) A great turning away from the faith • Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. (Matt. 24:10; 2 Thess. 2:3) An increase in wickedness and hatred • An increase in wickedness, and the love of most will 2nd Quarter 2014 The Sower 19
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“If a celestial sign is foretold in the heavens above, it is easy to determine if it has occurred or not.”
grow cold. (Matt. 24:12) There will be godlessness and people will be lovers of pleasure and self, blasphemers, brutal… • There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world • And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. (Matt. 24:14) An increase of knowledge • An increase in knowledge. (Dan. 12:4) Men going to and fro upon the earth • Many will go here and there. (Dan. 12:4) Rebirth of Israel as a nation • God will bring back his people and resettle them in the land (Isa. 43:5, 6; 11:12; Amos 9:14, 15) This event happened in 1948 with the rebirth of the nation of Israel and will continue in the future. The Temple will be rebuilt with a restoration of Temple sacrifices following a treaty • The Antichrist desecrates the Temple, which means that a precondition of this event is the Temple must be rebuilt. (Dan. 9:27; 2 Thess. 2:4) The restoration of the red heifer • According to Levitical Law, a Red Heifer will be required to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers. The restoration of the Red Heifer is a precondition for Temple sacrifice to resume. (Num. 19:2-7). After a 2,000-year absence, in
May 1997 the first Red Heifer was born and another was born in Israel in March of 2002, making it possible for sacrifices to resume. Abomination that causes desolation standing in the Temple • The Antichrist will do something that causes “the abomination that causes desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel. (Matt. 24:15; see also Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) The ability to enforce the “mark of the beast” • The book of Revelation tells us that in the last days, people will not be able to buy or sell unless they have the “mark of the beast.” A precondition of this event is a system and technology to enforce the mark. (Rev. 13:17) Signs in the heavens • Fearful events and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:12) • Sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. (Matt. 24:29) • There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and great signs in the heavens. (Luke 21:10, 25, 26). • Stars will fall from heaven, and heavenly bodies will be shaken. (Mark 13:24) • Virgo clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars. (Rev. 12:1). Astronomical computer programs indicate that this will happen on September 23, 2017. • The woman (Virgo) gives birth; her child (Jupiter the King planet). (Rev. 12:5). This may be depicted when Jupiter is in Virgo for a period of 40 weeks, (the normal gestational period of time for a woman) from 11/20/2016 – 9/9/2017. • War in heaven between Satan (Saturn) and Michael (Mercury). (Rev. 12:7). This may be depicted in the constellation of the serpent with a double conjunction, the first on 12/6/2017, the second on 1/11/2018. • Saturn (Satan) moves into Sagittarius (the Archer) representing the conqueror bent on conquest. (Rev. 6:1) This may be depicted when it occurs in February of 2018. 2nd Quarter 2014 The Sower 21
Biblical Customs
FEATURE
The “Firmament” Above Us by John W. Schoenheit
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elping people understand and apply the lessons of the Bible is one of the great goals of The Sower, and in that light we sometimes present short articles on the culture and customs of the Bible. The Bible is written in such a way that it is completely and inextricably interwoven with the culture and the customs of the times and places in which its events occur. While the cultural references were well known to the people who lived in biblical times, many of them are unfamiliar to us today. Learning biblical customs has many advantages: it makes reading the Bible more enjoyable when we know about the people and how they lived; it clarifies things in the Bible we would otherwise not readily know, or that do not make sense to us at first; it alerts us to possible mistranslations in the Bible; and it gives us great insight into how to properly apply the Word of God in our lives. 22 The Sower 2nd Quarter 2014
In this article we are going to focus on how the ancient Israelites thought about the sky above them. This seems especially significant now, because astronomical computers are showing us that there are apparently some very significant events happening or about to happen in the heavens. One of the more difficult words to understand in some versions of the Bible is the word “firmament.” Genesis 1:6 (KJV) And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Although the verse above is from the King James Version, which was translated in 1611, some versions done in the 20th century, such as the American Standard Version and Revised Standard Version, still use the word “firmament.” Although the English word “firmament” is now considered
archaic, it referred to the vault of the sky, which the word “firmament” itself implies is solid. What the “firmament” is, and why some modern Bibles still use that term, is tied to the culture of the ancient Israelites. The Hebrew word that the King James Version translates “firmament” is raqiya (#7549 ) ַעיִק ָר. It is from a root that refers to when metal is hammered into sheets, such as in Exodus 39:3 (NIV84), which says, “They hammered out thin sheets of gold….” Thus the ancients spoke of the heavens above them as if they were a solid sheet, a solid dome, that had been hammered out and placed above them by God. Both the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate kept the original meaning of raqiya, “firmament,” the solid dome of heaven. The Septuagint uses the word stereōma, which means “that which is solid or has been made firm” or “that which provides a firm foundation.” The Latin Vulgate uses the word firmamentum, “that which strengthens
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“What the ‘firmament’ is, and why some modern Bibles still use that term, is tied to the culture of the ancient Israelites.”
or supports,” referring to the firm expanse of the sky. Our English “firmament” comes from the Latin firmamentum. There is no conclusive evidence that the ancient Israelites thought the heavens were actually a solid sheet, even though the word they used for it could be taken that way. Nevertheless, many of them could well have thought that. They may have thought that the “firmament” provided a kind of floor to God’s heaven and for His throne, as Ezekiel 1:22-26 can be understood to say. In any case, the ancient Israelites did see the heavens as a kind of dome over them, which is understandable. In Genesis 1:6, the “firmament” separates the water above it from the water below it. The ancients did not know how water got up in the sky, or where rain water actually came from, or how clouds could float in the air and yet hold lots of water (actually, how clouds can weigh tons and still float in the air was only relatively recently understood by physicists and meteorologists).1 Nevertheless, the ancients knew from experience that there was water “up there” that sometimes came down as rain or snow, and to many of them it was Genesis 1:6 that said it was the “vault of heaven” that kept the water above them separated from the water on earth. Genesis 1 has more information 24 The Sower 2nd Quarter 2014
about the domed vault of heaven than just what we read in verse six. Genesis 1:14 (KJV) And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: We know today that space goes on and on, but the ancients could not appreciate that fact. To them the stars were lights that God placed in the vault of heaven for various reasons. They marked out signs and “seasons” (Gen. 1:14), they gave light to the earth (Gen. 1:15), and they were a clear demonstration of the handiwork and glory of God (Ps. 19:1). The word translated “seasons” in Genesis 1:14 is mowed (#4150 )דֵעֹומ, more literally, “appointed times.” Today, thousands of years after Genesis was written, our understanding of what the heavens are like has enlarged greatly, but when it comes to the purpose for it, we have not added to what Moses wrote. We do not refer to heaven as a dome (although it still looks that way from the ground), but the best reason we know for God’s creation and placement of the stars is that they are signs and mark appointed times, they give wonderful light to the earth,2 and they declare the glory of
God. Given those facts, and especially considering how we can “explore” the past and future signs and seasons with astronomical computers, now is an excellent time to give some thought to some of the signs God has placed in the heavens for us. Notes 1. Actually, the Bible gives basic information as to how water gets up in the clouds and how the hydrologic cycle works, but those things were not generally understood by the common people. Job 36:27 (NIV84): “He [God] draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams.” Ecclesiastes 1:7 (NIV84): “All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.” 2. Although the primary meaning of “light” is actual physical light, as can be seen from the use of sun and moon in the verses, there is an undertone of “the light of knowledge,” because we also learn many spiritual lessons from the sun, moon, and stars.
Dear Sower Video on “What is a Prophet?” Excellent! Glory be to God/YAH for this wonderful teaching through you. Thank you for your willingness to share. GraceTruthTeacher (YouTube user)
YouTube Video “A Bible Study on Joy Comes from God” On The Sower Thanks to all the staff at Spirit & Truth Fellowship International. I rarely go a day without reading an article or watching a video from your website. God bless. Emilio G.
There is extreme JOY IN HOPE AND OPTIMISM, and your presentation is beautiful and brings good vibrations - excellent. Thank you in God. Creatrix13 (YouTube user) Editor’s Note: Check out our YouTube Channel, visit YouTube.com/TruthOrTradition
On STFOnline.org Sure love the new look of the web site. Works great on my iPad! Great improvement. Thank you! Kip H.
On our YouTube Channel Thank you very much for sharing your videos to us. Thank you! Felisa & Marisa
YouTube Video “Having A Temptation Plan” Thank you, your video came at a perfect timing in my life. You have shown me sections in the bible which I truly needed to see! Joel H.
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Regarding the “Bible Lands Tour” I walked along the shores of the Sea of Galilee during the 1985 Bible Lands Tour. It was life-changing inspiring! I highly recommend going on the Bible Lands Tour with John Schoenheit this July. Your money would be well-spent. You can’t take it with you. Store up your treasures in heaven. Frank L.
Video on “The Christian Life Isn’t Easy” Thank you for this teaching, I am 15 years old and hoping to become a Christian and this has really helped me and made me determined to clean my life of sin and become a good Christian. God bless you. Bfmvdude1 (YouTube user)
“Feasts of Israel” CD Article: “What is the Point of Prayer?” This is so wonderful and so powerful and so HEALING. Thank you. Deborah M.
Article: “What Is The Key To Divine Intervention?” I love the way you bring out the truth. thnks to the entire team. kakobya (TruthOrTradition user) Editor’s Note: For more information, visit our site TruthOrTradition.com
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed [The Feasts of Israel] teaching, I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to it now. Chet Editor’s Note: For further information, visit: STFonline.org/podcast
Send us your Feedback Do you have questions about the Bible? Comments about our articles, audio teachings & videos? We would love to hear from you! Email us at STF@STFonline.org
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