Question #1:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,
I'm writing to ask you a question someone else asked me - __ told me
tonight that Israel is at war. She was asking if that is a sign in the
Bible. I want to give her the right answer, how should I respond?
Also, something cool happened this morning. I was reading in your
Pneumatology study this morning, the part on how the Holy Spirit
communicates truth to our spirit, and you put the Scripture 2nd Peter
1:2-3.
Well, right then, I felt like I understood better, and I stopped to
write a note, this is what I wrote:
God's grace and His peace to me is directly related to how much I
believe of His truth: the more I know about Jesus, the more I can have
grace and peace (not on my merit, but because I will understand His
character more!)
After that, I went back to your study and this was your paragraph
directly following the Scripture passage:
"Peter testifies that the means of accessing God's grace and peace, that is, His favor and complete provision, is epignosis, for this is the means by which everything we need for this life, spiritual and physical, is provided to believers."
It was just so cool, I felt like the Holy Spirit did tell truth to my
spirit and then after your paragraph, I felt confirmation. What do you
think, do I have it right?
Respectfully,
Response #1:
First, that's wonderful news about your growing confidence in the Word
and in the Spirit's guidance! Indeed, the more we learn and believe, the
more the Spirit uses that truth in our hearts to guide us, and the
confidence builds. Keep up the good work!
As to whether or not current events are "a sign", that all depends on
what the person asking the question thinks "signs" are. Everything that
happens is part of the plan of God, and everything that happens is not
unrelated to how we will each process it because God is wise beyond
understanding and wants all to be saved and for all the saved to grow.
If the question is, "is this prophesied in the Bible", then the answer
is that this particular event is not fulfilling any specific prophecy
because there are no specific prophecies left unfulfilled until the
Tribulation begins, and that hasn't happened yet.
(2) And I assume that you have heard about this dispensation of God's grace given to me on your behalf (i.e., his mandate as an apostle to "carry Christ's name to the gentiles": Acts 9:15). (3) For it was through [God's] revelation that this mystery [of His calling out of the gentiles] was made known to me as I wrote you briefly before. (4) When you read these things you will be able to understand my spiritual insight into this mystery of Christ, (5) which was not made known to mankind in previous generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:2-5
The Church is the mystery age (link)
which was not revealed until after Christ won the victory of the cross
and was glorified at the Father's right hand, sending the Spirit to
explain all these things (Jn.14:26; 15:26; 16:8; 16:13-15). But we are
certainly within our rights to observe what's going on in the world and
see that everything which is happening is certainly trending NOT to some
"heaven on earth" brought about by human endeavor but to just the
opposite: we are clearly getting ever closer to the end, and anything
which we see which reminds us of that fact is to be taken into account
and ought to motivate us to be preparing spiritually.
I should also mention that speaking of spiritual matters with
unbelievers is never particularly profitable unless this can be guided
to a conversation about the gospel. Because unbelievers really are not
able to understand anything spiritual except the gospel. So what you say
and how you say it very much depends upon whom you are speaking with.
I'm certainly happy to email with you about this more. Apologies for the
tardiness in response. Saturdays are posting days and this one was
particularly busy because the posting was the next installment in
Hebrews (link).
Hope you are well – keeping you and your health in my daily prayers, my
friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,
Thank you as always for your prompt response! No apology necessary, I
know Saturdays are time-consuming for you. However long you need to wait
to reply, I completely understand.
Thank you for answering the question, I sent a part of your email to
___. I'm not sure exactly where's she's at spiritually - I think she
believes in Jesus. If not, I think she is extremely close. I think if
she is a believer she needs more exposure to solid, Biblical
theology/doctrine. We talk about the Lord together and sometimes she ask
me questions. Once she sent me a portion of Scripture from the Old
Testament, from the law, asking if we weren't supposed to eat pig or
cow. I told her it was a foreshadowing of Christ's death for us, that it
shows us how much we need a Savior, and it shows we are to be separate
from the world. Since we are living after Jesus' death and resurrection,
that passage about food no longer applies to us and I told her
Hebrews 9 is a good chapter for that topic.
Another time, she was worried cause someone had told her that she
couldn't work on Saturdays. She was afraid and asked me, "am I going to
get up there and Jesus will say, you can't go to heaven cause you worked
on Saturday?" I explained that wasn't true, that it was faith in Christ
that saves you, and we have all done things we shouldn't. And that was
an Old Testament law, not for us anymore.
I tried to ask her once what her understanding of salvation was. We
didn't get there exactly cause she started talking about the
resurrection. She thought she would die and then have to wait in the
grave for however many years it took for Jesus to return.
So I'm not exactly sure. I try to say and explain things when there is
opportunity.
On a different note, thank you for the many prayers for my health!
[omitted] but right now I am feeling pretty good. [omitted]
Hope you had a good Monday!
Response #2:
Good for you! It's clear from your answers to your ___ that you
understand a great deal of Bible truth – much, much more than the
average Laodicean believer throughout this country.
In terms of her understanding of the resurrection, this "soul sleep"
idea is, sadly, one that is widespread. If I'm not mistaken, all
Lutherans are laboring under this delusion as well. Here are a couple of
links where this and related matters are discussed:
Our Heavenly, Pre-Resurrection, Interim State.
Biblical Anthropology III: Soul versus Spirit, "Soul Sleep", and the Interim Body
Nice job on all the topics! The only tweak I would suggest is on the Saturday issue (and here __ may be coming from a 7th Day Adventist or related background where it's all about such legalism): the 4th commandment has been replaced by an all-the-time "faith rest" which is the province of the Spirit (whom Church Age believers uniquely have indwelling us). Here's the most recent link on that:
Keep up the good work – and great news about your health! Keeping you in
my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Hello Bob my friend,
With the shocking news of outbreak of war in Israel there will be a
steep rise in anti-Semitic sentiment in all of our countries. The other
day there was a 'Pro-Palestine march' very close to where I live. So
many see Palestine as the 'underdog' and so are rooting for her.
How is it best to represent our views correctly to people on this issue
so as to maintain a good witness? I know that our Lord says 'thou shalt
not kill' but at the same time there are many battles and conflicts in
the Bible?
I feel this is clearing the ground for what will occur in a few short
years during the tribulation. This is all part of the bigger plan as
nothing is being done without God's allowing it. I was thinking
yesterday of how Satan put the Muslim Dome of the Rock at the Temple
Mount so I am sure we will see events happening around there soon.
How do we separate ungodly activities that Israel does from a political
perspective from our solidarity towards them as they are God's chosen
people? I am concentrating my hope and faith about the Godly remnant in
Israel, the coming of the Moses and Elijah and the 144,000 witnesses and
the eventual return of our dear Lord and Saviour!
Our Lord draws ever closer day by day Bob!
In Jesus,
p.s.: When I wrote 'Satan put the Dome of the Rock' at the Temple Mount,
I meant that he obviously influenced Abd al-Malik to build it there. It
is an obvious act of aggression by the enemy against the Temple with
this idolatrous building. We will see that building brought down soon
then as it is preventing the building of the Third Temple. It will all
be part of the plan of God to see this happen soon. The Dome of the Rock
shouldn't have ever been built there but I know that even that would've
been part of the plan.
Response #3:
Re: "How is it best to represent our views", everything
political, even when it's a no-brainer, has the tendency to give
unbelievers (and misguided believers) the wrong impression about things.
Of course we are appalled at what has happened. But we don't want to
make the mistake of upsetting people who see this from a completely
secular perspective if they should misunderstand our comments. We who
have committed ourselves to following Jesus Christ understand that all
manner of terrible things are going to happen during the Tribulation –
in Israel and to Israel in particular, not to mention in and to the rest
of the world. And the real issue then will be the same as the real issue
is now: Jesus Christ. So best not to take our eye off the ball, so to
speak.
Best to stick to our own knitting, and if asked, it depends a lot on the
person asking, i.e., whether or not they are really seeking answers to
THE question. We know that this is an indication that the end is getting
closer and it's also a wake-up call to any and all who may be
temporarily shaken from their foolish notion that they are going to live
forever down here (the subconscious unbeliever mind-set). At such times,
some are induced to look for THE solution and of course there is only
ONE WAY. So we ourselves are disturbed by the events but heartened at
the prospect of our Lord's return; and we comport ourselves towards
others with our unflappable confidence that comes from our faith in
Jesus Christ, ready to give an answer for that faith if genuinely asked
for.
"It will all be part of the plan of God to see this happen soon."
Amen! And that is what encourages us in all things.
"Our Lord draws ever closer day by day" Amen and Amen!
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
I don't usually bring these things up because they aren't my focus for spiritual reasons (I still watch for the signs of the times but don't worry or obsess over them so that I can focus more on my growth, progress, and ministry) but I noticed all these attacks on Israel from the Hamas and can't help but wonder if this isn't just further laying the groundwork for the faceoff between the beast and the Mahdi. I mean, we only have three years left and people are gonna start looking for someone to come to Israel's defense (oh, who will help them?). Seeing as how the Antichrist will pose as Christ by trying to make the Mahdi look like the beast being conquered by God (the beast under disguise), it doesn't seem to me to be too far fetched to say that we are seeing a very obvious sign that the face off is about to commence a few years from now. I just want to know your thoughts. Do you think this is possible?
Response #4:
As to "further laying the groundwork for the faceoff between the beast and
the Mahdi", you make some very good points. And it would be irresponsible
for us not to take into consideration that events around the world, and in the
Middle East in particular, are significant. Just exactly what that significance
is, however, is hard to say. Like the old movie line, "there are a hundred ways
you can get caught; if you can think of forty of them you're a genius . . . and
you ain't no genius", there are probably thousands of permutations we might
think of as to how things might work out specifically, but many, many more we
aren't likely to think of – and so the most likely answer is that we don't
really know exactly how this is going to turn out precisely in terms of specific
developments on the one hand, but on the other hand this is clearly working in
the direction of the constellation of events which will have to transpire before
and after the Tribulation.
Just as in regards to the marvelous things that happened at Jesus' birth, Mary
"treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart", so we too take
note and chew on current events because we know what is coming, without at the
same time marrying ourselves to any particular scenario. What we know about
events during the Tribulation is a schematic or blueprint. A very imaginative
and experienced eye can look at a blueprint and imagine the finished building,
e.g., but for most of us while it gives us an idea it's nothing like seeing the
real thing once completed.
Another good point you make is in regard to the reactions we are seeing. People
– understandably – get very emotional about these sorts of things, taking sides
for one reason or another, as we are tempted to do as well. At present, there is
no beast, no Mahdi, no mystery Babylon, although all of these are waiting in the
wings. So if a person "roots" for this side or the other, it doesn't necessarily
involve any spiritual peril (although I always counsel prudent non-involvement
where it comes to anything of a political nature).
In the very near future, however, the devil is going to be behind BOTH sides.
Deciding, for example, that the Mahdi is antichrist so as to incline a person to
resist him by joining in with the forces of the actual antichrist will be a
terrific danger (same for those who are inclined to align with the other side).
In a case like that, believers are not just well-served by staying out of it
materially, but also by staying far away from both sides emotionally,
recognizing that there is the most dire evil on both sides, even if for whatever
reason a person is inclined to prefer one side to the other.
I have opined before as to how antichrist will be counting on enlisting many to
his cause as a counterweight to the Mahdi threat (on the grounds that he is the
beast), and this present situation demonstrates as you note the proclivity of
many to head in that direction. So while we do have our own preferences here,
human beings that we are, keeping some emotional distance now might not be the
worst thing in preparation for maintaining complete emotional separation later
on. After all, it's not as if Satan is uninvolved in what's happening right now
either.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Dear Dr. Luginbill,
Please clarify your answer to question number one in the
Eschatology CXII group of
questions. The writer expressed his understanding that the tribulation
will start fall of 2026 (2 ˝ years from now) You stated you needed the
"full 3 ˝ years" that would put it starting in 2027.
Thank you so much,
Response #5:
Nice to hear from you -- it's been a long time! Hope you are well.
To answer your question, sometimes these email responses are posted as
much as two or three years after the fact (it depends on the topic).
This one originally went out about a year and a half ago. So, no, I
haven't changed anything about that interpretation.
*I should have clarified that with the posting since, yes, from this
point in time (10/14/23) it is slightly less than three years off.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Thank you I am well, as I hope you and your family are.
I want you to know of the deep, deep impact your writing has had on me
and my family. This is not the first time I've written to you. Many
years ago I wrote to you wondering why you did not recommend storing
food and weapons, etc. Your answer was to rely solely on Jesus Christ.
Since then I have been a follower of your writings and your emails, I
know what's coming and I am preparing myself and my family but not with
material things.
Thank you Dr Luginbill.
Response #6:
Doing well, thank you, and good to hear that this is true for you too, my
friend.
Thanks for the wonderful testimony!
"I know what's coming and I am preparing myself and my family but not with
material things." Amen! I'm trying to do the exact same thing myself.
In Jesus Christ whose opinion of us and what we are doing is more valuable than
that of the entire world to an infinite degree.
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Hello Bob, I hope you have had a good week!
Thank you again for your time and willingness to discuss some of these matters
with me. For me, what matters most right now are the things we agree upon (which
I deem of such great importance in this Hour).
Of course, this must start with: The centrality of the Gospel and God's Word.
There is no pre-trib rapture.
Calvinism is damning error.
There is (an) Elijah to come.
The Day of the LORD is near.
The Church will grow and be refined by fire.
There is a great apostasy coming.
Jesus will return and set up the Millennial Kingdom.
The main reason I asked you about how you view the different phrases pertaining
to the Day of the LORD was largely due to my interest in its use in Malachi, and
Elijah being sent "before the great and terrible day of YHVH."
Thank you for indulging my seeking clarification on some of these things, and,
if I am not now putting words into your mouth...
It seems we would both claim that we think that the Day of the LORD starts in
Rev. 6 (as an overview of what follows, from your perspective), and if "the
great and terrible day of YHVH" (of Mal 4) is indicating one and the same period
of time, then would that not necessitate that "Elijah" be sent before Rev. 6
(Mal 4:5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
the great and terrible day of the Lord.")...whether or not he remains to
participate as one of the 2 witnesses (during the first half of Daniel's 70th
week)?
Some might say that that just means "any time before Christ returns" (although
that is not what the text says, nor what we think the phrase "the day of YHVH"
includes), but as we read what Scripture says in both Mal. and, in addition,
what Jesus had to say about him (Matt 17:11; Mk 9:12), namely, that "he will
restore all things", and we then compare all that to what the 2 witnesses will
be doing, the roles/ministries seem to be quite different.
On both fronts, it seems to me that the "end times Elijah" must come ahead of
Rev. 6 to accomplish what the prophecies have stated he will do.
In any event, thank you again for your generosity with respect to your time in
preparing these responses, your patience, and your sincerity. Much obliged.
May we find ourselves among "the overcomers" and encourage one another as the
Day draws near—and through it all!
And may His shalom be with you today and always,
Response #7:
Thanks for the list. I would always start with Jesus Christ.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 NKJV
On Calvinism, I'm no Calvinist, but when people use this word they
mostly mean the way in which his ministry/teachings were codified and
taken to extremes by later generations. If I were fighting for my life
against the Roman Catholic church, I probably would have said things a
bit differently than I do now – considering also we now have the benefit
of knowing a great deal more about the truth (if we choose to, at any
rate).
Not only is Elijah returning but also Moses: they are the two witnesses
of Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 (see
the link). This return (a resuscitation not a resurrection) will
happen at the outset of the Tribulation (Revelation 11 explains that
they are killed at the mid-point); they will orchestrate and direct 1)
the rebuilding of the temple and revival in Judaism; 2) orchestrate the
ministry of the 144,000; 3) direct the trumpet judgments.
Yes, the Day of the Lord is near, whichever application of it one wants
to apply (the Tribulation as its prelude, the actual literal "day" of
return of our Lord (the second advent), or His 1,000 year reign, the
final millennial day; again,
see the link). And of course it has always been imminent (see
the link) . . . in the sense that there is no unfulfilled prophecy
since the ascension of Christ until the Tribulation begins (we are in
the mystery Age of the Church;
see the link). And, after all, one day with the Lord is as a 1,000
years (Ps.90:4; 2Pet.3:8).
As to growth, if you mean in numbers, I'm not sure that this will happen
in the Tribulation "net/net": one third will fall away. Will the Jewish
believers who respond to the ministry of Moses and Elijah and the
144,000 eclipse that one third who fall into apostasy in terms of
aggregate sum? Possibly. Refinement will happen, if by this term we mean
the pressure put on our faith by all of the Tribulation's troubles and
persecutions.
And [during that time of the end] many will purify and cleanse themselves, and will be refined (lit., "smelted in a crucible"). But the wicked will act wickedly, nor will any of the wicked understand. But those who give [these matters] careful attention will understand.
Daniel 12:10
As to the Great Apostasy (link),
it is sad that pre-Tribbers so willfully distort the clear meaning of
apostasia in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 and want to make it the "rapture"
instead! The lukewarm are only setting themselves up for trouble
in making that reversal.
In terms of the millennial reign of our Lord, it is also sad that many
old line denominations continue to follow the dictates of their
amillennial traditions – which is on this point a Roman Catholic one.
Caught in a life and death struggle with Rome, the Reformers didn't have
the "band width" to deal with eschatology as well, but that was never a
reason for their successors to become doctrinally sclerotic and stop
growing in the truth . . . which process only leads to whatever truth a
person or group "knows" becoming mere knowledge in the end and not the
epignosis of faith.
As to the rest of your email, I think what I've said above addresses
these issues. In a nutshell: the Tribulation is seven years long; the
second half is the Great Tribulation; the Great Apostasy will accelerate
with the coming of the Great Persecution in the second three and a half
years; the Jewish revival happens in the first half (led by Moses and
Elijah, the two witnesses); believing Jews escape to the wilderness at
the midpoint (Rev.12) when Moses and Elijah are killed (Rev.11). Since
the Day of the Lord in Malachi 4:5 refers to our Lord's return to render
the "thunder judgments" (of which Armageddon is one), I don't see
anything in the text of the Hebrew to prevent us from understanding that
this is an eschatological event which will commence once the end times
events begin (that is, once the Tribulation begins).
Do feel free to write me back about any of the above.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
[omitted]
Thank you, Bob, for commenting your take on "the list."
The reason I look to prophecy and the timing of the coming "Elijah" is why (in
part) I believe there will be a renewed Rev. 2-3 season (as it were), where
Christ's forerunner (just as John the Baptist was prior to His first advent)
will call the Church (churches) to repentance (as per Rev. 2-3), bring us into
unity (by "restoring all things"), prepare us for the coming Tribulation, and
lead us (as it were) in our final witness to the nations (as we are being
purified/tested/martyred, etc.). This will bring in "the fullness of the
Gentiles" and the "Jews to jealousy" and then the focus will switch to Jerusalem
and the ministry of the 2 witnesses (primarily to bring in the Jewish Harvest).
I know this is quite different than what you currently hold to be the unfolding
of events, but I hope you might consider this in light of prophecy/the text of
Scripture and the heart of Jesus to restore and purify His Church (to prepare
Her as Bride for His Son), and to give the world one final opportunity to see
Her as He meant for Her to be—savory salt and bright light; and, since it is not
His will that any should perish, one final pure witness of His Truth and grace.
As I see it, only someone sent by God, prepared and anointed by God, could
possibly accomplish this task.
This is also part of why I asked you if you'd be O.K. if things unfolded
differently than you expect. If God sends "Elijah" this year or so, and he is
doing what has been prophesied he would do, then you wouldn't be able to say
that it's not "according to Scripture", but it would be different than what you
currently believe.
For what it is worth, I thank you again for your time.
[One last question, if I may. You seemed to imply—or maybe you stated it
outright in one of your articles, that you are a "pastor-teacher". Do you
"pastor a church"?]
grace and peace,
Response #8:
Happy to do so.
Re: Elijah as performing a revival ministry to the gentiles prior to the
Tribulation, two general objections before getting to specifics:
1) The Church Age, as mentioned, is the mystery age (link).
It doesn't occur in prophecy, and, in fact, Old Testament prophecy conflates the
two advents; I explain this in CT 1 as
looking at two sequential mountain ranges in the distance: it's hard or even
impossible to see that there might be a very large valley between the two; in
this case, there is, and that valley is the Church Age (the name for this is
"prophetic foreshortening";
link);
the Church Age is present in the Jewish calendar (i.e., the third "gap", also as
mentioned;
link), but only if one is looking for it. Not for no reason were the
disciples confused even after the resurrection so as to ask our Lord if He were
about to bring in the kingdom "at this time" (Acts 1:6) which garnered His
response that it was "not for them to decide" these matters (Acts 1:7), then He
gave them their marching orders for getting the ball rolling (so to speak) for
the Church Age: as soon as the Spirit was given they were to begin the
evangelizing of the whole world with the gospel now coming to the gentiles en
mass (Acts 1:8), a thing which Jewish believers in general had a hard time
accepting – and which is still a stumbling block today. The above being the
case, there is in fact no prophecy for the Church Age once it has begun. Even
the seven churches give trends rather than prophecies of specific events. So
these prophesies you list have to be referring to events that will not happen
until the Tribulation begins.
2) The second objection has to do with Elijah. Our Lord said clearly that John
the baptist "was" Elijah, by which it is meant that Elijah and John have the
same job: calling Israel to repent in preparation for entering the kingdom
(Matt.3:2), 1st advent: John; 2nd advent: Elijah. The One/one who will perform
the restoration was Christ then (Matt.4:17) / and in the future will be Moses
(Mal.4:4). See the link: in
CT 3A: "The Restoration Ministries". Just as John was sent to Israel, in the
parallel, so also will Elijah be; just as Christ performed the actual
restoration; so Moses will do prior to our Lord's second return. The Tribulation
is not the end of the Church Age but it is the recommencement of the Jewish Age,
its final seven years (i.e., the seventieth week of Daniel 9:27). Before our
Lord returns, the two ages overlap for their final seven years, and Israel will
begin her process of resuming leadership in the Church. Elijah and Moses, the
two witnesses, will lead that process – for Jewish believers. John and Jesus
went to Israel, not the gentiles; the same will be true of Elijah and Moses.
Church Age gentile believers have the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts and the
entire canon of scripture already. But Jewish unbelievers will be greatly aided
in their return during the restoration (that portion who will repent during the
Tribulation, the majority needing, like Thomas, to actually see the Messiah
before doing so), by the restoration of the temple and its rites during the
Tribulation's first half. As far as "bringing to jealousy", that is a negative
not a positive thing which has been in play since the first century, keeping
many Jews from salvation rather than turning them to it (e.g., Acts 13:43-45;
17:5; 22:21-22). So, no, I don't expect to hear any tidings of Elijah . . .
until the Tribulation has begun.
However, the "fullness of the gentiles" in Romans 11:25 coincides with the end
of the "blindness/hardness in part" that now grips Israel. And we know that this
only comes to a complete end when the Jewish people "look upon Him whom they
have pierced" (Zech.12:10; Rev.1:7), that is, at the second advent. Since there
will be gentiles saved all the way to the end of the Church Age, this "fullness"
will not "come in" until our Lord returns. If the Church Age ended or was
completed before the Tribulation, then the rapture people might have a point:
why would we (Church Age believers) still be here?
As to "Do you pastor a church?", Ichthys is my church.
Re: "[the] Temple will be built in conjunction with the "covenant with the
many" ", Daniel 9:27 which describes that covenant/treaty between antichrist
and the secular powers-that-be in Israel actually is talking about the cessation
of temple rites in the middle of the Tribulation (after Moses and Elijah are
killed by the beast); it says nothing about the construction of the temple
(which Moses and Elijah were responsible for). The temple is described in
Revelation chapter eleven and it is made clear there that it is a godly
construction and will be used for godly purposes . . . until the middle of the
Tribulation when antichrist sets up his headquarters in Jerusalem, and will
"take his seat in the temple of God and represent himself as being God"
(2Thes.2:4). The two witnesses are killed just before this, so we see, after the
Tribulation begins (at Rev.8:1ff.), Revelation taking events in a more or less
chronological order (with expansions to fill in details where necessary as any
narrative does).
Re: "growth in numbers"; there's nothing anywhere in scripture I know of
to suggest this; Laodicea is our current era and it is destined to continue
until the Tribulation begins; any spiritual growth would be the result of
lukewarm Christians getting serious once things become truly awful; as to overall
growth, as mentioned, whether or not the number of unbelievers who repent
because of what will happen will outstrip the one third of Church prophesied to
fall away is a dubious prospect.
Re: "The Bible specifically states that God will send Elijah "BEFORE the
...day of the LORD" "; but the Day is first and foremost the day of Christ's
return, and this will happen as described above; secondarily the preface to the
Day is the Tribulation, and that is precisely when Elijah will return and
conduct, in company with Moses, the revival ministry including the evangelizing
of the 144,000 who will produce the remnant of Jews who escape into the
wilderness in Revelation chapter twelve.
Re: "as I mentioned previously, the role for the end-times "Elijah" in
prophesy does not seem to be in line with the role of the two witnesses", I
do not see it that way at all, if these matters be properly understood. Two best
links for this at Ichthys:
"The Two Witnesses and the Ministry of the 144,000" and
"The Two
Witnesses of the Tribulation: Moses and Elijah".
As to "false prophets", this is the reason for my greatest concern. Because
there of course will be many false prophets during the Tribulation (Matt.7:15;
24:11; 24:24), as there are many today. If someone calls himself Elijah and is
not, any and all who follow him will be the ones who are led astray. The actual
Elijah was given to do many miracles, such as withholding rain for three and a
half years – the exact length of the first half of the Tribulation (Jas.5:17).
Understanding that Elijah ministers to the Jewish nation, that he will be
instrumental in rebuilding the temple, that he will administer the trumpet
judgments, that he will do his work in conjunction with Moses, the other
witness, that his revival to Israel ministry will involve the evangelizing of
the 144,000 – to other Jews, not to gentiles – will be greatly palliative in
preventing Christians from falling for a false prophet who may go by that name.
Elijah raised the dead. If anyone makes the claim of being Elijah, let's see if
he can do that. As mentioned, all of these astounding things are prophesied to
occur during the Tribulation, not during the Church Age – where all such
miracles are on hold and have been since the end of the apostles tenure. Any
such "miracle" happening before the Tribulation begins is actually a sign of
deception.
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."
Matthew 24:3-5 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Well, this certainly cannot be true: "Any "miracle" happening before the
Tribulation begins is actually a sign of deception." God can do miracles
(and does even today around the World) whenever He wants. Yes, there
will be (and are today) many false signs and wonders, but that in no way
limits God (or His People) from performing true miracles.
IF, and I am only saying IF, God sends "Elijah" before the start of the
70th Week, and he does what Scripture says he will do (and that cannot
right now include the two witnesses, since Scripture does NOT specify
who they are), then it would be a great danger to call him a false
prophet...
So, my question to you would still be, What if God does this? Would you
reject him because it doesn't fit what you hold to be the way it will
unfold?? What would it take to "convince you" he was "Elijah"?
Thanks Bob.
Response #9:
Etymologically a "miracle" is "a small wonder" (<Lat. miror plus
diminutive suffix), that is to say, a marvel. What precisely this term
means in our often inexact usage of it nowadays depends entirely on who
is using it. When I say, "miracle", I mostly mean what that word conveys
in much common parlance today, i.e., hyper- or supernatural occurrences
of a type that visibly defy scientific explanation in a way that cannot
be denied, mediated by a human being . . . such as raising the dead,
stopping the rain from falling for 3 1/2 years, turning water into wine,
healing a blind man with the touch of a hand, calling down fire from
heaven, etc. In other words, I mean, "the type of miracle that only an
apostle or a prophet such as Elijah would be able to perform" (although,
n.b., Rev.13:13-14 and cf. Matt.24:3-5).
So by "such miracles" I mean the Elijah/Moses type; I do not mean
praying for a very sick friend who then recovers when all the doctors
thought it was impossible, or God preventing the tornado from taking
one's house as an answer to prayer, etc. God can do anything, after all,
and everything He does is "miraculous" from one point of view. That does
not mean that people who claim to work for Him actually do represent
Him, even if they seem to be doing spectacular things. Being on guard
against this threat is something our Lord emphasized.
"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand."
Matthew 24:24-25
To be sure, the above refers to the Tribulation (and cf. Rev.13:13-14),
but there have been and will continue to be many such wolves in sheep's
clothing even before that time of intensive testing begins.
As to "what ifs", just as the Lord will leave us in no doubt when the
Tribulation begins (Rev.8:1-5), so also we can have confidence that He
will also not allow us to "miss" anything important. Quite the opposite
danger is the one in view throughout Matthew chapter 24 and elsewhere in
scripture where the topic is treated, namely, needing to be on guard
against false claims rather than somehow missing out on genuine ones
(See the link: Peter #39: False Teachers, False
Teaching, and False Organizations). And all one has to do is to look
around today to see how that continues to be the actual problem.
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Acts 9:10-16 NKJV
Everything that Ananias had heard about Paul made him right to reject
the idea that Paul was now a believer, so it was just and fitting for
the Lord to inform him of the change in this miraculous way, otherwise
Ananias would have been wrong – and guilty of violating the many
warnings in scripture about giving in to deception – to have had anything
to do with Paul at this point. Everything I have learned about the end
times from scripture tells me that they begin with the Tribulation and
that there are no such spectacular doings before it begins (Eph.3:2-5;
1Pet.1:10-12). That is what I believe scripture teaches most
definitively (see the link re:
the mystery age of the Church). So if the "game plan is changed"
miraculously, I would also expect similarly miraculous clarification to
be forthcoming. This latter I do not expect because I do not expect the
former. Scripture, in my view, is very clear. God can do anything He
pleases, and where scripture is not definitive in what it states, we are
prudent not to close the door absolutely – but we do stand fast on
interpretations based on the truth of scripture when they have been
solidly vetted, even when others want to call them into question (or at
least we should).
So, no offense, but I make it my policy not to deal in hypotheticals.
Elijah is one of the two witnesses. He won't be around until after the
Tribulation begins. Anyone showing up before that point who says that
they are him won't be. Of that I am positive and will remain so, absent
some set of spectacularly miraculous developments which as far as I can
see after a lifetime studying these matters are not forecast in the
Bible.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Hello Bob,
The problem with understanding prophecy is that no matter how much one
studies it and thinks they have it "figured out", the meaning of a
prophetic text can only be fully understood/given by revelation. Many
(perhaps most) of the OT prophets didn't even know the full meaning of
what they were given prophetically, and even though we are nearer to the
events prophesied, that still doesn't mean they are easily understood
(as we well know, given all the different "interpretations").
People who hold too tightly to their interpretation (and, especially if
they have been vocal about their interpretation), run the risk of 1)
having to concede/admit that they were wrong about some things, 2)
rejecting the Truth when it starts to unfold differently than expected,
or worse, 3) actively denouncing what God is doing because it doesn't
fit their interpretation.
Much humility is required in this Hour. It is not what "seems right to
us" (given who we might be listening to that we hold in high esteem, or
what we think we've uncovered due to all our study), but what God will
actually do to bring about the fulfillment of all He has said—and the
two (what we think and what God does) may line up fairly closely, or not
very much at all, and we have to be O.K. with that. "His ways are higher
than our ways."
As to "Elijah," it would not contradict Scripture if God would send him
tomorrow, so I just hope you keep an open mind about that. God is not
going to "change the gameplan", but it still may look different than
what you expect. As you, I would expect God to enable him ("Elijah") to
perform some pretty convincing miracles if he is sent before the start
of the Week, but whatever God's plan is, we can trust it's a good one .
~for His glory,
Response #10:
Re: "the meaning of a prophetic text can only be fully understood/given by
revelation". All scripture is God-breathed (2Tim.3:16-17); all scripture is
prophetic (2Pet.1:19); and only believers, we who are indwelt by the Holy
Spirit, are capable of understanding it (1Cor.2:14-16). If this is what you
mean, well and good. But if you are suggesting that certain Bible passages
cannot be understood without some additional special miraculous revelation from
God, well, isn't that what the Holy Spirit is for? Otherwise, why are we given
the Bible? Plenty of people out there claim to be prophets, but there have been
none since the apostles departed (1Cor.13:8). We believers can all understand
the truth when it is taught through the ministry of the Spirit; the job of
pastor-teachers is to make use of their gifts, the ministry of the Spirit, the
Word of truth, much prior preparation, and much "elbow grease" to properly
interpret scripture so as to be able to teach believers that truth. If there was
some sort of direct overriding of this godly process to certain special
individuals, there would be no need for pastor-teachers; and if such a thing
were possible for all believers, there would be no need for spiritual gifts at
all or any coming together in any way to help each other as the Body of Christ,
because all gifts and ministries ultimately are about sharing the truth of the
Word. So at the very least, this statement is potentially misleading and
dangerously so; and if it does mean that someone has been told directly by God
that "passage X means ABC" and that this is the ONLY way to understand biblical
prophecy about future events, then . . .
Re: "Many (perhaps most) of the OT prophets didn't even know the full meaning
of what they were given". That is what Peter says about the events of the
first advent (1Pet.1:10-12); but that was before the revealing of
Jesus Christ as the God-man, before the cross, before His glorification, and
before the gift of the Holy Spirit. Everything in the New Testament is
meant to be understood and that is true of the Old Testament as well
(Eph.3:2-9). There is a right way to go about this, of course. And, sadly, there
have always been more individuals given to doing things the wrong way than the
right way. But that is no reason for those of us willing to approach
interpretation the correct way not to do so. In fact, pastor-teachers are
obligated to do so (1Cor.9:16).
As to "People who hold too tightly to their interpretation", I would
point out that your three negative developments are only operative if the person
is wrong. We should hold tight to the truth no matter what. If a pastor-teacher
is unsure about the truth of what he is teaching, he should not teach it. If he
is sure – in the Spirit – it would be malfeasance and cowardice not to teach it.
This is all about the truth. Other believers, that is, those without the
gift/preparation/mandate/spiritual empowerment/willingness-to-do-the-work of
feeding the flock of Christ, have all been given the ability to judge in the
Spirit whether or not a tree is producing fruit good for growth. If a Christian
wants to grow, they will search out such a tree and stick with it. There is no
other way to grow because there is a ceiling on self-actuated growth placed there
by God for the sake of the unity and authority of the Church. We all have a
choice to make.
Re: "Much humility is required in this Hour". Amen! And it would be the
quintessence of arrogance for someone who really has done the work and really
has been led into the truth the right way to pretend that this was not the case
and to fail to "blow the trumpet" out of despicable fear.
Re: "not what "seems right to us" ", I would counter that if a believer
has been seeking the truth, and God gives that believer to find a good place to
learn the truth, and then said believer – out of whatever negative motivation –
fails to take advantage, that is exactly preferring what only SEEMS right to
what the Spirit is showing him/her actually IS right. It is not possible that
God would fail to give any believer all the truth they can handle if they are
really willing to receive it. It may take time, searching, effort to find that
tree; it may take hard swallowing of some prior assumptions; it may require
"putting aside the bones" in the early going. But what is the point of searching
if when the treasure is found it is rejected (Matt.13:44)?
Re: "As to "Elijah," it would not contradict Scripture if God would send him
tomorrow", I heartily disagree. He is one of the two witnesses and they do
not appear until the Tribulation begins as Revelation chapter 11 demonstrates
very clearly. He is sent to Israel, not to the gentiles, and the partial revival
does not occur until the sealing and sending of the 144,000 during the
Tribulation. He is one of only two Jewish prophets whose body has been preserved
miraculously so as to be able to accomplish this special ministry to Israel
during the Tribulation and not before. He will be fulfilling prophecies from the
Old Testament (Zech.4:6-14), the gospels (Matt.11:14), and Revelation (Rev.11:6;
compare with Jas.5:17-18) all of which reference the Tribulation – and there is,
I would mention again, no prophecy of scripture for the Church Age: we are in
the mystery age unknown prior to the cross. All as yet unfulfilled prophecy has
to do with the end times events which do not begin until the Tribulation begins.
This is just a quick synopsis. Again, I would point you to the following links:
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
I truly appreciate your weekly posts. You have an uncanny ability to
address my current concerns on a fairly consistent basis. That suggests
to me that others are having similar issues or the Spirit is encouraging
your posts. Either way, I'm happy to read your posts every Sunday
morning.
I was disappointed to read that people are attacking your site. I can't
imagine why; you don't advertise, you don't push your beliefs on others,
you don't back down on your beliefs, either, which I admire. Maybe
that's it?
I could rhapsodize at length, but it would add little. I pray your
school year is off to a good start and you're satisfied with your
incoming class. BTW -- last I was in Cincinnati, I wouldn't have wanted
to get in that water, either, though I hear it's cleaned up
substantially. Don't know about the East Palestine effluent, though. If
government says it's safe, I would be extremely wary of it.
In any event -- thank you for your posts.
In our Lord,
Response #11:
Thanks for this encouraging email, my friend! I greatly appreciate it. That is what the Church of Jesus Christ is all about, mutual encouragement.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans 1:11-12 NIV
As to the "why", it's hard to say. But it is fair to observe that
slacking leads to doubt; doubt to a need to justify oneself,
self-justification to rationalization, rationalization to projecting,
projection to judging, judging to resentment and jealousy, and pretty
soon you have full-blown hostility. If we're not moving forward in love
in humility, we all have a tendency to slip backward downhill pretty
fast (lots about that in the latest Hebrews posting; see the link: "Reversion").
I'm encouraged by your faith and faithfulness, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
p.s., re: H20, reminds me of that old song, "If you go to American city,
you may find it very pretty, just one thing of which you must beware,
don't drink the water and don't breath the air!"
Question #12:
Hi Bob,
Thank you for this week's emails.
I have to say that I'm so sad to hear about these previously supposed
"brethren" attempting to pull others away from the truth. Also, the
hostility to your ministry and all of the rubbish you've had to put up
with from them. It's the times we're living in and the warnings are all
there for us in scripture. Thank you for your reminder and warnings to
us and for your love and concern for us.
I thank the Lord so much for you and your ministry. For all of the time
you have so generously given to me, for your help and support through so
many tough times in my life since I've known you, for your patience with
me, for your teaching, encouragement and prayers for me and my family.
For helping me to grow spiritually. And for making me laugh - I love
that! Most of all for your deep love for the Lord and for His truth. You
are a very dear friend to me and I appreciate you so much.
Keeping you in my prayers. I hope exam #1 goes well tomorrow!
In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #12:
Thanks so much for your encouragement, insight, and help as always, my
friend!
I hope it didn't all sound too "whiny". Some of these things that you
also suspected have come to my attention and so I posted what I posted.
Not for my own sake, but for the sake of the Ichthys community who need
to be aware of the subtle threat lurking out there. I wouldn't be doing
my job as a shepherd if I saw wolves coming and didn't sound the alarm.
I'm not on either forum, so I only rarely hear about the goings on there
second hand. When it came to my attention that one individual had been
totally subverted, I knew it was finally time to "lower the boom".
Thanks for all you've written, and especially for "Most of all for your
deep love for the Lord and for His truth." Believe it or not, the chief
criticism I received in the most recent philippic was that I and this
ministry lacked "LOVE". I found this strange since all I'd ever done for
this particular individual was spend a lot of time in responding to
emails, encouraging him, praying for him, trying to help him in any way
I could. But ego and arrogance and self-justification lead to jealousy
and anger and outright hostility pretty quickly, just as soon as a
person abandons the truth. Honestly, I have a pretty thick skin (and
have heard a lot worse as suggested), so I wouldn't have let it bother
me enough to post any of these observations. But from what I knew about
the situation, it seemed clear that it was time for a little alert, lest
others be dragged into the same vortex of negativity. What I really
can't understand is why, if you help someone for no personal benefit or
advantage, when they decide, OK, I'm not interested in that ministry
anymore, they can't just quietly move on to whatever they prefer (doubts
on my part that it will be better, but it's their choice). Not sure why
it's necessary to attack and, in some cases, attempt to detach others
too . . . unless there are more sinister forces at work. That's why I
felt the need to post as I posted.
I can't tell you how grateful I am for your wonderful words of
encouragement, my friend! And for your stalwart faithfulness. It means
the world to me.
I sure hope my students studied too (makes it a lot less painful for
yours truly)!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
It's my pleasure, Bob!
It didn't sound too "whiny" at all. You're being completely open, honest
and stating the truth and I think that's really important. You're a good
shepherd protecting the flock and I for one am VERY grateful to you for
this.
To say you and your ministry lacked "LOVE" couldn't be any further from
the truth in my experience. And you only have to read years and years
worth of email postings on Ichthys to see your deep love for the Lord
and faith in Him and how much you genuinely love and care for those He
has given to you.
Attacking you and your ministry and attempting to detach others from it
is the exact opposite of love. No doubt there's more sinister forces at
work too. It reminds me of the kind of abuse I've experienced in my own
life. If someone isn't hearing what they want to hear or getting what
they want, they can turn on you in an instant. It can come all out of
the blue and their words can cut like a knife. It reveals what's truly
going on inside of them.
It's the Lord we are here to please. Not ourselves or anyone else. And
it is the Lord we will all stand before and answer for our time here on
earth. You write in 1st Peter #18 - Since each of us will have to
give an accounting to the Lord for all we have (or have not) done
(Rom.14:12), we should strive to be "pleasing to Him in all things"
(2Cor.5:9), and seek to make that experience one which will confirm our
everlasting reward, rather than expose a wasted life (1Cor.3:11-15).
Keep doing what you're doing Bob and what you've always done. You're an
absolute blessing to the whole Ichthys family. We're all striving to
please our Lord and to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful
servant." We mustn't allow anyone or anything to pull us away from the
Lord and His truth.
Keeping you in my prayers.
In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #13:
Thanks so much for this!
While, to be honest if not humble, this is how I see it too, it's really a
blessing to hear it from you!
Re: "We mustn't allow anyone or anything to pull us away from the
Lord and His truth." Amen to that! Exactly! Regardless of what
others may do, our job is to keep pushing forward in growth, progress
and production straight up the high road to Zion, no matter what.
It's also encouraging to see you doing just that, my friend!
Made it through Monday! Greek 101 and Latin 201 exams were very good and
better than hoped. Only about a third of the way through Latin 101 and
we've got some problems there (but that is typical). Busy day tomorrow
finishing up and also triple prepping for the week ahead; also need to
get the schedule for 24/25 done since we have a new chair who'll be
needing it earlier than usual.
*Prayers also appreciated for a student of mine (several years now) who
found my website and wants to come by and "talk to me about Jesus".
While I'm more than willing, he eagerly offers that he is "Catholic". On
top of that, the poor fellow's health is in really bad shape (Lyme
disease, I think). He also looks up to me as we have discussed his
career plans in the past. So I don't want to disappoint or upset him but
I also have to be honest. Prayers for hitting just the right notes
appreciated!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Dr. Luginbill -
Good to hear for you! Thank you so much for reaching out and asking, plus for
covering me in prayer. We so appreciate it.
I must admit, it was a good thought regarding flying and the pressure, but we
drove to and from Florida. I will definitely look into any benefits that may
come from this type of treatment. I have friends that rave regarding their
health benefits to the therapy.
We are currently in CA, but actually working our way back to Texas.
[omitted]
Re: your correspondent who posted, "I’ve been wanting to reach out to you and
say congratulations on 25 years! My company is in its busy season and it’s been
hard to just send an email at times. I’m confident that your ministry has
touched thousands of lives. I know it has mine. We may never meet this side of
heaven but you are one of the ones on my list that I want to walk up to in
heaven and say Thank You! Then you will say, oh you are the messed up dude that
always emailed me! LOL!"
Why did I laugh? Because I thought for sure I sent you the message until the
last sentence. Lol. Then I realized there have been times I thought for sure I
had submitted the questions in your weekly email threads, but where clearly your
answers made me realize I did not submit the question. The bottom line is that I
recognize that every time I had a question, through your exhaustive studies, and
treasure trove of emails, I usually always find the answers before I ever have
to ask you a question. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you for your diligence in feeding us and for caring for the flock.
Continuing to pray for you, Ichthys, and all that concerns you and yours.
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Response #14:
Wow! TX to FL to CA to TX driving! You guys really are "road warriors"!
Nowadays, driving half an hour is something I avoid if at all possible. Keeping
you in prayer for ___, for God to provide just the right answer.
On "messed up", doesn't that apply to us all? Yes, we are all prizes of grace
(1Tim.1:15). But if we are growing in that grace, eventually we will all have
the same questions – since we all want to know everything about the Christian
life and the Bible. I do appreciate the observation!
Keeping you and your family in my daily prayers, my friend – and thank you so
much for yours!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Thank you, Dr. Luginbill.
I grew up on family road trips, ___ not so much. This has been a new and
fun adventure for us to explore together. Air travel has been so
difficult over the past few years (even with our TSA pre-check) that
road-tripping has been a welcome reprieve.
Yes, indeed, the depth of our gratitude for grace certainly propels us
forward (or should) once we've experienced it. I was referring to the
fact I thought I wrote the email until he referred to himself as "dude"
- and that's clearly not me. Ha!
Lastly, I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Response #15:
I did clue into the "dude" part, LOL.
I'm glad to hear that __ is helping. Keeping up the prayer too.
I hear you on flying. If I never had to get on a airplane again it would
be too soon.
Do keep me in the loop!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Bob,
I have just finished reading your weekly posting and am extremely
alarmed and disturbed to hear that people who once claimed to be
brethren are attacking you and even trying to lead people away from your
ministry?! This sounds diabolical to me! You have only ever been a great
comfort and strength to me and your ministry is so excellently dedicated
to the truth and to glorify God, you have such a high regard and love of
Scripture and that was what kept me coming back again and again as a
baby Christian when I was still prone to being tossed about on the waves
of Laodicea.
I am eternally grateful for your faithfulness to the Lord and your
harkening to the Holy Spirit, how you earnestly sought and fought for
the truth and faithfully followed the Spirit so as to never compromise
on where the Word leads. Yes it is very true, the Word is very divisive.
I have learned that myself and it would have been much easier to
compromise and go with the crowds but I knew that the truth was more
precious than rubies and so I have fought to remain in it. I love the
truth and it has been a great comfort and strength for me that you love
the truth even more!
You have never failed to comfort me, you write to me the same day and
sometimes even not long after I have written to you when you sensed a
reply was more urgently needed. You have been a constant to me. Your
fellowship has been so wise, dependable and of such stellar character
that it easily eclipsed many churches filled to the rafters of the
lukewarm and the 'fellowship' they bring. I used to complain about not
having lots of believers to fellowship with but what a fool I was! I
always had an excellent friend and brother in you that was always worth
more than scores of those who do not love the truth as much as we do.
I salute you for all you have done for me to the glory of God. You have
helped me grow to being at the point where I am to go forward and
minister myself!
Please do not be disheartened by these current events! Maybe these
deceitful and deceiving individuals were always tares in the midst of
true wheat. They will have a lot to say for themselves on Judgement Day
so we can leave them with the Lord. I am lifting up your ministry in
prayer to get through this satanic attack (which is clearly what it is).
If there is anything else you need to be raised up in prayer, please do
not hesitate to ask. I keep you covered by prayer daily but I am more
than happy to pray for anything else that is needful for you right now.
You have encouraged me at low moments time and time again so now it is
my turn to cheer you on! Keep running Bob! You are running a fantastic
race for the Lord! Keep running! There are many of us still cheering you
on and ready to help, comfort and encourage you when you are feeling the
flak! To quote your own dear words back to you: When the flak doesn't
blow you out of the sky, fly on my dear friend! Fly on!!
Your friend in Jesus,
Response #16:
Thank you so much, for this, my friend! I greatly appreciate this email – it does my heart so much good! You encourage me . . . and that is what the Church is for, after all.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
Re: "This sounds diabolical to me!" I'm sure that it is. If someone wants to enjoy the fruits of this ministry, they are free to do so free of charge. They are under no obligation to ever contact me or to ever even let me know they are doing so. If they wish to email me, that is a ministry I also provide, and I am happy to try to encourage them, guide them, help them work through things they are having a hard time understanding. If they want to enter into their own ministries, I am joyous about that, and I do my best to help with whatever knowledge, guidance and prayer I can provide. If at some point in the future, for whatever reason, turning back to the world or going their own way for whatever reason, succumbing to whatever temptation, or merely becoming resentful and jealous out of arrogance and pride (as people are wont to do, after all), I also have no problem with them packing up their tents and stealing away in the night never to be heard from again (of course, I would try to find out if they were OK and leave it to the Lord if I got no response). Blaming me for helping them is very odd (diabolical, I'm sure), but even so, that I can abide. However, attempting to destroy other sheep who depend on this ministry is a bridge too far. That is why I posted what I posted. Not for my own benefit but to send a message to the community that these threats are out there. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be doing my job of protecting the flock.
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."
Acts 20:28-31 NIV
Again, thank you so much, my friend, for you kind words and, even more than
that, for your steadfast faithfulness through thick and thin. It means a lot to
me!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17
Hi Bob,
Thanks for checking in. I'm reasonably OK. I've been tempted to write you with
questions you've already answered, so I "sat down and shut up:)"
Questions swirling around are:
1) which authority should we obey when the authority violates their own laws?
2) Daniel 1: Daniel and friends rejected the King's meat. I assume the meat was
not that well cared for or prepared. "Meat" I understand meaning "food." Since
the covid fiasco, I equate "kings food" with FDA approval. While I know it has
nothing to do with salvation, I'm growing reluctant to trust the "approval."
3) "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matt 6:34 has been ringing
through my head. I was tempted to ask if, in times past, things were this evil,
but on careful reading, I'm convinced it was. We never seem to learn.
It occurs to me that if we do the things the Lord hates, will we not suffer the
same consequences?
It's been hot -- the bad side of Texas, but except for the last couple of weeks,
humidity is generally low. so it isn't all bad.
I read your posts every Sunday. It was a good post this week (110!) I was
tempted to comment on a few things, but didn't see where that added anything to
the conversation.
Thanks for checking in. You and yours are in my daily prayers. I hope all is
well up there in L-ville. Classes I assume are over for the term and you're off
on your research projects. I pray all works well for you.
In our Lord,
Response #17:
Good to hear that you're still on this side of the grass anyway (you don't need
to have any questions to write me, my friend).
1) On the authority question, it doesn't matter if authority violates its own
laws:
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."
Matthew 23:1-3 NIV
Sounds pretty familiar, yes? Mentioned much in the past, Paul and Peter who give
us our most demonstrative passages on obeying civil law were greatly abused by
it themselves and yet stuck to this position. What we can not
do is act contrary to scripture, even if ordered to do so, whether by omission
or commission. But if it is "just" a case of inconvenience or galling hypocrisy,
incompetence, abuse, malevolence and double-standards, we're not allowed to
ignore authority for such reasons.
2) We're not told about the details, but Daniel and friends were reluctant to
eat "the king's portion" (type of food not specified) because they didn't want
to "defile themselves", meaning that there were elements to the standard fare
which were not Kosher, either in the content or the preparation. I.e., there's
no indication here that it wasn't "good food", just that it didn't meet Jewish
standards under the Law.
3) Of course, Matthew 6:34 has always applied. It's very much a "one day at a
time" verse (see
the link to the latest treatment of this principle in Hebrews chapter 3).
And I would agree that it has never been more important to maintain that "focus
on today" perspective, given what is happening in the world and in this country.
Our "tomorrow" is with the Lord, and none of the awful things we're witnessing
and/or experience can take that away from us . . . just as long as we stay
faithful.
Re: "if we do the things the Lord hates, will we not suffer the same
consequences?" The key thing here is "who is 'we'?" Believers are the salt
of the earth, the preservative of whatever nation they belong to. Clearly, "we"
believers need to be growing, progressing and producing spiritually to convey
that benefit. In terms of what the larger society or the world does, that is
really not our concern. We don't love the world (Jas.4:4; 1Jn.1:15-17); we're
just temporarily in it (Jn.15:19; 16:33; 17:6; 17:14; 1Jn.5:4). And how we look
forward to what is to come!
It has been a very difficult summer (for reasons I'd rather not get into at
present). Prayers appreciated.
Hot here too, but at least we've had some rain which has given us a bit of
respite from all the smoke.
Keeping you and yours in my daily prayers, my friend.
Happy 4th!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Hi Bob,
I didn't expect a response but I'm happy to receive it. I'm sorry to
hear your summer is going poorly. You should be off BBQing and enjoying
your break. I will add that to my prayers. That's not good news.
Your points are well taken. I don't protest government hypocricy. I try
to avoid it. I can't fix it anyway. On Daniel 1, I'm sure you're right,
but I wonder if there isn't a deeper truth there. It's in scripture for
a reason.
It's been hot here, too. We had a cold front come through that dropped
the temperatures down to the high nineties. Humidity went down, too, so
overall, it was a relief. My gardening days are now over and maybe my
mowing days, too. I just can't do it anymore. Gettin' old ain't for
sissies!
I will be praying for your troubles to ease. Scripture tells us we'll be
given no testing we can't bear so I believe you'll come out of this in
fine shape. In the mean time, I'll be here rooting for you.
In our Lord,
Response #18:
Thanks for those prayers, my friend!
As to "deeper meaning", it seems pretty deep to me that Daniel and co. decided
to risk their lives on doing things God's way and He rewarded them for so doing.
That really is life for the believer in essence: seek God's will then do it.
What ever is the right thing – in His eyes – we should do that no matter what
the consequences.
Appreciate you rooting for me! I'll let you know when this resolves.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Hi Bob,
You raise a good point about kosher. I never thought of that. I was going to ask
how you arrived at that since scripture doesn't specifically say that -- as far
as I understand.
Logically, it had to be. If the righteous were taken to Babylon, there had to be
priests among them. I've come to the conclusion that meat eating back then was
also a sacrifice to the Lord, whether a priest was involved or not. Please
correct me if I'm wrong. Today, I know of no kosher vegetables.
Fish also played a major part of the diet at the time, but I can't remember any
dietary rules for fish. A variety of tilapia, BTW, is the principle fish in the
Sea of Galilee as far as I can tell.
As an unrelated aside, in my morning drive-by scan of headlines, one in the
Washington Times caught my eye. It was about AI playing an important role in the
'24 elections. Apparently there are already ads produced for candidates by AI.
Mostly video and pictures but the article hinted about copy being written by AI.
I pray all works out well for you.
In our Lord,
Response #19:
Trying to think of any non-animal food which is intrinsically not Kosher (there are things having to do with preparation and of course under some circumstances leaven in bread was not allowed). In terms of fish, this is the prohibition:
These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.
Deuteronomy 14:9-10 KJV
They might as well have AI produce the ads. As I tell my students when
the subject of conditionals comes up, all advertising is based on the
"simple condition" – which is actually not so simple. Example, "If you
are truly an upstanding person and determined to do what is right . . .
THEN of course you support us in our campaign to do XYZ". If you get
sucked in by the premise (beautiful tropical beach scene), then you have
a tendency to "buy the 'bit' ": those people are drinking "THIS beer";
so drink this beer and have that life, the ad is telling our emotions
which are much more powerful than our pea-brains. If AI can figure that
out (not too hard to do), then maybe it's getting somewhere. Otherwise .
. .
*In terms of AI, the new Ichthys narrator voice is AI generated – so
like all technology, it can be put to godly purposes as well (see
the link).
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend! And thanks so much for yours (I'll
let you know when something develops).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
Hi Bob,
I remembered the no-scales prohibition right after I hit send. (Fingers
are now faster than my mind!) I know of no creature that swims without
fins. Fiji islanders, apparently like to eat ship worms. No scales
includes catfish, which I enjoy and eel which I'm not crazy about -- but
I'm not a gourmet. Catfish are bottom feeders as are drums, both black
and red which qualify as kosher. (I like these, too, especially well
seared with skin on.)
Your comments to your students on "conditionals" are spot on. I hope
your students pay attention. That legerdemain seems to permeate all of
society, not just advertising or politics. Of course, it's clear I won't
change the world so I quietly ignore it all. I'm sure that one day,
that'll bite me, but I'm not sure I really care anymore.
Stay well. I pray your issues are resolved as you hope.
In our Lord,
Response #20:
Thanks – I really appreciate your prayers. I'll let you know.
Do catfish have scales? In any case, our Lord has rendered all foods clean now
(Mk.7:19), so if we can stomach it, it's alright to eat it.
In Jesus,
Bob L.