Jesus

The Alpha
and
The Omega
 Scriptural references are based on
the New International Version
and the King James Version.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The
Holy Bible, New International Version (North American Edition), copy-
right © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Italics and brackets used
in quotations from Scripture have been inserted by the author.

ISBN 0-9668099-1-2

Wake Up America Seminars, Inc.

P.O. Box 273
Bellbrook, Ohio 45305
(937) 848-3322
http://www.wake-up.org

Copyright © 2001
All rights reserved.

Larry W. Wilson
 Jesus
The Alpha and The Omega
Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Who is Jesus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 2 - The Angel of the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 3 - The Author and Finisher of Salvation . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 4 - Salvation through Justification . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Chapter 5 - Salvation and Predestination . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Chapter 6 - The Sealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Chapter 7 - What was Nailed to the Cross . . . . . . . . . . 95
Chapter 8 - God's Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Chapter 9 - What Happened to the Lord's Day . . . . . . . . 133
Chapter 10 - From Sabbath to Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Chapter 11 - Parallel Temples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Chapter 12 - Parallel Temple Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Chapter 13 - What Happens at Death? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Chapter 14 - Which is Next, A Rapture or the Second Coming?. 231
Chapter 15 - The Seventh Millennium . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
 Acknowledgements
This book is dedicated to every person who wants to know more about
Jesus.
Deepest appreciation is due to several people who have made this book
possible.
First, I would like to acknowledge four women who have dramatically
influenced my understanding of Jesus. My mother, Gladys, introduced
me to Jesus as I was growing up. Later, my wife, Shirley, demonstrated
the compassion and tender love of Jesus to me. For the past thirty-one
years my mother-in-law, Opal, has challenged me with excellent ques-
tions about the ministry of Jesus, and last but not least, my daughter,
Shannon, helped me understand the joy and importance of introducing
children to Jesus. I am forever indebted to these four wonderful women
for showing Jesus to me.
I am deeply indebted to my staff who have spent many long hours
helping me get this book into print. These are people of sterling quality.
Shelley has read and reread versions of this book many times. She has
made hundreds of corrections and offered many valuable suggestions
on making topics and issues clearer. Suzy has also read various
versions of this book and her suggestions and comments have been
incorporated and deeply appreciated. Marty has proofed and corrected
several versions of this book many times and has also managed to put
this manuscript into final “page ready” format for the printer. He has
overseen the process of getting this book to press. Producing a book of
this size is not a casual matter when you consider that these three
people carried their full load of daily responsibilities at the time this book
was being prepared. I am so grateful these workers for Christ are still
speaking to me! May God especially bless these three “musketeers”
who have gallantly stood at my side fighting the good fight of faith.
Last, but not least, I am deeply indebted to those who generously
support this ministry. Many individuals have sacrificially donated their
time and funds for the publication of this book and other materials.
Without their generosity, this book could not be a reality. To those who
have quietly made this book possible Jesus says, “But when you give
to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is
doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who
sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3,4)
There you have it. I am deeply indebted to many wonderful people.
I hope every person who reads this book will share in my indebtedness
by promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ Everyone who has given
something toward creating this book has no other desire than the
exaltation of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!
 Preface
Wake Up America Seminars, Inc. is a non-profit, non-denominational
organization dedicated to the purpose of spreading the everlasting gospel
of Jesus Christ. Wake Up America Seminars is not endorsed nor affiliated
with any religious organization. This ministry was established to herald the
salvation and imminent return of Jesus Christ. The words of the apostle
Paul are especially timely. He said, “. . . The hour has come for you
to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer
now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day
is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put
on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11,12)

I wrote this book for four reasons. First, among the gods of this world,
Jesus Christ has no equal. There is none like Him. I have found Jesus
to be so much more than I ever anticipated. Second, I have found that
Jesus is intimately involved in my salvation in ways that I never
dreamed possible. Third, I have discovered that life with Jesus is the
only way to have a life. Jesus is our only way out from under the curse
of sin. It is a deception to believe that life is better with more money.
The life that Jesus offers is not based on the currency of the world;
instead, it is based on the principles of God’s Kingdom as revealed in
the currency of Scripture. Last, I believe there are five essential doc-
trines found in the Bible about Jesus. These are the prerequisites for
understanding the imminent fulfillment of the prophecies in Daniel and
Revelation.

I hope this book will prove to be interesting enough to read two or three
times. The topics discussed are broad and comprehensive, requiring
some mental and spiritual processing. Carefully consider the contents of
each chapter and notice how each chapter contributes to the biblical
tapestry that reveals the love and ministry of Jesus. I readily admit that
this book does not begin to surround all that Jesus is, but hopefully it
will be a stepping stone for those who want to see more of Him. The
study of atomic physics is not simple. The study of molecular biology is
not simple. The study of computer science is not simple. Neither is a
study about the One who created these sciences simple. How can a
study about the Designer of Life, the Creator of the Universe, be a
simple subject? Jesus is cloaked in marvelous glory and He sits en-
throned at the right hand of the Father. He is the Word of God, He is
God Almighty. It is not possible for mortals to fathom all that He is. The
best we can do is to try to understand what He has said, what He has
done and what He is going to do. For me, there is nothing more inter-
esting in all of life than Jesus, The Alpha and The Omega!

Larry Wilson
April 2001
 Chapter 1
Who is Jesus?

. . . An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and

said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary
home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you
are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his
people from their sins.’ ”
– Matthew 1:20,21

Introduction
Perhaps the most controversial person to ever live on Earth was Jesus
Christ. Some people say He was a blasphemer. Others say He was a
prophet. Some people say He was a trouble maker and others say He is
the Son of God. Not long after He ascended to Heaven, His followers
began to disagree about His teachings, prerogatives and identity. So, who
is Jesus? Where did He come from? Where did He go? What was He all
about? Jesus is a challenge to explain because the Bible says so many
things about Him.
Jesus remains a controversial figure because of the claims He made and
the things He did while on Earth. If He is not the Son of God as He claimed
(Matthew 26:63,64), then He has to be the greatest liar who has ever lived.
Conversely, if any person denies that Jesus is the Son of God, the Bible
says that person is a liar! (1 John 2:22,23) Jesus leaves no one straddling
an ideological fence. He is either all that He says or He is the world’s
greatest imposter. Interestingly, either people love Him or hate Him. There
is no middle ground. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus play a
pivotal part in Earth’s destiny. One man, Jesus Christ, changed the course
of human destiny. Jesus brought the assurance of salvation and eternal life
out of the tomb. Of course, the promise of salvation existed before Jesus
died on the cross, but after His resurrection, we have “living proof” that the
penalty for sin has been paid and the promise of eternal life is a coming
reality. Jesus taught that this life is but a prep-school for the life to come.
The differences between the life we know right now and the life to come
are almost too good to be true. Life will be very different when we finally
dwell in God’s physical presence because the curse of sin and every
blemish on Creation will be removed. Jesus will no longer be veiled from
our eyes. We will see His face and rejoice in His instruction. Everlasting life
10 Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus?

will be filled with everlasting joy and endless vistas of learning. In the Earth
made new, we will build houses and inhabit them. We will know each other
even as we are known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) The redeemed will live
forever without seeing death, sorrow, sickness, injury or suffering! Better
yet, the redeemed will live forever seeing the One who made life possible.
The experience of everlasting life and all that goes with it is only possible
because one man, Jesus Christ, changed the destiny of a planet in rebellion.

The Alpha and Omega

Less than 27% of the world’s population claims to be Christian. This
indicates Jesus is either unknown to most of the world or He is not consid-
ered to be the Son of God by billions of people. Although Christian denomi-
nations may not agree on the teachings of Jesus, lively debate has no
bearing on who Jesus really is.
The source of disagreement among Christians about Jesus seems to be
quite simple. Jesus Christ is so magnificent and so awesome that people
cannot understand Him. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
end of everything that exists. Jesus is the artist that paints the sunsets with
the properties of light. Jesus is the biological engineer who put the world’s
ecological systems into operation. Jesus is the designer of life’s DNA; the
One who put the intricate chemistry of the human body into motion. He is
the author of life. He is the executor of God’s justice. Jesus Christ is
everything. He has no beginning and He has no end. Therefore, it is not
possible to fully define Jesus! He is simply too much to comprehend.
Although God has completely demonstrated His love for mankind through
the life and death of Jesus, we still have much to learn about God’s love.
Even more, Jesus Christ is not through revealing the love of God! He has
plans. He has authority and power. And most of all, He is not limited by
time or space. He lives forever and the people who love Him will someday
enjoy His presence forever! I believe that because Jesus Christ is so
magnificent, the Bible allows some wiggle room for variations in our under-
standing of His mission and teachings. Every question that we might have
about Jesus is not answered in the Bible, but we will soon be able to ask
Him any question that we might have.

Test All Things

When it comes to religious ideas, I have observed that many people use
the “sour milk method” for testing. In case you were not raised on a farm,
Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus? 11

the “sour milk method” of testing works like this: A five-gallon bucket of milk
can be tested with one teaspoon of milk – if the milk in the teaspoon is
sour, all of the milk in the bucket is sour. It is not necessary to drink five
gallons of milk to know whether all the milk is sour. Unfortunately, people
often test new ideas with teaspoons or “sound bites.” I mention this be-
cause you will probably find some new ideas in this book about Jesus, and
at first these ideas may appear to be sour, but please do not throw the
whole book out just yet. I would prefer you use another farm method for
testing. I call it the “rotten apple” exam. This method requires the examina-
tion of each apple in the barrel so that bad apples can be separated from
good ones. This method of investigation can produce very good results
because the good apples are not discarded with the bad! Really, the
spiritual difference between these two methods of investigation is attitude.
If you find an idea about Jesus that is different from what you have heard
before, look up the Scripture references in your Bible. Do your best to
glean as much from this study as you can.

The God of Both Testaments

For many years, I assumed the God of the Old Testament was the Father
and the God of the New Testament was Jesus. In other words, I assumed
they were two different Gods. I concluded that the Father was more
grumpy than Jesus. Perhaps my assumptions began during childhood
because I remember hearing preachers say the God of the Old Testament
was more likely to kill people than the God of the New Testament. Today,
my view about the Father and Jesus is very different. One is not grumpy
and the other gracious. They are both gracious beyond comparison! Jesus
said that He and the Father are one. (John 10:30) I know some people
interpret this verse to mean that Jesus and the Father are two manifesta-
tions of one being, but I disagree. I understand the oneness of the Father
and the Son to mean that they are perfectly united in purpose, plan and
action. For example, my wife and I are one (Genesis 2:24), yet we are two
separate human beings. So, I do not understand Jesus’ words to mean that
Jesus is the Father and Jesus is also the Son, as some people believe. My
study has led me to conclude that the Godhead has three distinct and
separate members in it: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit. Each member of the Godhead shares in the name “God” because
each member of the Godhead has the same prerogatives and attributes as
the other two, yet they live and function harmoniously in different ways.
12 Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus?

What Did Jesus Do before He Was Born?

I did not question my early assumptions about the Father being the God of
the Old Testament and Jesus the God of the New Testament until I began
to wonder about the life and actions of Jesus before He came to Earth as a
baby. As I studied this topic, I made an amazing discovery. The “God” of
the Old Testament is not the Father, but actually Jesus! (John 1:1-14;
5:37-40; Colossians 1:17,18) More than 90% of the references found in the
Old Testament pertaining to “God” refer to Jesus Christ! This discovery
profoundly changed my understanding of the Bible and Jesus. Conse-
quently, I now have a much different perspective about the words and
teaching of Jesus. It is wonderful to understand how Jesus discussed
themes and issues when He was on Earth (as recorded in the Gospels)
that He previously discussed with Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and
other Old Testament prophets before He came to Earth. As we proceed
through this study on Jesus, I will provide scriptural references that demon-
strate why I believe, in most cases, the God of the Old Testament is Jesus.

One Theme
Most Christians do not question why the Bible is divided into the Old and
the New Testaments, but after studying both testaments for many years,
I have concluded the division is artificial. Actually, the New Testament is a
continuation of the Old Testament. Neither Testament should be exalted
above the other nor is one book in the Bible inferior to another. The Jesus
I find in the Old Testament is a Jesus of love, compassion and long-suffer-
ing. This is consistent with what I find about Him in the New Testament.
The Old Testament reveals a history of God’s people repeatedly rejecting
their Benefactor, but the same story is also found in the New Testament
(and throughout church history, I might add). I find a God of justice and
deadly judgments in the Old Testament, and I also find the same thing in
the New Testament. As I wrote before, I believe the New Testament is
simply a continuation of the Old Testament. The actions and testimony of
Jesus in both Testaments reveal what the Godhead is like. (John 5:37-40)

Jesus, the Creator of Heaven and Earth

The Bible begins, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The first verse in the Bible explains Earth’s origin.
This verse also introduces our Creator and we call Him by several titles or
names: Jesus, God, Lord, The Word, Son of God, Master, Jehovah and
Savior. Did you know that the creative agent of the heavens and Earth is
Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus? 13

not the Father, but the Son? Notice what Paul wrote, “In the past God
spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in
various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the
universe.” (Hebrews 1:1,2) Jesus is the “hands-on” creative agent of the
Godhead. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were in perfect harmony about
the creation of Earth, and yes, all three were present! The Father was
observing, Jesus was creating, and the Holy Spirit was hovering over the
Earth, ready to dwell within the hearts of a new creation called man.
(Genesis 1:2) Notice this statement by Paul affirming that Jesus is the
creative agent within the Godhead, “For by Him [Christ] all things were
created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by
him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold
together.” (Colossians 1:16,17, insertion mine.) In the fourth command-
ment, the creative works of Jesus are recognized: “Remember the Sab-
bath day by keeping it holy. . . For in six days the Lord made the
heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested
on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and
made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11) John places the creative handiwork of
Jesus beyond dispute by writing, “He was in the world, and though the
world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” (John
1:10)
Three points need to be highlighted in the texts just presented. First, Jesus
is the creative agent of the Godhead. Second, Jesus is called by many
different names or titles because one title cannot describe all that Jesus is!
Last, Jesus is a name that we use to identify a member of the Godhead
after He was born of Mary. In other words, the name “Jesus,” as it applies
to the Son of God, is only 2,000 years old. Jesus, of course, is much older.

The Bible and Holy Spirit Agree

The Bible uniquely reveals information about Jesus that cannot be found in
any other place. Yet, the Bible is incomplete. John says an infinite and
omnipotent Jesus cannot be adequately described on paper. (John 21:25)
Knowing about Jesus is not the same as personally knowing Jesus. There
may be hundreds of millions of people who claim to be Christian, but a
loyal follower of Jesus is known by love and obedience to God and by love
for each neighbor. (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:35) To help us understand
what the Godhead is all about, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to
help us. Jesus said, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will
14 Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus?

guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak
only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will
bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to
you.” (John 16:13-14)
If it takes time and experience to understand what a friend is really like, you
can understand why it might take a very long time and many diverse
experiences to grasp what Jesus is like. For this reason, the historical
record in the Bible covers a period of about 4,000 years. If we study the
whole Bible, we can get a good picture of what Jesus is really like. In the
Old Testament Jesus says, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) In
the New Testament Paul wrote, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) The nice thing about studying 4,000
years of Jesus’ behavior is that the Bible presents many separate situa-
tions and issues. By thoughtfully examining a range of events and experi-
ences, we begin to understand how Jesus deals with human beings. Far
too many people make the mistake of defining Jesus with a small sample
of His words or actions. Jesus does not live in our dimension or operate on
our timescale. If we limit our research about Jesus to the four gospels or
the book of Psalms, we will not understand all that Jesus is. We must
examine every book in the Bible.

Eternal God Revealed in Old and New Testaments

The Old and New Testaments are inspired by the same Holy Spirit, have
the same authority and reveal the same Jesus! Pay close attention to what
John says about Jesus. “{1} In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God in
the beginning. {3} Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made. {4} In him was life, and that
life was the light of men. . . {10} He was in the world, and though the
world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11}
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
{12} Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God – {13} children born not
of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but
born of God. {14} The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who
came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-14)
These verses contain profound information. If you reread the verses in
reverse order, you will discover some interesting things about Jesus. For
Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus? 15

example, many people are confused about the title “God” as it relates to
Jesus in verse one. How can “the Word be God” and be “with God?” Think
of “God” as a last name: Father God, Son God, and Holy Spirit God. These
three entities have the same last name because they are equal in every
way, but they each have different roles. (Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 16:5-11;
17:1-5.) In this light, John 1 reveals that Jesus was God and He was a part
of the Godhead from the very beginning.
After reading John 1:14, you may ask, “Why is Jesus called the Word in
verse one?” In simple terms this title says volumes about Jesus as the
creative agent of the Godhead. The Psalmist says, “For He [Jesus] spoke,
and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” (Psalms 33:9,
insertion mine.) If the person who baked the cake is called “the baker,” and
the person who performed the surgery is called “the surgeon,” then the
One, who through the breath of His mouth, spoke the world into existence
should be called “the Word.” The disciples were amazed at the power of
His words. He calmed a terrifying storm on the Sea of Galilee by speaking
the word! (Mark 4:39)

Jesus is God just like the Father

The idea that Jesus is equal in every way to God the Father may be hard
to grasp at first, but it is true. Jesus has all the power, authority and glory
the Father does. Jesus is not a lesser God. Somehow the title “Son of God”
seems to make Jesus a lesser God in some people’s minds, but this is not
the case. I will explain later how the title “Son of God” refers to the state of
submission that Jesus entered to save man. Jesus has existed forever. He
was not created. Just like the Father and Holy Spirit, Jesus is an eternal
member of the Godhead. Jesus is as worthy of honor and worship as is the
Father! (John 5:23) Paul wrote, “For in Christ all the fullness of the
Deity lives in bodily form . . . who is the head over every power and
authority.” (Colossians 2:9,10) In Revelation Jesus said to John, “I am
the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was,
and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) Remember, this
same John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made
that has been made.” (John 1:1-3) Peter wrote, “He [Jesus] was chosen
[as the one who could die for man] before the creation of the world, but
was revealed in these last times for your sake.” (1 Peter 1:20, inser-
tions mine.)
16 Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus?

In the Old Testament, Isaiah quotes Jesus saying, “Listen to me, O

Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the
last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand
spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up
together . . . This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy
One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best
for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:12,13,
16,17) Near the end of Job’s suffering and distress, Jesus revealed just
how little Job and his friends knew about His purposes. Jesus said,
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you
understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who
stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)
For some readers it may be hard to grasp that it was actually Jesus who
said to Abraham, “. . . I am God Almighty; walk before me and be
blameless.” (Genesis 17:1) When the Jews argued with Jesus about His
claim that He was greater than Abraham, Jesus responded, “Your father
Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it [in vision]
and was glad.” [The Jews sneered,] “You are not yet fifty years old . . .
and you have seen Abraham! ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered,
‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ ” (John 8:56-58, insertion mine.)
One last point. Old Testament writers were well acquainted with Jesus
even though they did not know Him by the name “Jesus.” The writer of
Hebrews stated that “He [Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of
Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he
was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:26, insertion mine.) How
did Moses know Christ before Christ was born? John knew that Jesus had
revealed His glory to Isaiah 700 years before Jesus was born. John wrote,
“Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”
(John 12:41) How did Isaiah know about Jesus before He was born? When
Jesus was upon Earth, notice what He said about Himself by repeating
Isaiah’s words: “He [Jesus] replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he proph-
esied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me
with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in
vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of
the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
(Mark 7:6-8, insertion mine.) When Jesus began to select His disciples,
Philip excitedly ran to Nathaniel and said, “. . . We have found the one
Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also
wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45)
Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus? 17

What do these verses confirm? Jesus lived in Heaven before He was born
to Mary. Obviously, He did not go by the name Jesus before His birth, but
all the Old Testament prophets knew Him as God Almighty or Jehovah
God. (Exodus 6:3) Enoch, Job, Noah, Abraham and Moses even talked
with Him. Jesus is fully God and the creative agent of the Godhead. Jesus
does so much! He is so much!

Mary Told to Call Him Jesus

Here is a point to consider. The angel instructed Mary to call her child by
the name “Jesus.” (Matthew 1:21) In other words, Mary and Joseph could
not choose the name of the Messiah. It is my opinion that the loss of this
privilege gently imposed Heaven’s higher ownership of this baby boy. In
ancient times, the mother usually had the privilege of naming her offspring
at birth. (Genesis 29:32-35; 30:6-13; 1 Samuel 4:21) This privilege was
suspended for both Elizabeth and Mary (mothers of John the Baptist and
Jesus) because these sons were not to be under the dominion of their
respective mothers. Like the prophet Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit set them
apart from birth. (Luke 1:15,35; Jeremiah 1:5)
The Bible is very clear that Jesus lived in Heaven before He created the
world. Jesus was not called by His earthly name though, until He was born
to Mary. It makes sense then that we do not find Jesus called by His earthly
name in the Old Testament. Remember, more than 90% of the references
to God in the Old Testament are references to the person we now call
Jesus! For example, in Gethsemane Jesus prayed to the Father saying:
“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had
with you before the world began.” (John 17:5) Clearly, Jesus shared
glory with the Father before the world was created. On another occasion,
Jesus revealed where He had come from: “For I have come down from
heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And
this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he
has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:38,39) On
more than one occasion, Jesus told the Pharisees that the Old Testament
specifically focused on Him: “And the Father who sent me has himself
testified concerning me. [The Father spoke at the baptism of Jesus
saying, ‘This is my Son . . .’] You have never heard his voice nor seen
his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the
one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think
that by [knowing] them you possess eternal life. [But] These are the
18 Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus?

Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have
life.” (John 5:37-40, insertions mine.) Remember, the “Scriptures” at the
time of Jesus were the books we now call the Old Testament. (Luke 24:27)
Jesus’ remarks confirm that the Old Testament is a testimony about Him-
self.

Progressive Revelation
The truth about Jesus is continually unfolding. In fact, the last book in the
Bible is appropriately called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” because it
describes how Jesus will be fully revealed to the world at the end of time.
Our knowledge about Jesus is based on progressive revelation. In other
words, the revealing of all that Jesus is – has been progressively unfolding
over thousands of years. Early prophets did not know as much about Jesus
as people who came later. Each succeeding prophet stood on the shoul-
ders of the earlier prophet, providing a more complete picture of Jesus and
His work. Notice one instance of this progression in the Bible: “God [Jesus]
also said to Moses, ‘I am the Lord [Jehovah]. I appeared to Abraham,
to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by my name
the Lord [Jehovah] I did not make myself known to them.’ ” (Exodus
6:2-3, insertions mine.) This text presents a bit of a problem because
Abraham and Jacob knew about God’s Hebrew name Jehovah. Notice
these two texts: “And he [Jehovah] said unto him [Abraham], I am the
Lord [Jehovah] that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give
thee this land to inherit it.” (Genesis 15:7, KJV, insertions mine.) Later,
God spoke to Jacob in a vision as he was fleeing from his brother Esau:
“And, behold, the Lord [Jehovah] stood above it [the ladder reaching to
Earth], and said, I am the Lord [Jehovah] God of Abraham thy father,
and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it,
and to thy seed . . .” (Genesis 28:13, insertions mine.) These two texts,
as well as Genesis 22:14, indicate that Abraham and Jacob knew of the
name Jehovah. So, what did Jesus mean when He said to Moses, “by my
name the Lord [Jehovah] I did not make myself known to them.”
I understand Jesus to mean that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not under-
stand the meaning of His name Jehovah. In ancient times, Hebrew names
were carefully selected to describe character, emotions, or an event at the
time of birth. In this sense, although Abraham and Jacob knew the title
“Jehovah,” they could not understand that the awesome meaning of the
name would not be revealed until the time of the Exodus.
At the time of the Exodus, Jehovah (Jesus) performed a series of astonish-
ing miracles. These miracles established the Hebrews as a nation under
Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus? 19

His sovereign leadership. Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron to speak to

Pharaoh. Jehovah sent ten plagues on Egypt. Jehovah “passed over”
Egypt at midnight and killed all the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast.
Jehovah destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. At this time, the
Deliverer of Israel began to identify Himself with the Hebrew name Jeho-
vah. Jesus did this so that all nations would know the King of the Jews was
Jehovah God. About 1,400 years later, Jehovah was born to Mary and He
died on the cross with this title written above His head: “The King of the
Jews.” (John 19:19-21)

Sacred Name
Some Christians today insist that Jesus must be called by a Hebrew name
such as “Yashua,” “Yehoshua,” “Jehovah,” “Yahweh,” etc. I find these
claims to have no merit. From secular history and Bible history, we know
that the name “Jesus” was a common Jewish name used at the time of
Christ’s birth. (Acts 13:6; Colossians 4:11) If it is inappropriate to call Jesus
by His given name, why was Mary required to give her son the name
“Jesus?” The basis for insisting on one sacred name for Jesus stems from
Jewish superstition. The Jewish people became so superstitious about
God that they refused to speak or even write the names “Yahweh” and
“Jehovah.” Actually, one name is no more sacred than any other title or
name which God uses. It is God Himself who makes a name and title holy,
not a specific name that makes Him holy. Regardless of the name or title
you may find in the Bible to identify Jesus, we should never use any of His
names or titles carelessly. (Exodus 20:7). One of the highest and most
exalted titles given in the Bible for God is “Father” and Jesus instructs us to
address the Ruler of the Universe with the endearing title, “Our Father.”
(Matthew 6:9) Furthermore, because “Father” is an exalted title for God,
Jesus forbids anyone from calling a clergyman, “Father.” (Matthew 23:9)

So, Who is Jesus?

Jesus is all of the following:
Jesus is Jehovah God. (Exodus 6:3)
Jesus is the Lord thy God. (Isaiah 48)
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16)
Jesus is the Angel of the Lord. (Genesis 22:11-18; Exodus 3:2-6;
Judges 2:1-5)
20 Chapter 1 – Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the Creator of Earth. (Exodus 20:8-11; Colossians 1:16; John

1:10; Hebrews 1:1,2)
Jesus is our Redeemer. (Isaiah 48; Ephesians 1:7)
Jesus is our Friend. (John 15:13-15)
Jesus said to His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in
God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take
you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way
to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4) Do you think our trust in
the Father should be any different from our trust in Jesus?
 Chapter 2
The Angel of the Lord

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses

in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount
Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As
he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord’s
voice: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not
dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your
sandals; the place where you are standing is holy
ground.’ ”
– Acts 7:30-33

A Controversial Point
Some readers may consider the following remarks to be blasphemy, but let
me say that nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, many
people believe that it is slanderous to say that Jesus lived in the form of an
angel before He came to Earth. Surprisingly, these same people have no
problem accepting the fact that Jesus lived in the even lower form of a man
while He was on Earth. Do not misunderstand my statement that Jesus
lived in the form of an angel before He came to Earth. Jesus is not a
created being. He is eternal God, just like the Father is God, and He has
existed from time everlasting. (John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:17; 1 Chronicles
16:36) The Bible plainly teaches that Jesus lived in Heaven before He lived
on Earth. (John 14:24; 17:5; Hebrews 1:1-3)

Angelic in Form
Consider this possibility: Prior to taking on the form of a man, Jesus lived in
Heaven in the form of an angel and the angels called Him “Michael” (which
means “One who is like God”). Before we get too involved in this topic,
I ask that you prayerfully consider a simple concept about the Godhead.
I am not asking you to agree with me, but I would like to present a sum-
mary statement first, allowing you to see the big picture before demonstrat-
ing from Scripture that Jesus is Michael.
22 Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord

Here is the concept: Three Gods rule over the Universe; the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit. Each God is separate and distinct in His own right. They
have the same authority, power and ability, but they function in different
roles according to a mutual covenant between themselves. The role of the
Father is universal focus. He is the object of worship and the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe. (The “out front” position of the Father also makes
Him the focus of litigation should a contest over governance arise.) The
role of the Son is to live among the created beings as one of them, to
faithfully instruct and demonstrate God’s love to all beings. The role of the
Holy Spirit is to live within the soul of each created being, making intimate
communion between God and creature simultaneously available to every-
one – everywhere – anytime. This concept of the Trinity establishes that
God is above us (the Father), beside us (the Son) and within us (the Holy
Spirit). If this view of the Godhead is correct, the following information
about Michael should be easier to understand.

Michael
Jesus is called by many names in the Bible. Each name is like a prism that
reflects something new about His marvelous wisdom and ways. Whether
He is called “The Word,” “The Lamb of God,” or “The Rose of Sharon,”
each name reveals another aspect of His beautiful character. The name
“Michael” also reveals something very important about Jesus. It indicates
how closely He identified with the angels before He took on the form of a
man. The subject of Christ’s preexistence is important because the disclo-
sure of Jesus, His authority, power, love and humility is a very encompass-
ing subject. To the angels, He is Michael the archangel (the prefix arch
means “over” or “above” all angels). To man, He is Jesus, Savior, King of
kings and Lord of lords, the “archman,” if you will. A revealing of all that
Jesus is also exposes the other members of the Godhead since the mem-
bers of the Godhead are one in purpose, plan and action. The Father and
the Holy Spirit are keenly interested in the actions and testimony of Jesus
because as “The Word,” He represents them, too. Since Jesus is the
Creator/Heir of Earth, He will take possession of Earth at an appointed
time. People who trust in Him for salvation should be willing to understand
all they can about Him and His ways since He is Lord and Master to all who
call on Him.
There is one Archangel in Heaven. Four books in the Bible offer informa-
tion about Him:
Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord 23

1. “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the
devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous
accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ ” (Jude 9)
In this text, Michael is identified as the archangel. Some people are
offended by the idea that Michael, the archangel, is another name for
Jesus, the Son of God. Sometimes, a portion of this text is used to
prove that Michael is not Jesus because Michael says to the devil,
“The Lord rebuke you.” The argument goes like this: “If Michael is
Jesus, why would He refer to Himself in the third person?” This objec-
tion is not valid. Notice what Zechariah 3:2 says, “The Lord said to
Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen
Jerusalem, rebuke you!’ ”
The language of Zechariah 3:2 is identical to Jude 9. In both cases,
Michael is speaking of Himself in the third person. He speaks with
divine authority in the argument over the body of Moses and ends the
argument without slandering the devil. This is Jude’s point in verse
nine. Jude contrasts the words of Jesus with men who are like “unrea-
soning animals,” carelessly slandering celestial beings without realiza-
tion of their wrong doing. We also know that when the devil tempted
Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus did not slander the devil nor rail against
him. Speaking to Lucifer, Jesus said, “Do not put the Lord your God
[me] to the test.” (Matthew 4:7, insertion mine.) Jesus knew who He
was. So did the devil and he retreated.
2. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud
command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet
call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians
4:16) Before we examine the details of this verse, we need to consider
two other texts. Notice what Jesus said about Himself, “I tell you the
truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear
the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” (John
5:25) Whose voice did Jesus say the dead will hear at the resurrec-
tion? Jesus also said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who
looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I
will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)
These three texts harmonize only if the archangel is Jesus Himself.
The Lord Himself will speak with the authority of the archangel and call
the dead to life. When Jesus comes in glory, all of the angels will be
with Him. (Matthew 25:31) The dead will hear His voice at the last day.
Some people try to ignore the weight of textual evidence by saying the
24 Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord

archangel joins with the Lord in raising the dead. Why does Almighty
God need an archangel to help Him raise the dead? Jesus alone has
the keys to the grave and He alone has the authority to redeem man!
(Revelation 1:18; 5:9)
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16 again and notice how Paul connects two
important themes. First, the Lord Himself is the Redeemer coming
down from Heaven to gather up His saints. Second, the Lord Himself is
also the archangel, Michael, leading Heaven’s angelic host. Paul
merges two perspectives about Jesus in this text. From man’s point of
view, Jesus is the Redeemer. From the angel’s point of view, Michael,
the archangel, is the Commander-In-Chief who leads the heavenly
host. In other words, Jesus has great authority rising from both identi-
ties – He is the Redeemer of man and Commander-in-Chief of angels.
3. “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people,
will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not hap-
pened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time
your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book –
will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will
awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting
contempt.” (Daniel 12:1,2) These verses reveal two impressive facts.
First, the Great Tribulation commences when Michael stands up. This
suggests that at the present time, Michael must be seated and Scrip-
ture verifies this point, “. . . We do have such a high priest, who sat
down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and
who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the
Lord, not by man.” (Hebrews 8:1-2, italics mine.) In other words,
when Michael stands up, His work of intercession at the right hand of
the Father (Hebrews 7:25) will be finished and a time of distress will
then begin on Earth. Do not overlook the fact that Michael is the great
prince who protects His people. It is well known that a prince becomes
a king when the kingdom is actually handed over to him. The same is
true for Jesus. At the present time He is “a prince in waiting”– waiting
for Earth to become His dominion. (Hebrews 1:13; Revelation 11:17)
According to the Bible, the Father will hand over the kingdom to Jesus
during the Great Tribulation, at the time of the seventh trumpet. (Rev-
elation 11:15-19) His first action (as King of kings) will be to pour out
seven bowls of vengeance upon the wicked people of Earth. (Revela-
tion 15 and 16) Therefore, when Jesus appears in the clouds of glory
He will appropriately wear the title, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
(Revelation 19:16)
Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord 25

The second impressive fact found in Daniel 12:1-2 is that Michael, the
archangel, is associated with a resurrection of the righteous. (Paul
confirms this point in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.) Yet what makes the book
of Daniel so amazing is that it was written about 600 years before Paul
even appeared on the scene. From Daniel’s perspective, Michael had
not become “Jesus” yet! When studying the Old Testament, keep in
mind that the name “Jesus” was not associated with the second mem-
ber of the Godhead. This did not happen until He was born to Mary.
These texts from Daniel suggest that Michael is actually Jesus and His
position in Heaven is “Archangel.”
One text in Daniel is sometimes used to support the idea that Michael
is not Jesus. “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me
twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to
help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.”
(Daniel 10:13) This text describes an event when Gabriel needed
Michael’s help to overcome the devil’s influence over the king of Persia.
At first, it may seem strange that Michael is called “one of the chief
princes,” especially if He is the archangel. However, this use of lan-
guage can be easily harmonized if the reader can accept two concepts.
First, Jesus lived among the angels as “one” of them, just like He lived
among men as “one” of us. In other words, Michael looked like the
other chief princes of Heaven. Second, in Heaven’s administrative
order, the highest rank is that of a servant leader. Jesus said, “The
greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) For
example, when Jesus lived on Earth, did He awe the multitudes with
His glory? Did He lord His divine authority over mortals or rule from an
exalted throne? Did He surround Himself with an entourage of 10,000
servants? The answer to each question is “No.” Even though Jesus is
Almighty God, He chose to subject Himself to the Father, the Plan of
Salvation, and even death itself. He lived as a humble servant of man
and Michael lived the same way in Heaven among the angels. Servant
leadership is the highest order in God’s kingdom and Gabriel refers to
Michael as one of the chief princes because He functioned as that.
Keep this parallel in mind: From man’s perspective, Jesus appeared to
be one of us and from the angel’s perspective, Michael appeared to be
one of them.
4. “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought
against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in
26 Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord

heaven.” (Revelation 12:7,8) I believe this war took place on Resurrec-

tion Sunday. This text describes Michael and His angels fighting
against Satan and his angels. Michael and Satan are commanders,
each having an army of angels. Lucifer is the Prince of Darkness and
sin. Michael is the Prince of Righteousness and light.
This battle on Resurrection Sunday had a long history that preceded it.
Before Lucifer sinned, Michael was the archangel, the ruler over all
angels. When one-third of the angels defected and joined Lucifer in
rebellion against Christ, Satan became the self-appointed archangel
over his followers. Thus, the great controversy between Christ and
Satan is actually a contest between two powerful archangels who were
once best of friends. It is interesting to note that each time the name
Michael is used in the Bible, it is used in the context of an angelic
conflict between the devil and Jesus.
After examining the four texts in the Bible that refer to Michael, the evi-
dence indicates that Michael is Jesus. But continue reading because there
is better evidence still to come!

Michael, the Angel of the Lord, is Jehovah

Many people are surprised to learn that in the Old Testament, Jesus is
often identified as “the angel of the Lord.” Three excellent examples follow.
Pay careful attention to who is speaking in each text. When Abraham was
about to slay Isaac as a sacrifice, the Bible says, “But the angel of the
Lord called out to him from Heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham! . . . Do not
lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. The angel of the Lord called to
Abraham from Heaven a second time and said . . . ‘I swear by myself,
declares the Lord [Jehovah], that because you have done this and
have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and
make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as
the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of
the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on
Earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’ ” (Selections
from Genesis 22:11-18, insertion mine.) Did you notice in these verses that
“the angel of the Lord” is actually God, the Lord Jehovah?
The second example is even more illuminating. One day when Moses was
tending his sheep, he noticed a bush blazing with flames of fire. “There
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within the
Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord 27

bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the
bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to
look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And
Moses said ‘Here I am.’ ‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off
your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’
Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ ” (Exodus 3:2-6) Did you notice
again that “the angel of the Lord” is actually God?
The third text removes all doubt. “The angel of the Lord went up from
Gilgal to Bokim and said, ‘I brought you up out of Egypt and led you
into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will
never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a cov-
enant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their
altars. Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now
therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will
be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’ When
the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the
people wept aloud, and they called that place Bokim. There they
offered sacrifices to the Lord.” (Judges 2:1-5) I have to ask again, who
is “the angel of the Lord?” There is only one angel who is God, has the
authority of God and speaks for God. His name is Michael. He is the
archangel. He was with the Israelites day and night and provided for all
their needs, including their food and water. Notice what Paul wrote, “They
all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for
they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that
rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4) After reviewing these verses, the
mystery is easy to solve. The angel of the Lord is God. He is the Archangel
and His name is Michael, which means “One who is like God.”

Michael/Jesus
When Michael was born to Mary, the Father gave Him an earthly name.
The birth of Jesus was a profound miracle. Michael became Jesus. This
transition says much about the role of servant leader in God’s order be-
cause Jesus stooped even lower in the order of creation to become a man.
Paul was overwhelmed with the submission of Jesus. He quotes a song by
David (Psalm 8:4,5) saying, “What is man that you are mindful of him,
[even] the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little
lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put
28 Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord

everything under his feet . . .” “But we see Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor be-
cause he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste
death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:6-9, insertion mine.) Jesus may appear
to be a man – Michael may appear to be an angel – but He is none other
than a member of the Godhead dwelling among His created beings. This
may be hard to comprehend, but Jesus left Heaven to live among sinful
men for the express purpose of revealing the marvelous ways and unfath-
omable love of the Godhead.
The Bible is dedicated to revealing the love which the Godhead has for
man and understanding Jesus Christ is the only means through which this
revelation can occur. In other words, the truth about God begins and ends
with the Word, i.e., Jesus. No wonder He is called the Alpha and the
Omega. At the end of sin’s drama, just before the wicked are destroyed,
God will show everyone – including all fallen angels and all mankind – the
fullness of all that Jesus really is. After Earth is purified, the King of kings
and Lord of lords is going to do a very amazing thing. Paul says, “Then
the end [of sin’s drama] will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the
kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion,
authority and power . . . When he has done this, then the Son himself
will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that
God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:24,28, insertions mine.) Can you
believe this? After conquering sin and destroying evil, after receiving the
Earth as an inheritance, after redeeming billions of saints, Jesus returns all
that He has to the Father so He can live with humanity as one of them.
What a servant leader!
Think about this. Michael/Jesus has the same power, authority and glory as
the Father, but He humbled Himself to live among the angels as one of
them. Then, when sin entered the universe He stooped even lower to live
as a man. Even more, He was willing to be cursed and bear the shame of
the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. (Hebrew 12:2) He was willing to
perish for eternity if it meant that sinners could have the possibility of
eternal life. To His glory, He succeeded in His rescue of humankind and
was exalted to the highest position in all the universe. Then, in one act of
incomprehensible love, a victorious Jesus returns His crown and great
possessions to Father God so He may live among His people. The king-
dom of God is all about serving others. Jesus said, “. . . Whoever wants
to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever
Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord 29

wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.” (Matthew 20:26-28) “If I then, your Lord and Master, have
washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I
have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
(John 13:14,15)

Closing Thoughts
One of the saddest verses in the Bible is found in John 1:11. “He came to
that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” Reflect for a
moment how it must have been when Michael bent down on His knees to
affectionately create Adam out of the soil of the Earth. (Genesis 2:7;
Hebrews 1:1-3) Later, He personally spoke with Abraham, sharing with him
God’s plans for a future nation dedicated to His purposes. He personally
spoke with Moses and cancelled Pharaoh’s authority, delivering the chil-
dren of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Tenderly, He watched over Israel,
feeding them with angels’ food – manna from Heaven. True to His word,
He gave them the promised land and prosperity which had peaked during
the reigns of David and Solomon. He sent Nebuchadnezzar to destroy His
temple, but He later sent Cyrus to free His people. After all He had done,
His own people totally rejected and crucified Him. John says, “He came to
that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” The story of
His rejection, of course, does not end with the Jews. It continues among
the Gentiles, even to the last generation. What have you done about Jesus
Christ? Do you believe His words? Do you love Him and do you want to be
a part of the kingdom He represents? Have you accepted His authority as
the Lord of your life? Are you willing to reflect His character and be one of
His representatives on Earth? Are you willing to do what He asks? Are you
willing to become what He wants you to be? Are you willing to go where He
commands? If your answer is, “Not right now,” then when will it be? If you
surrender your will to the yoke of Christ, you have the Son, and those who
have the Son have life! (1 John 5:12) If you surrender your life to Him, He
will clothe you with His righteousness. Surrender is the first step toward
Heaven. Think of it! All who surrender to the Son will have the privilege of
embracing this most wonderful person who is fully God, who is the archan-
gel, Michael and who is the man, Jesus!
30 Chapter 2 – The Angel of the Lord
 Chapter 3
The Author and Finisher of Salvation

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
– Hebrews 12:2 KJV

Jesus is called the author of the Christian faith because He has demon-
strated the true meaning of faith in God. Consider His destiny for a mo-
ment. Jesus did not want to go to the cross. (Luke 22:42) He had done
nothing to deserve death. (Hebrews 4:15) Yet, it was the Father’s will that
He go to the cross – so He obediently submitted and went to His death.
This is a perfect demonstration of living by faith in God. The knowledge
that sustained Jesus during the terrible ordeal of the cross was the joy of
knowing that many human beings would receive the gift of eternal life. So,
Jesus obediently laid His own life down and allowed cruel men to nail Him
to the cross. He accepted the shame and humiliation associated with dying
as a criminal. The penalty for sinners was laid on Him. Just before He died,
Jesus uttered words that demonstrates the depth of His great faith. He
cried out, “. . . Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
In such trying circumstances, His words reveal something very beautiful.
Paul says that Jesus is the finisher (Greek: teleiotes) of our faith. The word
teleiotes means completeness or perfection. In this sense Jesus is a
perfect example of what faith in God should be. As Jesus hung on the
cross, He became totally separated from the Father. Never before had He
felt the depth of despair that comes from God’s silence – He had always
had the assurance of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Now, the Father actually
put Jesus in the position of those sinners who will experience the second
death. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) In
other words, Jesus actually experienced the death required by God to pay
for the penalty of sin. During His darkest moment, Jesus did not know if He
would be resurrected. Yes, He had predicted His resurrection on the third
day (Luke 9:22), but His prediction was a statement of faith, not fact. He
knew that His resurrection was contingent on receiving the Father’s ap-
proval of His entire earthly ministry. Therefore, when Paul says that Jesus
is the finisher or perfecter (NIV) of our faith, few of us grasp the importance
32 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

of these words. Jesus stepped across the portal from life to the second
death maintaining perfect faith in God even though He did not know if He
would be restored to life. Wow! What incredible love – what incredible faith!

Jesus, the Centerpiece of Bible Prophecy

Jesus is the centerpiece of Bible prophecy. (Colossians 1:18) Bible proph-
ecy predicts a time will come when Jesus Christ is fully revealed to this
world. (Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:1-3) The revelation of all that Jesus is
unfolds in a sequence of events – a grand process built into the Plan of
Salvation. As the revelation of Jesus unfolds, it illuminates what the
Godhead is all about. Jesus is the Word, the Spokesperson for the
Godhead. (John 1:1-14) Jesus is the beginning and the end of information
about God. He is the Alpha and the Omega. (Revelation 1:8) The Greek
alphabet begins with a character called an alpha and it ends with a charac-
ter called an omega. The character of the Godhead begins and ends with
Jesus. In other words, we cannot correctly understand the ways of the
Godhead without knowing and understanding Jesus. The wonderful thing
about the Plan of Salvation is that a person can be saved from eternal
death without understanding the Godhead or even knowing about Jesus!
This is very good news when you consider that billions of people live (and
have lived) on this planet who have never heard of Jesus or His offer of
salvation. This is a profound topic and worthy of consideration.

Salvation is not Based on Absolute Knowledge

For some people, the following concept is a completely new thought:
Salvation is not based on an absolute knowledge of God. Many Christians
are taught that in order to receive salvation they must know about Jesus
and His offer of salvation. Instead, man’s salvation is based solely on the
merits of something that Jesus Christ did for the whole world AND our
willingness to obediently submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit. When
Jesus died on the cross, He reconciled the whole world to God. “For if,
when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the
death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we
be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now
received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:10,11) This verse says that mankind
was reconciled to God through Jesus when we were still God’s enemies!
This reconciliation does not mean that everyone on Earth will receive
eternal life as some people claim. Rather, it means that Jesus paid the
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 33

penalty due each sinner so that each sinner can receive the gift of eternal
life, but only if he is willing to obediently surrender to the authority of the
Holy Spirit. The “born again” experience occurs whenever a person obedi-
ently surrenders his heart to the control of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,
“. . . I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he
is born again.” (John 3:3) Paul wrote, “Those who live according to the
sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but
those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on
what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind
controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to
God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those con-
trolled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8)
God examines our mind, He knows our motives because He knows our
heart. The Spirit knows whether we obediently submit to His demands in
faith or whether we are living in rebellion. God cannot be fooled. The
greatest of all sins and the only one that cannot be forgiven is an attitude of
continuing stubbornness that refuses to submit to the authority of the Holy
Spirit. Jesus said, “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven men, but the blasphemy [rebellion] against the Spirit will not
be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will
be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31,32,
insertion mine.)
The bottom line is this: If a person allows the Holy Spirit to live within his or
her heart and soul, God considers that person a child of the kingdom.
Salvation is not based on an absolute knowledge of God. Instead, it is
based on submission to the Holy Spirit. This is ground zero. This is where
every human being starts his or her walk with God. The Spirit approaches
every person to see if He can find residence there. If He can, life begins to
change. A new character begins to develop as desires begin to change.
This is how knowledge fits in. Paul wrote, “. . . Faith comes from hearing
the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
(Romans 10:17) Paul does not say that salvation comes by simply agree-
ing with truth. Paul says that our faith in God increases as we learn more
from the teachings of Christ. A person wants to know more about Christ
because the Spirit creates the interest! Again, notice the order of events.
First the Spirit dwells within, followed by an obedient submission to His
dominion, and then a thirst for more knowledge begins. There is an enor-
mous difference between living in obedient faith to God and merely agree-
ing with certain statements about God. The demons know that God is
omnipotent and they tremble! (James 2:19) This knowledge does not save
34 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

them from their destined destruction. Knowledge does not save, but knowl-
edge will increase our faith in God if the Holy Spirit has gained entrance
into our heart.

God Created Diversity

Because God ordained it, billions of people currently live (and have lived)
on the Earth. Paul said, “From one man he [God] made every nation of
men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the
times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God
did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him
and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we
live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have
said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ” (Acts 17:26-28, insertion mine.) God knows
there are billions of people who truly love a divine entity they call God.
These sincere people serve their God to the best of their knowledge and
ability. Honesty and sincerity in serving God are evidence of the indwelling
Spirit. This is true for the Muslim, for the Jew, for the Catholic, or the
Protestant. According to Jesus, the Godhead accepts all people as “chil-
dren of the kingdom” if they obediently submit to the authority of the Holy
Spirit, even though they may not know about Jesus. (John 4:23; 10:16;
Romans 2:14,15) This truth reveals how great God’s love is. Because
mankind has been reconciled to God through Jesus, God accepts every-
one who allows the Holy Spirit to have dominion in their lives.

Many Will Be Surprised

At the last day, Jesus will resurrect many people who have never heard of
His name and give them eternal life! This is possible because God offers
salvation on this generous basis: Anyone who submits to the indwelling
authority of the Holy Spirit will mature into the kind of person that God
wants to live within His eternal home. People who obediently submit to the
Holy Spirit live by faith. (Romans 1:17; 8:5) The ministry of the Holy Spirit is
a gift from God to all people. (See Joel 2:28,29; Romans 3:28-30 and
Romans 12:3) The Holy Spirit attempts to reside in every heart. His mis-
sion is to draw people near to God, even if some of them have no knowl-
edge about God. (John 3; Romans 2:14,15; Acts 10:34,35) The Holy Spirit
creates a hunger for knowledge about God and a desire for a relationship
with Him. Just because the presence of the Holy Spirit dwells within us
does not mean we have an automatic infusion of knowledge about God.
Instead, the first work of the Spirit is to develop a new attitude within a
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 35

person’s character. He wants to produce a joyful, obedient, submissive

heart, that will hunger to know God and His truth! Just like steel is attracted
to a magnet, any person who allows the Holy Spirit to direct his or her life
will be irresistibly drawn to greater truth about God and His will. (John 3:21;
16:13) In fact, the presence of childlike humility and a thirst for the living
water of truth about God is one of the most obvious signs of a “born again”
person. (Matthew 5:6)

Attitude – First and Foremost

Every teacher knows that conduct is a reflection of inner attitude, and if a
good attitude is established first, problems can be solved within the class-
room faster and more permanently. Jesus certainly understands this
process. This is why He offers salvation to man without the necessity of
works. If God’s goodness and generosity do not soften our rebellious
attitude toward His authority, eternal life with a bad attitude would be hell
for a sinner and for everyone around him or her! Our attitude toward God’s
authority is inherently rebellious because we are born under the influence
of sin. The law of sin goes to work within our brain the day we are born.
(Romans 7:17,23) Therefore, God sends the Holy Spirit to create a sweet
spirit within each of us to prepare us for His presence. Eternal life would be
pointless if our attitude toward God is not amicably and warmly reconciled
to the fact that He has sovereign authority over us. “I the Lord search the
heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his con-
duct, according to what his deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10) God’s
interest and love for humankind are incomprehensible. For example,
whenever a person follows the Holy Spirit’s prompting – even if that person
does not understand everything there is to know about the Father, Jesus,
or even the Holy Spirit – the Godhead accepts that person as a member of
the kingdom. The Godhead accepts a person when his or her heart be-
comes willing by faith to obey the Holy Spirit and do whatever the Spirit
requires. God knows that if this person knew more, he or she would do
more. From God’s point of view, the essential problem with fallen man is
the stubborn refusal to submit to the Holy Spirit! (Matthew 12:31) When the
Holy Spirit is allowed to stay within a person’s heart, that person exhibits
the childlike attitude God is looking for. (Matthew 18:3) Although my under-
standing of God has changed dramatically during the past 30 years of
study, my thirst for truth about God remains the same. It is very assuring to
know that God’s love for us is not proportionate to our knowledge of Him.
Jesus loved me long before I ever knew Him. Even more, Jesus loves me
even though I do not know even 1 percent about Him!
36 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

Knowledge is Constantly Eclipsed

Some well meaning people believe they know “the whole truth” about God
and His will for all mankind, but this is not possible. No created being on
Earth or in Heaven knows “the whole truth” about the Godhead. No, not
one. Even if a person knew everything about God that could be known
today, his or her knowledge would have to be updated tomorrow because
the truth about God is ever unfolding. Today’s advancing knowledge
constantly eclipses the limits of what was known yesterday. Since we
cannot comprehend “the whole truth” about an Infinite God at any given
time, it is even more important to live by faith. Many people in every reli-
gion live up to all they know to be right and they thirst for greater truth.
These are God’s children. Remember that we are not saved by knowledge,
but by our faith in God. (Romans 3:21-26) So, whether a person is a
Moslem, Jew, Hindu, Catholic, Protestant or even an atheist, religious
persuasion is secondary in matters of salvation. A person is given Christ’s
righteousness as long as he or she submits to the authority of the Holy
Spirit. If a Hindu is seeking greater truth about God and is honestly living
up to all that the Holy Spirit has put in his or her heart, God accepts that
person as His child. If you are still a bit skeptical about this matter, consider
the story of the Jewish zealot, Saul. Jesus called Saul into His service
while he was on his way to Damascus to destroy Christians. The conclu-
sions Saul had in his head were totally wrong, but God could see that his
heart was right. (Acts 9) It may be hard to comprehend, but consider God’s
magnificent grace of accepting all people from all walks of life on the basis
of obedient faith alone!

Knowledge Has a Place

You may ask, what is the point of having knowledge about Jesus if you are
saved through faith alone? Furthermore, what is the point of promoting the
gospel of Jesus to the world if the Holy Spirit already lives within people of
all religious systems? These are good questions and I believe the answers
center on this point: To correctly understand the will, ways and plans of the
Godhead, man has to know Jesus Christ. There is no other way. “Jesus
answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know
my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen
him.’ ” (John 14:6,7) Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega enlightening man’s
understanding of an infinite God. He speaks for God. He is the Word of God.
Humanity must correctly understand the will, ways and plans of the Godhead
for two important reasons: First, the truth about God sets man free of
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 37

superstitious burdens (nonsense) and false guilt. (John 8:32) Religion at its
best is a mixture of partial truth, degenerate culture, foolish speculation and
superstition. The older religion gets, the more corrupt it becomes. In
general, religious leaders become more concerned with authority and
control over people than with the advancement of truth and spiritual growth
within their congregations. Jesus was crucified because His teachings
weakened the control of the religious authorities over the people. (John
11:50) Historically, religion has caused more wars, separated more people
and produced more grief than any other institution on Earth. On the other
hand, greater truth about God sets people free from the heavy burden that
religion can impose. (Matthew 11:28) The second reason man needs a
correct understanding of God is this: Fullness of life is discovered only
through knowing the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the Alpha – Architect of life and
the Omega – Overcomer of every problem. The more we know about the
Designer and His designs for life, the higher and more fulfilling the human
experience will be. If a person adopts God’s principles of life, then his or
her life will be noble and honorable. Each person will enjoy the benefits of
respect, and integrity will produce many rewards. So, the knowledge of
Jesus Christ and His teaching is important. With this knowledge comes
freedom and a higher and more fulfilling human experience.

Eternal Jesus
The Bible teaches that Jesus has existed forever. (Colossians 1:17; Isaiah
48:12,13) It is hard for finite minds to comprehend that Jesus has no
beginning and no end. He is an eternal being just like the Father and the
Holy Spirit. He was not created and He is not a lesser God or inferior to the
Father. (Colossians 1:15-19; John 5:23; 10:30) Jesus is Almighty God just
like the Father and the Holy Spirit are Almighty Gods. (Genesis 17:1; Isaiah
44:6; 47:4; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3; Revelation 1:8) If you are willing to
see it, the Bible teaches that there are three distinct and separate eternal
Gods in Heaven. The plurality of the Godhead is introduced in the first
chapters of Genesis, supported throughout the Bible and summarized in
the final chapters of Revelation.
The progressive revelation of Jesus is the focal point of the Bible because
the Godhead predetermined that the process of revealing all that Jesus is
was the best way to illuminate their purposes, plans and actions.
Be assured, Jesus is not self-seeking or self-promoting. On the contrary,
no being has sacrificed more or shown more genuine humility than the
Author and Finisher of our faith. When He was here on Earth, He did not
38 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

travel in a gold-plated chariot with hundreds of heralds announcing His

appearance. He did not dress in kingly robes of purple or wear costly
jewels. He did not seek the approval or endorsement of religious and
political leaders with weasel words or compromise. Even during the don-
key-back parade into Jerusalem, King Jesus was not beguiled by the
pseudo-praise of a spontaneous crowd. Instead, He immediately angered
religious authorities by going straight to His temple to remove the horde of
greedy thieves who were conducting “business” in His house of prayer.
(Matthew 21:7-14) For almost 30 years Jesus traveled the dusty roads of
Galilee as a poor carpenter. He did not seek position and fame, and even
when the devil offered to give Him the kingdoms of the world, Jesus would
not bow down and worship him. (Luke 4:5-8) Jesus was not on a mission to
capture the wealth and glory of this world. He did not come to entertain the
carnal heart and win its affection, but to transform it. The miracles He
performed were not done to impress the people with His prowess, but to
reveal the Father. He came on a mission to seek and save a lost world.
Every miracle He performed was calculated to confirm His testimony about
the ways and love of the Godhead. If you really want to get a good snap-
shot of what Jesus was like on Earth, read the entire gospel of John in one
sitting. You will be amazed at the conflict He faced and the courage and
tenderness He expressed! You will also be amazed at the stubbornness
and meanness of carnal hearts.

The Greatest Sacrifice

Consider this point: When Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus immediately
offered Himself to the Father as man’s substitute. Jesus offered to become
a man and die in man’s place. Carefully evaluate what this means. First,
Jesus was willing to become a man. This is an act of humility that boggles
my mind. Think of it! The Creator of the universe became a mere mortal
and subjected Himself to death, just like man is subject to death! The
human race was created lower than angels. Jesus is God, as well as the
Archangel Michael, and His offer to become the second Adam was an
immeasurable condescension. (1 Corinthians 15:45; Hebrews 2:7-9)
Second, we know the wages of sin is eternal death. (Genesis 2:17, Ro-
mans 6:23; Revelation 20:15) When Jesus offered to die for humanity, He
was not only willing to die as people do, but also willing to cease to exist
forever so that we could have the opportunity of eternal life. This selfless
offer from Jesus truly reflects the heart of our Father. This condescension
reveals so much about the character of the Godhead. They were willing to
disrupt their eternal union to redeem fallen humanity! (John 3:16) Yes, the
Father did promise to resurrect Jesus, but His promise was conditional.
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 39

Jesus had to succeed – live a perfect sinless life – in order to regain

eternal life. (John 10:18; Acts 2:32,33; Hebrews 5:7-10) If Jesus had failed,
He would have come under the penalty of the same law which condemns
all sinners. The risk and sacrifice were great. Jesus, eternal God and
Creator of Heaven and Earth, was willing to take the risk. If necessary,
Jesus was willing to perish forever – just so man could have an opportunity
to be restored to the Garden of Eden. It was the ultimate gift . . . the ultimate
sacrifice! Because Jesus offered so much, the Father has decreed that
Jesus will be exalted above everyone in the universe. (Psalms 2; 1 Corin-
thians 15:24-28; Revelation 5:1-12) This exaltation is an ongoing process.
As time passes, the revelation of Jesus Christ becomes greater and
greater. The Plan of Salvation requires that Jesus be fully disclosed,
verifying that He has all the prerogatives of God. The revelation of Jesus
will be accomplished by the end of the 1,000 years and every being in the
universe will know that “Michael the Archangel,” “Jesus the man,” is Al-
mighty God.

Jesus Reveals It before It Happens

Jesus told Isaiah, “. . . I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there
is none like me [on Earth]. I make known the end from the beginning, from
ancient times, what is still to come . . . What I have said, that will I bring
about; what I have planned, that will I do.” (Isaiah
46:9-11, insertion mine.) Jesus also told His disciples, “I am telling you
now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe
that I am He [the One sent from God].” (John 13:19, insertion mine.)
Contrary to what many people say, Bible prophecy cannot be separated
from the Plan of Salvation. Prophecy plays an integral role in salvation.
Even the birth, death, ascension and return of Jesus to Earth are ex-
pressed in the Bible as prophecies. The Bible teaches that salvation comes
by faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-10), but it is difficult to have faith in Some-
one we have not actually seen or heard. It is also difficult to love Someone
we have never met. Therefore, God sent the gift of the Holy Spirit so we
could come to know and love Jesus. (John 16:7) The Spirit makes Jesus
real in our minds. Furthermore, Jesus provides us with enough reasonable
evidence to demonstrate that He is God. The fulfillment of Bible prophecy
provides this evidence. Bible prophecy is history stated in advance. Jesus
declares what He will do and history confirms what He did. Prophecy is a
progressive record and by studying it, we can observe the marvelous work
of Jesus through many centuries. History confirms God’s constant vigil to
verify that His promises are kept. When understood correctly, Bible proph-
ecy demonstrates and explains the character of Jesus in many wonderful ways.
40 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

Peter said, “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain,
and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark
place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about
by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in
the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by
the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Present Truth
On or about the time of fulfillment, Bible prophecy “suddenly becomes under-
standable and applicable.” This is an interesting phenomenon. For example,
when Jesus was born, the prophecies surrounding His birth suddenly became
clear to the honest in heart, such as the wise men. The sudden understanding
and fulfillment of prophecy is sometimes called “present truth.” A good example
of “present truth” is demonstrated by Paul’s preaching. (Romans 16:25-27) The
arrival of present truth always centers on some new truth or event concerning
Jesus. Therefore, when students of the Word understand what Jesus is about to
do, they know how and when to prepare for His actions! For example, Jesus told
Noah to build an ark because He was going to destroy the world with a flood.
The message Jesus gave Noah was present truth at that time because Jesus
was about to do something He had not done before! Because Noah lived by
faith, he obeyed Jesus. With great expense and tremendous effort, Noah built
an ark, thereby saving himself and his family. (Hebrews 11:7)

Having Ears That Hear

One of the biggest problems students face with Bible study is that some ele-
ments of the Bible have to be believed before they can be understood, and other
elements have to be understood before they can be believed. It is important to
approach Bible study with both perspectives in mind. We may have to stretch
our minds to do some possibility thinking because some answers are a long time
in coming. In the end, it is reassuring to know that faith and truth are insepa-
rable – they are brother and sister. For this reason, we should not feel threat-
ened when the big picture does not snap into focus right away. In our search for
truth, we must have a humble attitude and teachable spirit. My prayer for 30
years continues to be: “Lord, I do not care what the truth is or where it may
lead, just let me see it!”
Jesus said to the Pharisees, “He who belongs to God hears what God says.
The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47)
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 41

In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus emphasized seven times, “He that has an ear to
hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This phrase
indicates that those people who honestly listen for God’s voice will eventually
hear and understand what the Holy Spirit says! Jesus said, “But when he, the
Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on
his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet
to come.” (John 16:13)

Afraid of Two Things

The carnal heart is afraid of two things: the truth and the future. The born again
heart has nothing to fear because Jesus is the truth and He stands today where
we will be tomorrow. This is the beauty of living by faith. If we are willing to
confess our sins and move forward, truth is not a fearful thing. Likewise, there is
nothing to fear about the future because our Savior sees the future and has
made every provision for it. Jesus said, “Everyone who does evil hates the
light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be ex-
posed. But whosoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it
may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
(John 3:20,21) The Apostle Paul wrote, “The man without the Spirit does not
accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolish-
ness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Even more, Daniel says of the wicked: “Many
will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to
be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise
will understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
These verses confirm the complete harmony between the operation of the Holy
Spirit and the Word of God. One is not antagonistic toward the other. The
members of the Godhead are in one accord. The Holy Spirit will never lead a
person into rebellion against a plain “thus saith the Lord” stated in Scripture.
Never! The Holy Spirit always nudges a person to obediently submit to God’s
higher authority. (Acts 5:29) Whenever we face a difficult situation where sin
appears to be the best solution, we are on treacherous ground. Remember
Abraham. He and Sarah concluded that having a child by Hagar was the only
answer to Sarah’s infertility, but look at the price of their sin. Daniel 12:10 also
confirms that if we are not obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will not
be able to grow spiritually and understand even greater truths about God.
42 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

Even though we may be honest seekers of truth, there will always be portions of
the Bible that will be unclear and challenging to understand. Do not feel intimi-
dated. We stand on the shoulders of many honorable men and women who have
experienced this same dilemma. No person can understand everything written in
the Bible. However, everyone who seeks truth will find it and will be able to
understand the basics. (Matthew 7:7) Even more, everyone who seeks truth will
see God (Matthew 5:8) and He will reward everyone who diligently seeks Him.
(Hebrews 11:6; Revelation 1:3) Just as God’s infinite love is greater than we can
ever hope to understand, many Bible concepts are simply too broad, deep and
large to be completely understood in one lifetime. Jesus reads the mind and
heart of each person and all that He requires is a surrendered heart, an honest
inquiry, a diligent effort and an open mind. If we cooperate with the leading of
the Spirit each day, Jesus will produce a spiritual maturity that is otherwise
impossible to attain. (Ephesians 4:13)

Forever Immature?
Too many Christians stay on the merry-go-round of basic elements and never
mature into the deeper and intricate concepts about Jesus. The Author of our
Faith did not produce a third grade primer on salvation. He produced a library of
66 books that offers something at every level of spiritual development. Paul
observed the fact that some people would not grow up spiritually and he chas-
tised the Hebrews saying, “We have much to say about [the ministry of
Christ], but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact,
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach
you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not
solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not ac-
quainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the
mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good
from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ
and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from
acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.” (Hebrews 5:11-6:1, insertion
mine.) Did you notice the subjects that Paul called “elementary truths?”
Of course, Paul believed that we should understand the basics of salvation first
and then move on to practice them in our lives. But he did not stop there! He
encouraged all of us to grow up and continue learning more about the ways and
plans of Jesus. If we are satisfied with “just enough religion” to be saved (the
basic truths about salvation), could it be that we are more interested in saving
ourselves than knowing Jesus? How foolish! The Plan of Salvation is not an
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 43

insurance policy, nor is it a scheme to obtain eternal life. Instead, the Plan of
Salvation is a comprehensive way of life. When a person enrolls in the Plan of
Salvation, he or she wants to grow up spiritually and reflect Jesus’ character. A
hunger for spiritual food drives a born again person to the Bible.

“Prophecy is not Essential to Salvation”

When people insist that Bible prophecy is not essential to salvation, they tacitly
admit they are spiritually immature and still fascinated with the milk of elemen-
tary things. (Remember Hebrews 5:11-6:1.) Keep in mind that Jesus is neither
mindless nor shallow about the things He does or says. He is the Creator of
molecular physics, as well as the Revealer of the mysteries of God. He would
not have included electrons in atoms nor apocalyptic prophecy in the Bible if
these elements were not important. Jesus would not have instructed John to
write the Book of Revelation if it was meaningless and useless. On the contrary,
the Book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that offers a blessing to
everyone who reads it. “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this
prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is
written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) The Book of Revela-
tion will become, at the right time, a marvelous “road map” of present truth for
the people of Earth. Prior to the Great Tribulation, the Book of Revelation will not
enjoy preeminence because it will not be the time for its fulfillment. But this will
suddenly change and overnight, the most complicated book in the Bible will
become an important roadmap explaining the actions of Jesus. Do not lessen
the importance of Bible prophecy simply because you do not understand what it
says. Paul wrote, “Do not treat prophecies with contempt.” (1 Thes-
salonians 5:20) Jesus condemned the Pharisees for not recognizing the
fulfillment of prophecy right before their eyes! He said, “Hypocrites! You
know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is
it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” (Luke
12:56)

False Prophets
John warns us to be aware of false prophets. “Dear friends, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from
God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
(1 John 4:1) Jesus warned His disciples, “For false Christs and false
prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive
44 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

even the elect – if that were possible.” (Matthew 24:24) Think about it.
According to these texts, if a person performs great signs and miracles, does it
necessarily make them a true prophet? No! (See Deuteronomy 13:1-5.) If a
great sign or miracle is not proof of truth or a true prophet, then the proof of a
true prophet must be found in the validity of his message. A prophet’s message
will conform to Bible truth and be a plain “thus saith the Lord.” A prophet is not a
god. True, prophets sometimes perform miracles to confirm their testimony, but
a miracle is not enough. There has to be something external (that is, a witness)
to validate the testimony of the prophet. (John 8:13-20)
If a person is not acquainted with the Bible, it becomes very difficult to use the
“gold standards” set forth in the Bible to test a prophet. If we are left with nothing
but our senses – he or she looked good, spoke authoritatively and appeared to
know a lot about the Bible – we become very vulnerable to deception. The devil
knows the Bible very well and this makes it imperative that we know God’s Word,
too. In days to come, a great contest will occur between the prophets of God
and the prophets of the devil. Many people who currently claim to be “led of the
Spirit” will painfully discover they were led by their foolish imaginations. (Ezekiel
13) The Spirit ever leads us toward truth – to carefully examine God’s Word.
Then, as we discover more truth, the Spirit confirms it in our minds by connect-
ing more dots to form a growing picture of truth.

Wrong Conclusions and Terrible Consequences

If we interpret prophecy with faulty presuppositions, we will produce faulty
conclusions. Notice how faulty presuppositions led Jewish leaders to a
faulty conclusion in Jesus’ day. Malachi predicted, “See, I will send you
the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord
comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the
hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike
the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5,6) This prophecy was given to
Malachi about 400 years before Jesus was born and the Jews commonly
interpreted this prophecy to mean that Elijah would physically come down
from Heaven and introduce the Messiah when the time came for Him to
appear. (Remember, Elijah was taken to Heaven in a whirlwind approxi-
mately 450 years before Malachi wrote these words. See 2 Kings 2:11.)
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 45

John the Baptist

This prophecy has an interesting setting. According to Luke 3:1,15, many Jews
anticipated Messiah would arrive during the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. This
anticipation was based on the fact that A.D. 27 marked the commencement of
the 70th week since the decree to restore Jerusalem was issued by Artaxerxes
on Nisan 1, 457 B.C.1 (Ezra 7,8) The Jews were not alone in their expecta-
tions, even the Samaritans anticipated the appearing of Messiah! (See John
4:25.)
Interest in the appearing of Messiah had been fueled by the appearance of a
strange and powerful man whom many people regarded as a prophet. His name
was John. It was the custom of John the Baptist (John the baptizer) to hold
services out in the desert, near the Jordan River. He preferred the sobriety of
the wilderness to the din of the city and many of the curious ventured into the
wilderness to hear him. John’s preaching created a sensation for he spoke with
power and penetrating insight. He claimed the kingdom of God was at hand and
many people believed him. His prophetic message debunked the teaching of the
religious leaders and the superstitions imbedded in Judaism. People and priests
were “pricked in the heart” because of their sins. As they listened to this man of
God, they realized the Messiah would appear and establish His kingdom very
soon! John made it very clear that sinners with a rebellious attitude could not be
a part of God’s kingdom. “Therefore,” he cried, “repent of your sins and be
baptized.” Holy Spirit power rested on John the Baptist. His words carried
much weight. They deeply stirred the hearts of his listeners and as his
popularity grew, the clergy in Jerusalem became increasingly troubled with
him.

1
A.D. 27 is the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius according to the Jewish method of
inclusive reckoning. Inclusive reckoning means that any part of a unit counts as a unit.
In this example, any part of a year counts as a year. The following list demonstrates
how Luke counted the 15th year of Tiberius using the Jewish civil calendar which starts
a new year on Tishri 1 (October/November):

Year 1 = A.D. 14/14 (Tiberius was granted sole authority on September 17. From
September 17 to November 11 [Tishri 1] is counted as one year.)
Year 2 = A.D. 14/15 (Tishri 1 to Tishri 1)
Year 3 = A.D. 15/16 (Tishri 1 to Tishri 1)
Year 4 = A.D. 16/17 (etc.)
Year 5 = A.D. 17/18
Year 6 = A.D. 18/19
Year 7 = A.D. 19/20
Year 8 = A.D. 20/21
(Footnote continued on following page)
46 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

“Who Are You?”

One day, the Religious Affairs Department in Jerusalem sent a group of priests
to the Jordan River to question the uneducated “wild-man” who was causing
such a stir among the people. (See John 1:19-23.) Notice the sequence of the
priests’ questions, because the questions were based on their understanding of
prophecy. Their first question to John was, “Are you Messiah?” John answered,
“No.” Then, they asked if he was Elijah. Again, John answered, “No.” They
asked if he was the prophet that Moses had predicted. (See Deuteronomy
18:15.) John again responded, “No.” In desperation, they finally asked, “Who
are you?” John answered by quoting from Isaiah 40:3, “I am the voice of one
calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” (John 1:23)
Satisfied that John the Baptist was not the Messiah, Elijah, or the prophet
predicted by Moses, the priests returned to Jerusalem with their report. As
you might guess, the problem was their misunderstanding of whom John
represented. They assumed, based on their interpretation of Malachi, that
the physical appearing of Elijah was a mandatory fulfillment before Mes-
siah could appear. This interpretation helped the Pharisees to reject Jesus
as Messiah because John the Baptist plainly declared that he was not
Elijah. They concluded that if there was no Elijah, there could be no Mes-
siah. Look again at the prophecy of Malachi 4 on page 44. How do you interpret
it? If you had been a Pharisee at that time, would you have doubted that Jesus
was the Messiah since Elijah had not physically appeared?

“Where is Elijah?”
The only way to reach an accurate prophetic conclusion is to combine the
harmony of the Scriptures with the help of the Holy Spirit. In other words,
spiritual things are spiritually understood. (1 Corinthians 2:14) About two
years after the priests had questioned John the Baptist, Peter, James and

(Footnote Continued)
Year 9 = A.D. 21/22
Year 10 = A.D. 22/23
Year 11 = A.D. 23/24
Year 12 = A.D. 24/25
Year 13 = A.D. 25/26
Year 14 = A.D. 26/27
Year 15 = A.D. 27/28 (Jesus baptized sometime after Tishri 1.)
Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation 47

John went with Jesus to a mountain top now called the Mount of Transfiguration.
There they saw Jesus visit with Elijah and Moses. (Matthew 17:1-9) The dis-
ciples thought this was the Elijah that Malachi had predicted! But Elijah did not
stay on Earth, in fact, only those men on the mountain saw him. They must have
wondered why Elijah and Moses made the trip from Heaven to see Jesus. The
Father sent Elijah and Moses as representatives of the human race to encour-
age Jesus as He was about to meet His rendezvous with death. The salvation of
the human race depended on Jesus obediently going to the cross. Elijah was a
representative of people who will be saved without seeing death and Moses
represented those who will be resurrected from death and the grave. Of course,
at the time, the disciples did not comprehend that Jesus was about to die. In
fact, they were waiting for Him to establish a glorious kingdom. A short time after
the mountain top experience they asked Jesus about Elijah and the prophetic
argument the Pharisees used to negate the possibility that Jesus was the
Messiah. They asked, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that
Elijah must come first?” (Matthew 17:10) Jesus responded, “‘To be
sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has
already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him
everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to
suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that he was
talking to them about John the Baptist.” (Matthew 17:11-13)
Was John the Baptist the promised Elijah? The answer is both no and yes.
No, John the Baptist was not the physical person of Elijah. Everyone knew
that John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. But yes, John the
Baptist was a spiritual type of Elijah. Notice what the angel Gabriel said to
John’s father, Zechariah, before his son was born, “And he will go before
the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the
fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)

Jesus Applies the Prophecy

Jesus clearly understood the importance of John’s work. He said, “Among
those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John
the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater
than he . . . And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was
to come. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:11,14) There is
that phrase again, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Notice that Jesus
said, “. . . if you are willing to accept it, he [John the Baptist] is the
Elijah who was to come.” (insertion mine.) In other words, the prophecy
48 Chapter 3 – The Author and Finisher of Salvation

of Malachi was fulfilled by John the Baptist. The fulfillment of the prophecy was
not based on the appearing of Elijah in the flesh, but the ministry of John in the
spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:17) There is a very important reason for
using this particular example of Bible prophecy. If faulty presuppositions are
used to interpret Malachi’s prophecy, the prophecy contributes to the rejection
of Jesus as Messiah. If Elijah does not appear, Messiah cannot appear. But
according to Jesus, John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy because he
appeared in the spirit and power of Elijah. This is an important lesson. We must
be very careful to use the correct methods of prophetic interpretation. A wrong
turn in interpretation can have very serious consequences!

Summary
Jesus is the Word, the Alpha and Omega in all things pertaining to the Godhead.
He is the Revealer of love and truth about the Godhead. There is no other
flawless source. Jesus is a perfect demonstration of what faith in God is all
about. The role of the Holy Spirit is also central in the Plan of Salvation. His
mission and work are to draw each person into a faith relationship with God. A
faith relationship is defined as an obedient surrender to God’s will – to go where
the Spirit directs, to do as the Spirit convicts and to become all that the Spirit
urges. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to live within our heart, He creates a thirst
for knowledge about God. As we learn more about the life, teaching and doc-
trines of Jesus Christ, we also begin to understand more about the will, ways
and truth of God. (John 16:14,15) Finally, Bible prophecy is a form of present
truth that becomes understandable and applicable on or about the time of
fulfillment. When rightly understood and combined with progressive historical
fulfillment, Bible prophecy proves that God keeps vigil over Earth. It also proves
that God has a plan to save man. The good news is that very soon, the plan will
be completed.
 Chapter 4
Salvation through Justification

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we

have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith into this
grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God.
– Romans 5:1,2

The Way to Eternal Life Is Through Jesus

Consider these five statements:
1. The only way a sinner can receive eternal life is through justification.
2. Justification is a legal standing in the court of Heaven in which a sinner
is viewed as though he has not broken the law (is without sin).
3. Justification occurs when a person becomes willing to obey the author-
ity of the Holy Spirit and live a life of faith.
4. Justification can be illustrated in the following way: Angels record the
words, actions and motives of every person. Within the book of records
is a faithful record of each sinner’s life. When a sinner becomes willing
to obediently submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit and live by faith,
Jesus justifies that sinner by placing His perfect life over the record of
the sinner. As long as the covering life of Jesus remains intact, that
sinner is not under the penalty of sin. He is free of the condemnation
which God’s law demands.
5. An absolute knowledge of God is not required for justification. However,
a sinner’s ongoing obedient submission to the Holy Spirit is required for
the continuation of justification.

Blessed Assurance
Any sinner can receive the assurance of eternal life right now, this very
minute, if he or she agrees to obediently submit to the demands of the Holy
Spirit. If you are willing at this very moment to go, to be, and to do all that
the Holy Spirit asks of you, rejoice! The assurance of eternal life is yours
through a heavenly process called justification. Whenever this transforming
50 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

moment occurs, a new life of faith begins. Of course, a sinner can return to his
sinful ways at any time because the power of choice still remains. (Ezekiel 18)
Just because we are willing to submit to the demands of the Holy Spirit today
does not mean that we have to submit to His sanctifying demands tomorrow. To
a large extent, the internal authority of the Holy Spirit is limited by our desire and
cooperation. If a person so desires, He can be permanently turned away.
(Matthew 12:31,32)
How can we tell if the Holy Spirit is pressing us for submission? How can we
distinguish between the guilt produced by the Holy Spirit or some kind of false
guilt? The urging of the Holy Spirit always conforms to Heaven’s constitution of
love. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul, and we are to
love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The difference between false guilt and
guilt imposed by the Holy Spirit becomes easier to differentiate as we learn
more about Jesus. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. His example
helps us understand many things about the properties of life. A growing knowl-
edge of Jesus Christ sets us free of unnecessary guilt and burdens which God
has not imposed.
The process of entering into the assurance of eternal life happens in a rather
predictable way, although it is not limited to this process. Here’s my experience:
The Holy Spirit produced a strong feeling and relentless conviction that I was
guilty of sin before God. My guilt and condemnation weighed often on my mind,
because unbeknown to me at the time, the Holy Spirit was trying to motivate me
to “get right” with God. Eventually, I recognized my condemnation as a sinner
and I wanted pardon for my sins. I desired to know God. I had heard enough to
know that people who do wicked things have no hope of a future life and I did
not want to miss out on Heaven. I did not know much about God in those days,
but I believed God would be pleased with me if I stopped doing things which I
knew were wrong. I also knew that it was impossible for me to stop sinning and I
wondered how God dealt with human beings like me. The problem was simple:
He wanted me to stop sinning, but I could not stop sinning. How could I be saved
and go on sinning? In those days, I did not understand the wonderful offer of
justification.
Over time as my spiritual maturity developed, I became willing to go, to be and
to do as God directed in my life – no holds barred. I did not become a Christian
by invitation. That is, I did not decide to become a Christian by walking down
the aisle to the front of a church. One day I made a commitment to God and
became a Christian. I was at work when I resolved that from now on, I would be
a follower of Jesus Christ, no matter what it cost. If I remember correctly, one of
my first decisions involved restitution. I understood that God’s grace and
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 51

forgiveness were not a whitewash for wrong doing. From my personal Bible
study, I concluded that God required me to make restitution to those whom I had
defrauded in the past. So, I began to make restitution for past wrongs as best I
knew how. This was expensive, and it required several hundred dollars. After
reviewing my past and making every wrong right as far as possible, I confessed
my sins to God and have had perfect peace about them ever since. I was happy
and truly free of guilt, which made me feel much closer to God. I resolved, by
God’s grace, not to do those things again. Do not be fooled! Sin is always
expensive! Sin will take you farther than you want to go and cost you more than
you want to pay. During this transforming process in my life, some of my friends
fled. They thought I had become a religious fanatic.
By faith, I accepted God’s assurance that He was pleased with my actions. I
was happier and felt closer to God, although my understanding of God and His
will was very limited. Thirty years later, my peace and joy remain. As long as I
continue to obey the demands of the indwelling Holy Spirit, I know Jesus
justifies me before the Father as though I am without sin, even though I am a
sinner. Because of this, I am at peace with God and have the joyful assurance
of salvation. Yes, I still sin, but now I understand a few things about dealing with
sin. First, accidental or unintentional sin does not bring eternal death. John
says, “All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.”
(1 John 5:17) Second, I am prone to sin and rebellion because I am under the
curse of sin. Paul noticed the same thing after being a Christian for almost 25
years. He wrote, “But I see another law at work in the members of my
body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of
the law of sin at work within my members.” (Romans 7:23) Last, when I do
sin there is a process that I must obediently follow. First, I have to acknowledge
to the Holy Spirit that I understand the guilt He is imposing in my heart because
I have sinned. Next, I have to confess to my neighbor that I have sinned against
him and I must provide restitution as far as possible. Last, I turn to Jesus. John
says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) This order of
events is well stated in Scripture. (Matthew 5:23-26) If I am faithful in
dealing with the sin problem, my willingness to go, to be and to do God’s
will is affirmed. Jesus sees the evidence of my faith and He, my Savior and
Lord, grants me the covering of His righteousness.
Justification is possible for three reasons. First, God’s offer of justification is
based on nothing but God’s love for man. “For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the
52 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John
3:16,17) Second, Jesus came to Earth and He lived a perfect life so that He
might cover us with His righteous life! “For if, when we were God’s enemies,
we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10)
Last, Jesus is qualified to justify repentant sinners because He paid our penalty for
sin. In other words, sinners cannot be justified as sinless people if the penalty upon
sinners has not been removed. Jesus provided the necessary restitution for every
sinner. The merits of this restitution are transferred to sinners when they submit to
the demands of the Holy Spirit. When I became willing to submit to God’s will,
Jesus covered my sinful life with His perfect life. (Romans 5:17) Notice, I
emphasized the word willing. We are not justified by works. Works are a
reflection of the motives and desires of our heart. We can do right for the wrong
reason (legalism) and we can attempt to justify wrong doing (rebellion). Making
restitution in order to be saved is a corrupt motive. An honest motivation that
prompts appropriate restitution comes from a deeper understanding of what
loving our neighbor is all about.
A parallel between all sinners and Adam and Eve’s Garden of Eden experience
provides an excellent illustration. When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost the
covering of light that covered their bodies. Realizing their shame, they ran and
hid from God. They tried to cover their nakedness with some large itchy fig
leaves, but Jesus used this opportunity to present a wonderful object lesson.
Jesus killed a flawless sacrificial lamb and I presume He covered the naked pair
with its skin. (Genesis 3:7-21) The parallel for every sinner is that we too, stand
naked before God. He knows who we are, where we are, and He knows all of
our sins. Any attempt to cover up (or justify) sin is foolish. Jesus offers “His
perfect skin” as the Lamb of God, the spotless wedding garment of His righ-
teousness, to all of us. If we surrender our will to God and daily submit to the
demands of the Holy Spirit, Jesus covers our nakedness with His perfect
righteous life. Therefore, when the Father sees us wearing the robe of Jesus’
righteousness, we stand before God fully clothed, as though we never sinned!
This is the profound beauty of “justification through faith!” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Justification is available to every person who has lived, regardless of religious
background.

Just As Though I Have Never Sinned

My joy and peace is full because I know that when the Father looks at me, He
sees me as though I am without sin. Christ’s perfect life of righteousness can
cover the worst sinner. Justification does not require works, deeds or proof that
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 53

I am a changed man. The thief on the cross did not prove that he was a
changed man, but he was granted the righteousness of Jesus that very day.
(Ephesians 2:8,9; Luke 23:43) I am sure the thief would have become a differ-
ent man if he could have lived longer. The profound beauty of justification is that
it begins in Heaven the moment we become willing to submit to the authority of
the indwelling Spirit. As long as we continue in a submissive attitude (to be, to
go, to do) toward God’s authority over our lives, we have the assurance of
eternal life.
This, in a nutshell, is how my justification and yours begin before God through
Christ. Even though the process is simple, it is a miracle! How the Holy Spirit
transforms a rebellious heart into a submissive heart is a mystery that God alone
knows, but it does happen! (John 3; Romans 8) So, if you are missing the joy
and peace that comes from “letting go and letting God,” if you have not experi-
enced the full assurance of God’s salvation through the justification that Jesus
offers, if you have not grasped something about God’s great love for you, review
the process and implement those portions that remain unfinished in your life. If
the Holy Spirit is not beating you up with that strong and relentless conviction
that you need salvation, perhaps you need to slow down and ask God to speak
to your heart! The Spirit will reveal your true condition before God if you open
your heart. I have been there, and my testimony is not unusual. Submit to the
Holy Spirit’s prompting, confess your sins, provide restitution where possible
and joy and peace will surely follow.

That’s Not All!

Now comes the scary part! When a person receives the assurance of salvation
through justification, he or she begins a faith-journey. The journey may seem
frightening at times, because you do not know where the journey will lead, but
you know Who is leading. You may not know which road you will take, but you
know where you will end up. You do not know how you will get there, but you
know a way will be made. In short, walking with Jesus is a scary experience at
times, because The Good Shepherd leads His sheep over dangerous mountain
trails and through the deepest ravines to take them home. The scary part should
not be the travail of travel, but the possibility of losing sight of The Good Shepherd.
When two people stand at the marriage altar and unite their lives by agreeing to
vows of fidelity, they begin a journey of a lifetime that will take them through un-
charted waters. So it is when we join ourselves to Jesus. People who join
themselves to Jesus begin a journey that is uncharted to the human eye.
Marriage requires fidelity, loyalty, faith and love and so does the journey with
Jesus.
54 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

Basic Law
By definition, “basic law” is an instinct or inherent ability to rationally determine
right from wrong. This phenomenon is exhibited by most young people at an
early age. When a child has achieved enough maturity to determine right and
wrong on his or her own, that age is often called the age of accountability.
Thomas Jefferson eloquently noted the presence of “basic law” in the “Introduc-
tion” of the Bill of Rights for the U.S. Constitution. He wrote, “We hold certain
truths to be self evident . . .” In other words, intelligent people can determine
right from wrong because “basic law” is operating and this feature is self evident
within all of humanity. Yet, the opposite is just as true. If someone does not want
to understand or agree with the truth, no one can show them the truth! In fact,
people who want to justify evil are the first to deny what is right. (John 3:20)
God created human beings with reasoning powers. Even before Eve tasted the
forbidden fruit, God wanted man to distinguish between good and evil. If people
strive to live right and be honorable – no matter what religion they belong to –
they are doing all that God asks of them.
God does not hold a person guilty who does not know His will, but God will
condemn a person who refuses to accept the truth! This is a critical point in
understanding how salvation operates. Man is not saved by knowing or
agreeing with absolute truth, instead man is saved by faithfully living up to
all he believes to be righteous and true. Closely study Paul’s comments:
“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law [e.g. the knowledge of
God penned by Moses, but they], do by nature things required by the
law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the
law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on
their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness [when they do
wrong], and their thoughts now accusing [them of their wrong deeds],
[this confirms they know right from wrong and their conscience is] now
even defending them. This [is how the judgement] will take place on the
day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my
gospel declares.” (Romans 2:14-16, insertions mine.)
The word law as used by Paul in this context is a reference to Moses’
writings. The point Paul is making is that God judges the heart and takes
into consideration the knowledge base that is in the heart. Therefore,
Gentiles who know nothing about the true God and His ways will be judged
by the same process as Jews and Christians who have had every opportu-
nity to know God and His ways. God righteously judges each person on the
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 55

basis of his or her knowledge base and the resulting actions. (Ecclesiastes
12:13,14) People who live up to the high ideals of what they honestly believe
God wants of them demonstrate the kind of faith that pleases God! James also
supports the concept of basic law. He says, “Anyone, then, who knows the
good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)
I do not want to leave you with the impression that God is not concerned with
absolute right and wrong. He is very concerned about absolute right and wrong.
The Ten Commandments are ten absolutes. Period. They are not “Ten Sugges-
tions” or a place to begin negotiation. Jesus Himself wrote the Ten Command-
ments on tablets of stone and His eternal law is more enduring than stone. Still,
God understands that everyone on Earth does not know about His absolutes or
the terms and conditions within the Plan of Salvation. Therefore, He righteously
judges each person on their knowledge base, actions and willingness to search
for and submit to higher truths as the Holy Spirit leads. God does not require
that we know or understand all His marvelous truths in order to receive salvation,
for no one on Earth understands everything there is to know about God! How-
ever, God does require that we submit, by faith, to a growing spiritual process
so we might know His will. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) If we honestly submit to the
leading of the Holy Spirit as we understand it, to go, to be and to do His will, God
is pleased. If we endeavor to grow in knowledge and understanding, Jesus will
bless us with a deeper understanding of truth!
Nothing on Earth compares to walking with God. He is anxious to reveal the
issues and ways of life! God knows our knowledge base and the motives that
prompt our actions and still loves us in spite of our great ignorance. But, and
this is an emphatic “but,” God is not pleased when we compromise our beliefs or
shrink back from the demands of faith. Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of
me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes
in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke
9:26)
While we are on the topic of ignorance and law, consider the practical side of
ignorance of the law. Since one man cannot read the heart or determine the
motives of another man, man has to take an opposite approach to the issue of
ignorance and law. Man’s laws take the perspective: “Ignorance is no excuse for
breaking the law.” So when a person gives the excuse, “But officer, I did not
know the speed limit was 35. . .,” we should not be surprised when the officer
writes a traffic citation.
56 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

Salvation Includes Full Restoration

The Plan of Salvation begins with “basic law.” Realization that we need a Savior
comes after we sense guilt and become aware of sin’s penalty. Without the
presence and operation of basic law, there would be no guilt and salvation would
not be deemed necessary or desirable! In other words, an infant does not find
salvation necessary or desirable, because an infant cannot reason. The Bible
does not support infant baptism. The notion of infant baptism originally began
from a distortion of Christ’s teaching. “Jesus answered [Nicodemus], ‘I tell
you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
water and the Spirit.’ ” (John 3:5, insertion mine.) A superficial reading of this
text can result in this twisted meaning: “Unless a person is baptized by water, he
or she cannot receive eternal life.” In ancient times, the Christian Church
abused this text and unfortunately, the tradition continues today. History reveals
that the early Church used baptism and other rituals to control access to
salvation. If people were cut off (or excommunicated) from the rituals offered by
the Church, they were not considered eligible for eternal life. Since adherents
believed the rituals were mandatory for salvation, this gave a great deal of
control to the Church. The Church implemented infant baptism because
infant mortality rates were very high. To insure that every infant would enter
Heaven, the Church taught that children had to be baptized as soon as
possible. Of course, an appropriate “gift” to the Church was also expected.
Obviously, an infant does not know one thing about basic law, guilt or
salvation, and the Bible clearly teaches that salvation does not come through
rituals or works of the flesh. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Let us examine the meaning of John 3:5. No one can enter the kingdom of
God unless (a) his or her heart is made alive to spiritual matters by the
Holy Spirit, and (b) he or she is washed clean of rebellion. During the time
of Nicodemus, it was customary to immerse Gentile converts who wished
to become citizens of Israel in the Jordan River. The Jews regarded bap-
tism by immersion as a symbolic act indicating death (burial) to the past
and resurrection to a new life. In other words, a Gentile went down into the
water and a Jew came out! Jesus used the symbol of baptism to make His
point to Nicodemus that if a person wants to become a member of God’s
kingdom, he or she too, must to be “born of water” to become a member of
a new kingdom. (Romans 6:1-7)
The Bible reveals that children are born with the assurance of salvation
until they chose otherwise. In other words, God does not hold children
accountable for sin until they know better (accountability begins when basic
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 57

law starts working within a young person - James 4:17). Since Jesus paid the
price for each sinner and children are not held accountable for sin, what
prevents them from having the assurance of salvation? Some Christians believe
just the opposite, believing that a child is born condemned to eternal death. This
was the reasoning used in ancient times when infant baptism began. But
consider this: If God considers an adult sinner a saint because of his or her
faith in Jesus Christ’s atonement, why not a mere child, who is simply too young
to know right from wrong? God is much more generous than man and God loves
every child – for of such is the kingdom of Heaven! (Matthew 19:14)

How Man Became Unsaved

Why is justification necessary in the Plan of Salvation? What makes salvation
necessary in the first place? Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? What
issues are involved between God and man? These are very important questions
and we will examine them.
According to the book of Genesis, God created man in His image, forming him
out of dirt. God placed man in the Garden of Eden, where he had unrestricted
access to the Tree of Life. As long as man had access to the fruit on the Tree of
Life, man’s life was sustained indefinitely. The point must be made that Jesus
created man (and even the angels) as mortal beings. The word “mortal” means
to be subject to death, having a beginning and the possibility of an end. The
word “immortal” means to have no beginning or end and is a term that applies
only to God. (1 Timothy 6:15,16; Hebrews 7:3; Revelation 1:18) Many people
are surprised to learn the Bible teaches that human beings are mortal because
they have a beginning and the possibility of an end. Genesis 2:7 says, “The
Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Italics
mine.) Adam did not exist as some intelligent entity prior to his creation. The
soul of Adam came into existence on the sixth day of Creation when God put the
breath of life into a body made of dirt. In a similar manner, the soul of Adam
ceased to exist when the breath of life was taken from his body of dirt. After his
death, Adam does not exist as some intelligent entity. The soul of man is mortal.
“The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt
of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteous-
ness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of
the wicked will be charged against him.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
58 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

Jesus told Adam, “. . . You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but
you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for
when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16,17) It may surprise you
to learn that Adam and Eve were to perish the very day they ate the forbidden
fruit. The Hebrew text expresses the immediacy of death saying, “in the day of
your eating from it surely you will die,” the King James Version says: “. . .
for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis
2:17) For me, the Bible is clear. Adam and Eve were to be executed the very
day they sinned. The penalty for sin is death by execution. Most Christians
overlook this important point. There are two types of death. Death caused by
disease, accident or “natural causes” is the consequence of sin, but the penalty
for sin is death by execution. This is why it was necessary for Jesus to be
executed at Calvary and this also explains why the wicked will be executed by
fire at the end of the 1,000 years. Many Bible students have difficulty interpret-
ing Genesis 2:16,17 because Adam and Eve did not die the day they sinned.
The reason they were not slain that very day is this: Jesus immediately went
before the Father and offered to die in man’s place. The Father accepted the
offer of Jesus and their execution was stayed. Ever since that fateful day, Jesus
has fulfilled two roles in Heaven. He is our Intercessor and He is the Lamb of
God. Later in this book, we will consider how these two roles reflect two unique
processes that are necessary for man to be fully reconciled with God.

Sin Begins
Genesis 3:6 says, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was
good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining
wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her hus-
band, who was with her, and he ate it.” I believe the devil schemed and
planned his approach at the tree for some time and he was unbelievably
successful. He gained Eve’s full attention and ultimately her confidence.
The fruit was beautiful and desirable, and after he had beguiled Eve with
his comments, she tasted it. The serpent quickly left the tree and Eve, no
doubt, felt strange and uncomfortable inside. For the first time she felt the
guilt of sin. Quickly she gathered up some of the fruit and ran to Adam.
Adam recognized the forbidden fruit Eve was holding and knew she was in
deep trouble. She excitedly explained the course of events and then, in an
innocent way, sought his companionship by offering him some fruit. Adam
must have thought: “God will strike Eve dead today because she ate the
fruit and if she is taken from me, life will be miserable and lonely.” Eve was
created to perfection, she was beautiful and she had been his “soul mate”
since the day of their creation. She was part of him, they were of one flesh
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 59

and spirit, and he was deeply distressed. Therefore, out of love and devotion for
Eve, he chose to eat the fruit and share God’s punishment with her. Unfortu-
nately, Adam loved Eve more than he trusted God to resolve the problem.
A very important distinction can be made between the sins of Adam and Eve.
Eve believed a lie and she sinned in ignorance. Adam, chose to disobey God
and eat the forbidden fruit because of his love for Eve. Even though Adam’s sin
was not an act of defiance, it was intentional and willful. Remember the text?
“And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any
tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’ ” (Genesis
2:16,17) Adam knew better, his sin was deliberate, whereas Eve’s sin was not.
Therefore, Paul concludes that Adam is responsible for the entrance of sin on
Earth and not Eve! “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one
man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinned. . . .” (Romans 5:12) This verse explains why Jesus could
not overlook the sin of Adam and Eve. It would have been great if God could
have said, “O.K. Adam and Eve, we will overlook your sin this one time, but you
had better not sin again!” God could not say these words for two reasons: First,
Adam and Eve were now subject to the penalty of sin. They had violated God’s
law. God’s law cannot be cancelled or altered because His universal government
is based on the rule of unchanging law. Second, after Adam and Eve sinned,
they were not the same. They were immediately transformed by sin and their
minds and hearts suddenly became hostile to the authority of the Godhead.

Passing the Blame

Adam and Eve were confronted with their sin that evening. When they heard
Jesus approaching, they ran and hid. They were ashamed, naked and defen-
sive. When confronted with their deeds, they were strangely unrepentant! Eve
blamed her actions on the serpent. She said, “The serpent deceived me, and
I ate.” (Genesis 3:13) Even worse, Adam blamed his rebellion on his Creator
and then on Eve! Adam said, “The woman you put here with me - she gave
me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12, italics mine.) The
moment Adam and Eve became sinners, their natures changed. Instead of
having a predisposition toward righteousness, they became rebellious and
carnal. The Creator listened and then He spoke. He addressed the serpent first,
then He placed a curse upon the woman, and last, He turned to Adam and said,
60 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

“. . . because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I
commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ Cursed is the ground because of
you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life . . . By
the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the
ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you
will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

Access Denied
God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden for one simple reason. They
could not have access to the Tree of Life! Read the following text carefully, as it
contains a conversation between the members of the Godhead: “The Lord God
said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He
must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of
life and eat, and live forever [without end].’ So the Lord God banished him
from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been
taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the
Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to
guard the way to the Tree of Life.” (Genesis 3:22-24, insertion mine.)

Two Types of Death Created

At this point in the story, it is very important to consider a development that
occurred that fateful day. Remember, God had warned that Adam and Eve
would be executed the very day they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. If
the execution had been carried out, that would have been the end of the
story. However, when Jesus stepped “in the way” of their execution, offer-
ing to die in man’s place, an important development occurred: Two types of
death were created. It became possible for man to die twice. We know the
penalty for sin is death by execution, but the consequence of being shut
away from the Tree of Life is also death. The “first death” occurs as a
consequence of sin. People die of cancer, accidents or old age. This type
of death is called “sleep” 53 times in the New Testament because in God’s
eyes it is a temporary death. (See John 6 and 11.) The second death, that
is, death by execution, is a future event. The second death is reserved for
people who remain defiant against God’s authority during their life. The
annihilation of the wicked occurs at the end of the 1,000 years. (Revelation
20:14) Currently, no one has experienced the “second death” (except
Jesus) because God has not executed the wicked. The second death
occurs by fire and the results are eternal and final.
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 61

The reason Adam and Eve had to be banished from the garden and denied
access to the Tree of Life was because God did not want sin to live forever.
Notice how this works: Man was created a mortal being (man has a beginning
and the possibility of an end). If man cannot obtain the fruit from the Tree of
Life, he dies. Have you ever considered how the rebellious predisposition of
Adam and Eve, like a biological trait, has been passed down to all the offspring
of the guilty pair for nearly 6,000 years? The heritage and power of sin were
quickly revealed in their firstborn son, Cain, who became a murderer!
Think of Adam and Eve’s suffering outside the garden. The Bible says that Adam
lived 930 years. (Genesis 5:5) Imagine living that long and observing the terrible
consequences of your own sinful choice! Adam had to watch the consequences
of his own deed for an extended period of time. He had lived within that glorious
garden before sin began, now he survived by the sweat of his brow outside the
garden. He saw the effects of the infectious blight of sin within his family and on
all of nature. Think of Adam’s mental and emotional agony – living nine centuries
to witness the degenerate effects of his wrong doing – all this to be with Eve.
And, of course, Eve painfully experienced the degenerate effects of sin within
her own body during childbirth, not to mention the disappointing behavior of her
children. I am sure that as she held in her arms the lifeless body of her second
son, Abel, she was overwhelmed with grief as she began to choke on the bitter
taste of sin.

Jesus Not Caught by Surprise

The sins of Adam and Eve did not catch Heaven by surprise. In fact, the very
day Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus became man’s intercessor by stepping “in the
way” of the executing angel. (Isaiah 53:12; Job 16:20,21; Hebrews 7:25) Jesus
stepped between the wrath of God’s law (death by execution) and the guilty pair
when He offered to die in man’s place. In my mind’s eye, I can visualize the
scene. The executioner was preparing to leave Heaven to slay Adam and Eve,
but Jesus ran to the Father. Jesus petitioned the Father to allow Him to die in
man’s place. The Father agreed to the petition of Jesus and the work of execu-
tion was delayed. Jesus came to Earth and shared with Adam and Eve that a
way had been provided for them to one day be restored to their Eden home.
Ever since that day, the way back to the Garden of Eden has been called the
“Plan of Salvation.” The plan includes many features that reveal a Godhead of
love. One marvelous feature about the plan is the Father’s willingness to justify
sinners with the righteousness of Christ.
62 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

What Must I Do?

“ ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord
Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’ ” (Acts 16:30,31)
A frightened jailer cried out for his life in the middle of the night and an assuring
response came from two prisoners. The words that Paul and Silas spoke that
night have echoed from that prison cell for almost 2,000 years. However, Paul
and Silas’ response includes much more than many Christians understand! To
understand this passage of Scripture the student has to take off his Nike’s and
put on the sandals of Paul and Silas. In other words, we have to consider the
circumstances during which these words were spoken.
The setting in Acts 16 begins a few years before the Romans destroyed Jerusa-
lem in A.D. 70. The mutual hatred between the Romans and Jews was fierce. To
make matters worse, the Romans regarded Christians as just another Jewish
sect because most Christians were former Jews who continued to observe a
number of Jewish customs even after they became Christians. While in the
Macedonian city of Philippi, Paul cast a demon out of a young slave girl, who
was “a fortune teller.” She had earned large sums of money for her owners and
when the owners realized their financial loss, they initiated a riot saying, “ ‘. .
.These men are [those rebellious] Jews, and are throwing our city into an
uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or
practice.’ The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the
magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been
severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was com-
manded to guard them carefully.” (Acts 16:20-23, insertion mine.)
Notice in the previous text that Paul and Silas were identified as Jews – their
nationality was the inflammatory word that justified the riot. The instigators of the
riot did not need to say more. However, in the mob’s angry rush to assault two
more Jews who were not welcomed, city leaders failed to consider whether Paul
and Silas were Roman citizens – a significant oversight since Roman law
mandated that Romans could not be punished or imprisoned without a fair trial.
Non-Romans could be punished on the spot.
After Paul and Silas were flogged severely, they were placed under the care of
a Roman jailer. The jailer understood the rules of Roman guardianship and he
was paid good wages to guard well. If prisoners escaped from his jail, he was
automatically guilty of negligence – end of discussion and end of life. Such
were the no-nonsense, ironclad rules of Roman government. The jailer had
heard Paul and Silas preach. No doubt, the jailer was also a good judge of
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 63

character. He was fascinated with their teachings about Jesus Christ and their
miracle working power, but he was foremost a public servant and prisoners were
his highest priority.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such
a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At
once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his
sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had
escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’ The
jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. . .
.” (Acts 16:25-29) When the jailer reached the open cell of Paul and Silas, he
uttered the most important question on Earth, “Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?” When I consider his question in the light of his immediate circum-
stances, I have wondered if the jailer’s concern was focused on the receipt of
eternal life. In fact, could the jailer really be asking, “What must I do to save my
present life and that of my family, because I will be promptly executed if any
prisoners escape?” If this was the case, then Paul and Silas’ response was
instruction leading to justification in God’s sight – “Put your trust in Jesus right
now and you will not lose your life, nor will your household perish.” Look at the
verse again: “ ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in
the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’ ”
I have yet to meet one Christian who says this verse actually means, “Mr. Jailer,
if you will believe in the Lord Jesus this very minute, you and your entire
household will be granted eternal life.” In other words, most Christians do not
believe that one person’s acceptance of Jesus saves other family members. So,
what did Paul and Silas mean when they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus”? Here
are two choices: First, they could have meant, “Believe that Jesus Christ is a
real person. Believe this simple historical truth and He will give you eternal life.” I
mention this option because some Christians actually believe this to be the intent
of Paul and Silas. I find this view makes a mockery of the biblical definition of
faith. Second, they could have meant, “Believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior
and submit your life to His authority. All who do will receive life eternal at the
last day.” (John 6:39-44) My study leads me to believe that the last choice is the
correct answer. Paul and Silas invited a desperate man to immediately submit to
the authority of Jesus Christ (as they had done in their own lives) and allow Him
to work out the details. This story is paradoxical. Paul and Silas are telling the
jailer to submit his life to the Lord Jesus as they had done. However, consider
their misfortune – sitting in prison stocks covered with cuts and bruises –
64 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

inviting the jailer to submit his life also. The point Paul and Silas were making
was that when you submit your life to the authority of the Lord Jesus, your life
and future are in God’s hands. But truthfully, after considering the issues of life
and all the options, it really is the only way to go. This story reaffirms that
justification begins with total and complete submission. If it takes a life-threaten-
ing experience or even an earthquake to produce submission, then so be it.
(Remember, Paul himself had a life-threatening encounter with the Lord Jesus
on the road to Damascus. This experience led Paul to surrender his life to Jesus
immediately. See Acts 9.)

Will Words do the Trick?

Some Christians claim that salvation comes only after a person publically
confesses faith in Christ as Savior. In other words, to become saved a
person has to publicly state that “Jesus is Lord.” While this may sound
good among church members, the flip side of this concept is a doctrine
teaching that most of the world is eternally doomed because more than
70% of the world’s population has not confessed, “Jesus is Lord.” Carefully
notice these texts: “. . . If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans
10:9,10) “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
While “proof texts” sound good in a Christian environment, what about the
remaining 4.4 billion people who are not Christian? Are people doomed to
destruction simply because they were born in a place where there are no
Christians or any knowledge of Jesus? Be careful how you answer this
question, because God’s offer of salvation to the world is not as narrow and
simplistic as some Christians claim. There is more to the concept of salva-
tion than first meets the eye. For example, what does a loving God do with:
(a) billions of people down through the centuries who have lived and died
without having an opportunity to hear about Christ’s generous offer of
salvation?
(b) billions of people who rejected Christianity because the “Christians”
they knew were disgusting examples of immoral and uncivil behavior?
(c) billions of people who have never honestly considered the teachings of
Christianity because they were born into another religious system or
culture that taught their religion was superior to Christianity?
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 65

(d) billions of good people living right now, as well as in ages past, who never
showed serious interest in religion because their parents were not religious?

Are All Four Groups of People Doomed for Destruction?

Through the years I have asked people about these four groups of people and a
disappointing number of Christians have callously said that all four groups are
doomed for destruction because they never gave their heart to Christ. When I
respond, “But billions of people have never had the opportunity to know about
Jesus! What does God do with them?” Sometimes I just get an irritated look
because it seems unreasonable to say that God would destroy people who have
not had a chance to know about salvation. If the frown is not too bad, I have
dared to ask further, “Who will receive greater condemnation: The Christian who
did little or nothing to propel the gospel of Jesus throughout the world, or the
pagan who did not hear the gospel because a Christian did not share the good
news with him.” These questions are important to consider, because the Bible
says that God’s love for each person on Earth is the same! (John 3:16; Acts
10:34,35; Romans 2:14,15)
Far too many Christians have a view regarding salvation that is too narrow.
Many church members believe that salvation requires sameness. Consider
the logic: “If others are going to be saved, they must become like me for I
am convinced that I am saved.” This concept is the mainspring of many
evangelical efforts. However, the larger idea behind justification is that God
can justify anyone, anywhere, and at any time a person becomes willing to
obediently submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit. Consider the magna-
nimity of God! When a man (or woman) experiences the “born again”
miracle in his heart and receives the assurance of eternal life, he becomes
motivated to help others experience the joy and peace that he has re-
ceived. For example, if he finds the “born again” experience within a
particular denomination, it is only natural that he would want others to find
the same joy he has found when attending his church. This is not inher-
ently bad. The misunderstanding occurs, however, when one denomination
concludes that God will not save people who understand His will in a
different way. Unfortunately, this is the basis for Christian exclusivity. In
reality, the Christian experience should be one of inclusiveness because
the Christian life is a mixture of doctrine and experience. If the balance is
right, there will be joy and happiness from wholeheartedly serving God and
man. Remember this: Good doctrines stimulate good faith. Bad doctrines
produce toxic faith.
66 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

Which Church is the Right Church?

A large number of Christians believe that salvation is church specific; that is,
you must believe the right things and belong to the right church to be saved. As
a result, some Christians will brazenly say that members of other churches are
doomed for destruction because they do not follow God correctly! Interestingly,
every Christian denomination on Earth claims to be the true church of God. For
example, the Roman Catholic Church believes it is the only true church of God
on Earth. Notice this recent comment: “The fullness of religious truth, unmixed
with error, is found only in the Catholic Church, the very Church which Jesus
Christ Himself established.” (Joel Peters, “Scripture Alone?, 21 Reasons to
reject Sola Scriptura,” p. 64, 1999, Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.) Mr. Peters
also concludes that neither the pope nor the Catholic Church can lapse into
error. “The Holy Spirit was given to the Church by Jesus Christ, and it is exactly
the same Spirit who protects the Church’s visible head, the Pope, and the
teaching authority of the Church by never permitting him or it to lapse into
error.” (Ibid, p. 26) I use these quotes by a recent Catholic author to demon-
strate that Catholics are not reluctant to declare everyone else wrong and
themselves the only inerrant depositories of God’s truth. However, I must quickly
add that every Christian church does the same thing (more or less), even
though they may not be as “up front” or boastful about their claims as this
Catholic writer.

Religions Differ, but They are Similar

Even though the religions of the world differ, they share certain characteris-
tics. Although we may be a world of many languages, religions, govern-
ments and cultures, the ways of humanity are surprisingly similar. Whether
we realize it or not, certain laws govern the exercise of religion on Earth
and this similarity among diverse religions proves the presence and opera-
tion of “basic law.” Consider these five laws and the effects they produce:
Law #1: Religion usually limits a person to one view or perspective of God.
For this reason, 95% of the world’s population stay within the religious
system they were born. Moslems tend to stay Moslems, Jews tend to stay
Jews, Catholics tend to stay Catholics, Protestants tend to stay Protes-
tants, etc. Why does this phenomenon exist? Ideas about God become a
part of a person’s conscience at an early age and many people cannot
have their views about God challenged without feeling threatened or
becoming hostile. Unfortunately, for 95% of the world’s inhabitants the only
exit from an inherited religion is death.
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 67

Law #2: Religion does not change very fast. People who decided to follow
Christ were expelled from Judaism because Jewish leaders could not update
their thinking. Protestants were expelled from the Roman Catholic Church
because papal leaders refused to change their thinking. For a more modern
example, the Worldwide Church of God (Armstrong) literally disintegrated during
the 1990’s when leaders suddenly changed key doctrines. This also reveals that
laymen, too, cannot adopt new ideas or change their views very fast either.
Law #3: Religion usually encompasses a body of knowledge that is far larger
than laymen care to understand. For this reason, few laymen thoroughly
investigate the origin and teachings of their religion. People usually submit
(more or less) to the views of their religious authorities unless or until there is a
divisive controversy. The confidence, allegiance and trust laymen place in their
religious authorities is so great that they usually will not consider a contradicting
point of view no matter how logical or well-presented it may be. Often, religious
controversies are more about social issues than theology. Because religion is a
complex influence that integrates with culture, churches often establish their own
publishing houses because laity prefer to read material produced by their own
denomination. Of course, this self-indoctrinating process tends to keep the
views of the reading laity in line with church tradition.
Law #4: Every religion is inherently self-exalting. Each denomination concludes
it has the truth about God and all other religions have less truth or no truth. No
religious system on Earth will concede that another church has greater truth
about God than itself. Christ’s experience with the religious leaders of His day
should be a warning to religious leaders today. Be careful not to become so
devoted to your religion that God Himself cannot open your mind to greater
truth.
Law #5: Everyone born on Earth inherits three basic elements of religion,
whether institutional religion is practiced or not. Just as we inherit a carnal
nature from our parents, we also inherit a basic need to know God. Be-
cause Jesus created human beings this way, we should not be surprised
that adversarial religions flourish all over the Earth. The basic elements of
religion are:
a. adoration of someone or something greater than self
b. submission to someone or something greater than self
c. association with others who share similar adoration
These five laws help to explain why religious forces are so strong, why they
exist, and why they plague the entire human race. These laws explain, in
68 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification

part, why human beings are diverse, yet similar. These laws also explain why a
religious gridlock exists throughout our world. Every religion is self exalting;
therefore diverse people from all over the world cannot discuss truth because
there is no common authority from which to start. Every definition of God is
different. The Jew has no common ground with the Moslem. The Moslem has no
common ground with the Christian, etc. Do not despair; there is good news!
God has a plan that will soon break up the religious gridlock of the world. Jesus
has a plan that will show the world how each religious system is not the answer
to salvation. Jesus is the answer for man’s need of salvation. He will extend the
offer of salvation to every human being alive during the Great Tribulation. He will
save hundreds of millions of people from every nation, kindred, tongue and
people who love truth. God will use the world’s religious diversity to make a
profound point about the way He loves humanity! Here’s how: Jesus will send a
powerful testimony throughout the world during the Great Tribulation. Individuals
who love truth and are currently living up to all they know to be right will quickly
see the beauty of this simple, but powerful testimony. Millions of people will
accept God’s truth, even at great peril to life itself. Jesus has carefully designed
this final exam. At the end of the Great Tribulation, the people of Earth will be
separated into two groups: the sheep and the goats. The sheep will be following
The Good Shepherd. The goats will be corralled by the Antichrist.

Confessing that Jesus is Lord

I would like to go back to the text, “. . . If you confess with your mouth,
‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and
are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are
saved.” (Romans 10:9,10) Some people read this text with the same
disregard for its setting, as they do the earlier text in which Paul and Silas
told the jailer to trust in Jesus and his household would be saved. To say
that eternal life comes by merely stating, “Jesus is Lord” is to miss the
essential point of what Paul was saying. When Paul wrote these words, the
believers in Rome were in serious trouble. As far as the Romans were
concerned, the only difference between the hated Jews and the Christians
was words. Consequently, many Christians in Rome lost their possessions,
homes and freedom because they would not bow down to Caesar and
worship him as Roman law dictated. The Caesars believed they were gods
among men. To face Caesar (or one of his governors) and testify with your
mouth that “Jesus is Lord” was a surefire recipe for the severest punish-
ment, even death. The Apostle Paul himself died at the hands of the
Romans for his confession that “Jesus Christ is Lord.” So, Paul’s point in
Romans 10 is about faith and loyalty to Christ in the face of life-threatening
Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification 69

circumstances. Paul is encouraging the believers to stand firm in their faith,

and like the jailer, God will honor your faith and reward your commitment to
Him when He returns or maybe sooner! (John 6:39-54) God eventually
rewards everyone who puts their faith in Him. (Romans 8:28, Hebrews 11)
Standing up in a Christian church and confessing that Jesus is Lord is not
exactly what Paul had in mind when he penned these words, although
there is certainly nothing wrong with doing this. However, Paul is encourag-
ing all believers like you and me to stand firm when your life and the lives
of your family members are being subjected to severe punishment. Con-
tinue to confess that Jesus is Lord, and through faith alone, you will be
justified and ultimately saved.

Summary
The Bible is full of good news. God uses a legal and fair process in Heaven
called justification to justify sinners on Earth. Justification is not a white-
wash for rebellion against God. Justification is an enormous gift which the
Father is willing to bestow upon any sinner if that sinner is willing to live in
obedient submission to the Holy Spirit. Justification was made possible
through the perfect life and death of Jesus. Every person who has lived on
Earth, except Jesus, is a descendant of Adam and Eve. (Acts 17:24-27)
Therefore, sin and rebellion are part of every generation because of our
grandparents. Of course, our Creator foreknew that sin would rise, just as
He knew that when He created the world it would someday be populated
with billions of people speaking different languages, following different
customs and having many religious beliefs. Therefore, from the beginning
of time, the Plan of Salvation has been inclusive of all people, even though
most of Earth’s population at any given time does not know the truth about
God. The Plan of Salvation includes Chinese, Indians, Russians, Ameri-
cans and all humankind in every nation – even if they are not Christian.
The receipt of God’s offer for justification does not require that we first
know the whole truth or absolute truth about the Father or Jesus. Remem-
ber, “Christians” did not exist prior to Christ’s ministry on Earth, yet every-
one before Christ who placed their faith in God was justified by faith! (See
Romans 2 - 4 and Hebrews 11.) It might be said that they were justified on
the promise that Jesus would be forthcoming. Nevertheless, justification is
the only way to life eternal and if you are willing to submit to the authority of
the Holy Spirit, the assurance of eternal life will be yours absolutely free!
70 Chapter 4 – Salvation through Justification
 Chapter 5
Salvation and Predestination

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you

were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to
the nations.” “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know
how to speak; I am only a child.”
– Jeremiah 1:5,6

Omnipotence and Our Power of Choice

Members of the Godhead are omnipotent. This means that if it were not for
the rule of law, they could do anything they please with anything or any-
body and no one could prevent their abuse. As Omnipotent Rulers of the
universe, they are not subject to anyone. However, they are willing to be
closely studied and observed because they are willing to abide by the laws
they have put in place. Without law there is chaos and arbitrary rule. The
presence of law imposes order and accountability for everyone. Even
though the Godhead has the prerogatives of omnipotence and other
incredible powers, these prerogatives are not exercised according to whim.
When the Godhead does exercise their prerogatives, their actions are
lawful! The Godhead submits their actions and decisions to their created
beings for careful study and analysis. The Godhead wants all of us to see
that they are singularly motivated by love and righteousness. Additionally,
they want their freewill creatures to choose to follow their example!
As our Creator, Jesus is the source of life. He could have created slaves or
robots, but instead He created intelligent beings that are free to exercise
the power of choice. Think about this privilege for a moment. Human
beings can choose to obey God or rebel against Him. Jesus speaks and
worlds appear. He is capable of doubling the size of our infinite universe in
a split second by simply commanding it. He could also speak Earth’s entire
solar system out of existence and we would cease to exist the very mo-
ment the words left His lips. Through Him everything exists. Without Him,
there is nothing. He creates matter. He destroys matter. He sets limits and
no one can change them. (Colossians 1) Although Jesus has omnipotence,
He will not violate the power of choice granted to any person. Jesus said to
Isaiah, “This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, who formed you
in the womb: I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone
72 Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination

stretched out the heavens, who spread out the Earth by myself, who foils
the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows
the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense. Remember the former
things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and
there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from
ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will
do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off
land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about;
what I have planned, that will I do.” (Isaiah 44:24-25, 46:9-11)

Omniscience
Members of the Godhead are also omniscient. This means they know everything
about the past, present and future. And yes, the Godhead knew before the world
was created the names of the individuals who would choose eternal life and
those who would not. This fact bothers a lot of people because they cannot
reconcile God’s omnipotence with His omniscience. Some people believe that
God has already decided who is going to live forever and who is going to die
forever, so no matter what we do, the outcome has already been predetermined.
This concept is called “fatalism.” Fatalism interprets everything that happens as
the predetermined will of God and it is a false doctrine. The devil would like
people to believe that they have no choice about their eternal destiny. He also
wants us to believe that Jesus created some people simply for destruction. Both
ideas are false.

Some Things are Predestined

According to Webster, predestination means, “to decree beforehand.” Because
the members of the Godhead are omnipotent, they can predestine anything they
want to. (Notice, I did not say anyone they want to.) For example, when Jesus
agreed to die in man’s place, His death was predestined long before the actual
event took place. Because of God’s foreknowledge, the Plan of Salvation was
prepared and waiting before He created the world. The Godhead foreknew the
rise of sin on Earth and when the rescue was needed, they instituted the Plan.
To put divine foreknowledge into perspective, let us say it is something like
carrying a diaper bag when you have a newborn baby in your arms. You know
the baby will soon need a fresh diaper and you are prepared for that eventuality.
This is foreknowledge. However, notice in this simple illustration that your
foreknowledge does not predetermine the need for a fresh diaper.
Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination 73

Predestination simply means that God can decree beforehand anything to

happen, and it will happen because He has the power and authority to make it
happen. Again, Jesus said, “I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all
that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a
man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I
have planned, that will I do.” (Isaiah 46:10,11) Predestination is a function of
God’s omnipotence and foreknowledge is a function of God’s omniscience.
Foreknowledge simply means God knows everything. He knows what our
choices will be – not because He makes them happen, but because He knows
what we will choose to do. Everything that happens is not, I repeat, is not
predestined by God. God did not predestine the rise of sin. Therefore, we
should not interpret every event in life as a predestined event. God did not
predestine Adam and Eve to sin, but He knew they would sin. In the same way
the Father knows who will choose or forfeit eternal life.

Jesus Lays Divine Prerogatives Aside

When Jesus stepped “in the way” of the executing angel who was preparing to
execute Adam and Eve, Jesus became the “Son of God” that very day. Accord-
ing to the provisions of the plan to save humanity, the day Adam sinned Jesus
agreed to lay aside His prerogatives at an appointed time. Even though He was
an equal member of the Godhead, He agreed to become subject to the will of the
Father at the time of His birth. (John 6:38) Therefore, Jesus is often called the
Son of God. (See Psalm 2 and Hebrews 1:5,5:5.) During Old Testament times,
Jesus sometimes exercised omniscience and omnipotence, but at the time of
His birth, He laid these powers aside to become a man.
How could Jesus lay these powers of divinity aside? This is a mystery, but He
put aside a number of divine prerogatives for our salvation. For example, He put
aside His immortal life so He could die for sinners. Jesus became subject to
death (mortal) and completely experienced sin’s penalty when He was put to
death by execution! (Hebrews 2:17; 10:12-14;
1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21) After He put these prerogatives
aside, He returned to Heaven and was found worthy to receive them back
on the basis of His perfect compliance with the Plan of Salvation and the
will of the Father. (Revelation 4 and 5) Remember, when Jesus was born of
Mary, certain limitations were placed on Jesus’ power for a period of time.
For example, He said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even
the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew
24:36) In other words, in His human form, Jesus did not know the date He
74 Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination

would return to Earth, because the Father had not revealed this information to
Him. However, Daniel 7 and Revelation 4 and 5 reveal that a time came when
Jesus’ omnipotence and omniscience were returned to Him. (Daniel 7:13,14) It
is obvious that Jesus increases in power and authority throughout the process
of saving man, just like the infant Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God and
man! (Hebrews 2:8; Luke 2:52) At the end of all things, when Jesus has ac-
quired all that Heaven can offer, He gives it all back to the Father so He can live
among His subjects as one of them.
(1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

Careful! Easy to Distort!

God has not predestined some people to be lost and others to be saved.
The Bible says, “He [the Father] predestined us [fallen human beings] to
be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his
pleasure and will . . .” “He [God] is patient with you, not wanting
anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (Ephesians 1:5,
2 Peter 3:9, insertions mine.) Be careful! These texts are easy to distort.
Ephesians 1:5 does not say that God predestined a certain number of
people to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ – implying that all
others are predestined for eternal death. This text says that God has
predestined fallen man to be adopted as His sons through Jesus. In other
words, God predestined the adoption process. It is called justification!
“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift,
but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but
trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteous-
ness.” (Romans 4:4,5) Did you notice whom God justifies in verse five? To
say that God predestines our eternal reward makes a mockery of the Plan
of Salvation. If God predestined the eternal reward of a man without
recognizing man’s actions or power of choice, the Plan of Salvation would
be a deceptive trick. If God predestined people to be saved and others to
be lost, a Plan of Salvation would not be necessary. Think about it – what is
the point of choosing to follow the Holy Spirit if you are predestined to be
lost? In simplest terms, the difference between predestination and fore-
knowledge is the following: Predestination (decreeing beforehand) is
setting the alarm clock to ring at 5:00 a.m. the next morning. Foreknowl-
edge (knowing beforehand) is looking at a clock and observing that the
alarm setting indicates it will ring at 5:00 in the morning. God does not
predestine eternal destiny, but He does predestine events, such as making
the process of adoption as His sons available to all mankind.
Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination 75

God Predestines People for Service

God sometimes predestines people to do certain things. Notice these three texts:
“The word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, ‘Before I formed
you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I
appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ” (Jeremiah 1:4,5, insertion
mine.)
“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right
hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of
their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I
will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down
gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron . . . I am the Lord, and
there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me. . . .” (Isaiah 45:1,2,5)
“He [the man of God] cried out against the altar by the word of the
Lord: ‘O altar, This is what the Lord says: A son named Josiah will be
born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the
high places who now make offerings here, and human bones will be
burned on you.’ ” (1 Kings 13:2, insertion mine.)
I chose these particular verses because they represent certain extremes.
In the first text, Jeremiah, the Jew, was appointed to be a prophet for God
before he was born. In the second text, Cyrus, the pagan, was appointed to
be a great king that would conquer the Babylonians. In the third text, the
birth and reformation of King Josiah was foretold. We know that God is no
respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) He loved Jeremiah, Cyrus and Josiah
and they were born with a destiny of service for God. However, God’s
appointment to service has nothing to do with their eternal reward. That
choice remains their exclusive privilege to decide.
These texts demonstrate that God has a plan for our life even before we
are born! (See also Psalm 139:16.) However, God’s appointment does not
mean that we are forced to fulfill His calling. He respects our power of
choice and if we so choose, we can turn our backs on God as King Saul
did. Although God appointed Saul to be Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 15:1),
Saul became evil in God’s eyes because of his rebellion. Eventually, the
Lord refused to have anything further to do with him. (1 Samuel 28:6)
Remember, God may predestine a person for certain tasks, but He does
not predestine anyone for eternal life or death.
76 Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination

Critical Difference
There is a critical difference between God’s foreknowledge and God’s power to
predetermine an event. Predestination pre-decrees the outcome, whereas
foreknowledge knows the outcome of all things in advance. The future is to the
Godhead what the past is to us. It is unchangeable. We may have a perfect view
of our past, but we are powerless to change one word, thought or deed in the
past. Likewise, the Father is powerless, under the rule of love, to alter or change
the future in any way. Can He be trusted to leave the future unchanged? This is
the critical question. Any manipulation of the future would be a malicious act by
God because He claims that His universe is governed by the rule of love. The
presence of Lucifer and sin proves, among other things, that intelligent crea-
tures have the power of choice. Is God love? Yes, the death of Jesus proves His
love for mankind. The rebellion of one-third of His angels, the fall of Lucifer and
the dire consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin prove that God will not interfere
with the inalienable right of all intelligent beings to exercise their power of
choice. This is why the future, as far as God is concerned, is unchangeable. He
allows it to unfold according to the choices of His subjects and He responds
accordingly.
Perhaps one more illustration will demonstrate the critical difference between
foreknowledge and predestination. Suppose an airplane pilot can look down
from 10,000 feet and see the twists and turns of a long river. In one glance, he
can see the end and the beginning. Also imagine that people are traveling down
the river in a boat – not knowing where the river leads. The pilot of the airplane
can see where the boat will be when it reaches the end of the journey, but the
pilot of the airplane has nothing to do with the travelers reaching that destination.
Instead, he can only see where the boaters will be when they reach the end of
the river. Knowing the end from the beginning without interference is foreknowl-
edge. On the other hand, predestination is pre-decreeing that an event will
occur, such as setting an alarm clock to go off at a certain time.
In short, God predestines events to happen. He also predestines people for
service, but He does not predestine the eternal destiny of people. Because
He has foreknowledge, God knows what people are going to do. He not only
grants us the power of choice, He insists that we use it! (John 3:16)

Jesus Foreknew Israel’s Apostasy

The Old Testament story of Israel illustrates how Jesus does not use His
foreknowledge to change the outcome of events, even when they run
Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination 77

contrary to His will! Notice this prophecy, “And the Lord said to Moses: ‘You
are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute
themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will
forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. On that day I will
become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them,
and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon
them, and on that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come upon
us because our God is not with us?’ And I will certainly hide my face on
that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.’ ”
(Deuteronomy 31:16-18)
Jesus knew what the nation of Israel would do in the future and He shared this
information with Moses. The Old Testament record confirms what Jesus knew.
However, it also confirms that Jesus did not use His foreknowledge to make
Israel a stubborn and stiff-necked people. (Ezekiel 3:7; Jeremiah 7:26) In fact,
just the opposite is true! The Old Testament verifies that God did everything
possible to redirect Israel from its terrible ways – time after time He sent His
servants the prophets – but Israel chose to rebel against God! (See Jeremiah
3.) Jesus knew that Israel would rebel before they rebelled! The essential point
is that Jesus does not deal with His creatures on the basis of His foreknowledge.
Instead, He deals with man on the basis of love and our current needs. Aren’t
you glad! Although He can see the end from the beginning, He does not use that
knowledge to manipulate us. God can be trusted. He will not change the future to
protect Himself or His universe. He carefully respects our power of choice.
Jesus is the only parent who would send His child through four years of college
at the enormous cost of $80,000, knowing in advance that the child is going to
fail. Taking this simple point to its logical conclusion we can only conclude that
God’s love was profoundly amazing! Who else but God would create the cherub
Lucifer and give him everything that Heaven could offer – knowing in advance
that Lucifer would eventually choose to become His worst enemy?

From the Creation of the World

Consider the contents of this text: “The beast, which you saw, once was,
now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruc-
tion. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written
in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished
when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet
will come.” (Revelation 17:8) This text indicates the wicked, whose names
were not written in the Book of Life from the creation of the world, will be
78 Chapter 5 – Salvation and Predestination

amazed when they see the beast (the Antichrist) that will rise up out of nowhere
(the abyss). My point is that the Bible student can interpret this text to say, “God
knew in advance who was going to be lost from creation to the final moment of
Earth’s history and He left their names out of the Book of Life.” This statement is
true, but understand that the wicked are not lost because God left their names
out of the Book of Life. The wicked are lost because they chose to rebel against
God’s authority! A profound point found within this text is that during the Great
Tribulation, Jesus will do everything possible to save men and women. He will
save to the utmost. Jesus will present the terms and conditions of salvation so
clearly and so powerfully that no one will be able to justify rebellion against God
or claim ignorance of His will. Jesus 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.” (Matthew 24:14) John’s comment in Revelation 17:8 is set
in the context of the final days of the Great Tribulation, after God has done
everything possible to save mankind. John is amazed at what length God has
gone to save man from the penalty of sin, even though God foreknew who would
rebel!
The bottom line is this. The Godhead has omniscience; they know everything,
but they do not use their omniscience to manipulate their creatures or alter the
oncoming future. If they did, they would be guilty of a terrible breach of confi-
dence. They claim to operate on the principle of love, but any power play to
manipulate their subjects would suggest otherwise. From their comprehensive
perspective of the universe, the future is clearly laid out, even though their
creatures create the future as each day arrives. The good news is that the
Godhead can be trusted with this incredible power. As events unfold during the
Great Tribulation it will be demonstrated and proven that they are righteous,
pure, above reproach and trustworthy. God’s omnipotence, omniscience and
omnipresence mean that wherever we are in the grand march of time, God is
already there. Throughout the endless corridors of eternity, nothing surprises
God. He knows everything and He is prepared for every eventuality that His
creatures will choose. This fact should be most reassuring to finite beings who
put their trust in Him. “. . . From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is
with those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:17)
 Chapter 6
The Sealing

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having

the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to
the four angels who had been given power to harm the
land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the
trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants
of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were
sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
– Revelation 7:2-4

Introduction
God showed the prophet John an interesting sight which he describes in
Revelation 7. He saw an angel rising in the east who had the seal of God
delaying the destruction of Earth. The angel from the east calls out to four
angels who are about to harm Earth, “Do not harm the land or the sea or
the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our
God.” What does this vision mean? What is the seal of God? How does
the sealing relate to the 144,000 and the salvation of man?

The Carnal Nature

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
(Matthew 5:8) These words are a promise. Yet, when I look around and
also look within myself, I find an overwhelming amount of sin. Why is there
so much degeneracy? When it comes to having a pure heart, all human
beings have two problems. First, we come from the womb with a sinful
nature. Because of this, we are predisposed to rebel against authority from
the moment of birth. Second, the devil understands our human predisposi-
tion toward sinning and the inherited traits that push us in that direction.
Knowing this, he does everything he can to entice us into complete rebel-
lion against God’s will and authority. All these factors make rebellion
against God and His laws easy and submission to the will of God very
difficult. In fact, in our present state it is impossible to consistently submit to
the will of God.
When a person experiences the miracle of spiritual rebirth, God installs a
second nature – a spiritual nature – that is antagonistic toward the sinful
80 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

nature. As a result, every born again person lives in a continual “state of war”
because these two natures are diametrically opposed. When asked about his
born again experience, Martin Luther summarized the contest between these
two natures by saying that even though the carnal nature remains, it does not
reign. No doubt his words were borrowed from his favorite Bible writer, the
Apostle Paul. Paul reminded the Romans that the carnal nature does not have
control over us if we allow the Holy Spirit to live in us. He wrote, “You, however,
are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God
lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)
No writer in the Bible explains these two warring natures as well as the Apostle
Paul. After Paul had been a born again Christian for about 25 years, he wrote,
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but
what I hate I do. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful
nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it
out.” (Romans 7:16,18) Paul’s statement confirms the fact that after a person is
born again he or she remains in a constant state of war between these two
natures. Paul’s discovery about his carnal nature is something like the discovery
of gravity by Sir Isaac Newton. For thousands of years no one thought it strange
that objects fell in a downward direction because they had weight. Over the
course of time, however, a new explanation was needed about the direction
objects fall because man discovered that Earth was a large sphere spinning on
its axis. Then the question begged to be asked, why do objects fall in the
direction of down on a rapidly spinning sphere when logic suggests they should
fall in the opposite direction! Finally, the presence of gravity was discovered and
Sir Isaac Newton was among the first to quantify the law of gravity. In a similar
way, the Apostle Paul understood the presence of the carnal heart and he
quantified the law of sin that operates upon it. Both the law of gravity and the law
of sin are predictable and unchangeable. The law of gravity and the law of sin
also have one other similarity – both can be thwarted under the right circum-
stances. The law of gravity can be thwarted if a spaceship exceeds 17,000 miles
per hour. At this speed, man can overcome the force of Earth’s gravity and
escape this planet. Likewise, the law of sin can be overcome if a person
chooses to obediently surrender his or her will to the Holy Spirit. In this situa-
tion, the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit will enable a person to escape the
control of sin.
What is the law of sin? It is a code of conduct, an inbred or inborn rebellion
against authority. The law of sin has dominion over every fallen being. Paul
understood that there is no escape from the law of sin except through faith
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 81

in Christ. He wrote, “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil
is right there with me . . . What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me
from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our
Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the
sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (Romans 7:21,24,25) Carefully
consider the words of this reformed legalist: “Now if I do what I do not want
to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”
(Romans 7:20) So, this is the explanation. As hard as it may be for some of us
to admit, we are sinful from within the core of our being and sooner or later our
conduct will prove it!

Somebody Help Me!

Paul lamented the inescapable effects of the law of sin in his own life. He wrote,
“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with
me.” (Romans 7:21) Paul’s remarks in Romans 7 are very revealing because
he once belonged to a religious body that believed sinlessness, purity and zeal
for God were absolute mandates and Paul was as devoted to God as anyone
could be. (Philippians 3:4-7) The Pharisees had meticulously defined impurity
as a violation of any one of some 600 laws and Paul was zealous to observe
every law. He summed up his life as a boastful Pharisee saying, “. . . as for
legalistic righteousness, faultless.” (Philippians 3:6)
Then, Paul met Jesus. Eventually he began to understand that the “righteous-
ness” achieved by rigorous obedience and religious devotion cannot produce a
pure heart. Religion had deceived Paul. As a Pharisee he was completely
convinced that righteousness came through legalistic obedience – the avoid-
ance of sin. But after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he saw how
wretched and offensive he really was in God’s sight. (Romans 7:24) This
remarkable change in his perspective occurred because he caught a glimpse of
the righteousness that God requires and it changed everything. God requires a
pure heart, but a heart is not pure until it has absolutely no attraction for sin.
We may avoid sin, we may escape falling into certain temptations, but the
avoidance of sin is not to be confused with a pure heart. When Paul met Jesus,
the perfectionist discovered his imperfection. The arrogance of Saul the Phari-
see was shattered. God transformed him, renamed him and called him into the
service of His saints.
When a person experiences a complete “meltdown” over long held religious
beliefs, psychologists call this a paradigm shift. A paradigm shift occurs when
82 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

concepts believed to be true are proven to be totally false. A paradigm shift

shakes us to the core of our being and is very emotionally disturbing. When
Jesus spoke to Paul, Paul was devastated to learn that his “perfect” religious life
was offensive and unacceptable to God. After Paul realized that he could not
make himself pure or acceptable before God by good works, Paul had nothing
more to boast about. (God sure knows how to silence legalists.) When Paul saw
that he had no righteousness in God’s sight, he became a meek man. In this
new state of mind, he became a mighty champion of the righteousness of
Christ. He wrote, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The
righteous will live by faith.’ ” (Romans 1:17) When Paul finally grasped the
idea that salvation requires a righteousness that man cannot produce, only then
did he realize his desperate need for Jesus.

The Nature of Sin

Since the law of sin declares that human nature remains rebellious toward God,
how can any person ever become pure in heart? It is impossible through human
effort. Consequently, the carnal nature is man’s greatest problem. Our carnal
nature makes us rebellious and prevents us from having faith in God or obedi-
ently submitting to His commands. We are born with a “spring loaded” carnal
nature, ready to do wrong at an early age. Children do not have to be taught to
do wrong, and adults cannot achieve the purity of heart that God requires. Since
Adam and Eve’s sin, the human race has been in trouble. Yet, a miracle hap-
pens every time a person experiences a rebirth. A miraculous change occurs
within the heart. Whereas the carnal heart was full of rebellion, the born again
heart becomes divided. Part of the heart wants to obey God and part of it wants
to remain in rebellion against God. This tremendous struggle never ends. This is
why Paul, as a mature Christian lamented, “. . . For I have the desire to do
what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18) Do not despair –
there is good news on two fronts!
Peter demonstrated that we can walk on water through the power of Christ. Paul
wrote, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by
the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, be-
cause those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans
8:13,14) This is the key. The presence and work of the Spirit within the heart is
crucial. He brings victory to all who live by faith. The victory which the Spirit
brings is not man-made and is not merely the avoidance of sin. When the Spirit
brings victory, rebellion is removed. When we become no longer attracted to a
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 83

specific sin, then the heart has been set free from the law of sin in this area of
life. Therefore, the heart is no longer under the dominion of sin! Sometimes, the
Spirit will not give us victory where we want victory the most. Instead, the Spirit
may focus on other issues that need His attention first, but you can be sure that
the purifying process for each person is always controlled by the Holy Spirit. If
a person is not gaining victory over sin as he or she wants, it could be the Spirit
is wanting control over another aspect of this person’s life first. This requires
patience and perseverance. James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its
work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
(James 1:2-4)
On the second front, good news comes in the assurance of forgiveness as we
admit and confess our sin. John wrote, “My dear children, I write this to you
so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks
to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of
the whole world.” (1 John 2:1)

Can We Become Pure?

Is it possible to have a pure heart if we want one? The answer is a resounding
“Yes!” But the means and timing of this event may not be what you think. A
number of views exist within the Christian community about the topic of purity. At
one extreme, people believe that a pure heart comes through an exhaustive
struggle with self and take the responsibility for purity upon themselves. They do
everything they can to shut out all worldly influences, hoping to avoid corruption.
These people often succumb to the temptation of being legalistic about God’s
definition of righteousness. The concept of isolation from sin contributed to the
early formation of monasteries and stems from the idea that man is inclined to
be evil. Therefore, in order to be pure, a person must be physically separated
from worldly influences. (The truth is, humanity is inclined to do evil because we
have a carnal nature. Wherever a person goes, sin is there, for sin is within
each person’s heart!)
On the other hand, some people believe that a pure heart is not possible or
necessary since Jesus paid the price on Calvary for man’s salvation. Such
Christians shudder at the thought of self-denial or dealing with a cross to
bear. Unfortunately, these Christians often succumb to spiritual compla-
84 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

cency. They think they are insulated from the penalty and properties of sin by
religious rituals, rites and services. But none of this is true. Like the law of
gravity, there is only one way to escape the relentless control of the law of sin.
His name is Jesus – He is the Way!
No doubt our personalities, religious heritage, culture, and family traditions color
our understanding on this fundamental subject. There is no purity in isolation
because the carnal nature is within and there is no righteousness in religious
rituals, rites or services because the carnal nature is ever present. So, what is a
person to do? Before answering this question, let us level the playing field for
everyone.

A Christian Handicap
There is a serious handicap that can occur among those people who grow up in
a Christian home. Let us suppose “Johnny” was born into a Christian home and
taught to avoid certain bad habits such as gambling, drugs, smoking, drinking
and pornography. Somehow, Johnny becomes an adult without getting hooked
on sex, drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. Since Johnny knows nothing about drug
addiction or alcohol dependency in his own body, he may conclude that he is
purer than “those poor souls captured by these sinful habits.” This is not true.
Johnny still has a carnal nature just like every prostitute and addict. Johnny was
fortunate to avoid the prison of addiction and the subsequent consequences
because of his good fortune (a Christian home). Johnny cannot understand the
power of addiction because he has not been a slave to lust, drugs or alcohol.
But, and this is an emphatic but, Johnny’s nature is no different from that of the
worst sinner. His lifestyle may be different, but his carnal nature is the same.
Johnny, just like everyone else, could have become an addict if his home life
and parental guidance had not been as positive. As you may have heard, “But
for the grace of God, there go I.” Truer words have not been spoken. This
illustration is given because “lifestyle” Christians sometimes get vain and self-
righteous. Just because Johnny does not have a craving addiction for some-
thing grossly evil, this does not mean he has a pure heart! It must be stated
again, “Man’s greatest problem is his carnal nature.” Yes, avoiding sin is good.
Yes, religious services can be beneficial. But, neither avoiding sin nor attending
church is a substitute for a pure heart.
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 85

What to do about the Power of Sin?

Suppose I want to do something that I know is sin. I have at least four options:
1. I can yield to temptation because I cannot help myself.
2. I can resist the temptation and avoid sinning as far as possible.
3. I can pray ahead for help since I know temptation is coming.
4. I can recognize the inner attraction for sin, confess it to Jesus and ask for
deliverance.
Of course, all of these options are acceptable except number one. Resisting sin
is an important process in character development. However, no person can
resist every sin – the carnal nature will not permit it. As Paul said so well, “What
I want to do, I don’t do.” In my estimation, option four should be our greatest
focus, followed by option number three and then number two. Ask Jesus for
deliverance. Ask Him to do something for you that you cannot do for yourself.
Even more, ask Him to remove the desire. This is the key. Remove the desire
and the attraction is gone! Victory over sin often depends on being prepared for
temptation at any given moment. When you fall into sin, quickly admit it, confess
your sorrow and do not forget how it happened. The Bible says we have an
Advocate who is willing to forgive us. (1 John 2:1,2) But the Bible also cautions
that if we continue in willful rebellion against God, He will not forgive us. (He-
brews 10:26,27; Matthew 12:31) The process of sanctification, or the struggle
between the carnal nature and the spiritual nature, does not occur without a
constant connection and communion with God. Peter quickly sank into the
depths of the Sea of Galilee when he took his eyes off Jesus and we will most
assuredly sink into the depths of sin for the same reason.

Why the Torture of Sanctification?

The following statements about sanctification are very important:
1. When a person is born again, a sanctifying struggle begins.
2. No one is granted eternal life on the basis of human perfection. Everyone
who receives the assurance of eternal life must continually submit to the
humiliating process of sanctification.
86 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

3. The process of sanctification ends at death or when the carnal nature is

eliminated.
God watches over each one of us. Nothing is hidden from His sight.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Luke 8:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10) God measures our love
and faith for Him by what we do (or do not do). James wrote,
“. . . faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James
2:17) Sanctification is a lifelong experience under the tutelage of the Holy
Spirit. When the Bible says that Enoch, Noah and Abraham walked with
God, the Bible does not mean that these men merely walked with God
down a country road. No, it means that these men endured the humiliation
of sanctification and as a result, God was pleased to visit and speak with
them as friends. The carnal heart hates humiliation because it hates
authority. But, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the
earth.” (Matthew 5:5) Our response to the sanctification process is our way of
expressing praise, honor and faith in God. God would much rather see the
process of sanctification occurring in the lives of His children than to hear the
praise of 10,000 choirs. (Isaiah 1:13-18) Obedience and submission to authority is
the most basic form of praise or glory that a child can produce! (Ask any parent if
you do not believe me.) So remember, that (a) sanctification does not merit or
bring salvation, and (b) our struggle with sanctification does not end until death
or the carnal nature is eliminated.

When is the Carnal Nature Eliminated?

By now, I am sure that you are aware that the greatest problem for an individual
is the carnal nature. This pesky problem is about to come to an end! God will
eliminate the carnal nature from every person who passes the test of faith that
He administers during the Great Tribulation. By the time the seventh trumpet
sounds (Revelation 11:15-19), God will have placed His seal upon everyone who
lives by faith. (Revelation 10:7) The 144,000 will be the first people to experi-
ence the elimination of the carnal nature. Millions of other people will then pass
through the fiery test of faith and also experience this miraculous transforma-
tion. Before we consider God’s seal and the importance of the sealing, a few
words about the Great Tribulation are necessary.
One of God’s objectives for the Great Tribulation is to set up a global situation
where His authority is diametrically opposed to man’s authority. As these two
authorities stand in opposition to each other, God will determine who loves Him.
(See Daniel 3.) This contest is similar to the struggle that goes on within the
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 87

heart of every born again person – which nature will reign? Our actions will
reveal which nature we favor most.
During the Great Tribulation, the Ten Commandments will stand in clear opposi-
tion to the laws of man. In other words, the Great Tribulation involves a great
controversy. The contest between God’s sovereign will and the will of humanity
will be an intense drama. People will be forced by dire circumstances to take
sides and this is how the sheep and goats will become separated. Using His
servants, the 144,000, God will send a powerful proclamation of the terms and
conditions of salvation (the gospel) throughout the Earth. If a person obeys God,
he or she will have to disobey the laws of men. Conversely, if a person obeys
the laws of men he will have to rebel against God. Every person will make an
informed choice. There will be no straddling the fence or middle ground. Into
this intense chaos, the Antichrist (the lamb-like beast who is the devil) will
eventually appear and the controversy will finally end. The people of Earth will
receive either the seal of God or the mark of the beast. Each person will make
an intelligent and informed decision regarding his or her allegiance. Each
person’s choice will reflect the dominate influence within that person’s heart. If
the nature is carnal, that person will rebel against the authority of God and have
no option but to accept the mark of the beast. If the nature is spiritual, that
person will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to obediently submit to the com-
mandments of God and be sealed in His righteousness.
Of course, no sane person plans to receive the mark of the beast. The same
might be said about the people in Noah’s day. No person planned on drowning!
Isn’t it interesting that almost every Christian today sees himself smart enough to
“get in Noah’s boat?” But do not forget, only eight people went into the boat.
Why so few? There is only one answer: The carnal nature. Rebellion is man’s
greatest problem. Aware of this, God has designed a four-step process that will
separate the sheep from the goats during the Great Tribulation. This process is
easy to understand once the drama surrounding the sealing is understood.

The Setting
A few days before the Great Tribulation begins, Jesus will personally select, seal
and empower 144,000 ordinary people of all religious backgrounds. God will use
these servants to proclaim the gospel to the world. (Revelation 7:1-4) When the
144,000 are ready to do their work, Jesus will methodically begin to destroy the
Earth with enormous manifestations of His wrath. The Book of Revelation
88 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

predicts global earthquakes, meteoric showers of burning hail, asteroid impacts,

darkness, sickness, death and destruction beyond our imagination. These
horrific events will affect the whole world and will suddenly cause billions of
people to consider the enormity of God and His wrath for the first time. In a
setting of death, confusion, conflagration and calamity, billions of people will
want some answers. God’s 144,000 servants will explain what God is doing and
why. Currently, because of religious gridlock and religious paradigms, most
people will not consider anything about God that disagrees with what they
already believe. Therefore, God will empower 144,000 people to speak for
Him and after He delivers a series of fatal blows to the ecosystems of
Earth, people will become more willing to consider what the 144,000 have
to say. The 144,000 will proclaim three messages which are stated in
Revelation 14:6-12. The three messages are condensed as follows:
1. Fear God, worship God and obey His Ten Commandments.
2. Have no part in the crisis government that will form to appease God.
Reject its laws and false doctrines.
3. Do not submit to the Antichrist or receive his mark. If you do, God will
severely punish you.
The 144,000 will present these three messages within the context of fierce
opposition. The call to worship God and obey His Ten Commandments will
collide “head on” with the religions of the world. The demands of God’s Law
will be contrary to the laws and demands of the crisis government that will
form. This predicament will produce some very tough choices. (See Daniel
3 for an Old Testament parallel to this story.) These three messages
contain the “saving” elements of the everlasting gospel, and as surprising
as it may seem, will completely separate the people of Earth. People who
allow their carnal nature to reign will reject God’s authority, just as people
who allow the Holy Spirit to reign will submit to God’s authority. It is this
simple. Notice the four step process that God has predetermined for the
gospel during the Tribulation:
1. Everyone must hear the gospel.
2. Everyone must decide for or against the gospel.
3. Everyone must be tested in their decision (faith tested).
4. Depending on the outcome choice, everyone will either receive the seal
of God or the mark of the beast.
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 89

The first step in the testing process is the proclamation of the terms and
conditions of the gospel. The second step is the decision phase. The honest in
heart will make the right choices as the Holy Spirit and the Bible directs them,
even though they will be threatened with persecution and death. The point is that
everyone will make an informed decision about the will of God because the
144,000 will complete their preaching assignments. Everyone will either submit
to the gospel or rebel against it. The third step will be the testing phase. This
phase will confirm whether our faith in God is firm and loyal. Last, God will
remove the carnal nature and seal those who pass the test of faith with a
spiritual nature that has no propensity toward sin! God will give the sinless
nature He originally gave to Adam to the people who pass this test of faith.

What is the Seal of God?

How can we conclude from Scripture that the sealing process described in
Revelation 7 is the change that takes place within the heart when God
removes our propensity to sin? There are four steps:
1. The doctrine of justification and its supporting texts (discussed in
Chapter 4), describes a process whereby the righteousness of Christ is
imputed to everyone who becomes willing to submit to the dominion of
the Holy Spirit. (John 3:16) Because of imputed righteousness, a sinner
appears righteous in God’s sight even though he is not righteous in
reality. (Ephesians 2:8,9) In other words, when the righteous life of
Jesus covers the life of a sinner, God sees the sinner as though he or
she never sinned. The imputing of Christ’s righteousness (justification)
is God’s gift of grace to every born again person. This is our all impor-
tant “ticket” to Heaven which Jesus paid. (Romans 8:1-9)
2. The doctrine of sanctification and its supporting texts (discussed earlier
in this chapter), describe a process that every born again person must
submit to. (1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 12:14) Sanctification is the
process of submitting our will to God’s will every day of our lives.
Sanctification requires patience and perseverance because the law of
sin is relentless. Justification is our “title” to Heaven and sanctification
is our “preparation” for Heaven. God has made a way to get man to
Heaven through justification and He has made a way to put Heaven’s
government within the heart of man through sanctification.
3. The sealing of the 144,000 occurs shortly before the Great Tribulation
begins. (Revelation 7:1-4) The 144,000 are the firstfruits of the great
90 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

harvest of souls that will come out of the Great Tribulation! (Revelation 14:4;
7:9-14) This means the 144,000 are examples of what the harvest will
produce. Because they are the firstfruits, the 144,000 are sealed first.
Believers who receive their testimony and pass the test of faith will be sealed
as the 144,000 were sealed during the time-period of the seven trumpets.
(The time-period of the seven trumpets is 1,260 days in length.)
4. The mystery of God is finished by the time of the seventh trumpet. “But in
the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the
mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his
servants the prophets.” (Revelation 10:7) What is the mystery of God?
The mystery of God that is completed during the Great Tribulation is His plan
to transform the carnal nature of every willing sinner into a pure heart! God
has not seen a sinner that He did not love. God has not seen a sinner that
He could not forgive and God has not seen a problem He cannot solve. The
mystery of God that will be announced by His 144,000 servants is God’s
generous offer to remove each man’s greatest problem: man’s sinful nature.
Notice how various mysteries of God unfold over time: Paul wrote to the church
at Ephesus, “Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s
grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to
me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then,
you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now
been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This
mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with
Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the prom-
ise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s
grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than
the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone
the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in
God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church,
the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which
he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him
we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:2-12)
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 91

Now, examine these words by Paul to the church at Colosse: “Now I rejoice in
what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in
regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to
you the word of God in its fullness – the mystery that has been kept
hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To
them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious
riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We
proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling
with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:24-29)
Paul told the Ephesians that the union of Gentiles and Jews into one body of
people had been part of God’s plan from the beginning. But, this part of salva-
tion for the human race (the mystery that had been kept secret from ages past)
had not been revealed until now. Now that the appointed time had come for this
to take place, this mystery was exposed and Paul was empowered to announce
this bold new revelation to the world. If you would like to enjoy the fullness of this
revelation, read all of Ephesians 2 and 3 from your Bible and reflect on Paul’s
commission to reveal this “previously unheard” doctrine.
Likewise, Paul told the Colossians that he had become a servant of the gospel,
by the commission of God, to present a mystery which had been kept hidden for
ages and generations, but was now revealed to the saints. This mystery is that
Jesus lives within the hearts of His followers, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
The mystery which the 144,000 will proclaim has been hidden from previous
generations. This mystery is that Jesus will remove the carnal heart with its
propensity for sin and He will replace it with a pure heart that has no attraction
for sin. If sinners will put their faith in Christ and obediently submit to the gospel
call which the Holy Spirit is pressing upon their hearts, Jesus will generously
grant this miracle.

A Pure Heart
The sealing described in Revelation 7 is the gift of a pure heart. God has
promised this gift to the human race for almost 3,000 years! God promised
His people while in Babylonian exile, “I will give you a new heart and put
a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and
92 Chapter 6 – The Sealing

give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to
follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26,27)
Unfortunately, the people of Israel failed to follow the Holy Spirit. Israel went
astray again and again. Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah and the fulfillment of
Ezekiel 36 was delayed. But, it is still coming! Six hundred years after Ezekiel’s
day, Paul declared this promise again, “This is the covenant I will make with
the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in
their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they
will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his
brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the
least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will
remember their sins no more. By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made
the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disap-
pear.” (Hebrews 8:10-13)
These two texts, one by Ezekiel and the other by Paul, speak about the powerful
transformation God has planned. No doubt, both prophets anticipated the
fulfillment of this promise in their day, but the mystery is not fulfilled until we
reach the Great Tribulation. For thousands of years God has looked forward to
the day when He can remove our carnal heart and give us a pure heart. He
longs for the day when rebellion will no longer be within His children! His
children also long for this to happen because they are sick and tired of having
to deal with the law of sin. (Romans 7:23-25) Yes, both Ezekiel and Paul knew
that this transformation was coming, but they did not know its appointed time.
The saints who live during the Great Tribulation will understand the timing and
they will see and experience this transformation with their own eyes!
God removes the sinful nature during the Great Tribulation because the interces-
sion of Jesus on behalf of sinners comes to a close at the time of the seventh
trumpet. For thousands of years, the righteousness of Christ has been imputed.
During the 1,260 days of sealing, the righteousness of Christ will be imparted to
every sinner who passes the test of faith. No longer will the saints be reckoned
as sinful, for they will be pure! As individuals pass their personal test of faith,
God will do something He has not done since sin began. He will replace the
carnal nature of every “faith-filled” saint with a pure heart and seal it within him
or her. Therefore, the struggle with sin and the rebellion it causes from within
will be finished for all saints by the time the seventh trumpet sounds!
Chapter 6 – The Sealing 93

Summary
It is very important that we learn now to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit
in our lives. He often puts us in difficult situations so that we can see the mighty
hand of God move within our lives. We need to experience lessons of faith in the
school of sanctification right now in order to prepare for the coming test of faith.
Jesus is anxious to prepare us for what lies ahead. Our lack of faith, our failure
to do right, our rebellion against God’s will, our selfishness and stubbornness
are all due to our carnal nature, but this will not be the case forever. Think of it!
A time is coming when God’s children will no longer have a carnal nature. This is
what John means when he wrote, “Dear friends, now [in our present condition]
we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made
known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we
shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself,
just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2,3, insertion and italics mine.) Did you notice
that John said, “We shall be like Him?” Talk about a promise! Remember the
words of Jesus: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” The
saints are going to be pure in heart.
The Great Tribulation will be a great testing time. It will also be a time of revela-
tion and reward for those who pass the test of faith! The saints will be rewarded
with pure hearts and then they will see the grandest revelation to ever take
place, Jesus appearing in all His glory! So, do not give up! If you are struggling
with sanctification, persevere – pray without ceasing and ask for God’s grace
and strength to overcome. People who learn to depend on God’s strength today
will not fail during the persecution that lies ahead. Why not learn to walk by faith
now? Everyone who walks with God lives in a constant purification process –
this can be compared to washing our dirty clothes each day. Every day, God is
working on the stain of sin that is within us. One day soon, at the appointed
time, the mystery of God will be revealed. Jesus will eliminate the carnal nature
within every saint. This is what the Bible means when it says of the redeemed,
“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
(Revelation 7:14)
94 Chapter 6 – The Sealing
 Chapter 7
What was Nailed to the Cross?

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircum-

cision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with
Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the
written code, with its regulations, that was against us and
that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the
cross. . . .
– Colossians 2:13,14

Since His death and resurrection, believers in Jesus have discussed the
question, “What was nailed to the cross?” The simplicity of the question
belies the enormity of this subject. This question ultimately concerns each
follower of Jesus because the answer reflects our understanding of God’s
actions and ultimately, His will. Even though there is a relatively simple
answer to the question, the process of getting to the answer requires a
working knowledge of the Bible and a great deal of commitment to the
leading of the Holy Spirit.
For years the disciples of Jesus struggled with the question of what
changed at the cross. Their interest was not merely academic for the
answer can have profound social and behavioral consequences. (See Acts
15, Galatians 2 and 2 Corinthians 11.) Although there are hints in the Old
Testament that help us understand what was nailed to the cross, Jesus
spoke through the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12) to make sure His follow-
ers had information sufficient to reach the right answer.

Social Ramifications
At times in Earth’s history, following Jesus has taken a lot of courage. For
the sake of illustration, the following is a fictitious scenario that generally
conforms to the beliefs of most Christians today. Even though this scenario
does not represent my views, it has merit because it demonstrates certain
things that could have happened if all of the laws and statutes given in the
Old Testament were made void on the Friday afternoon that Jesus died.
Such a dramatic change would have put Jewish converts to Christianity in
a very difficult situation because fourteen hundred years of culture and
religious practice would have suddenly become worthless. A paradigm shift
of this magnitude would be extremely hard, if not impossible for converts to
96 Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross?

accept. With these thoughts in mind, consider the following scenario: Benjamin
was a devout Jew from the tribe of Judah. He was a curious middle-aged man
(like Nicodemus) who frequently listened to Jesus. As time passed, Benjamin
became favorable to the idea that Jesus could be the predicted Messiah, but he
was not sure. Benjamin was an eye witness to the death and ascension of
Jesus. Benjamin saw the fiery manifestations of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost!
Finally, after Benjamin witnessed the stoning of Stephen, he decided that Jesus
had to be the promised Messiah. He told his family and friends that he was
converting to Christianity on the basis of what the prophets had foretold, as well
as the things that he had seen with his own eyes. Assuming that Benjamin
immediately began to interpret the will of God as Christians do today, consider
some of the religious and social ramifications that Benjamin faced.
As a “born again” Christian, Benjamin was suddenly free of the old covenant,
so Benjamin stopped taking animal sacrifices to the temple. He stopped support-
ing the priests and the temple with his tithes and offerings. Benjamin refused to
have his newborn son circumcised because his son could be an heir of
Abraham without circumcision. Benjamin told his relatives and friends that the
office of high priest in Jerusalem was worthless because man’s High Priest had
ascended to Heaven. Benjamin told his family that pork and shrimp, among
other things, were no longer unclean. Benjamin started working on the seventh
day Sabbath. He began attending worship services with Gentiles on Sunday.
Benjamin refused to observe the feast days or attend Jewish assemblies. In
short, when Benjamin became a Christian, he was set free of the culture and
religion he had known all his life and most everyone who knew him refused to
even speak to him. There is a feature within all religions that says, “If you are
not one of us, you are against us.” (Mark 9:40) Given the polemical nature of
religion, is it little wonder that Jewish relatives persecuted early Christians? It is
likely that Benjamin’s business was either boycotted or burned because he
became a traitor, a “Gentile lover.” Eventually, there was no safe place in
Jerusalem for Benjamin. He fled to Damascus because the Pharisee, Saul, had
heard of his defection from Judaism.
How does a man endure the hatred of everyone he has ever known? How does
a Jew suddenly lose his denigrating bias toward Gentiles and consider them to
be equals in the Lord? These matters are not exaggerated. If anything, they are
understated. There is no greater conflict than that of religious differences. We
live in an age when it takes an average of 18 years to put a man to death for
first degree murder, but in Benjamin’s day, a person could be stoned the same
day he spoke out against the high priest. All of the issues presented in this
scenario are discussed in the New Testament because becoming a Christian
Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross? 97

during the first century A.D. was not an easy decision, especially if the indi-
vidual was born a Jew.

Not Representative
This scenario about Benjamin does not represent how Christians began to act
the week after Jesus rose from the dead. A person cannot change his or her
religion or religious practices in a week. On the other hand, Benjamin’s scenario
demonstrates what many Christians think was nailed to the cross. However, the
New Testament reveals an interesting fact. It took many years and many intense
discussions before the disciples of Jesus figured out what was nailed to the
cross. Why did (and why does) God permit so much ambiguity on this ques-
tion? First, if Jesus had declared the facts from the cross as He did from Mt.
Sinai few, if any, Jews would have been able to accept the truth. Jesus often
spoke in parables so that the people would consider and think about His words
rather than be offended by His words. (Matthew 13:11-13) Second, the answer
to, “What was nailed to the cross” requires more than a theological answer. At
Mt. Sinai, God’s will was plainly stated. (Deuteronomy 30:12-15) The history of
the Jews confirms that no man can measure up to the will of God. A close look
at Jewish history from the Bible reveals an interesting fact. The Jews were
either in total rebellion to the “plainly stated will of God” or they made the “plainly
stated will of God” a legalistic burden which no one could fulfill. The failure of the
Jews explains why God has left the answer of what was nailed to the cross up to
the individual. You can answer the question in whatever way you wish. Of
course, your answer may have nothing to do with the truth. God knows that if
you do not want to know the truth, there is no point in revealing the truth to you.
However, if the Holy Spirit is leading you, and you are an honest seeker for
truth; if you are a born-again follower of Jesus Christ, you have a hunger and
thirst for the whole truth. On this basis, according to God’s grace, you are going
to discover the truth that God has hidden and joyfully apply it in your life. Jesus
has promised this! Jesus told His disciples, “But when he, the Spirit of truth,
comes, he will guide you into all truth . . . .” (Matthew 13:11) “. . . The
knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you,
but not to them.” (John 16:13)

The Womb of Judaism

Jesus was a Jew and so were His disciples, so there is no denying that Chris-
tianity began in the womb of Judaism. Peer pressure and social conformity
98 Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross?

have enormous staying power over people. This is why less than 5% of Earth’s
population converts from their original religious system to another. Therefore, a
sudden revelation of all that was nailed to the cross would have been too much
at one time for any Jew to thoughtfully consider. Early Jewish converts to
Christianity struggled with the question of what was nailed to the cross for years
because the social consequences were enormous in the family and in the
community. (Acts 15) Even after making the transition to Christianity, converts
could not make a clean break from their past, culture, traditions or beliefs.
Jewish converts carried a lot of Jewish baggage with them into the early Chris-
tian faith. Often, the Apostle Paul modified his social conduct to conform to each
situation in which he found himself. For example, when he was in Corinth, he
lived like a Corinthian. He behaved like a Jew when he was in Jerusalem. (1
Corinthians 9:20-23) Because of its Jewish origin it seemed that Christianity
might remain a sect within Judaism, but God had other plans. The Romans
surrounded Jerusalem and Titus destroyed it in A.D. 70. This event forced
Christians to scatter toward the four corners of the Earth and pushed
Christianity out of the womb of Judaism.

The Empire Was Prepared

Thirty-five years before Jerusalem was destroyed, Jesus chose a man
whose heart was right and his head was wrong, to become His spokesper-
son to the Gentiles. After Saul was converted on the road to Damascus, he
became an unstoppable ambassador for Jesus. The Apostle Paul prepared
the Roman empire for the dispersion of Christians. Paul traveled exten-
sively throughout the Roman empire carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul established many early churches and on the basis of several revela-
tions from Jesus, Paul laid a theological foundation that explains how God
viewed believers in Christ as the heirs of Abraham. As Gentile men and
women joined the Christian faith they naturally brought Gentile baggage
into the Christian faith with them just as their Jewish counterparts had done
in Jerusalem. (This baggage is often the primary reason for Paul’s
epistles.) In all cases and in each locale, the end result was a hybrid
religion – not entirely Christian, Jewish, Grecian, Egyptian or Roman. This
religious baggage explains why early Christianity fractured on many theo-
logical issues. Jewish converts were concerned with many of Jewish issues
that converts to Christianity in Rome or Alexandria did not have. History
confirms that early Christians did not have an absolute answer to the
question, “What was nailed to the cross?” Instead, their answers were the
Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross? 99

result of processing selected epistles of the apostles, Old Testament study, and
social ramifications. Church history demonstrates that specific answers were
constructed to suit the needs of Christians in their respective parts of the world.
Remember, the New Testament was not compiled until the middle of the fourth
century so early Christians had to use the Old Testament to verify Paul’s claims.
(Acts 17:11) Strange as it may sound, variances on the question of what
changed at the cross ultimately caused Christians in one region of the world to
become opposed, even hostile toward believers in other parts of the world.
Church history confirms that the Christian community has not been in one
accord since the Pentecost that followed the ascension of Christ. (Acts 1:14;
2:1)

A Need for Sameness

By the end of the second century A.D., the Christian Church was growing
strong in the North, South and East. The northern version of Christianity
was centered in Rome, the southern version was centered in Alexandria,
Egypt and the eastern version was centered in the churches of Asia Minor.
Each respective area had its own version (or perversion, if you will) of
Christianity. If we mix the ancient modes of transportation, the vast dis-
tances and the lack of communication between Christians along with the
religious baggage carried into regional churches, it is easy to see why
major theological differences developed within the Christian movement.
About A.D. 312, Constantine became the sole emperor of Rome. The unity
of the empire was waning because ethnic populations had changed the
political demographics of the world, but Christianity seemed impervious to
ethnicity. Although independent of each other, Christian groups were
gaining in presence and popularity throughout the empire. Constantine was
a brilliant strategist and he saw an opportunity to strengthen and reunify
the Roman empire through a political arrangement with Christians. He saw
that Christianity needed a centralized authority or it would fracture and
suffer the consequences of the empire. Therefore, he converted to Chris-
tianity and adopted religion as a formal vehicle through which his empire
could be unified and his authority consolidated. Of course, Christians in
Rome were very pleased with Constantine’s interest. They had been
persecuted and treated badly for a long time. Now, Christians began to
enjoy the sunshine of the emperor’s favor. Well educated and skillful
Christian leaders in Rome became intimate advisors to Constantine and
they “adjusted” Christian doctrine on an ad hoc basis to meet the needs of
the Romans and most of all, the ambitious goals of Constantine.
100 Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross?

Unequals in the Lord

About a hundred and fifty years before Constantine became emperor, Chris-
tians in the South and East began to complain that the bishop at Rome should
stop trying to impose his views on other Christians. The bishop at Rome gained
higher authority than other bishops for three reasons: First, the church at Rome
developed into the largest church system. Therefore, the bishop at Rome
directed the largest body of Christians. Second, the city of Rome was the
world’s center for advanced education at that time. Many of the converts in
Rome were well educated and they had wealth and influence. Third, as the
office of bishop rose to administrative importance in Rome’s version of Chris-
tianity, Christians in Rome accepted the necessity of a hierarchy that was
similar to the hierarchy of Roman government. These factors helped propel the
bishop of Rome into the position of “chief spokesman” for Christians before
Constantine came to power. Because the Romans did not bestow power and
authority on religious leaders, the bishop at Rome could not enforce his declara-
tions nor control the universal Christian church. But, the Romans did bestow
divine power and divine authority upon Caesar. The church at Rome obviously
understood the importance that Caesar could play in their cause and they
carefully sought to win the favor of the emperors through flattery. Their motto
was, “Convert the king, and the kingdom will follow.” When Constantine arrived
on the scene in A.D. 312, the extensive presence of Christianity throughout the
empire and its hierarchal structure were political grapes, “ripe for the picking.”
The union between Constantine and the church at Rome looked like “a marriage
made in Heaven.” The church at Rome needed his unimpeachable authority and
Constantine needed the unifying force of religion. This marriage produced one
offspring, known as the Holy Roman Empire.

First Sunday after the First Full Moon after the Spring Equinox
The observance of Easter is first noted in church history about the middle of the
second century A.D. Prior to this time, it is probable that Jewish converts
observed the anniversary of Christ’s death and resurrection at the time of
Passover (Nisan 14/15). As Christianity diversified and more religious baggage
was introduced into Christianity, the observance of Christ’s death and resurrec-
tion became associated with pagan fertility rites (Easter eggs and bunny
rabbits). Because Jewish converts insisted on observing the death and resur-
rection of Jesus at the time of Passover, a serious dispute arose. Christians,
principally those in Rome (Pope Pius I, A.D. 142-154), insisted on a perpetual
Sunday observance for Easter, the day that Jesus rose from the tomb. The
Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross? 101

pope insisted that it was more appropriate to celebrate the day of Christ’s
resurrection instead of the day of His death. But, a Sunday celebration did not
solve the whole problem. Which Sunday should be celebrated for Easter?
Depending upon the phases of the moon, Passover can vary about 29 days.
Should Christians observe the Sunday following the Jewish Passover each year
in order to stay close to the date of Christ’s resurrection or should they fix an
absolute date for Easter?
The bishop at Rome decided that Easter would be celebrated on the first
Sunday that followed the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. His decla-
ration caused a significant schism in the church because Jewish converts in the
East and South wanted to keep the day of the resurrection tied to the date of
Passover. Because the day of Passover wanders through the weekly cycle,
Christ’s resurrection could be celebrated on a Tuesday or Friday, etc. The
pope’s method of determining Easter would eliminate any dependancy upon the
Jewish calendar. At church counsels, Pope Pius I threatened those churches
who stood in opposition with excommunication if they failed to accept his
decision. This show of force splintered the early Christian community for many
years. When Constantine became emperor, the controversy over the time for
Easter was still ongoing because no one had enough authority over all of the
Christian churches to silence opposition. Given this background information,
consider the provocative words of Constantine in June, A.D. 325 when he defended
and defined Christian doctrine. Especially notice his reasoning:
When the question relative to the [timing of the] sacred festival of Eas-
ter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all
should keep the feast on one day; for what could be more beautiful and
more desirable, than to see this festival, through which we receive the
hope of immortality, celebrated by all with one accord, and in the same
manner? It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest
of all festivals, to follow the [dating] custom of the Jews, who had soiled
their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were
blinded. In rejecting their custom [of determining the date for Pass-
over], we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of cel-
ebrating Easter, which we have observed from the time of the Savior’s
Passion to the present day. We ought not, therefore, to have anything
in common with the Jews, for the Savior has shown us another way; our
worship follows a more legitimate and more convenient course; and
consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest
brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the
Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their
102 Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross?

direction we could not keep this feast [at the proper time]. How can
they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Savior, have no
longer been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusions may
urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question; for in
their blindness and repugnance to all improvement, they frequently cel-
ebrate two Passovers in the same year.
We could not imitate those who are openly in error. How, then, could
we follow these Jews, who are most certainly blinded by error? For to
celebrate the Passover twice in one year is totally inadmissible. But
even if this were not so, it would still be your duty not to tarnish your
soul by communications with such wicked people. Besides, consider
well, that in such an important matter, and on a subject of such great
solemnity, there ought not to be any division. Our Savior has left us
only one festal day of our redemption, that is to say, of his holy pas-
sion, and he desired [to establish] only one Catholic [universal] Church.
Think, then how unseemly it is, that on the same day some should be
fasting whilst others are seated at a banquet; and that after Easter,
some should be rejoicing at feasts, whilst others are still observing a
strict fast. For this reason, a Divine Providence wills that this custom
should be rectified and regulated in a uniform way; and everyone, I
hope, will agree upon this point. As, on the one hand, it is our duty not
to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord; and as,
on the other, the custom now followed by the Churches of the West,
of the South, and of the North, and by some of those of the East, is
the most acceptable, it has appeared good to all; and I have been
guaranteed for your consent, that you would accept it with joy, as it is
followed at Rome . . . Make known to your brethren what has been
decreed, keep this most holy day according to the prescribed mode;
we can thus celebrate this holy Easter day at the same time, if it is
granted me, as I desire, to unite myself with you; we can rejoice to-
gether; seeing that the divine power has made use of our instrumen-
tality for destroying the evil designs of the devil . . . . (Eusebius, Vita
Const., Lib iii., 18-20, insertions in brackets are mine.)

This quotation confirms three things. First, the importance of Easter obser-
vance and the dating of Easter are contrived issues. The Bible does not
mandate an Easter observance and Constantine does not appeal to
Scripture for authority. Second, any association with the “repugnant” Jews
for dating Easter was unconscionable to Constantine. He plainly says so.
Last, Constantine decreed that Easter be celebrated on the same Sunday
for all Christians and he claims this is the will of “a Divine Providence.” This
last comment, no doubt, was designed to silence the argument. The
formula for dating Easter advanced by Pope Pius I proved to be successful
for four reasons. First, it eliminated any dependancy on “those repugnant
Jews” for the timing of Easter. Second, it kept Easter Sunday as close as
Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross? 103

possible to the season when Jesus died and rose from the tomb (near the time
of a full moon). Third, the celebration of Easter on Sunday supported the
growing importance of Sunday sacredness among Roman Christians and last,
Constantine liked the idea and simply resolved a theological problem by edict. In
so doing, he affirmed the desires of the bishop of Rome. The bishop was happy
and Constantine was happy. Problem solved.
Hopefully, after reading the past few pages, you can understand how some
Christian doctrines and practice came to be. This background has been
presented to demonstrate three things. First, anti-Semitism was a powerful
influence in matters of theology and practice in early church history. A
significant number of Christian traditions (like the observance of Easter)
are responses born out of anti-Semitism instead of Scripture. Second, the
answer to “What was nailed to the Cross?” is not as plainly stated in the Bible as
the Ten Commandments, but every seeker for truth has enough information in
the Bible to correctly answer the question. Last, the bishop of Rome came to a
place where he presumed to have the authority to dictate the will of God for all
other Christians. In essence, the church at Rome answered the question by
concluding that everything Jewish was nailed to the cross.
There is a twist of irony in this story. The position of the Catholic Church on the
question of what was nailed to the cross directly affects most Protestants.
Whereas Catholics claim that the pope and church leaders have the authority to
determine all matters regarding religious practice, Protestants claim the Bible is
their only authority in matters of religious practice. Because Protestantism came
out of the womb of Catholicism, Protestantism has a lot of Catholic baggage
mixed into its theology. Ironically, those Protestants who defend the decisions of
the church at Rome are left holding the bag. A Bible student cannot use Bible
texts to justify a number of decisions which originated on the basis of anti-
Semitism. We have seen in this chapter that the church at Rome dissociated
Easter from the Passover of the Jews because the Romans had nothing but
contempt for the Jews. Later in this book, it will be shown the same is also true
for the Ten Commandments. The church at Rome declared the seventh day
Sabbath to be null and void because it was the Sabbath of the Jews and in its
place, Sunday was substituted.
104 Chapter 7 – What was Nailed to the Cross?
 Chapter 8
God’s Covenants

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two [na-
tions] one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall
of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its
commandments and regulations. His purpose was to
create in himself one new man out of the two, thus mak-
ing peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them
to God through the cross, by which he put to death their
hostility . . . Consequently, you [Gentiles] are no longer
foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s
people and members of God’s household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

– Ephesians 2:14-16,19
(insertions mine)

The Bible Says . . .

Bible history reveals the Jews were not always faithful to God. Church
history confirms the same is true of Christians. Human beings within any
religious system are capable of adjusting or distorting their understanding
of God’s will for expedient social purposes. But, deviant theology has no
effect on God’s truth. God’s truth is everlasting. Civilizations come and go,
but God and His truth remain forever. So, what was nailed to the cross? In
a sentence, two covenants were nailed to the cross. One covenant was
given to Adam and Eve, the second was given to the biological descen-
dants of Abraham. (Genesis 15:18; Exodus 24:1-8; Deuteronomy 31:16;
Jeremiah 11:10; 31:31-34; Ephesians 2; Colossians 2:13-17). When these
covenants became null and void at the cross, two things changed. Animal
sacrifices were no longer necessary, and all distinction between Jews and
Gentiles came to an end. Paul wrote, “For there is no difference be-
tween Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly
blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord will be saved.’ ” (Romans 10:12,13) After the cross, salvation
comes through faith in Jesus Christ. “. . . Whosoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
To understand the two covenants that were made null and void at the
cross, a person has to understand God’s use of covenants in the Bible.
106 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

Unfortunately, many Christians do not concern themselves with the basics on

this subject and this explains why there is so much confusion. It is not neces-
sary to be confused on this topic, since the Bible provides the answer.

Unilateral and Bilateral Covenants

God has two types of covenants: unilateral and bilateral. A unilateral covenant is
a one-sided covenant which God imposes upon Himself and/or man. A bilateral
covenant is a two-sided covenant or a mutually agreed upon covenant between
God and man. Both types of covenants require a continuous relationship
between God and man. Both types of covenants have rules within them giving
them the effect and the appearance of law. But, a covenant is more than a set of
laws. A covenant requires an ongoing relationship between God and man
whereas a law does not. For example, the law of gravity is not “a covenant”
because there is no intelligent relationship between gravity and man. A “law” is
an authoritative statement and a covenant may have certain laws or authoritative
statements within it. The quality of a covenant relationship is determined by love
and affection. When both parties are happy in a mutually agreed upon cov-
enant, the covenant is wonderful. However, if disaffection should arise between
the parties, the covenant becomes a terrible bondage for both parties! Have you
ever noticed that some marriages begin so happily and end so miserably?
Obviously, the marriage covenant did not change. There was a change in
affection which brought about a change in the relationship. How long should a
mutually binding covenant be honored when there is no love in the heart of one
party?

Contrasting the Covenants

A unilateral covenant is one-sided and nonnegotiable. It is not a mutual agree-
ment between God and man. God’s unilateral covenants are imposed on Himself
or man for as long as He deems necessary. This is why it is called unilateral or
one-sided. On the other hand, a bilateral covenant is a mutually agreed cov-
enant between God and man. A bilateral covenant has a set of rules or laws that
are binding upon both parties. A bilateral covenant is drawn up and put into
effect for mutually beneficial purposes and it remains in effect for as long as the
covenant stipulates. The terms and conditions set forth in a bilateral covenant
can transfer to succeeding generations. A bilateral covenant comes to an end
when (a) either party is unfaithful to the agreement, or (b) when the object for
which the covenant was created is fulfilled. Consider these examples: Marriage
is a bilateral covenant – two people fall in love and they willingly agree to honor
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 107

vows of moral fidelity and faithfulness “until death do us part.” The exchange of
vows constitutes a mutual agreement and the marriage covenant is put into
effect before witnesses. At death, the marriage covenant is terminated because
all that was promised has been fulfilled. Similarly, if a builder and a customer
enter into an agreement to build a new house, the bilateral covenant between
them ends when the house is finished – because the covenant is fulfilled. When
the purpose of the covenant is fulfilled, the covenant expires. To be legal,
bilateral covenants require witnesses. In ancient times, if third-party witnesses
were not available when a bilateral covenant was made, inanimate objects such
as stones were stacked into a large pile as a witness to the agreement. (See
Genesis 31:44-48.)

Covenant Definitions
If a person enters into a contract with a realtor to sell his house, the realtor’s
contract will state certain matters (covenant laws) which the seller and the realtor
are expected to honor (through obedience). The contract goes into effect when
both parties sign (or ratify) the contract. We may use the word “contract” to
describe this relationship, but in a biblical sense the contract between the seller
and the realtor is a bilateral covenant because a relationship exists for the
duration of the contract. Even though the contract has a number of covenant
laws or performance specifications in it, we know that compliance with the terms
of a covenant is something else. The realtor may not meet the expectations of
the seller; he may not promote the property as specified or the realtor may not
represent the seller’s best interest in selling the property. Likewise, the seller
may refuse to meet certain demands set forth in the contract. The point is that
all bilateral covenants are performance-based covenants entered into on the
basis of “good faith” from the moment they begin. A bilateral covenant becomes
necessary when two parties need each other to accomplish something one
party cannot do alone. The hope and expectation of both parties at the
beginning of a bilateral covenant is superior performance out of each other.
Many people get married each year in the United States. The marriage
covenant is a bilateral covenant. At last count, the number of people in the
United States terminating the marriage covenant each year is about half of
the number getting married. So, even though two people may enter into the
marriage covenant, neither party loses its right to abandon the covenant if
the performance of the other party does not meet the specifications of the
covenant. Of course there can be serious consequences for choosing to
violate the terms and conditions of a mutually agreed upon covenant.
108 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

A bilateral (two sided) covenant can be declared null and void if there is evi-
dence affirming that one party violated the laws or stipulations within the cov-
enant. But, unilateral covenants are not declared null and void if they are
violated. For example, when Adam and Eve sinned, they came under the
condemnation of a unilateral covenant which states: “But you must not eat
from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you
will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) Because this covenant required their death,
Jesus had to die. In other words, someone had to die to pay for the penalty for
sin because this unilateral covenant could not be declared null and void. “The
wages of sin is death. . . .” (Romans 6:23) This is a fundamental covenant of
the universe and it cannot be altered. With these definitions in mind, let us
consider five unilateral covenants that were put in place before Moses went up
Mt. Sinai to see God.

1. Unilateral: “Do Not Eat of the Tree . . . .”

At the time of Creation, God commanded Adam not to eat of the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil for if he did, he would be put to death. (Genesis
2:17) According to divine wisdom and sovereign authority, God imposed this
unilateral (one-sided) covenant upon Adam and Eve before sin began and it was
nonnegotiable. A unilateral covenant is not a mutual covenant. When God
imposed this covenant upon Adam, He spoke to Adam as the father of the
human race. Eve had not been created yet. In other words, this unilateral
covenant rested upon Adam and all of Adam’s offspring that were forthcoming.
(In a sense, Eve is considered an offspring of Adam since she was made from
Adam’s rib.) When Eve was deceived and disobeyed this covenant she came
under its condemnation even though God spoke the covenant to Adam. Adam,
we know, willfully violated this covenant and God condemned him to death just
like Eve, but Jesus spared their lives by stepping “in the way” of the executing
angel when He offered to die in their place.

2. Unilateral: “I Will Put Enmity . . . .”

After Adam and Eve sinned, God announced another unilateral (one-sided)
covenant to man. He declared that (a) He would put enmity between the
offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman, and (b) that “He,”
the Messiah, would someday crush the head of the serpent even though
the serpent would strike His heel. (Genesis 3:14,15) God imposed this
covenant upon Himself. (Praise God!) Carefully notice that this covenant is
not dependent upon the cooperation or agreement of man. This covenant
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 109

declares the forthcoming actions of God. This covenant will be fulfilled when the
serpent’s head is finally crushed at the end of the one thousand years. (Revela-
tion 20)

3. Unilateral: “Destroy Those Who Commit Murder . . . .”

Soon after the flood waters subsided, God declared a third unilateral covenant to
Noah. “And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will
demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will
demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. “Whoever sheds the
blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has
God made man.” (Genesis 9:5,6) This covenant was unilaterally imposed upon
Noah and his offspring (there were only eight people living at the time) and it
declares man’s accountability to God. Notice that death by execution in the
event of murder is a unilateral decree. God did not negotiate with Noah. (Com-
pare Genesis 9:5,6 and Numbers 35:33.) God left no wiggle room on this
subject. God has imposed accountability on every beast and on every person
and He declares that murderers must be executed.

4. Unilateral: “Never Again . . . .”

A fourth unilateral covenant was also given to Noah right after the flood. God
declared, “Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood . . . .”
(Genesis 9:9-17) Notice again that this covenant is one-sided. This covenant is
binding upon God, not man, and God has faithfully honored this covenant for
nearly 4,500 years!

5. The Fifth Unilateral Covenant

In Genesis 12 and 13, we find a compelling story of faith. God selected a man
who was eager to follow Him and obey His commandments. Every time I review
Abraham’s life, I am impressed with his deep faith in God.
I am not surprised that God gave a unilateral covenant to Abraham. Neither
am I surprised that Abraham’s humanness got the best of him at times.
Abraham died without seeing the things that God promised him, but
Abraham will live again and he will see everything God promised to him.
God promised a childless Abraham three things:
(a) Through Abraham, all nations of the Earth would be blessed.
(b) Abraham’s descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky.
110 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

(c) God would give Abraham and his heirs a specific section of land. (Genesis
13:14-17; 15:5)
The unilateral covenant God gave Abraham was not conditional nor was it based
on mutual agreement. God honored Abraham’s faith by granting a unilateral
covenant to him! We find the same to be true for a few other people of faith in
the Bible such as kings Hezekiah and David. God promised Hezekiah that he
would live 15 more years and God promised David that his throne will remain
forever. (1 Kings 2:4; 2 Kings 20:6; 2 Samuel 7:16) The unilateral covenant God
gave Abraham was implemented because of sin. As the first man of the human
race, Adam was to be the Great “grandfather” of billions of sinless beings, but
he forfeited that honor when he sinned. After the flood, God started over by
honoring Abraham’s faith, declaring him to be the Great “grandfather” of all who
would live by faith. However, the unilateral covenant which God gave to Abraham
still awaits completion. Notice this text: “If you belong to Christ, then you are
Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise [that still stands].”
(Galatians 3:29, insertion mine.) This verse, written about 30 years after
Jesus died on the cross, confirms three things. First, God reckons all
people who put their faith in Christ to be children of Abraham (heirs).
Second, the time and setting of this verse confirm that the covenant given
to Abraham was in effect after the cross! Third, this text indicates that
anyone can become Abraham’s heir through faith in Jesus. (Ephesians 2;
Romans 2:28,29; 9:6,7) So, the unilateral covenant God gave Abraham still
stands and as far as God is concerned, the offspring of Abraham are those
people who put their faith in Christ!
Actually, faith in God has always been the core issue for salvation from the
beginning of sin, but the biological offspring of Israel stubbornly refused to
comprehend this point. (Jeremiah 3:20; Hebrews 4) Rebellion is the oppo-
site of obedient faith and because of rebellion, God finally destroyed
Jerusalem. But, Abraham will receive everything that God promised to him
because God redefined Israel at the cross! The Israel of God are believers
in Christ. (Romans 9 - 11; Ephesians 2; Galatians 3 and 4; James 1:1)
At the end of the 1,000 years, the unilateral covenant God gave Abraham
will be fulfilled. At that time everyone will see that all nations were blessed
through Abraham for the Savior of the world came through the lineage of
Abraham! Second, at that time the saints will be a numberless multitude,
numbering more than the stars in the sky. Last, when the Holy City, New
Jerusalem, descends from God out of Heaven, it will rest upon the specific
land that Jesus promised to give to Abraham and his offspring! (Zechariah
14; Revelation 21) Abraham well understood the curse of sin. He knew
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 111

God’s covenant included more than merely living in the land of Canaan. This is
why the Bible says Abraham was looking for a city whose builder and maker
was God. (Hebrews 11:10) By faith, Abraham could see beyond the curse of
sin. He was looking for a new Heaven and a new Earth. So, be assured that the
unilateral covenant God gave to Abraham will be fulfilled because God always
keeps His word.

Five Unilateral Covenants

So far, we have examined five unilateral covenants. All of these covenants
predate Mt. Sinai by hundreds of years. They are:
1. “Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”
2. “I will put enmity between the serpent and the woman and will one day
send a Savior.”
3. “I will demand an accounting for each man’s life. Murderers are to be
put to death.”
4. “I will not destroy the world again with a flood.”
5. To Abraham: “Through you, all nations will be blessed.”
“I will make you the father of many nations.”
“I will give you and your descendants this land.”

Bilateral: If You Will Be My People . . . .

Now, we turn our attention to the first bilateral or mutual covenant offered
to man the day sin began. Although Genesis 3 does not say this in the
clearest of terms, God offered a bilateral covenant (a two-sided agreement)
to fallen man before He evicted them from the Garden of Eden. The silver
lining of that dark day is this: God offered man a way back home if he
wanted to return. It may take God 7,000 years to restore man to his garden
home, but returning home is possible! This covenant can be summarized
with words that God has used in various places in the Bible: “If you will be
my people and show faith in me by obeying me, I will be your Salvation.”
(See Exodus 6:7; 19:5,6; Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 36:28; Revelation 21:7.)
Because bilateral covenants are performance based, notice the conditional
element in this bilateral covenant. “If you will be my people . . . .” It is
apparent from Genesis 3 that Adam and Eve accepted the covenant. Jesus
ratified this covenant by conducting the first animal sacrifice to demonstrate
the price of sin. (Genesis 3:21) The killing of a flawless lamb was a shadow
112 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

of the death of man’s Creator. After slaying the lamb, I believe Jesus covered
the nakedness of Adam and Eve with the skin of the lamb. This is a beautiful
object lesson showing how God covers our sins through the righteousness of
Christ. (Romans 3:21,22)
This bilateral covenant, which was offered in perpetuity to Adam and Eve and
their descendants, is one of the two covenants that was nailed to the cross.
When Jesus died, the requirement for animal sacrifices – established in the
Garden of Eden – came to an end. This bilateral covenant between God and
man was fulfilled and a fulfilled covenant is a finished covenant. A new bilateral
covenant was implemented at the cross which is based on the blood of Jesus.

Abel’s Sacrifice
Consider for a moment how the first bilateral covenant worked: Because the
blood of Jesus would have to be spilled to bring about man’s restoration, God
mandated that animal blood be periodically shed until Christ’s blood could be
shed. (Genesis 4:4) Animal sacrifices served as a symbolic reminder of the
price of salvation. We know this to be true because of Abel’s “approved”
offering and subsequent death. (Hebrews 11:4; 12:24;
1 John 3:12) Although Cain could actually see into the Garden of Eden, he
was so rebellious that he would not submit to the terms and conditions that
God required to return there! He refused to offer the prerequisite animal
sacrifice and God refused to honor Cain’s offering of fruit. As Abel obedi-
ently presented the prerequisite sacrifices, God commended him and Cain
went deeper and deeper into a jealous rage. No doubt Cain thought, “How
can God continue to embarrass me, the firstborn of mankind, in front of this
lesser (younger) brother?” Finally, Cain vented his rage toward God and
Abel by killing Abel. For 4,000 years, from Adam to the time of Christ,
everyone wanting salvation had to submit to the requirements of the first
bilateral covenant God gave to Adam and Eve. Noah obediently submitted
to this requirement. (Genesis 8:20,21) Remember that everyone prior to
the flood (with the exception of Enoch) who offered animal sacrifices went
to their death without receiving what was promised. (Hebrews 11:39,40)
Understand that salvation is granted to no one on the basis of obedience.
Obedience can be the result of faith or obedience can be the result of
conformity. In other words, a person can offer animal sacrifices because it
is “the religious thing to do,” but this is not faith. Faith is most clearly
revealed when obedience comes with a penalty. In Abel’s case, it cost him
his life.
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 113

Bilateral Covenant Expanded at Sinai

The bilateral covenant which God offered to Adam and Eve was both perpetual
(for 4,000 years) and temporary (until Jesus died). The slaying of animals was
an act of faith for 40 centuries. The slaying of sacrificial animals, according to
the requirements that God established, was an expression of faith. Faith renders
obedience; presumption excuses transgression. At Mt. Sinai, God offered the
descendants of Abraham a bilateral covenant. This covenant was an enhanced
and expanded version of the bilateral covenant that He had offered to Adam and
Eve. The covenant which God offered to the offspring of Abraham at Mt. Sinai
was not entirely new nor was it entirely unique. Instead, it was a repetition and
enlargement of certain issues that had been extended to the human race
through Adam and Eve. The bilateral covenant offered to Israel included certain
new features for Israel (such as the privilege of being a kingdom of priests to
God), but it remained a conditional two-sided covenant, “If you will be my
people, then I will be your God.” (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28-30)

Dispensationalism
A misunderstanding of God’s covenants has led to the rise of a concept
called dispensationalism. Proponents of dispensationalism teach that
salvation is offered to man in different ways at different times.
Dispensationalists have a point, but their balance and message is wrong. It
is true that God has required people at different times to do different things.
For example, prior to the death of Jesus, all who chose to accept the terms
of the original bilateral covenant were required to offer animal sacrifices –
from Adam down to the time of Christ. But, the offering of animal sacrifices
did not provide salvation (Hebrews 10:4) nor do sacrificial animals change
the means to salvation. (Ephesians 2:8,9) Faith in God has always been
the prerequisite for salvation. Review the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 and
notice: “By faith Abel . . . ”; “By faith Enoch . . . ”; “By faith Noah . . . ”; “By
faith Abraham . . . ”; “By faith Moses . . . .” Dispensationalism teaches that
God starts over from time to time by declaring a covenant obsolete and
creating a new one. Again, dispensationalists have a point but their empha-
sis is wrong. As we shall see, it is true that God can declare a covenant
void and create a new covenant. The problem with dispensationalism;
however, is that it does not properly define the covenants that God created
and discarded!
114 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

Basic Problem
The following comments may appear to be entirely out of context in this study on
God’s covenants. However, I would like to address the fundamental reason for
dispensationalism at this point. Protestants are on the horns of a dilemma. They
have a thorny problem with the fourth commandment that will not go away. The
fourth commandment states: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a
Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither
you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor
your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he
rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day
and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11) If Protestants honored this commandment
as they do the other nine, the behavior of millions of Christians would be vastly
different each weekend. Saturday is God’s holy day, the seventh day of the
week. Sunday is the first day of the week. The Lord’s Day (Mark 2:27,28) was
changed from Saturday to Sunday by the church of Rome. This change came
about because of two factors. First, Saturday was the Sabbath of the Jews and
early Christians in Rome did not want any association with those “repugnant”
Jews, especially after Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. (The theological
impact of anti-Semitism upon early Christianity was mentioned in the previous
chapter.) Second, about 100 years before Christianity arrived in Rome, the
ancient pagan religion of Mithraism arrived in Rome and it quickly gained a very
large following. Later on, the emperor Commodus (A.D. 180-192) even made
Mithraism an imperial cult. Mithraism centers around the worship of the sun-god,
Mithra, whose day of worship is Sunday, the day of the Sun. Priests of
Mithraism were called “father” and they promoted a high moral code of conduct.
In fact, the similarities between Mithraism and Christianity were so striking that
Tertullian (A.D. 160-225) believed the devil had created a deliberate parallel of
Christianity even before Christianity began. Converts from Mithraism to Chris-
tianity brought “the observance of Sunday” with them into Rome’s version of
Christianity. Remember, early Christians in Rome wanted to distance themselves
from the hated Jews, and since Sunday worship was commonly practiced in
Rome, why not worship Jesus on Sunday? The first Sunday keepers in Rome
did not use a command from Scripture to support this transition, but they did
attempt to justify their actions. About A.D. 150 Justin Martyr wrote:
But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly be-
cause it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the
darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 115

the same day rose from the dead. (Justin Martyr, First Apology of Jus-
tin Martyr, Ante-Nicean Christian Library, (Boston 1887) p. 187 Chap.
67)

Christian groups differed in theology and practice because of distance, the lack
of communication, regional religious baggage and anti-Semitism. Sunday
observance was a unique feature that began in Rome and spread to Alexandria.
About the turn of the fourth century, Socrates, a church leader of that time
observed:
Such is the difference in the churches on the subject of fasts. Nor is
there less variation in regard to religious assemblies. For although
almost all churches through the world celebrate the sacred mysteries
on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Rome and Alex-
andria have ceased to do this. (Socrates, Ecclesiastical History, Book
V, Chap. 22, Ante-Nicean Christian Library, Vol II, (Boston, 1887)
p. 132)

These facts are presented because the Catholic Church does not histori-
cally defend the change from Sabbath to Sunday on the basis of Scripture,
but on the basis of church authority. After Constantine came to power, the
sacredness of Sunday for Christians was affirmed by law in A.D. 321.
Eusebius, the trusted confidant and advisor to Constantine, defended this
action saying:
And all things whatsoever that it was the duty to do on the Sabbath,
these we have transferred to the Lord’s Day, as more appropriately
belong to it, because it has a precedence and is first in rank, and
more honorable than the Jewish Sabbath. All things whatsoever that
it was duty to do on the Sabbath, these we have transferred to the
Lord’s Day. (Eusebius’s Commentary on the Psalms 92, quoted in
Coxe’s Sabbath literature, Vol I, p. 361, insertions mine.)

These references are presented because Protestants separated from

Catholicism because of conflict between Bible truth and church authority.
Protestants claim there is no authority on matters of faith and duty other
than that what is found in Scripture. Catholics claim that authority is found
in either the inerrant declarations of the pope or decisions reached by
scholars and church leaders. So, the only way Protestants have found to
void the fourth commandment which mandates the observance of Saturday
as a holy day is to nail all Ten Commandments to the cross. This is the
primary objective and function of dispensationalism. The scheme is elabo-
rate and complex but the net effect is that millions of Christians have been
misled into believing that the Sabbath commandment was nailed to the
cross. However, if you ask most Christians about murder, adultery, stealing,
116 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

etc., they will return to the Ten Commandments for authority to show that these
behaviors are wrong. This is a great mystery. Somehow, the Ten Command-
ments were made void at the cross only to have nine commandments immedi-
ately reinstated! This doctrine is one of the harmful contributions of
dispensationalism to Protestantism.

The Ten Commandments Are Called a Covenant

There is sufficient evidence in the Bible to conclude that the Ten Command-
ments are a unilateral covenant which God has imposed on all mankind for the
duration of sin. Let us examine the evidence.
The Ten Commandments are called “the covenant” in the Bible. “Moses was
there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or
drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—
the Ten Commandments.” (Exodus 34:28) The Israelites kept the two tablets of
stone in a golden box that was called, “the ark of the covenant.” The Ten
Commandments are not ten suggestions and contrary to what dispensationalists
teach, they are not included in God’s bilateral covenant with Israel. They are ten
laws that were unilaterally imposed upon all of mankind by divine authority when
sin began! We know that obeying the Ten Commandments will not bring salva-
tion. They are not a shadow of good “things to come.” They are not ceremonial.
They say nothing about sacrifices, rituals or redemption. Instead, they are ten
profound commandments from man’s Creator telling people on Earth how to live.
The first four commandments define man’s relationship to God. The last six
define man’s relationship to man. Even though God deposited them with Israel
as trustees of His grace, He spoke them and wrote them down for the benefit of
all mankind. There is nothing Jewish in the Ten Commandments.
Consider this thought question: When you study the New Testament, do you get
the impression that obeying the Ten Commandments is harmful? If so, which
commandment is harmful to Christian growth and development? Do you find any
behavior forbidden in the Ten Commandments that is permitted or sanctioned in
the New Testament? If you answer yes to either question, please send the Bible
text to me. In my study of the Bible, I have found that there is only one new
commandment in the whole New Testament. Jesus said, “A new command I
give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another.” (John 13:34,35) Have you wondered why Jesus calls this a new
command? What makes this commandment new and different from anything
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 117

said before in the Old Testament? The answer is that divine love was demon-
strated through the humanity of Jesus. Jesus gave man a new example of what
it means to love one another. He gave His life for us, and we should love one
another enough to do the same. Because we have a living example to follow, a
model of perfection, we have one new command, we are to “love one another as
Jesus has loved us.”

The Ten Commandments Are a Unilateral Covenant

I am convinced the Ten Commandments are a unilateral covenant that God
revealed to man at the fall. Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve were in perfect
harmony with God’s will. After all, they were created in His image. A written
copy of the Ten Commandments was not necessary before sin occurred
because Adam and Eve had the laws of God written in their hearts. Steal-
ing or lying were foreign to Adam and Eve before the fall. We know from
our study of the sealing in Chapter 6 that God will remove the carnal nature
and write His laws in our hearts and minds as He originally wrote them in
the hearts of Adam and Eve. (Hebrews 8:10-13) Although the Bible does
not specifically mention the Ten Commandments prior to Mt. Sinai, this
silence does not eliminate the presence or knowledge of God’s law as
dispensationalists claim. Moses says very little in Genesis about the extent
of man’s knowledge as it pertains to God’s laws. But, Moses does explain
how sin began and that God’s patience with sin and rebellion reached its
limit during the time of Noah. (Genesis 6:5,6) The silence of Moses does
not prove the absence of the Ten Commandments. Moses says nothing
about adultery prior to the flood. Does this mean adultery did not occur
prior to the flood? No! It is inconceivable that God would wait 2,500 years
after sin began to give humanity a basic understanding of right and wrong
at Mt. Sinai. Did it suddenly become wrong to worship idols, profane God’s
name, violate His holy Sabbath, kill, steal, lie and commit adultery at Mt.
Sinai? No! If so, were these sins unique to the Jews only? No! From the
beginning, murder was a sinful act and Lucifer as well as Cain knew it.
(John 8:44; 1 John 3:12) It was also a sin to steal, to commit adultery, to
profane God’s name, and to violate God’s holy Sabbath day long before
events at Mt. Sinai took place.
A knowledge of God’s law existed prior to Mt. Sinai. Noah faithfully re-
minded the antediluvians about God’s laws. Peter says that Noah was a
preacher of righteousness for 120 years! (2 Peter 2:5) If there were no
commandments defining sin and rebellion prior to the flood, righteousness
and wickedness could not be defined. Paul argues, where there is no law,
there is no sin. (Romans 4:15) If there is no law establishing a speed limit,
118 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

there can be no speeding! The wholesale destruction of the world by a flood

convinces me that millions of men and women had a generous opportunity to
know God’s will (His laws), but they rejected it. From Genesis to Revelation,
rebellion is the only justification that God ever uses to destroy anyone! If
humanity was almost obliterated from the face of Earth because every thought
was “only evil continually,” then humanity must have knowingly chosen a course
of rebellion. (Genesis 6:5 [KJV]; 2 Peter 3) This is why Jesus compares the end
of the age with days of Noah. When men and women refuse to walk according
to the laws of the Almighty, He has no other option but total destruction. (Mat-
thew 24:37)
Consider the words of Paul: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world
through one [disobedient] man, and death through sin, and in this way
death came to all men, because all [have] sinned – for before the
[Mosaic] law was given [at Mt. Sinai], sin was in the world. But sin is
not taken into account when there is no [knowledge of] law. Neverthe-
less, death reigned [because it is mandatory that sinners die] from the
time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin
by breaking a [known] command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of
the one to come.” (Romans 5:12-14, insertions mine.) Some people offer
these three verses to prove that there was “no law” before God gave the
Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. If there was no law, how could God
condemn Adam or the antediluvians? What were they guilty of? They could
not have been declared lawless if there was no law. We must be careful to
understand what Paul is actually writing in Romans 5. Paul is making the
point in Romans 5:12-14 that we cannot escape the consequences of sin.
Even if a man does not know that he is a sinner, even if he knows nothing
about God’s law, death still reigns over him because the law of God de-
mands death for all sinners. Paul is clear that before the law was given at
Mt. Sinai, sin was in the world. What is sin? Sin is the transgression of
God’s law. (Romans 4:15; 1 John 3:4) Paul is making the point that God’s
law was present from Adam to Moses, but man’s knowledge of God’s law
was limited in scope compared to what was known about sin after Mt.
Sinai. Because man’s knowledge was limited to the Ten Commandments,
God overlooked certain sins because man had no knowledge. God did not
destroy the antediluvians for their sinful ignorance. Instead, he sent “a
preacher of righteousness” who spoke plainly about the authority and
presence of God’s law and its penalty. God destroyed the antediluvians
because they willfully rejected His laws. God’s Ten Commandments existed
prior to the flood. In fact, the holiness of God’s Sabbath is declared in
Genesis 2!
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 119

God reduced “oral law” to written form at the time of Mt. Sinai. The Ten Com-
mandments existed in oral form from the beginning. Adam and Eve instinctively
knew the contents of the Ten Commandments for these laws were written in their
minds and hearts! They knew it was wrong to lie or steal because their lives
were in complete harmony with God’s character. They knew of the holiness of
the Sabbath because it was their first full day of life with their Creator. (Genesis
2:1-3) But the day sin entered their souls, rebellion clouded their hearts and
darkened their minds. The offspring of Adam and Eve became even more
ignorant of God. This is why eventually, God wrote the law on tablets of stone
and God required the reading of law every sabbatical year to make sure that
each generation heard “the Word” with their own ears. (Deuteronomy 31:10,11)

Unilateral in Content
It makes no sense to include the Ten Commandments with the Mosaic covenant
because the stipulations given in the Ten Commandments are universal and
eternal. No born again Christian will say that worshiping other gods, committing
adultery, murder, stealing and using God’s name in vain was permissible before
Mt. Sinai or after the death of Jesus. Therefore, scholars who abolish the Ten
Commandments with the Mosaic covenant have to restore nine of the Ten
Commandments by proposing these commandments are mentioned in the New
Testament and stating that the Sabbath commandment is not. This is foolish
reasoning. The authority of the Sabbath commandment is affirmed throughout
the New Testament. The underlying purpose for this dispensational maneuver is
to eliminate the obligation of the fourth commandment. Christians do not want to
observe the seventh day Sabbath of the Jews – actually though, it is the seventh
day Sabbath of man’s Creator, Jesus Christ.
Thus far, we have examined six unilateral covenants and one bilateral covenant:

Unilateral
1. “Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”
2. The Ten Commandments.
3. “I will put enmity between the serpent and the woman and will one day send
a Savior.”
120 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

4. “I will demand an accounting for each man’s life. Murderers are to be put to
death.”
5. “I will not destroy the world again with a flood.”
6. To Abraham: “Through you, all nations will be blessed.”
“I will make you the father of many nations.”
“I will give you and your descendants this land.”

Bilateral
1. To Adam and Eve: “If you will be my people, I will be your God.”
We now turn our attention to the bilateral covenant offered to Israel. To under-
stand the origin of this covenant, we must start with a visit between Jesus and
Abraham.

A Bilateral Covenant for Abraham’s Offspring

A few years after declaring His unilateral covenant to Abraham, Jesus visited
again with Abraham and told him that He was going to offer a special covenant
to his descendants after 400 years passed. This covenant would be a bilateral
covenant, that is, based upon mutual agreement. (Genesis 15) There is a sharp
distinction between the unilateral covenant given to Abraham and the bilateral
covenant that would be offered to Abraham’s descendants 400 years later. God
intended to make Abraham’s biological descendants a kingdom of priests, a holy
nation. (Exodus 19:6) In other words, because of God’s great love for Abraham,
God wanted to exalt Abraham’s offspring as “His finest sons” on Earth. The sons
of Abraham would stand between God and the nations of Earth as priests,
trustees of His grace. God intended the “Abrahamites” would be men of faith like
their father. He wanted them to love Him with all their hearts and their neighbors
as themselves – just as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did! God wanted the
Israelites to be a shining light to the Gentile nations in darkness. He wanted
Israel to love the people of other nations and hate their sin. God wanted Israel to
evangelize the world with a testimony about His love and gather a great harvest
of souls for His coming kingdom. (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47) Israel was to be a
nation of “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” a literal “Salvation Army,” a “World-wide
Church of God.”
At the time of this second visit, Abraham still had no offspring. So, Jesus did
something that was customary in ancient times. He made an oath to Abraham
assuring him that He would offer a bilateral covenant to his descendants. This
oath was ratified by Jesus when He walked through animal parts that Abraham
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 121

laid upon the ground. (See Genesis 15, also Jeremiah 34:19,20 on this prac-
tice.) This event served as a witness to the oath that Jesus made to Abraham. In
other words, Abraham killed the necessary animals for this oath and Jesus
passed through the animal parts signifying that He would offer His covenant to
descendants of Abraham who were not yet present on Earth. Although Abraham
knew he would not live long enough to see God’s plans fulfilled, Abraham was
satisfied that God would keep vigil and honor His oath. (Exodus 12:42) By
requiring blood at the declaration of this oath, Jesus signified to Abraham that
He, the Great I AM, an eternal member of the Godhead of the Universe, would
keep His covenant with Abraham’s offspring upon pain of death.

Ratification of the Abrahamic Covenant

Although Jesus gave Abraham an oath that He would offer a bilateral covenant
with his offspring, the covenant with the heirs was not ratified (mutually agreed
upon) for more than 400 years. (Exodus 12:41; Hebrews 9:18-21) In fact, the
bilateral covenant was not ratified until after God gave all of the details to Moses
on Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 24:1-8) Remember, a bilateral covenant is two-sided;
based on performance. Unlike a unilateral covenant, both parties must agree
and both parties must be faithful to the terms and conditions set forth in a
bilateral covenant. So, when the time came to fulfill the oath that God had
promised to Abraham, God directed Moses to come up the mountain and meet
with Him. Moses was required to write down all the terms and conditions of a
bilateral covenant. This covenant would be both perpetual (until Messiah ap-
peared on Earth) and temporary (until Messiah should die for mankind). This
covenant bound God and the seed of Abraham together for more than fourteen
hundred years. When Moses had completed this task, he went down the moun-
tain and read the words of this covenant to all of the people. Notice how the
story unfolds in the Bible:
“Then he [Jesus] said to Moses, ‘Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron,
Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to
worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the
others must not come near. And the people may not come up with
him.’ When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and
laws, they responded with one voice, ‘Everything the Lord has said
we will do.’ Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He
got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the
mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve
tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered
122 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the

Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half
he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read
it to the people. They responded, ‘We will do everything the Lord has said;
we will obey.’ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and
said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in
accordance with all these words.’ ” (Exodus 24:1-8, insertion and italics
mine.)
The bilateral covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham was
ratified with the sprinkling of blood. After hearing the terms and conditions
of the covenant, the people voiced their agreement twice. Since third party
witnesses were not present, Moses stacked twelve huge stones (one for
each tribe) in a pile as a witness to this event, signifying Israel’s corporate
agreement. The shedding of blood put this covenant into effect. (See Hebrews
9:18-22.) The significance of the blood is very important. A blood covenant in
ancient times was a life or death issue for both parties. For God, the only way
out of this covenant was through His own death. For Israel, the only way out was
their destruction. (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) If one party proved to be
unfaithful, then the faithful partner had the right to demand the blood (death) of
the unfaithful party.

Sunset Clause
The bilateral covenant (or Mosaic covenant) between God and Abraham’s
offspring was temporary from its inception. It had a sunset clause in it.
(Matthew 26:28; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 9:15-10:4) Jesus offered a
covenant to the descendants of Abraham because He needed a special job
done. Basically, He needed a group of informed people to reveal what He
was all about to an uninformed world. (Acts 13:47; 26:22,23) As with any
covenant, the special covenant that Jesus offered Israel contained a
number of laws. The Mosaic covenant included laws regarding food (clean
and unclean), tithing, animal sacrifices, purification ceremonies, the obser-
vance of annual feast days, new moon celebrations, the observance of
sabbatical years, circumcision, the priesthood of Aaron, and many civil
laws. All of these laws served as illustrations of Jesus as King and High Priest,
His coming kingdom and shadows of His death and ministry. When “The
Light of the World” came to Earth, the shadows expired. (Colossians 2;
Galatians 3) After the covenant between Israel and God was nailed to the
cross, all believers in Christ stand before God as one flesh.
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 123

Israel’s Prophetic Destiny

Because of dispensational theology, many Christians disagree with the previous
paragraph. Christians widely believe that God’s covenant promises given to
ancient Israel must last forever. This doctrine is affirmed by many popular end-
time scenarios promoted by Christians. But, all of the terms and conditions put
forth in the Mosaic covenant were conditional. A bilateral covenant is based on
good faith and the performance of the parties involved. It is a distortion of
Scripture to teach that God is still obligated to fulfill promises He gave to ancient
Israel during a future 70th week. God did offer many promises to Israel, but they
were based on terms and conditions. If Israel had “kept faith” with the Lord,
loved Him wholeheartedly, and walked according to His commandments and
statutes, then God would have fulfilled all of His promises. (Deuteronomy 6:5;
Ezekiel 20) “If” is the key word on this topic because God is not obligated to
keep a mutual covenant with any party that persists in rebellion. (See Leviticus
26; Deuteronomy 28, 31:16-32:52; Romans 9-11; Galatians 4.) Bible history
underscores God’s behavior regarding this fact repeatedly. For example, “the
Israel” who experienced a jubilant Exodus from Egypt entered into a covenant
with God at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:4-8), but they all perished in the wilderness
because of rebellion (except Joshua and Caleb). (Psalms 95:10,11; Hebrews
3:7-4:1) God’s plan for leading Israel into the Promised Land was ultimately
fulfilled, but not for those people to whom the opportunity was first given!
(Hebrews 3:16-19) Furthermore, honest Bible students cannot overlook God’s
subsequent actions during 1,500 years of Jewish history. Israel rebelled and
God sent the king of Assyria to destroy the northern ten tribes of Israel in 722
B.C. Then, in 586 B.C., God sent King Nebuchadnezzar to finally destroy
Jerusalem and the two remaining southern tribes.

A Fulfilled Covenant is a Finished Covenant

At the cross, the covenant between God and Israel was declared void. Jesus
declared the bilateral covenant between God and Israel, with all its command-
ments and regulations, null and void. Consequently, God abandoned the nation
of Israel because of their persistent unfaithfulness. This is why Jesus pro-
nounced this final benediction upon Israel, “Behold, your house is left unto
you desolate.” (Matthew 23:38, [KJV]) What did He mean with these solemn
words? The Jews regarded the temple at Jerusalem as God’s dwelling place.
They believed they were (a) the apple of God’s eye, and (b) safe from the threat
of any nation. (Deuteronomy 28; Jeremiah 7:4; Luke 21:5,6) Israel did have an
124 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

opportunity to be the apple of God’s eye, but they forfeited this great opportunity
by rebellion. They could have been safe from the threat of other nations, but
they chose to rebel. “The Great I Am” came and lived in their midst, but they
rejected Him. So, what did Jesus mean when He said, “Your house if left unto
you desolate?” He meant that “never again” would His Presence enter that
temple. Their house of worship (the centerpiece of their religion) was declared
an empty hollow building. A desolate house is an empty house and the Shekinah
would never return to it. John says, “He came unto His own and His own
received Him not.” (John 1:11, [KJV]) In A.D. 70, Jesus sent the Roman
army to destroy Jerusalem. He fulfilled the terms and conditions set forth in
the blood covenant through His death on the cross. Not only did He shed
His blood to fulfill the covenant, He demanded their blood for unfaithful-
ness. (See Deuteronomy 28:44,45 and Daniel 9:26,27) When the Roman
army burned Jerusalem, no two stones of the temple were left standing
together. (Matthew 24:2) The Romans pulled the temple stone apart
looking for the gold that melted in the great calamity. Jesus decreed an end
to the temple that bore His Name and contrary to what many Christians
believe, it will not be built again. To ensure His decree remains perpetual,
Jesus moved the Moslems to build the Dome of the Rock on that site.

Two Covenants Fulfilled

The blood Jesus shed at Calvary fulfilled the unilateral covenant given to
Adam and Eve, as well as the bilateral covenant between God and the
nation of Israel. A fulfilled covenant is a finished covenant. The animal
offerings required under the blood covenant pointed forward to Jesus’
death. When He died, the covenant ended because Jesus’ blood had been
shed – the shadow was replaced with reality! (Colossians 2:17) God
designed the blood covenant (the Mosaic covenant) from the beginning to
be a “tutor” or schoolmaster to explain the wonderful dimensions of the
Plan of Salvation. If Israel had properly understood the object lessons of
salvation, it would have had an endless supply of wonderful themes to
share with the whole world. (Galatians 3:24-26, [KJV]) Incidently, the
Mosaic covenant was not designed as something that belonged exclusively
to Israel. While they were the trustees of salvation and the first in line to
benefit from it, God promised to bless all nations through Abraham by
allowing Gentiles to partake of the wonderful provisions of this covenant.
(See Isaiah 2 and 56.) This is why God called Abraham the father of many
nations! (Genesis 17:4)
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 125

The New Covenant in the New Testament

Because the bilateral covenant with Adam and Eve and the Mosaic covenant
were coming to an end, Jesus initiated a new covenant just before His death.
Luke writes, “In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’ ”
(Luke 22:20) When Jesus said to His disciples, “This cup is the new cov-
enant in my blood, which is poured out for you,” He initiated a new bilateral
covenant, a better covenant than what He had offered to Israel at Mt. Sinai. (2
Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 7:22; 9:15) A new blood covenant became necessary
because the Kingdom of God could not be established as originally planned.
Israel had rejected God for the last time. Consequently, God opened the door of
opportunity to the Gentiles. (Luke 21:24) “Whosoever will,” let him come and be
my people. (John 3:16; Revelation 22:17) Jesus offered a new bilateral cov-
enant to everyone who would believe He was the Messiah. There are two
essential differences between the new covenant based on Christ’s blood and
the old covenants based on animal blood: First, the old covenant required the
use of teaching aides (such as sacrificial lambs, ceremonies, etc.), whereas the
new covenant is based on a study of the life of Christ. Second, God gave the old
covenant to the biological offspring of Abraham whereas He extends the new
covenant to anyone in any nation or race who puts his or her faith in Jesus! In
both covenants, the means to salvation is the same, namely, obedient submis-
sion to the will of God – an experience known as “living by faith.”
God entered into the old covenant with a nation of people who were carnal and
rebellious from the start. God enters into the new covenant with people of all
nations who are willing to be “born again.” Israel was initially awed into submis-
sion at the display of His glory and power at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19; Galatians
4:24,25), but their hearts remained unconverted. Bible history faithfully records
their failures beginning with the golden calf at the base of the Mt. Sinai! In every
case, Israel’s hard heart led to failure. (Ezekiel 2,3) The Israel that entered into
the Mosaic covenant at Mt. Sinai was the Israel that died in the desert because
of rebellion. (Hebrews 3:16)

No Anti-Semitism
I am not bashing the Jews for their failures. Instead, I am reporting the contents
of Scripture. I am very confident that if God had chosen any other race of
people, the same results would have occurred. The story would be the same,
only the names would change. The story of Israel is the story of human nature.
126 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

Israel’s rebellion at the corporate level is no different from all nations who have
come and gone. Israel’s rebellion at the individual level is no different from our
personal rebellion against God. The problem with Israel and the problem with all
nations is the power of sin!

New Covenant
Unlike the old covenant, the new covenant exists only between God and a self-
selecting group of people who receive Jesus as their Savior. No longer does
God favor one nation as trustees of the Plan of Salvation. Both the old and new
covenants are similar in one way; both are based on faith. This faith means a
complete surrender to God’s will. However, the second covenant is based on the
life and death of Jesus – a much better blood covenant than that of animals.
(Hebrews 8:6; Romans 5:10) His offer of salvation is extended to everyone, first
to the Jew and then to the Gentile, on the basis of spiritual rebirth and regenera-
tion. (John 3:3-16; Romans 8:3,4; 11:19-23) Paul says the new covenant is
available to the Jew first, then the Gentile. He makes this distinction because He
thought the Jews would be quick to grasp the significance of this better cov-
enant. The Jews were much better acquainted with God’s ways. Paul knew the
Gentiles would have to start from the beginning to understand the big picture.
The bottom line for Jew and Gentile though, is the same. Instead of entering into
a blood covenant with a nation of carnal-hearted people who would not under-
stand God nor live according to His ways, God now offers a new covenant to a
self-selecting group of people. These are the people who will receive Jesus as
Lord and Master and choose to live by faith in Him. Anyone who wants salvation
on God’s terms can have it! This is good news!

What Obligations Carry Over?

People often ask me if Christians are under any obligations stemming from the
Mosaic covenant – including tithing, abstaining from unclean foods, the obser-
vance of feast days, etc. My response in general, and about feast days in
particular, is this: How can the specifications regarding the feast days be
satisfied without doing the things required on the feast days? In other words,
how can a person observe Passover and not kill the paschal lamb? I have heard
the response that observing the date of Passover is not to be confused with the
Mosaic ceremonies required at Passover. I disagree. This is similar to the idea
of observing Sunday by doing the things required on Sabbath. In the Mosaic
covenant, the sacrificial ceremony and the appointed time to observe the feast
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 127

were inseparable parts of the package. The Passover, the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of
Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles were services conducted under the
auspices of the Aaronic priesthood. Ever since the cross, we do not live under
the laws of that priesthood. Those laws have been declared null and void. Our
High Priest comes from the tribe of Judah, not Levi! Jesus does not preside
over any of the Aaronic feasts. This would be illegal. Paul makes it very clear in
Hebrews 7 that with a change in the priesthood, also comes a change of law (a
different bilateral covenant). Paul says that since the descendants of Aaron can
no longer be high priests, Levitical laws (including requirements such as tithing)
are no longer valid. (See Hebrews 7.) Therefore, we are no longer obligated to
keep any of the requirements of the Mosaic covenant.
In Paul’s day, many of the Jewish believers could not let go of their Mosaic
baggage. They diligently tried to enforce feast observances on new Gentile
converts in Galatia. Paul wrote a strong denunciation to the Gentiles who
were following in the footsteps of Jewish converts saying, “Formerly,
when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature
are not gods. But now that you know God – or rather are known by
God – how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable
principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You
are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear
for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.” (Galatians 4:8-11)
To underscore the transition from the Mosaic covenant to the “new covenant with
Jesus,” Paul used the illustration of tithing (verses 5-10). He wrote, “For when
there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the
law. He [Jesus] of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,
and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that
our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said
nothing about priests.” (Hebrews 7:12-14, emphasis mine.) The significance
of Paul’s statement is profound. How could the Levites demand tithe when the
law that gave them authority to collect the tithe has been abolished? How could
the old order under the animal blood covenant be intact if Jesus, from the tribe
of Judah, is now our High Priest?
Before you jump to the conclusion that God wants us to keep all of our money
for personal use, we need to consider the next point. Even though the Levitical
code and its commands have been made null and void, there is divine wisdom
and great beauty in the Mosaic covenant which God presented through Moses
128 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

at Mt. Sinai. God did not offer Israel a shabby covenant. It is one of the most
interesting and valuable illustrations of the ministry of Jesus that has ever
existed. If Israel had combined the Mosaic covenant with faith in God, they
would have received more blessings than they could count! (Malachi 3:10,11)
The world would have been astounded by the nation of Israel, for it would have
been the head, and not the tail! Instead of anti-Semitism, there would have been
pro-Semitism! (Deuteronomy 28:13) Remember, it is God’s desire that we
mature in the faith experience. God wants carnal, self-centered people (the
human race) to have a change of heart. He wants us to step out in faith and
obey Him. In this light, the Ten Commandments represent a starting place for
spiritual growth. The content of the Ten Commandments is simple and direct.
The fourth commandment is a testing commandment. To the carnal mind, the
Sabbath is a big waste of time. To the spiritual mind, it represents a wonderful
rest. It all depends on our perspective of God and our attitude toward His laws.
The Sabbath commandment challenges our faith by telling us to “let go and let
God” every seventh day. It challenges us to stand still and see God’s salvation.
“The Sabbath was made for man,” but the devil has led the people of the world to
consider it with contempt by making it appear to be Jewish or legalistic. It is
interesting that the fourth commandment is the only commandment of the ten
that requires us to do nothing! To honor God, we just have to rest at the right
time each week.
God’s standard of righteousness is not less today than it was yesterday. God
has not changed nor have the Ten Commandments been made void. What has
changed is God’s approach. Israel’s example has proven that righteous laws do
not make people righteous. Rather, people become righteous when they in-
wardly submit to God’s Word and obediently follow the leading of the Spirit.
(John 14:16,17; Hebrews 12:14) Under the current “new covenant” that Jesus
established, God has not imposed the rules and obligations of the Levitical
covenant. However, the requirements for faith and the struggle to do God’s will
remains the same. This suggests to me that God certainly expects a high level
of character development from all who claim to be Christian!
Some people claim that tithing is still obligatory even though they agree the
Levitical covenant was nailed to the cross. My response is this: Where
does the obligation of tithing originate? Is it through law? No! Abraham
tithed long before there was a Levitical requirement to do so. Furthermore,
there is no record that God commanded Abraham or anyone else prior to
the Mosaic covenant to tithe. Abraham tithed because he came to the
place in his personal experience with God where he realized that every-
thing he owned was a gift from God. So, through faith, Abraham voluntarily
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 129

gave 10 percent of his income to God in recognition of God’s ownership of

everything that he had. He acted, not according to law, but according to the
Spirit. In fact, when a person obeys the Spirit, he or she will conform to God’s
law because that law is written in the heart.

Holy Spirit Conviction

As the Holy Spirit convicts us of God’s will and truth, we must obediently follow
just like Abraham. If the Holy Spirit convicts you to tithe, then follow the Spirit’s
leading. You will be blessed – not because of the money you gave – but for the
faith you exercised. God’s eternal wisdom and limitless love is wonderfully
illustrated in the Mosaic covenant that He made with ancient Israel. Many
Christians want nothing to do with the Old Testament for fear they will lose their
freedom. This is not true. God gave Israel many principles that are incredibly
brilliant and few people appreciate the wisdom which God has revealed. Surely,
by reviewing the laws God gave to Moses, we can learn much about the prin-
ciples of life, as well as the ways and blessings of God. The key is to allow the
Spirit to lead you into a deeper understanding and application of God’s prin-
ciples in your life and you will be richly blessed. God’s wisdom is always
beneficial to His creatures.
One note of caution regarding the freedom that God grants under the new
“believers covenant.” God gives us the freedom to follow a Spirit-led
conscience. He gave no one the authority to impose their convictions upon
you or condemn you because you disagree with them. (Romans 14) The
exception to this is promiscuous or immoral behavior and its destructive
effect within the corporate body of Christ. In such situations, the body of Christ
is required to pass judgment because of the harmful impact that sexual miscon-
duct produces. (See 1 Corinthians 5 and 6.) Remember, in matters of diet,
dress, culture and lifestyle, some people may not agree or have the same level
of conviction you may have in these areas. (Romans 14:1-10) The Holy Spirit
knows our heart and tests each of us in different ways and at different times.
Each person matures spiritually at their own rate and we are on different rungs
of the spiritual ladder. Some people are babes in the Lord, while some may have
had ten years of spiritual maturity. (Unfortunately, some are still babes, even in
their tenth year!) However, remember this truth. Although Israel voluntarily
entered into the Mosaic covenant, the results were a dismal failure because they
were unwilling to surrender their hearts to the Holy Spirit. When the apostles
finally understood that the Mosaic covenant had been nailed to the cross, their
joy knew no bounds. (Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:6) At last, Paul concluded,
everything is permissible, even if it is not beneficial. (1 Corinthians 6:12) The
130 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

disciples were free from the guilt and condemnation of the Pharisees! Free to
listen to God’s Spirit! They were free to grow up in Christ rather than being
watched and criticized by people who had a legalistic mentality. They were free
to respond to God out of love, receiving Christ’s righteousness that satisfied
God’s requirements for man’s salvation. The truth will set you free, but it may
also set you free from your family, friends, church and possibly, your job.
Remember the illustration about Benjamin at the beginning of this chapter (page
96)?
It is imperative that we submit to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Failure to
surrender can lead to the unpardonable sin. (Matthew 12:31) Paul wrote,
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowl-
edge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expec-
tation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of
God.” (Hebrews 10:26,27, emphasis mine.) In fact, failure to surrender will
ultimately cause us to rebel against God! Do not forget, when the Holy
Spirit speaks to you, He speaks with the authority of God. To refuse Him is
to refuse God.

One Last Covenant

Thus far, we have examined six unilateral and three bilateral covenants:
Unilateral
1. “Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”
2. The Ten Commandments.
3. “I will put enmity between the serpent and the woman and will one day send
a Savior.”
4. “I will demand an accounting for each man’s life. Murderers are to be put to
death.”
5. “I will not destroy the world again with a flood.”
6. To Abraham: “Through you, all nations will be blessed.”
“I will make you the father of many nations.”
“I will give you and your descendants this land.”
Bilateral
1. “If you will be my people, I will be your God.”
2. “If you will be my people, you will be a kingdom and nation of priests . . . .”
Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants 131

3. New: “This is the new covenant in my blood . . . .”

For reasons stated earlier in this chapter, the first two bilateral covenants were
nailed to the cross. The good news is that a time is coming when all of these
covenants will be made null and void as well! At the end of sin, Jesus is going to
declare one final unilateral covenant. Paul knew it was coming. Notice, “ ‘This
is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ de-
clares the Lord. ‘I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man
teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” be-
cause they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I
will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ By
calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what
is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:10-13, italics mine.)
When this covenant is put into effect, there will have been a total of seven
unilateral and three bilateral covenants. The seventh unilateral covenant
will sustain the redeemed throughout eternity. Notice how this covenant is
stated near the close of Revelation: “He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the
Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is
thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of
life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and
he will be my son.’ ” (Revelation 21:6,7) This is the final covenant. It
brings all others to an end. I long to hear these words with my own ears!

Summary
I hope this study has brought you a new appreciation for what was nailed to the
cross. In a sentence we can say the bilateral covenant given to Adam and Eve
and the Mosaic system was nailed to the cross. The Levitical laws are part of a
covenant that was temporary and the authority given to the descendants of
Aaron, the high priests, has been made null and void. Ever since the death of
Jesus on the cross, we have the privilege of accepting a covenant based on the
blood of Jesus, our High Priest, who sits at the right hand of the Father. The Ten
Commandments remain intact; they are a unilateral covenant. They were not
nailed to the cross. The Ten Commandments are eternal, timeless and universal.
Even if we do not understand everything about God’s covenants, we can know
we are on the right track if we can say to Jesus, “I desire to do your will, O
my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) This is an attitude that
pleases God, because the last unilateral covenant given in the Bible contains
this promise: “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after
that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write
132 Chapter 8 – God’s Covenants

them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
(Hebrews 8:10)
 Chapter 9
What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

I said to their children in the desert, “Do not follow the

statutes of your fathers or keep their laws or defile your-
selves with their idols. I am the Lord your God; follow my
decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Keep my Sab-
baths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you
will know that I am the Lord your God.” But the children
rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they
were not careful to keep my laws – although the man who
obeys them will live by them – and they desecrated my
Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them
and spend my anger against them in the desert.

– Ezekiel 20:18-21

Most Christians believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the day appointed to
worship God. However, since World War II, the observance of Sunday as a
holy day in the United States has changed significantly. Yes, church bells
still ring and people still go to church on Sunday morning, but Sunday
afternoon has become a different story. If Sunday is the Lord’s Day, why
doesn’t the observance of the Lord’s Day last all day? For many people,
Sunday has become a holiday instead of a holy day. Does God really care
what we do on His holy day? Does He care if we work, go shopping,
conduct business, wash the car, watch TV, mow the lawn, clean out the
garage, attend ball games or go skiing? The answer to these and other
questions about the Lord’s Day are found in the Bible. So, let us take a look.

The First Lord’s Day

After six days of work, Jesus created something very special. He created the
seventh day. His crowning act at Creation was a gift to man. (Mark 2:27,28)
Jesus gave the Sabbath to man and He made it a sign of allegiance
between man and God. (Exodus 31:16-17) His action, of course, makes
the Sabbath as old as the world itself. “By the seventh day God had
finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested
from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had
done.” (Genesis 2:2-3) Contrary to what many people say, God did not
make all seven days of the week holy. According to the Bible, the Lord
134 Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

made one day of the week holy. Webster says the word holy means to set apart
or to make unique. For example, when a couple gets married, their union
becomes holy and they are “set apart” from the dating crowd. In like manner, at
the time of creation, God “set apart” the seventh day of the week and made it
unique from the other six days. The Bible says that God rested on the seventh
day from His work of creating, blessed the seventh day and made it holy. If
Jesus made the seventh day holy by resting from His labors on the seventh day,
what do you think Adam and Eve did on the Sabbath? Consider this statement:
There is a direct link between observing the Lord’s Day and exalting the Lord. If
the Lord’s Day is not faithfully observed, subsequent generations will soon
forget the authority of God. Review the opening text for this chapter and you will
understand this important point: When the worship of God is compromised, the
authority of God is lost. This point is easily demonstrated throughout the Bible.
Both the antediluvians and Israel refused to worship God according to His
commandments and they ended up in total rebellion against their Maker. (See 2
Peter 2 and 3; Jeremiah 25 and Ezekiel 20.) If history proves anything, it
proves how quickly respect for God is lost. For example, there are ten genera-
tions between Adam’s creation and the flood. Do you think the tenth generation
antediluvians doubted Noah when he told them God was going to destroy the
world with a flood?

Is the Lord’s Day Optional?

In the United States, Christians overlook the sacredness of the Lord’s Day. This
is a mystery since God elevated the significance of the seventh day to the same
level as nine other commandments. Think about it. The Sabbath commandment
is one of the Ten Commandments. In God’s sight, the Sabbath commandment is
just as moral, just as binding and obligatory as the sixth commandment which
says, “Thou shalt not kill.” It is ironic that men will put a murderer to death, but
think nothing of breaking the fourth commandment. This phenomenon occurs
because God has given man the concept of government. (Romans 13:1-4) Man
governs man. Is murder a serious crime because it violates the right of another
person to live or because it is a violation of the sixth commandment? The
answer is “yes” to both questions. Then the next question to be asked is, what
about the Sabbath? Is the fourth commandment optional? Is the sixth command-
ment optional? Israel’s history confirms the fact that when His chosen people
forgot to observe the Lord’s Day, it was only a matter of time until the nation was
in complete rebellion regarding God’s supreme authority! Jesus spoke the words
found in Ezekiel 20 while the nation of Israel remained in rebellion and conse-
quently, in Babylonian captivity.
Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day? 135

The Sabbath Brought into Focus

About eight hundred years after the flood, God sent Moses back to Egypt to lead
Abraham’s descendants out of slavery. As a condition for deliverance from
slavery, God required the slaves to rest from their weekly labor on the seventh
day of the week. God’s demand was bittersweet. Naturally, every slave wel-
comed a day of rest. Even more, every Hebrew in Goshen wanted to be deliv-
ered from Egyptian bondage. But after Israel kept their first Sabbath, Pharaoh
realized that he was losing control over the Hebrews. To regain the upper hand,
Pharaoh required the slaves to produce the same quota of bricks in six days
that they had been producing in seven. On top of this, Pharaoh increased their
workload and required them to gather all the necessary straw as well! This
unreasonable demand pushed the Hebrews beyond their physical ability. Failure
to meet the quota provided Pharaoh the “license” he wanted to beat the Hebrew
slaves into submission. The consequence for obeying God caused the Hebrews
to suffer unmercifully since it was not possible to meet Pharaoh’s demand for
bricks. This Sabbath “rest test” put the Hebrews in a very difficult position.

A Rest on the Seventh Day?

Some scholars have proposed that the work stoppage prompted by Moses and
Aaron was to observe God’s seventh day Sabbath. Although the Bible does not
specifically say that the slaves were required to observe the seventh day
Sabbath, I believe this issue can be resolved by reviewing four texts:
1. From the Creation of the world to the time of the Exodus, the Bible identifies
one day of rest, the seventh day of the week. (Genesis 2:2,3) By divine
decree, the seventh day Sabbath enjoys preeminence above all other days
of the week. Jesus did not complete creating the world until the seventh day
Sabbath was established and “set apart.” The continued presence of the
seventh day (causing a weekly cycle of seven days) confirms this point.
2. The language Pharaoh uses indicates that Moses and Aaron had called on
Israel to rest from their labor. The words of Pharaoh in Exodus 5:5, “You
make them rest from their labor” (KJV) or “You are stopping them
from working” (NIV) reveals two points. First, Pharaoh blames Moses and
Aaron for causing the slaves to “rest” from labor by emphasizing “You . . .”
Second, the word Pharaoh used for rest is shabath (Strong’s #7673). This
is the same word and idea expressed in Genesis 2:2 when God “rested” or
136 Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

ceased from His creative works on the seventh day. To suggest that Moses
and Aaron required the Hebrews to rest from their labor on any other day of
the week other than God’s holy day would be inconsistent with God’s
declaration about the seventh day at Creation and the Sabbath day “manna
test” that transpired shortly after the Exodus. (Exodus 16)
3. The Bible indicates that God tested Israel with the observance of His seventh
day rest before He spoke the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai. (See
Exodus 16.) This proves two interesting concepts: First, Israel knew about
God’s seventh day rest before Jesus spoke the Ten Commandments from
Mt. Sinai; and second, by withholding manna on the Sabbath, Jesus
confirmed which day of the week was the seventh – just in case there was
any question. The absence of manna on the Sabbath further confirmed the
importance and holiness of the seventh day before Jesus spoke the Ten
Commandments from Mt. Sinai. Given God’s consistent behavior, we can
conclude that God’s regard for the holiness of the seventh day did not
change between Creation and the Exodus, a period of about 2,500 years.
4. When the Lord spoke the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai, He expressly
commanded a cessation from work on the seventh day of the week. The
fourth commandment begins with, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy . . . .” (Exodus 20:8) If the observance of the seventh day Sabbath
was a new concept codified in the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai as some
scholars argue, why does the fourth commandment refer back to the
original Sabbath day that took place at the creation of the world? The fourth
commandment emphasizes the holiness placed upon the seventh day of the
week at the time of Creation! Notice: “. . . For in six days the Lord made
the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he
rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath
day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:11)
When these four texts are aligned, we can be safe in saying that Moses and
Aaron caused the Hebrews to stop working on the seventh day. The Sabbath
rest infuriated Pharaoh and he began persecuting the Hebrews. The actions of
the Israelites and Pharaoh confirm the thorny presence of a Sabbath rest test
before the Exodus. The holiness of the seventh day of the week did not begin at
Mt. Sinai as many people claim. Instead, the holiness of God’s seventh day
began at Creation and the patriarchs and elders who walked and talked with
God honored the Creator’s holy day.
Evidently, Moses and Aaron told the Hebrew elders that deliverance from
Egyptian bondage would only be possible if they put complete faith in God.
Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day? 137

Abraham’s offspring were required to live by faith. They had to obey the higher
laws of God in order to receive His deliverance. Israel’s faith was to be tested
and the test centered on observing God’s Sabbath. Would Israel recognize the
higher authority of His law by disobeying the laws of Pharaoh? A person’s faith
in God is revealed when there is both an obedience and disobedience penalty. If
the Hebrews obeyed God, they received the wrath of Pharaoh. If the Hebrews
obeyed Pharaoh, they would receive the wrath of God. The elders of Israel were
afraid of God’s wrath and begged Pharaoh to let them go out into the desert and
obtain reconciliation with God saying, “ ‘ . . . or He,’ they said, ‘may strike us
with plagues or with the sword.’ ” (Exodus 5:3)

Observing the Lord’s Day

If the Holy Spirit brings conviction to a person’s heart about the seventh day
Sabbath and that it should be honored, a common question arises, “How do I
observe the Sabbath?” The answer to this question is determined by examining
the fourth commandment and investigating the intent of the law. Fortunately, the
Bible offers some very good insight on observing the Lord’s Day.
Since sin began, the fourth commandment has stood in direct opposition to the
ways of the world. For young and old people alike, observing God’s Sabbath
produces conflicts with family, friends, work, entertainment, recreation and
shopping. However, the beauty of the fourth commandment can be observed
through the act of obeying God, when man exalts the demands of God above the
demands of this world. The world runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week
without any rest. This was not God’s intention for His created beings. God
created the Sabbath and He commanded rest on the seventh day each week for
man’s benefit! When we rest according to the commandment, we admit and
submit to the authority of our Creator. When we choose to obey Jesus, we are
making a statement. We say to the world, “I love God’s law more than anything
the world has to offer.” The commandment says: “Remember the Sabbath day
by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the
seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any
work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or
maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six
days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in
them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)
138 Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

The fourth commandment makes four statements to be considered:

1. Do not regard the seventh day of the week like the other six, for it was set
apart.
2. Do no work on the seventh day, it is holy.
3. Do not allow others under your dominion, whether man or animal, to work
on the seventh day.
4. The seventh day is not a holiday. These hours belong to God; it is “the
Lord’s Day.” He rested on the seventh day from His labors, blessed it
and made it holy. He wants us to enjoy it as He enjoyed it!

The Sabbath was Set Apart

The first statement, “Do not regard the seventh day of the week like the
other six, for it was set apart,” eliminates several arguments. Most Chris-
tians are convinced that it does not matter which day of the week they
worship on as long as God is worshiped. (Among Christians, this argument
was first advanced in Rome around A.D. 150.) But God disagrees, be-
cause His commandment states that the seventh day of the week, Satur-
day, is His holy day. Some people say, “I worship God seven days a week.”
While there is nothing wrong with worshiping God every day, the fourth
commandment is not about daily devotion. It is about submission to God’s
will which is demonstrated by ceasing from work on the seventh day of the
week. The argument, “I worship God seven days a week,” was used to
profane the Sabbath in Israel before King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed
Jerusalem. Notice what God says about Israel’s apostate priests: “Her
priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not
distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there
is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut
their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned
among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26)

Do No Work
The second statement, “Do no work on the seventh day, it is holy,” raises
several questions. What is work? Work is defined as something we do for
gain, something we do for survival, something that we have to do to sustain
life. The fourth commandment does not mean that we have to stay in bed
on the Lord’s Day. It means that we should not do things on the Sabbath
that we do during the week.
Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day? 139

What about the dairy farmer? Should he forego milking his cows on Sabbath?
How does a nurse keep the Lord’s Day when patients need care in the hospital?
How does a policeman keep the Lord’s Day when criminals are at work seven
days a week? How can the mechanic or electrician, who services the genera-
tors that provide electricity to thousands of homes, take the Lord’s Day off? How
can cooks in nursing homes observe the Lord’s Day when the elderly need food
seven days a week? When God gave the fourth commandment, did He antici-
pate the problems that we would face today? Yes, of course. Then, how are
these needs reconciled with the fourth commandment?
Before answering these questions, we need to observe how Jesus interpreted
the intent of the Lord’s Day. The following text is the first of three important texts:
“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His
disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat
them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, ‘Look! Your dis-
ciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.’ He answered, ‘Haven’t
you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He
entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the conse-
crated bread – which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the
priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in
the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one
greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean,
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the inno-
cent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’ ” (Matthew 12:1-8)
Jesus makes four points within this text. First, gathering food to eat “on the way”
through the field that day was not a violation of the Sabbath as God interprets
the law. (See Exodus 16:23,24 for the basis of the Pharisee’s complaint.)
Second, Jesus pointed out that when it comes to survival, David and his men ate
the holy bread that was in the tabernacle without incurring guilt. The bread they
ate was reserved for priests only. So, there are instances where the immediate
preservation of life momentarily overrides the letter of the law. Third, Jesus
pointed out that the temple priests worked on the Sabbath (desecrated the day)
without incurring guilt. Even though the Sabbath was a heavy work day for them,
they were not guilty of contempt for God’s law. (Note: The priests rotated
assignments so that no priest was continuously desecrating the Sabbath. See
Luke 1:8.) Last, the “Lord of the Sabbath,” rebuked the Pharisees for abusing
the purpose and intent of the Sabbath. As scholars and leaders of the people,
they should have known better. When Jesus told them that He was the “Lord of
the Sabbath,” He applied a title to Himself that shows ownership and sovereign
authority. For example, a person is called a “landlord” because he or she owns
140 Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

property and has control over the use of that property. When Jesus declared
Himself to be the “Lord of the Sabbath,” He indicated that He – not the Phari-
sees – had the authority to interpret how the Sabbath should be observed. Jesus
Himself made the Sabbath and He alone has the necessary authority to define
proper Sabbath conduct. The Pharisees did not understand the law or its intent
and in their perverted, sanctimonious judgment, the Creator of the universe and
His disciples continually broke the Sabbath. (John 5:18) How amazing that
created beings would condemn their Creator!
The second text brings even more understanding to the subject of Sabbath
observance: “Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to
accuse Jesus, they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’
He said to them, ‘If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the
Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more
valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on
the Sabbath.’ Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he
stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the
other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill
Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed
him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he
was.” (Matthew 12:9-16)
From Jesus’ statement we glean two important points: First, Jesus went
about doing good for others on the Sabbath. He did not sleep the Sabbath
away. He did not pass the Lord’s Day in a mindless state of exhaustion
because He had overworked during the previous six days. Instead, He
used the Sabbath day to minister to others. Second, Jesus affirmed again
that there are certain acts that do not violate the intent of the Sabbath. If
rescuing an animal is not a violation of the intent of the law, then rescuing a
human being from sin or suffering does not violate the fourth commandment.
This last text reveals two key issues on observing the Lord’s Day. Notice
the setting. Jerusalem was being rebuilt under Nehemiah’s leadership. He
writes, “In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the
Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together
with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were
bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned
them against selling food on that day. Men from Tyre who lived in
Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and
Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day? 141

selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.

I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, ‘What is this wicked thing
you are doing – desecrating the Sabbath day? Didn’t your forefathers do
the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity upon us and
upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by
desecrating the Sabbath.’ When evening shadows fell on the gates of
Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not
opened until the Sabbath was over.
I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be
brought in on the Sabbath day. Once or twice the merchants and
sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. But I
warned them and said, ‘Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do
this again, I will lay hands on you.’ From that time on they no longer came
on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and
go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember
me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your
great love.” (Nehemiah 13:15-22)
It is obvious from these verses that conducting business on the Lord’s Day is
offensive to God – whether it is for food or merchandise is immaterial. Second,
like the Levites of old, we should “guard” the gates of our house in order to keep
the Sabbath day holy. Did you notice that Nehemiah associates God’s wrath
(the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.) with desecrating the Sabbath? Like
Nehemiah, I believe the basis for God’s coming wrath upon the world is due in
part to the fact that mankind does not have respect for God or His holy day.
When the Great Tribulation rumbles across the face of the Earth, God’s author-
ity and His Sabbath will be put into proper perspective. The strength and author-
ity of His law will be plainly seen. Until this occurs, this topic remains a matter of
prophetic faith.
If we honor the Sabbath hours by resting from our work and labor, we honor
God. If we honor God, He will bless us. The Lord told Isaiah, “‘If you keep your
feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy
day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you
please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and
I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the
inheritance of your father Jacob.’ The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
(Isaiah 58:13,14)
142 Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

Sabbath Observance
What principles do we apply to the dairy farmer, the nurse, the cook, the
policeman, etc.? Here is my personal view of the matter: The Lord’s Day is the
Lord’s Day – all day long – from sunset to sunset. (Genesis 1; Leviticus 23:32)
The Sabbath was made for man to be a rest, both physically and spiritually, or a
day of renewal each week. God wants us to prepare all week for the Sabbath.
Jesus wants us to enjoy the Lord’s Day and call it a delight. The weekly Sabbath
is not for God’s benefit, but ours! When we honor the Sabbath commandment,
we exalt the “Lord of the Sabbath!”
Preparation for the Lord’s Day is important. In ancient times, the Jews did not
have names for the days of the week. They used numbers such as the “the first
of seven” for Sunday, or “the third day of the week” for Tuesday, etc. After the
Babylonian captivity, the sixth day of the week became known as “The Prepara-
tion” or “the day of preparation.” This title summarized the importance of being
prepared for the Lord’s Day. (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54)
As I understand it, actions that bring the blessing of Sabbath rest to others are
permissible on Sabbath. Whether you prepare a good meal for a patient or help
victims from a tornado, the Sabbath was made for man. Yes, the dairy farmer
has to milk his cows. Yes, the doctor may be called for an emergency. Yes, the
nurse may need to render care and the preacher may have to work harder on
Sabbath than any other day. BUT, the first consideration that people need to
address when trying to resolve this matter for themselves is this: How can I
submit to the demands of the fourth commandment and still honor the Lord on
His holy day with deeds of compassion?

Imposing Work on Others

The fourth commandment says that we are not to impose work upon others
under our dominion, whether man or animal, on the Sabbath. This issue
raises some interesting questions. Would it be appropriate for God to
create the Sabbath and then force humanity to work on the Lord’s Day
while He rests? No, of course not. God is fair and just and He wants us to
follow His lead. If the Ruler of the Universe gives rest to His servants each
week, then each of us, as God’s servants, must give our dominion (those
under our management) rest as well.
Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day? 143

A Holy Day Not a Holiday

The Bible says the world and all that is in it belongs to God. (Psalm 24:1) This
means that human beings are stewards of “God’s property.” (Matthew 25:14;
Leviticus 25:23) Jesus is the Landlord of Earth. Jesus is also the owner or “the
Lord of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, 28) Observing the seventh day reminds
humankind each week that we are not the owners of time or possessions.
Notice how this works: Observing the Lord’s Day always puts a person at odds
with the pace and activities of this world. (This is a world in rebellion against
God’s will and His ways.) From the beginning of time, antagonism between
God’s Sabbath and the world has existed. God set apart a day for Himself and
His children which not only offers physical rest, but also offers a time to spiritu-
ally reconnect with God each week. To the carnal mind, the Sabbath conflicts
with our use of time or our pursuit of wealth and pleasure. To the spiritual mind,
the Sabbath is a “time-out” from managing the assets God has given to us.
(Matthew 6:33) The command to rest on the seventh day may sound easy to
do, but in fact, “resting” according to God’s commandment has financial and
social consequences in a world that has no respect for God. Keeping the
Sabbath holy can mean the loss of income, job or even a career. Yet, we need
to remember that we really do not own these things in the first place. For some
people, keeping the Lord’s Day holy means rejection and ridicule by family
members and friends. The devil has done and will do everything possible to
make sure that the world forgets or rejects God’s Sabbath. But, we can be sure
of one thing: If we are willing to honor the Creator by resting on His holy day,
we will find a faith experience. God sustains whatever we lay down so that when
we resume our management of His assets after Sabbath, nothing will be lost or
hurt. The devil is able to bring ruin and loss, but God owns everything and He
will recover His losses if we are faithful. This may seem scary, but it is also the
exciting part of living by faith. Observing God’s Sabbath involves risk and the
presence of risk proves the necessity for faith. If we are faith-full with all that
God has given us to manage, we can be sure that Jesus will reward in full every
faithful steward at the Second Coming. (Matthew 25:23)
The faith-full people who honor the Lord by keeping His Sabbath holy will come
to know the “Lord of the Sabbath” more intimately. God will bless the people who
look forward to entering into God’s rest each week by giving them His eternal
rest. (Hebrews 4) This is why God said: “The Israelites are to observe the
Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the
Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he ab-
stained from work and rested.” (Exodus 31:16,17)
144 Chapter 9 – What Happened to the Lord’s Day?

Summary
The blessing surrounding the fourth commandment is both timeless and univer-
sal. Unfortunately, the corporate race to make more money and capture market
share has become a powerful economic force that has pushed God’s command
to rest out of the weekly cycle. Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and
money.” (Matthew 6:24) These entities are diametrically opposed. The pursuit
of money never ends and opportunities to compromise God’s Sabbath are
limitless. Therefore, we have to be vigilant to “Remember the Sabbath day. . . .”
If we plan to live in God’s eternal kingdom, then the principles of God’s kingdom
need to be a priority in our lives. Honoring God’s Sabbath is a faith exercise that
Jesus invites us to experience with Him each week. Obeying God when some-
thing important is at stake is the experiential meaning of living by faith. I believe
that if we forget the Sabbath, we will forget God. “If I were called upon to
identify the principal trait of the entire 20th century, I would be unable to
find anything more precise than to reflect once again on how we have lost
touch with our Creator . . . Men have forgotten God.” (Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn, Reader’s Digest, September 1986).
 Chapter 10
From Sabbath to Sunday

Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy

things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the
common; they teach that there is no difference between
the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the
keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
– Ezekiel 22:26

Most Christians believe that Sunday is the Lord’s Day. They believe that
Jesus transferred the sacredness of the seventh day Sabbath to Sunday,
the first day of the week, at the time of His resurrection. If Jesus made
such a change, there should be sufficient evidence in the Bible to support
this claim.

Bible Review
Eight texts in the New Testament mention the first day of the week. Biblical
support for the sacredness of Sunday, if it exists, has to come from these
verses. Here are the texts:
Matthew 28:1 Mark 16:2
Mark 16:9 Luke 24:1
John 20:1 John 20:19
Acts 20:7 1 Corinthians 16:2
Six of these texts refer to Jesus being resurrected on the first day of the
week – a well-known fact. However, none of these texts indicate anything
about Sunday sacredness. In fact, Luke 23:56 points out that a group of
women delayed preparation of Christ’s body for burial on Friday evening
because of the nearness of the Sabbath. They rested on the Sabbath
“according to the [fourth] commandment.” Therefore, it would be fair to say
that the women had no prior knowledge that the fourth commandment was
voided that Friday afternoon.
Since the first six texts simply date the resurrection of Jesus on the first
day of the week and say nothing about Sunday being sacred, we will
investigate the remaining two verses.
146 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

Acts 20:7
Some people use Acts 20 as evidence to support that Sunday worship was
practiced by the apostles. “On the first day of the week we came to-
gether to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he
intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” (Acts
20:7) Let us consider the details surrounding this verse.
The event recorded in Acts 20:7 took place about 30 years after Jesus
ascended. During this 30-year interval, there is not one text in the Bible
that describes how Sunday had become the day of worship or that the
disciples worshiped on Sunday. Surely, if Jesus’ death on the cross had
made such a profound change concerning the day of worship, this would
have been a very controversial issue. All of the disciples, including Paul,
were Jews and as such, were Sabbath keepers! Paul’s writings leave no
doubt that the question of what was nailed to the cross was a matter of
intense discussion for early believers. I find it interesting that nothing is
written in Acts or the New Testament about the sudden sacredness of
Sunday or the sudden obsolescence of the Ten Commandments.
The Apostle Paul stayed in Athens some length of time preaching the
gospel. (Acts 17) When Paul finally left Athens, he went to Corinth. There
he lived with Jewish believers, Aquila and Priscilla, who had been evicted
from Rome by Claudius because they were Jews. (Acts 18) Actually, Aquila
and Priscilla were converts to Christ, but Emperor Claudius could not
distinguish between a Christian and the “repugnant” Jews, so the Romans
evicted all Christians and Jews from Rome at this time. For a period of 18
months, Paul sustained himself in Corinth by making tents and he
preached in the synagogue “every Sabbath” attempting to make believers
of Jews and Gentiles alike. (See Acts18.) If the seventh day Sabbath had
been nailed to the cross, and if Sunday was God’s holy day, why is there
no record of Paul teaching this new doctrine? Paul wrote 14 of the 27
books in the New Testament and he says nothing about the sacredness of
Sunday! (Luke wrote the book of Acts.)
In Bible times, a day began at sunset and ended the following evening.
Since Creation, Earth’s rotation has produced this great clock. (See Gen-
esis 1.) The Jews in Christ’s time regarded a day from “evening to evening”
and observed Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Com-
pare Luke 23:50-56 with Leviticus 23:32. So, the actual timing described in
Acts 20:7 is as follows: Paul stayed with the believers in Troas for seven
days. (Acts 20:6) At the beginning of the first day of the week, at supper
time, the believers came together to eat supper with Paul and say good-
bye to their dear friend. The first day of the week for Paul began at sun-
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 147

down, or what we call Saturday evening. Therefore, according to Scripture,

Paul preached Saturday night until midnight. A few hours later, what we
call Sunday morning, the first day of the week, Paul departed Troas for
Assos. If Sunday had been a sacred day, Paul would not have departed for
Troas. (See Acts 1:12)
Paul met with believers for supper and preached to them until midnight,
Saturday night. A farewell supper and a Saturday night Bible study do not
change or abrogate God’s fourth commandment. Even if Paul chose to
worship on Tuesday night, his actions could not make God’s law void. Only
God can make His law void. Some people claim that the term the “breaking
of bread” indicates Paul’s visit was a communion or worship service. This is
not true! The disciples broke bread every day! (Acts 2:46,47 [KJV]) In Luke
24:13-31, Jesus “broke bread” at supper time with two of His disciples after
walking with them more than seven miles to Emmaus. To this day, breaking
bread is a custom in the Orient because bread is often baked so firm that it
has to be literally broken in order to eat it. As was the custom at Passover,
Jesus “broke bread” with His disciples on Thursday night during His last
Passover and it was there that He instituted the “Lord’s Supper.” (John 13)
Jesus’ actions on Thursday night did not make Thursday a holy day. If this
is true, Paul’s actions in Troas could not make Sunday holy!
Paul did not confirm or authorize “Sunday sacredness” in Troas. Actually,
he held a farewell meeting on Saturday night because he was leaving the
following morning. The point here is that if Christians wish to exalt Paul’s
farewell at Troas as proof of Sunday sacredness, they should follow Paul’s
example and worship on Saturday night (between sundown and midnight).

1 Corinthians 16:2
Some people insist that Paul required offerings for the poor be collected on
the first day of the week (as in a church service). Notice: “Now about the
collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to
do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a
sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I
come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will
give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them
with your gift to Jerusalem.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-3)
When this text was written, Rome was severely persecuting Jews and
Christians. (Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70 occurred about 10 years
after this appeal was written.) Paul appeals to the believers in Corinth,
where he had lived for 18 months, to help fellow Christians suffering in
148 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

Jerusalem. Paul does not hesitate to make this request because it was custom-
ary among Jews to use a portion of their tithe to help those in financial need.
(Deuteronomy 26:12) Further, it was customary among the Jews to convert the
tithe of their herds, flocks and harvest into money. Money was much easier to
carry to distant places like Jerusalem. (Deuteronomy 14:24-26)
In Paul’s day, money was not a common medium of exchange like it is today.
The exchange of goods and services was done with barter; that is, a person
might trade a chicken or something for cloth or pottery. Since Paul would not be
able to travel to Jerusalem with a menagerie of roosters, goats, pottery and
other things of value, he asked the believers in Corinth to convert their gifts into
cash, “first thing after the Sabbath has passed.” Paul suggested they begin
each week by selling something at the bazaar so that he might be able to gather
up a sum of currency. Paul indicated that “the first day of the week” was the
appropriate day for conducting this business. Paul did not suggest doing this on
Sabbath because it would have been inappropriate. (See Nehemiah 13:15.)
Obviously, Paul’s instruction did not change or make the fourth commandment
void.

Thoughts on Romans 6
Some people suggest that Sunday worship is proper because Jesus arose from
the dead on Sunday morning, the first day of the week. Yes, the resurrection is
important, and the Bible does provide a celebration of the resurrection! It is
called baptism. Notice what Paul says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we
go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin;
how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who
were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were
therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too
may live a new life.” (Romans 6:1-4) Baptism absolutely does not make the
fourth commandment null and void. Jesus was baptized at the beginning of His
ministry and He faithfully observed the Sabbath afterwards! (Luke 4:16; Mark
2:27,28)

What was Nailed to the Cross?

It is a common, but not substantiated argument that the Ten Commandments
were nailed to the cross. However, if this is true, then whatever happens to the
fourth commandment, also happens to the other nine! “For whoever keeps the
whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 149

you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a
lawbreaker.” (James 2:10,11) If we do away with the fourth commandment that
declares the seventh day to be a holy day, then the seventh commandment that
says adultery is wrong must be void as well. Paul wrote, “What shall we say,
then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what
sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what covet-
ing really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’ ” (Romans 7:7)
Many people are surprised to learn that the ceremonies of the sanctuary
services, which were a shadow or explanation of the Plan of Salvation,
were nailed to the cross. The key word here is shadow. Notice what Paul
said, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over
every power and authority . . . When you were dead in your sins and
in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with
Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code,
with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to
us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross . . . Therefore do not let
anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a reli-
gious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a
shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found
in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the
worship of angels disqualify you for the prize . . . .” (Colossians 2:9-18)
If we look at these verses carefully, we see that Paul is writing about the
regulations regarding religious feasts, New Moon observances and Sab-
bath days. The Sabbath days that Paul is talking about is not the seventh
day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Rather, the term “Sabbath days”
in this context applies to Sabbath “feast days,” such as the Feast of Un-
leavened Bread, or the Day of Atonement. (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 16:31)
The feast days of the Jews fell on different days of the week (like our
birthday). These feast days were declared to be “special sabbaths” be-
cause they pointed forward to different aspects of the death and ministry of
Jesus. For example, the Passover not only reminded the Jews of their
deliverance from Egypt, but it also pointed forward to the time when the
Passover Lamb – Jesus Christ – would die and all who put their faith in
Him could be delivered from the bondage of sin!
The Jews confused the Ten Commandment law of God with the laws of
Moses, much like Christians do today. Even though one set of laws was
written with God’s finger on two tablets of stone, and the other penned by
150 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

the hand of Moses, the Jews did not understand the relationship between the
moral law (written by the finger of God) and the ceremonial laws (written by the
hand of Moses). One law is permanent and enduring while the other was
temporary.

Understanding Shadows
Paul speaks plainly in Colossians 2 and Ephesians 2 disclosing that the laws
nailed to the cross were those laws that were shadows of the real thing. Laws
that governed the constitution of Israel ended at the cross. Since the shadows
have been voided, there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ. The ceremonial
laws requiring the observance of new moons, feast days and the sacrifice of
lambs became unnecessary because the Lamb of God had died and the
shadow of salvation’s process was now fully disclosed. In other words, ceremo-
nial laws were temporary until Jesus revealed their meaning. Moral laws are not
temporary, because love never ends. One set of laws was written on paper; the
other on stone. One law was penned by man; the other, by God. Surely this
reveals something about their enduring nature. A time is coming during the
Great Tribulation when everyone living on Earth will see the ark that contains the
covenant, the Ten Commandments. In Revelation 11, the Bible says that God’s
temple in Heaven was opened and everyone saw the ark of the covenant.
(Revelation 11:19; Deuteronomy 4:13)

Which is the Greatest Law?

As you might expect of a legalistic society, the Jews loved to argue about
their laws. An expert lawyer challenged Jesus asking which law was the
greatest. (Matthew 22:34-40) Of course, Jesus answered wisely saying
that “loving God” with all of our heart, mind and soul is the greatest com-
mandment, and the second is like the first, we are to “love our neighbors as
ourselves.” The Ten Commandments actually define the reciprocal of love.
If we love God, we will want to comply with the first four commandments
and more! The first four commandments define what love for God pro-
duces. Likewise, if we love our neighbor, we will want to comply with the
last six commandments and more. When we love our neighbors, we will not
want to steal from them because we will want the best for them. Love is
expressed in giving, not taking.
If we become self-centered and love ourselves more than God or our
neighbor, our relationship with God’s law changes 180 degrees. Instead of
loving God’s law, it becomes a legal standard for behavior rather than love
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 151

serving as the standard for righteousness. Self-righteousness focuses on

conformity to the law, whereas a life of love and faith focuses on fulfilling the
principles of love. When the widow gave her mite, Jesus said she had given
more than anyone else present. She responded out of love and she gave all that
she had while the others had given out of obligation. (Luke 21:3,4) Because of
their carnal hearts, the religion of the Jews degenerated into a great legal
system of darkness. When God’s law is imposed on the carnal heart, the
response is either defiant rebellion or the religious experience that follows is
miserable and unbearable. (Matthew 23:2-15)

What About Romans 14?

Romans 14 is also used to prove that it does not matter which day of the week
we worship God. Notice the text: “Accept him whose faith is weak, without
passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to
eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only veg-
etables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who
does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn
the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge
someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will
stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day
more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each
one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day
as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for
he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and
gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us
dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to
the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very
reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of
both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother?
Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before
God’s judgment seat.” (Romans 14:1-10)
The context of these verses does not imply that a person can worship God
whenever he or she feels like it. Instead, it is addressing specific problems
that early Roman believers had to deal with; namely, the numerous cus-
toms of the Jews that have nothing to do with salvation through faith in
Christ. In other words, if a Jewish believer felt the need to continue observ-
ing Passover, Paul did not condemn him except to say that his faith was
weak. Also, if a new believer could not consciously eat meat purchased in
the marketplace for fear it had not been killed correctly or that it may have
152 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

been offered before idols, Paul said to leave him alone! (The Jews would not
purchase or eat meat unless it was killed according to Mosaic code. Leviticus
19:26) The point here is that Paul is not condoning lawlessness. Paul does not
declare the fourth commandment null and void. Paul is advocating tolerance
because he knew that the more a person understands Jesus, the greater will be
his religious experience.

Pentecost on Sunday
Another argument used to support Sunday worship is that Pentecost came on
Sunday during the year that Christ died. Somehow, this is supposed to prove
that Sunday is God’s holy day. Interestingly enough, Pentecost always falls on
Sunday! The wave sheaf offering was made on the first Sunday after Passover
and after seven full weeks or seven Sabbaths had passed, Pentecost occurred
on the 50th day (counting inclusively). This means that Pentecost always
occurred on a Sunday. (Leviticus 23). The annual Feast of Weeks occurred on
Sunday for more than a millennium before Jesus came to Earth. The fact that
the Feast of Weeks was regularly celebrated on Sunday cannot make the fourth
commandment void.
One last point. Some people claim that nine of the Ten Commandments are
mentioned in the New Testament, but the fourth commandment is missing. This
statement is not true. Even if it were true, does the absence of the fourth
commandment in the New Testament prove that the commandment is void. A
more reasonable explanation of this absence is that New Testament writers never
doubted the continuing presence of the seventh day Sabbath. Paul removes any
doubt for us when he wrote in A.D. 63, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest
for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from
his own work, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:9,10)

Grace and Faith Versus Law?

Many Christians think that faith and grace make the law unnecessary. The love
between husband and wife does not eliminate the necessity for fidelity nor does
living together make two people married. The relationship between love and
obedience is simple. God grants salvation to everyone who becomes willing to do
His will. He does not grant salvation to us based on our ability to do His will. We
demonstrate our willingness by receiving strength from God to do what He wants.
Paul understood this process. (See Romans 7.) All through his life, Paul faith-
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 153

fully observed the seventh day Sabbath. (See Acts 13:44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4,11.)
Even more, when Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred
in A.D. 70), He indicated the Sabbath would still be sacred at that time! (Matthew
24:20)

Cannot Break Just One Commandment

If we take the position that Jesus nailed the fourth commandment to the cross,
then we must conclude that He also nailed the remaining nine as well. Whatever
we do with the fourth commandment, we must also do with the other nine. This
issue will become the all-important distinction between those people who love
God and those who rebel against Him during the outpouring of God’s judgments.
The Ten Commandments are nonnegotiable. They stand as one unit represent-
ing the will of God. The Ten Commandments were written on two tables of stone
because they are based on two enduring principles: love to God and love to
man. The first four commandments explain how we are to love God. The last six
commandments explain how we are to love our neighbor. One more point:
Maturity in Christ begins when we acknowledge the binding claims of God’s law,
and realizing our great weaknesses, we place our faith in Jesus so that we can
fulfill His law through His indwelling power.
Paul knew that all Ten Commandments were intact. He said, “For I would not
have known what it was to covet if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’ ”
(Romans 7:7) James wrote, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scrip-
ture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right! But if you
show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For
whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty
of breaking all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said,
‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you
have become a lawbreaker.” (James 2:8-11)
James brings us to an important and fundamental conclusion regarding the
royal law, or the King’s law. He says we must obey all the commandments.
If we break any one of them, we are guilty of breaking them all, because
the King’s law is only fulfilled by love. We must first love God with all our
heart, mind and soul and then our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus shared
how we should express our love for God by saying, “If you love me, you
will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)
154 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

Submissive Loyalty
I have said many times, “keeping the seventh day Sabbath holy cannot save
anyone” because salvation comes before works. When a person becomes
willing to submit his or her life to God’s sovereign authority, salvation is granted,
full and free to that individual before he or she can do anything! The thief on the
cross is an excellent example of this. The works of every person reveal faith or
rebellion! This is why God designed the human race’s final exam to test our faith
in Jesus: The basis of salvation is faith. Faith produces submissive loyalty;
doing what God requires at any cost. Ask Noah as he stands in the doorway of
the ark. Ask Abraham as he is about to slay his son. Ask Moses as he stands at
the Red Sea. Faith produces submissive loyalty. Because eternal life only
comes by faith, and since every means of human survival will be cut off in days
to come, you and I must have faith in God to remain loyal to Him! If it is hard to
obey God now, what will it be like when our lives are at stake? Faith is like a
mustard seed. It can grow. It can develop. Although it is tiny at the beginning, it
can become great! (Matthew 13:31)

The Seventh Day of Creation was Saturday

God has expressed in the Bible how His subjects are to worship Him. This is not
a matter left to human design. Unfortunately, the devil, during the past 6,000
years, has obscured God’s truth, infiltrated every religion, and implemented
many false ideas, concepts, and doctrines throughout the world. For example,
Moslems regard Friday, Jews regard Saturday, and Christians regard Sunday
as a holy day! These three religious bodies represent 50% of Earth’s inhabit-
ants, and each religious body claims to have the truth about God. Each religious
system also declares that the other two religious systems are false – and yet, all
together they unwittingly confirm a simple truth. Their diversity confirms that the
weekly cycle is intact. Let me explain.
The sixth day of the week is adjacent to the seventh day, which is also adjacent
to the first day of the week. In other words, each religious system worships on
unique days that are adjacent to each other. This fact confirms the perpetuity of
Creation’s week ever since Jesus was on Earth and it shows that the weekly
cycle has not been altered. Furthermore, God confirmed which day of the week
was the seventh day to the children of Israel in the wilderness by the cessation
of manna (no manna fell on the seventh day). Thus, the Israelites have formally
worshiped on the seventh day ever since the Exodus in 1437 B.C. Christians in
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 155

Rome, according to Justin Martyr, have formally worshiped on the first day of
the week since A.D. 150, and Moslems have formally worshiped on the sixth day
of the week since the sixth century A.D. If the weekly cycle had been altered,
the holy days of worship would not be adjacent to each other! This diversity
proves the weekly cycle has not been altered. The seventh day (Saturday) is still
God’s holy day just as it was at creation.

So, What Happened?

So, how did Sunday become the Lord’s Day? Who made the change and when
did it occur? Material containing the history of Christianity during the first
century is meager and imperfect. The best records for this time period have
been collected and are known as the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. These
records are not part of the Bible, nor do they have the authority of the Bible.
However, they do offer a glimpse into the religious thinking of that era.

Apostolic Age
Several ancient references are included in this chapter for you to consider
because a great number of scholars have used these ancient writings to
show that Sunday observance was widely practiced by those living during
the Apostolic Age (A.D. 30 - A.D. 100). The writings of early Christians,
however, reveal a sinister process. They reveal how the Word of God soon
became corrupt, even in the hands of well-intentioned people. You can
study these references and draw your own conclusions.
The first mention of worship by the Apostolic Fathers occurs around A.D.
97. Clement of Rome wrote to the believers in Corinth:
These things therefore being manifest to us, and since we look into
the depths of the divine knowledge, it behooves us to do all things in
[their proper] order, which the Lord has commanded us to perform at
stated times. He has enjoined offerings [to be presented] and service
to be performed [to Him], and that no thoughtlessly or irregularly, but
at the appointed times and hours. (Clement of Rome, Epistles to
Corinthians, Vol I Ante-Nicean Library, (Buffalo, 1887) p. 16, inser-
tions mine.)

As you can see, Clement does not specifically endorse any particular day
of week. This early quote, however, is included because some scholars
claim that Clement of Rome openly defends Sunday observance in A.D.
97.
156 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

Another early reference often used to support Sunday observance in the early
Christian Church was written by Pliny the Younger about A.D. 107. Pliny the
Younger was the pagan governor of Bythinia at the time. He wrote to Emperor
Trajan asking advice about Christian assemblies in his province. At that time,
civil revolt was anticipated in a number of provinces by Roman leaders and Pliny
was especially cautious of a new sect of Jewish people called Christians. He
wrote:
They [the Christians] affirmed that the whole of their guilt or error was
that they met on a certain stated day before it was light and addressed
themselves in a form of prayer to Christ as to some
God . . . . (Pliny the Younger, Pliny’s Letter to Trajan, Harvard Clas-
sics, Vol 9, (New York, 1937) p. 404, insertions mine.)

Pliny does not say which day of the week the Christians were meeting. All
that we can learn from this quotation is that they were meeting for prayer
before it was light. Regardless of the day he refers to, whether the Chris-
tians were secretly meeting to pray on Sabbath, Sunday or Monday makes
no difference.

Post Apostolic Age

As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, certain compromises
and transformations were made within Christianity for a variety of reasons.
In Rome, Christians were regarded as a dangerous sect since they were
considered to be offshoots from the Jews and second, they refused to
regard Caesar as a divine god. As time passed, however, Christianity
began to appeal to the educated and wealthy people who lived in Rome.
These people could afford manuscripts containing copies of Scripture and
even more importantly, they also had influence within the government of
Rome. By A.D. 150, Christians and converts of Mithraism (a small pagan
sect) had some areas of compromise and mutual respect. About this time,
a well-educated man by the name of Justin Martyr became a Christian. As
a Christian, he tried to soften the hostility that existed between Romans
and Christians. One area of compromise concerned the issue of religious
meetings on Sunday. The followers of Mithra regarded Sunday as a holi-
day. (The Mysteries of Mithra, Chicago Open Court Publication Co., (Chi-
cago 1911) p. 167, 191) Christians in Rome, anxious to separate them-
selves from their Jewish heritage (Jews were despised), found that the
pagans interpreted their religious services on Sunday as something akin to
their holiday festivities. Justin Martyr writes:
But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly
because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 157

the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Sav-
ior on the same day rose from the dead. (Justin Martyr, First Apology
of Justin Martyr, Ante-Nicean Christian Library, (Boston 1887)
p. 187 Chap 67)

The justification he used for holding a common assembly on Sunday is

interesting. First, he cites the separation of darkness and light on the first
day of Creation as grounds for holding a common assembly, and then the
resurrection of Jesus. Martyr offers no scriptural authority for holding an
assembly on Sunday, but his remarks do suggest how anxious Christians
in Rome were to divorce themselves from the womb of Judaism.
In those days, Christianity had no “central office” and each geographical
location adjusted doctrine as they chose. During the last part of the second
century A.D., Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, became alarmed at a number of
heresies that had infiltrated the Christian movement. He was aware of how
the Christians in Rome had begun to meet on Sunday and abandon the
seventh day Sabbath and he spoke out against it. He wrote:
For He [Christ] did not make void, but fulfilled the law [Ten Command-
ments]. (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Vol 1 Ante-Nicean Christian Li-
brary, (Boston, 1997) p. 471, insertions mine.)

Tertullian, another church father, wrote extensively concerning Christian

doctrine. He, like Irenaeus, was alarmed at the practices of certain Chris-
tians, especially those who lived in Rome. In regard to the seventh day
Sabbath he wrote:
Thus Christ did not at all rescind the Sabbath. He kept the law [Ten
Commandments] thereof . . . He restored to the Sabbath the works
for were proper for it. (Tertullian, Book IV, Chap 12, Vol 3 Ante-Nicean
Christian Library, (Boston, 1997) p. 362, insertion mine.)

Considerable discussion on Sunday observance took place in those early

days. Archelaus, a bishop wrote in his disputation with Manes:
Again as to the assertion that the [seventh day] Sabbath has been
abolished we deny that He [Christ] has abolished it plainly. For He
Himself was also Lord of the Sabbath. (Archelaus, The Disputation
with Manes, Vol 4 Ante-Nicean Christian Library, (Boston 1887), p.
217, insertions mine.)

By A.D. 320, confusion and compromise took a heavy toll on early Chris-
tian doctrine. Christians had been scattered by persecution to every prov-
ince throughout the Roman empire. Christians in Alexandria, Egypt (the
South) were beginning to defend views that were different from those in
Rome (the North). Church authority was discussed, debated and argued.
158 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

Most church leaders agreed that church doctrine needed to be more clearly
defined and controlled, but who was going to be in control? Many questions and
issues were raised for which there was little agreement. In short, distance,
culture, language and social factors were beginning to define Christendom
according to geography. Thoughtful men anticipated the result – a highly
fractured church. Christianity needed a strong leader and Constantine felt that
he was divinely appointed to lead a universal Christian Church. When
Constantine came to the throne as sole ruler of the empire around A.D. 312, he
had transformed himself into a Christian for political advantage. Constantine was
cunning and he saw Christianity as a means of unifying the Roman empire.
When he endorsed the “Roman version” of Christianity, Constantine set a
powerful sequence of events into motion. In future years, the church in Rome
would come to dominate all factions of Christianity.
Hopefully, this information satisfies your curiosity about how Sunday obser-
vance began. The Romans were the first to merge Sunday observance into
Christianity. Strange as it may seem, they never claimed to have divine authority
for this action. In fact, Roman Christians did not consider labor on Sunday as
sinful or contrary to the will of God. Of course, this attitude stands in stark
contrast to the fourth commandment which forbids work on Sabbath. The
attitude toward Sunday observance in Rome was a carryover from the pagan
worship of Mithra. Sunday in Rome was regarded as a holiday by many Ro-
mans long before Christianity arrived in Rome. Sunday was not a day of fasting
or reflection.
When Constantine became “a defender of the faith,” he had his army baptized
into Christianity by marching them through a river. To promote the universal
acceptance of a day of rest, Constantine implemented a Sunday law in March,
A.D. 321. This law was a clever compromise. Constantine patronized Christians
and pagans alike by declaring a national day of rest. The political benefit of this
law was well received by the Romans. Constantine endorsed the desire of the
Christian church in Rome by setting Sunday aside as a day of rest and this law
also favored a large population in Rome who worshiped the pagan god of Mithra
on Sunday. So, the Sunday law meshed with customary Roman practice. It also
aligned the desires of the church at Rome and everyone in Rome was quite
happy with a national day of rest. Notice that the decree issued by Constantine
does not mandate worship on Sunday:
Let all judges and all city people and all tradesmen, rest upon the ven-
erable day of the Sun. But let those dwelling in the country freely and
with full liberty attend to the culture of their fields; since it frequently
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 159

happens, that no other day is so fit for the sowing of grain, or the plant-
ing of vines; hence the favorable time should not be allowed to pass,
lest the provision of heaven be lost. (Cod. Justin, III Tit 12, L.3., March
7, A.D. 321)

There is a World Out There

Although the Roman church was already meeting on Sunday when Constantine
sent out his decree, other Christians in other locations were not! Most Christians
were still observing the seventh day Sabbath. Socrates writes near the turn of
the fourth century:
Such is the difference in the churches on the subject of fasts. Nor is
there less variation in regard to religious assemblies. For although
almost all churches through the world celebrate the sacred mysteries
on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Rome and Alexan-
dria have ceased to do this. (Socrates, Ecclesiastical History, Book
V, Chap. 22, Ante-Nicean Christian Library, Vol II, (Boston, 1887) p.
132)

Even Constantine’s decree did not shut out the importance of the seventh
day Sabbath. Something else would have to occur before that could be
accomplished. The leaders from the church in Rome needed an elaborate
doctrine that dealt directly with the issue of the “Lord’s Day” to present a
strong case before the Christian body. So, the doctrine of Sunday obser-
vance was masterminded by Eusebius, a Christian confidant and advisor of
Constantine. Carefully notice his anti-Semitic argument for the observance
of Sunday:
Wherefore as they [the Jews] rejected it [the Sabbath law], the Word
[Christ] by the new covenant, translated and transferred the feast of
the Sabbath to the morning light, and gave us the symbol of true rest,
viz., the saving Lord’s Day, the first [day] of light, in which the Savior
of the world, after all his labors among men, obtained the victory over
death, and passed the portals of heaven, having achieved a work
superior to the six-days creation. On this day, which is the first [day]
of light and of the true Sun, we assemble, after an interval of six days,
and celebrate holy and spiritual Sabbaths, even all nations redeemed
by him throughout the world, and do those things according to the
spiritual law, which were decreed for the priests to do on the Sabbath.
And all things whatsoever that it was the duty to do on the Sabbath,
these we have transferred to the Lord’s Day, as more appropriately
belong to it, because it has a precedence and is first in rank, and
more honorable than the Jewish Sabbath. All things whatsoever that
it was duty to do on the Sabbath, these we have transferred to the
160 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

Lord’s Day. (Eusebius’s Commentary on the Psalms 92, quoted in

Coxe’s Sabbath literature, Vol I, p. 361, insertions mine.)

Eusebius was a spiritual advisor to Constantine. He is the first man to claim in

writing that Christ changed the day of worship. THEN, Eusebius testifies that he
(and others, namely Constantine) had “transferred all things, whatsoever that it
was duty to do on the Sabbath” to Sunday. Also notice that Eusebius offers no
scriptural authority for the change. Further, no church father or authority from
that time period supports Eusebius’ claims and notice that he does not quote
from another source. As it turns out, Eusebius took the thorny problem of
worship in hand and became the father of a false doctrine, which favored the
practices of the church at Rome. We need to ask ourselves, “Can mere mortals
change the law of Almighty God by making a simple declaration? Who has the
higher authority – God or man?” Christians have repeated the failure of the
Jews and have dismissed or altered the plainest statements of God’s Word.
Jesus said of the Jews, “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but
rules taught by men.” (Matthew 15:9)
Even with the Sunday law imposed by Constantine, the seventh day Sabbath did
not suddenly disappear in Christian churches. By the year A.D. 460, Sozomen
writes:
Assemblies are not held in all churches on the same time or manner.
The people of Constantinople and almost everywhere assemble on
the [seventh-day] Sabbath as well as the first day of the week, which
custom is never observed at Rome or Alexandria. (Sozomen, Eccle-
siastical History, Book VII, chap 19, Ante-Nicean Christian Library,
Vol II, (Boston 1887) p. 390, insertion mine.)

Every student of church history knows that the church in Rome eventually
gained complete dominion over Christianity. Eventually the Roman Empire
was transformed into the Holy Roman Empire and the bishop at Rome
became the “Bishop of the Universal Church.” For nearly 13 centuries, the
kings and queens of Europe were subservient to the Bishop of Rome. This
great period of church dominion is appropriately called the “Dark Ages”
because religious dominion is a cruel master. I thank God that I live in the
United States which has a pluralistic democracy and a Constitution that
continues to separate church from state!

Summary
Sunday observance came about for three reasons. First, the majority of
early Christians in Rome were not former Jews. Consequently, the impos-
Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday 161

ing culture and religious practices of Judaism, which included the seventh day
Sabbath, were not considered as important in Rome as they were in Jerusalem.
Actually, converts from Mithraism brought Sunday observance into the Christian
church in Rome. Second, the seventh day Sabbath had been a distinguishing
mark of the Jews for about 1,500 years. Anti-Semitism was an enormous motive
in those days for distinction and separation between Christians and Jews. Last
and most important, the union of church and state produced an enormous
surprise. When Constantine converted to Christianity to strengthen his political
control of the empire, he initiated a process that ultimately subjected the nations
of Europe to the dominion and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church for
1,260 years!
Satan often works in subtle ways and he was masterful when he led the minds of
carnal men to profane God’s law. Now, the vast majority of Christians worship on
Sunday. Through the ages, experts have hammered on the Bible to make it say
that the fourth commandment was nailed to the cross, but their creative claims
are hollow. These claims are as silly as the priests of Baal who danced around
the altar on Mt. Carmel. Protestant denominations who continue to exalt the
sacredness of Sunday show, perhaps naively, submission to the doctrines and
authority of the Church in Rome. There is no biblical basis for Sunday sacred-
ness. There is no biblical basis for saying the Lord’s Day is Sunday. All that
supports the observance and sacredness of Sunday as the Lord’s Day is a
heap of tradition and the arrogance of man. God’s law does not change and the
Ten Commandments stand without impeachment. The fourth commandment still
points to the seventh day of the week as God’s holy day. What will God say to
you and me on Judgment Day about our regard and treatment of His holy day?
I would like to close this chapter with three texts. The first text is from King
Solomon. He wrote, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of
the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the
whole duty of man for God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes
12:13,14) Jesus said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in
my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in
his love.” (John 15:10) Since these Scriptures are true, why not surrender
your life to Jesus and resolve to keep holy His Sabbath of rest at any cost.
Think of it this way, God offers you and me a one-day vacation from the
cares of this world each week. He promises to sustain everything that we
are doing until we return after our rest, so that nothing will be lost. Put your
faith in God to the test and make up your mind to obey Him. When you
carefully and prayerfully consider His offer, what is keeping you from
162 Chapter 10 – From Sabbath to Sunday

accepting such a fine offer? Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest [Sabbath].” (Matthew 11:28,
insertion mine.)
 Chapter 11
Parallel Temples

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a

high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctu-
ary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

– Hebrews 8:1,2

Introduction
The above text indicates that Jesus serves in the true tabernacle which is
located in Heaven. The author of Hebrews used the word “true tabernacle”
to contrast the sanctuary in Heaven with the “pseudo tabernacle” that
Moses erected on Earth. (Hebrews 8:5) Did you know that certain pro-
cesses or ceremonies in the heavenly tabernacle have direct parallels with
the earthly tabernacle? I like to describe these parallels as the “Heaven-
Earth-Linkage-Law.” Activity in the temples of Heaven and Earth are linked
together by law! For example, did you know that more than fourteen end-
time events are synchronized with special ceremonies in Heaven’s temple?
The books of Daniel and Revelation are based on ceremonies in Heaven’s
temple; therefore, it helps to understand the ceremonies in Heaven’s
temple to correctly understand Bible prophecy. The only way to properly
understand the ceremonies that take place in Heaven’s temple is to exam-
ine the services that were conducted as a parallel on Earth. “This is why
Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to
it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on
the mountain.’ ” (Hebrews 8:5)

Dual Purpose Palace

The ways of God are revealed in ceremonies that take place in His
temples. Because we cannot attend the services in Heaven, God com-
manded Moses to create a parallel temple system on Earth. God’s temple
in Heaven is a dual purpose palace. It is like a courthouse and a church.
On Earth, church is a place where God’s will is studied and examined, and
people are encouraged to obey God’s will. The courthouse is a place
where social needs are codified and implemented through the force of law.
To a great extent, the balance of power between the church and the court-
164 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

house defines the unique culture of every nation on Earth. The same is true in
Heaven. Heaven’s temple functions as a courthouse and a church. In Jesus,
there is a perfect balance of church and state, He is King of kings and Lord of
lords. He is the Revealer of God’s will and He is the Executor of the justice of
God. These are the privileges and the responsibilities of man’s Creator, Jesus
Christ – the Alpha and the Omega.
God has unilaterally imposed the rule of His law throughout the universe. If there
was no law, chaos would rule. The decisions and declarations of Jesus in
Heaven’s temple are subject to law. God is not arbitrary. God’s rule of law does
not have a political bias, nor is it temperamental in nature. Nothing less than “the
whole truth” is accepted in Heaven’s court, so justice and fairness are always
present. Because the truth is more important than winning an argument, God is
open to the closest scrutiny. God has nothing to hide. In fact, each issue and
investigation only magnifies the righteousness of God! Malice and mischief are
not found in Heaven’s temple. During the temporal presence of sin in the
universe, justice and fairness are faithfully maintained in Heaven’s temple.
Highly intelligent angels observe God and they are delighted to serve Him. They
never stop singing His praise because He is flawless and magnificent in every-
thing He does.

A Working Model
Of all the concepts taught in the Bible, the services in God’s temple are among
the most profound, intricate and beautiful. A proper understanding of these
services ties all Bible themes together and they provide a backdrop against
which all conclusions about God’s will and ways can be tested and verified. This
is a crucial point. The truth about the ways of God may appear to be abstract
(that is, not tangible or verifiable), but this is not the case. God remedied this
problem a long time ago by commanding Moses to set up a careful parallel or
shadow of Heaven’s process so that human beings could study, test and validate
their understanding of His marvelous ways. Moses was warned to follow the
pattern that God gave him. This makes sense for if the model was flawed, our
study of Heaven’s temple would also be flawed.

Rituals Were Shadows

Few people know anything about the temple services God gave to Moses.
I suspect there are two reasons for this: (a) “because they are Jewish,” or
(b) “they were nailed to the cross.” In my opinion, both reasons have
contributed to the hopelessly confused state of Christianity today! Just
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 165

because the Mosaic covenant with its shadows and parallels was nailed to the
cross, this does not mean the significance of the shadows and parallels became
useless after the cross. The first five books of the Bible are very valuable in
helping us understand Jesus because He does not change. He is the same
forever. Therefore, the temple services taking place right now in Heaven’s true
tabernacle are still parallels of temple services that took place 3,000 years ago
on Earth. The Old Testament sanctuary rituals had no divine efficacy or potent
powers within themselves. (Isaiah 1:11-17; Hebrews 10:1-4) Contrary to what
many religions teach today, religious rituals do not have value in themselves.
Instead, God wants man to understand the object lessons that He illustrates
through temple ceremonies or rituals. The temple rituals which God commanded
the children of Israel to observe were shadows or parallels of actual processes
that take place in Heaven.
Consider this illustration. A $5.00 bill (U.S. Federal Reserve Note) has no value
within itself. It is merely a small piece of paper with writing on both sides.
However, it is a symbol of value and most people think of it, use it and treat it as
though it had value, even though it does not. As long as the United States
government will exchange something of value for a $5.00 bill, it will have value.
My point is that the $5.00 bill is a symbol of value, even though it is only a piece
of paper. But if the U.S. government ever decides to terminate the use of the
$5.00 bill, then all of the U.S. $5.00 bills in the world will be worthless. Some
currencies are worthless pieces of paper because the government who initially
printed the currency is unable to back it with anything of value. For those
worthless currencies, the old saying is true, “it is not worth the paper it is printed
on.” In like manner, temple rituals have no value within themselves. They are
symbolic of real things that God has done, is doing and will do for the salvation
of the human race. In terms of a working model on Earth, God required the Old
Testament rituals to function until the reality appeared. So, when Jesus came to
Earth and died on the cross, the rituals came to an end, even though the
processes they represent are still ongoing. Even though the rituals are now null
and void as far as God is concerned, they contain the keys that explain the ways of
God in Heaven’s temple. Therefore, a basic understanding of the earthly temple
rituals remains vitally important today.

The Tabernacle
The earthly temple built by Moses primarily consisted of seven items: the Ark of
the Covenant, the Table of the Presence (also called the Table of Shewbread),
the Altar of Incense, the Altar of Burnt Offering, the Lampstand, the Laver and
166 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

the Tent of Meeting (the tent building was about 18 wide by 55 feet long). God
designed each piece of furniture and gave the pattern to Moses. The purpose
and function of each item offers insight into the ways of God. For example, the
Bible teaches that even though God forgives sinners, He does not blot out the
sin. Instead, He transfers the guilt of the sinner to the Altar of Burnt Offering.
This may sound confusing at first, but here is how it works: The wages of sin or
penalty for sin is death by execution and there are no exceptions. God’s law is
not subject to change (an omniscient God is quite capable of declaring an
everlasting law). If the sins of Adam and Eve could have been forgiven (blotted
out, ignored or overlooked ), Jesus would not have had to die. Think about it. If
there had been any other means to save Adam and Eve from the penalty of sin,
the Father would not have allowed Jesus to die. But within the Plan of Salvation,
God allows the penalty for sin (which is death by execution) to be transferred
away from the sinner through the death of a perfect substitute. This transfer
occurs under specific conditions (faith). So, sinners who put their faith in Jesus
can be set free of the condemnation of death (Romans 8:1-5) even though their
specific sins are never forgiven! (Please do not throw any stones at me just yet.
Hear me out!)
To understand this point a little better, consider the sin offering ceremony that
took place in the earthly temple. Sinners were required to bring a perfect lamb
to the Altar of Burnt Offering at appointed times. The innocent lamb on the altar
served as a perfect substitute for the penalty of sin which requires death by
execution. (Keep in mind that the wrongdoer should only seek God’s forgiveness
at the temple after he has voluntarily made restitution to the victim of his wrong
actions. Exodus 22; Leviticus 6; Matthew 5:24) When the sinner presented his
lamb at the Altar of Burnt Offering, it was firmly secured so that it could not
escape (certain death). Then, the sinner placed his hands on the head of the
lamb and stated his sin. Then, the sinner executed the lamb by cutting its jugular
vein with a knife. As blood spilled from the throat of the dying lamb, an attending
priest captured some blood in a small bowl. The priest dipped a small branch of
hyssop into the bowl and applied the warm blood to the four horns of the altar –
one horn on each corner on the altar. The priest also sprinkled some blood on
the altar. This ritual confirms a truth that most Christians do not understand; sin
is not forgiven. Instead, the sinner’s guilt was transferred by the death and
blood of the lamb to the horns of the altar. This transfer made the Altar of Burnt
Offering unclean and it remained defiled all year long until the Day of Atonement
took place. On the Day of Atonement, the altar was restored to a pure state by
the shedding of blood (the Lord’s goat) and the guilt that had accumulated upon
the horns of the altar all year long was transferred once again, this time to the
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 167

head of the scapegoat. The scapegoat was then taken out into the desert to die a
very slow and painful death.
The death of Jesus proves that sin cannot be forgiven (overlooked, erased or
forgotten). If Jesus could have excused Adam and Eve from the penalty of sin,
He would not have had to die. The stain of animal blood on the horns of the Altar
of Burnt Offering confirms that sin is not forgiven, but instead is transferred.
This is very good news. God allows the penalty for my sins to be transferred
from me to the horns of the Altar of Burnt Offering through the death of Jesus,
the flawless Lamb of God. The blood of animals symbolizes the actual price of
God’s grace (the blood of His own Son). Keep in mind, the blood of animals did
not provide salvation. The execution and blood of animals did not actually
transfer the guilt of sin. The sin offering is a parallel of how God deals with sin.
The reality to which the sin offering pointed occurred at Calvary. Jesus, the
Lamb of God, died for our sins and if we put faith in Him, our guilt is transferred
to the Altar of Burnt Offering in Heaven’s temple. (Hebrews 8:1-5; 10:1-4;
Romans 8:1-8)

Two Altars
There were two altars in the earthly temple because there are two altars in
Heaven’s temple. The Altar of Burnt Offering was located near the entrance
of the courtyard that surrounded the Tent of Meeting and the Altar of
Incense was located in the front room of the tent, or the Holy Place. There
are two altars for atonement because God is concerned with two levels of
sin: individual sin and corporate sin. The Altar of Burnt Offering was cov-
ered with bronze and the Altar of Incense was covered with gold. This
difference in medals indicates there is a difference in processing these two
types of sin. The bronze Altar of Burnt Offering served the needs of indi-
viduals, and the golden Altar of Incense served a higher purpose, the
needs of the whole community. Both altars had four horns jutting from their
four corners. Throughout the Bible, horns symbolize an entity of power.
(Psalm 75:10; 112:9; Jeremiah 48:25; Luke 1:69; Revelation 17:12) Within
the context of these altars, the four horns represent the omnipresent work
of the Holy Spirit throughout the four corners of Earth: North, East, South,
and West. (Zechariah 1:18-21; 4:6; John 16:7-11) He is everywhere at
once!

Do Not Sin Against the Holy Spirit

Since the beginning of sin, the Holy Spirit has had an indispensable role in
God’s administration of grace. The human heart must be softened by the
168 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

Spirit before repentance can occur. The Holy Spirit does much more than
impress the conscience. The Holy Spirit is God and He has all of the preroga-
tives of God. In fact, the only sin that cannot be forgiven is rejection of the Holy
Spirit! (Matthew 12:31) Carefully consider this point: A sinner could present his
offering at the Altar of Burnt Offering because the law of Moses required it, or a
sinner could present his offering at the altar because he was very sorry for his
sin and wanted to be free of the condemnation that was upon his head. The
motive makes a big difference. In the latter case, if the sinner was sincerely
repentant, he proved his sorrow for sin by voluntarily making restitution for his
sin before he came to present his sacrifice to God. Again, the essential point so
many people overlook on this topic is that killing animals never atoned for sin.
(Hebrews 10:1-4) In other words, presenting a sacrificial lamb at the altar did
not guarantee that God would accept the sacrifice and allow the transfer of sin
even though the external requirements of the sin offering were met. “The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God,
you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) God is not impressed or moved with
religious rituals. Not until the Holy Spirit produces a heartfelt sorrow for sin is the
guilt of sin actually transferred. (1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1-6) When people
conclude that atonement with God is possible through some religious ritual,
you can be sure that apostasy has taken place!

Sinners are Forgiven

Many Bible writers speak about our sins being forgiven (Leviticus 5:13;
Romans 4:7), but it is the sinner who is forgiven, not the sin. This distinc-
tion is so important because we need to understand that God has a pro-
cess to deal with the disposal of sin. The disposal of sin involves a legal
concept called vengeance. God’s vengeance is a twofold process that will
finally culminate at the end of the 1,000 years of Revelation 20. God’s
vengeance involves the extraction of restitution from those people unwilling
to provide appropriate restitution (judicial equilibrium), and His vengeance
also involves destroying everyone who refused the indwelling authority of
the Holy Spirit. Judicial equilibrium is the balance between our behavior
toward others and our accountability for the welfare of others. Judicial
equilibrium is found in the golden rule: “As you do unto others, the same
shall be done unto you” and “For in the same way you judge others,
you will be judged . . . .” (See Matthew 7:2,12) God’s kingdom is not a
republic nor a democracy. It is a monarchy.
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 169

Sin Is Not Forgiven

Sinners can be freed from the penalty of their sins even though their sins are
not forgotten. At first, this statement may appear contradictory. Many Christians
believe that Jesus died for us and that somehow all of our sins have been
forgiven! But there is much more to the disposal of the toxic waste of sin than is
commonly known. All sinners are under the curse of eternal death unless our
guilt is removed. The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Sin is the transgres-
sion of God’s law. (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 1 John 3:4) However, if a
person is ignorant of a specific sin, God does not hold the sinner accountable
for that sin until the sinner becomes properly informed. (Leviticus 4; 1 Timothy
1:13; James 4:17) When a person commits any sin, he or she violates the
whole law. (James 2:10) Sinful acts cannot be recalled or erased because they
are a matter of record. The unrelenting claim of God’s law is this: “Once a
sinner, always a sinner.” This is why God evicted Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:22-24) The consequences for violating God’s moral
law occur whether we are knowledgeable or ignorant of the offense. This is why
the Bible says, “. . . Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23) Do
not let this discourage you because the Plan of Salvation offers a way out of
condemnation. The Father has provided a perfect substitute to receive the guilt
of our sins and through the blood of Jesus, our guilt can be transferred to the
horns of Heaven’s Altar of Burnt Offering! The result is that repentant believers
who put their faith in Jesus are no longer under condemnation. (See Romans 5
and 8:1-12.)

The Sin Offering

When God gave Moses the earthly temple pattern, God defined categories of
offerings for different categories of sin. Different offenses required different
methods for atonement or resolution. Each offering helps us understand how
God deals with various issues involving sin. Because there are different types
and variations of sacrificial offerings, the following examples demonstrate a
typical process. Although every temple service is not explained in the Old
Testament, we can be sure that God has preserved the essential details so we
can understand the larger process in Heaven’s temple. Likewise, while the New
Testament does not contain everything that Jesus said while He was on Earth,
we can be sure that God preserved what was essential. (John 21:25.) Do not
become overwhelmed by the sheer number of rules and offerings used in the
earthly temple services. Concentrate instead on God’s orderly and consistent
ways in dealing with sin. I have found that diligent study on this topic brings
170 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

great rewards. As you study the system surrounding the earthly temple services,
you will begin to see the beauty of the Plan of Salvation unfold. God’s ways are
truly marvelous to behold!

Unintentional Sin
The sin offering covers two types of personal sin: willful and unintentional sin.
Notice what the law says about unintentional sin: “If a member of the commu-
nity sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s
commands, he is guilty. When he is made aware of the sin he committed,
he must bring as his offering for the sin he committed a female goat
without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and
slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. Then the priest is to take
some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of
burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood [into a small basin] at the
base of the altar.” (Leviticus 4:27-30, insertion mine.)
If a person is aware that he had committed an unintentional sin, he had to
appear at the Altar of Burnt Offering with the required sacrifice. If he could
not afford to offer the required animal, items of lesser value, such as birds
or even flour, were acceptable to the Lord. (Leviticus 5:7) A priest, ever
present and willing to serve, received the sinner’s substitute. The priest
examined the sacrificial animal very closely. He was concerned about the
condition of the animal as well as the sinner’s restitution and heartfelt
confession. The sacrificial offering had to be perfect, without defect or
blemish for it represented God’s Son. After the sinner killed the animal, the
priest placed the animal’s blood on the horns of the altar as a record of sin.
(Leviticus 4:7) Although the sinner could not escape the guilt of sin, he was
at least free of condemnation until he sinned again. (Leviticus 4:26)

Willful Sin
The process of atonement for willful sin is more serious than that of unin-
tentional sin. Before an individual could seek atonement at the tabernacle,
he or she had to make a generous restitution to the victim. Notice what
God said: “Say to the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman wrongs
another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is
guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full
restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the per-
son he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom
restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 171

Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which
atonement is made for him.’ ” (Numbers 5:6-8)

Defiance Not Tolerated

Obviously, a person cannot continue very long in a pattern of willful sin and be
able to meet the financial demands for restitution required by law. This is why
Paul wrote: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” (Hebrews 10:26) It is
interesting that God does not see willful sin in the same light as defiant sin,
although the penalty is the same in both cases. Notice that defiant sin demands
immediate action. “But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or
alien, blasphemes the Lord, and that person must be cut off from his
people.” (Numbers 15:30) The term “cut off” meant exile, total banishment from
the camp. In the wilderness, banishment meant starvation. So, it is important to
understand the meaning of defiant sin. According to Webster, defiance means
open and bold rebellion. God declares that there is no other God besides
Himself. (Isaiah 45:5) God is King, the owner/master of man and naturally, He
would interpret defiance as a willful act of insubordination. Therefore, He told
Moses, “Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be
destroyed.” (Exodus 22:20) God is a jealous God! (Exodus 20:5) In His great
wisdom, He knows that defiance is rebellion and defiant rebellion is unforgiv-
able. (1 Samuel 3:14; Matthew 12:31) God did not offer a plan of salvation for
Lucifer and his angels because of their open defiance.

One Sin Contains Two Violations

Temple services reveal that one sin can contain two violations. When a person
sins against his neighbor, he or she sins against God as well! Therefore, the
sanctuary service demonstrates that God requires a two-step process when we
sin against a neighbor. First, the Lord required that a sinner make restitution to
the victim, and then, the sinner could make atonement for the sin committed
against God at the tabernacle. The amount of restitution varied. In minor cases,
restitution was 20%. (See Numbers 5:6-8.) In more severe cases, the amount of
restitution could be as high as 500%. (See Exodus 22.) When Zacchaeus
became a “born again” believer in Christ, he gave 50% of his wealth to the poor,
and then he restored 400% to anyone that he had wronged! (Luke 19:8) The
purpose of restitution is very important in God’s government. In fact, the earthly
tabernacle teaches that at a future appointed time, God will ensure that every
172 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

wicked person suffers appropriately for every wrongful deed, plus an added
penalty. The golden rule is an iron clad rule of God’s kingdom and universe. At
the end, God will ensure that everyone is treated just like they treated others.
(Matthew 7:12) This is the larger meaning of vengeance or judicial equilibrium.
For personal injuries, notice the following decree: “But if there is serious
injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for
bruise.” (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-21; Deuteronomy 19:18-21)
The basic idea of punitive law in the Old Testament is judicial equilibrium.
In other words, if someone plans to maliciously harm another person, the
law demands complete restitution before he or she can make atonement before
God. For personal injury, the offender must experience the same pain he or she
willfully inflicted! Restitution retards the growth of sin, so God placed man under
the operation of the golden rule. The rule states: “It will be done to you as you
intentionally did to your victim, plus interest and penalty.” When Jesus was on
Earth, the Jews had twisted the golden rule for self-serving purposes. They used
it as legal justification for personal revenge, especially against their hated
enemy, the Romans. Jesus rebuked them for not understanding the intent of the
law when He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth
for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes
you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:38-39)
Jesus was affirming an important truth, revenge belongs to God and He will
extract every ounce of the restitution that His law demands, plus interest. Paul
wrote, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans
12:19) This verse should be especially meaningful for people who have been
victims of a painful injustice. God ensures that judicial equilibrium will be ex-
tracted from the wicked before He creates a new Heaven and a new Earth.

Reviewing the Sin Offering

The service at the Altar of Burnt Offering lays a conceptual foundation for other
temple services, so keep the following seven points in mind as we progress
through this study:
1. The bronze Altar of Burnt Offering served the needs of individuals.
2. The sinner was required to make restitution before presenting a sacrificial
offering.
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 173

3. The guilt of the sinner was transferred to the lamb by confession and the
death of the lamb transferred the guilt to the horns of the altar.
4. The blood on the horns of the altar was as a record of sin. Until the altar was
cleansed on the Day of Atonement, the temple was in a state of desecration.
5. Excess blood from the sacrifice was poured into a small basin at the base of
the altar. (Leviticus 4:25)
6. Sin, whether unintentional or intentional, requires atonement.
7. Defiant sin cannot be forgiven (atoned for).

The Altar of Incense

The golden Altar of Incense was physically located in the first room of the
earthly temple called the Holy Place. Like the Altar of Burnt Offering, this
altar also had four horns, one on each corner of the altar. However, there
are several significant differences between these two altars. For example, it
was the priests’ responsibility to keep the fire on the Altar of Burnt Offering
burning around the clock (Leviticus 6:12,13), but it is believed the Altar of
Incense burned perpetually. Miraculously, God Himself ignited and sus-
tained the fire on the golden Altar of Incense and it never went out.
(Note: This conclusion is reached by harmonizing the following two points:
Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, carried “foreign” or man-made fire into the
Holy Place and God struck them dead for it. (Leviticus 10:1-3) Further, the
Bible does not indicate that the priests maintained the fire on this altar as it
does for the other altar. These two points suggest the fire on the Altar of
Incense was sustained by divine power.)
Evening and morning, the priests burned a special formula of incense on
the Altar of Incense. God forbade anyone from duplicating this incense.
(Exodus 30:34-38) In the wilderness, the Israelites could smell the distinc-
tive aroma of this incense, depending upon the wind, at the limits of the
camp. (Exodus 30:7,8) Like the Altar of Burnt Offering, the Altar of Incense
was named according to its primary purpose which was the continual
burning of incense.

Corporate Atonement
The services at the golden Altar of Incense represent a higher level of
atonement than those at the bronze altar in the courtyard. These services
are a little more difficult to understand at first because they are shadows of
174 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

a larger process that takes place in Heaven. The Altar of Incense was reserved
for corporate atonement, that is, intercession on behalf of the whole community.
Priests conducted services at the Altar of Incense, evening and morning, every
day of the year. God required continual atonement, night and day. This was
done so that Israel could dwell in His continual presence. In other words,
atonement for sin was ongoing, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If an
individual or a group of individuals sinned, the continual sacrifice on the Altar of
Incense provided atonement for everyone until they could present their neces-
sary sacrifices at the Altar of Burnt Offering. The daily atonement made on the
Altar of Incense allowed the Israelites to dwell in God’s continual presence
without being destroyed. (Exodus 25:8) The object lesson found within this
service is stunning. We know that sinners cannot approach God or live in His
presence without mediation or atonement. (Numbers 8:19) But through the
sacrifice of Jesus, God extends much grace to us, hoping that we will eventually
show up at the Altar of Burnt Offering for the purpose of reconciliation with Him
and be saved. The beauty of grace can be observed here since we are not
consumed while wandering about in foolish rebellion! “For if, when we
were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of
his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved
through his life!” (Romans 5:10)

Called the Daily or the Continual

The evening and morning services presented on the Altar of Incense were
called “the daily” or “the continual” because they were administered
evening and morning – every day of the year – continually. The services
included the sacrifice of a perfect one-year-old lamb each evening at
twilight and each morning just after sunrise. After the priest killed the “daily”
lamb on the Altar of Burnt Offering (in the courtyard), he carried some of its
blood to the Altar of Incense and applied it to the horns and sides of the
altar. Then the priest placed a scoop of the special incense (using God’s
specifications) on the glowing coals of the altar. Then the fragrant incense
flowed freely throughout the tabernacle. In addition to the blood and in-
cense, priests also placed small servings of wheat or barley flour, oil and
wine before the Lord as offerings. (Exodus 29:40,41; 30:9) The reality in
Heaven which is represented by the daily services at the golden altar on
Earth is very meaningful. Whereas the sin offering on the Altar of Burnt
Offering pointed forward to the death of Jesus as the Lamb of God at
Calvary, the service on the Altar of Incense pointed backwards to the day
sin began. On that day, the Father and Son established a mutual covenant
to save the whole world! (Psalms 2)
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 175

Psalm 2
When Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus entered into a covenant with the
Father agreeing to die as man’s substitute. (Psalm 2; Genesis 3:15; Ro-
mans 5:19; Matthew 26:28; John 17:4) When Jesus submitted to the terms
and conditions required in the Plan of Salvation, He agreed to overcome
the power of sin by living a perfect life and dying the death of a condemned
sinner. (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21) In fact, from the very day that
Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus was called the “Son” of God. “I will proclaim
the decree of the Lord [the Father]: He said to me, ‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the
nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You
will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like
pottery.’ ” (Psalms 2:7-9, insertion mine.) The word son means “one subject
to” or “one in submission to someone like himself.” Consequently, Adam is
called the “son of God” and so are all believers because we are created in
God’s image. (Luke 3:38; Matthew 5:9; 1 John 3:1 [KJV]) The covenant between
the Father and Jesus to save man stopped the destroying angel who was about
to execute Adam and Eve. On the basis of an agreement between the Father
and Jesus, Jesus became man’s intercessor the day sin began and He remains
in this position even on this very day. (Hebrews 7:25) The law given to Adam in
Genesis 2:17 is clear – any violation would result in a swift penalty. However,
Jesus stepped in the way by offering His life, and every day since that moment,
His covenant with the Father has stood between guilty man and the righteous
demands of God’s law. This is why Jesus is called man’s Intercessor. (Hebrews
7:25)
The daily intercession of Jesus in Heaven’s temple is reflected in the daily
ministry of the priests on Earth. “The point of what we are saying is this:
We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the
true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.” (Hebrews 8:1,2) The
Father allowed Adam and Eve and their offspring to live because of the
daily intercession of Jesus. The corporate benefits of Christ’s atonement
for the whole world became effective immediately, the day sin began. The
covenant to save man is called the Plan of Salvation and it remains intact
to this very day. The corporate intercession of Jesus on behalf of the whole
world will continue until the beginning of the Great Tribulation. The Great
Tribulation begins when Jesus declares the end of His corporate interces-
sion. (Revelation 10:6) When this happens, the censer at Heaven’s golden
Altar of Incense (Revelation 8:2-5) will be cast down indicating the services
required at that altar are finished. A few days after the censer in Heaven is
cast down, the long-delayed wrath of God for the whole world will begin.
176 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

God’s wrath will come in two phases, seven first plagues and seven last plagues.
Although the corporate intercession of Jesus comes to an end at the beginning
of the Great Tribulation, the door of salvation remains open for individuals
because Jesus continues to intercede on behalf of individuals for 1,260 days –
until the time of the seventh trumpet.

Corporate Process
The idea of corporate atonement is new to many Christians, so a short study
may be helpful. Notice this text: “If the whole Israelite community sins
unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s com-
mands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are
guilty. When they become aware of the sin they committed, the assembly
must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of
Meeting. The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s
head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.
Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood into the Tent
of Meeting. He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before the
Lord seven times in front of the curtain. He is to put some of the blood on
the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the Tent of Meeting. The
rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering
at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.” (Leviticus 4:13-18)
Two points regarding corporate sacrifice stand out: First, it was possible for the
whole community to sin against God unintentionally! Again, ignorance does not
mean innocence. God’s universal laws have no boundaries. When the commu-
nity becomes aware of its sin, God requires the whole community to make
atonement and this atonement is presented at the corporate Altar of Incense, not
the Altar of Burnt Offering. Second, a sacrificial bull is required for corporate
atonement for the sin of an entire community. A bull was the most valuable
animal in the herd. This points to the fact that the Father gave His most valuable
gift, the blood of His only Son, to redeem the whole world! Many Christians
believe John 3:16 is the most beautiful text in the Bible, but notice what the text
really says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16, italics mine.) Did you notice that this text is actually a “corporate”
text? “For God so loved the world . . . .” To appreciate the entire scope of the
Plan of Salvation, we must understand that it is much larger than an individual
matter. The plan involves all of the descendants of Adam and Eve, and in order
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 177

to include all the nations of the world, the plan has to include the entire human
race over a period of 6,000 years.
When the community sinned, the bull’s blood was sprinkled seven times on the
front of the veil (or curtain) that separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy
Place in the temple. This action signified that as a community, Israel had
violated the law which was written on tablets that were behind the veil in the Ark
of the Covenant. (The high priest could not enter the Most Holy Place except on
the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:2) In order to provide atonement for the
community, the priest sprinkled the blood as close to the law as possible. Then,
he placed blood on the four horns of the Altar of Incense and the crimson
record of sin defiled the Altar of Incense until the cleansing that occurred on the
Day of Atonement. (Leviticus 4:7,18)

If the High Priest Sins

If the high priest sinned, his atonement had to be presented on the Altar of
Incense rather than the Altar of Burnt Offering because his sin was consid-
ered a corporate offense. As a living parallel of Jesus, God held the office
of high priest to a higher standard of accountability than that of ordinary
people. If the high priest sinned, his actions were considered more deni-
grating in God’s sight than anything a political leader of a country may have
done! Therefore any sin committed by a high priest was a sin against God
and Israel (a corporate offense) and atonement was required on the Altar
of Incense. (Leviticus 4:3-7)

Incense Pleasing to God

The Altar of Incense derives its name from its most obvious function;
namely, the continual burning of incense. The object lesson for burning
incense before God is this: Approach God with reverence. The sweet smell
of incense predisposed God for grace and favor. If we want God to hear us
and receive us, then we must approach Him with the sweet fragrance of
humility and reverence. Although it has been more than 25 years now,
each evening after her bath, our daughter would come running from the
bathroom and jump into my lap, ready for a bedtime story. I still remember
the scent of freshly shampooed hair that was neatly tied in a pony tail. How
could I refuse such a sweet-smelling bundle of love and curiosity? Of
course, there were moments throughout the day when she did not smell so
good, but all that was forgotten at bedtime . . . .
178 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

An offering of sweet-smelling incense is pleasing to the God who made the

roses and the fresh smell of spring. The fragrance of incense invites Him to
hear our prayers and petitions. Of course, the need for incense says much
about man’s true condition as a sinner. In our cleanest state, we stink! I am not
talking about body odor, but rather the stench of sin. Even the pagans burned
incense to predispose their gods for favor. (1 Kings 11:8) In other words, God
uses the burning of incense as an object lesson to demonstrate our degenerate
and offensive condition to Him. We are sinners and we live in the pig sty of sin.
Therefore, it is not possible for us to comprehend our sinful, degenerate state
as God sees it. A bath or shower does not remove the guilt of sin. The ever-
burning Altar of Incense confirms man’s hopeless condition before God, but it
also confirms God’s faithful promise. Daily, He masks our offensiveness with the
fragrance of our prayers so that we can draw near Him with our requests. The
burning of incense on this altar is directly associated with the prayers (petitions)
of the saints. (Revelation 8:4) He hears our prayers. Few things move the arm of
Almighty God like the sweet prayers of humble and contrite believers. (Luke
18:10-14; Hebrews 11:6) It has been said that if you wish to receive God’s
favor, call Him by the name that He likes most, “Father.”

Altar of Incense Summary

Here are six summary points about the Altar of Incense:
1. The Altar of Incense was dedicated to corporate services for the whole
community.
2. The daily services on this altar provided continual or daily around-the-
clock atonement.
3. The services conducted on the Altar of Incense point backwards to the
covenant that was established between the Father and the Son the day
man sinned.
4. The daily intercession of Jesus in Heaven will terminate at a point in the
near future and the Great Tribulation will begin.
5. Twice a day, evening and morning, atonement was placed on this altar.
6. The Altar of Incense was cleansed of defilement or reconsecrated on
the Day of Atonement.
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 179

No Veil in Heaven’s Temple

The earthly tabernacle had a veil that divided the tiny building into two rooms.
The first room was called the Holy Place and the room in the back was called
the Most Holy Place. It appears that the heavenly Temple does not have or need
a veil. Even if there had been a veil in Heaven’s temple, just like the earthly veil,
its function would have terminated at the time of Jesus’ death. The veil in the
earthly temple is important for three reasons:
1. First, as a practical matter, the veil was a wall of protection for the priests
who ministered before the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle. The veil
protected them from the consuming Shekinah Glory of God. (Exodus 40:3;
Leviticus 16:2) Of course our High Priest, Jesus, would not need such a veil
in Heaven. He sits at the right hand of the Father and is not threatened by
the glory of the Father. In fact, Jesus shares in that glory! (John 17:5)
2. The presence of two rooms in the earthly temple confirms that in Heaven’s
temple there are two distinct phases in the Plan of Salvation. Just as there
were two altars that had unique roles in the earthly process of atonement,
there are two rooms representing two unique phases of service. The first
room shadows the daily services of Jesus as our High Priest in the heavenly
temple. The backroom, the Most Holy Place, shadows the services of Jesus
as He concludes the Plan of Salvation. In other words, the earthly temple’s
Holy Place and its daily routine parallels the “daily intercessory routines” of
Jesus as He intercedes on behalf of the whole world in Heaven’s temple.
The backroom or Most Holy Place and its annual service on the Day of
Atonement parallels the final phase of Christ’s work at the end of the world
in Heaven’s Temple. (Hebrews 9:25,26) So, the veil creates two rooms in
the earthly tabernacle because there are two distinct phases in Jesus’
ministry in Heaven’s temple.
3. Paul uses the veil as an illustration explaining how prior to Jesus’ ministry
and death, man could only go so far in comprehending the salvation of God.
The sanctuary service and its shadows are wonderful, but they are only
shadows of the reality found in Jesus. However, when Jesus died, the
temple veil was ripped open because temple services were no longer
necessary. Paul emphasizes that everyone can see behind the curtain now
and watch the ministry of Jesus our High Priest sitting at the right hand of
the Father. Paul’s point is that we now have a much better revelation of
God’s plan to save man. (Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26; Hebrews
6:19,20)
180 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

The tiny, earthly sanctuary does not physically compare to the glorious temple in
Heaven (Isaiah 66:1), but there are distinctive parallels between them. The
Heaven-Earth-Linkage-Law connects the two temples so that the earthly temple
reveals the services and processes of the heavenly. God’s response to sin can
be compared to turning a lemon into lemonade. God took the bitterness of sin
and used it as an opportunity to reveal certain characteristics about Himself and
His government that were previously unknown. Because of sin, the whole
universe has seen a drama and a dimension of God’s love that could not have
been seen in any other way. Angels have a clear understanding of the proper-
ties of law, sin, penalty and grace. They understand the reasons why Lucifer
was expelled much more clearly now. They also understand why God allowed
Lucifer to live. The sin drama has revealed to the angels that there is no justifi-
cation for rebellion against any of the laws of God, for God’s laws have their origin
in Infinite Wisdom.

The Ark of the Covenant

Physically, the Ark of the Covenant was a small box of acacia wood, overlaid
with gold, about 3 feet wide by 5 feet long and 3 feet tall. (Exodus 25:10) It had
two rings on each side through which poles could be inserted. (Exodus 25:12)
The poles enabled priests to carry the ark from place to place without touching
it. The lid or top of the ark was called the atonement cover or “mercy seat.”
(Compare KJV Exodus 25:17; 26:34; 30:6 with later translations.) Two golden
angel figures (cherubim) stood on top of the box. (Exodus 25:20) The Israelites
considered the ark to be the most holy piece of furniture in the earthly temple
because the Shekinah glory hovered between the two cherubim on the ark.
(Exodus 25:22) We know that a few items were kept inside the ark. These items
included the Ten Commandments which were written by God’s own finger on two
tablets of stone, a bowl of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded. (Exodus 31:18,
40:20; Exodus 16:33; Numbers 17:10) The ceremonial laws which God dictated
to Moses were kept in a “pocket” attached to the outside of the ark.
(Deuteronomy 31:26)

A Hidden Ark
The ark was located in the backroom of the earthly tabernacle, inside the Most
Holy Place. The High Priest was the only person allowed to see the ark and he
could see it for just a few minutes each year on the Day of Atonement when he
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 181

entered the Most Holy Place. When preparing the ark for travel, the veil separat-
ing the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was used as the first layer of
protection around the ark. Then, the ark was completely hidden from view by a
blue covering. (Numbers 4:5,6) When traveling, the Israelites kept a radius of
about a thousand yards (seven-tenths of a mile) between them and the Ark.
(Joshua 3:4) As the priests prepared the ark for travel, Jewish tradition says they
always approached it by walking backwards because to look upon The Presence
was certain death.
God designed the ark and He hid it from the view of everyone but the high
priest. The hidden ark reveals a profound truth about God and sin. Before
sin defiled the human race, God’s law was written in the hearts of Adam
and Eve. They instinctively knew the Ten Commandments and Jesus often
communed with Adam and Eve face-to-face in the Garden of Eden. (Gen-
esis 3:8) But when sin separated man from God, the presence of God’s law
evaporated from their heart. The nature of man changed. Instead of having
a proclivity for righteousness, man had a propensity toward rebellion.
Furthermore, sinners could not survive the glorious presence of God.
(Exodus 19:21) So, God hid Himself from man because He desires to be
close to man. At Mt. Sinai it was necessary for God to cover Himself with dense
darkness so He could be close to His children without His glorious Presence
consuming them. (Exodus 19:18; 20:21) The darkness at Calvary covered the
Father’s presence. (Matthew 27:45) No doubt the Father wept as He bowed
near the cross. God is always near, but we cannot physically see Him because
His glory would consume us in a split second. When Moses wanted to see
Jesus, Jesus would not allow it. (Exodus 33:20) Consider this paradox: The
natural eye cannot see God and live, but the eye of faith can behold His pres-
ence and rejoice! (2 Kings 6:17)
The Ark of the Covenant was hidden from view in the earthly tabernacle because
God’s ways are hidden and mysterious to sinners. The carnal eye cannot see
the beauty and wisdom of God’s laws. (1 Kings 3:7-9,14; Psalm 95:10; Isaiah
55:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14) God understands the tendency of fallen man to make
an icon out of religious things. God did not want His people worshiping the Ten
Commandments or the ark. Instead, He wanted His people to understand and
absorb the intent of His law through love, and worship Him with thanksgiving and
obedience. The imprint of the law of God within the human heart is something
entirely different from the adoration of a stone relic.
182 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

Ark to be Exposed
Some scholars believe that the earthly Ark of the Covenant was hidden away by
priests in Jeremiah’s day just before Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem.
Some people believe it will be found before Jesus comes, while others claim the
ark has been found – although no one has yet produced any evidence to verify
the claim. Nevertheless, the Bible predicts the true Ark of the Covenant in
Heaven will one day be visible to all people on Earth. The book of Revelation
describes this dazzling wonder at the conclusion of the seventh trumpet (1,260
days into the Great Tribulation). “Then God’s Temple in Heaven was opened,
and within His Temple was seen the Ark of his covenant. And there came
flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a
great hailstorm.” (Revelation 11:19) At that time, God will demonstrate the
supreme authority of His holy law which the wicked have trampled upon. God will
reveal the ark and its contents, the Ten Commandments, with a dazzling display
of power and glory because the Ten Commandments are the legal basis to
condemn the wicked. God’s vengeance is always fair, just and legal. Before He
inflicts the seven last plagues upon the wicked of the world, God will reveal the basis
of His justice. (Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16)

The Mercy Seat

The golden lid on the ark was also called the atonement cover or mercy seat
(KJV). When the high priest entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement,
he sprinkled blood on this part of the ark to illustrate atonement for a broken law.
(Leviticus 16:14) “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Notice that Paul
also writes: “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed
with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
(Hebrews 9:22) So, blood was sprinkled on the broken law because the law had
been defiled by sin. (Romans 3:23)

Divine Love
The Ark of the Covenant represents the character of God in an interesting way.
The Ten Commandments represent justice and the atonement cover or “mercy
seat” above the law represents grace. The balance between God’s justice and
God’s mercy is defined as divine love. This is why John says, “God is love.” (1
John 4:8) God placed the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place because
His character and government are the most important things He owns. (Leviticus
11:44,45) He will not allow anyone to bring reproach upon His holy name without
a response. (Exodus 20:7)
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 183

“ ‘. . . For I am a great king,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and my name is to

be feared among the nations. ’ ” (Malachi 1:14)

The Laver
“Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it be-
tween the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his
sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they
enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not
die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an
offering made to the Lord by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so
that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his
descendants for the generations to come.” (Exodus 30:18-21)
The bronze basin (NIV) or laver (KJV) has practical and spiritual lessons
associated with it. In practice, the previous text reveals that God required a
state of physical purity, orderliness and cleanliness among those that
served in the temple. The ever-present “desert dust” soiled the hands and
feet of the priests who served in the temple and God required them to
wash before entering the tabernacle (tent of meeting) so they were clean.
Spiritually speaking, the application of water on the hands and feet reveal
man’s perpetual need to be “made clean” of sin from time to time. Sin (like
desert dust) defiles our hands and feet and we, like the priests in the desert,
need to be made clean!
Notice the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the
truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water
and the Spirit.’ ” (John 3:5) Some people misinterpret this verse to make
it say that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. This is not the
case. The thief on the cross was not baptized, nor does salvation come
through rites, rituals, sacraments or works. (Ephesians 2:8,9) Instead, a
willing baptism confirms submission to the purifying experience of God’s
sanctification. Christians need to be “cleansed” from time to time as they
travel along the road of life. Baptism marks the beginning of a purifying
experience. At the Jordan River, John baptized people into the kingdom of
Heaven after they repented from their sins. (Acts 19:4) Washing one
another’s feet as our Lord commanded serves as a “miniature baptism,”
representing the fact that we need our sins to be washed away from time to
time. The ordinance of foot-washing reminds us who we are, servants – not
masters. (See John 13:6-8.) It is so easy to forget that our righteousness is
as “filthy rags” in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6)
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God requires physical and spiritual cleanliness. The laver teaches God does
accept sinners for what we are, but He requires, as a minimum, that we clean
up before we approach Him. If this is true in the physical realm, what can be
said of the spiritual? The Psalmist wrote, “Who may ascend the hill of the
Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a
pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is
false.” (Psalms 24:3,4) No doubt this text is the basis for the adage: “Cleanli-
ness is next to Godliness.” Before we leave the matter of priests cleansing their
hands and feet at the laver, consider the implication of this verse concerning
those who will occupy mansions in the New Jerusalem: “Nothing impure will
ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but
only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revela-
tion 21:27)

The Golden Lampstand

“Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its
flower-like cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with
it. . . . See that you make them according to the pattern shown you
on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:31,40) The golden lampstand was made
of one talent of pure gold (about 66 pounds) and it had seven lamps on
top of it. It was placed next to the south wall of the Holy Place, directly
across the room from the Table of the Presence. (Exodus 25:37,39; 26:35)
The golden lampstand represents God’s agent of light or truth on Earth.
Jesus reminded the Jews, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew
5:14; Acts 13:47) God wanted a special relationship with the trustees of
His covenant (Exodus 19:1-6) and the golden lampstand represented the
union of the human with the divine.
The lampstand was made of pure gold. Gold is often used to represent
faith after it has been purified by trial and tribulation. (Revelation 3:18) The
purpose of a lampstand is light and this was the spiritual purpose for Israel.
Israel was chosen to be a “light to the world,” to represent God’s love for
man. God required the priests to refuel the seven lamps daily with pure
olive oil so the seven lights on the lampstand would burn continually
through the night. (Leviticus 24:3) The oil represents the power of the Holy
Spirit which enables the light of God’s truth to burn continually until the
darkness of sin has been finally removed. The responsibility for keeping
the lights burning rested on the priests of Israel. If they became negligent
or careless, darkness would overtake God’s people. Just as God held the
priests accountable for keeping the “lights on” in the temple, they were also
responsible for carrying the “light of truth” to His people. The priests were
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 185

“the keepers of the flame.” Unfortunately, Israel’s priests failed and Israel
apostatized many times. History also confirms that, “As priests go, so go the
people.” In fact, much of today’s social rot continues to escalate because of the
poor leadership of pastors, priests and rabbis.

The Table of the Presence

“Make a table of acacia wood – two cubits long [44 inches], a cubit wide
[22 inches] and a cubit and a half high [33 inches]. Overlay it with pure
gold and make a gold molding around it . . . And make its plates and
dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out
of offerings. Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me
at all times.” (See Exodus 25:23-30, insertions mine.) This table represents the
throne of God. All blessings flow from His throne. The idea that the Table of the
Presence represents God’s throne may surprise you, since in the earthly
tabernacle, the focus is always directed toward the “hidden” Ark of the Covenant
located in the Most Holy Place. The Shekinah glory lived within the Most Holy
Place, so the second room in the Earthly tabernacle was holier than the first
room. The veil obscured the Most Holy Place from the view of everyone but the
high priest, indicating its extreme sacredness. These physical facts have led
many people to conclude that the Ark of the Covenant must represent the throne
of God. Here are three reasons why I believe the Table of the Presence repre-
sents the throne of God:

Reason # 1 – Name
“Put the bread of the Presence [shewbread, KJV] on this table to be before
me at all times.” (Exodus 25:30) The table received its name from the twelve
loaves of bread that were placed on it each Sabbath morning. (Leviticus 24:8)
The priests baked the loaves early on Sabbath morning and placed them on the
table while they were still hot. (1 Samuel 21:3-6) At first, this practice seems
contradictory to the instructions God gave Israel in regards to appropriate
Sabbath behavior when He forbade them to cook and bake on the Sabbath.
(Exodus 16:23) However, this bread was “special.” The twelve loaves represent
“a serving of the bread of life” for each tribe. Jesus is the bread of life. (John
6:48) The fresh bread represented a spiritual meal for the twelve tribes from God
rather than an offering from the twelve tribes to God. Putting “hot fresh bread”
on the table each Sabbath morning was a shadow of the responsibility given to
the priests. They were to offer “freshly prepared” spiritual food from God’s
186 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

Word every Sabbath morning. (Matthew 12:5; Luke 4:16) The Hebrew words
lechem (Strong’s: #3899) and paneh (Strong’s: #6440), mean visible food,
having presence, within sight or showing. KJV translators indicate the bread
was clearly visible – as in “the bread is showing.” Thus they gave it the name,
“The Table of Showbread” (Exodus 25:30). The presentation of spiritual food on
Sabbath morning through “freshly prepared” words of life is the primary mean-
ing of the twelve loaves of fresh “showbread.” It is interesting to me that Jesus
fed great multitudes twice with loaves and fishes. When the first multitude of
over 5,000 people were fed, Jesus used five loaves. (Matthew 14:19) When the
second multitude of over 4,000 people were fed, Jesus used seven loaves.
(Matthew 15:36) In all, Jesus fed Israel with twelve loaves of bread.
Twelve loaves of bread (along with other items), one loaf for each of the twelve
tribes, were placed on the Table of the Presence for the priests to consume at
regular intervals. The Table also had cups, bowls and pitchers. (Exodus 37:16)
When a person looks at the Table of Showbread in terms of the utensils and the
food placed on it, it becomes obvious that this Table represents “a King’s table.”
The priests were invited to eat from the King’s table because they were highly
honored to serve in His earthly temple. Eating from the King’s table was not only
a great honor, but it also showed intimacy with the King. It was common for
kings in ancient times to honor special friends by inviting them to eat at their
table for as long as they lived! (2 Samuel 9:7) Even the wicked Jezebel knew the
value of good cooking! She controlled Baal’s prophets by feeding them well at
her table. (1 Kings 18:19) It would not surprise me to learn that Jezebel coined
the phrase, “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
Jesus told His disciples, “And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father
conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke
22:29,30) So, the Table of the Presence in the earthly temple is associated with
special privileges granted to priests. It is associated with Jesus as the Bread of
Life (John 6:35) who has come down from Heaven. The Table of the Presence
reflects the source of these blessings because the Bread of Life was served to
the people each Sabbath from this table.

Reason # 2 – Location
The Table of the Presence was located on the north side of the tabernacle. In
ancient times, the direction of “north” was regarded as the direction of divine
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 187

residence, divine judgment or divine authority. Divine destruction and/or judg-

ments always came from the north. Notice these five examples (Italics mine.):
Isaiah 41:25 I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes – one
from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on
rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter
treading the clay.
Jeremiah 1:14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be
poured out on all who live in the land.”
Jeremiah 4:6 Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without
delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even
terrible destruction.
Jeremiah 46:20 Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly is coming
against her from the north.
Jeremiah 50:9 For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance
of great nations from the land of the north. They will
take up their positions against her, and from the north
she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled
warriors who do not return empty-handed.
Now, notice the location of the Table of the Presence: “Place the table
outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the
lampstand opposite it on the south side.” (Exodus 26:35) No matter
where Israel moved the earthly tabernacle, the Table of the Presence
always sat on the north side. Look closely at the following text to see what
the north side of the temple suggests: “How art thou fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground,
which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I
will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the
most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14, KJV) Lucifer conspired to place his throne
“in the sides of the north” because this is the location of God’s throne. He
wants the adoration that God alone deserves. The following text under-
scores the importance of the “north side” of Jerusalem: “Beautiful for
situation, the joy of the whole Earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of
the north, the city of the great King.” (Psalms 48:2, KJV) The Psalmist
describes the location of God’s throne as being “on the sides of the north.”
188 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

These verses suggest the north side of the temple is where the throne of God is
located. Since the Table of the Presence was located on the north side of the
temple, it is reasonable to say the Table of the Presence represents the throne
of God. But, there is one final reason that brings the question to a close.

Reason # 3 – The Seat of Christ

Remember that the Ark of the Covenant represents the character of God. The
ark symbolizes the divine balance between justice and mercy. Because God is
consistent and reasonable, it is possible that He can be understood to some
extent by finite minds. God is thoughtful and purposeful in everything He does.
God designed the earthly tabernacle to teach men and women about Himself
without resorting to an overpowering spectacle. The vastness of God’s beauty is
always below the surface. The Tent of Meeting was covered with common skins.
(Exodus 36:19) In other words, God could have “wowed” the Israelites with a
Sinai cathedral dwarfing the tombs and pyramids of Egypt. He could have
ensconced Himself in some lofty and glorious grandeur that would have utterly
embarrassed Pharaoh and the Philistines. He could have intimidated the Israel-
ites into submission each week by showing great displays of power, miracles,
signs and wonders from the mountain. On several occasions, God did perform
marvelous miracles on behalf of Israel, but He does not want to be worshiped
because He happens to be the greatest King in all the universe who has great
authority and owns everything. (Psalm 95:3; Malachi 1:14) No, God desires His
children to worship for different reasons. He desires our worship because He
gave us life and showed us love. He desires our worship because a loving
relationship between the Creator and the created is the only way to the fullness
of life which He designed for us. Last, God desires our worship because the
more we exalt Him the more we become like Him. The more we understand His
character, the more we can appreciate His ways and government.
God seeks our worship, but it is for our good, not His. God will not force Himself
on one creature because He is love. Jesus’ life is an excellent example of this
point. He could have chosen any high-ranking, wealthy parents on Earth, but He
chose to live and look like a common person. To God, our understanding of His
character, ways and government are of greater value than beholding His glory.
The Bible says of Jesus, “He grew up before him [the Father] like a tender
shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to
attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He
Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples 189

was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and
we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:2,3, insertion mine.)
When Jesus returned to Heaven, He was seated at the right hand of the Father.
(Hebrews 8:1-5) If the Table of the Presence represents God’s throne, then the
physical location of Jesus (at the right hand of the Father) puts Him between the
Ark of the Covenant and the Father – the perfect place for an intercessor!
Consider the work of Jesus: He sits on His throne upholding the righteousness
of God’s government (to His right); He sits on His throne exonerating the righ-
teousness of the Father (to His left) and while in this middle position He is man’s
representative before Heaven’s watching host! What a High Priest!
During the days of the earthly tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant in the Most
Holy Place was the focus of worship. The Shekinah glory hid behind the veil in
the Most Holy Place because God wanted mankind to focus on the principles of
His government of love and His righteous ways more than His veiled glory. Still,
the evidence indicates that the banquet Table of the Presence was the source of
the Bread of Life. In addition, the Table of the Presence was always physically
located on the north side of the temple. The Table of the Presence symbolizes
the throne where His presence is located. If these conclusions are true, then the
physical location of Jesus, at the right hand of the Father, makes a great deal of
sense. Jesus sits where you would expect a mediator to sit, between God the
Father and the Ark of the Covenant.

Summary – Temple Furniture

We have briefly examined the purpose of each item in the earthly temple and
how it parallels a corresponding item in Heaven’s temple. Much more could be
written on this topic, so much so, that it could fill many books. We know that
God is thoughtful and deliberate in all that He does and the parallels between the
earthly and heavenly temple are no exception. The essential purpose for under-
standing the earthly tabernacle today is twofold. First, the services of the earthly
temple provide a backdrop against which we can test our ideas and understand-
ing of the Plan of Salvation. Second, parallel operations between the earthly
temple and the heavenly temple explain a number of processes and events
which take place in the book of Revelation. The ways of God in redeeming man
are revealed in His temple. We have covered a lot of information, so perhaps a
brief summary about temple furniture will be helpful.
190 Chapter 11 – Parallel Temples

1. Services at the Altar of Burnt Offering pointed forward to the death of Jesus
as man’s perfect substitute.
2. Daily services at the Altar of Incense pointed backward to the day interces-
sion by Jesus began for sinful man. The covenant Jesus made with the
Father to save man currently stands between the wrath of God and a
condemned world.
3. The Ark of the Covenant represents the government of God. The wonderful
balance between justice and mercy is called divine love.
4. The Laver illustrates the spiritual cleansing that man regularly needs.
5. The Lampstand represents the agents or trustees of God’s salvation who are
to let their light shine before others for the glory of God.
6. The Table of the Presence, on the north side of the temple, represents the
throne of God.
7. The Heaven-Earth-Linkage-Law indicates that earthly tabernacle services
and processes are parallels of heavenly tabernacle services and processes.
 Chapter 12
Parallel Temple Services

If he [Jesus] were on earth, he would not be a priest, for

there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by
the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and
shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was
warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See
to it that you make everything according to the pattern
shown you on the mountain.
– Hebrews 8:4,5
(insertion mine)

Shortly after the Exodus, God commanded Israel to observe six religious
services each year that are parallels of six processes within the Plan of
Salvation. After the time of King David, males were required to attend three
of these religious services in Jerusalem. These three feasts were associ-
ated with three crop harvests. (Exodus 23:14-17) God designed these
earthly events so that participants would consider the real events that
would take place in Heaven. The six services were:
1. The Feast of Passover*
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread
3. The Feast of Weeks or “Pentecost”*
4. The Feast of Trumpets
5. The Day of Atonement
6. The Feast of Ingathering or “Tabernacles”*
*Attendance was required in Jerusalem.
The first three services took place in the spring and the last three took
place in the fall. The timing of these services was very specific.

End Time Parallels

As we examine these six services, we will focus on how they shadow key
events that transpire within the Plan of Salvation. When God implemented
these six services, He already knew how He was going to bring the drama
192 Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services

of sin to an end. So, the story of Israel’s miraculous deliverance from slavery in
Egypt contains several important parallels about the saints being delivered from
the bondage of sin. Think about this. God knows the end from the beginning. He
did marvelous things long ago that prove to be awesome parallels of coming
events! With this thought in mind, let us consider the story of the night the Lord
passed over Egypt.
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the
tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one
for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb,
they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into
account the number of people there are. You are to determine the
amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and
you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them
until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the
community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to
take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the
doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night
they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs,
and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in
water, but roast it over the fire – head, legs and inner parts. Do not
leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn
it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt,
your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste;
it is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt
and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals – and I will
bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will
be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the
blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when
I strike Egypt.” (Exodus 12:3-13)

The Rest of the Story

“The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.
At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the
firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the
prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the live-
stock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got
up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there
was not a house without someone dead. During the night Pharaoh
summoned Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Up! Leave my people, you
Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services 193

and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your
flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.’ The
Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. ‘For other-
wise,’ they said, ‘we will all die!’ ” (Exodus 12:28-33)
The Passover described in Exodus 12 occurred in 1437 B.C. For centuries the
Jews have observed the Feast of Passover to commemorate their deliverance
from Egypt. However, the Feast of Passover is more inclusive than that. It is a
parallel of what God plans to do at the end of time. Consider these seven
parallels:
1. First Passover – God’s people were miraculously delivered from
slavery.
End-time Parallel (ETP) – God’s people will be sealed and then
physically delivered from the bondage of mortality.
2. First Passover – Everyone in Egypt was notified that the firstborn (man
and beast) had been placed under the curse of death. This an-
nouncement produced two groups of people: believers and unbe-
lievers. Believers put blood on their doorposts.
ETP – The inhabitants of the world will be notified they are under the
curse of death. There will be two groups of people: believers and
unbelievers. The believers accept Christ’s atonement and will obey
the message which the 144,000 will proclaim.
3. First Passover – God kept His covenant with Abraham and took
Abraham’s descendants to the “Promised Land.”
ETP – Jesus will keep His promise and return to Earth at the appointed
time. He will take the saints to the “Promised Land,” that is, the
Earth made new.
4. First Passover – There was a Sabbath rest test in Egypt and persecu-
tion before the Exodus.
ETP – There will be a Sabbath rest test and persecution for the inhabit-
ants of Earth before the great Exodus of the saints at the Second
Coming.
5. First Passover – God “passed over” every house in Egypt and He
checked the door posts of every house to see who believed His
word.
ETP – God will “pass over” every human being and save each person
who believes His word.
6. First Passover – God sent ten plagues upon a defiant Egypt.
ETP – God will send 14 plagues upon a defiant Earth during the Great
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Tribulation (seven first plagues called seven trumpets and seven last
plagues called seven bowls).
7. First Passover – God destroyed Pharaoh and his army with water.
ETP – God will destroy the Antichrist and his armies with fire.
The Passover is a end-time parallel of God’s judgment of man. The judg-
ment of mankind is a topic of utmost importance and yet, few people know
anything about it. The Bible says, “For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him
for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
(2 Corinthians 5:10) For now, simply remember that the observance of a
Passover feast was far more significant than merely celebrating an escape
from Pharaoh and Egypt. God not only sees the past, but also knows
where He is going and wants His children to know His plans!

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

“Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this
very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day
as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. In the first month
you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the
fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. For seven
days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats any-
thing with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel,
whether he is an alien or native-born. Eat nothing made with yeast.
Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.” (Exodus 12:17-20)
The observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are
inseparably joined. The Passover was celebrated on the 15th day of the first
month and the Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the same day. The
term “feast” may be misleading since God required Israel to search their
homes for yeast and then dispose of it. They were to eat yeast-free bread
for seven days. The Hebrews understood that yeast produces fermenta-
tion. Consequently, a little bit of yeast will “infect” the batter.
(1 Corinthians 5:6-8) On the other hand, unleavened bread has no yeast.
God aligned the Feast of Passover with the Feast of Unleavened Bread
because He wanted Israel to see the connection between deliverance and
purity of heart. God’s goodness and grace do not lessen His demands for a
pure heart. (Revelation 21:27; 22:15) This is why sinners need the sealing
so badly! The Hebrews were to thoroughly search their homes for yeast
and remove any trace of it before Passover began. The Feast of Unleav-
ened Bread was to remind them that they needed to be constantly on
Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services 195

guard against the yeast of sin in their homes and lives. We still need to guard
against the yeast of sin, especially as we wait for the final “pass over” and
appearing of our Lord. We must search our heart often and remove any known
sin. The devil is a master at gradualism. Sin creeps in slowly, but steadily. Sin
will overtake an individual, as well as a whole nation, if it is not firmly resisted.
The history of Israel (indeed, all nations) confirms this point.
In the Scriptures, the figurative use of yeast represents the fermenting process
of sin and is demonstrated to be vain, foolish, even intoxicating ideas of man.
(Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; Revelation 18:3) Men and women may try to excuse sin,
justify sin, defend sin, rename sin, promote sin, exalt sin or extol the benefits of
sin, but make no mistake – sin is deadly! God hates sin and He forbade the
Jews from presenting any offerings to Him that contained yeast! (Exodus 23:18)
Jesus warned His disciples, “‘. . . But be on your guard against the yeast of
the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that he was not
telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the
teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11-12) These words
are certainly applicable today. There are seven religious systems in the world
today. Each one is full of yeast. The doctrines of the world’s religious systems
have fermented and are unacceptable to God. In the last days, the servants of
God, the 144,000, will present the unleavened bread of Life to the world and
every person on Earth will have an opportunity to choose life or reject the truth.
Revelation’s story indicates that many, if not the majority of people, will reject the
bread of Heaven because they prefer soft bread; doctrines fermented with the
yeast of sin.

Three Presentations of Firstfruits

Passover always occurs in the spring, between April 3 and May 2. On the
Sunday following Passover, the high priest presented the “firstfruits” of the
winter harvest before the Lord. (Leviticus 23:11) This presentation of
firstfruits (wheat, barley, oil and wine) was a shadow of a resurrected Jesus
presenting Himself before the Father. Jesus is the Firstborn of the dead,
the preeminent One risen from the tomb. (Revelation 1:5) Because the
firstfruits at Passover were always presented on Sunday, so Jesus pre-
sented Himself to the Father on Sunday morning as the Firstfruits of the
dead. (John 20:17)
Consider the elements of the Passover feast: The Passover Lamb repre-
sents Jesus, the Lamb of God. The yeast-free bread eaten at Passover
196 Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services

represents a sinless Jesus, the unleavened Bread of Life that came down from
Heaven. (John 6:35) The life and teachings of Jesus have no impurity or
fermentation in them. The unfermented wine used at Passover represents the
pure blood of Jesus that was shed for our sins. (Luke 22:20) Jesus could not be
a perfect substitute for us if there had been any sin in His life.
The first harvest of the year occurred at the time of Passover. As a winter
harvest, it was also the smallest harvest. This harvest foreshadows the
ascension of Jesus with a small, but triumphant group of people who were
resurrected from the cold winter of death. This group of people includes the
24 elders mentioned in Revelation. (Matthew 27:52,53; Ephesians 4:8;
Revelation 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:20) The 24 elders, two witnesses from
each of the twelve tribes, are representatives of the human race. These 24
elders were taken to Heaven in A.D. 30. to serve as human observers in
Heaven’s court. They will testify to all the saints in days to come about the
courtroom process when Jesus “passed-over” the records of every person
to determine their eternal destiny.

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

“Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then
present an offering of new grain to the Lord. From wherever you live,
bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked
with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.” (Leviticus
23:16,17) The Feast of Weeks was celebrated at the time of the spring
harvest. The spring harvest was larger than the winter harvest at Passover.
This one-day feast occurred in late spring or early summer (June/July). In
Christ’s day, this feast was called “Pentecost” because the Greek word for
Pentecost means “fiftieth day.” The count of fifty days began with the
waving of firstfruits on Sunday after Passover. The count of fifty days
included seven seventh day Sabbaths (or seven full weeks). Then, on the
50th day (always on a Sunday), the Feast of [seven] Weeks was celebrated
with a presentation of firstfruits from the spring harvest.
Farmers understand that when there is zero rainfall there is zero harvest.
This feast illustrates the essential work of the Holy Spirit. The work of the
Holy Spirit is to soften and influence the human heart toward spiritual
matters. (1 Corinthians 2:14) Unless a person is born of the Spirit, he or
she cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) This feast demonstrates
that God is able to bring life, even a bountiful harvest, from the cold soil of
a carnal heart if individuals will open up and receive the outpouring of the
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Holy Spirit. God wanted the Jews to understand that men may work the soil of
the heart and plant seeds of truth, but it is only through the power of the Spirit of
God that spiritual life occurs. The beauty of the shadow of this feast is that even
though the human heart may be cold or even dead to spiritual things, God can
produce a wonderful transformation through the power of the Spirit!
Acts 2 records a wonderful event that illustrates the shadow of this feast. Ten
days after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples at
Pentecost and 3,000 people became baptized believers in Christ that day! (Acts
2:41) This harvest of souls came from the toil of Christ Himself. He had traveled
from village to village, healing the sick, lame and blind. He had preached
freedom to people ensnared by twisted religion and superstition and He removed
the yeast of foolish dogma with pure words of life. The disciples and these 3,000
baptized believers were the firstfruits from the gospel of Christ. (Matthew
7:28,29) Their conversion was the result of the work of the Holy Spirit!
God’s timing is always perfect and the event described in Acts 2 was no excep-
tion! Attendence at Pentecost was required so Jewish males came to Jerusalem
from many nations. (Acts 2:9-11) The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was verified
by signs and wonders and Peter boldly took advantage of the occasion. What a
tremendous opportunity to tell of a risen Jesus to those Jews who had gathered
from every corner of the world! As a result of that Pentecostal event, Israel was
widely and powerfully informed about the appearing of Messiah, their corporate
guilt for rejecting and killing Him, and the ascension of the risen Savior!
Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, 3,000 Jews became convinced
that Jesus was the Messianic fulfillment of Scripture! (Acts 2:22; Acts 13:48) I
also suspect that the testimony of those resurrected with Jesus 50 days earlier
gave immutable proof that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead. (Matthew
27:52,53)

Passover, Pentecost and Ingathering

Consider the three presentations of firstfruits. The presentation of firstfruits at
Passover represents a risen Jesus. He is the firstborn (the preeminent of men)
among those who have died. (Revelation 1:5) The small winter harvest at Pass-
over represents a small group of people that Jesus took to Heaven at the time of
His ascension including the 24 elders. The second presentation of firstfruits
occurred at Pentecost and these firstfruits from the spring harvest foreshad-
owed the disciples and the 3,000 people that were baptized at Pentecost in Acts
2. These were the first Christians. The Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, is the only
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Pentecost that stands out in the history of Israel since the initial Exodus. It is
widely known because the Holy Spirit rained on those gathered in Jerusalem in
A.D. 30 to celebrate this Pentecost. The outpouring of Holy Spirit power
changed hearts and produced “born again” people. (Romans 8:5; 1 Peter 4:3-6)
Since that day, the gospel of Christ has not stopped. The gospel continues to
spread throughout the world (Colossians 1:6) and the reverberations of that
Pentecost continue! The gospel of the kingdom is still alive and the early rain of
the Holy Spirit is still producing a harvest. The time has almost come for Earth’s
final harvest represented by the Feast of Ingathering. There is going to be a
powerful out pouring of Holy Spirit power upon the whole world. (Joel 2:27,28)
The fall harvest is the largest harvest and the book of Revelation says the 144,000
servants of God will be the firstfruits of the final harvest. (Revelation 14:4) John also
says that the final harvest will be so great that no one can count the number of those
who come out of the Great Tribulation! (Revelation 7:9-14) God designed these
feasts thousands of years ago because He wants us to understand His plan to save
us!

Feast F ir s tfr u its T h r e e H a r v e s ts

A s m a ll g ro u p i n c lu d i n g th e 2 4
P a s s o ve r J e s us
e ld e rs w e re ta k e n to H e a ve n

A ll w h o h a ve re c e i ve d th e
g o s p e l o f J e s u s C h ri s t
P e n te c o s t D i s c i p le s + 3 ,0 0 0
b e tw e e n A .D . 3 0 a n d th e
Tri b u la ti o n

A ll w h o w i ll re c e i ve th e g o s p e l
In g a th e ri n g 1 4 4 ,0 0 0
d u ri n g th e G re a t Tri b u la ti o n

The Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets was the first of three convocations held in the seventh
month of the year. According to Jewish history, the seventh new moon of the
year (or Tishri 1) was marked by a very noisy feast. Priests were arranged in
groups and these groups took turns throughout the day sounding their trumpets!
Even after the feast was over, trumpet blasts could be heard evening and
morning for eight more days. The Bible simply says, “On the first day of the
seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day
Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services 199

for you to sound the trumpets.” (Numbers 29:1)

The Old Testament does not provide much detail about the Feast of Trumpets.
However, we can easily determine the purpose for the Feast of Trumpets with a
little investigation. The sounding of trumpets in ancient times was the equivalent
of sounding a siren. (Joel 2:1) The trumpet was used in ancient war much like
the bugle was used in the Civil War that happened in the United States in the
1860’s. The sounding of the trumpets was designed as a warning to every man,
woman and child that the ultra-serious Day of Atonement was about to arrive.
God’s love for humanity moves Him to notify people when the time of judg-
ment arrives. The ancient Day of Atonement was regarded as an extremely
solemn event because that day marked the end of mercy. God required all
known sins be transferred to the sanctuary before sundown on the tenth day of
the seventh month. (Leviticus 16; 23:27-32) Remember, in ancient Israel a new
day began at evening, so the evening of the tenth day is followed by the morning
of the tenth day.
To show the children of Israel just how serious He was about the end of mercy,
God told Moses that if any household was found guilty of unconfessed sin on the
Day of Atonement, that household was to be cut off from the camp. In other
words, the heritage of each Jewish family was at stake on the Day of Atone-
ment. So, the Feast of Trumpets served as an impressive announcement that
something very serious was about to take place. According to Jewish literature,
the priests warned Israel of the approaching Day of Atonement for nine days as
they sounded their trumpets throughout the nation. Although no work was
allowed on the Day of Atonement, it was unlike the other annual feasts because
it was truly a day of fasting and supplication.
The Feast of Trumpets notified the nation of Israel that only a few days remained
to make sure everyone was fully reconciled with each other as well as with God.
The first nine days of Tishri were dedicated to soul searching and reflection.
Each person within the household was to be sure their sins had been trans-
ferred to the Altar of Burnt Offering. According to Jewish rabbis, the phrase,
“Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” was often spoken during the first nine days
of the seventh month. Meeting with God was not a casual matter. The Hebrews
understood that God’s displeasure could be aroused and fire from God could
consume thousands in a matter of seconds. (Numbers 16, Psalm 78:21) They
also knew, however, that God was a God of love who does not want one person
to be destroyed. (Deuteronomy 7:9; Isaiah 55:6-7; Matthew 18:14)
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End-Time Trumpet Parallel

The parallel between the Feast of Trumpets and the Seven Trumpets described
in Revelation is obvious and important. The sounding of trumpets at the Feast of
Trumpets is a shadow of the sounding of seven trumpets in Heaven during the
Great Tribulation. Consider this parallel for a moment: In ancient Israel, God
terminated the offer of salvation at sundown on the 10th day of the seventh
month (the Day of Atonement). In our time, God will terminate the offer of
salvation when the seventh trumpet sounds. (Revelation 10:7; 11:15-19) God’s
love for humanity moves Him to notify people when the time of judgment arrives.
Consequently, when the seven trumpets begin to sound in Heaven, there will be
corresponding events on Earth. (Remember the Heaven-Earth-Linkage-Law?)
As the trumpet judgments fall on Earth, 144,000 servants of God will proclaim to
the world, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment
has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the
springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7) When the seventh trumpet sounds, God’s
generous offer of salvation to mankind will be finished. Everyone will have made
a decision for or against the gospel by the time the seventh trumpet sounds.
Everyone who refuses to accept the generous offer of salvation and the perfect
atonement which is offered through faith in Christ will be “cut off” from eternal
life.
The seven trumpets of Revelation are linked with seven terrible judgments that
will fall on Earth. These judgments cause the Great Tribulation. The Bible
predicts four global earthquakes, meteoric showers of burning hail which burn
up large portions of Earth, two asteroid impacts, great darkness covering one-
third of the Earth – caused perhaps by a large number of volcano eruptions and
more. Jesus said, “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from
the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. If
those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake
of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21,22) Terrible
events and overwhelming suffering will cause everyone to consider or recon-
sider reconciling with their neighbors and with God. People who love God and
His truth will repent of wrong doing. They will accept the terms and conditions
for salvation which the 144,000 will proclaim. The seventh day Sabbath will
become, as in the days just before the Exodus, a great test of faith. People with
hearts like Pharaoh will take their stand on the side of rebellion against God.
Even though God’s mercy is great and His salvation is free, there is a limit to His
patience with rebellion and sinners. God’s willingness to forgive sinners is
beyond comprehension, however, His patience with sinners does not last
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forever. (See Genesis 6:5-7; Romans 2:5-8; Revelation 14:9-10; and Revelation
18:4-5.) Those who love the Lord will come to see that His holy law declares the
seventh day of the week to be holy and will obediently submit to the require-
ments of the Almighty. Just as standing for God’s Sabbath was seen as an act of
rebellion against the authority of Pharaoh, so in like manner the saints will be
tested. All who pass the test of faith will be sealed and delivered from sin’s
destruction. God has promised to do this! The duration of the seven trumpets
and the time allocated for sealing the saints will be 1,260 days. The 144,000 are
sealed first (Revelation 7:1-4) and others will be sealed as time passes. (Revela-
tion 10:7)

The Day of Atonement / Reconciliation

The Day of Atonement occurred on the 10th day of the 7th month. This service
was the most solemn of the six annual services. The Day of Atonement service
involves three vital issues: The reconciliation of man with man, the reconciliation
of man with God and the removal of sin from the temple. The Day of Atonement
indicates there is a terminus, a point in time when God’s offer of mercy is
terminated. The Hebrew word for atonement, kaphar (Strong’s H3722) means to
placate, cancel, reconcile, pacify, etc. Atonement is sometimes described as a
state of at-one-ment. The basic idea behind the word atonement is reconcilia-
tion, being restored to a state of oneness. Notice the requirements for reconcili-
ation: “The Lord said to Moses: ‘If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the
Lord by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left
in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and
lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that
people may do – when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return
what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him,
or the lost property he found, or whatever it was he swore falsely about.
He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all
to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering. And as a penalty he
must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, his guilt offering, a ram from
the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the
priest will make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven
for any of these things he did that made him guilty.’ ” (Leviticus 6:1-7) If a
person sinned against his neighbor, God required atonement between the two
parties before He would allow the guilt of that sin to be transferred to the temple.
Jesus underscored the necessity for atonement with a brother when He said,
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember
that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front
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of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and
offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23,24)
Even though the topic of judicial equilibrium has been introduced, a few com-
ments about this topic are necessary at this point. Atonement for sin is required
in God’s universe because the presence of sin is not justifiable. If sin could be
justified, then God should be held responsible for sin! Since God has done
nothing that would make Him responsible for sin, the presence of sin cannot be
justified. Therefore, God requires atonement or appeasement for the presence
of sin.
God maintains a state of judicial equilibrium throughout His vast kingdom. God is
the Guardian, the Executor and the Supreme Court of the universe and He
insures that judicial equilibrium is ever present. There is no separation of
powers in God’s government. Instead, there is a separation of entities, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are united in purpose, plan and
action. Together, They uphold and honor a rule of law based upon judicial
equilibrium. Judicial equilibrium is defined as the perfect balance between the
demands of God’s law and His offer of grace. (Remember the Ark of the Cov-
enant represents the balance between justice and mercy.) Judicial equilibrium
does not lessen the demands of God’s law nor does judicial equilibrium elevate
the provisions of grace above the demands of law. The justice side of judicial
equilibrium is illustrated by an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a bruise for
bruise and most of all, a life for a life. (Exodus 21) The golden rule spoken from
the justice perspective is this: “It will be done to you as you did to others.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 7:12) The other side of judicial equilibrium is
called mercy. Mercy is extended through a process called reconciliation or
atonement. The first step toward atonement for wrong doing is restitution. God
requires human beings to make restitution for any sin committed against another
(Matthew 5:23,24), and He also requires that we accept atonement for any sin
committed against us. This requirement is summed up in the Lord’s prayer,
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew
6:12) We noticed earlier in Leviticus 6 that God requires two atonements for sin
committed against our neighbor. First, God expects us to voluntarily make
atonement with our offended neighbor by offering suitable restitution, then God
required atonement at the Altar of Burnt offering by offering an acceptable
sacrifice. As far as the sinner was concerned, this was the end of the matter.
Still, a wrong had been committed and even though atonement had been made,
the guilt of sin remained upon the horns of the altar. This guilt was removed from
the temple on the Day of Atonement and placed on the head of a scapegoat.
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God Has Set a Day to Judge the World

If sins were not transferred to the tabernacle before the Day of Atonement
began, those sins could not be forgiven. It was forever too late for any subse-
quent atonement. The Day of Atonement service illustrates the fact that God
has set a day when there will be no further atonement for sin. (During the
Great Tribulation, the offer of mercy ends with the seventh trumpet.) If a
person neglected to transfer his sins to the altar, the sinner received the
penalty of his sins upon his own head. But, all who transferred their sins to
the temple prior to the Day of Atonement were set free of sin’s penalty.
With these thoughts in mind, consider the Day of Atonement service.

The Day of Atonement Process

Early in the morning on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atone-
ment service began with a close investigation of the life of the high priest.
Before the high priest could officiate on behalf of the nation of Israel, God
examined him to determine if he was worthy to conduct the service. Imagine
how sobering it must have been for the high priest to realize that he must stand
in God’s presence and be examined before he was allowed to officiate for the
children of Israel as their intercessor. The examination of the life of the high
priest foreshadowed the investigation which Jesus underwent before He could
serve as man’s judge. (See Daniel 7:9,10,13,14; Revelation 4 and 5.)
To illustrate how serious the worthiness issue was, the high priest had to slaugh-
ter a ram as a sin offering for his family and a bull for himself (remember, the
high priest is considered a corporate officer, a representative of Jesus). Then,
with a censer and some of the atonement blood from the bull in his hands, the
trembling high priest went behind the veil to stand in the brilliant glory of Almighty
God. There, surrounded by smoke and the sweet fragrance of incense, the high
priest sprinkled some of the blood on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. Then,
he communed with God. If God considered the high priest’s life and his offering
acceptable, the high priest would be allowed to continue with the higher service,
the cleansing of the temple. As the high priest left the Most Holy Place, he set
the bull’s blood aside for a short period of time. (See Leviticus 16, 21 and 22.)

The Cleansing of the Temple

The second phase, the cleansing of the temple from the guilt of sin, involved
several steps. First, two perfect goats were presented to the high priest in the
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courtyard. Lots were cast to determine which goat would die for the penalty of
sin. Then, the high priest killed the Lord’s goat on the Altar of Burnt Offering.
With a censer and some of the goat’s blood in a cup, the high priest entered
behind the veil a second time to stand in God’s presence. He then sprinkled the
goat’s blood on the atonement cover of the Ark and again communed with God.
If God was pleased with the sincerity and faithfulness of the people, the high
priest was permitted to continue with the final phase of cleansing the temple.
After leaving the Most Holy Place, the high priest retrieved the bull’s blood from
his personal sacrifice and mixed it with the blood from the Lord’s goat and put
some of the mixed blood on the Altar of Incense. This action removed the
defilement of the Altar of Incense. Then, he went out of the temple into the
courtyard to the Altar of Burnt Offering and cleansed that altar by sprinkling
mixed blood on it. After this was done, the high priest approached the
remaining goat (the scapegoat) and placed his hands on the head of the
scapegoat.
This final action of placing his hands on the head of the scapegoat transferred
all of Israel’s guilt which had accumulated in the temple to the scapegoat. Then,
a very capable man (“a fit man,” [KJV]) led the scapegoat far out into the desert
so that the goat would die of starvation. The scapegoat’s lengthy starvation
shadows the necessity in God’s government for full and complete restitution for
sin itself. Even though the penalty for sin is death by execution (Lord’s goat), sin
is never forgiven or justified. Someone must make atonement for the presence
of sin. Since the creator of sin is Lucifer, Lucifer must bear the responsibility
for sin upon his own head. As the father and perpetrator of sin upon angels and
the human race, Lucifer has to make restitution for his actions. God’s ven-
geance demands it. The scapegoat received all of the guilt that had been stored
in the temple because the scapegoat foreshadows the one who is responsible
for the presence of sin in the universe. Death for Lucifer, as represented by the
scapegoat, will be slow and painful.
Notice how judicial equilibrium functions. Justice demands the following: The
father of sin must bear the penalty for creating sin. Further, the creator of sin
must also bear the guilt of sin which was transferred away from sinners to the
temple. Grace offers the following: Sinners under the penalty for sin can have
their sins transferred to the temple by presenting a perfect substitute. Here we
see the perfect balance between justice and mercy. The Lord’s goat represents
the mercy that God has extended to sinners: Jesus, the Lamb of God. The
scapegoat represents the justice that God demands of sinners: restitution and
death.
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Confirmations of Truth
The Day of Atonement ceremony confirms several important truths that harmoni-
ously coexist within the Plan of Salvation. The Old Testament tabernacle service
confirms that the demands of God’s law do not eclipse the offer of God’s grace
nor does the operation of God’s grace make the law void. Clearly, law and grace
work together harmoniously within the tabernacle parallels. The law condemns a
sinner to death, but grace provides a way for the guilt of the sinner to be
transferred so that the sinner may go free. Jesus had to die to save man
because God’s law could not be changed. God did not have the option of just
“forgetting” that Adam and Eve had sinned. Once Adam and Eve committed sin,
a series of immutable events began. For example, man became carnal by
nature. Also, death came upon all men through Adam. Therefore, Jesus was
required to live a perfect life before He could die as our perfect substitute. The
guilt of our sins could only be transferred to the altar through One who was
above condemnation.
This may begin to sound like a broken record, but it is a critical point. The
tabernacle service confirms that sin is neither forgiven nor forgotten until
the scapegoat is led away to die. The tabernacle service also confirms that
Jesus does not bear the responsibility for sin. Sin cannot be justified.
Rather, Jesus is our reconciliation with God and through His perfect blood,
our guilt can be transferred to the Altar of Burnt Offering. We have also
learned that the temple is cleansed of guilt at an appointed time and the
consequence of sin is transferred to the one responsible for sin. The
suffering of the scapegoat provides restitution. Bottom line: The life of
every sinner will be examined. Solomon wrote, “For God will bring every
deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good
or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14) If our sins are transferred to the altar through
Christ’s blood, we are not under condemnation! (Romans 8:1-10) If our
sins are not transferred to the altar, then God’s vengeance requires the
wicked to provide restitution for their sins and suffer the penalty for sin.

Two Goats
Some Christians think that both goats used on the Day of Atonement
represent Jesus since both goats are used for the purpose of atonement.
Notice this text about the scapegoat: “But the goat chosen by lot as the
scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for
making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat.”
(Leviticus 16:10) The scapegoat is presented before the Lord while it is
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alive, whereas the Lord’s goat was slain on that day. Although both goats were
used to provide atonement, the atonement they provide is not identical. If the
atonement they offer was identical, one goat would have sufficed. The Lord’s
goat provides atonement with its blood because the penalty for sin is death by
execution, the other goat provides atonement through starvation and dehydration
because restitution for sin must be made. Even though the Bible does not
explicitly say the scapegoat dies after it is taken into the desert, the implication
is that the scapegoat disappears forever and it is never seen or heard from
again. This suggests that once sin is removed from God’s temple in Heaven, it
will never occur again because the creator of sin will be no more!

The Saints Review the Wicked

The scapegoat does not die on the Day of Atonement, so the atonement it offers
does not occur that day. The end-time parallel reveals that Lucifer is not de-
stroyed until the end of the 1,000 years. (Revelation 20) In fact, the scapegoat
does not provide atonement through its death, it provides atonement (as in
restitution) through its suffering. The restitution for sin will be suffering. Suffer-
ing will be inflicted upon the wicked before the penalty for sin is executed.
During the 1,000 years, the saints will reign with Jesus and judge the wicked. “I
saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to
judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of
their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not
worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a
thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4) During the 1,000 years the saints will
review the records of the wicked and determine the appropriate amount of
suffering that will be necessary for restitution. Judicial equilibrium requires full
restitution. For example, Hitler not only deserves to die for his sins and outra-
geous conduct, but he also owes restitution to millions of people for the suffering
he inflicted on them. After a lengthy period of indescribable suffering by fire,
Hitler will eventually be burned up in the fire sent from God because the penalty
for sin is death by execution. The saints, complying with the requirements of
God’s law, will determine the amount of suffering that Hitler must endure –
proportional to the suffering he caused. If more people understood God’s
requirement for restitution, the world would be a much different place in which to
live! Paul wrote, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
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Notice the golden rule at work: “As you do unto others, it will be done unto you –
eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, bruise for a bruise, etc.” Paul says the saints
will judge the wicked saying, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the
world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge
trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge [the evil] angels? How
much more the things of this life!” (1 Corinthians 6:2,3, insertion mine.)
Keep in mind that the saints do not determine whether a person receives eternal
life or eternal death. Jesus alone is Creator and Judge of mankind, and by the
time of the Second Coming, He will have made an eternal decision about every
person. However, the judgment which the saints conduct concerns the issue of
restitution. The saints (in many cases the victims of the wicked) will review the
actions of the wicked and they will sentence the wicked to a law-full amount of
suffering – full restitution will be extracted from the wicked for the suffering they
caused. God ensures this process and He calls it His vengeance. “The Lord is
a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with
wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath
against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the
Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and
the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.” (Nahum 1:2,3) Paul wrote,
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is
written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

The Scapegoat is a “Fall Guy”

Most people have heard or used the term “scapegoat” when pinning responsibil-
ity on someone for something that went dreadfully wrong. In sanctuary terms,
the same is true. The scapegoat represents the one responsible for sin! In other
words, the scapegoat represents Lucifer because he is responsible for sin. As
the responsible party for sin on Earth, Lucifer’s guilt cannot be atoned for. He is
the father of sin and he must suffer the torment he has caused the saints. (The
wicked will suffer for their own sins, but Lucifer must suffer restitution for the
sins of the saved.) A protracted death through starvation and dehydration is a
form of restitution just like a life sentence is a form of restitution in our penal
code today. Remember, the scapegoat does not bear the consequences of sin
for the wicked. The guilt of the wicked will be on their own heads.
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Some readers may wonder why the scapegoat provides restitution for the sins
of the righteous when the saints are required to make restitution for their sins
before they go to the altar. When full restitution for sin is made between people,
the guilt for sin remains to be dealt with. However, many sins go beyond the
possibility of restitution. For example, what restitution can be made for malicious
slander, adultery, rape, sexual abuse, breaking up a marriage, or driving under
the influence of alcohol and killing twenty children? If a person commits an evil
deed and makes a gallant effort to restore whatever he or she can, truly repent-
ing of the sin and seeking God’s mercy, God will make Lucifer, the originator of
sin, provide the restitution for the wrong that goes beyond what man can offer.

Why Two Goats?

It may be that God used two goats on the Day of Atonement instead of two
lambs because goats differ from lambs in many ways. Perhaps the most
obvious difference is a goat’s independence. Every shepherd knows that
sheep are followers and goats are leaders. This point illuminates some
interesting thoughts. First, Michael (Christ) and Lucifer were once the
closest of friends. Lucifer was the first angel that Jesus created. In form,
Lucifer looked very similar to Michael. Both were angels, but Michael was
the Archangel. Michael was God in the form of an angel. Lucifer, on the
other hand, was the highest of created beings. Michael and Lucifer held the
highest offices in Heaven and had a great deal of latitude in which to
exercise their prerogatives. Over time, Lucifer became filled with envy and
jealousy and eventually coveted Michael’s position. When the Father
rebuffed him, he chose to rebel against God. He became the self-appointed leader
of sympathetic angels who also came to believe that God was unfair. When
open rebellion broke out in Heaven, these two angels became great foes.
Perhaps God used two goats on the Day of Atonement because a wild goat can
lead an entire herd of sheep astray. Casting lots to determine which goat was
the Lord’s goat on the Day of Atonement suggests that Michael was the Chosen
One to lead the angelic host.

The Feast of Ingathering (Tabernacles)

The last feast of the religious year was the Feast of Ingathering. The feast
began on the 15th day of the seventh month and it lasted for seven days.
The Jews presented their last and largest collection of firstfruits to the high
priest five days after the Day of Atonement service had passed. This feast
took place at the end of the summer harvest and as the name reflects, it
was a time for rejoicing over the bountiful harvest that had been “gathered
in.” This feast was also called the Feast of Tabernacles because every
Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services 209

Jewish male was required to go to Jerusalem and participate in the feast.

Because there was a shortage of housing in Jerusalem, the Jews erected
temporary tents (or tabernacles) for this joyous occasion.
The Feast of Tabernacles parallels a very interesting process that takes
place at the end of the world. The 144,000 are taken to Heaven before the
Second Coming, about the time of the seventh trumpet. (Revelation 11:12)
At the Second Coming, Jesus will approach Earth with all His angels and
the 144,000 attending, and He will call the righteous dead to life. The
righteous living will join with the resurrected dead to meet the Lord in the
air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) A triumphant Jesus with all His saints will
return to the holy city, New Jerusalem. There will be a great feast as Jesus
celebrates and drinks the pure wine of the grape with the redeemed. (Matthew
26:29) The saints will remain in the city for 1,000 years as a temporary resi-
dence. At the end of the 1,000 years, the holy city will descend from Heaven.
(Revelation 21:2) The wicked will be resurrected and notified of their sentence.
Jesus will call fire down out of Heaven and purify the Earth. Then, He will create
a new Heaven and a new Earth, which will become the primary home of the
saints.
Consider some of the Feast of Ingathering parallels:
1. Feast: The Feast of Ingathering was the last and largest harvest of the
year. It began five days after the Day of Atonement had
passed.
ETP: (End-time parallel): The last and largest ingathering of saints
will occur at the end of the world. The harvest of souls will be
numberless. Just as the Feast of Ingathering took place after the
Day of Atonement, so the Second Coming occurs after the close of
mercy.
2. Feast: All Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem for this feast.
ETP: All of the redeemed will be taken to New Jerusalem for the wedding
banquet.
3. Feast: The feast and the time spent in Jerusalem was temporary (seven
days).
ETP: The saints will temporarily live in the New Jerusalem during the
Sabbatical Millennium.
4. Feast: The firstfruits of this harvest were presented to the high priest
before thank offerings from the harvest were presented to the
Lord.
210 Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services

ETP: The 144,000 are the firstfruits of the final harvest. The 144,000 are
taken to Heaven and presented to Jesus a few days before the
Second Coming. Then, at the Second Coming, the great harvest of
souls are gathered in.
The firstfruits of the last great harvest foreshadow the 144,000 prophets of God
who are selected for a special mission just before the Great Tribulation begins.
(Revelation 14:4; 7:1-4) Of course, without rain there is no harvest or firstfruits.
In the land of Canaan, there are two essential rains each year. They are called
the early rain and the latter rain. These terms, “early and latter” are used with
respect to the crops. For crops that mature in late summer, the latter rain brings
them to maturity. For crops that mature in early spring, the term “latter rain” also
refers to rains that bring these crops to maturity. The latter rain finishes the
maturing process that began with the early rain!
In a spiritual sense, there are also two rains. Both rains are shadows represent-
ing the work of the Holy Spirit. The first work of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to
acknowledge our need for a Savior. This spiritual awakening is caused by “the
early rain” work of the Holy Spirit. The Feast of Tabernacles shadows the
concluding work of the Holy Spirit on behalf of mankind (a latter rain illustration).
A great outpouring of Holy Spirit empowerment will occur just before Jesus
comes and this latter rain will bring souls to perfect maturity! (Joel 2:28-32;
James 5:7; Revelation 11:3) The concluding work of the Holy Spirit’s ministry
will be highly visible and God’s truth will be presented in the clearest terms to
every person in the world. (Revelation 14:6-12; Zechariah 4:6) Everyone will
hear the terms and conditions of salvation. Everyone will have an informed
opportunity to know God’s will and make a decision about salvation. People who
follow the Spirit now will rejoice to hear greater truth. (John 16:13) Many people
who are currently indifferent, negligent or perhaps not willing to listen to the Holy
Spirit will have a change of heart when they see the display of God’s wrath and
thoughtfully consider the curse that rests upon their heads. Unfortunately, many
people who are in rebellion against God right now will remain in rebellion. They
will be deceived and led to their destruction when the Antichrist appears. (2
Thessalonians 2:9-10) Individuals who love God’s ways and truth will have their
faith severely tested. By remaining faithful to God, they will receive the most
wonderful gift that God can give to His people while still on Earth. He will give His
children the “gift” of a sinless nature – a nature that will have no propensity or
attraction to sin and is in complete harmony with His laws. (Hebrews 8:10-13;
Romans 1:17; 1 John 3:2)
Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services 211

The gift of the Holy Spirit demonstrates God’s great compassion for the human
race and His deep desire to save every person that is willing to be redeemed.
Man’s need for a Savior does not become a reality until the Holy Spirit im-
presses us with the condemnation and fate that faces every sinner. When an
individual responds to the Spirit’s prompting, he or she will recognize a desper-
ate need for Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God. When we are “born again,” we
are happy to submit to the gospel of Christ. There is an inner joy when we walk
with the Lord. (John 14:15; 1 John 2:5) At the present time, when a person
surrenders his or her will to do God’s will, that person is reckoned as righteous
through the imputed righteousness of Christ, even though the sealing has not
occurred. (Romans 8:1) During the time period of the Great Tribulation, circum-
stances will force everyone to respond to the gospel. If a person submits to the
laws of Babylon, his or her choice will be considered an act of rebellion against
God. If a person submits to the law of God, his or her choice will be considered
an act of rebellion against the authority of the world’s governments. Either way,
the consequences will be deadly. The firmness of each person’s decision will be
tested. If a person passes his test of faith, the righteousness of Christ will be
imparted to him or her! This is the sealing. (Colossians 1:27; Revelation 7:1-4;
10:7) When God finishes sealing His people, the need for an intercessor or
mediator in Heaven will be over. Only then will God’s children have a righteous
character “sealed” within them. Jesus marks the end of salvation’s offer in
Heaven by declaring, “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let
him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do
right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” (Revelation 22:11)

144,000 Will Belong to Jesus

When Passover and Pentecost (the earlier harvests of the year) arrived, the
firstfruits were presented to the high priest and they became his personal
property. The parallel is true of the final harvest. The firstfruits of the final
harvest will be 144,000 men and women who will be servants of God; special
prophets during the Great Tribulation. (Revelation 7:1-4; 14:4) Since the
firstfruits of the harvests become the exclusive property of the high priest
(Numbers 18), the 144,000 “firstfruits” will belong to our High Priest, Jesus
Christ. As a reward for their dedication and suffering for the cause of Christ,
the 144,000 will become special administrative assistants who accompany Jesus
throughout eternity and serve Him wherever He goes. The 144,000 will be the
first to experience God’s gift of a new nature. They will receive the imparted
“gift” of a sinless nature first because they are sealed first. (Revelation 7:1-4)
212 Chapter 12 – Parallel Temple Services

The 144,000 will have the Spirit of prophecy resting upon them. They will
prophesy just like the prophets of old. Those who heed their message and chose
to live by faith will be sealed in the same way the 144,000 are sealed. The Bible
indicates the 144,000 will wear the name of the Father and Jesus on their
foreheads. (Revelation 14:1; 22:4) This will be a beautiful sign revealing their
rank and position in God’s government. I am not sure how this will be done, but
we can be certain it will be beautiful and glorious. The names of the Father and
Jesus upon the foreheads of the 144,000 stand in stark contrast to the tattoo
that Satan puts on the foreheads of his servants. (Revelation 13:16)

Conclusion
We have a friend in Jesus. Not only does He understand our needs, but He also
understands our limitations, weaknesses and foolishness. He is willing to be our
High Priest and to present us before God without a blemish. He is willing to save
us and grant us power to overcome the ravages of sin. He is willing to release us
from anxiety, doubts and bad habits. He has the power to do all of this and so
much more! He is willing – are you? Why not surrender your life to Him right
now? Why not say, “Lord, I am willing to go, be and do all that you ask.” If you
are willing to say this to Him, He will enable you to succeed in all that He wants
you to do! The good news is that you and I have a friend in Heaven’s temple
who loves us so much that He was willing to die the second death for us. We
cannot easily comprehend such love. That is why we sometimes find it difficult
to call on Him to help us with our problems. But be sure of this: He is qualified to
deal with any problem we face. We may not like His answers on every occa-
sion, but what child loves every answer from his parents? Jesus knows what is
best for us and He responds accordingly. So, go ahead, ask Him to help you.
He is ready. Give Him your life and He will deliver you from your worries and fill
you with a peace that passes understanding! He is the Alpha and the Omega!
Jesus is righteous in everything He does. “He is the Rock, his works are
perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he . . . .” (Deuteronomy 32:4) The earthly and heav-
enly temples confirm so many wonderful truths about Jesus. His actions
are open, upright and just. His works are perfect and His righteousness is
illustrated in the services of His temple.
 Chapter 13
What Happens at Death?

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me

draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

– John 6:44

Introduction
Some people in the Bible are remembered for their good deeds, while
others are remembered for their rebellion. King Saul, the first king of Israel,
is remembered for his rebellion against God. His life is an object lesson
showing how quickly self-centeredness can lead to a ruined life. The Bible
says that Saul died a tragic death – he took his own life when he was 61
years old. In an attack on Shunem about 1000 B.C., the Philistines critically
injured Saul. Rather than let his enemies gloat in victory, he fell upon his
own sword and died. (1 Samuel 31:4) Many Christians believe that King
Saul went directly to hell that afternoon. According to the doctrine of an
eternally burning hell, King Saul and millions of people like him are writhing
and jumping about in the flames of hell fire this very minute. Advocates of
an eternal hell claim that once God sends a person to hell, there is no
escape and no relief. The torment is said to be painful and torturous
beyond words!
According to the scenario above, King Saul has been on fire for about
3,000 years. He must be discouraged beyond words since there is no
second chance – no way out of hell. His cries for relief are no doubt
drowned out by the roar of hell’s furnaces. Think about it. If there is a
burning hell where sinners, young and old, writhe in eternal torment, it must
be the most awful place in the whole universe! There is no way out, no
hope, no end. I can just imagine how the hostages of hell curse God and
cry out for immediate release from their misery every time the devil turns
up the thermostat. Many Christians believe this scenario to be true, or
something similar to it and they use the parable Jesus told about the rich
man and Lazarus to prove it. (Luke 16:19-31) Unfortunately, many non-
Christians refuse to believe in God because they find this doctrine about
God’s justice to be repugnant. About 15 years ago, George Gallup sur-
veyed American Christians regarding their views on Heaven and hell.
Almost 87% of the individuals surveyed believed they were going to
214 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

Heaven and 91% said they knew someone in hell or someone who was going
there. In recent years, the cruelty of hell has been lessened by some theolo-
gians. Consequently, recent surveys reveal that larger numbers of Christians do
not believe that hell is a literal place where the souls of wicked people writhe in
eternal flames. So, is there a hell? Where is it? What is it like? When does a
person go to hell?

Nobody is Burning in Hell Yet

The idea of an eternally burning hell is based on the idea that man’s soul is
immortal or not subject to death. Therefore, man’s soul continues to live an
intellectual life after it leaves the body. For this reason Christians often
speak of deceased friends saying, “They have gone on to be with the
Lord.” This comment raises a good question. Do you think Abel and every-
one else who has died “in the Lord” are in Heaven, playing harps and
eating the delicious fruit that grows on the Tree of Life? Do you think Cain,
the first murderer, King Saul, and everyone who has died in rebellion
against God are writhing in eternal hell? For the following reasons I am
convinced that King Saul is not in hell and Abel is not in Heaven:
1. First and foremost, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. (Romans 5:9;
1 Corinthians 15:3) If the penalty for sin is an endless burning in hell,
then Jesus did not pay the penalty for sin. Jesus was resurrected on
the third day! (Acts 10:40) We also know that Jesus returned to Heaven
forty days after His death. (Acts 1:3) So, why would God require human
beings to burn forever for their sins when He required far less of man’s
Sin Bearer? (2 Corinthians 5:21) The Bible indicates the Father does
not impose more on fallen man than He put upon Jesus.
2. God is fair. (Psalm 89:14) God does not torture people forever just
because they lived in rebellion for a few years. Eternal punishment for
70 years of rebellion is not fair. A judicial system is fair if it upholds the
principle that punishment is commensurate with the crime. (Matthew
7:1,2) Does God do less? No! Should King Saul be tortured with fire for
billions of years when he only lived a mere 61 years? No. In fact, the
Bible says that God will not torture the wicked for eternity, but instead
reduce the wicked to ashes. (Malachi 4:3)
3. God is love and the new Earth will be a wonderful place to live. (1 John
4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:1-4) However, it would be impos-
sible for the saints to remain content and happy with God’s government
and justice if they had to observe their loved ones in the flames of hell
day after day.
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 215

4. The Bible teaches there will be two resurrections. (John 5:28,29;

Revelation 20:4,5) The first resurrection occurs at the Second Coming.
At that time, the righteous will be resurrected and they will meet the
Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) The second resurrection
occurs at the end of the 1,000 years. At that time the wicked will be
resurrected and they will face their Maker as He announces their
sentence. Why are there two resurrections if people are already in
Heaven or hell? Why would God resurrect the wicked at the end of the
1,000 years (who are alleged to be in hell already), for the purpose of
putting them back into an earthly body and then throwing them into a
blazing fire again? (Revelation 20:7-15)

Things Do Not Add Up

Is it possible that the Bible teaches that good people do not go to Heaven
when they die and wicked people do not go to hell the day they die?
Consider the following:
1. The Bible teaches there is a resurrection for the righteous and a resur-
rection for the wicked. If the righteous go immediately to Heaven when
they die, why does Jesus say that the righteous are resurrected at the
last day? “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the
Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him
up at the last day.” “No one can come to me unless the Father
who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
“There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept
my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the
last day.” (John 6:40, 44; 12:48) Some scholars claim that God’s
purpose for resurrecting the righteous at the last day is to reclaim an
earthly body. This argument does not make any sense. If the soul is a
living entity that can exist outside the body, why is a body necessary?
For example, if Abel has been in Heaven for almost 6,000 years, why
would he want or need a body now? Besides, the Bible says that flesh
and blood cannot inherit eternal life! (1 Corinthians 15:50) Even more,
what about those individuals who suffer with physical deformities while
they are alive? Would their soul want to return to a deformed and
degenerate body again? Certainly not. If a body actually returns to dust
after death as the Bible indicates (Psalm 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:20),
then why would Jesus wait until the Second Coming to gather some dirt
to create a new body for the deceased? He could certainly create a
new body at any time.
216 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

2. The Bible teaches there is an appointed time for the people of Earth to be
judged. (Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31; John 12:48) If
people go to Heaven or hell at the time of death, God would have to judge
them at the time of death. This is not what the Bible teaches and contrary to
what many people believe. Neither Abel, the first man to die about 6,000
years ago, nor King Saul, who died on the battlefield 3,000 years ago, were
sent to their eternal destinations at the time of their death.
3. Even more compelling are the Bible verses that confirm that the dead know
nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that they are in a state of “sleep.” (John
11:2-15) God foreknew the devil would use man’s curiosity about death to
trap people with his sophisticated lies. (2 Chronicles 33:6) Therefore, God
expressly forbade man from trying to communicate with people who had
died. God said, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his
son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery,
interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a
medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10,11)
4. Revelation 20:15 reveals that God will put an end to sin at the end of the
millennium and everyone not found in the Book of Life will be burned up.
Here is the problem as I see it. Eternal life in Heaven or in hell requires
immortality; however, God grants immortality only to the saints at the Second
Coming. (See 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.) The wicked never receive immortal-
ity. Therefore, the souls of the wicked are not immortal. In fact, the Bible
clearly says, “the soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)
Think about it. If wicked people were immortal and suffered in hell forever,
the presence of sinners and rebellion within the universe would last through-
out eternity!

Conditional Mortality
To understand man’s condition in death we must begin with the book of Genesis.
When God created Adam and Eve, He granted them conditional immortality.
They could live indefinitely as long as they had access to the Tree of Life. But,
when they sinned, God separated them from the Tree of Life so they would
eventually die. “And the Lord God said, ‘The man has now become like one
of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his
hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’ So the
Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from
which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the
east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing
back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:22-24)
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 217

At the very beginning of life Jesus warned Adam saying, “ . . . You are free to
eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
(Genesis 2:16,17) This text does not mean that the body would die and the soul
would live on. No! This text means that man would cease to exist. This issue is at
the heart of the lie which the devil wanted Eve to believe. Remember, Satan said
to Eve, “You will not surely
die . . . .” (Genesis 3:4) Satan led Eve to believe that if she ate of the
forbidden fruit that she would become immortal like God. If she had immor-
tality, she could not be subject to death! What a clever deception!
God did not insert an everlasting soul in Adam’s body. Instead, Adam
became a living soul when God created him. “The Lord God formed the
man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7, italics
mine.) In other words, God united Adam’s body of dust with His own breath
of life and Adam became a living being. When Adam died at the age of 930
years, his soul ceased to exist because the human soul cannot live as a
separate entity outside the body. The soul of man results from a combina-
tion of two parts – a human body and the breath of life. Here is an illustra-
tion that might help to illustrate this concept. A light bulb comes to “life”
when the power of electricity is applied to it. Light occurs when the light
bulb is combined with electricity. If the power is removed, there is no light.
Likewise, if there is no breath of life in the body, there is no soul. A man’s
soul is mortal which means it is subject to death. God alone is immortal
and not subject to death. When Jesus died for humanity, He had to lay His
immortality aside! (John 10:17,19) When the Father resurrected Jesus, the
Father restored immortality to Him. (Revelation 1:18) But notice what God
said about man at the time of Noah’s flood, “Then the Lord said, My
Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his [remain-
ing] days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3, insertion
mine.) Each time the word immortal is used in the Bible, it pertains to God,
not man. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen . . . God, the blessed and
only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal
and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can
see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen” (I Timothy 1:17;
6:15,16) Paul expounds on this point by writing that God will grant the gift
of immortality to the saints at the Second Coming! “When the perishable has
218 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then
the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in
victory.’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:54) If the righteous receive immortality at the
Second Coming, it is obvious that they do not have immortality before that time!
Therefore, no one has knowledge or intelligence before he or she is born and
there is no knowledge or intelligence in death. Death is a state of nonexistence.
Many people, of course, disagree with this view and Christians offer certain
texts to demonstrate otherwise. Let us examine these texts and see what the
Bible actually says:

Spirit Returns to God

“And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit [ruach]
returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, insertion mine.) Some
people use this text to prove that the spirit of man returns to God when he dies.
Although this text does not say so, the alleged implication is that something
intelligent returns to God at the time of death. Advocates of the external soul
reason that when the body and the spirit are separated, the spirit (or “ruach”)
returns to God who gave it. The Hebrew word “ruach” means wind or breath.
Notice how this word is translated a few verses earlier: “As you do not know
the path of the wind [ruach], or how the body is formed in a mother’s
womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all
things.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5) The ruach of the righteous, as well as the ruach of
the wicked, returns to God at death! The text is clear on this point: The “breath
of life” is a gift from God to all people at birth and the “breath of life” [ruach]
returns to God who gave it when we die, regardless of our moral behavior!
Job’s use of the word “ruach” helps clarify the meaning even further. He says,
“As long as I have life within me, the breath [ruach] of God in my nostrils,
my lips will not speak deceit.” (Job 27:3,4 [KJV]) An unrefined translation of
Job’s comment might read, “As long as I have life within me and the breath from
God in my nose, my lips will not speak lies.” Neither Solomon nor Job used the
word “ruach” to mean a conscious spirit roaming the heavens.
King David also knew that death brought an end to consciousness. He said, “Do
not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their
spirit [nephesh] departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their
plans come to nothing.” (Psalms 146:3,4) The Hebrew word “nephesh” also
means breath. This word is used many times in the Bible to describe the breath
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 219

of living creatures. Notice: “And the Lord God formed the man from the
dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath [nephesh] of
life, and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) Concerning the flood, the
Bible says, “Everything on dry land that had the breath [nephesh] of life in
its nostrils died.” (Genesis 7:22, insertion mine.)
King David believed the dead were in their graves and not in Heaven praising
the Lord. He said, “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go
down to silence; it is we [the living] who extol the
Lord . . . .” (Psalm 115:17,18, insertion mine.) The Apostle Peter also
confirmed this point. On the day of Pentecost he spoke about King David
saying, “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David
died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day . . . For David
did not ascend to heaven . . . .” (Acts 2:29,34)
Solomon leaves no room for doubt regarding this topic. He explains the
state of man in death very clearly. He said that the dead are unaware of
anything that occurs on Earth. He wrote, “For the living know that they
will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and
even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their
jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part
in anything that happens under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6)

Jesus Called Death “Sleep”

Many Christians do not correctly understand man’s condition in death. Many
times in the New Testament, death is called sleep. There are two reasons for
this: First, death is actually like a sleep. (See John 11:11-14.) There is no aware-
ness in death (or during a good night’s sleep). Second, the first death is tempo-
rary (just as sleep is temporary), whereas the second death lasts forever. When
Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha died, Jesus referred to Lazarus’ death
as sleep. (John 11.) Why did Jesus refer to Lazarus as being asleep? For an
obvious reason – the death that Lazarus experienced was temporary, just like
sleep is temporary. When we sleep deeply, we are unaware of our surround-
ings. However, sleep does not last forever. Think of the “resurrection” as a
powerful awakening. Every person who lives and dies will live again and God will
awaken from their sleep everyone who dies in one of two resurrections. The
Bible indicates there are two resurrections – one for the saints and the other for
the wicked. The first resurrection occurs at the Second Coming. This means
there will be a judgment of human beings prior to the Second Coming, because
Jesus will decide who is righteous and who is not before He comes. Therefore,
220 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

those judged to be righteous will be resurrected at the Second Coming. (1

Thessalonians 4:16) The people judged to be wicked will be resurrected at the
end of the millennium. (Revelation 20:5)
This is a critical point: Natural death (the first death) is not the penalty for sin.
Natural death comes as a consequence of being separated from the Tree of
Life. The penalty for sin, however, is death by execution and God will implement
the penalty for sin at the end of the millennium. (Revelation 20:14,15) Once the
distinction between these two deaths is understood, it becomes clear why no
one could be burning in hell right now. The second death by execution has not
been implemented! The penalty for sin has not been imposed on anyone except
Jesus and that happened when He died on Calvary. When Jesus died on the
cross, He suffered the penalty for our sins, namely, death by execution.

Did Jesus Preach to the Spirits in Hell?

The following text is sometimes offered as a proof text showing that Jesus
preached to the souls of dead people after He died on the cross. 1 Peter
3:18-20 says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for
the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body
but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and
preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God
waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being
built . . . .” Did Jesus preach to the spirits of the antediluvians after He
died on the cross? If Jesus did this, what did He offer them? Did Jesus
grant them a pardon for their rebellion or did He shake a divine finger at
them and say, “Eternal hell is the reward you deserve – you vile unbeliev-
ers?” Is it possible to escape from hell after being sent there? Did Jesus
release any hostages from hell? If so, where is the evidence? Since hell is
believed to be the worst possible torture chamber ever devised, would
repentance come from a contrite heart or would a charbroiled sinner say
anything in order to get relief from anguish? Although most Christians
believe the soul remains alive after death, they generally reject the second
chance theory for salvation after death, believing that matters pertaining to
our eternal reward are determined during our present life on Earth.
So, what does Peter say in this text? Peter teaches that Jesus was brought
to life by the same Holy Spirit that attempted to bring the antediluvians to
their senses before the flood. Notice what the Lord told Noah in Genesis
6:3, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.” I think most people
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 221

would agree that it is possible for a person to be physically alive but spiritually
dead. (Romans 8:10) Peter says that Jesus was physically put to death in the
body, but made alive by the same Spirit that tried to save the antediluvians.
Because of decadence and rebellion against God, the antediluvians were dead
to the Spirit. Since they were not willing to allow the Spirit to lead them onto the
ark, they drowned when the flood came.
The context of 1 Peter 3 and 4 shows that Peter is not saying that Jesus
preached to imprisoned antediluvians during the time He was dead. In fact, in
the verses that follow Peter flips the topic 180 degrees by saying that people
who are “alive in the Spirit” are dead to debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies,
carousing and idolatry – the very conditions that caused the antediluvian’s
destruction. Peter concludes by saying, “They [those dead to the Holy Spirit]
think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of
dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give
account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is
the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead [to
spiritual matters], so that they might be judged according to men in regard
to the body, but [change their ways and] live according to God in regard to
the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:4-6, insertions mine.)

Rich Man - Poor Man

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus told the story of a rich man and a beggar named
Lazarus. Many people today use this story to confirm the doctrine of an
eternally burning hell. Here is the story:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and
lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named
Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich
man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came
when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.
The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in
torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his
side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send
Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remem-
ber that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus
received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in
agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has
been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor
222 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

can anyone cross over from there to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you,
father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let
him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to
them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes
to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses
and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from
the dead.’ ”
When telling this parable, Jesus addressed two theological issues which the
Sadducees and Pharisees often debated. The Sadducees did not believe in a
resurrection (they were “sad you see”), but the Pharisees believed in a resur-
rection and any mention of this topic would start a hotly contested debate. Paul
used this contentious subject to cleverly distract his accusers so he could
escape with his life! (See Acts 23:8,9.) The doctrine of prosperity was a second
theological issue hotly debated between these two sects of Jews. The
Sadducees believed that wealth and prosperity were physical signs of God’s
approval and poverty was a terrible curse for wrong doing. (People today still
debate this doctrine.) In other words, poor people were gross sinners because
the absence of prosperity proved they were under God’s condemnation. (See
Deuteronomy 28.)
Jesus’ use of this parable about a rich man and a poor man allowed Him to
cleverly merge these two issues together. Jesus’ purpose was to present a
larger truth that is found at the end of the story. In the parable, the rich man
represents the self-centered, richly-blessed nation of Israel. God had given
them every blessing and instead of sharing God’s blessings, they appropri-
ated the blessings of God to themselves. The beggar, Lazarus, represents
the impoverished Gentiles, who had received only a few spiritual crumbs
from the bountiful table of the Jews. Notice how Jesus reversed the re-
wards in the next life. The beggar (the Gentile) goes to Heaven, but the
rich man (the Jew) is sent to hell. From hell the rich man cries out for relief
to Abraham, the exalted grandfather of Israel who was residing in Heaven.
Abraham explains that justice is being served and the time had come for
the poor to be blessed and the rich to suffer. When the rich man realizes
his fate, he wants to warn his brothers about hell, but Abraham refuses to
release Lazarus (the Gentile) from Heaven to help them. Abraham rebukes
the rich man (the Jew) in hell saying, “Your brothers have Moses and the
Prophets [the Scriptures]; let them listen to them.” But, the rich man
pleads, “If someone [like Lazurus is resurrected] from the dead [and he]
goes to them [the Jews], they will repent.” (Luke 16:29,30)
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 223

By using theological issues that were common points of contention, Jesus had
the crowd’s full attention with this story. Knowing that the Pharisees and
Sadducees were ready to start debating His words, Jesus concluded the story
in a way that left no debate! Jesus said, “If they [the Jews] do not listen to
Moses and the Prophets [the Scriptures, Luke 24:27], they will not be
convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” In one sentence Jesus
obliquely predicted His rejection. This was (and is) a point that many people fail
to grasp. Unless the Holy Spirit dwells within the human heart, it is impossible for
religious people to change their minds about truth. Even after Jesus arose from
the dead and appeared before more than 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:6), the
Jewish nation refused to admit that He was alive. This story is an illustration
masterfully told. The specifics of this parable do not harmonize with a host of
other Scriptures on this topic, therefore it is fair to conclude that the objective of
this parable is an illustration concerning Israel’s rejection of Jesus. Jesus often
spoke figuratively and this story is no exception. Jesus said, “Though I have
been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this
kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.” (John 16:25)

Do Dead Souls Talk Back?

The concept of dead people living in Heaven or hell after they die opens a door
for communication with the dead. God expressly forbids any communication
with the dead. (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10,11; Isaiah 8:19) The
reason is simple. The state of man in death is as a sleep; man knows nothing.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5,6) Therefore, God forbids any communication with spirits or
with the spirits of the deceased because demons can masquerade as deceased
people. When a person communicates first hand with a loved one that is
deceased, the power of deception is as good as it gets. Demons know us well.
Because they observe and study our behavior, demons can speak about
personal matters that are surprisingly accurate and true. Their sole objective is
to lead us into rebellion against God.
A few years ago, a lady I know began communicating with her deceased mother
through a medium. At first, she was skeptical that communication with her
deceased mother was even possible. However, depressed and lonely for her
mother’s company, she decided to give it a try. During the seance she asked a
question that only her mother could correctly answer. When the voice speaking
224 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

through the medium gave the correct answer, she was overwhelmed with the
thought that she was truly in her mother’s presence. Do not be like Eve and
underestimate the power of demonic deception. I have found that once a person
communicates with a deceased loved one, Scripture no longer seems convinc-
ing. The delusion is that powerful! People who communicate with spirits or
“channel” for spirits have real encounters. The experience is just as real as two
people speaking to each other. King Saul visited the witch of Endor and he had
a real encounter with a demon that pretended to be Samuel! So, beware of
demons. They can and do talk back! (See 1 Samuel 28 and Matthew 8:28-34.)
Sometimes, the following text is used as Bible proof that communicating with the
dead is possible. At first glance, this text seems to indicate that the souls of
martyrs talk with God and He responds. “When he opened the fifth seal, I
saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the
word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a
loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the
inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was
given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the
number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as
they had been was completed.” (Revelation 6:9-11)
Bible writers occasionally use a literary device called personification to make a
point. Personification is a literary technique for giving something inanimate a
lifelike quality, so that the object speaks and acts as though it were alive. For
example, when Cain killed Abel, God spoke to Cain saying, “ . . . What have
you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
(Genesis 4:10) Abel’s blood did not literally “cry out” to God for justice. Instead,
God used this form of personification to emphasize that Abel’s death required
justice. God demanded an answer from Cain for what he had done. The shed-
ding of innocent blood always “cries out” for justice and eventually, God’s
vengeance will be served and restitution will be extracted for every wrongful
death. (Jeremiah 19)
John also uses personification to convey the largest possible story with the
fewest words. In Revelation 6:9-11 the blood of innocent martyrs “cries out”
to God for justice, asking Him to end the senseless martyrdom occurring
during the Great Tribulation. God responds by telling the martyrs to be
patient. Jesus knows what He is doing. He has a larger purpose in mind
and His plan must be accomplished first. He assures the martyrs of salvation
and tells them to wait for His plan to be fulfilled. The martyrs are given white
robes which indicate they are sealed with the righteousness of Christ. (Com-
pare Revelation 2:10, 3:5; John 6:39; Matthew 16:25; Revelation 22:12.)
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 225

When the martyrdom of the fifth seal actually begins, the words of Revelation 6
will become very comforting to the saints. Even as the saints cry out to God for
help, He has already assured them with the message written in Revelation 6:9-
11. This text also reveals that there is a greater purpose that needs to be accom-
plished before martyrdom comes to an end. As people witness the faithfulness
of the martyrs, there will be some who will finally surrender their rebellion
against God. Christian history proves that no argument is more powerful or
persuasive than the blood of martyrs who willingly lay down their lives for the
cause of Christ.

What About Forever and Ever?

Here is another difficult Bible text: “. . . If anyone worships the beast and his
image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will
drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into
the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the
presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their
torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those
who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the
mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11) This text does not mean the wicked
are burning forever and ever. Revelation 20:9 states that the wicked are “de-
voured” at the end of the millennium. The purpose of hell fire is not eternal
torment. I believe God has chosen to use fire at the end of the 1,000 years for
three reasons: restitution, penalty and purification! The wicked will suffer
proportionately to the deeds they refused to make right (restitution). The wicked
will be put to death by fire (the penalty for sin is death by execution). Sin and its
horrible consequences will be destroyed in the lake of fire and the cancer of sin
will cease to exist (purification). “Whatever they plot against the Lord he will
bring to an end; trouble [sin] will not come a second time.” (Nahum 1:9,
insertion mine.) After Jesus purifies Earth with fire, He will create a new Heaven
and a new Earth. John says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for
the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no
longer any sea.” (Revelation 21:1) The smoke rising from the destruction of the
wicked and the purification of the world ascends upward forever and ever – just
like ordinary smoke does today.

What About Night and Day?

Let us go back to Revelation 14:10,11 and notice something else. The wicked: “.
. . will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels
226 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.
There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his
image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” The issue we
need to understand in this text concerns the lack of rest – day or night. Look
again at the verse: “There is no rest day or night for those who worship
the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his
name.” (Revelation 14:11) Some people use these words to indicate the wicked
writhe in the flames of hell day and night for ever and ever. These words,
however, are not describing the experience of the wicked at the end of the 1,000
years. These words are describing the experience of the wicked during the
Great Tribulation! This verse reveals the intensity of the work the Holy Spirit does
during the Great Tribulation. When the 144,000 powerfully present the gospel to
everyone, people who refuse the gospel will ultimately have no choice but to
submit to the devil (the Antichrist). Those who submit to the demands of the devil
will not only violate their conscience; they will emotionally wrestle with every
effort the Holy Spirit puts forth. The Holy Spirit will vigorously disturb every soul
who persists in rebellion in an attempt to persuade them to submit to God’s
authority. (Joel 2:28-32) This is why Revelation 14:11 says, “There is no rest
day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for any-
one who receives the mark of his name.” Guilt-ridden and stubborn in their
rebellion against God, they will not have peace day or night because the Holy
Spirit will not give up on them until God’s offer of salvation is terminated at the
seventh trumpet. (See Revelation 10:7; 11:15-19; John 16:8-11.) Eventually,
they will no longer hear the Holy Spirit prompting their conscience and the
wicked will cooperate with the Antichrist’s forces to kill and torture the saints.

What About the Thief on the Cross?

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise.’ ” (Luke 23:42,43) The Bible indicates that Jesus did not go to
Heaven the day He died. Instead, He ascended to the Father on Sunday
morning. (John 20:17) The original Greek in the New Testament does not use
commas, and the punctuation inserted by translators to make reading easier
can be misleading. One simple misplaced comma can make the words of Jesus
appear to mean something He did not say. Notice how a comma can change the
meaning in the following sentence: “I tell you the truth today, you will be with
me in paradise.” This punctuation appears to be correct since it is supported
by the weight of biblical evidence.
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 227

Tormented Day and Night Forever

We will examine one last text in Revelation: “And the devil, who deceived
them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the
false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for
ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
If we separate this verse from all other Scripture, it would be easy to conclude
that God will throw people into the lake of fire at the end of the millennium and
torment them day and night forever and ever. If we ignore the presence of
numerous texts and exclusively use this text, the concept of an eternally burning
hell could be defended. However, sincere Bible students know that fundamental
doctrines require broad support from many Bible writers. More importantly,
there has to be harmony from the sum of all the parts. Let the entire Bible
speak and then weigh the evidence!
If we reconcile all that the Bible has to say on the subject of death and the
resurrections, we will find a harmonious solution to John’s statement in Revela-
tion 20:10. John says that the wicked will be tormented day and night, forever
and ever, which means they will be tormented as long as they exist. Apparently,
the burning process (the restitution process) takes longer for some people than
others. In other words, people who have been extremely wicked will suffer longer
according to their deeds. This means that Satan will burn the longest! (Exodus
22:9; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 14:10) Remember, the saints will determine
the amount of restitution! Jesus told his disciples: “ . . . I tell you the truth, at
the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne,
you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28) “Do you not know that the saints
will judge the world? . . . Do you not know that we will judge angels?”
(1 Corinthians 6:2,3)
You may be surprised to learn that the biblical use of the word “forever” does
not necessarily mean throughout endless ages of eternity. Consider how the
word “forever” is used in this text, “[King] Achish trusted David and said to
himself, ‘He has become so odious to his people, the Israelites, that he will
be my servant forever.’ ” (1 Samuel 27:12) This verse does not mean that
David was to be a servant to King Achish for eternity. Instead, Achish wanted
David to be his servant for as long as he lived. In a similar way, the marriage
vow ends at death – “until death do us part” – because forever can only be
possible as long as both people in the marriage exist. The torment of justice
described in Revelation 20:10 lasts until God’s vengeance is satisfied. When sin
and sinners are finally destroyed, death and sorrow will be history. “When the
228 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been
swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O
death, is your sting?’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:54,55)

Without the Resurrections – We Are Dust

For me, the book of Revelation clarifies the subject of death as it describes the
judgment process. Since the subject of death involves a number of prophetic
issues that are not covered in this book, perhaps a “big picture” scenario might
be helpful. The following is a brief overview of how death, the judgment of the
dead and living, the two resurrections and the destruction of the wicked with fire
harmonizes with Bible prophecy:
The judgment of mankind has two phases: The judgment of the dead and the
judgment of the living. The judgment of the dead involves a close review of each
person’s history as recorded by angels. (Malachi 3:16) Jesus makes a determi-
nation on each person for eternal life or eternal death on the basis of this
record. (Daniel 7:9,10; John 5:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10) The first person to be
judged was Abel because he was the first to die. During the Great Tribulation,
the living will make choices which will indicate their faith or lack of faith in
Jesus. The “mark of the beast test” will ultimately separate the wicked living from
the righteous living. (Revelation 3:10) Our eternal destiny will have been deter-
mined by the time Jesus returns to Earth at the Second Coming. (Revelation
22:12) This may seem obvious, but it is a crucial point. When Jesus returns,
people like Abel, who are a part of the righteous dead, will be called to life
(resurrected) and they will rise up out of their graves to meet Jesus in the air.
(John 6:39,40) This is the first resurrection. Then, Paul says the righteous
living will join with the righteous dead to meet the Lord in the air. (1
Thessalonians 4:16,17)
The wicked who have died through the ages, like Cain, are not resurrected at
the Second Coming. In fact, the Bible states that Jesus slays the wicked who
are alive on Earth at the time of His appearing. (Revelation 19:15-21) The net
effect is that the wicked, from Cain to those living at the time of the Second
Coming, sleep on until the 1,000 years in Revelation 20 have ended. During the
millennium, Earth will be left desolate because Jesus takes the saints to the Holy
City which is in Heaven for “The Feast of Ingathering!” The devil remains on
Earth with no one to deceive during the millennium. Meanwhile, the saints are in
Heaven and they will review the records of the wicked. They will satisfy them-
selves that the eternal decision which Jesus made on every person was fair and
Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death? 229

appropriate. The saints will also judge the wicked by determining the appropriate
restitution that each wicked person must suffer after they are resurrected. (1
Corinthians 6:2,3)
At the end of the 1,000 years, the Holy City will descend to Earth with the saints
inside. After the Holy City rests on Earth, Jesus will resurrect the wicked. This is
the second resurrection. Every wicked person who ever lived on Earth will see
the reality of God. Think about it; every person will meet his or her Maker!
Everyone who has ever lived will see the Holy City, the saints, the devil and his
angels. With one last blast of lies and fury, Satan incites a great multitude of
wicked people to attack the City of God (Revelation 20:7-8), but Jesus suspends
the attack with the same authority He calmed the angry Sea of Galilee. Jesus
turns the tumult of battle into silence so that He can present the facts to the
wicked. Jesus will reveal to each wicked person why He could not save him or
her. He will also declare the verdict of the saints indicating how much restitution
will be extracted before death in the lake of fire. After the truth has been pre-
sented and the wicked see how fair and just Jesus has been, every wicked
person will bow before Jesus Christ admitting that God is fair and His judgment
is righteous. (Isaiah 45:23,24; Romans 14:11,12; Philippians 12:10) As the
realization sets in about the outcome of their life decisions, the wicked become
overwrought by their sense of loss, fear and loathing disgust. In an effort to
avoid the suffering God has imposed upon them, they try to kill themselves. God
initiates the executive phase of judgment by calling fire down from Heaven and
ultimately, God burns up the wicked and every trace of sin is gone. (Revelation
20:9,15)

Missing Heaven Will be Hell

This chapter may not fully resolve the question of an eternally burning hell for
the reader. However, the weight of evidence throughout the Bible must be
considered if we are to properly understand what God is doing. One thing is
certain, God is love. Because His love is great and everlasting, we want to spend
eternity with Him. His government is fair and His mercy is overwhelming! God’s
truths are too wonderful to describe and His peace too deep to explain. Missing
Heaven after realizing all that God offers – will be hell. In summary, ponder the
following statements:
1. The wages of sin is eternal death, not eternal life in the torture of hell.
2. There are two deaths, the first is temporary and it is called “sleep,” the
second death occurs at the end of the 1,000 years and is eternal.
230 Chapter 13 – What Happens at Death?

3. There are two resurrections, the first one is for the righteous and occurs at
the Second Coming. The second resurrection is for the wicked and occurs
at the end of the 1,000 years.
4. A soul is formed when the body and the breath of life are united. A soul
ceases to exist when the breath of life is separated from the body.
Regardless of behavior, the spirit or breath of life returns to God when
a person dies.
5. The soul of man is not an immortal entity. The soul that sins will die.
6. The parable of the rich man and the beggar is an object lesson. The
object lesson of the parable is stated in the parable.
7. God forbids any communication with the dead because such communi-
cation is with demons. The dead know nothing.
8. God is fair. His punishment is commensurate with the crime. Jesus did
not suffer eternal torture in hell and neither will the wicked. Eternal
torture is not fair.
9. God has appointed a time for the judgment of human beings. With the
exception of a few people taken to Heaven “on a credit card” (Enoch,
Elijah, Moses, the 24 elders, etc.), human beings do not receive their
eternal reward at the time of death. We must wait until either the
resurrection at the Second Coming or the resurrection at the end of the
1,000 years.
10. No one can be in hell at this time because the second death (the
penalty for sin) is not implemented until the end of the 1,000 years.
 Chapter 14
Which is Next – the Rapture or the Second Coming?

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the
other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill;
one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch,
because you do not know on what day your Lord will
come.
– Matthew 24:40-42

There are six apocalyptic prophecies in the book of Daniel and they “stack”
on top of each other much like the layers of a wedding cake. Each proph-
ecy has a beginning and ending point in time and each prophecy contains
an orderly sequence of events. For example, Daniel 2 is the bottom layer
or “foundation” prophecy and its time-span reaches from 600 B.C. to the
Second Coming. The second apocalyptic prophecy (Daniel 7) stacks on
top of Daniel 2 and covers the same time-span as Daniel 2. The third
prophecy or layer starts around 538 B.C. and reaches to the Second
Coming. The fourth prophecy begins in 457 B.C. and ends with A.D. 33,
etc. By layering the prophecies of Daniel on top of each other, God elimi-
nated several problems before they even began! First, when we examine
these six layers, a large amount of information unfolds that is otherwise
unknown. By linking the six layers together with prophetic events, God
says a great deal with the fewest possible words. This is an important
consideration because books of the Old Testament were duplicated by
hand for almost 3,000 years. Second, by layering the prophecies on top of
each other, God implemented a process which scholars call repetition and
enlargement. It allows the Bible student to confidently arrange and define
all the prophetic elements within each prophecy. As each layer of prophecy
is added to the “stack,” the underlying layers have to be correctly inter-
preted and chronologically arranged or the next layer will not make sense.
Last, by layering the prophecies, God hid the meaning of these prophecies
in the book of Daniel until the time of the end would arrive. (Daniel 12:4,9)
I believe God did this so the last generation on Earth could quickly under-
stand the fulfillment of 26 centuries of prophecy. In other words, an ordi-
nary person can now understand the sweeping prophetic progression of 26
centuries with just a few hours of study. Now that the layering of the proph-
ecies has been discovered, people can determine which elements of
apocalyptic prophecy are in the past and which are forthcoming! A brief
232 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

discussion about the six layers in Daniel has been presented because of this
statement: “The six prophecies of Daniel do not support the idea of a pre-
tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture of the saints.”
There are twelve apocalyptic prophecies in the book of Revelation and these
also “stack” on top of each other just like the six layers do in the book of Daniel.
Even more, the twelve layers of Revelation harmoniously align with the six
apocalyptic prophecies in Daniel. When all eighteen prophecies are viewed
together, there is one marvelous prophetic story that unfolds in chronological
order. All eighteen prophecies are interconnected. Each layer has a starting
point in time and an ending point in time, and the events in each prophecy (or
layer) occur in the chronological order given. When a person understands how
past fulfillments of prophecy conform to this well-defined architecture, it is
possible to determine with some certainty the chronological timing within God’s
prophetic plans. It is important to understand that the chronological layers of
Daniel and Revelation do not support a pre-tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture.
When the eighteen layers of apocalyptic prophecy are arranged correctly, the
progressive fulfillment of prophecy is confirmed by recorded history. This
occurs because apocalyptic prophecy produces a chronological “time-line”
showing past, present and future events. A knowledge of this time-line prevents a
misapplication of end-time statements that occur throughout the Bible. For
example, the opening text for this chapter (Matthew 24:40-42) is often used by
proponents of the pre-tribulation rapture to justify a sudden snatching away of
people from Earth. There are two problems with this assertion. First, the chrono-
logical order of Daniel and Revelation does not support a pre-tribulation rapture
and second, the context itself does not mandate a pre-tribulation rapture. If a
person has the notion of a pre-tribulation rapture already in mind, Matthew
24:40-42 can be presented in a way that makes it appear to support a pre-
tribulation rapture. Before a sincere Bible student draws a conclusion, efforts
should be made to reconcile many texts that are not in harmony with a pre-
tribulation rapture. We need to ask, can we “pick and choose” texts that only
favor our notions and ignore those we do not understand or like? Truth is found
in the harmony that comes from the sum of all its parts. There is an explanation for
Matthew 24:40-42 that harmoniously aligns with the chronological order given in
Daniel and Revelation, as well as all the other texts that do not harmonize with the
doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture.
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 233

New World Order

The world stands at the door of a great transition. The nations of Earth as we
currently know them, are about to undergo a radical change. I am not describ-
ing another world order based on political realignment. Political realignment has
been an ongoing process ever since nations came into existence. Instead, I am
describing the destruction of earthly nations and the creation of a new world
whose order God will establish. The Bible is the only source of truth on this
subject and it is the only book that contains a comprehensive roadmap of soon
coming events. The Bible is the only authority that speaks for God on this
matter. For these reasons, people should carefully consider the prophecies in
Daniel and Revelation. The people of Earth need to understand that the Most
High God is about to bring this world of sin to an end.
Many people sense that something big is about to happen and indeed, some-
thing very big is about to happen. Jesus is going to startle billions of people with
an enormous demonstration of divine authority. Confusion, mayhem and
extreme suffering will be everywhere and a trustworthy roadmap explaining the
forthcoming actions of Jesus will be indispensable. Although the roadmap of
Bible prophecy does not reveal a pretty picture for the immediate future, it does
provide the light of eternal hope shining through a short, but very dark tunnel.
For this reason, the information contained in the Bible should receive our
highest attention. After investigating Bible prophecy for many years, I am
convinced that whether we agree or disagree with the events described in Bible
prophecy, man’s opinions do not affect God or His actions. He will do what He
has said He will do. What we may believe about God has nothing to do with
God’s behavior – all that He has predicted will come to pass. Therefore, it is
imperative that we approach Bible prophecy from an honest perspective for the
purpose of understanding the ways of God. The Father has put Jesus in control
of closing events. With this thought in mind, let us consider what the Bible has to
say about the Second Coming and the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture.

Views on the Rapture

Protestants basically support one of four views about the gathering of the saints.
Many Protestants believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. A smaller, but significant
number, believe in a mid-tribulation rapture (e.g., Christians are taken to Heaven
midway through the seventieth week of seven years). A third group of Protes-
tants believe in a pre-wrath rapture (e.g., Christians are taken to Heaven just
before the outpouring of the seven last plagues). Last, a minority of Protestants
234 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

believes in a post-tribulation gathering of the saints at the Second Coming. The

concept of a rapture (regardless of timing) is a complicated study because so
many ideas are involved. In fact, the study of Bible prophecy is a lot like weav-
ing a potholder out of many pieces of colored yarn. Small pieces of yarn are not
very strong or important by themselves. However, if a person weaves the yarn
together just right, the result can be an attractive and durable potholder. The
same is true with the study of prophecy. Eventually, every student of prophecy
ends up creating his or her own “prophetic potholder” out of the yarn given to
him or her! (Sorry for the pun.) As so often happens, many rush out to assure
others about the superiority of their potholder and the weakness of all others. (If
this topic was not so serious, I would find this entire process, which also
includes my work, to be amusing.) The object of owning a potholder is to keep
from getting burned and a parallel can be drawn for a prophetic potholder as
well. (Again, sorry for the pun.) Each week I receive multi-paged letters from
people who assure me that I am totally wrong because my prophetic potholder
could not possibly come from a logical study of God’s Word. My standard
response (defense?) is that the arrangement of the yarn makes the difference!
Be assured, time will confirm all that God has said. Nothing but the passage of
time can confirm how close or how far we are from rightly interpreting God’s
Word.
With that said, however, I want you to know right up front that even when I put
the chronological order of Daniel and Revelation aside for a moment, there are
numerous scriptural reasons why I cannot accept the doctrine of a pre-tribula-
tion rapture. Let me address a few of these issues:

Just One Gathering of the Saints!

Some Christians say the righteous dead do not participate in the pre-tribulation
rapture and others say the righteous dead are included. What does the Bible
say? When are the righteous dead resurrected? Jesus said, “And this is the
will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me,
but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone
who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39,40) When does “the last day” occur?
Does it occur at the beginning of the 70th week (of seven years)? No! Paul
wrote, “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are
still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede
those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 235

Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with
the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 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 so we will be with the Lord for-
ever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) These verses contain four important points:
a. The living do not precede the dead to Heaven.
b. Jesus Himself will come down from Heaven.
c. He will call the righteous dead to life with a loud command.
d. As the dead ascend, the living will join with them to meet Jesus in the air.
Look again at the text. Paul says, “After that [e.g., resurrection of the righ-
teous], we who are still alive and are left will be caught up to meet the Lord
in the air.” Some people distort Paul’s words to mean, “after that [the rapture],
we who are still alive and are left [behind] will be caught up to meet the Lord in
the air [later on at the Second Coming]. . . .” But this is not the meaning of
Paul’s remarks. Consider verse 15 again: “According to the Lord’s own
word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of
the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Paul
states two things: First, the living will not precede the dead to Heaven. The two
groups meet the Lord at the same time. Second, Paul refers to individuals who
are alive at the coming of the Lord in the sense that “we” [the living] who are
alive when the Lord appears will unite with the dead to meet Jesus in the air.
Paul’s idea is quite different from being “left behind after a rapture.” Review
verses 15-17 and notice Paul’s use of the pronoun “we.” Why does Paul use the
inclusive pronoun “we” in these texts? Paul thought that he, with other living
believers (“we”), would live to see Christ appear in the clouds and the dead
raised from their graves without experiencing death themselves. (1 Corinthians
7:29,30) Paul did not believe in or teach a pre-Second Coming rapture.
Paul has more to say about the resurrection of the righteous. Notice this text
which was written a few years after 1 Thessalonians: “Listen, I tell you a
mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the
dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians
15:51,52, italics mine.) Did you notice that the Apostle Paul uses the inclusive
pronoun “we” three times in this text? He used the third person plural pronoun
236 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

“we” because he believed that he would live to see Jesus return. Of course, Paul
had no idea time would last 2,000 more years.
On the basis of what we have read, the Bible teaches there is one gathering of
the saints, both the dead and the living, at the last day. This fact proves the
rapture doctrine to be deficient because it requires two gatherings of the saints,
one gathering at the beginning of the 70th week and one gathering at the
Second Coming.

When Does the Judgment Occur?

A pre-trib rapture mandates a pre-trib judgment before the rapture can take
place because Jesus has to decide who can be raptured and who cannot. The
fact that Jesus judges the people of Earth before the Second Coming is well
supported in Scripture, but no scriptural support exists for a judgment of the
living before the Great Tribulation begins. In fact, I find the opposite to be true.
One of the primary purposes of the Great Tribulation is to judge the living.
(Revelation 3:10) The contest between obeying God and observing His Ten
Commandments versus obeying the Antichrist (the devil) and receiving his mark
will separate the people of Earth into one of two camps. Notice what Jesus says
about the Second Coming: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and
all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the
nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one
from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will
put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left . . . “Then he will say
to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal
fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave
me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a
stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They
also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a
stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the
least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
Jesus clearly establishes when the sheep are separated from the goats. This
happens, Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory . . . All
the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the
people one from another. They [the wicked] will go away to eternal
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 237

punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” In this text, Jesus describes
the scene that occurs on the last day, the day when the eternal reward is given.
Nothing is said about gathering up His sheep before the Second Coming.
Nothing is said about granting eternal life to millions of people seven years
before the Second Coming.
Notice these verses: “He [Jesus] answered, ‘The one who sowed the good
seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands
for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and
the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,
and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in
the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out
his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes
sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine
like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.’
” (Matthew 13:37-43) These verses conflict with the notion of a pre-trib rapture.
The harvest is the end of the age and we know from an earlier verse (verse 30)
that the weeds (the wicked) and the good seed (the righteous) grow together
until the time of the harvest. When the Son of Man sends His angels, they will
gather up the good seed and throw the weeds into the fiery furnace. Nothing is
said about sparing the weeds for seven more years after the good seed is taken
up to Heaven.
[Jesus said] “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep
them, I do not judge him. For I did not come [this time] to judge the
world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and
does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will con-
demn him at the last day.” (John 12:47-48, insertion mine.)
This may seem strange, but “the last day” issue rises again. Jesus makes
an interesting point about the last day in these verses. From earlier study
we know that “the last day” occurs at the Second Coming. Therefore, no
one actually knows whether he or she is saved or condemned until the
Second Coming or the last day. Keep in mind that I am writing of knowing,
not about believing. A person may believe he or she is saved or even lost,
but faith is not the same thing as knowledge. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) says,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen . . . .” Knowledge, on the other hand, is a matter of fact.
This is why the tree in Genesis was called “the knowledge of good and
evil.” Humankind had no knowledge of sin until sin occurred. God gave
instructions about sin (Genesis 2:17) and Adam and Eve knew that sin
238 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

could occur, but they did not know what sin was. However, once sin was experi-
enced, it became a matter of fact. The point in John 12 is timing: According to
Jesus, no one will know whether he or she is saved or condemned until the last
day which occurs when the righteous are resurrected. Righteous people cannot
be raptured to Heaven (saved), if the rest of the living have not been condemned
to death yet! According to the words of Jesus in John 12:47,48, everyone left
behind after a rapture would be condemned to eternal death. Notice what Jesus
said about His appearing: “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with
me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done . . . Blessed
are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree
of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs,
those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the
idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation
22:12-15)
John 12 and Revelation 22 are in perfect harmony. When Jesus returns, His
reward of salvation or condemnation is with Him. When He arrives, all people
will have been judged according to their deeds (works, KJV) and Jesus Himself
will physically distribute everyone’s reward at His appearing. Jesus will execute
the condemned (the goats, or the wicked) by a single command (the sharp
sword that comes out of His mouth). (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:21)
The righteous dead will come to life and rise from the Earth upon command
(Revelation 1:18), and the righteous living will join the resurrected saints and “fly
away” to meet the Lord in the air “at the last day. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
The Bible teaches that the judgment of man takes place before rewards are
handed out at the last day: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion
of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole
duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every
hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
This verse confirms that God will “pass over” or judge each person that lives on
the face of the Earth. He will review every deed during the judgment process
and make a determination regarding each person, whether for salvation or
condemnation. If a person lives by faith, then his or her deeds or works will
confirm his or her faith. (James 2:17) This is why we are judged by our works.
Notice this confirming verse: “For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things
done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 239

Did you notice that Paul uses the inclusive pronoun again? “For we must all
appear. . . .” Paul knew that he too must stand before the judgment seat of
Christ. So everyone, good and bad, including Protestants believing in a pre-trib
rapture, has to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. The judgment of the
living occurs during the Great Tribulation. God is going to test the faith and
loyalty of the living with tribulation! (Revelation 3:10) In fact, this is why God
permits the worldwide mark of the beast test to be established – to see who will
obey Him and live by faith, even to the point of death.

The Church at Philadelphia

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep
you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to
test those who live on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10, italics mine.) This text is
often used by pre-trib rapture believers to defend their escape from the Great
Tribulation. So, let us carefully examine this text and its context. To be fair, if the
Bible had one verse in it, and this was its only verse, I could be persuaded that
the Bible supported the idea that the saints will escape the hour of trial that is
coming upon the whole world. However, when compared with everything the
Bible has to say about the end-time, this verse does not actually say what it is
purported to say. This verse was directed to the church at Philadelphia. So, we
need to ask, will the church at Philadelphia be the only church to escape the
hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world? I do not believe this to
be true. There are six more churches in Revelation, and we need to discover
what happens to them during the Great Tribulation.
Review Revelation 3:10 and observe these two points: First, Jesus says an hour
of trial is going to come upon the whole world to test the living. For reasons
beyond the scope of this study, I agree with pre-trib rapture believers that the
Great Tribulation is imminently before us! I believe this verse points to a final
tribulation that has no equal in world history. (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 12:1,2)
When a person first reads this text it may appear that the church of Philadelphia
(Revelation 3:7) will be kept from experiencing the hour of trial, that is, they will
escape this testing time. Unfortunately, many Christians have come to regard
this verse as proof that Christians will escape the suffering that will overcome
the world during the Tribulation. Actually, this verse does not teach that Chris-
tians will be taken to Heaven before the Tribulation begins, but instead indicates
that believers will be sustained beginning from (Greek word ‘ek) the hour of trial
until Jesus appears.
240 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

One of the world’s best lexicons on early Christian use of the Greek language is
A Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich, 1952,
Fourth Ed.). The word in question is the Greek preposition ‘ek and it is trans-
lated “from” both in the NIV and KJV. Therefore, the phrase reads, “. . . I will
keep you from the hour of trial . . .” However, this tiny preposition is also
translated in a variety of other ways in both versions of the Bible and has more
than a dozen different English equivalents in meaning. For example, ‘ek can
mean “from, out of, away from, coming out of, descending from, by, because
of, beginning from, begins from, for,” etc. On page 235 of this lexicon, the
authors indicate that when the preposition is followed by a measurement of time
– as in “the hour of trial,” ‘ek can convey the meaning “beginning from.” In other
words, a person is justified in reading this verse as follows: “I [Jesus] will also keep
you beginning from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world. . . .”
When one word, especially a preposition, determines the meaning of a pivotal
verse, we must be very careful in our research. We can and should turn to
additional lexicons and other word study helps for insight. Although this effort may
be valuable, it is not the highest authority regarding the intended meaning of the
verse. Higher and more weighty evidence must come from the Bible itself. So,
here are three points for your consideration about why this verse should be
understood as “beginning from the hour of trial”:
a. Jesus told His disciples, “ . . . And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age [world (KJV)].” (Matthew 28:20) This verse should be
taken at face value. Jesus plainly said He will be with His children to the
very last day when He physically and gloriously appears in the clouds. This
idea concurs with Revelation 3:10: “I [Jesus] will also keep you beginning
from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world. . . .”
b. Several verses in Revelation indicate that the saints are on Earth during the
Great Tribulation. The word “saints” is mentioned twelve times in Revelation
(NIV) and thirteen times in the KJV. Except for the 144,000 servants who
are taken to Heaven after the seven trumpets end and the 24 elders who
were taken to Heaven at the time of Christ’s ascension, Revelation does not
place the living saints in Heaven before the Second Coming. In fact,
Revelation places the saints on Earth! Notice what happens to the saints in
these verses: “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went
off to make war against the rest [the remnant, (KJV)] of her offspring –
those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of
Jesus . . . He [the beast] was given power to make war against the
saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 241

tribe, people, language and nation . . . If anyone is to go into captivity,

into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with
the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faith-
fulness on the part of the saints . . . .” (Revelation 12:17; 13:7; 13:10,
italics mine.)
I do not find support in Scripture for the idea that some saints are enjoying
the bliss of Heaven while others are living through a hellish tribulation on
Earth. Instead, the purpose of the Great Tribulation is to test those people
who live on Earth and to expose who the saints really are! Revelation 14:12
confirms the saints will suffer because they obey God. John says, “This
calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who [suffer be-
cause they] obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”
The point is that Revelation clearly puts the saints on Earth during the Great
Tribulation. Therefore, Revelation 3:10 should read, “I [Jesus] will also keep
you beginning from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole
world. . . .”
c. Let us review the comments of Jesus to all seven churches. The meaning of
Revelation 3:10 will become clearer when placed within its larger context.
Does Jesus intend to honor the people in the church at Philadelphia with a
pre-trib rapture and punish the other six churches by putting them through
the Great Tribulation? Besides, who belongs to the church of Philadelphia
today? How can we tell? Study the chart on the following page to see what
Jesus says to each church.
I regard the seven messages to the seven churches as local and timely mes-
sages. This means that when these messages were given in A.D. 95, they were
directed at seven specific churches that existed in John’s day. Therefore, we
have to understand these messages within their local situation, their day and
time. (Similarly, we have to treat the epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians in the
same manner.)
To appreciate the meaning of these messages, put on John’s sandals and stand
where he stood. I do not find any justification from Scripture revealing that the
seven churches represent seven phases of historical development within the
Christian church over the past 2,000 years as some people claim. Neither do I
find the message given to the first century church of Philadelphia uniquely appli-
cable to those people who believe in a pre-trib rapture today. I do find these
seven churches in Asia Minor to be typical of Christians during all ages. There-
fore, the messages should not be promoted as apocalyptic prophecy, but as
warning and edifying messages for all Christian churches. Jesus sent timely
242 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

Church Item Censure Reward

Overcomers will have

You've lost your first The removal of your
Ephesus the right to eat from the
love for the gospel lampstand
tree of life

You're about to suffer Overcomers will not be

Smyrna persecution for ten None frightened by the
days second death

You're eating food I'll destroy you with the Overcomers will receive
Pergamum offered to idols and sword that comes out hidden manna and a
sexual immorality of my mouth white stone

You're eating food I'll fully repay you Overcomers will be

Thyatira offered to idols and according to your evil given authority over the
sexual immorality deeds nations

Your deeds indicate Overcomers will never

Wake up or I will come
Sardis you are alive but you be blotted out of the
upon you like a thief
are spiritually dead Book of Life

You are weak, but you Overcomers will be

Philadelphia have been loyal and None pillars in the temple of
faithful to me my God

You're compromising I'm about to spew you Overcomers will sit with
Laodicea
and lukewarm out of my mouth me on my throne

messages to seven Christian churches that had problems in John’s day, so that
Christians everywhere could see that Jesus closely observes those people who
proclaim His Name. (Incidently, more than seven Christian churches existed in
John’s day, but Jesus chose these seven because their corporate behavior repre-
sented Christian churches everywhere. The number seven is often used as a
number of “completeness” and therefore, seven messages to seven churches
suggest Jesus’ comprehensive analysis of Christian behavior.)

Specific to Smyrna
Notice how the message to Smyrna is limited to their time-period and locale:
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will
put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for
ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the
crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) The ten days of persecution and the circum-
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 243

stances remain a mystery today. However, the essential question we should ask
is why would Jesus allow those people in this church to suffer, even to the point
of death, yet spare members in the church at Philadelphia from the Great
Tribulation? Today, if some people belong to the church of Philadelphia, who
belongs to the church of Smyrna? If we apply the same interpretative logic in
Revelation 2:10 as pre-trib believers do in Revelation 3:10, then who would want
to belong to the church of Smyrna?

Specific to Philadelphia
In A.D. 95, Christians were suffering oppression from both the Romans and the
Jews. All who accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God were severely perse-
cuted. The Jews hated the Christians because Christians proclaimed all over the
world that Judaism was a false religion. The Romans hated the Christians
because Christians would not worship the man-god, Caesar. The church at
Philadelphia had suffered great losses. John himself was on the isle of Patmos
because his loyalty to Jesus prevented him from submitting to the demands of
Rome. It was not a good time to be a Christian. Notice how tenderly Jesus
spoke to the suffering people in Philadelphia: “Since you have kept my
command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial
that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the
earth.” (Revelation 3:10) In effect, Jesus was commending that local church for
their patient endurance because they had suffered for the gospel. He further
assured them that He would continue to sustain them during the hour of trial that
was coming upon the whole world (not just their city). No doubt, the Philadel-
phians were wondering how they could continue to endure additional suffering
on a longer or even larger scale. No doubt they knew about the predicted Great
Tribulation mentioned in Daniel, Matthew and Luke, but like us, they did not
know exactly when it would begin. No doubt, they were asking themselves how
things could be any worse! I am sure they took the words of Jesus to mean:
Hang on! I will continue to sustain you during the hour of trial that will come
upon the Earth to test the whole world.

Summary on Revelation 3:10

Tradition teaches that nine or ten of Christ’s disciples were martyrs for their
faith. History confirms that millions died for their faith during the Dark Ages.
If this is true, then we need to ask ourselves why born again Christians
living today, out of all generations, should be spared from the Great
244 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

Tribulation? Further, the use of Revelation 3:10 to support a pre-trib rapture of

the entire Christian church is simply not justified when we consider the following
issues: the timing surrounding the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of the
living, the many uses of the Greek preposition ‘ek, Jesus’ promise to be with His
disciples until the very end of the age, the earthly location of the saints during
the Great Tribulation mentioned in Revelation, and the messages given to the
seven churches that were timely and local (especially as related to the church of
Philadelphia).

The Rapture Doctrine is Not a Testing Doctrine!

I have a problem with those individuals who make the pre-trib rapture a testing
doctrine. Many Protestants are threatened with eternal loss if they refuse to
believe in a pre-trib rapture. Some people say that if you do not believe in the
rapture, you cannot be saved after it happens – there is no second chance.
This is interesting, since this position stands in opposition to the basic premise
of the pre-trib rapture. Pre-trib advocates teach that sinners will have seven
more years (the 70th week) to “get right” with the Lord. So, condemnation for
rejecting the rapture has no scriptural support. When did the rapture doctrine
become a testing truth for salvation and who had the authority to establish this
test?
The Bible identifies one unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31,32) and that sin is not
the denial of a pre-trib rapture. This type of threat regarding eternal loss is a
form of manipulation. Doctrines that trap and hold uninformed people in a prison
of toxic faith should be openly refuted. We are not living in the Dark Ages. In
most countries today, anyone who wants to own and read a Bible can easily
obtain one. As you may surmise, I give no credence to the concept that a
person could be lost simply by refusing to believe the doctrine of the rapture. On
the contrary, we receive the assurance of salvation (1 John 5:12) when we
surrender our life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. He is my Shepherd
(Psalm 23). He guides me into all truth through the ministry of the Holy Spirit!
(John 16:13) I do not trust any pastor, priest or rabbi to tell me what I must
believe or what I must do in order to be saved. My duty is to listen to the Holy
Spirit. (John 3:8) He brings enlightenment and conviction as I study God’s
Word for myself. Yes, I enjoy listening to religious speakers for study and
investigation, but when I study, I follow and obey Jesus as the Spirit convicts
me. Let no one deceive you in this: Salvation is a personal matter between you
and your Savior. (John 14:21-24; Philippians 2:12,13)
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 245

“One Will be Taken and the Other Left”

One of the favorite texts used by people who believe in a pre-Second Coming
rapture is found in Matthew 24:40-42. Jesus said, “Two men will be in the
field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with
a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ‘Therefore keep watch,
because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.’ ”
This verse understandably makes many people nervous. It seems to suggest that
the appearing of Jesus will be a sudden and totally unexpected event. On the
surface these verses appear to say that two people will be working side by side
and poof – one person is taken and the other is left. Sometimes people who
support the pre-trib rapture use these verses to make a sharp distinction
between a sudden, “thief in the night” kind of gathering of the saints, and the
glorious resurrection/ascension of the remaining saints mentioned in 1
Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 1:7. Do these verses really teach a secret
gathering of the saints before the Second Coming? This is only possible if the
context in which these words were spoken is totally ignored. So, let us take a
close look at the context of these comments:
The setting for Matthew 24 begins as Jesus is leaving the temple. His disciples
caught up with Him and they draw His attention to the magnificent buildings that
make up the temple complex. The temple was the pride of the Jews. It was their
most sacred religious shrine. Herod had expanded and adorned it with much
gold and cedar in an attempt to win the respect and cooperation of the Jews.
The Jews believed that God would not allow His “restored” temple to be des-
ecrated again and the disciples wondered when Jesus would establish His
throne and rule from His temple. As Jesus looked upon the gleaming walls of the
edifice, a deep sadness overcame Him. Then, He uttered this prophecy: “I tell
you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be
thrown down.” His words, no doubt, stunned the disciples. These were
outrageous words! Jesus was predicting something very BIG was going to
happen in Jerusalem!
A short time later, while sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
privately to Jesus. Jesus’ previous remarks had raised both concern and
curiosity within them. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this [destruction of
the temple] happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of
the end of the age?” Jesus’ response to His disciples is recorded by
Matthew and Luke. In both gospels one compelling point surfaces: Jesus
consistently speaks of one return or one coming. He does not allude to a
246 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

pre-Second Coming rapture. Notice these seven highlights from Matthew 24

(Italics mine.):
a. “ . . . he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (24:13)
b. “. . . this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as
a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (24:14)
c. “. . . as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (24:27)
d. “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all
the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” (24:30)
e. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of
Man.” (24:37)
f. “. . . they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came
and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son
of Man.” (24:39)
g. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your
Lord will come.” (24:42)
These seven statements along with many others within the context of Matthew 24
and 25 are directed at one coming of the Son of Man. To insist that Jesus also
talks about a pre-trib rapture in two verses is to frustrate everything else He
says in the other 95 verses of these two chapters. Consider the immediate
context of verses 36-43 where the statement is made, “one will be taken, the
other left”: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the
flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what
would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it
will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one
will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand
mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because
you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If
the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was
coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 247

broken into.” (Matthew 24:36-43) Three phrases from these verses deserve
emphasis:
a. “No one knows about that day or hour . . . but only the Father.”
b. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of
Man.”
c. “. . . and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood
came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of
the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field. . . .”
Matthew 24:36-43 is concerned about the coming of the Son of Man. This point
is stated twice. No one but the Father knows the date of Christ’s coming (a
singular coming). Jesus says there is a twofold parallel between Noah’s day and
His appearing – most people will be surprised and many will be lost because of
willful ignorance. I believe most Christians will agree that two people can work
side-by-side every day and yet, one will be saved and the other will be lost. This
is the meaning and emphasis of the two verses in question. In other words,
salvation boils down to personal preparation. We cannot depend on our friends,
church membership or the charismatic oratory of a pastor for salvation. Salva-
tion is a personal matter. When end time events unfold, the faithful will be saved
and the others will be lost. This point is underscored in the parable of the ten
virgins – which is part of this discussion. No doubt, the wise and foolish virgins
were close friends. The difference between the wise and the foolish was prepa-
ration. When the foolish saw that they were without oil, they went to search for
it. Meanwhile, the bridegroom arrived and the wise virgins followed Him through
the door and into the banquet. Later, the foolish virgins showed up, but were
rejected. (See Matthew 25:1-13.) The key thought in the parable of the ten
virgins is daily preparedness.
Jesus said, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come
at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44) “The master of
that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an
hour he is not aware of.” (Matthew 24:30) “Therefore keep watch, because
you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
The issue of readiness found in these verses is beyond controversy. The initial
events leading up to the appearing of the Son of Man will come as a surprise to
nominal Christians! Notice this verse: “But you, brothers, are not in dark-
ness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of
the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the
darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be
248 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

alert and self-controlled.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6) These verses reveal that

there is no need to be surprised about the fulfillment of prophetic events if we
are awake, alert and prepared. Centuries ago the prophet Amos wrote, “Surely
the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his ser-
vants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) It seems clear that if we correctly understand
the apocalyptic prophecies contained in Daniel and Revelation, there is no need
to be surprised. Although we do not know the day or hour of Christ’s return, we
can know the timing of events in relation to God’s prophetic clock. We should
always be living as if God’s Word is about to be fulfilled!

An Overwhelming Surprise
The overwhelming surprise that Jesus continues to warn us about is not the
Second Coming, but the initiation of the sequence of events leading up to His
physical appearing. How does the surprise occur? Jesus offers this parallel:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of
Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and
they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and
took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left . . . .”
(Matthew 24:37-39) In other words, before the flood, life went on as usual.
People were not fasting or praying for understanding. Instead, they were eating
and drinking, planning weddings, and living as if the end of the world was only a
figment of someone’s imagination. (See 2 Peter 3:5-7.) The antediluvians were
warned of impending disaster. For 120 years the work and message of faithful
Noah irritated the antediluvians. (Genesis 6:3; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5)
However, they were busy with life’s activities; going about their daily routines
with little concern. The antediluvians were warned that the end was coming, but
none believed.
So, what did Jesus mean when He said: “. . . and they knew nothing about
what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.” In their
wildest imagination, the antediluvians did not conceive the enormity or the
process of what lay ahead. In the busy and active lifestyles that existed before
the flood, the antediluvians did not intimately concern themselves with Noah’s
message or his “crazy” activities. I am sure Noah’s peers considered him a
“kook.” Then one day, without further notice or announcement, Noah and his
family went inside the ark. When the animals came in an orderly fashion to
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 249

enter the ark, few, if any, spectators were present. Noah’s folly had been there
for more than a hundred years – it was “a common sight.” The Lord Himself
closed the great door while the rest of the world was totally unaware of the
significance of what had just happened. (Genesis 7:16) Everyone outside the
ark was doomed and they did not know it! Everyone inside the ark was “sealed”
in and they knew it. The townsfolk did not notice that the work outside the great
boat had stopped. The noisy hillside had become quiet. Excess building materi-
als and other construction items were laying around the perimeter of the big
boat, just as they had been for years. Things looked pretty much the same. No
doubt, intoxicated revelers went out to jeer or mock Noah at times, but no one
was disturbed or worried that last night on Earth. Jesus said, “They were eating
and drinking” and planning for another day. What they did not know was that
there were no more tomorrows.
Suddenly, a streak of light streamed down from the sky followed by calamitous
heaves in the Earth and ocean. These were followed in quick succession by
sonic booms and catastrophic crashes. The grumble of a great earthquake
could be heard from deep within the Earth. The ground began to rise in places,
buildings began to fall and the air was suddenly filled with hot moist vapor. I
believe the sky was literally falling! A steady sequence of horrific explosions was
heard as fiery meteors and asteroids impacted planet Earth and the fountains of
the deep were broken apart. Although the impacts were some distance away
from Noah, the sounds of doom were everywhere. Every eye was wide open.
Every pulse was racing. Suddenly, as if on cue, everyone remembered Noah!
“So this is how it happens,” they thought as they grabbed as many precious
items as they could carry and fled their shaking houses.
The ark, undisturbed and motionless, was illumined by sheets of lightning. The
boat stood as a monument for truth. The tall, smooth sides of the ark prevented
anyone from climbing aboard. The size and weight of the ark’s only door was
more than men could move. I can imagine the sound of frantic pleading –
“Noah! Noah! Noah!!! Let us in! Please, let us in. Please!!!” Within minutes of
the meteoric impacts, torrents of water converged on the hillside where a crowd
had gathered. I surmise that a great tsunami came rushing in from the ocean
and pushed inland, followed by rivers of water pouring from the sky. The foolish
antediluvians were swept to their deaths within minutes. They knew nothing
about the course of events because they had refused to listen.
Jesus makes it quite clear: “As it was in the days before the flood, so shall
it also be at the coming of the Son of Man.” Noah and his family did not
escape the flood, but they did escape destruction because of their faith. (He-
250 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?

brews 11:7) Likewise, the saints will not escape the Tribulation, but they do have
the assurance of salvation. They know that Jesus has promised to be with them
until the very end. After comparing Noah’s day with His Second Coming, Jesus
brings His remarks into sharp focus. Two people will be working side by side;
one will be saved; the other left behind. Jesus was not alluding to a pre-trib
rapture. He was speaking about the qualifying experience of faith. Faith in God
is not something that can be developed within 30 minutes of terror. Faith in God
is something that develops through testing and trials. As Jesus reflected about
the time of His return, He saw many parallels between Noah’s day and ours. The
Great Tribulation will strike the world with a violence unseen since the days of
Noah. Again, there will be powerful earthquakes, meteoric showers of burning
hail and two asteroid impacts. (The first four trumpets consist of great physical
harm to this planet.) And yes, there will be enormous terror and death. Of
course, the destruction caused by the seven trumpet events will not be total, as
in Noah’s day, or no one could live. Although 50% of the Earth’s population will
survive these horrific manifestations of God’s wrath, the time period of the seven
trumpets will be filled with gloom, darkness and despair.

Little Has Changed

Little has changed. As in Noah’s day, most of the world still refuses to listen.
Even devout, religious people refuse to hear. They have created sweet prophetic
concepts, counting themselves worthy of escaping the Great Tribulation that will
soon occur. Many good people are deceived and an overwhelming disappoint-
ment is approaching. Who is to blame for all this misinformation? Everyone –
everyone who owns a Bible. God has mercifully put a translation of His Word in
almost every language of the world, making sure that everyone who wants to
know the truth may have the opportunity. If people were sincerely searching for
truth, having open discussions and studies about the prophecies of Daniel and
Revelation, Christians would be much better prepared for what is coming.

Like a Thief
The Apostle Peter sums up the approaching Tribulation saying, “The Lord is
not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will
disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the
earth and everything in it will be laid bare . . . That day will bring about the
destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”
(1 Peter 3:9-12) For most of Earth’s inhabitants, the Great Tribulation will begin
Chapter 14 – Which is Next? 251

without knowledge or warning – just like a thief! The Great Tribulation will be
1,335 days in length. (Daniel 12:11,12) Even if the entire human race were told,
few would believe. How sad! “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that
this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and
sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So
then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-
controlled.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6) This you can count on! When the seven
trumpets begin, people who have made a habit of studying God’s Word and
daily listening to His Spirit, will be ready. People who “played church” will be left
. . . left wondering what went wrong.

Summary
If we harmonize all that the Bible has to say about the Second Coming, a
comprehensive picture begins to form. It will be a most awe-filled day. John
wrote, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see
him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will
mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” (Revelation 1:7) The
prophet Joel saw the great day of the Lord, “Before them [the warriors of
the Lord] the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are
darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord thunders at the
head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are
those who obey his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is
dreadful. Who can endure it?” (Joel 2:10,11, insertion mine.) Given the
preponderance of evidence throughout Scripture, we have to conclude
there is one gathering of the saints – at the Second Coming.
252 Chapter 14 – Which is Next?
 Chapter 15
The Seventh Millennium

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the

key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He
seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or
Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him
into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep
him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand
years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short
time.
– Revelation 20:1-3

Introduction
I believe the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 will be a sabbatical millennium
when Earth gets a rest from the works of sin. Bible chronology indicates the
6,000th anniversary of sin could occur somewhere between 1998 and 2017.
If the Second Coming were to occur at the end of the 6,000th year of sin, the
1,000 years of Revelation 20 would be a sabbatical millennium. Of course,
no one knows when the 6,000th year will occur and the Bible does not say
that Jesus is going to return at the end of 6,000 years, but the progressive
fulfillment of apocalyptic prophecy confirms the Second Coming of Jesus is
very near. The Bible says that no man knows the day or hour of Christ’s
return (Matthew 24:36), but the Bible does say that we can know when the
end is near! (Daniel 8:17,19; 12:4,9) We should thoughtfully consider clues
about the timing of the Second Coming in the Bible. (1 Thessalonians 5:3-9)
Eighteen apocalyptic time-periods are mentioned in the books of Daniel and
Revelation and these time-periods are pieces of a big puzzle that reveal
God’s timing. God is always on time (Exodus 12:40-42, Galatians 4:4) and
with Him, timing is the basis for everything.

God’s Use of Clocks

The Bible teaches that God created four clocks during Creation’s week by
which He measures Earth time. Three clocks are based on planetary
motion: The “day clock” is based on one rotation of Earth on its axis; the
“month clock” is based on one orbit of the moon around Earth; and the
“year clock” is synchronized with the positions of the Sun and moon in the
spring of the year. The weekly cycle also began at Creation and it remains
254 Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium

synchronized with Creation’s week to this very day! About 2,500 years after
Creation, God introduced five more clocks. It is interesting to note that
these clocks are based on the template of the weekly cycle. Notice:
1. Week of seven months (Israel’s religious year)
2. Week of seven years (7 years)
3. Week of seven weeks or one Jubilee cycle (49 years)
4. Great Day = ten Jubilee cycles (490 years)
5. Great Week = a week of Great Days (3,430 years)
In addition, if you add up the genealogical records found in the Bible, the
prophetic time-periods mentioned in Daniel and Revelation and the 1,000
years of Revelation 20, the Bible record covers a total time span of 7,000
years. Using the weekly cycle template, two more clocks appear to be at
work:
6. Grand Day = ten centuries (1,000 years)
7. Grand Week = a week of seven Grand Days (7,000 years)
I have asked myself, why did God create seven clocks based on the
weekly template? After much study, I have concluded that each “weekly”
clock points man toward God’s Sabbath rest and God’s Sabbath rest at
every level says something significant about the duration of sin. (See my
article, Great Clocks From God for an in depth explanation. It can be
downloaded from the Wake Up America Seminars web-site at
www.wake-up.org or a printed copy can be obtained for a minimal
cost by contacting the office.)

Four Prophetic Views

Students of Bible prophecy usually accept one of four basic views regard-
ing the 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20. Of course, there are also
variations within each view. They are:
1. Premillennialism
2. Postmillennialism
3. Amillennialism
4. Panmillennialism
The most popular of the four views is called Premillennialism. Adherents of
this view are so called because they believe that Christ’s kingdom on Earth
will be established before the millennium begins. In essence, premillen-
Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium 255

nialism teaches there will be a pre-trib rapture. Seven years later Jesus is
supposed to return to Earth and resurrect the righteous. Then, it is believed
that Jesus will reign for 1,000 years in peace and righteousness from the
throne of David located in the city of Jerusalem. At the end of the 1,000
years, there will be a final resurrection, judgment and a renewal of the
heavens and Earth. Many premillennialists believe that the promises and
covenants God gave to ancient Israel in the Old Testament will be fulfilled
during the 1,000 years. (Premillennialism is largely based on the doctrine
of dispensationalism.) There is some dispute among premillennialists
concerning the identity and role of the saints during the millennium. Some
scholars teach that the saints will rule as priests and kings with Christ over
the unconverted. Others believe the Jews will be converted to Christianity
as a result of the rapture and they will rule over the Gentiles. The net effect
in either case is that the saints will rule over the wicked.
The opposite of Premillennialism is Postmillennialism. Bible students who
believe in Postmillennialism teach that Christ’s kingdom will be established
on Earth after the 1,000 years are over. One group of postmillennialists
believe that the world will continue as it is, getting more and more Chris-
tianized as a result of Christians sharing the gospel on a wider scale (i.e.,
worldwide TV, shortwave radio, Bibles printed in many languages, etc.).
When the world has been reached with the gospel, a long period of peace
and prosperity will exist for 1,000 years. At the end of the 1,000 years,
Christ will return to Earth, resurrect the dead, perform the final judgment,
give the saints eternal life and destroy the wicked. Other postmillennialists
believe that Christ will establish His kingdom on Earth at the end of the
1,000 years, but they believe the Earth will be desolate of mankind during
the 1,000 years.
The third view of the 1,000 years is called Amillennialism. Advocates of this
view maintain that the 1,000 years is not a literal period of peace and
righteousness. They believe the millennium alludes to the present reign of
deceased souls with Christ in Heaven. This will be followed by Christ’s
Second Coming, a resurrection, final judgment, and Christ’s eternal reign
over a perfect kingdom on Earth. Just what takes place during the 1,000
years of Revelation 20 is a matter of debate among amillennialists. The
millennium, according to amillennialism, is to be understood in an allegori-
cal sense.
There is a “tongue-in-cheek” position on the millennium called
“Panmillennialism.” People in this category do not attempt to explain or
understand Revelation 20. They take a fail-proof position saying the millen-
nium will “pan-out” just as God intends.
256 Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium

So, which view of the millennium is best? Which view is more comprehen-
sive? What is the truth about the 1,000 years of Revelation 20? Do Chris-
tians really need to know about the millennium right now? Certainly, the
subject of the millennium years invites many good questions.

A Completed Picture
It is human nature to dismiss the importance of things we do not under-
stand. An elderly man once said to me, “I’ve lived 80 years without under-
standing the millennium. Do you really think I need to know about it now?”
I smiled and responded, “People lived on Earth for thousands of years
without refrigerators. Do we really need them now?” We both smiled. I find
that God has included “timely” information in the Bible because this infor-
mation becomes essential to His believers who want to understand the
ways of God when the appointed time arrives. The better we understand
God’s actions, the deeper our faith in God can grow! Therefore, I believe
the subject of the millennium is important because I believe the time has
come to understand a host of prophetic matters that are about to be fulfilled
– Revelation 20 brings the big picture of God’s plans into focus.

The Sequence of Events

In the previous chapter, I mentioned how the prophecies of Daniel and
Revelation are “stacked” onto each other like layers of a wedding cake. As
we investigate the 1,000 years of Revelation 20, I would like to present
portions of prophecies #16, #17 and #18 so you can see how the layering
of prophecies says so much in very few words. The first prophecy we will
examine (#16) is taken from Revelation 19:11- 20:10. This prophecy has a
beginning point in time and an ending point in time and the events within
the prophecy occur in the order in which they are given. It provides an
overall big picture of what happens at the beginning, the middle and the
end of the 1,000 years. The two short prophecies that follow (#17 and #18)
add more detail. Notice how the chronology in each prophecy contributes
to the overall story.

Prophecy #16 (Revelation 19:11 - 20:10)

Step 1: Heaven’s Army Assembled for the Second Coming
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,
whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes
Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium 257

war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a
name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe
dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were
following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He
will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the
wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Step 2: Jesus Returns to Earth

“And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the
birds flying in midair, ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses
and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and
great.’ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies
gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.
But the beast [Babylon] was captured, and with him the false prophet [the
lamb like beast] who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.
With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the
beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the
fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them [the wicked] were killed with
the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the
birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”

Step 3: The Antichrist is Returned to the Abyss

“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the
Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that
ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand
years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to
keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years
were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.”

Step 4: The Saints Judge the Actions of the Wicked

“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority
to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of
their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not
worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a
thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thou-
258 Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium

sand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are
those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power
over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him
for a thousand years.”

Step 5: The Wicked are Annihilated

“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and
will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and
Magog – to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the
seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the
camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and
devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of
burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will
be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Prophecy #17: The Great White Throne Judgment Scene (Revelation

20:11 - 21:1)
A new prophecy begins with Revelation 20:11 because verse 11 breaks the
chronological order of the previous prophecy. This prophecy reveals certain
details that take place at the end of the 1,000 years, just after the wicked
are resurrected, but before they are destroyed in the lake of fire. After
studying the contents of this prophecy, see if you can chronologically
harmonize this prophecy with the previous prophecy:
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and
sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the
dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were
opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead
were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up
the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what
he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The
lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in
the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Then I saw a new
heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed
away, and there was no longer any sea.”
Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium 259

Prophecy #18: The Holy City Descends at the End of the 1,000 Years
(Revelation 21:2 - 6)
A new prophecy begins with Revelation 21:2 because verse 2 breaks the
chronological order of the previous prophecy. This prophecy reveals certain
details that take place just after the wicked are resurrected, but before the
destruction of the wicked.
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard
a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men,
and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be
with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of
things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am
making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words
are trustworthy and true. . . .’ ”

Synthesis
When I align the chronological details in these three prophecies, I reach
the following conclusions:
1. When Jesus returns to Earth, the armies of Earth will actually attempt
to destroy Him.
2. Jesus will face His enemies and command them to die. (This is repre-
sented by the sharp sword that comes out of His mouth.) Incidently, the
righteous dead are resurrected by words from the same mouth!
3. The Antichrist (the false prophet) and his global administration (the
beast) will be thrown alive in a great lake of fire at the Second Coming.
Everyone will be destroyed in that fire, but the fire itself will burn on
throughout the 1,000 years. Lucifer and his angels will see the place of
their coming execution for 1,000 years.
Note: Lucifer and his angels are allowed to physically appear on Earth
during the fifth trumpet. At that time they will be given visible bodies for
the benefit of mankind to see. (Revelation 17:8; 9:1-11) These bodies
will be taken away from them at the Second Coming and destroyed in
the lake of fire. This forces Lucifer and his angels back into the spirit
world or the Abyss (from whence they came) and they remain in this
state, “chained” to a desolate Earth for 1,000 years.
260 Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium

4. During the 1,000 years, the saints reign with Christ. This means they will
share in Jesus’ great authority in reviewing the records of the wicked to
determine the appropriate amount of restitution as required by law.
5. At the end of the 1,000 years, the holy city, New Jerusalem, descends from
Heaven to Earth with the saints inside. The wicked will be resurrected and
Lucifer will be “released” to lead the wicked in an all-out attempt to destroy
God, the saints and the city. God allows this to occur to demonstrate once
again that sin cannot be justified. Sin is nothing but rebellion against the
authority of God. When the righteous see the defiant behavior of the wicked
in the very presence of Almighty God, this evidence will be more than
enough to satisfy any question that may linger about the necessity of
destroying the wicked. Every tear will be dried.
6. As the wicked rush the city, the Great White Throne judgment scene takes
place. The Maker of Life will stop the great throng as it advances toward His
city. Jesus will address His created beings and reveal to each wicked
person why He could not save him or her. He will also reveal his or her
forthcoming punishment. I presume there will be a few special words
addressed to Lucifer, the father of sin. Jesus will lament the rise of sin as
He speaks to the being who was once His best and closest friend. It will be
an awesome day of reckoning.
7. When the wicked realize their great loss, when they see that their fate was
sealed by their own rebellion, when they hear their sentence of restitution
and death, panic stricken they go into an agonizing frenzy. Jesus calls fire
down out of the heavens and the judgment decided by the saints is applied
and ultimately, the penalty of death by execution brings sin to an end.

Some Questions
Perhaps the best way to conclude the study on this topic is to answer nine
commonly asked questions.
1. Where are the saints during the 1,000 years and what will they be
doing?
They will reign (share authority) with Christ in Heaven. This conclusion
is based on four concepts: First, the righteous dead of ages past and
the righteous living will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. Important point: Christ does not walk upon the Earth at
the Second Coming. Instead, He calls the saints up to meet Him in the
air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) Jesus takes the saints back to the holy city,
New Jerusalem, where He has been preparing homes for them. (John 14:1-
Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium 261

3) Second, when Christ appears at the Second Coming, He commands the

wicked to die. (Revelation 19:15-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:8) Third, the saints
will have the responsibility of determining the appropriate punishment for
wicked people and Satan’s angels.
(1 Corinthians 6:1-3) Last, at the end of the 1,000 years, the saints descend
from Heaven to Earth in the Holy City at the end of the 1,000 years. (Rev-
elation 21:2-22:5)
2. Where are the wicked during the 1,000 years and what will they be
doing?
With the exception of those who participated in the crucifixion of Jesus,
the wicked are not resurrected at the Second Coming. They remain in a
state of soul-sleep or death. They wait for the second resurrection and
the White Throne Judgment scene. (Revelation 20:5; 20:12,13) At the
Second Coming, the devil is forced to return to the spirit world (the
Abyss) for 1,000 years. (He was let out of the Abyss during the fifth
trumpet. Revelation 9:1-11) Because the Earth is desolate of life, he
cannot deceive anyone during the 1,000 years. Furthermore, he is
“chained” to his earthly prison and cannot go anywhere to tempt or
annoy the other inhabitants of the universe. (Revelation 20:1-3) The
devil and his demons will have a lot of time to reflect on their eventful
history of rebellion against God and they will churn with depression and
anxiety over their coming destruction – especially the restitution phase.
Remember from page 238, Lucifer is the scapegoat. All the sins from
the temple will be placed on his head.
3. Did God pre-decree a precise period of 1,000 Earth-years or
should this time-period be interpreted as a general statement?
Evidence from the Bible suggests the 1,000 years will be a sabbatical
millennium. There is nothing in the Bible to prevent the 1,000 years
from being a precise time-period that fulfills the weekly template God
designed at Creation. (Genesis 2:1-3; Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8)
4. Does the millennium occur before or after Christ sets up His
kingdom on Earth?
Based on the material presented in this chapter and the previous one,
Jesus will return for the saints at the beginning of the millennium. At
that time, He will take them to “His Father’s house,” which is located in
Heaven, for 1,000 years. During the 1,000 years, the saints will conduct
a judgment process upon the wicked, determining the amount of
262 Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium

restitution that each wicked person must pay. At the end of the 1,000 years,
the Holy City and the saints descend to Earth. At that time, the wicked are
resurrected to see the reality of salvation and why He could not save them.
Then the punishment begins and ultimately, God cleanses the Earth of every
impurity. Hallelujah! After seven millenniums of sin, a new Heaven and a new
Earth will be created. Then it can be said, “the Kingdom of God is among
men.”
5. What event marks the beginning of 1,000 years?
The Second Coming.
6. What event marks the end of the 1,000 years?
It could be called the Third Coming, since the Holy City descends and the
wicked from all ages are resurrected to meet their fate.
7. Will the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 be the seventh millennium since
sin began, in effect, a sabbatical rest for Earth?
Yes, it appears that way. (See 2 Peter 3:8.) Consider the parallel: The works
of sin last for six millennial days (six 1,000-year periods). Earth will then
receive its Sabbath rest for 1,000 years before it is put back into proper
“working” order at the beginning of eternity!
8. What is God’s overall purpose for the 1,000 years?
In addition to the purposes stated in previous questions, God uses the
millennium as a time for the saints to prove to themselves that God’s
judgment of the wicked, His character and His government are righ-
teous beyond question. All issues surrounding the judgement process
will be resolved before God permanently annihilates anyone. The first
1,000 years of eternal life will also include their judgment regarding restitu-
tion from the wicked. God gives this job to the saints at the beginning of
their eternal life because He wants the redeemed to carefully consider the
seriousness of sin and rebellion from His perspective. Therefore, He
requires them to sit in judgment upon human beings as He must do. As
a direct result, the saints will be able to testify throughout the endless
ages of eternity about the importance of maintaining a nonnegotiable
faith in God and His government. Their eternal testimony will thwart
the rise of sin forever in God’s expanding universe.
9. Although the 1,000 years are only mentioned in Revelation 20, do
other Bible writers indirectly speak of this time-period?
No details or comments about the millennium are given by Old Testa-
ment prophets. Since God’s original plan (I refer to it as “Plan A”) to
Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium 263

rescue Earth from sin was based on a scheme that directly involved ancient
Israel, the original plan did not have a 1,000 year respite from sin. But when
ancient Israel failed to meet God’s requirements, God introduced what I
refer to as “Plan B.” The book of Revelation demonstrates how God can take
the failure of man and produce an even more glorious outcome. Remember
this, the greater the chaos, the greater God’s glory for resolving the prob-
lem!

Conclusion
We have reached the end of this volume. I have attempted to explain five
essential Bible truths (I call them the five S’s):
Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ
God’s seventh day Sabbath rest
Parallel Sanctuaries
The State of man in death
The circumstances and events surrounding the Second Coming.
Each of these doctrines centers on the generous ministry of Jesus Christ.
As we begin to understand the depth of God’s plans, it leads the sincere in
heart toward a greater appreciation for Jesus. I have written this book for
two reasons. First, I want to exalt my Savior, Jesus. Even though I continue
to learn more about Him every day, my desire is to share a number of
wonderful things I have gleaned from Scripture. No one compares to
Jesus. He rightfully deserves to be called, “The Alpha and The Omega.”
He is the most awesome being in the whole universe. Second, this book
was written as a primer for prophetic study. The prophecies of Daniel and
Revelation are an advanced area of study and a harmonious understand-
ing of the prophecies requires a solid foundation of the five essential truths
presented in this book.
For example, Revelation 8:5 mentions the “casting down of the golden
censer” at the golden altar. To understand what this means, we need to
understand it within the context of services being conducted in Heaven’s
temple at the Altar of Incense. Since information about services conducted
at the heavenly Altar of Incense does not exist in the Bible, we must turn to
the parallels and patterns between the heavenly and the earthly sanctuar-
ies. As we examine the ministry conducted at the Altar of Incense on Earth,
it helps us to understand the significance of casting down the censer at the
heavenly altar.
264 Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium

“Future telling” is not the primary purpose of Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy
does involve a study of future events, but not in the way most people assume.
Bible prophecy covers a number of topics that believers should want to under-
stand. Ultimately, Bible prophecy reveals how Jesus will resolve all of the
problems caused by sin. He will eventually destroy the wicked, both humans and
angels. Earth itself is so contaminated with sin that purification by fire is re-
quired! The Godhead has been dealing with the sin problem for a long time and
they will bring the drama to a close as planned – and this is where apocalyptic
prophecy comes into focus.
Unfortunately, the elimination of sin also involves destroying human beings that
Jesus deeply loves. The deliberate and final destruction of fallen angels and
fallen human beings must be done within a framework of justice and mercy that
every survivor can understand. Throughout eternity, the drama of sin will be
reviewed and discussed by men and angels. Of course, after the drama is over,
God’s children will have a host of records to examine which will disclose the
whole truth about sin and God’s behavior. (1 Corinthians 6:1-4, Revelation 20:4)
But, we are presently living before the drama of sin has been brought to a close.
So, God has given us who live before the drama comes to a close, an opportu-
nity to understand the sweeping outline of how the sin problem will be resolved.
By giving this information to us in advance, our understanding of what He must
do to the human race during the Great Tribulation makes sense.
If the balance between God’s eternal justice and His unlimited love to save man
is not the central theme when studying Bible prophecy, then it is robbed of its
sanctifying value, because human beings can do nothing to prevent the things
God has determined to do. At the present time, one man says this about Revela-
tion and another says that, so no one can determine the truth. This is about to
change. When the Great Tribulation begins, God will make sure all people will
see and hear His truth. He will empower 144,000 spokespersons all over the
world and they will speak with authority, as did Moses and Elijah.
For now, we must accept by faith that God is unbelievably generous in His grace
and His government is based on the equitable rule of law based on love. God’s
laws are not righteous because He declares them to be righteous. God’s laws
are righteous and fair because the evidence will show that when sin’s drama has
ended, His laws will have been proven to be righteous! The eternal well being of
His creatures is God’s first and highest concern. As I have come to understand
His profound love for sinners,
I conclude that, “Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and Last, the
Beginning and End. He is the Engineer of everything and the Creator of all
Chapter 15 – The Seventh Millennium 265

creations. He is the Architect of the universe, the Prince of Kindness and the
Prince of Peace. But for a few hours in the tomb, He is eternal. He has no
beginning and He is alive forever more. He is unmoved, unchanged, unde-
feated, and never undone. He was bruised but He brought healing. He was
pierced but He eased pain. He was persecuted but He brought freedom. He was
put to death but He brought life. He is risen and He brings power to those who
believe in Him. The world cannot understand Him, the armies of Earth cannot
defeat Him, the schools of men cannot explain Him, and the leaders of nations
cannot ignore Him. Herod could not kill Him, the Pharisees could not confuse
Him, and crowds could not get enough of Him. Pilate could not hold Him in the
tomb, Caesars could not silence His followers, traditions cannot replace Him,
and modern science cannot explain Him. He is the way, the true light, the bread
of life, perfect love and Lord of Lords. He is goodness, kindness and gentle-
ness. He is God, He is the angel of the Lord and He is man. He is holy, righ-
teous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His word is eternal, His
will is unchanging, and His expansive thoughts include me. He is my Redeemer
and Savior. He is my guide and my peace. He is my joy and my comfort, He is
my Lord and He rules over my life. I serve Him because His bond is love, His
burden is light, and His objective for me is abundant life. I follow Him because
He is the source of truth, the owner of wisdom and all knowledge. He is love. He
is sovereign over the kings of Earth, the Ruler of rulers, the Leader of leaders,
the Model for overcomers. If His qualifications seem impressive, His demonstra-
tion of love is even greater. He desires a wonderful relationship with every
human being. If I obediently submit to His call, He will never leave me, forsake
me, mislead me, forget me, overlook me, or ignore my prayers. When I fall, He
lifts me up. When I fail, He forgives. When I am weak, He is strong. When I am
lost, He knows the way. When I am afraid, He gives me courage. When I
stumble, He steadies me. When I am hurt, He heals me. When I am broken, He
mends me. When I am blind, He leads me. When I am hungry, He feeds me.
When
I face trials, He assures me. When I face persecution, He sustains me.
When I face problems, He comforts me. When I endure loss, He provides
for me. When I face the shadow of death, He gives me grace. He is every-
thing for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way. He is
Almighty God, He is faithful and trustworthy. I am His, and He is mine.”
(Variations of this statement have been circulated on the internet. I have
added a number of statements that spring from my discoveries. Originating
author is unknown.)
 Bible Cross Reference
Gen 1……………142, 146 Gen 22:14 …………… 18 Exo 25:8 …………… 174
Gen 1:1…………………12 Gen 28:13 …………… 18 Exo 25:10 ………… 180
Gen 1:2…………………13 Gen 29:32-35 ………… 17 Exo 25:12 …………… 180
Gen 2………………… 118 Gen 30:6-13 ………… 17 Exo 25:17 …………… 180
Gen 2:1-3……… 119, 261 Gen 31:44-48 ……… 107 Exo 25:20…… ……… 180
Gen 2:16,17… 58, 59, 217 Exo 25:22 …………… 180
Gen 2:17 Exo 3:2-6 …………19, 27 Exo 25:23-30 ……… 185
… 38, 58, 108, 175, 237 Exo 5:3 ……………… 137 Exo 25:30 ………185, 186
Gen 2:2 ………………135 Exo 5:5 ……………… 135 Exo 25:31,40 ……… 184
Gen 2:2-3……… 133, 135 Exo 6:2-3……………… 18 Exo 25:37,39 ……… 184
Gen 2:24 ……………… 11 Exo 6:3 …………… 17, 19 Exo 26:34 ………… 180
Gen 2:7…29, 57, 217, 219 Exo 6:7 ……………… 111 Exo 26:35……… 184, 187
Gen 3 …………………111 Exo 12:3-13 ………… 192 Exo 29:40,41 ……… 174
Gen 3:4… …………… 217 Exo 12:16 …………… 149 Exo 30:6 …………… 180
Gen 3:6 ……………… 58 Exo 12:17-20 ……… 194 Exo 30:7,8 ………… 173
Gen 3:7-21 …………… 52 Exo 12:28-33 ……… 193 Exo 30:9 …………… 174
Gen 3:8……………… 181 Exo 12:40-42 ……… 253 Exo 30:18-21 …… … 183
Gen 3:12……………… 59 Exo 12:41…………… 121 Exo 30:34-38 ……… 173
Gen 3:13……………… 59 Exo 12:42…………… 121 Exo 31:16-17 … 133, 144
Gen 3:14,15………… 108 Exo 16 ……………… 136 Exo 31:18 …………… 180
Gen 3:15 …………… 175 Exo 16:23 …………… 185 Exo 33:20…………… 181
Gen 3:17-19 ………… 60 Exo 16:23,24 ……… 139 Exo 34:28 …………… 116
Gen 3:21 …………… 111 Exo 16:33…………… 180 Exo 36:19 …………… 188
Gen 3:22-24…60, 169, 217 Exo 19 ……………… 125 Exo 37:16 …………… 186
Gen 4:4 …………… 112 Exo 19:1-6 ………… 184 Exo 40:3 …………… 179
Gen 4:10 …………… 224 Exo 19:4-8 ………… 123 Exo 40:20 …………… 180
Gen 5:5 ……………… 61 Exo 19:5,6 ………… 111
Gen 6:3 … 217, 220, 248 Exo 19:6 …………… 120 Lev 4 ………………… 169
Gen 6:5 ……………… 118 Exo 19:18…………… 181 Lev 4:3-7 …………… 177
Gen 6:5,6 …………… 117 Exo 19:21…………… 181 Lev 4:7 ……………… 170
Gen 6:5-7…………… 201 Exo 20:5 …………… 171 Lev 4:7,18 ……………177
Gen 7:16 …………… 249 Exo 20:7 ………… 19, 182 Lev 4:13-18 ………… 176
Gen 7:22 …………… 219 Exo 20:8 …………… 136 Lev 4:25……………… 173
Gen 8:20,21 ……… 112 Exo 20:8-11 Lev 4:26……………… 170
Gen 9:5,6…………… 109 …… 13, 20, 114, 137 Lev 4:27-30 ………… 170
Gen 9:9-17……………109 Exo 20:11 …………… 136 Lev 5:7 ……………… 170
Gen 12 ……………… 109 Exo 20:21 …………… 181 Lev 5:13……………… 168
Gen 13……………… 109 Exo 21 ……………… 202 Lev 6 ………………… 166
Gen 13:14-17… …… 110 Exo 21:23-25 ……… 172 Lev 6:1-7 …………… 201
Gen 15 ………… 120, 121 Exo 22 ………… 166, 171 Lev 6:12,13 ………… 173
Gen 15:5 …………… 110 Exo 22:9……………… 227 Lev 10:1-3 ……………173
Gen 15:7……………… 18 Exo 22:20 …………… 171 Lev 11:44,45 ……… 182
Gen 15:18 ……………105 Exo 23:14-17 ……… 191 Lev 16 ………… 199, 203
Gen 17:1 ………… 16, 37 Exo 23:18…………… 195 Lev 16:2 ……… 177, 179
Gen 17:4 …………… 124 Exo 24:1-8… 105, 121, 122 Lev 16:10 …………… 205
Gen 22:11-18 …… 19, 26
Bible Cross Reference 267

Lev 16:14 …………… 182 Deu 31:16-18 ………… 77 Psa 2:7-9 …………… 175
Lev 16:31 …………… 149 Deu 31:16-32:52 ……123 Psa 8:4,5 …………… 27
Lev 19:26 …………… 152 Deu 31:26 ……………180 Psa 23……………… 244
Lev 19:31 …………… 223 Deu 32:4 …………… 212 Psa 24:1 …………… 143
Lev 20:6 …………… 223 Psa 24:3,4 ………… 184
Lev 21 ……………… 203 Jos 2:1-5……………… 27 Psa 33:9 ……………… 15
Lev 22 ……………… 203 Jos 3:4 ……………… 181 Psa 40:8 …………… 131
Lev 23 ……………… 152 Psa 48:2 …………… 187
Lev 23:11 ………… 195 Jud 2:1-5……………… 19 Psa 51:17…………… 168
Lev 23:16,17 ……… 196 Psa 75:10 …………… 167
Lev 23:27-32 ……… 199 1 Sam 3:14……………171 Psa 78:21 …………… 199
Lev 23:32 ……… 142, 146 1 Sam 4:21…………… 17 Psa 89:14 …………… 214
Lev 24:3 …………… 184 1 Sam 15:1 ………… 75 Psa 90:4 …………… 261
Lev 24:8 …………… 185 1 Sam 21:3-6 ……… 185 Psa 95:3 …………… 188
Lev 24:19-21 ……… 172 1 Sam 27:12 …………227 Psa 95:10…………… 181
Lev 25:23 …………… 143 1 Sam 28 …………… 224 Psa 95:10,11 ……… 123
Lev 26 … 113, 122, 123, 169 1 Sam 28:6 ………… 75 Psa 103:17…………… 78
1 Sam 31:4 ………… 213 Psa 104:29 ………… 215
Num 4:5,6…………… 181 Psa 112:9 …………… 167
Num 5:6-8…………… 171 2 Sam 7:16 ………… 110 Psa 115:17,18……… 219
Num 8:19…………… 174 2 Sam 9:7…………… 186 Psa 139:16…………… 75
Num 15:30…………… 171 Psa 146:3,4………… 218
Num 16……………… 199 1 Kgs 2:4 …………… 110
Num 17:10…………… 180 Ecc 3:20……………… 215
1 Kgs 3:7-9,14……… 181
Num 18 ……………… 211 Ecc 9:5,6……… 219, 223
1 Kgs 11:8…………… 178
Num 29:1 …………… 199 Ecc 9:5……………… 216
1 Kgs 13:2…………… 75
Num 32:23…………… 169 Ecc 11:5……………… 218
1 Kgs 18:19 ………… 186
Num 35:33…………… 109 Ecc 12:13,14
2 Kgs 2:11…………… 44 ………55, 86, 161, 238
Deu 4:13 …………… 150 2 Kgs 6:17 ………… 181 Ecc 12:14… 202, 205, 216
Deu 6:5 ……………… 123 2 Kgs 20:6 ………… 110 Ecc 12:7……………… 218
Deu 7:9……………… 199
Deu 13:1-5 …………… 44 1 Chr 16:36 ………… 21 Isa 1:11-17 ………… 165
Deu 14:24-26…………148 Isa 1:13-18…………… 86
Deu 18:10,11 … 216, 223 2 Chr 33:6…………… 216 Isa 2 ………………… 124
Deu 18:15 …………… 46 Isa 8:19 …………… 223
Deu 19:18-21 ……… 172 Ezr 7,8………………… 45 Isa 14:12-14………… 187
Deu 26:12 ………… 148 Isa 40:3 ……………… 46
Deu 28 Neh 13:15…………… 148 Isa 41:25………………187
……122, 123, 169, 222 Neh 13:15-22 ……… 141 Isa 44:6 ……………… 37
Deu 28-30 …………… 113 Isa 44:24-25…………… 72
Deu 28:13 …………… 128 Job 16:20,21………… 61 Isa 45:1,2,5 ………… 75
Deu 28:44,45 ……… 124 Job 27:3,4 ………… 218 Isa 45:23,24………… 229
Deu 30:12-15 ………… 97 Job 38:4-7 …………… 16 Isa 45:5 ……………… 171
Deu 31:10,11 ……… 119 Isa 46:9-11……… 39, 72
Deu 31:16 ………… 105 Psa 2 ……… 39, 73, 175 Isa 46:10,11……………73
268 Bible Cross Reference

Isa 47:4 ……………… 37 Mat 5:14……………… 184

Isa 48 ………………19, 20 Dan 2 ………………… 231 Mat 5:23-26…………… 51
Isa 48:12,13 ………… 37 Dan 3……………… 86, 88 Mat 5:23,24 ………… 202
Isa 48:12,13,16,17…… 16 Dan 7 …………… 74, 231 Mat 5:24……………… 166
Isa 49:6 ……………… 120 Dan 7:9,10…………… 228 Mat 5:38-39 ………… 172
Isa 53:12 ……………… 61 Dan 7:9,10,13,14…… 203 Mat 6:9………………… 19
Isa 53:2,3 …………… 189 Dan 7:13,14…………… 74 Mat 6:12……………… 202
Isa 55:6-7 …………… 199 Dan 8:17,19 ………… 253 Mat 6:24 ………………144
Isa 55:8 ……………… 181 Dan 9:26,27 ………… 124 Mat 6:33……………… 143
Isa 56………………… 124 Dan 10:13………………25 Mat 7:1,2 …………… 214
Isa 58:13,14 ………… 141 Dan 12:1-2 ……… 24, 239 Mat 7:2,12…………… 168
Isa 64:6 ……………… 183 Dan 12:4,9………231, 253 Mat 7:7………………… 42
Isa 66:1 ……………… 180 Dan 12:10………………41 Mat 7:12…………172, 202
Dan 12:11,12…………251 Mat 7:28,29 ………… 197
Jer 1:4,5 ……………… 75 Mat 8:28-34 ………… 224
Jer 1:5 ………………… 17 Joe 2:1 ……………… 199 Mat 11:11,14 ………… 47
Jer 1:5,6 ……………… 71 Joe 2:10,11 ………… 251 Mat 11:28 ……… 37, 162
Jer 1:14……………… 187 Joe 2:27,28 ………… 198 Mat 12:1-8…………… 139
Jer 3…………………… 77 Joe 2:28,29…………… 34 Mat 12:5……………… 186
Jer 3:20……………… 110 Joe 2:28-32…… 210, 226 Mat 12:9-16 ………… 140
Jer 4:6 ……………… 187 Mat 12:31
Jer 7:4 ……………… 123 Amo 3:7……………… 248 … 35, 85, 130, 168, 171
Jer 7:23 ……………… 111 Mat 12:31,32… 33, 50, 244
Jer 7:26………………… 77 Nah 1:2,3…………… 207 Mat 13:11……………… 97
Jer 11:10 …………… 105 Nah 1:9……………… 225 Mat 13:11-13 ………… 97
Jer 17:10 …………… 35 Mat 13:30…………… 237
Jer 19 ……………… 224 Zec 1:18-21 ………… 167 Mat 13:31…………… 154
Jer 25………………… 134 Zec 3:2………………… 23 Mat 13:37-43………… 237
Jer 31:31-34………… 105 Zec 4:6………… 167, 210 Mat 14:19…………… 186
Jer 34:19,20………… 121 Zec 14…………………110 Mat 15:9……………… 160
Jer 46:20 …………… 187 Mat 15:36…………… 186
Jer 48:25 …………… 167 Mal 1:14…………183, 188 Mat 16:11-12………… 195
Jer 50:9……………… 187 Mal 3:6………………… 14 Mat 16:25…………… 224
Mal 3:10,11 ………… 128 Mat 17:1-9…………… 47
Eze 2,3……………… 125 Mal 3:16……………… 228 Mat 17:10……………… 47
Eze 3:7………………… 77 Mal 4 ………………… 46 Mat 17:11-13………… 47
Eze 13………………… 44 Mal 4:3 ……………… 214 Mat 18:3 ……………… 35
Eze 18………………… 50 Mal 4:5,6……………… 44 Mat 18:14…………… 199
Eze 18:4……………… 216 Mat 19:14……………… 57
Eze 18:20 …………… 57 Mat 1:20,21 …………… 9 Mat 19:28 …………… 227
Eze 20 ………… 123, 134 Mat 1:21 ……………… 17 Mat 20:26-28 ………… 28
Eze 20:18-21………… 133 Mat 4:7………………… 23 Mat 21:7-14…………… 38
Eze 22:26……… 138, 145 Mat 5:5 ……………… 86 Mat 22:34-40………… 150
Eze 36 ………………… 91 Mat 5:6………………… 35 Mat 22:37-40………… 13
Eze 36:26,27 ………… 91 Mat 5:8………………42,79 Mat 23:2-15 ………… 151
Eze 36:28 …………… 111 Mat 5:9 ……………… 175 Mat 23:9 ……………… 19
Bible Cross Reference 269

Mat 23:11……………… 25 Mar 16:2………………145 Joh 3:3………………… 33

Mat 23:38 …………… 123 Mar 16:9………………145 Joh 3:3-16…………… 126
Mat 24…………………245 Joh 3:5……… 56, 183, 196
Mat 24:2……………… 124 Luk 1:8 ……………… 139 Joh 3:8 ……………… 244
Mat 24:13 …………… 246 Luk 1:15,35 ……………17 Joh 3:16
Mat 24:14…………78, 246 Luk 1:17……………47, 48 … 38, 65, 76, 89, 105
Mat 24:20 …………… 153 Luk 1:69……………… 167 ……………… 125, 176
Mat 24:21 …………… 239 Luk 2:52 ……………… 74 Joh 3:16,17…………… 52
Mat 24:21,22………… 200 Luk 3:1,15………………45 Joh 3:20 ……………… 54
Mat 24:24……………… 44 Luk 3:38……………… 175 Joh 3:20,21…………… 41
Mat 24:27 …………… 246 Luk 4:5-8……………… 38 Joh 3:21 ……………… 35
Mat 24:30 ……… 246, 247 Luk 4:16…………148, 186 Joh 4:23 ……………… 34
Mat 24:36…………73, 253 Luk 8:17 ……………… 86 Joh 4:25 ……………… 45
Mat 24:36-43………… 247 Luk 9:22 ……………… 31 Joh 5:18……………… 140
Mat 24:37 ……… 118, 246 Luk 9:26 ……………… 55 Joh 5:22……………… 228
Mat 24:37-39………… 248 Luk 12:1……………… 195 Joh 5:23……………15, 37
Mat 24:39 …………… 246 Luk 12:56……………… 43 Joh 5:25 ……………… 23
Mat 24:40-42 Luk 16:19-31……213, 221 Joh 5:28,29……………215
………… 231, 232, 245 Luk 16:29,30………… 222 Joh 5:37-40 ……… 12, 18
Mat 24:42 …………… 246 Luk 18:10-14………… 178 Joh 6…………………… 60
Mat 24:44 …………… 247 Luk 19:8 ………………171 Joh 6:35…………186, 196
Mat 25…………………246 Luk 21:3,4…………… 151 Joh 6:38 ……………… 73
Mat 25:1-13 ………… 247 Luk 21:5,6 ……………123 Joh 6:38,39…………… 17
Mat 25:13 …………… 247 Luk 21:24 …………… 125 Joh 6:39……………… 224
Mat 25:14 …………… 143 Luk 22:20……… 125, 196 Joh 6:39,40 …… 228, 234
Mat 25:23 …………… 143 Luk 22:29,30 …………186 Joh 6:39-44…………… 63
Mat 25:31……………… 23 Luk 22:42 ………………31 Joh 6:39-54…………… 69
Mat 25:31-46………… 236 Luk 23:42,43 …………226 Joh 6:40 ……………… 23
Mat 26:28 ……… 122, 175 Luk 23:43 ………………53 Joh 6:40, 44 ………… 215
Mat 26:29 …………… 209 Luk 23:46 ………………31 Joh 6:44……………… 213
Mat 26:63,64 …………… 9 Luk 23:50-56 …………146 Joh 6:48……………… 185
Mat 26:64……………… 32 Luk 23:54 …………… 142 Joh 8:13-20…………… 44
Mat 27:45 …………… 181 Luk 23:56 …………… 145 Joh 8:32 ……………… 37
Mat 27:52,53……… 196,197 Luk 24:1……………… 145 Joh 8:44……………… 117
Mat 27:62 …………… 142 Luk 24:13-31………… 147 Joh 8:47 ……………… 41
Mat 28:1……………… 145 Luk 24:27…………18, 223 Joh 8:56-58…………… 16
Mat 28:19 ………… 15, 37 Joh 10:16……………… 34
Mat 28:20 …………… 240 Joh 1:1-3……………… 15 Joh 10:17,19………… 217
Joh 1:1-14…… 12, 14, 21,32 Joh 10:18……………… 39
Mar 2:27,28 Joh 1:10……………13, 20 Joh 10:30 ………… 11, 37
……114, 133, 143, 148 Joh 1:11 ………… 29, 124 Joh 11…………… 60, 219
Mar 4:39 ……………… 15 Joh 1:14 ……………… 15 Joh 11:2-15 ………… 216
Mar 7:6-8……………… 16 Joh 1:19-23 ……………46 Joh 11:11-14………… 219
Mar 8:15……………… 195 Joh 1:23 ……………… 46 Joh 11:50……………… 37
Mar 9:40 ……………… 96 Joh 1:45 ……………… 16 Joh 12…………………238
Mar 15:42…………… 142 Joh 3 ……………… 34, 53 Joh 12:41……………… 16
270 Bible Cross Reference

Joh 12:47-48……237, 238 Act 2:46,47 ………… 147 Rom 5 ………… 118, 169
Joh 12:48 ……… 215, 216 Act 4:12 ……………… 64 Rom 5:1,2………………49
Joh 13…………………147 Act 5:3………………… 37 Rom 5:9……………… 214
Joh 13:6-8…………… 183 Act 5:29 ……………… 41 Rom 5:10
Joh 13:14,15……………28 Act 7:30-33…………… 21 …… 52, 126, 174, 175
Joh 13:19……………… 39 Act 9……………… 36, 64 Rom 5:10,11 ………… 32
Joh 13:34,35………… 116 Act 10:34……………… 75 Rom 5:12……………… 59
Joh 13:35……………… 13 Act 10:34,35……… 34, 65 Rom 5:12-14………… 118
Joh 14:1-3…………… 261 Act 10:40 …………… 214 Rom 5:17……………… 52
Joh 14:1-4 …………… 20 Act 13:6 ……………… 19 Rom 5:19 …………… 175
Joh 14:6,7 …………… 36 Act 13:44 …………… 153 Rom 6………………… 148
Joh 14:15……… 153, 211 Act 13:47… 120, 122, 184 Rom 6:1-4…………… 148
Joh 14:16,17………… 128 Act 13:48 …………… 197 Rom 6:1-7 …………… 56
Joh 14:21-24………… 244 Act 15………………95, 98 Rom 6:23
Joh 14:24……………… 21 Act 16 ………………… 62 ……… 38, 108, 169, 182
Joh 15:10 …………… 161 Act 16:13 …………… 153 Rom 7………………… 152
Joh 15:13-15 ………… 20 Act 16:20-23 ………… 62 Rom 7:7…………149, 153
Joh 15:26……………… 15 Act 16:25-29 ………… 63 Rom 7:16,18 ………… 80
Joh 16:5-11…………… 15 Act 16:30,31 ………… 62 Rom 7:17,23 ………… 35
Joh 16:7 ……………… 39 Act 17………………… 146 Rom 7:18……………… 82
Joh 16:7-11 ………… 167 Act 17:2……………… 153 Rom 7:20, 21, 24, 25… 81
Joh 16:8-11 ………… 226 Act 17:11……………… 99 Rom 7:23……………… 51
Joh 16:13 Act 17:24-27 ………… 69 Rom 7:23-25 ………… 92
… 35, 41, 97, 210, 244 Act 17:26-28 ………… 34 Rom 7:24……………… 81
Joh 16:13-14 ………… 14 Act 17:31 …………… 216 Rom 8………………… 53
Joh 16:14,15 ………… 48 Act 18………………… 146 Rom 8:1……………… 211
Joh 16:25 …………… 223 Act 18:4,11 ………… 153 Rom 8:1-5…………… 166
Joh 17:1-5………………15 Act 19:4……………… 183 Rom 8:1-8…………… 167
Joh 17:4……………… 175 Act 20:6……………… 146 Rom 8:1-9 …………… 89
Joh 17:5………17, 21, 179 Act 20:7 …………145, 146 Rom 8:1-10 ………… 205
Joh 19:19-21 ………… 19 Act 23:8,9…………… 222 Rom 8:1-12 ………… 169
Joh 20:1……………… 145 Act 26:22,23………… 122 Rom 8:2……………… 129
Joh 20:17 ……… 195, 226 Rom 8:3,4…………… 126
Joh 20:19 …………… 145 Rom 1:17…… 34, 82, 210 Rom 8:5 ………… 34, 198
Joh 21:25…………13, 169 Rom 2 - 4……………… 69 Rom 8:5-8 …………… 33
Rom 2:5-8…………… 201 Rom 8:9 ……………… 80
Act 1:12……………… 147 Rom 2:14,15……… 34, 65 Rom 8:10 …………… 221
Act 1:14 ……………… 99 Rom 2:14-16 ………… 54 Rom 8:13,14 ………… 82
Act 1:3…………………214 Rom 2:28,29………… 110 Rom 8:28……………… 69
Act 2 …………… 197, 198 Rom 3:21-26 ………… 36 Rom 9 - 11………110, 123
Act 2:1 ………………… 99 Rom 3:21,22………… 112 Rom 9:6,7…………… 110
Act 2:9-11…………… 197 Rom 3:23 …………… 182 Rom 10………………… 69
Act 2:22……………… 197 Rom 3:28-30 ………… 34 Rom 10:9,10……… 64, 68
Act 2:29,34 ………… 219 Rom 4:4,5 …………… 74 Rom 10:12,13 ……… 105
Act 2:32,33…………… 39 Rom 4:7……………… 168 Rom 10:17 …………… 33
Act 2:41……………… 197 Rom 4:15 ……… 117, 118 Rom 11:19-23 ……… 126
Bible Cross Reference 271

Rom 12:3……………… 34 Gal 3 ………………… 122 1 The 4:3 ………………89

Rom 12:19………172, 207 Gal 3 - 4……………… 110 1 The 4:15-17…………235
Rom 13:1-4 ………… 134 Gal 3:24-26 ………… 124 1 The 4:16
Rom 14 ……………… 129 Gal 3:29……………… 110 …23, 24, 220, 238, 245
Rom 14:1-10……129, 151 Gal 4 ………………… 123 1 The 4:16,17
Rom 14:11,12 ……… 229 Gal 4:4 ……………… 253 ……209, 215, 228, 261
Rom 16:25…………… 179 Gal 4:8-11…………… 127 1 The 5:3-9 ………… 253
Rom 16:25-27………… 40 Gal 4:24,25 ………… 125 1 The 5:4-6 …… 248, 251
1 The 5:20………………43
1 Cor 2:9………………214 Eph 1:5………………… 74
1 Cor 2:14 Eph 1:7………………… 20 2 The 2:8 ……… 238, 261
……… 41, 47, 181, 196 Eph 2 … 91, 105, 110, 150 2 The 2:9-10………… 210
1 Cor 5…………………129 Eph 2:6-10 …………… 39
1 Cor 5:6-8……………194 Eph 2:8,9 1 Tim 1:13…………… 169
1 Cor 6…………………129 …………52, 53, 56, 89 1 Tim 1:17…………… 217
1 Cor 6:1-3……………261 ………………113, 183 1 Tim 6:15,16…… 57, 217
1 Cor 6:1-4……………264 Eph 3:2-12 …………… 90
1 Cor 6:2,3… 207, 227, 229 Eph 2:14-16,19……… 105 Heb 1:1,2 ………… 13, 20
1 Cor 6:12…………… 129 Eph 3……………………91 Heb 1:1-3………… 21, 29
1 Cor 7:29,30…………235 Eph 4:8 ……………… 196 Heb 1:5………………… 73
1 Cor 9:20-23 ………… 98 Eph 4:13 ……………… 42 Heb 1:13……………… 24
1 Cor 10:4………………27 Heb 2:6-9……………… 27
1 Cor 13:12 …………… 10 Php 2:12,13 ………… 244 Heb 2:7-9……………… 38
1 Cor 15:3 ……… 73, 214 Php 3:4-7……………… 81 Heb 2:8 ……………… 74
1 Cor 15:6 …………… 223 Php 3:6 ……………… 81 Heb 2:17 ……………… 73
1 Cor 15:20 ………… 196 Php 12:10 …………… 229 Heb 3:7-4:1……………123
1 Cor 15:24-28…… 39, 74 Heb 3:16………………125
1 Cor 15:24,28…………28 Col 1…………………… 71 Heb 3:16-19 ………… 123
1 Cor 15:45 …………… 38 Col 1:6 ……………… 198 Heb 4…………… 110, 143
1 Cor 15:50 ………… 215 Col 1:15-19…………… 37 Heb 4:9,10…………… 152
1 Cor 15:51-53……… 216 Col 1:16 ……………… 20 Heb 4:15 ……………… 31
1 Cor 15:51,52 ……… 235 Col 1:16,17 …………… 13 Heb 5:5…………………73
1 Cor 15:54 ………… 218 Col 1:17…………… 21, 37 Heb 5:7-10 …………… 39
1 Cor 15:54,55 ……… 228 Col 1:17,18 …………… 12 Heb 5:11-6:1……… 42, 43
1 Cor 16:1-3 ………… 147 Col 1:18…………………32 Heb 6:19,20 ………… 179
1 Cor 16:2……… 145, 147 Col 1:24-29…………… 91 Heb 7………………… 127
Col 1:26……………… 179 Heb 7:3………………… 57
2 Cor 3:6 ……… 125, 129 Col 1:27……………… 211 Heb 7:12-14 ………… 127
2 Cor 5:10 Col 2 …………… 122, 150 Heb 7:22………………125
……………86, 194, 216 Col 2:9,10………………15 Heb 7:25 …… 24, 61, 175
………… 227, 228, 238 Col 2:9-18…………… 149 Heb 8:1-2 … 24, 163, 175
2 Cor 5:21…31, 73, 175, 214 Col 2:13,14 …………… 95 Heb 8:1-5 ……… 167, 189
2 Cor 11 ……………… 95 Col 2:13-17……………105 Heb 8:4,5 …………… 191
2 Cor 12 ……………… 95 Col 2:17…………122, 124 Heb 8:5 ……………… 163
Col 4:11…………………19 Heb 8:6 ……………… 126
Gal 2…………………… 95 1 The 4:1-8…………… 55 Heb 8:10 …………… 132
272 Bible Cross Reference

Heb 8:10-13 2 Pet 2 ……………… 134 Rev 7 ………… 79, 81, 91

…… 92, 117, 131, 210 2 Pet 2:5 ……… 117, 248 Rev 7:1-4
Heb 9:15………………125 2 Pet 3 ………… 118, 134 …87, 89, 201, 210, 211
Heb 9:15-10:4 ……… 122 2 Pet 3:5-7…………… 248 Rev 7:2-4……………… 79
Heb 9:18-21 ………… 121 2 Pet 3:8 ……… 261, 262 Rev 7:9-14 ……… 89, 198
Heb 9:18-22 ………… 122 2 Pet 3:9……………… 74 Rev 7:14 ……………… 93
Heb 9:22………………182 Rev 8:2-5 …………… 176
Heb 9:25,26 ………… 179 1 Joh 1:9………… 51, 168 Rev 8:4……………… 178
Heb 10:1-4… 165, 167, 168 1 Joh 2:1 ……………… 83 Rev 8:5 ……………… 263
Heb 10:4 …………… 113 1 Joh 2:1-6……………168 Rev 9:1-11 …… 259, 261
Heb 10:12-14 ………… 73 1 Joh 2:1,2 …………… 85 Rev 10:6 …………… 176
Heb 10:26 …………… 171 1 Joh 2:22,23 ………… 9 Rev 10:7
Heb 10:26,27…… 85, 130 1 Joh 2:5 …………… 211 ……… 86, 90, 200, 201
Heb 10:31…………… 206 1 Joh 3:1 …………… 175 ……………… 211, 226
Heb 11…………… 69, 113 1 Joh 3:2 …………… 210 Rev 11:3………………210
Heb 11:1………………237 1 Joh 3:2,3 …………… 93 Rev 11:12 …………… 209
Heb 11:4………………112 1 Joh 3:4 ……… 118, 169 Rev 11:15-19
Heb 11:6………… 42, 178 1 Joh 3:12……… 112, 117 …… …24, 86, 200, 226
Heb 11:7……40, 248, 250 1 Joh 4:1 ……………… 43 Rev 11:17………………24
Heb 11:10…………… 111 1 Joh 4:8 ……… 182, 214 Rev 11:19……… 150, 182
Heb 11:26………………16 1 Joh 5:12 ……… 29, 244 Rev 12:7,8 …………… 26
Heb 11:39,40…………112 1 Joh 5:17 …………… 51 Rev 12:17…………… 241
Heb 12:2……………28, 31 Rev 13:7 …………… 241
Heb 12:14 ……… 89, 128 Jude 9………………22, 23 Rev 13:10…………… 241
Heb 12:24 …………… 112 Rev 13:16…………… 212
Heb 13:8 ……………… 14 Rev 1:1-3……………… 32 Rev 14:1 …………… 212
Rev 1:3…………… 42, 43 Rev 14:4
Jam 1:1 ……………… 110 Rev 1:5………… 195, 197 …… 89, 198, 210, 211
Jam 1:2-4……………… 83 Rev 1:7………… 245, 251 Rev 14:6-12 …… 88, 210
Jam 2:8-11……………153 Rev 1:8 ……… 15, 32, 37 Rev 14:7 …………… 200
Jam 2:10 …………… 169 Rev 1:18…23, 57, 217, 238 Rev 14:9-10………… 201
Jam 2:10,11 ………… 149 Rev 2-3 ………………… 41 Rev 14:9-11………… 225
Jam 2:17………… 86, 238 Rev 2:10 … 224, 242, 243 Rev 14:10…………… 227
Jam 2:19 ……………… 33 Rev 3:5……………… 224 Rev 14:10,11…………225
Jam 4:17 …… 55, 57, 169 Rev 3:7……………… 239 Rev 14:11…………… 226
Jam 5:7……………… 210 Rev 3:10 Rev 14:12 …………… 241
… 228, 236, 239, 240 Rev 15 - 16…………… 24
1 Pet 1:20………………15 ………………241, 243 Rev 15:1………………182
1 Pet 3 ……………… 221 Rev 3:18………………184 Rev 16…………………182
1 Pet 3:18-20 ……… 220 Rev 4…………73, 74, 203 Rev 17:8 …… 77, 78, 259
1 Pet 3:9-12 ………… 251 Rev 4:4……………… 196 Rev 17:12…………… 167
1 Pet 4 ……………… 221 Rev 5…………73, 74, 203 Rev 18:3 …………… 195
1 Pet 4:3-6…………… 198 Rev 5:1-12 …………… 39 Rev 18:4-5…………… 201
1 Pet 4:4-6…………… 221 Rev 5:9………………… 23 Rev 19:11 - 20:10……256
Rev 6………………… 225 Rev 19:15-21 … 228, 261
2 Pet 1:19-21………… 40 Rev 6:9-11………224, 225 Rev 19:16………… 19, 24
Bible Cross Reference 273

Rev 19:21…………… 238

Rev 20
……109, 206, 228, 254
………… 255, 256, 262
Rev 20:1-3………253, 261
Rev 20:4………… 206,264
Rev 20:4,5…………… 215
Rev 20:5…………220, 261
Rev 20:7-8…………… 229
Rev 20:7-15 ………… 215
Rev 20:9 ………………225
Rev 20:9,15 ………… 229
Rev 20:10 …………… 227
Rev 20:11 - 21:1 …… 258
Rev 20:12,13………… 261
Rev 20:14……………… 60
Rev 20:14,15………… 220
Rev 20:15…………38, 216
Rev 21…………………110
Rev 21:1……………… 225
Rev 21:1-4…………… 214
Rev 21:2…………209, 259
Rev 21:2 - 6 ………… 259
Rev 21:2-22:5…………261
Rev 21:6,7…………… 131
Rev 21:7……………… 111
Rev 21:27……… 184, 194
Rev 22:4 ………………212
Rev 22:1……………… 211
Rev 22:12……… 224, 228
Rev 22:12-15………… 238
Rev 22:15 …………… 194
Rev 22:1……………… 125
 About the Author

Larry Wilson, Director of Wake Up America Seminars, became a born

again Christian after returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam. The
understanding of the gospel, the plan of salvation, and the atonement of
Jesus Christ has thrilled his soul for the past 30 years. Since his conver-
sion, he has spent over 25 years intensely studying the prophecies of
Daniel and Revelation.
In 1988, he published the book Warning! Revelation is about to be
fulfilled and since then, has written several books (over 750,000 books
in circulation throughout the world in more than 60 countries). He also
writes a feature Bible study in the Day Star (a monthly publication
produced by Wake Up America Seminars). He gives seminar presenta-
tions, produces video programs which have been broadcast from
various locations throughout the United States, and is a frequent guest
on radio talk shows.
 About the Organization

Wake Up America Seminars (WUAS) is both a non-profit and a non-

denominational organization. With God’s blessings and the generosity
of many people, WUAS has distributed millions of pamphlets, books
and tapes around the world since it began in 1988. WUAS is not a
church, nor is it affiliated or sponsored by any religious organization.
WUAS does not offer membership of any kind. Its mission is not to
convert the world to a point of view. Although WUAS has well defined
views on certain biblical matters, its mission is primarily “seed sowing.”
It promotes the primacy of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, His
imminent return, and is doing its best to encourage people with the
good news of the gospel. People of all faiths are invited to study the
materials produced by WUAS.
Notes . . .
 Books

A Study on the
Seven Seals and the 144,000

Every Bible prophecy student should consider

the introductory chapter of this book. Why do
A St
we have so many interpretations of prophecy? Seven udy on the
Seals
Because the importance of valid rules or meth- 1 4 4 ,0 0and the
0
ods of interpretation are often overlooked. This
book demonstrates how valid rules of
intrepretation allow the Bible to speak for it-
self. Larry
W. Wil
son

Other Books by Larry Wilson. . .

Bible Stories With End Time Parallels
A Study on the Seven Trumpets, Two Witnesses, and Four
Beasts

Wake Up America Seminars, Inc.

P.O. Box 273
Bellbrook, OH 45305
http://www.wake-up.org
 Books

Warning! Revelation is about to be fulfilled

What do the books of Daniel and Revelation have to say about soon coming
events? Warning! Revelation is about to be fulfilled
outlines Revelation’s story in an easy to read format.
Revelation predicts and describes many incredible
events that will soon occur. These events will not
happen in random order nor will they be freak
manifestations of violent weather. The coming events
predicted in Revelation are carefully designed and
executed by the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
To learn more about what the prophecies of Daniel and
Revelation have to say about coming events, contact the
Wake Up America Seminars office at (800) 475-0876 or
access the web site at
http://www.wake-up.org.

Wake Up America Seminars, Inc.

P.O. Box 273
Bellbrook, OH 45305
(800) 475-0876
 Recorded Seminar Series
Many seminar series have been recorded on CD and DVD. Call for a free
catalog from the Wake Up America Seminars office at (800) 475-0876.
Many subjects are available including righteousness by faith, the sanctu-
ary, the plan of salvation, the book of Hebrews, God’s justice and mercy,
and great clocks of God.
A special video series is available using this book as a study guide. Call
the office at (800) 475-0876 for more details.

The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation video presentation by Larry W.
Wilson, is a comprehensive, chapter by chapter study on
the last book of the Bible. It contains 34 segments, each
90-minutes in length, recorded in broadcast quality. This
presentation represents Mr. Wilson’s conclusions on apoca-
lyptic prophecy gathered from over 30 years years of study.
The series can be purchased as a complete set or single
topics as you can afford.
• The Seven Churches
• The Seven Seals-Book of Life
• The 144,000
• The Two Witnesses
• The Seven Trumpets
• The Four Beasts of Revelation (includes Mark of the Beast)
• The 3 Angel’s Messages
• 7 Last Plagues
• Revelation 17-21

Wake Up America Seminars, Inc.

P.O. Box 273
Bellbrook, OH 45305
http://www.wake-up.org
We would like to receive comments about this book or ques-
tions you may have. Please send your comments to us at
the address below. Thank you.

Wake Up America Seminars, Inc.

P.O. Box 273
Bellbrook, OH 45305
http://www.wake-up.org
email: [email protected]