Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: last days

Eschatology – a walk from Thessaloniki to the holy city
Paul has already given the Thessalonians walking instructions to please God more. So why does the Apostle to the gentiles proceed toward eschatology and their walk in the last days?

1 Thessalonians 4:

Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 LSB

Sanctification and your Walk Toward Holiness

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. – 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV

Paul actually holds the Thessalonians up as an example of brotherly love to other churches.

But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

” Walk properly before outsiders.”

The Apostle’s letter commends the Thessalonian example of love that makes their witness to OTHER gentiles a genuine light of Christ Jesus.

Sanctification

Before we dig into any deep study of the nature of God’s plan for the end times, let’s recall a simple definition from last time critical to understanding why Paul and other Apostles require the GENTILES to walk in purity as faithful followers of the LORD.
1. consecration, purification,
2. the effect of consecration: sanctification of heart and life,
ἁγιασμός hagiasmos, hag-ee-as-mos’; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier:—holiness, sanctification.
STRONGS G38 – blueletterbible.org
Note the connection of purity traditionally associated by the JEWS with holiness.

In many strict applications of Hebrew LAW a Jew (separated to the LORD) could NOT remain pure or HOLY by contact or association with any GENTILE. The BLOOD of THE NEW COVENANT of Jesus Christ changed this!

The beginning of the last days (and fulfillment of JEWISH Scripture) began with the teaching and Sacrifice of Jesus, God the Father’s Perfect and Holy Son.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Eschatology

The term “eschatology” comes from two Greek terms e[scato” and lovgo” meaning (roughly speaking) “last, end, or final” and “study of,” respectively. Theologically speaking, then, the term eschatology refers to “the study of final things” in the Bible. It concerns both personal eschatological issues such as death and the intermediate state as well as themes with a more general or corporate focus. The latter would include such ideas as the return of Christ, resurrection, judgment, tribulation, the millennial kingdom, and the eternal state.
Bible.org

Even discussion of your DEATH is eschatological.

And of course any more complete study of our walk with God before and after death goes beyond the scope of this letter from the apostles to the Thessalonians.

WHAT NEXT?

Where does your body go? Does you spirit sleep, go directly to Paradise or wait somewhere this side of the highest Heaven for a Judgment of your mortal life?

HOW WAS YOUR WALK with JESUS CHRIST so far and until your inevitable DEATH?

Will HE know you?
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What happens to the earth? 
Will Thessaloniki Greece (or anywhere else) burn up and those who did NOT flee our own City of Destruction face the WRATH of GOD?

 How will we escape the sin of our own disobedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and the judgment of the SON Sacrificed on a CROSS?
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Paul’s warning to the Thessalonians

WALK TO THE END (even if it is unexpected).

¹³But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
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Like every faithful follower of Christ Jesus SOME OF YOU HAVE DIED. Do not mourn their loss.
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14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
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Want to talk of JESUS during this walk of these last days?

It's no different TODAY in the year of our Lord 2023 than it was in A.D. 51 for the Thessalonians. 

SOME have died AND Jesus will return for them. BUT WAIT, there's more only for you who walk with the Lord on the Day of His return... 
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For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,

that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Taken UP to the HOLY CITY!

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,
and so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 4:17 ESV

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

And in THE END..

First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians 5:
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Although the apostles to the gentiles Paul, Silas and Timothy encourage these Thessalonian believers to walk in the faith of what they know and have already been taught Paul will later write a second letter addressing these same things.
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Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying,

“There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
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I encourage you, even exhort you my fellow believers to READ THE REST of Paul's letter. - RH
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Remember the three houses (including the one you thought was safe)?

a helmet of hope for your walk

Of course even when SAVED from the evil one CHRIST FOLLOWERS must leave the BIG HOUSE in the CITY of Destruction to WALK a narrow path to the HOLY heavenly New Covenant City of the Lord.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

9 For God has not destined us for wrath,

but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
July 26, 2023
Defending GOD!
Apologetics

You may know of a Christian ministry or witness whose stated purpose is to defend God.

RZIM.org and others focus on apologetics witness Jesus Christ to unsaved souls, comparing Christianity to other religions — even to atheism. Some have come to Christ through these ministries by learning the logic and love of the Lord God calling sinners to Christ.

Yet think of the irony of it:

If any have NO NEED of defense, it would be ALMIGHTY GOD.

“I and the Father are one.”
Christ Jesus
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(Apologetics is not really defending God, 
but answering those who question God - unbelievers
and those who refuse God's love - apostates.) 
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Defending God and Christ Jesus to unbelievers is not my purpose, which is to grow your faith IF you are a Christian follower of the Lord.

As I have stated recently, talkofJesus.com is not focused on unbelievers, but on followers of Christ who want to talk of Jesus in the context of scripture.

Continuing in the Gospel of John we move on from the betrayal of Jesus by Judas to the defense of Jesus by Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane.

John 18:

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” …

10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

Who is Malchus?

Malchus is δοῦλος doulos of the High Priest, perhaps better translated in the KJV and other translations as ‘servant.’

In fact, Judas had left the upper room in Jerusalem to betray Jesus to the ruling council headed by the High Priest Caiaphas.

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any.
Mark 14:55 CSB – of the Sanhedrin, religious rulers of Jerusalem

Malchus’ name means ‘king,’ from a Hebrew origin pointing to the tribe of Benjamin. (The priests of course were Levites as prescribed by Law.)

How ironic that Peter should defend Jesus, King of the Jews, by lopping off the ear of this man Malchus, whose name meant king.

More about Malchus

Malchus would have been ordered to lead these armed police officers of the Sanhedrin, guided by Judas, to bring this popular Messiah back to them for trial.

John has already told us:

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
John 11:49-50 NASB –

Malchus would have been a personal servant to Caiaphas, an assistant with some authority assumed by his role in serving the High Priest. The Temple police held similar authority. And add to that a few Roman soldiers in the entourage lead by Malchus whose role was to see that the Jews did not get out of hand in this area governed by Pilate.

Judas is, no doubt, among the men sent to bring Jesus to the justice of the Sanhedrin, but Malchus, servant of the High Priest is the man leading them into Gethsemane under the cover of night.

Luke’s account

Of course John, Matthew and Peter would have been among the awakened Apostles present in Gethsemane. Peter, who would later lead the church until his own crucifixion, responded by cutting off Malchus’ ear just after Judas’ kiss of betrayal of Jesus.

Brash as always, Peter will defend the Lord – an ironic gesture defending the One who could instantly have angels present to ‘smite’ the lot of them – IF, that is, defeating men of dust was Jesus’ will.

Of course, it wasn’t.

Luke 22: KJV

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him,

Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him,

(The Eleven have now drawn near to Jesus…)

Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

Details of witness from John:
- As soon then as he [Jesus] had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. John 18:6
- A second time Jesus answered them (probably their leader): I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way John 18:8
- Simon Peter drew the sword… John 18:10 & 11
- The name of the High Priest’s slave (servant) is Malchus. John 18:10
Luke’s detail of a miracle

But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.”
And He [Christ Jesus]
touched his {Malchus’} ear
and healed him {the servant of Caiaphas, High Priest of the Jews}.
Luke 22:51 NKJV

Jesus heals the ear struck by Peter’s sword! His enemy, head of an armed force sent by the Jews to apprehend their Messiah Jesus to be tried and convicted covertly under the cover of night. The Lord just betrayed by one of His Disciples shows mercy to the men Judas led to apprehend Him.

Defending Jesus

John is about to tell us more of the saga of Peter on this night in which our Lord was betrayed. In fact, as you know, away from Jesus Peter could no longer defend Jesus even by admitting to be a follower.

If that how it is for you, beloved believer in Christ Jesus?
- How do you defend Jesus when confronted by the multitudes?
- Is your defense of God an aggressive agenda of man, a political position of proving that Jesus wants what you do?
  - (For that was what Judas expected of his King Jesus.)
- Do you praise the Lord in the church building, yet deny your God on trial in the rise and fall of blame by the darkness of this world’s accusations?
  - Even Peter struggled with that, dear friend, but the risen Lord Jesus restored Him again and again.
How ironic that we would defend the LORD God, that we want to defend Christ Jesus who came into the world to save us.

In these last days, which began under the darkness of a night in Gethsemane, God has defeated sin and death for us

— by the grace of the Lord’s love

for those He has chosen.

We believe in the One Son the Father sent to suffer for our sins, the Messiah Jesus.

For Christ Jesus our Lord, we make no apologies to a world without ears to hear the Good News — a world directed by Satan for just a time more.

Jesus IS LORD!
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To be continued...
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September 16, 2020
That you may have Certainty – 2
That you may have Certainty in these Uncertain Times

In our introduction to this post-resurrection day series, I suggested that we live in uncertain time. I also inquired into the nature of the news we digest. And I might ask you today if this week’s news brings any more certainty?

Our series will examine the continuity of Christianity as followers of The Way became known as Christians in the first century A.D. While primarily exploring the recorded history by the Gospel writer, Luke; we will also examine other transitional times for God’s faithful.

Allow me to point out to new readers that the purpose of talkofJesus.com is to spread the gospel. I insert links to my own scriptural and historical research in order that you may examine the truth of Christ Jesus.

These uncertain times will remain and in these last days the faithful cry out to the Lord for certainty.

Certainty Defined

We began our series with an excerpt from Dr. Luke’s traditional Greek prologue stating his purpose:

to write an orderly account for you,

.. that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. – Excerpt Luke 1:1-4

Let’s dive into Luke’s meaning. In fact, Luke does not use the word ‘certainty,’ but a Greek word: ἀσφάλεια [asphaleia]. Translators of the English Standard and other versions take it directly from the Greek definition. Other translations refer to this certainty as ‘the exact truth.’

1:4 ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν

STRONGS NT 803: ἀσφάλεια
- a. firmness, stability: ἐν πάσῃ ἀσφάλεια most securely, Acts 5:23. tropically, certainty, undoubted truth: λόγων (see λόγος, I. 7), Luke 1:4 (τοῦ λόγου, the certainty of a proof, Xenophon, mem. 4, 6, 15).
- b. security from enemies and dangers, safety: 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (opposed to κίνδυνος, Xenophon, mem. 3, 12, 7).
Interestingly enough, Luke uses the same word in describing the certainty of the security of a prison in Acts 5:23

“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”

Secure certainty we would like to have in the Truth. Christ assures us that He IS “the way, the truth and the life.”

The appropriateness of examining the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ seems pressing in uncertain times like these. Yet so that you may know the other use of this Greek root used by Luke let’s examine another witness of this truth by Paul.

The Day of the Lord

The Day of the Lord will come suddenly and the uncertainty of these last days will be replaced by certainty of the judgment. The resurrection of Christ Jesus is our certainty of eternal life.

The church endured suffering at the hands of those rejecting the truth of the Gospel. Rome was world power of the day. Christian witness in the mid first century AD takes place just a generation after Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Witnesses still lived and preached the Good News of Christ as they had personally encountered the risen Lord.

Paul’s assurance to the church at Thessaloniki answered their doubts and guided their way.

1 Thessalonians 4

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

These first century Christians lived in expectation that Christ could return at any time.

‘We.. will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…’

An astounding statement!

Of course, the Lord did not return… yet. These first century Christians all died.. some as martyrs. They are those who have fallen asleep who will come with the Lord.

And if these times of Rome’s fall was not the end, how much nearer to the omega of these last days must we be? How much more expectant we should be.

Here the Spirit speaks to the church though the Apostle Paul:

1 Thessalonians 5

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

There it is, certainty given falsely by this world and its leaders. They say, “There is peace and security…” Of course, though they cannot hide all of their violence and evil, there is no peace. We certainly have no security in their uncertain actions.

Christ Jesus IS the root of our certainty.

Trace back to the root of the root word of certainty and you will find Christ here:

He IS the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

In the third installment of our look at certainty we will examine the Hebrew root word and uncertain times after the death of Moses.

To be continued…
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God willing and if the Lord does not return first
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April 17, 2018