Today’s reading is Revelation 19:1-20:15.

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

D0 you ever feel like you’re just not going to make it? Like our enemy is too powerful to overcome? Does it ever seem like victory is outside of your grasp? I know the feeling. That’s why I’m glad to be reading Revelation today. What a book of victory. Sure, it seems like the enemy is winning, but in the end God wins. The kings of this world may be reigning, but they reign for only one hour.

If we simply hang on to Jesus, our reign will be as a 1000 years in comparison. We will be victorious in Christ. We will win. Death will have no power over us. We will have life abundantly and eternally. We are the priests of God and of Christ. We can hope and trust in Him. He will lead us to victory. Praise God!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 John 2:1-3:24.

The antichrist is a big money maker today. No, I don’t mean the antichrist is someone alive today making lots of money. I mean writing a book, making a movie, preaching a series about the antichrist is making other people lots of money. However, the very sad part about this is folks are spending all this money to find out about the antichrist from fictional series like Left Behind, but they aren’t actually reading their Bibles to find out about antichrist.

The word “antichrist” is found only four times in the whole New Testament, two of which are in today’s reading: 1 John 2:18, 22. The other two are also found in John’s letters: 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7.

What I can’t help but notice is that the text said the antichrist was already there when John wrote his letter. Further, I can’t help but notice he didn’t really speak of a single antichrist. He spoke of many. Further, I can’t help but notice that he didn’t speak of the antichrist as a world ruler who unified the world and then led them to follow the devil. Antichrist is anyone who denies Jesus and God. 

John was actually dealing with the Gnostic heresy that claimed the flesh was bad so God hadn’t come in the flesh. They denied Jesus was the Savior or they denied that He actually died. In any event, John says “antichrist” is not a world leader but anyone who denies Jesus in one way or another.

The “so what” of the matter is we need to get rid of the sensationalism surrounding “antichrist” and start realizing antichrist could be anyone of us who decides to deny Jesus in some way. That is true even if we are still religious. The Gnostics were still religious. They were simply wrong. 

***Question: What do you do to stay pro-Christ?

Keep the faith and keep reading?

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 15:1-16:21.

I’m sure you get tired of me saying, “I don’t know how many times I’ve read ___________, but today I saw something I hadn’t noticed before.” Yet, that is why we keep reading the New Testament. It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve read it, there is still more. In fact, if I hadn’t read it the first time, I probably wouldn’t have seen what I did the second. If I hadn’t read it the second time, I probably wouldn’t have seen what I did the third. And so on.

Today, Revelation 15:2 caught my attention. It says, “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire–and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.”

Did you catch that? John sees those who “had conquered.” Not “will conquer,” “are conquering,” or even “may conquer.” Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and the number of its name. These folks had already won the battle.

Yet, the next few chapters deal with God’s plagues on the beast, its image, and those who wear the number of its name. The beast isn’t defeated until Revelation 19:20-21. How can we see those who “had conquered” the beast?

The problem is so many are trained to read Revelation as if it a timeline. We start with the events closest to the New Testament in the first few chapters and then we progress on to the end of the world. But that is just not the case. This book is not meant to be a prophetic timeline. This book is a series of apocalyptic visions that make the same point over and over and over again. The visions themselves are not timelines. They are pictures making a point. The point over and over again is simply this. 

God wins. God’s people win.

Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised to see a picture of the saints victorious over the beast in Revelation 15:2 but see another picture of the beasts demise in Revelation 19:20-21.

I know for many this concept is a complete paradigm shift for reading Revelation. However, please remember that John was writing this book to help Christians with the distress they were facing. He wasn’t writing something that showed what would happen in some far-off, future distress. They didn’t need to know what might happen thousands of years later, they needed to know that they were going to win back when this book was written. Therefore, over and again, John shows visions of judgments on the beast.

Remember always–God wins!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is John 17:1-18:40.

I am always amazed that so many who claim to be Christians and let the Bible govern their beliefs have completely missed John 18:36. 

They have delved into Revelation; they have turned over every letter of Old Testament Apocalyptic prophecy; they have extrapolated Matthew 24. They have come up with all kinds of confusing arguments in order to claim Jesus came to establish an earthly kingdom but was foiled so we are waiting for it to come in a coming age. 

Books have been written. Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have become rich off of it. Jack van Impe continues his news broadcasts about it. Hal Lindsey still sells old books on it. And people spend money buying it up left and right. It has surpassed the discussion of scriptural topics and become a money making industry all on its own.

This is sad, because for all the complicated arguments from the numerous difficult, figurative, and complex passages, they overlook a very simple passage like John 18:36.

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.

There it is. A very clear, very pointed statement. Jesus never intended to establish a kingdom of this world. He did not intend to bring Rome into military subjection to His new nation. Had that been the case, then the rejection of the Jews wouldn’t have mattered. Those who followed Him would have fought and kept Jesus from being delivered. 

That being the case, His death was not a rejection of the earthly kingdom. Therefore, we are not in some surprising gap while God gets plan B in order. We are not waiting for a Tribulation, a Rapture, or a new Kingdom. Jesus told His disciples that the kingdom would be established while some of them were still alive (Mark 9:1). Jesus did not fail. His heavenly kingdom was established and even as the New Testament was being written people were being added to it (Colossians 1:13). And as John began his writing of Revelation he admitted to already partaking in it along with his audience (Revelation 1:9).

Let’s quit making money off a very popular but very wrong idea. Instead, let’s just stick with the Bible message.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Hebrews 7:1-8:13.

Tim LaHaye, Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsey, and others would have us believe we are waiting for the Rapture, a time when Jesus will take away the saved and leave the lost on earth. There will follow 7 years of tribulation. Then Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth, reigning as king in Jerusalem and serving as high priest in the rebuilt temple.

I can’t help but notice that Hebrews 8:4 says if Jesus were on earth, He wouldn’t be priest at all. The whole point of this passage is Jesus is our high priest right now. We aren’t waiting for some day when He will be on earth. He is high priest right now sitting at the right hand of God.

Additionally, the Hebrew writer demonstrates we aren’t waiting for Jesus to become king. He is king right now. This whole section starts by relating Jesus to Melchizedek. Did you see Hebrews 7:1-2? Melchizedek was not merely king of a place, he was “king of righteousness” and “king of peace.” Jesus, a high priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:15-17), is the true king of righteousness and peace. More than that, however, Hebrews 8:1-2 says, “We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” Where is Jesus seated? At the right hand of the throne of God. This is no small statement. This is a fulfillment of prophecy. Psalm 110 says, “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Interestingly, that is the same psalm where God prophesies the priest according to Melchizedek.

Here is the crux of the matter. We aren’t awaiting a time when Jesus will become high priest and king. He is now high priest and king. We are not waiting for Him to establish His kingdom. It is already established. There will be no Rapture with a second chance. When Jesus returns all chances will be over. The question is are we in the kingdom right now? Are we submitting to Jesus as high priest right now? Don’t wait.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Matthew 23:1-24:51.

Left Behind and other books have had such success, many people can’t read Matthew 24:36-41 without seeing the Rapture. When I say “Rapture,” I am not using it as a synonym for Christ’s second coming. I am not referring simply to the time when the saved go to be with Jesus. I believe Jesus is coming again. I believe the saved will be taken to be with Him forever. When I say “Rapture,” I’m referring to the premillennial doctrine that claims a day is coming when all the saved will be taken off the earth and the lost will be “left behind” on earth to endure a period of tribulation. As far as I can see, there is actually no biblical support for the idea that when Jesus returns and takes the saved to be with Him forever that He’ll leave anyone behind on earth to endure tribulation or receive another chance to be saved. Matthew 24:36-41 is no exception.

First, note to what this judgment is compared in Matthew 24:38-39. The judgment described in this chapter is compared to the days of Noah. Did you happen to notice who was taken in that judgment? Not the saved. The saved were left behind. The worldly and unrighteous were the ones that were taken. This is a picture of judgment on the lost, not a picture of removing the saved.

Second, trying to think like a first century reader who was well aware of what national and city sieges were like, we get a completely different picture. The taken and left behind don’t refer to the wicked taken and the righteous left behind or vice versa. It actually presents a great picture of a raiding horde as it approaches a city. When they drive their force through the field, hacking and chopping at all in their path, one will be killed, another will be missed. As they pillage the mills, one woman may be grabbed and hauled off for the soldiers pleasure while another is simply left behind. That is exactly the way a raiding Roman horde would have acted. Jesus is saying, if you stay in Jerusalem, you may get lucky. But then again, maybe not. One will be killed or captured and another won’t. It will be the luck of the draw.

Third, look at the greater context. Back in Matthew 24:15-21 a picture completely different from the Rapture is given. When all these events occur, Jesus tells His followers to flee immediately. If they are on the housetop, they shouldn’t even go back into the house to pack. They should rather run from housetop to housetop out of the city. If they are in the field, they should not go back to get their cloak. They should just run. Those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains. Jesus said it will be a bad day for pregnant and nursing mothers in that day. Why? Because it will be hard for them to flee quickly. Then He says pray that it won’t be in the winter or on the Sabbath. Why? Once again, it will be hard to flee at those times. Please be honest with this passage, Jesus is not giving instructions to folks who won’t believe Him and get left behind. He is giving instructions to His followers about what to do when this day comes.

Think about the picture here? Does this sound like an instantaneous moment in which the saved are just taken? No, it sounds like something occurring for which the saved need to pay attention because they will be able to flee and avoid it. But if they want to escape, they have to act quickly. They have to get on the ball. Let me ask, if the Rapture scenario is what is being presented, why would it matter if it happened on a Saturday or in the winter? Why would it matter if the person was pregnant or nursing? None of this would matter because the Rapture scenario does not present a need to flee. It will just happen and the saints will be gone, whether it is winter, Sabbath, or any day, whether the person is pregnant, nursing, old, young. 

The picture here is not Rapture. It is national judgment on Judea. In AD 70, the Romans attacked Jerusalem with finality, destroying it and the temple. As they approached and raided the city many were killed, some few by luck of the draw survived. However, the Christians who remembered the message of Jesus, saw the Roman “eagles” coming (cf. Matthew 24:28), they got out of dodge. They fled, just like Jesus had said. They were saved from the tribulation during the time of this destruction. They were saved from God’s wrath then.

I’m sorry, I don’t care how you cut it, you just can’t get Rapture from Matthew 24.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Alright, I’m going to go out on a limb and share my view of the millennial reign. I’m sure you’ve already gathered, I’m not a premillennialist. I do not accept what seems to be the common idea that we are waiting on Jesus to return and establish His kingdom. I believe the kingdom is already here just like Revelation 1:9 demonstrates.

What then is this thousand year reign in Revelation 20:4. First, let me warn you that what I’m going to say is not the least bit exciting. It is not some amazing bit of eschatology that is entertaining like some kind of sci-fi novel. The fact is, what I think is being said here would not make a great novel series. Perhaps that is why so few want to accept it. Clearly, the Left Behind model is a lot more fun and entertaining. However, I just don’t think it portrays the true picture.

Second, we need to keep this statement within the context of the entire book. Too often we just run to Revelation 20 and want to talk about these people reigning for a thousand years and forget the pictures that have already been established.

Let’s set that context. We have already seen these people back in Revelation 6:9-11. These are the martyrs who cried out for God’s vengeance on those who have oppressed, persecuted and killed them. God brings that vision back to mind to bring home this point. Even if we die in His service, we still win. God will bring judgment on those who oppose His people. He does so in His time, not ours.

But the bigger point of context is the constant contrast and comparison between God’s people and the beast’s people. In earlier chapters we see the contrast between those who have the mark of the beast and those who have the mark of God. We have the contrast between pure virgins as God’s people and the harlot as the beasts. Now we get to a great comparison. Remember what Revelation 17:12 said about the kings who reign with the beast? Yes, it certainly appeared for a time that they were winning. However, their authority and reign lasted for an hour. Don’t misunderstand, this is not a literal hour. No one believe this means that from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on some day in history or the future that these people got to reign. We all recognize in this verse that it means their reign was short and, on the whole, a trivial period of time. But the saints who stay faithful ’til death reign for 1000 years. If we don’t take the hour reign of the beast’s kings literally, why should we take the millennial reign of Christ’s people literally? The point is not that from 3000 to 4000 AD the children of God reign. The point is that God’s enemies reign but for an hour. Those victorious with Christ reign completely. As 1000 years compares to an hour, so is our reign greater than the reign of our enemies.

No, it is not entertaining. It doesn’t make for a best selling novel. But it does make the greatest point. When we fear God’s enemies are winning and we think of deserting our Savior, remember that their victory will last only an hour. If we can hang on for that hour, our victory will truly last. Stay on God’s side no matter what.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Despite what our Premillennial friends like Tim LaHaye, Jack Van Impe and Hal Lindsey tell us, the kingdom of Christ is now. We aren’t waiting for it to be established at the end of time. It was established on Pentecost in Acts 2. Interestingly enough, Premillennialists tell us at Christ’s return the kingdom will be established. However, Paul tells us something different. 

In I Corinthians 15:23-24, Paul explains that at the resurrection of Christ’s people the end takes place. That is when Jesus hands His kingdom back to the Father. Premillennialists tell us that when the resurrection occurs it is not the end, but the beginning of the kingdom. They tell us there will be 7 years of tribulation and then 1000 years of Christ’s kingdom.

Somehow, LaHaye, Impe, Lindsey and others press 1007 years between vs. 23 and vs. 24. I’m not sure where they get it, other than just that is the way they have to do it to make sure their doctrine is still taught. So much for taking every verse literally unless absurd. What I have found that mantra means is “Take every verse literally unless doing so demonstrates Premillennialism is wrong.”

The kingdom is here and now, if you wait until the end to get into it, there is no second chance (Kirk Cameron movies notwithstanding). There is no adventure awaiting us if we ignore Jesus until He returns. After that, there is only the certainty of judgment. Get into Christ’s kingdom now. When He returns, we will be resurrected and handed over to God, the rest will be judged (cf. II Thessalonians 1:8-10).

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC