FIRST TEMPTATION. [GENESIS 3:16]. PRIESTLY BENEDICTION.

     FIRST WE LOOK AT A "PRIESTLY BENEDICTION": THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE THE [1980] STUFFED IN AND OLD, OLD, BIBLE, UNEXPECTEDLY  FOUND IN A SMALL EXCAVATION IN A IRON AGE CEMETERY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM, THERE WAS RECOVERED TWO SMALL SHEETS OF SILVER WITH TEXTS FAINTLY ENGRAVED UPON THEM WHICH, AFTER THE MOST DELICATE LABORS OF CONSERVATION AND DECIPHERMENT, PROVED TO BE PASSAGES SIMILAR TO TWO FAMOUS VERSES OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS; CHAPTERS [6: 24,26,] " THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE, THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE, AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE; THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE AND GIVE THEE PEACE.
 NOT ONLY DID THESE SMALL SLIPS OF SILVER, HAVE THE OLDEST FRAGMENTS OF THE BIBLE TEXTS YET DISCOVERED ENGRAVED ON THEM, BUT THEY ALSO CONTAINED THE EARLIEST KNOWN MENTION OF "JEHOVAH" IN HIS CITY OF JERUSALEM. THE TWO SILVER SHEETS HAD BEEN CAREFULLY ROLLED UP AND TIED AROUND THE NECKS OF TWO DEAD CHILDREN.

                                                              "GENESIS 3:16 ".
 SOMETIMES A NARRATIVE OF THE FIRST TEMPTATION FOUND IN GEN.3:16, THE ACTIONS OF THE NARRATIVE ARE FOUND IN A STRAIGHT FORWARD RECOUNTING OF THE TEXT: NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OF THE WILD ANIMALS THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMEN, "DID GOD REALLY SAY, YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN?  THE WOMEN SAID TO THE SERPENT, " WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, BUT GOD DID SAY: YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE." " YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE," THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMEN. "FOR GOD KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT FROM
IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL." WHEN THE WOMEN SAW THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, HE ATE IT. (SATAN'S TEMPTATION OF EVE CAN BE CONCEPTUALIZED IN "SIX STEPS" STEPS THAT CAN BE SEEN IN SATAN'S TEMPTATION OF BELIEVERS TODAY.
"STEP ONE" IS FOUND IN VERSE ONE. THE HEBREW MAY BE PARAPHRASED IN THE FOLLOWING WAY: NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY WILD CREATURE THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMEN."IS IT REALLY A FACT THAT GOD HAD PROHIBITED YOU FROM EATING OF ALL THE TREES OF THE GARDEN?
 WHAT IS THE DYNAMIC HERE? WHY DID SATAN ASK THIS QUESTION? HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW WHAT GOD  HAD SAID TO ADAM AND EVE, OR HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASK WHAT HE DID.  FURTHERMORE, HE DELIBERATELY DISTORTED WHAT GOD HAD SAID. " IS IT REALLY A FACT THAT GOD HAD PROHIBITED YOU FROM EATING OF ALL THE TREES OF THE GARDEN?" SATAN'S PLOY IS RATHER OBVIOUS HE WAS GETTING "EVE" TO TAKE HER EYES OFF ALL THE THINGS GOD HAD GIVEN HER TO ENJOY, AND TO FOCUS ON ONE THING GOD HAD FORBIDDEN. THERE WERE  PROBABLY THOUSAND PLEASURABLE THINGS "EVE" DONE IN THE GARDEN, BUT NOW ALL HER ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON ONE THING SHE COULD NOT DO. WE MIGHT CALL THIS MAXIMIZING THE RESTRICTION.
EVE WAS NOW PREPARED FOR SATAN'S NEXT STEP. EVE'S STATEMENT THAT GOD SAID EATING OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WOULD RESULT IN DEATH, SATAN BOLDLY
DECLARED: YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE.." THE RESULTS OF SUCH-AND SUCH AN ACTION WON'T REALLY BE AS BAD AS GOD HAS SAID. SATAN MINIMIZING THE
CONSEQUENCES  OF SIN IN TWO WAYS, BY TELLING EVE THAT THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD NOT BE AS BAD AS STATED TO BE., AND SECOND, BY EVENTUALLY FOCUSING HER ATTENTION SO COMPLETELY ON THE TREE, THAT SHE FORGOT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES ENTIRELY. (V.6) THE THIRD STEP SATAN TOOK MIGHT BE CALLED  "RELABELING" THE ACTION. IN VERSE 5 HE SAYS: " FOR GOD KNOWS  THAT WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPEN, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL." HERE SATAN PLANTED THE SUSPICION IN EVE'S MIND. THAT IT WAS NOT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE THAT WOULD INJURE  HER, THAT GOD HAD FORBIDDEN HER TO EAT IT, BUT BECAUSE HE DID NOT WISH HER TO BE LIKE HIMSELF. SATAN  DEFTLY TRIED TO REMOVE HIS TEMPTATION FROM THE CATEGORY OF SIN BY LABELING  IT. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, PARTAKING OF THE FRUIT WAS RELABELED AS A WAY OF EXPANDING HER CONSCIOUSNESS . SHE WOULD BECOME A MORE COMPLETE PERSON. BEFORE THIS TIME "EVE"  HAD THOUGHT OF THE FORBIDDEN ACTION AS DISOBEDIENCE: NOW SHE SEES IT AS A NECESSITY IF SHE IS TO BECOME A COMPLETE AND MATURE PERSON. SATAN THEN QUICKLY ADDED ANOTHER ASPECT WHICH MIGHT BE CALLED "MIXING GOOD AND EVIL."
VERSE 6) READS: " THE WOMEN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD." C.S. LEWIS HAS COMMENTED THAT EVIL IS OFTEN A PERVERSION OF SOMETHING GOOD THAT GOD HAS CREATED. IN THIS INSTANCE SATAN ADDED POTENCY TO HIS TEMPTATION BY MIXING GOOD WITH EVIL: "EVE" SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD.
THE FIFTH ASPECT OF EVE'S TEMPTATION FOUND IN THE MIDDLE PART OF VERSE 6:) 'SHE SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS... PLEASING TO THE EYES." THIS MIGHT BE CALLED MIXING SIN WITH BEAUTY.  TEMPTATION OFTEN COMES WRAPPED IN THE FORM OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, SOMETHING THAT APPEALS TO OUR SENSES AND DESIRES. IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO THINK TWICE BEFORE WE RECOGNIZE THAT A BEAUTIFUL OBJECT OR GOAL IS REALLY SIN IN DISGUISE. IN THIS INCIDENT "EVE" FAILED TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE AND THE SINFUL CONTENTS THAT THE PACKAGE CONTAINED.
 FINALLY "EVE" TOOK A SIXTH STEP: THE NARRATIVE  TELLS US THAT "SHE SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS... DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM."  IN ESSENCE SHE SWALLOWED THE DEVIL'S LIE. THIS STEP MIGHT BE CALLED MISUNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS. ALTHOUGH THIS MAY SEEM A LESS SIGNIFICANT POINT IN THE TEMPTATION PROCESS, IT IS PERHAPS THE MOST CRUCIAL. IN EFFECT, BY ACCEPTING SATAN'S STATEMENT, "EVE" WAS CALLING GOD A LIAR; EVEN THOUGH SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE RECOGNIZED THOSE IMPLICATIONS OF HER ACTION. SHE ACCEPTED SATAN'S ANALYSIS AS  THE TRUTH TELLER OF THE SITUATION INSTEAD OF  GOD'S, TEMPT  MANY OF THE SAME DYNAMICS OF EVE'S TEMPTATION ARE OFTEN PRESENT IN SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS OF BELIEVER'S TODAY.
 WITH ONLY BRIEF INTROSPECTION HIS TACTICS OF MAXIMIZING THE RESTRICTION, MINIMIZING THE CONSEQUENCES, RELABELING  THE ACTION, MIXING GOOD AND EVIL, MIXING SIN WITH BEAUTY CAN FREQUENTLY BE FOUND OPERATING IN OUR OWN LIVES.  THIS IS CALLED PRINCIPLIZING WHICH FOCUSES ON THOSE PRINCIPLES  IMPLICIT IN A STORY THAT ARE APPLICABLE ACROSS TIMES AND CULTURES. THE DETAILS MAY CHANGE, BUT THE PRINCIPALS ARE  THE SAME: SATAN e.g., SATAN MAY CONTINUE TO TEMPT US BY MAXIMIZING  A RESTRICTION, BUT IS NOT LIKELY TO DO SO BY USING A FRUIT TREE. FROM A THEOLOGICAL STANDPOINT, THE MEANING AND PRINCIPAL'S  DERIVED FROM A STORY MUST BE  CONSISTENT WITH ALL OTHER TEACHINGS OF SCRIPTURE A DEDUCTIVE PRINCIPAL DRAWN FROM A NARRATIVE WHICH CONTRADICTS THE TEACHING OF SOME OTHER SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE. TO WHAT ARE THOSE INTERPRETERS WHO BELIEVE THAT OFTEN SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPAL'S AND THEIR BEHAVIORAL COMMANDS ALWAYS SHOULD BE APPLIED
LITERALLY WITHIN THE CHURCH TODAY.  THE MAJORITY OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES HAVE IMPLICITLY  AGREED THAT SOME BIBLICAL COMMANDS ARE NOT TO BE ADOPTED WHOLESALE INTO OUR TIME AND CULTURE. FOR EXAMPLE THE COMMAND TO GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH THE HOLY KISS IS MADE FIVE TIMES IN THE "NEW TESTAMENT" YET VERY FEW CHURCHES OBSERVE  THIS COMMAND TODAY.. LIKEWISE, FEW PROTESTANT CHURCHES OBSERVE WOMEN TO WEAR VEILS WHEN PRAYING (1 COR. 11:5) FEW CHURCHES CONTINUE THE PRACTICE FOOT WASHING, SPOKEN OF IN JOHN (13:14), BECAUSE THE CHANGING CULTURES AND TIMES HAVE LESSENED THE NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRACTICE. MANY EVANGELICALS, MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE, ARE WONDERING WHETHER THE TRADITIONAL ROLES, WHERE WOMEN PREACH, ALTHOUGH PAUL STATED IN (1 TIMOTHY 2:12), THAT HE PERMITTED NO WOMEN TO TEACH OR HAVE AUTHORITY OVER MEN. MANY EVANGELICALS, MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE, ARE WONDERING WHETHER THE HUSBAND -WIFE ROLES DELINEATED IN (EPHESIANS 5) AND OTHER PASSAGES ARE TO BE CONTINUED IN OUR CULTURE AND TIME?  WHEN GOD ASKED ADAM, "WHERE ARE YOU?" ADAM ANSWERED, " I WAS HIDING' (GENESIS 3:9-10) HE CONFESSED HIS TRUE CONDITION. THIS CONFESSION OPENED HIM TO GOD. WHEN WE PRAY WE COME OUT OF OUR SHELTERS AND NOT ONLY SEE OUR NAKEDNESS BUT ALSO SEE THAT THERE IS NO ENEMY WHO HAUNTS US,  ONLY A FRIEND WHO WOULD LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO CLOTH US WITH A NEW COAT. HOWEVER, PRAYER DOES NOT LEAD US TO SHAME, BUT RATHER TO THE JOYFUL DISCOVERY THAT WE ARE ONLY HUMAN, THAT GOD IS TRULY GOD. IF WE CLING TIGHTLY TO OUR OWN WEAKNESS, OUR FAULTS, SHORT COMINGS, AND OUR TWISTED PAST; TO ALL THE EVENTS, FACTS AND SITUATIONS WHICH WE WOULD PREFER TO CUT OUT OF OUR OWN HISTORY. WE ARE ONLY HIDING BEHIND A HEDGE THROUGH WHICH EVERYONE CAN SEE.  BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TO NARROW OUR WORLD TO A SMALL HIDING PLACE, WHERE WE TRY TO CONCEAL OURSELVES, SUSPECTING RATHER PITIFULLY HAS SEEN US ALL ALONG. ( HENRI NOUWEN.) "WITH OPEN HANDS".

CHRISTIAN PRAYER [PRIVILEGE]. THE LORD'S PRAYER.

 CHRISTIANS MAY SPEAK WITH THE CREATOR AND PRESERVER OF THIS IMMENSE UNIVERSE AND ADDRESS HIM AS "FATHER,"  (MATTHEW 6:9. ON OCCASION, JESUS PRAYED, "ABBA FATHER," (MARK 14:36). IN ANCIENT ISRAEL, A SMALL CHILD USED THE TERM "ABBA" WHEN ADDRESSING HIS FATHER. THE ON.LY ENGLISH WORD WHICH CONVEYS ITS TRUE MEANING IS ".DADDY." PAUL TWICE SAYS THAT CHRISTIANS CAN PRAY TO THE FATHER AS JESUS DID, ROMANS 8:15; GALATIANS 4:6. WE PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE TO A GOD MOST CONCERNED ABOUT OUR WELL- BEING.
THOUGH WE HUMANS ARE SO SMALL AND SINFUL, WE MAY APPROACH GOD IN PRAYER WITH BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE, HEBREWS [4:16]. JESUS GIVES US TO HIS PRESENCE (ROMANS 5:2;) EPHESIANS 2:18; 3:12), AND PRAYS FOR US, (ROMANS 8:34); (HEBREWS 9:24); 10:22. JESUS FATHER IS NOW OUR FATHER, JOHN (20:17.)
THOUGH GOD IS INVISIBLE, HE IS NOT DISTANT FROM US. IN PRAYER, WE SPEAK WITH A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO IS CLOSE TO US. (PSALM 139:1-18). HE HAS FORGIVEN OUR SIN, AND DECLARED US HOLY IN "CHRIST." ( 1 CORINTHIANS 1:2).
HE EARNESTLY  DESIRES FELLOWSHIP WITH US. GOD DOES NOT NEED OUR PRAYERS.
 HE CAN SURVIVE VERY WELL WITHOUT THEM. HE "COMMANDS" US TO PRAY "FOR OUR SAKE, FOR HE KNOWS WE NEED HIM. HIS CONCERN IS NOT HIS EGO, BUT OUR WELFARE. PRAYER IS TALKING WITH GOD NOT MERELY TO HIM. THE DIFFERENCE IS IMPORTANT. (PSALM 27:11). IF PRAYER WERE MERELY TALKING "TO GOD," IT MIGHT BE THOUGHT OF MERELY AS A MEANS OF INSTRUCTING GOD ABOUT OUR SITUATION TO ENSURE HIS AID. GOD DESIRES TO SPEAK WITH US THROUGH PRAYER, TO OPEN HIS HEART TO US, TO REVEAL HIS TRUTH TO US, AND TO TEACH US TO WALK THROUGH LIFE HIS WAY, (JAMES 1: 2-5; (PHILIPPIANS 4: 4-7.)  HE SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS WORD. THE PERSON WHO HAS LISTENED TO GOD IN PRAYER WILL UNDERSTAND MUCH BETTER WHAT HE SHOULD SPEAK TO GOD ABOUT, (COLOSSIANS 3:17). THE NEW TESTAMENT MAKES NO MENTION OF JESUS ASKING HIS FATHER TO GIVE HIM ANY OBJECT, ANY MATERIAL THING. HE THANKS HIS FATHER FOR WHATEVER HE GIVES, AND PRAYS FOR POWER TO DO HIS WILL., (MARK 14: 32-42). THE LORD'S PRAYER, READ (MATTHEW 26, 51,52.) WHY DID JESUS DISCIPLE DRAW HIS SWORD? WHY DID JESUS COMMAND HIM TO REFRAIN FROM USING IT?
MARTIN LUTHER ONCE SAID THAT IF YOU SEE AN ARMY MARCHING INTO BATTLE, AND CARRYING THE CROSS OF CHRIST AT THE HEAD OF THE COLUMN , YOU SHOULD FLEE FROM THAT ARMY AS FROM THE DEVIL HIMSELF. WHY DID HE INSIST ON THAT COURSE OF ACTION?  (EPHESIANS 6:10-18). WHAT WEAPONS DO WE USE?
 WHAT EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE GIVING OF THE LORD'S PRAYER IN-(MATTHEW 6:1-9?
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AS HE WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE, WHEN HE CEASED, ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY, AS JOHN ALSO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHEN YE PRAY, SAY; OUR FATHER  WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE, AS IN HEAVEN, SO IN EARTH. GIVE US DAY BY DAY OUR DAILY BREAD (FOOD). AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS; FOR WE ALSO FORGIVE EVERY ONE INDEBTED TO US. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION; BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL; FOR  THOU ARE THE POWER AND  GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER. (MATT 6:1-9.)
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF "OUR?" WHO ART IN "HEAVEN?"
THERE IS GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE WORDS, "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN" QUALIFY THE FIRST THREE PETITIONS, WHICH ARE THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS:
"HALLOWED BE THY NAME ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN ?"
"THY KINGDOM COME ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."
" THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN." WHAT IS THE POINT OF ON EARTH  IT IS IN HEAVEN?
WHAT IS MEANT BY GOD'S "NAME," AND HOW DO WE HALLOW IT?
 WHAT IS GOD'S "KINGDOM" AND HOW DOES IT COME?
WHAT IS GOD'S "WILL", AND WHO IS TO DO IT?
HAVE YOU ASKED GOD FOR DAILY BREAD AND OTHER NEEDS EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE?
IF YOU WERE NEVER AGAIN TO ASK HIM FOR THESE THINGS, WOULD HE SUPPLY THEM?  WHY, THEN, BOTHER TO PRAY?, " GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD? WHY PRAY "US" AND "OUR" IN THIS PETITION ("AND FORGIVE... ETC) WE ASK THAT WE BE IMITATORS OF GOD IN OUR DEALINGS WITH OTHERS.
WHAT DOES THIS IMPLY?
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO DO SO (MATTHEW 18: 23-35)?
 THE FINAL PETITION MIGHT WELL BE TRANSLATED, " BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE (SATAN)." IF THE PETITION IS UNDERSTOOD THIS WAY-  WHAT IS THE OVERARCHING CONCERN OF THE TWO CLOSING PETITIONS?
AND WHAT " FRONT LINE, IN THE TRENCHES MENTALITY ARE WE TO ADOPT AT ALL TIMES.



 

JOHN THE BAPTIZER'S DOUBT.

QUESTION : OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER, JESUS SAID: " HE WAS THE LAMP, SET AFLAME AND BURNING BRIGHT ( JOHN 5:35). YET JOHN SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO ASK JESUS: " ARE YOU' HE WHO IS TO COME' OR DO WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER.?"  (MATTHEW 11:11)
 ANSWER: THAT THE PRECURSOR COULD HAVE DOUBTS SHOULD NOT DISTURB US AT ALL. IN FACT THE LESSON GIVEN HERE IS A VERY PRECIOUS ONE.
IT TEACHES FIRST OF ALL THAT NO ONE IS SAFE FROM INVOLUNTARY WEAKNESS, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM DIRECT OR IN DIRECT REJECTION OF GOD'S DIVINE AND FREE GIFT OF FAITH. JOHN CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN PROCLAIMED AFTER CHRIST'S BAPTISM. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS THE "SON OF GOD." BUT HE ALSO REALIZED THAT THIS DIVINE FAVOR RESTING ON JESUS AND THE "SPIRIT OF GOD." DESCENDING ON THIS "CHOSEN ONE"  DID NOT COINCIDE WITH THE HYMN OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT (ISAIAH CHAPTER 42). THE POEMS OF THE SERVANT IN THE PROPHETIC BOOK FORM A  COMPLETE WHOLE, AND THE LAST AND MOST POIGNANT (ISAIAH 53:7) IN PARTICULAR) FURNISH THE BEST EXPLANATION FOR THE MYSTERIOUS TITLE "LAMB OF GOD" WHICH THE PRECURSOR GIVES TO CHRIST. (JN 1:29; 36). SO JOHN'S WAS TRULY AN ENLIGHTENED FAITH. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE KINGDOM OF JESUS WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD, AND THAT "THE LAMB" WOULD BE SLAIN. BUT THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER.; AND THAT IS THE SECOND PART OF THE MESSAGE.
JOHN'S VOCATION WAS NOT ONLY TO PREPARE WITHIN HIMSELF AND AMONG OTHERS THE WAY OF THE LORD. HE WAS ALSO CALLED TO SHARE THE NIGHT OF GETHSEMANI AND CHRIST'S ABANDONMENT ON THE CROSS. IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION  CONCERNING THE COMING OF ELIJAH, WHO ACCORDING TO LATER TRADITION OF JUDAISM WAS TO PRECEDE THE MESSIAH'S COMING, JESUS SAID:
 " I ASSURE YOU, THOUGH, THAT ELIJAH HAS ALREADY COME, BUT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM AND THEY DID AS THEY PLEASED WITH HIM. THE SON OF MAN WILL SUFFER AT THEIR HANDS IN THE SAME WAY.  THEN, MATTHEW ADDS, THE DISCIPLES REALIZED THAT HE HAD BEEN SPEAKING TO THEM ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIZER"  (MATTHEW 17;12-13; ALSO "MARK 9:12-13). WITH THESE WORDS CHRIST EXPLICITLY SITUATED HIS PRECURSOR'S TRAGIC DEATH IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS OWN SACRIFICE. AND SO NOTHING MAY BE LACKING TO JOHN'S SACRIFICE, IT SEEMS THAT JOHN EXPERIENCED  SOME OF THE SENSE OF DERELICTION THAT HIS MASTER WAS TO ENDURE LATER. THIS WOULD BE THE MEANING OF THE BAPTIZERS  RATHER SURPRISING QUESTION, ADDRESSED FROM HIS PRISON TO CHRIST THROUGH "HIS " OWN DISCIPLES. JOHNS VERY FAITH WAS BEING PUT TO THE TEST. CERTAINLY WHAT HE HAD SEEN AND CONFESSED THROUGH HIS PROPHETIC INSPIRATION,  WHAT HE HAD SEEN AND HEARD WHEN HIS HAND TOUCHED THE HEAD OF THE DIVINE BAPTIZED ONE, MUST HAVE REMAINED IN HIS MEMORY, BUT IT HAD PROBABLY LOST THE POWER OF CONVICTION OF FIRST HAND EVIDENCE. ON THE EVE OF HIS EXECUTION, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE NOT FOR BEARING WITNESS TO CHRIST BUT FOR HAVING REMINDED HEROD OF A PRINCIPLE OF NATURAL LAW, IS IT NOT PROBABLE THAT THE PRECURSOR SPENT A NIGHT OF THE SPIRIT SOMEWHAT COMPARABLE TO CHRIST'S AGONY IN THE GARDEN? IT IS NOT THE LEAST OF PARADOXES OF THIS STRANGE LIFE THAT SUCH AN ENDING CAME AFTER SUCH A BEGINNING. WHAT A CONTRAST BETWEEN HIS DEATH IN PRACTICALLY TOTAL ABANDONMENT AND HIS MIRACULOUS  BIRTH!  WHEN HE CAME INTO THE WORLD, WE SEE A THRONG PRAYING AND REJOICING , THE APPARITION OF AN ANGEL, A TWOFOLD MIRACLE, AND ALMOST CONSTANT DIVINE INTERVENTION. AT HIS DEATH, WE FIND A DRUNKEN AND LEWD GATHERING, A LAX AND CRUEL KING AND THE WHOLE EARTH SCENE WRAPPED IN THE SILENCE OF GOD. JOHN THE BAPTIZERS SPIRITUAL EXPLOITS WERE DESTINED TO THIS TRAGIC ENDING. AND IT IS THIS ENDING THAT GIVES THE  FULL MEASURE OF HIS GREATNESS

HERESIES ANCIENT [GNOSTICISM]

IN THE EARLY CHURCH, MANY FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE GOD'S TRUTH. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WANDERING TEACHERS WERE A DIME A DOZEN, SINCERE AND PERSUASIVE. IT WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SEPARATE THE GRAIN FROM THE CHAFF. A HERESY WHICH TROUBLED THE EARLY CHURCH FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES WAS GNOSTICISM. THE TEACHINGS OF GNOSTICISM TAUGHT THAT GOD WAS ALL SPIRIT. HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MATTER OF ANY KIND. THOUGH GOD DID NOT CREATE THE MATERIAL  WORLD, HE CREATED LESSER DIVINE BEINGS WHICH THE GNOSTICS  REFERRED TO AS "AEONS" OR "EMANATIONS;" EACH WAS LOCATED AT AN INCREASINGLY GREATER DISTANCE FROM GOD. THE MOST DISTANT ONE MADE THE WORLD AND MAN'S BODY. FRAGMENTS OF "DIVINE LIGHT" FROM GOD DEPARTED FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE TRUE GOD AND BECAME IMPRISONED IN THE BODIES OF PEOPLE ON EARTH. THEY FORGOT WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND WHERE THEY BELONGED. GNOSTICISM DENIED THE INCARNATION, WHICH STATES THAT WHEN JESUS CHRIST WAS CONCEIVED, GOD TOOK INTO HIMSELF A HUMAN NATURE. IT TAUGHT THAT THE "CHRIST" AND "JESUS"  WERE TWO SEPARATE BEINGS.  THE CHRIST ENTERED THE BODY OF MAN, JESUS  WHEN THE LATTER WAS BAPTIZED AND USED HIM AS A TEMPORARY DWELLING PLACE FROM WHICH TO OPERATE DURING HIS EARTHLY MISSION. HE DEPARTED FROM JESUS PRIOR TO THE LATTER'S CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH. THE TRUE GOD SENT THE CHRIST TO EARTH TO TEACH TRUE KNOWLEDGE TO THE LOST AND IMPRISONED FRAGMENTS OF DIVINE LIGHT: THEIR ORIGINS, THEIR PLIGHT AND THE WAY BACK TO WHERE THEY BELONGED- THE PRESENCE OF THE TRUE GOD. THE CHRIST'S MISSION INCLUDED TEACHING THEM THE NECESSARY PASSWORDS TO GET THEM PASSED THE AEONS AND EMANATIONS WHO CONTROLLED THE SPHERES. TWO VIEWS PREVAILED CONCERNING THE USE A GNOSTIC COULD MAKE OF HIS BODY. SOME TAUGHT A PERSON COULD DEVOTE THE BODY TO ANY USE. AFTER ALL, IT WAS MATERIAL, AND WOULD BE DISCARDED AT DEATH. A PERSON COULD THEREFORE LIVE MERELY TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY. ( NEW AGE) WARMED OVER GNOSTICISM. "ANTINOMIANISM."
 OTHERS TAUGHT  THAT A PERSON SHOULD BRING A PERSON'S APPETITES  UNDER CONTROL THROUGH TABOOS, SUCH AS " TOUCH NOT, TASTE NOT, HANDLE NOT." COLOSSIANS 2:20-23 "LEGALISM" GNOSTICISM DENIED THAT IN JESUS CHRIST, GOD HIMSELF ENTERED INTO FLESH. " EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSES JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS OF GOD, AND EVERY SPIRIT WHICH DOES NOT CONFESS JESUS CHRIST IS NOT OF GOD, "1 JOHN 4:2,3. ( HEREBY KNOW YE THE SPIRIT OF GOD: EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSETH  THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH IS OF GOD. AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSETH NOT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH IS NOT OF GOD.: AND THIS IS THAT SPIRIT OF THE AN-TI-CHRIST, WHEREOF YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT SHOULD COME; AND EVEN NOW ALREADY IS IT IN THE WORLD. GNOSTICISM DID NOT TREAT SIN SERIOUSLY.  ' IF WE SAY WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST. AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS," 1 JOHN 1:8,9. IT DENIED THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN THROUGH CHRIST; IT SAW NO NEED OF IT.
THIS IS HE WHO CAME BY WATER (BAPTISM) AND BLOOD, (THE CROSS), JESUS CHRIST NOT WITH WATER ONLY BUT WITH WATER AND THE BLOOD," 1 JOHN 5:6.
 NOTE JESUS CHRIST, ONE PERSON, TOOK PART IN BOTH BAPTISM AND CRUCIFIXION.
 GNOSTICISM DEVELOPED A SPIRIT OF SNOBBERY IN ITS FOLLOWERS. THEY LOOKED DOWN ON THOSE LESSER CREATURES INCAPABLE OF TAKING IN GNOSTICISM'S  "SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE." ITS ADHERENTS DID NOT DEVOTE LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS. HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER WHOM HE HAS SEEN, CANNOT LOVE GOD WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN. AND THIS COMMANDMENT WE HAVE FRON HIM, THAT HE WHO LOVES GOD SHOULD LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO 1 JOHN 4 : 2O,21.
THE APOSTLE JOHN EXHORTED HIS READERS"... TO TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD, 1 JOHN 4:1. WE TODAY NEED TO BE ABLE TO TEST THE SPIRITS. AS WE DO, WE FIND THAT MANY MODERN HERESIES ARE MERELY ANCIENT HERESIES DRESSED UP IN CONTEMPORARY TERMINOLOGY. REFERENCES TO FALSE TEACHINGS OF THE GNOSTICISM ARE FOUND IN 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS, EPHESIANS, COLOSSIANS, 1 AND 2 TIMOTHY, TITUS, 2 PETER, 1 AND 2 JOHN, THE REVELATION TO JOHN.
 THE "FALSE DOCTRINE" OUTLINED IN THE CASE HISTORY BELOW DESCRIBES AN ATTITUDE THAT CONSTITUTES A DANGEROUS THREAT TO THE EFFECTIVE  WORK AND WITNESS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHRISTIAN CHURCH. WHAT IS THIS ATTITUDE?
PASTOR SMITH WAS A VERY POPULAR DURING HIS FIRST FEW MONTHS IN THE CONGREGATION. EVERYONE COMMENTED ABOUT HIS PLEASANT NATURE, ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS EASY TO GET ALONG WITH. NO DOUBT, MANY WERE GLAD JUST TO HAVE A MINISTER AGAIN; THEY HAD BEEN WITHOUT ONE FOR TWO YEARS.
HOWEVER, AFTER PASTOR SMITH HAD BEEN IN THE CONGREGATION FOR A FEW MONTHS, SOME OF THE MEMBERS BEGAN TO GET DISTURBED. ONE NIGHT HE JUST DID NOT SHOW UP FOR A MEETING OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL. WHEN THE CHAIRMEN EVENTUALLY SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT HIS ABSENCE, HE SMILED AND SAID THAT HE JUST HAPPENED TO MEET UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND WHO HAD INVITED HIM TO ATTEND ASOCIAL EVENING WHERE SOMEONE GAVE AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE
 ABOUT HIS VACATION TRAVELS. HE ACCEPTED THE INVITATION ALSO BECAUSE HE FELT HE WAS THE ONLY ONE- AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF OTHERS WHO WOULD BE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING. SOME OF THE MEMBERS GOT A LITTLE UPSET WHEN PASTOR SMITH BEGAN TO ATTEND ONLY OCCASIONAL MEETINGS OF THE ADULT BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP. WHEN ONE OF THE REALLY ZEALOUS  SUPPORTERS OF THIS VENTURE SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT ONE OF HIS ABSENCES, HE REPLIED THAT HIS WIFE ASKED HIM TO REPAIR SOME PLUMBING IN THE KITCHEN-AND HE THOUGHT HE BETTER DO IT THEN AND KEEP HER HAPPY. ONE NIGHT HE FORGOT TO SHOW UP  FOR EVENING SERVICES. TRUE ENOUGH, A VISITING PREACHER WAS ENGAGED TO CONDUCT THE SERVICE- BUT THE MEMBERS THOUGHT THAT THEIR OWN MINISTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE ALSO. AFTER ALL EVENING SERVICES WERE POORLY ATTENDED AS IT WAS.. HOWEVER PASTOR SMITH SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY WENT FOR A DRIVE THAT AFTERNOON AND HE WAS RATHER TIRED WHEN THEY GOT BACK. HE JUST DID NOT FEEL LIKE GOING TO THE SERVICE THAT EVENING. THINGS REALLY CAME TO A HEAD WHEN HE BEGAN ARRIVING LATE FOR THE REGULAR MORNING SERVICES. HE WOULD ARRIVE ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATE, AND THEN WALK AROUND TO BEGIN THE SERVICE AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. WHEN THE ELDERS SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT HIS LACK OF PUNCTUALITY, HE REPLIED THAT HE GOT INTO THE HABIT OF GETTING UP LATE, AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE  ABLE TO DO MUCH ABOUT IT. THERE CAME A DAY WHEN
HE DID NOT COME TO THE SERVICE AT ALL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN LATE FALL, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY WANTED TO MAKE USE OF THIS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE FALL COLORS. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD NOT BE MISSED BECAUSE HE SAW SO MANY MEMBERS OUT DRIVING ANYHOW.
THE CONGREGATION CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING, AND PASSED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
 " BE IT RESOLVED THAT PASTOR SMITH BE RELIEVED OF HIS  PASTORAL DUTIES IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT HE CANNOT BE THE MINISTER OF THIS PARISH IF HE INSISTS ON ACTING JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE MEMBERS."























     

" ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."

IN THE LORD'S SUPPER WE CELEBRATE THAT IN CHRIST WE ARE ALREADY PART OF THE HEAVENLY HOST. WE ASK  GOD TO MOVE US TO PRACTICE FERVENT LOVE AND SERVICE OF ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO GIVE THE MATTER SERIOUS THOUGHT, LEST WE REDUCE WORSHIP FORMS TO RITUALS DONE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE. IN 1 CORINTHIANS [13:1-3].  IS BASED ON THE FIRST VERSE OF THIS CHAPTER.  ( 1 COR. 13-4-7, PAUL DESCRIBES THE DISPOSITION OF LOVE, AND POINTS TO ITS ETERNAL QUALITY [13;8-13]. GOD GIVES MANY SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO HIS PEOPLE- SUCH AS PROPHECY, TONGUES, KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. HE REFERS TO THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE FIRST THREE; THE LAST THREE LISTED STILL "ABIDE"- AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN. 1) FAITH MEANS BELIEVING IN THINGS WE CANNOT SEE, BELIEVING IN A GOD AND A LIFE TO COME BEYOND HUMAN SIGHT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE ENTER HEAVEN ITSELF, THERE WILL BE NO MORE NEED FOR "FAITH" IT WILL GIVE WAY TO "SIGHT." HENCE, FAITH ( IN THE SENSE IN WHICH IT IS USED IN THIS PASSAGE) WILL CEASE.
2. HOPE MEANS LOOKING FORWARD WITH JOY TO THINGS YET TO COME, IN PARTICULAR TO THE ETERNAL LIFE WE POSSESS ONLY IN FAITH. WHEN WE ENTER HEAVEN, "HOPE" WILL GIVE WAY TO "EXPERIENCE." HOPE WILL CEASE.
LOVE WILL NOT CEASE. IN THE LIFE TO COME WE SHALL USE LIFE TO SERVE GOD AND ONE ANOTHER. HENCE, "LOVE" IS THE GREATEST GIFT BECAUSE IT IS ETERNAL; GOD'S PEOPLE PRACTICE IT NOW AND FOREVER.
 THE DESIRED OUTCOME OF PARTICIPATION IN THE LORD'S SUPPER IS NOW CLEAR. IN THE CLOSING PRAYER OF THE COMMUNION LITURGY, WE ASK GOD TO HELP US DO NOW WHAT WE SHALL DO THEN, TO DEMONSTRATE HEAVENLY BEHAVIOR  DURING OUR EARTHLY LIFE.



 

PURPOSE OF PARABLES.

 OUR WORD "PARABLE" IS RELATED TO THE  GREEK WORD PARABALLO which means " TO THROW OR PLACE ALONGSIDE."  THUS A PARABLE IS SOMETHING PLACED ALONGSIDE SOMETHING ELSE FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPARISON. THE TYPICAL PARABLE USES A COMMON EVENT OF NATURAL LIFE EMPHASIZE OR CLARIFY AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL TRUTH. JESUS THE MASTER TEACHER, USED PARABLES REGULARLY AS HE TAUGHT. THE GREEK WORD FOR PARABLE OCCURS FIFTY TIMES IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS MINISTRY, SUGGESTING THAT PARABLES WERE ONE OF IS TEACHING DEVICES. SCRIPTURE REVEALS TWO BASIC PURPOSES OF PARABLES. THE FIRST OF THESE IS TO REVEAL TRUTH TO BELIEVERS (MATT. 13: 10-12); MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN ORDINARY  DISCOURSE. FOR EXAMPLE, CHRIST COULD HAVE SAID, " YOU SHOULD BE MORE PERSISTENT IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE."  A STATEMENT HIS HEARERS WOULD PROBABLY HAVE  SHRUGGED OFF AND PROBABLY QUICKLY FORGOTTEN. INSTEAD HE TOLD THEM OF A "WIDOW" WHO KEPT BEGGING AN UNJUST JUDGE TO HELP HER, UNTIL THE JUDGE FINALLY DECIDED TO ANSWER HER PETITIONS TO STOP HER COMPLAINING. CHRIST THEN TAUGHT  THE LESSON OF THE PARABLE: IF AN UNJUST JUDGE WHO CARES NOTHING ABOUT A WIDOW CAN BE SWAYED BY PERSISTENT BEGGING, HOW MUCH MORE A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER ANSWER THOSE WHO CONSISTENTLY PRAY TO HIM.. SIMILARLY,  CHRIST COULD HAVE SAID, " YOU SHOULD BE HUMBLE,"  WHEN YOU PRAY." INSTEAD HE TOLD HIS AUDIENCE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR WHO WENT UP TO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY (LUKE 18: 19-14). THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEES PRIDE AND AUTHENTICITY OF THE TAX COLLECTORS HUMILITY TEACH CHRIST'S LESSON IN A SIMPLE BUT UNFORGETTABLE WAY. IN REVEALING TRUTH PARABLES ARE ALSO USED EFFECTIVELY IN SCRIPTURE TO CONFRONT BELIEVERS WITH WRONGDOING IN THEIR LIVES.  IF A BELIEVER POSSESSES  BASICALLY SOUND MORAL STANDARDS COGNITIVELY AND YET FAILS TO LIVE UP TO THOSE STANDARDS IN SOME AREA OF HIS LIFE, A PARABLE CAN BE AN EFFECTUAL MEANS OF POINTING OUT HIS DISCREPANCY. CONSIDER THE CASE OF DAVID AND NATHAN AS TOLD IN (2 SAMUEL 12 ;1-7). THE CONTEXT OF THIS INCIDENT IS THAT DAVID HAD JUST HAD URIAH KILLED IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT MARRY URIAH'S WIFE. THE TEXT READS: THE LORD SENT NATHAN TO DAVID. WHEN HE CAME TO HIM, HE SAID, " THERE WERE TWO MEN IN A CERTAIN TOWN, ONE RICH, THE OTHER POOR. THE RICH MAN HAD A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF SHEEP AND CATTLE, BUT THE POOR MAN HAD NOTHING EXCEPT ONE LITTLE EWE LAMB HE HAD BOUGHT. HE RAISED IT, AND IT GREW UP WITH HIM AND HIS CHILDREN. IT SHARED HIS FOOD, DRANK FROM HIS CUP AND EVEN SLEPT IN HIS ARMS. IT WAS LIKE A DAUGHTER TO HIM. NOW A TRAVELER CAME TO A RICH MAN, BUT THE RICH MAN REFRAINED FROM TAKING ONE OF HIS OWN SHEEP OR CATTLE TO PREPARE A MEAL FOR THE TRAVELER WHO HAD COME TO HIM. INSTEAD, HE TOOK THE EWE LAMB THAT BELONGED TO THE POOR MAN AND PREPARED IT FOR THE ONE WHO HAD COME TO HIM. DAVID BURNED WITH ANGER AGAINST THIS MAN AND SAID TO NATHAN, AS SURELY AS THE LORD LIVES, THE MAN WHO DID THIS DESERVES TO DIE!  HE MUST PAY FOR THAT LAMB FOUR TIMES OVER, BECAUSE HE DID SUCH A THING AND HAD NOT PITY." THEN NATHAN SAID TO DAVID, " YOU ARE THE MAN!" DAVID A MAN OF MORAL PRINCIPAL, IDENTIFIED WITH THE GREAT WRONG THAT HAD BEEN DONE TO THE POOR MAN IN THE STORY.  A PARABLE HIDES TRUTH FROM THOSE WHO HARDENED THEIR HEARTS  AGAINST IT. (MATT. 13: 10-15; MARK 4:11-12; LUKE 8:9-10). IT MAY SEEM DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE THIS PURPOSE WITH OUR CONCEPTION OF GOD AS A LOVING  BEING WHO ANNOUNCES TRUTH RATHER THAN HIDES IT. IT MAY BE THAT MAN RESISTS TRUTH AND YIELDS TO SIN, HE BECOMES LESS AND LESS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL TRUTH. THUS THE SAME PARABLES THAT BROUGHT INSIGHT TO FAITHFUL BELIEVERS WERE WITHOUT MEANING TO THOSE THAT HARDENEDING THEIR HEARTS AGAINST THE TRUTH, WHICH REMOVES FROM GOD ANY RESPONSIBILITIES  FOR THE PHARISEES SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.  [I'm back!].

REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.

 THE INEVITABLE CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY  AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS LONG POSTPONED THROUGH IMPERIAL POLICY OF RELIGIOUS TOLERATION AND THE POLITICAL QUIETISM OF THE CHRISTIANS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PAUL. PERSECUTION CONFINED TO SUCH INDIVIDUALS  SUCH AS PAUL AND PETER., NOW OVERTOOK ALL CHRISTIANS WHO WERE UNWILLING TO PURCHASE SAFETY CONFORMING TO THE ROMAN RELIGION. IN THIS DARK HOUR OF SUPPRESSION AND THREATEN EXTINCTION, THE BOOK OF REVELATION WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN, A PROPHET OF EPHESUS, IN CIRCUMSTANCES SIMILAR TO THOSE IN WHICH THE BOOK OF DANIEL HAD BEEN COMPOSED TWO CENTURIES EARLIER. STEEPED IN THE APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE EZEKIEL, ZECHARIAH, AND DANIEL, THE AUTHOR CONSTRUCTED A PICTURE OF THE APPROACHING OVERTHROW OF ROME AS THE VERITABLE KINGDOM OF ANTICHRIST FORETOLD BY THE PROPHETS. THOUGH THE INFLUENCE IS EVIDENT IN THE PROLOGUE, THE SPIRIT OF THE WORK IS ESSENTIALLY HEBRAIC RATHER THAN CHRISTIAN.
JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES WHICH ARE IN ASIA: GRACE BE UNTO YOU, AND PEACE, FROM HIM WHICH IS, AND WHICH WAS, AND WHICH IS TO COME AND FROM THE SEVEN SPIRITS WHICH ARE BEFORE HIS THRONE.; AND FROM JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, AND THE FIRST BEGOTTEN, AND THE PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. UNTO HIM THAT LOVED US, AND WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD, AND HATH MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO GOD AND HIS FATHER, TO HIM BE GLORY AND DOMINION FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.
BEHOLD HE COMETH IN THE CLOUDS; EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: AND ALL KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM. EVEN SO:amen. "I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING,"
SAITH THE LORD, WHICH IS, AND WHICH WAS, AND WHICH IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.
I  JOHN, WHO ALSO AM YOUR BROTHER, AND COMPANION IN TRIBULATION, AND IN THE KINGDOM AND PATIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR:  BECAUSE FEAR HAS TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE. WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. IF A MAN SAY, " I LOVE GOD AND HATES HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR; FOR HE WHO LOVES NOT HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAS SEEN? HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN.AND THIS COMMANDMENT HAVE WE FROM HIM, THAT HE WHO LOVES GOD, MUST LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO. DOMINATED BY CONCEPTIONS OF WAR AND REVENGE, THE WORK IS ETHICALLY ON A LOWER PLANE THAN THE REST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT FROM THE STRICTLY LITERARY POINT OF VIEW.
IT IS THE MOST MAGNIFICENT OF THE LATER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. IT IS FITTING THAT THE BIBLE SHOULD CLOSE WITH THIS CULMINATING EXAMPLE OF THE APOCALYPTIC FORM, SO DEEPLY INFUSED WITH THE PROPHETIC SPIRIT, A KIND OF RESURRECTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN CHRISTIAN GUISE.