Ostis Wilson Question & Answer
During his life time, Brother Wilson authored a "Questions and Answers" feature in the magazine. This was a very effective method that allowed interested parties to find answers to Bible questions that are not otherwise available to them. The depth and thoroughness of Brother Wilson's answers demonstrated the humble and effective dedication to his call from God to serve His Church. They are spiritual and literary classics deserving to be preserved and made available for present and future generations.
A file of these questions, and the answers provided by Brother Wilson, from February 1977 through ? 1993 was available on computer generated diskettes. By use of computer search capabilities, it was possible to locate items of special interest. However, since the question and answer segments were randomly located in the file without particular points of reference, printed copies of the whole was impractical.
This present document consists of a compilation of the computerized data into groups, by subject matter. A Table of Contents provides the page location of each these groups.
The entire file is presented as it was recorded on the diskettes without a conscientious editing effort. However, where obvious typographical or other inadvertent errors were casually detected in the process of compilation, they were changed. Care was taken to insure that the purpose and intent of Brother Wilson's comments were not compromised.
May the Lord add His special blessing to the continuing influence and work of Brother Wilson.
Jack Hope
Joshua Tree, California
December 4, 1999
A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD
QUESTION: Please, will you discuss and explain the following scriptures: Hebrews 4:4-5, Exodus 20:8 and 31:12-17?
ANSWER: All of these scriptures are related and combine together in the same topic; namely, the rest of the people of God. So we will unite them together in the discussion. Hebrews 4:4-5 says, "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest."
These verses fall in the middle of a passage which continues from the first verse through the eleventh verse. The first verse says, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." Verses 9-11 conclude the passage and they say, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." All of this passage refers to the rest of the people of God, but the fourth verse injects the idea that the seventh day and the Old Testament seventh day Sabbath had some connection with it, so we will go back now and pick up a few references pertaining to it and see if we can confirm this relationship in the Scriptures.
In Exodus 16:23 we find mention of "the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord." This is the first reference in the Scriptures to the Sabbath and it was made 1400 years after God had completed the work of creation. So it would seem evident that no one before Moses, including Enoch who walked with God and had the testimony that he pleased God, or Noah who found favor with God through which he and his house were saved from the destruction of the flood, or Abraham who believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness and through his faith became the father of all those who believe, nor any of the patriarchs knew anything of, nor observed any Sabbath. It was reserved for a special people, the chosen people of God (Israel), and was given them at Sinai when the law was given for a special, specific purpose. Note: This text refers to the "rest of the holy sabbath" and indicates that the holiness of the day consisted in total rest from physical labor on that day. This thought is prominent in every reference to the Sabbath, or nearly so, throughout the Old Testament scriptures. This is important to the discussion and the meaning of the Sabbath.
In Exodus 20:8-11 we have this: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shall not do any work,... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Again the idea of ceasing from all physical labor on that day is related to the holiness of the day. They were commanded to keep the day holy and in the very next verse they were forbidden to do any work on that day, and the next verse just emphasizes and confirms that command.
Exodus 31:12-17 is one of the passages included in the question and it comes right in line here with the overall discussion. Verse 14 says, "Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people." We see here again that doing any work on the Sabbath constituted a defiling of the day and the penalty was death. We have a specific case recorded in Number 15:32-36 where a man was found picking up sticks on the Sabbath day. They brought him to Moses and Aaron and they put him in ward until they could inquire of the Lord concerning him. The Lord said the man should surely die, so the congregation stoned him and he died there. This may sound very severe to us, but God had said in Exodus 35:3, "Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day." He required strict obedience to this command.
In the face of all this background of scriptures regarding the Old Testament and with knowledge that it has a direct connection with the passage in the fourth chapter of Hebrews, (Hebrews 4:1-11) (verses 4-5), let us see how these two sets of scriptures dovetail. In Colossians 2:16-17 we read, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." We see here that the Old Testament Sabbath with all of its provisions was a shadow or type of the New Testament Christians' rest to the soul through faith in Christ. The holiness of that Old Testament Sabbath, consisting in refraining from all physical labor on that day, was a type of the child of God abandoning and forsaking all of his own works, and casting himself wholly and without reservation on the Lord for Him to work His works in him.
Hebrews 4:10 says, "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." I consider this text to refer to all of our own works, righteous or wicked, and just allowing God to work His works in us according to His own pleasure. In Romans 10:3, Paul spoke of a class of people who were going about to establish their own righteousness but had not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. All such works and efforts of our own to establish our own righteousness must be laid aside and our trust must be fully in Christ and the atonement He made for our righteousness if we are to find this rest in Him. According to Exodus 31:14, any work done on the Sabbath constituted a defiling of the day. Just so, any works we do outside of Christ working is us constitutes a defiling of our Sabbath, which is Christ. Paul said in Romans 15:18, "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me,..." In I Corinthians 15:10 Paul referred to his abundant labors but hastened on to add, "...Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Just as any work constituted a defiling of the Sabbath and the penalty was death, so any of our works and efforts in the kingdom of God which do not fall in the category of being anointed, inspired, and energized by the Spirit of God, will constitute a defiling of our Sabbath (Christ), and if persisted in will produce spiritual death to our souls.
A SIN WHICH IS NOT UNTO DEATH
QUESTION: Will you please explain and discuss I John 5:16-17?
ANSWER: I John 5:16-17 reads, "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."
First let us notice the phrase in verse 17 which says "All unrighteousness is sin." Since God's Word says this, we must accept it as so and conclude that every unrighteous act is sin from God's viewpoint. God's Word also says, "...The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4.) But it also says in verse 17, "...There is a sin not unto death." There surely must be some harmonizing grounds for these apparently contradictory scriptures.
In James 4:17 we read, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." The key words in this text for this discussion are "knoweth" and "to him." We conclude on this basis that if the individual had no knowledge of God's will in the matter, it would not be sin to him and would not be charged against the individual as sin by God. Therefore he would not be cut off from God (spiritual death) on account of it even though it is sin in God's sight according to the definition of sin given in I John 5:17. Romans 4:15 says, "...For where no law is, there is no transgression." It must also be true that where there is no knowledge of the law on any given point, no transgression would be charged against an individual who violated the law on that point. Paul confirms this also in Romans 7:9 where he says, "For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." But what does this mean? It seems to me to mean that even though Paul was doing things that violated the law, he was free from the condemnation of it until he came to knowledge of the law on the points he was violating. But when the knowledge of the commandment came to him, he fell under condemnation and sin revived and he died.
Therefore, I conclude that light and knowledge enter into the consideration to determine whether a certain thing would be classified as a "sin unto death" or a sin "not unto death." If we see a brother doing something that we know to be contrary to God's will, though he does not know it and therefore is not being charged with it, and his connection with God is not being severed on account of it (death); yet God cannot bless him with it in his life like He could bless him without it, then we are instructed to pray for God to reveal the light and truth to him on that point so he can be freed from it. When God answers prayer and deals with the individual about that unrighteous thing in his life and makes him know that it is an unrighteous thing, contrary to the will of God; and he continues right on in it knowing it is a violation of God's will, then through the knowledge of the commandment, "Sin revives and he dies." (Romans 7:9.) It then becomes a sin unto death to him and I John 5:16 says we need not pray about that matter any further. The text didn't say not to pray for the individual's recovery to repentance and salvation, but just not to pray about that particular sin in his life it has already been dealt with.
Even though the text under scrutiny says "There is a sin unto death," I do not understand it to be identified with the one and only unpardonable sin the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 12:32.) I John 5:17 also says there is "a" sin not unto death. Would we suppose by this that there are only two sins in the world available unto mankind; one unto death and one not unto death? Of course not. The best understanding that I have at this time is that there is a kind or class of sin unto death and a kind or class of sin which is not unto death, and it is determined by the light and knowledge of the individual.
QUESTION: According to John 20:23, were the apostles given some special power in regard to remission of sins?
ANSWER: John 20:23 says, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
This text seems to say something that it does not teach and must be used with other scriptures in the same category to see just what it does teach. But first let us look at some texts on the other side of the ledger. John 5:22 says, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." Note, all judgment is committed unto the Son; not to any other person. Romans 8:34 says, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." It is the same Christ who died for us, rose again, ascended to the right hand of God and who makes intercession for us who will condemn or acquit us in the last day; no one else. Acts 10:42 says, "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead." Romans 14:10-13 says, "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more:..." In I Corinthians 4:3, Paul said that it was a very small thing to him to be judged of man's judgment. Verse 4 says, "...He that judgeth me is the Lord." Verse 5 says, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." Scriptures could be multiplied to show God to be the Judge of all through His Son Jesus and to show that man's judgment can be faulty because man looks on the outward appearance and does not and cannot always discern the motives, thoughts and intents of the hearts of other men.
Now to proceed with the other part of the question, there is what is called the "unanimity of faith." This means that any scripture on any given subject must be interpreted to conform and harmonize with every other scripture on that subject before we can be sure we have the correct interpretation of a scripture. So let us link John 5:23 with other scriptures pertaining to the same thing.
In Matthew 16:19 Jesus said, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." But what are the keys to the kingdom of heaven? With all certainty they would be the Word of God and the Spirit of God which unlock to us the kingdom of heaven and through which is revealed to our souls the unsearchable riches of the treasures of truth that are there. And within this framework of the WORD and SPIRIT of God, anything that is done down here by Holy Spirit filled people following closely the outline of procedure given in the Word of God will be recognized in heaven.
We would all surely recognize that Jesus would not build a Church and leave it here in the earth and make no provisions for its orderly operation. Certainly He has not done that. He has set within the Church a certain group or body of Spirit filled people with special endowments and charged them with the special responsibility of overseeing and maintaining the orderly operation of the Church locally and generally. They are called ministers or overseers in the scriptures and are endowed with certain gifts and qualifications.
We have a very clear example of this outline in Matthew 18:15-20. This is in regard to dealing with the case of an offending brother who has failed to submit himself in the preliminary steps outlined here to resolve the matter. It has run its course now and is to be taken to the Church. (Verse 17.) Then in verse 18 is given the same thing Jesus pronounced in Matthew 16:19, namely, "...Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:..." In other words, if Holy Spirit filled people who have been designated by God to attend to such matters follow closely the outline in the Word of God for dealing with such infractions and irregularities, their judgment and decision will be recognized in heaven. The crux of the whole matter is in Matthew 18:20 where Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." In other words, when Spirit filled people follow closely the step by step procedure set forth for handling a given case or controversy, Jesus is right with them supervising the whole operation so that it cannot be classed as human government or man-rule, but that is just the way Jesus has it set up to maintain the orderly operation of His Church.
Neither was this just something special for the apostles; but it is an on-going thing running down through the annals of this Christian era, even unto us in our day; and it is to operate just as long as the Church continues in the earth.
BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON
QUESTION: What is the Battle of Armageddon? What is its nature, its beginning and its ending?
ANSWER: Let us first consider the term "Armageddon" and its significance. In the dictionary Armageddon is defined as: "1. The scene of a final battle between the forces of good and evil, prophesied in the Bible to occur at the end of the world. Revelation 16:16. 2. Any decisive conflict. It is taken from the Hebrew word "har megiddon" referring to the mountain region of Megiddo, site of several great battles in the Old Testament."-- Taken from the American Heritage Dictionary
then the Zondervan Pictoral Bible Dictionary in its article on Armageddon says the Greek is "Armageddon" but the Hebrew is "Har Magedon" (Mount Megiddo), a word found only in Revelation 16:16 for the final battleground between the forces of good and evil. It says further, "The valley of Jezreel and the Plain of Esdraelon at the foot of Mount Megiddo were the scene of many decisive battles in the history of Israel." It was here that Israel completely annihilated the armies of Sisera to the last man. (Judges 4:16 and 5:19-20.) Here Gideon defeated the hosts of the Midianites. (Judges 6:33 and the entire 7th chapter of Judges.)
We will here insert the text of Revelation 16:16 which is the only place in the New Testament where the word is found. "And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." The New Testament in this place gives the Greek rendering of the word "Armageddon." The fact that it is mentioned, "Which is called in the Hebrew tongue," indicates that Jesus wished here to connect up what He is saying with the Hebrew "Har magedon" (Mount Megiddo) in the history of Israel.
Israel after the flesh (natural Israel) was a type of Israel after the spirit (spiritual Israel). In Romans 2:28-29, Paul says, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Here is the comparison of literal Israel and spiritual Israel. Therefore we conclude that "Armageddon" in the New Testament has the significance for the Church of God, the people of God in this gospel age of time, or spiritual Israel, as Mount Megiddo had for literal Israel in Old Testament times a place of very great and decisive battles.
This is described as the "Battle of that great day of God Almighty." I surely recognize that there has been a continual battle or warfare between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and error throughout this dispensation of time. This passage in Revelation 16:13-16 seems to be focusing right down on these closing days of this dispensation in which we are now living and to the final climactic battle which will terminate in "That great day of God Almighty" the judgment day Revelation 16:14.
Neither would we suppose this great battle to be confined to Mount Megiddo, or Israel, or Turkey, or Russia, or any particular geographical location because it is said in Revelation 16:14 that they went "...forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle..." Again in Revelation 20:9 it says, "...They went up on the breadth of the whole earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about,..." This features it as a general, worldwide, world-encompassing thing.
The kind of weapons and armor provided for the saints as described in Scripture and the general tenor of the Scriptures covering the whole scope of this subject precludes the idea of this being a carnal warfare or a battle fought with swords, spears, shot, shell and bombs. The very nature of the Kingdom of God as described in the Holy Scriptures throughout preclude this idea also. Let us look at it a little.
In I Timothy 1:18-19, we read, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith and a good conscience,..." Here Timothy's warfare was to be carried on by faith and a good conscience. These were his weapons of warfare. I Timothy 6:12 says, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,..." In II Timothy 4:7 Paul said concerning himself, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." We have no record that Paul ever used physical violence or carnal weapons against any person in his whole Christian life. This was not the kind of fight he fought and that is not the kind of fight Christians fight today, nor will it ever be. He spells it out specifically in Ephesians 6:12 that "...we wrestle not against flesh and blood,..." Again in II Corinthians 10:3b he spells it out, "We do not war after the flesh." There is no indication in Scripture anywhere in the New Testament that this has ever changed or ever will.
It says in II Corinthians 10:4-5, "For the weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." This text plainly states that our weapons are not carnal, and who would assume that carnal weapons could bring about what our weapons are described here as doing casting down imaginations, bringing our thoughts into captivity and controlling our minds? The weapons which accomplish this are faith, love and the power of the Holy Spirit, and this is what we fight our warfare with. Again Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The same weapons outlined above accomplish this warfare and there is no place in the New Testament Scriptures which indicates this has ever changed.
Revelation 12:11 says that the saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony. The weapons here are described as faith in the all-atoning blood of Jesus and an open confession or witness of that.
In Matthew 26:51-52 it says, "And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Peter told Jesus in John 13:37 that he would lay down his life for His sake and now he demonstrates his willingness to do that by drawing his sword and starting a fight. But Jesus quickly made it clear that was not what He wanted and rebuked Peter for using His sword and told him to put it up because those who used it would perish with it. It was perhaps in the mind of Jesus to lay the foundation for this declaration of His will for His people when He instructed His apostles in Luke 22:36 to provide themselves with swords and they told Him in verse 38 that they had two swords and He told them that was enough. He probably knew that if they had a sword handy when trouble started someone would use it and He would have an opening then to pronounce His denunciation of the use of carnal weapons by His disciples.
In John 18:36, Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." We read in Isaiah 9:5-7, "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder:... Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever...." We see here that the kingdom of God is not established and maintained on the battlefield as other kingdoms of this world are. This was to be established by the giving of a Son, Jesus Christ, who was to assume the reins of government in His kingdom and the means of its establishment were to be burning and fuel of fire.
Accordingly, we have this only begotten Son of God, Jesus, appearing on the scene to set up and establish His kingdom, and John the Baptist bore witness of Him in Matthew 3:11-12 saying, "...He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Here we have the burning and fuel of fire spoken of in Isaiah 9:5. This was the operation of the Holy Ghost, and Paul said in Romans 14:17, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." It is declared here that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink (not literal and material; not of this world as Jesus stated in John 18:36), but consists in the elements of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost came in the form of "cloven tongues like as of fire" (again we have here the burning and fuel of fire spoken of in Isaiah 9:5) on all the disciples of Christ (about 120 at that time), the kingdom of God was established and set in operation right then and has continued in operation until now, and is declared to be forever in Isaiah 9:7. Then the very spiritual nature of the kingdom of God precludes any carnal warfare to establish it or to defend and maintain it.
The armor provided for soldiers of Jesus Christ also precludes any idea of carnal warfare. There is not one piece of it that would in any way be usable in carnal warfare. Let us look at it. Ephesians 6:11 says, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." We see here that the armor which God provides for His army equips us to stand against the war with the devil, not man.
Ephesians 6:13-18 describes this armor piece by piece. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." There is not one thing mentioned here that would have any value at all in warring after the flesh, and note that the only offensive weapon supplied here is "The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
I Thessalonians 5:8 says, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." Nothing here for carnal warfare but contrariwise, "the breastplate of faith and love" would forever eliminate fighting carnally with men and seeking to destroy them. Romans 13:12 says, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Where would an armor of light have any place in a carnal warfare? But it is highly important in "wrestling against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12. In II Corinthians 6:7 Paul speaks of "...The armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."
Now these Scriptures sum up in all of its entirety the armor provided for the soldiers of Jesus Christ and it is nowhere intimated in the entire New Testament that this has ever changed or ever will. This is still the armor for saints today and will ever be.
I will now come to the point of considering the specifics of the Battle of Armageddon. All that has been said up to now has dealt with what it is not. We turn now to what it is. In Revelation 16:13-14 and 16 we read, "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Note: the principal agents in this operation are three unclean spirits which are called in verse 14, "The spirits of devils." Verse 16 says "he" gathered them together etc. "He" in this case is the devil himself marshaling his unclean forces for battle under the generalship of these three unclean spirits. This would identify this whole operation as a spiritual operation. We wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12.). In John 14:30 Jesus referred to the devil as "The prince of this world." In II Corinthians 4:4 Paul refers to him as the "God of this world." In Ephesians 2:2 Paul spoke of him as "The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." He is the one spoken of as "The ruler of the darkness of this world" in Ephesians 6:12. Also it is said in Ephesians 6:12 that we wrestle against "spiritual wickedness in high places." The marginal reading is "heavenly places." It is evident on the face of it that "spiritual wickedness" would be connected with the spiritual realm. Heavenly (high) places here refers to the ecclesiastical, spiritual, religious or church heavens. Therefore it is entirely clear that a spiritual operation and battle are under consideration here. We read in the history of carnal warfare of any number of religious wars between different nations and kingdoms of men, but we have never read of one that could be classed as a spiritual war. That is just not the way that spiritual warfare is carried on. This warfare is in the spiritual realm.
In Revelation 20:7-8 we read, "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." Note: This power was to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth. This corresponds with what was said in Revelation 16:14 of the three unclean spirits like frogs which went forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world. Yes, it is the same power in both texts marshaling its forces for the same purpose to do battle. It also names the principal agents in this operation as Gog and Magog and says their numbers are as the sand of the sea. Gog, the land of Magog, is mentioned in Ezekiel 38:2 as the enemies of ancient Israel (read the entire chapter), and in verse nine it says, "Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee." Here the enemies of Israel had "many people" with them. Their modern counterparts in Revelation 20:8 had numbers "as the sand of the sea" with them. As has already been observed, ancient, literal Israel was a type of spiritual Israel. Just as Gog and Magog were the enemies of ancient Israel; so here the same names are used to identify the entire combine of the enemies of the people of God and of His truth.
Adam Clarke in his commentary on Revelation 20:8 under Gog and Magog says, "Under these names the enemies of God's truth are generally intended." The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary says in its article of Magog, "Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:8) means all the ungodly nations of the earth who oppose the people of God." F. G. Smith in his book, The Revelation Explained, is more specific in identifying them and says, "The original signification of the terms Gog and Magog is difficult to ascertain, as all known accounts are conflicting. The terms occur in Ezekiel 38 and 39. In the Revelation, however, it is clear that these terms are applied to Romanism and Protestantism, and under the special leadership of this spirit of antichrist they are gathered together to battle against the saints of the most High."
This great combine of antichrist consists of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. According to Revelation 12:3-4 the dragon was the first formidable foe of Christianity. He was in existence when Jesus Christ appeared on the scene and viciously opposed the Christian religion throughout the morning time of the Christian era. This was Pagan Rome, heathenism, idolatrous worship which was the prevailing religion throughout the world at that time. Through the power of the Word of God and the bright shining light of the gospel, the saints of the most High were finally able to expose his deceptiveness and overcome him and cast him down and bind him. (Revelation 12:8-9 and Revelation 20:1-3.)
Then following the dragon came the beast of Revelation 13 which had the same identifying marks as the dragon before him, "seven heads and ten horns." He occupied the same territory and possessed the same power as the dragon the Roman Empire. The universal religion that followed paganism was papalism; Roman Catholicism. This was the second great opposer and persecutor of true Christianity. This was a false, apostate institution.
Then in Revelation 13:11 there is a second beast introduced and he had all of the power of the first beast before him (verse 12), and he caused his followers to make an image to the first beast (verse 14), etc. It was a universal religious system like the beast before it (Catholicism), and was a human system with human headship, human organization, etc., just like the first beast and in this was made an image to the beast. This was the third religious system which opposed the truth and the true people of God. They set up human creeds and disciplines instead of accepting the whole word of God as the true people of God do. This was Protestantism.
These three major universal systems of false religions have been on the scene, one at a time, throughout the history of the church of God in this Christian era. As we approach the time of the end and the final conflict and stage of action at the same time and forming one great combine, the number of which is as the sand of the sea, to go up on the breadth of the earth and compass the camp of the saints, and the beloved city (Revelation 20:9) "...The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,...the...church of the firstborn which are written in heaven,..." Hebrews 12:22-23.
There is a world-wide ecumenical movement gathering momentum in the world today and it is making great strides toward combining all the world's religions, including so-called Christianity with its multiplicity of churches and movements, into a general world church Gog and Magog. Much could be said on this, but space will not permit here. I will make this observation here. When the first world's Parliament of Religions met in Chicago in 1893, including all the heathen religions of the world and Catholics and Protestants in all their varied forms, creeds and denominations, the President of this Parliament said in his opening address, "For when the religious faiths of the world recognize each other as brothers, children of one Father, whom all profess to love and serve, then, and not until then, will the nations of the earth yield to the spirit of concord and learn war no more. We meet on the mountain of absolute respect for the religious conviction of each other. This day the sun of a new era of religious peace and progress arises over the world, dispelling the dark clouds of sectarian strife. It is the brotherhood of religions." The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet had met in "mutual confidence and respect, a brotherhood of religions." Other similar congresses have been held since that time, and in recent years there have been different ecumenical councils held which are all beating the march right on down the same road gathering Gog and Magog and an innumerable company with them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
While this is all going on, Christ is also marshaling His forces (army) and maneuvering them into position for this gigantic and climactic conflict which is to terminate the great day of God Almighty. We read in Revelation 19:11-16, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
The rider on this white horse could not possibly be identified as any other than the Lord Jesus Himself. No one in all Holy Writ has borne the names mentioned here but He Himself. And let us note that He had only one weapon, which was a "sharp sword," which came out of his mouth. Surely, we would all recognize that men of war (carnal) do not carry their swords in their mouths. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,..." Hebrews 4:12. It is by the Word of God and the power of the Spirit that Jesus carried on His warfare. The Word of God is called "the sword of the Spirit" in Ephesians 6:17. It is by the Word of God that sin is exposed and people are convicted of sin and through obedience to the Word they are saved; and those who fail to obey the Word are destroyed (slain). (Revelation 19:21.) This same Jesus appeared riding on a white horse in the beginning of this gospel age of time. (Revelation 6:2.) In that case He had a bow which was equivalent of the rainbow God placed in the sky to confirm His promise of mercy to humankind in Noah's time. The bow in this case is significant of God's promise of mercy and salvation to the human family in Jesus Christ. Now He appears again in the closing out of the age on the same white horse and riding at the head of a great army. This army is composed of an innumerable multitude out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. (Revelation 7:9), representing the redeemed of the gospel era. They followed Him on white horses and they were clothed in fine linen, white and clean. This fine linen is declared to be the "righteousness of saints" in Revelation 19:8. The innumerable company of Revelation 7:9 are said to be clothed in "white robes" (verse 13), and verse 14 says they had "...washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The armies that followed Him, then, are the blood washed throng who have been redeemed through faith in the all atoning blood of the Lamb.
Note in this case that instead of having a bow representing His promise of mercy, pardon, and redemption, He has a sharp sword in this instance, signifying that He is on a mission of judgment and vengeance against sinful men and false and apostate religions this time.
In Revelation 18:1-2 & 4, we read, "And after these things I saw another angel come down form heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
The angel coming down from heaven and lighting the earth with this glory seems to me to be the symbol of the "Evening Light" Ministry which restored the full light of the gospel which had not shown in its fullness since the time of the apostasy of the morning church about 270 A.D. Ministers are referred to as angels sometimes in God's Word. In the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation, we find recorded the messages of Jesus Christ to the seven churches in Asia; the minister in charge or overseer of each church is addressed as "the angel of the church which is at," etc. Here an angel represents a body of ministers rather than just an individual minister.
The fall of Babylon is mentioned in connection with the preaching of the "Evening Light" Ministry. This last particular phase of Babylon (Protestantism denominationalism) had not always been fallen. In its time it was much used of God, and God worked mightily with them producing great revivals in which multitudes of souls were saved. Now the time had come that God wanted to restore the Body of Christ as a visible, unified, operating body in the earth as it was in the morning time of this gospel era, free from human rule and government, with Christ as its Head and it being operated through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This was the message of the "Evening Light" Reformation the unity of God's people and the one true church divine. It was by rejecting this message and holding on to their human institutions and creeds that the Protestantism phase of Babylon fell and went into darkness.
Then followed the call to God's people in verse four, "...Come out of her, my people,..." and they came. In John 10:27, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice,...and they follow me." In John 10:16 He said, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." Those who were truly saved and knew God in sectism, when the "Evening Light" Message began to sound forth under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, heard the voice of the true Shepherd and recognized it and followed it, forsaking the human sects and creeds they were in and coming to the one true Body of Christ. Thus, Christ has been gathering together in one the true people of God and maneuvering them into position for the great and final conflict. The gathering began when the "Evening Light" Reformation broke in 1880 and has continued on and will continue until the final end of time. So we see that just as Gog and Magog, consisting of the dragon, the beast, and false prophet, are all being gathered together under the spirit of antichrist; so the true people of God are being called out and gathered together under the Spirit of God to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
The Battle of Armageddon is going on now and has been throughout this gospel dispensation, but more particularly in this period incorporated in the "Evening Light" Reformation time when the gathering of forces on both sides is going on in dead earnest, but it will wax hotter and hotter as we approach nearer to the end, and the forces and kinds of deception multiply and abound more and more. The Bible says, "Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." II Timothy 3:13.
Dear brethren, this is not a time to play around. We are in this time right now and the powers of deception are increasing and the kinds of deception are multiplying and many are being deceived who once knew God and enjoyed His blessings in their lives, and the love of many is waxing cold today who were once fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Let us all fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life and follow the Captain of the Lord's host into the battle wherever He may lead.
I want to discuss one more thing as we come to the close. In Revelation 14:18-20 we have described the harvest of the world which could cover the same period of time I have been discussing, only by different symbols. In verse twenty it says, "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." A tremendous thing is described here and it would be a gruesome thing indeed to think of it in literal terms. It could not possibly refer to anything literal because all of the four billion plus people that are in the world today do not have that much blood in their bodies. Then what does it mean?
In Ezekiel 33:1-6 we have set forth the matter of an enemy coming against the land of Israel and the duties of the watchman who has been set by the people. He was to sound the trumpet and warn the people. It is said that if he sounded the warning and they failed to take heed and perished, their blood would be upon themselves. Also, if he failed to sound the warning and the enemy came upon them and destroyed them, their blood would be required at the watchman's hand. Then in verses 7-9 this same thing is carried over and applied to God-called, God-sent ministers and overseers in this gospel age. Hebrews 13:17, speaking of overseers of congregations, says, "...For they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,..." This also would apply in a way to any minister of God who deals with the souls of men. Paul said in Acts 20:26-27, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."
Now what this all sums up to is the situation we are face to face with today. On the one hand, we have many ministers in Christendom today who are so compromising and fail to tell the people the consequences of the things they are doing and excusing things in people's lives which are destroying their souls and are failing to declare the full counsel of God to the people so that the blood of many souls is on their hands. On the other hand, we are in a time which is characterized by free thinking and everybody thinking for themselves, and when ministers of God are faithful to declare the full counsel of God and deal pointedly with souls about the things they are doing which will destroy their souls; many times they just pass it off and say, "I don't see it that way. I have my way the same as he has his, and I have just as much right to see it my way as he does to see it his way." So they just go on their merry way, failing to give heed and to measure up and be doers of the Word, and become deceived. Their blood is on their own hands because they were faithfully warned by the minister God had given them.
But in either case, whether it is on the people's part or the minister's part, there is a great failing today and the blood of souls is running real deep right now. We are in the vortex of the Battle of Armageddon and much soul blood is being shed right before our eyes. This Scripture in Revelation 14:20 gives us an idea of how tremendous this thing is now and it's getting worse. So, let us fear God and keep His commandments and walk humbly before Him, lest our soul blood be mingled with the soul blood of the multitudes who are failing of the grace of God. Let us be assured that this great conflict is going to end in "victory for him to whom all triumph belongs" and if we continue faithful unto death we shall be saved eternally.
BINDING ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN
a. The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven
QUESTION: Please explain Matthew 16:19. What does it mean when Jesus said to Peter that He would give him "the keys of the kingdom of heaven"?
ANSWER: Matthew 16:19 reads in full, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Such a glorious and awesome truth is expressed here! Let us examine it a little.
"Keys" would be an instrument by which an entrance would be unlocked and opened into the kingdom of heaven. This is evidently the WORD and the SPIRIT of God. Jesus said in John 3:7, "...Ye must be born again" and in John 3:5, "...Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." How is a person born again? I Peter 1:23 says, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever." James 1:18 says, "Of his own will begat he us with the WORD OF TRUTH, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." In I Corinthians 4:15 we read, "...For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." John 1:13 declares that those who receive Christ are born of God. In Romans 1:16 Paul says that the GOSPEL OF CHRIST is the power of God unto salvation.
All the above scriptures make it clear that access into salvation or the kingdom of God is through the gospel. But the gospel is a two-pronged thing. In Zechariah 4:6, we read concerning the two olive trees in Zecharaiah's vision "...This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." So the Gospel of Christ must be composed of both the WORD and the SPIRIT the Word anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Paul said in I Corinthians 2:4-5, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." God help us all at this point. II Corinthians 3:6 says, "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." So we see the Word alone is not sufficient but it must be accompanied by the Spirit and backed by Holy Spirit anointing.
Therefore, we conclude that God's Word and His Spirit are the keys to the kingdom of heaven and open an access into Christ and salvation. Hebrews 5:9 says that Christ "...became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." So we see that as one obeys God's Word and meets the conditions laid down therein for being saved confession of sin (I John 1:9), repentance (II Corinthians 7:10-11; Acts 3:19; Luke 24:47; Mark 1:14-15), restitution (II Corinthians 7:10; Luke 19:8; Ezekiel 33:15), and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the merits of His shed blood, the door swings wide open to him and he is accepted into the kingdom of God.
This is exactly what Jesus gave to Peter in this text and also to all the apostles, and further to their successors throughout this gospel age of time; even NOW to the holy, God-called, God-qualified, Holy Spirit filled ministry which God has in the Church and in the world at this present time. They also possess these keys to the kingdom of heaven.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said to His disciples, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." It is evident here that Jesus ordained and commissioned a perpetual ministry who would have the same power and authority (the same keys of the kingdom God's Word and Spirit) as those early ones had. This was to last unto the end of the world and just as God encouraged Joshua by telling him, "...As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee," (Joshua 3:7) he says the same to His true ministers today, "As I was with Peter, James and John and their immediate brethren, so am I with you." His promise was, "...I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20.) That reaches to us down here in this end of the gospel age the same as it applied to those disciples in the early beginning of this gospel age.
b. Whatsoever Thou Shalt Bind On Earth
QUESTION: Please explain the part of Matthew 16:19 that says, "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
ANSWER: Matt 16:19 reads in full, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." II Corinthians 5:19 says that God "...hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." Mark 16:16 confirms this by saying that he who believes the gospel and is baptized shall be saved. But to God's true ministers is also committed the ministry of condemnation and Jesus confirmed that, too, in this verse where He said, "...He that believeth not shall be damned." Paul said in II Corinthians 2:15-16, "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" Surely, only those whom God has called, qualified, filled with His Spirit, commissioned and sent forth would be sufficient for this responsibility of loosing and binding souls for the judgment.
In this grant to the ministry from Jesus Himself is also included the power and authority of the ministry under God through the divine unction and anointing of the Holy Spirit and in strict accordance with God's Word to govern, execute discipline, and maintain order in the Church of God. In the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 18:15-18, in the matter of dealing with a trespassing brother, He gives a step by step procedure for dealing with this. If the trespassing brother was obstinate and could not be gained through the first two steps, then it culminated in taking the matter to the Church. If he refused to accept admonition from the Church, then he was to be counted as a heathen and a publican. Then follows in verse 18 the same statement as given in Matthew 16:19, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:..."
Thus we see that the "keys of the kingdom" are also used by the true ministers of God in exercising government, discipline, and keeping order in the Church in binding or loosing certain things and people. When these things are carried out through the leading of the Holy Spirit and according to God's Word all the way, even to our attitudes, feelings, purposes and motives, God in heaven will back it up and count it the same way in heaven. Remember, God's Word is forever settled in heaven and it is the same down here as it is up there, and when it is strictly observed down here it will register up there just the same.
In I Corinthians 5:4-5 Paul is dealing with the matter of an incestuous person in the Corinthian Church and he instructs them, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Here they are instructed in the power and authority of Christ through the Spirit to excommunicate or cast out of the Church (bind him according to our text). He gives the reason for this in the next verse: "...A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." In other words, if that person stays among you in that condition, the infection will spread and more will be affected by it, so purge out the leaven and save the Church. This is one purpose of discipline in the Church to save the Church and keep it clean.
Discipline remained strict in the Church through those early years as the ministry used the keys that God had given unto them God's Word and God's Spirit to administer discipline and government in the Church. God put His seal of approval on this and through it kept the Church clean and pure and made it a light to the world, a city on a hill that could not be hid. He continued to confirm His Word with signs following among them and to show forth the glory of God and the perfection of beauty in it. But down in the third century discipline became more slack, and foreign elements began to creep in. God never stopped this trend because He had given unto His ministry in the Church the keys of the kingdom and the power and authority to bind all evil elements and to loose all right and good things. He never interfered with this trend, but as evil elements were allowed to come in and continue there, He Himself just moved on out and left it with them. The result was the great apostasy was set up and established in the earth. The true Church was lost sight of for a long period of time.
QUESTION: I would like for you to explain Matthew 16:19.
ANSWER: Matthew 16:19 reads thus: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. "From verse 15 through verse 19 is recorded a personal conversation between Peter and Jesus. It was not necessarily intended to be that way. Jesus had asked the entire company of His apostles, "...Whom say ye that I am?" Peter was quicker in answering than were the others and consequently Jesus directed His remarks to him personally. But actually His remarks would apply to all of the company as well as Peter because He had directed His question to the entire company. His remarks did apply to all of them and not to them only but also to their successors clear on down through the generations of mankind even unto us and beyond us if time continues and other generations follow us. This will be clearly evident from other scriptures which we will pick up as we go along. Therefore we can safely conclude with certainty that this text does not teach what some try to make it teach; that Peter is to be considered the head of the Church and as having personal and exclusive rights to the keys of the kingdom. The remarks made here by Jesus apply to all of them, even though they are directed to Peter, but only because he was the first to speak up in response to Jesus' question.
Then we must endeavor first of all to establish what the keys of the kingdom are. A key is something that opens up or unlocks and provides an entrance or access to a building, house, or situation. In the fourth chapter of Zechariah is recorded a vision that the prophet Zechariah had and the principal objects of it were a golden candlestick and two olive trees, one on either side of the candlestick. First we will consider the candlestick and what it represented. In the first chapter of Revelation is recorded a vision that John had of Jesus Christ as the high priest of God in the Church or kingdom of God (verses 10 through 20). In verse 12 he saw seven golden candlesticks. And in verse 13 he saw one like unto the Son of man (Jesus). In verse 20 Jesus explained that the seven golden candlesticks were the seven churches (named in verse 11). Then it is clear that a candlestick was used to represent a church. In Revelation, chapter one, seven candlesticks were used to represent the seven churches of Asia to which the book of Revelation was sent. Then we conclude that the single candlestick in Zechariah 4:2 represented the one entire universal Church of God or Kingdom of God. In Zechariah 4:6 these two olive trees are declared to be the Word of the Lord, saying, "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Then it is clear that the two olive trees represent the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Again these two olive trees are further identified in Zechariah 4:14 where it is said, "...These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." In Revelation 11:3-4 it is said, "And I will give power unto my TWO WITNESSES, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." The emphasis here is on the two witnesses.
Now let us see what are the two principal witnesses of God in the earth. Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,..." Hebrews 10:15 says, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:..." These texts establish the fact that the Holy Spirit is one of God's principal witnesses in the earth. In John 5:39 Jesus said, "Search the scriptures;...they are they which testify of me." Also Luke 24:27 says, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." There are other scriptures confirming the Spirit and the Word to be God's two witnesses. But in Revelation 11:3-4 it refers to the two witnesses being the two olive trees standing before the God of the earth which refers us right back to Zechariah 4:3 and verse 14 says, "...These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." And verse 6 declares them to be the Word of God by the Spirit of God. But verse 12 presents the two olive trees (Word and Spirit) through two golden pipes emptying the golden oil out of themselves into the candlestick. Thus we see that the Word and the Spirit of God are the two agents of God to pour their essence, grace, power and strength into the Church to make it the light of the world, a city set on an hill which cannot be hid; an all-conquering, all-triumphant, all-victorious, all-glorious entity in the world. It is these two agents that open the door and provide a means of access into the kingdom of God (salvation). These also provide the necessary ingredients to sustain and maintain the soul in the kingdom of God after it has been guided into salvation. Then it is clear that these two agents (God's Word and God's Spirit) are the keys of the kingdom of God. This is what Jesus promised to Peter and to all the other apostles when He charged them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15.)
But he did not send them forth half-equipped. He gave them the WORD and commanded them to preach it just as He had given it to them. (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20, II Timothy 4:2.) But He told them to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49.) Again in Acts 1:4 Jesus told these men to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father and in verse 5 He declares this to be the Holy Ghost. The Word alone was not sufficient. They had to be filled with the Holy Spirit to give anointing, power and conviction to the Word. In Zechariah's vision (Zechariah 4:6) the two olive trees were declared to be the WORD by the SPIRIT. These two agents govern, control and direct all the operations and activities of the Church of God. I know of no record anywhere in the Bible, where God ever gave anything more than the Word and the Spirit of God to any minister to carry on His work, and He certainly has never given any God-called minister less. But He gave to Peter, to all the apostles, to their successors, to every God-called minister throughout the generations of mankind, and every God-called minister living in the world today, these two keys to the kingdom of God (God's Word and God's Spirit) and sent them forth to do their job. In I Peter 1:12 Peter referred to "...them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;..." This is the way God's work has always been carried on; God's Word by His Spirit; and by these the kingdom of heaven has always been opened to men who would obey it and closed to men who would not obey it.
BISHOPS, DEACONS, ELDERS, MINISTERS, AND PASTORS
a. Minister Or To Bishops Only
QUESTION: Does I Timothy 3:1 apply to any minister or just to bishops only?
ANSWER: This verse refers specifically to "bishops" and the following verses give a detailed outline of the qualifications of the man who is to fill that place. The New American Standard Version says, "If any man aspires to the office of overseer." Williams Version says, "...the office of pastor." King James says, "If any man desire the office of a bishop." This makes it clear that the "bishop" is the overseer or pastor in a congregation. The catalog of qualifications given in this case are strict and are calculated to protect and establish the bishop's (pastor's) right to speak on any and all matters even in dealing with members of his congregation on real close points as a pastor must do at times. But there may be those, and I am sure there are, whom God has His hand on and is using in a good way to proclaim His gospel and edify the church and win souls for Him whom we might not consider eligible to fill the responsible place of a "bishop" pastor or overseer of a congregation. It surely would be clear to all that the pastor has a unique calling and fills a unique place in and to the church where he pastors and that his qualifications would be more strict than for a "lay preacher" or someone else working for God in other capacities.
QUESTION: Who are the elders in the Church? When are they elders? Does ordination have anything to do with being an elder? What is a bishop and what is a deacon? If a minister has a rebellious child, does that take away his gift?
ANSWER: We have several questions in one here, but they are all related, so maybe we can discuss them all together.
It seems apparent from the Scriptures that the term "Elder" and the term "Bishop" are used interchangeably and apply to the same officer in the Church. We are not to confuse the present use of the term "Bishop" with what it was in the early Church of the Apostolic period. F. G. Smith in his book The Revelation Explained, on page 94, quotes from the historian Waddington who says, "...and it is even certain that the terms 'Bishop,' 'Elder' and 'Presbyter' were, in the first instances, and for a short period, sometimes used synonymously, and indiscriminately applied to the same order in the ministry." On page 95 of the same book he quotes from the historian Milman who says, "The earliest Christian communities appear to have been ruled and represented, in the absence of the apostle who was their first founder, by their elders, who are likewise called bishops, or overseers of the church." Further he quotes from D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation on page 96, "The church was in the beginning a community of brethren, guided by a few of the brethren." And again, "All Christians were priests of the living God, with humble pastors as their guides."
It will be noted in all these quotations from these historians that they are going back to the beginning and describing how it was then. That is what we must do to get a proper understanding of these officers in the Church and their functions. We can certainly be sure that when the Church was brand-new and fresh from the hand of God that it would be perfect and exactly like He wanted it. As it was then, so must it be now. We must go back to the beginning of the New Testament Church for our pattern and not allow our vision to be clouded by all the paraphernalia that has been attached to these terms by ambitious and aspiring men down through the apostasy and the Dark Ages and their present day usage which has come on down to us from that time.
The Holy Scriptures also attest to this. In Titus 1:5 we read Paul's instruction to Titus, "...set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." Then verse seven says, "For a bishop must be blameless, etc." It is clear here that the terms "Elder" and "Bishop" are used interchangeably.
We find in Titus 1:6 that the qualifications for an "Elder" (Bishop) is that he must have faithful children not accused of riot or unruly, and in I Timothy 3:4 we read, "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." But these are conditions that change. Sometimes unruly children through the prayers of their parents and the saints, settle down and behave better. Sometimes they become more rebellious and leave home. In different ways these conditions may change. Also, they have been known to get saved, shape up and do well. So, let us not give up on them, but pray for them and be all the help to them and their parents that we can. Perchance God may undertake in the matter and solve the problem in the best way and to the best interest of all parties involved.
I would hesitate to say that a minister having a rebellious child would cause his gift to be taken away. However, if conditions became bad enough it would perhaps shut him down in the exercise of his gift for the time being until conditions changed to clear him for going ahead in his calling.
In Acts 20:17 we read concerning Paul, "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church." We see here that at least some congregations had a plurality of elders more than just one. Also, in verse 28 of this chapter we learn something else about the elders the most important thing. That is that they were divinely appointed and qualified by the Holy Ghost and that they were the overseers of the Church of God. Their specified duty in this verse was to "...feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Also in the next three verses they are warned about some who would come in among them, and some of their own number who would break rank, and draw away disciples after them. These elders are charged with the responsibility of watching and standing guard over the Church and protecting it against schisms and divisions, false and erroneous doctrines. In I Peter 5:1-3, Peter is exhorting the "Elders" (it is important to note that he also classifies himself as an "Elder" even though he was an "Apostle") and he exhorts them to "feed the flock of God" and take "the oversight thereof." Verse three, "Neither as being lords [not overruling margin] over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Paul declared in II Corinthians 1:24 that he did not have dominion over their faith, but was a helper of their joy. Some unwise and overruling pastors require things of people which are beyond their faith, light, understanding and experience to which they have attained, and discourage them and crush their spirits. Instead, they should teach them in love and sympathy and set a good example before them of those things to which they desire them to attain. Again in Hebrews 13:17 we read, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account,..." Where this text says "Rule over you," the margin says, "Guide." One of the principal ways that a pastor rules over his congregation is in teaching them from God's Word in precept and then showing them how it works by a good example of what he is teaching. These texts all set forth the work of an "Elder" and his responsibilities and duties and also his authority.
It has already been noted that an "Elder" is appointed, qualified and empowered by the Holy Ghost. But a recognition of his call and qualifications for this work which is known as "ordination" is also taught in the Scriptures. This is usually done by the laying on of hands of other ministers. Paul wrote to Titus to "...Ordain elders in every city,..." Titus 1:5. Paul also wrote to Timothy to stir up the gift of God which was in him by the putting on of his hands. II Timothy 1:6. I Timothy 4:14 says, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." In Acts 13:2-3 we read, "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Then verse four says, "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,..." All these texts make it clear that the Holy Ghost is the One who calls, sends, endows with gifts and qualifies "Elders," and also that the Holy Ghost Himself wants the other ministers to recognize what He has done and to signify it by the sign of laying on of their hands. It is certain that any minister can feel freer in the exercise of his ministry and work more effectually when he knows that he has the recognition, support, backing and approval of the other ministers among whom he works and of the saints. For one to successfully fulfill the office of an "Elder" or "Overseer" in a congregation in all its aspects he should be ordained by the laying on of hands of other ordained ministers. He may preach just as well and feed the flock just as well without it, but when it comes to exercising authority and dealing with problems which may arise in the congregation, he will be much more effective and respected in his judgment if he has the recognition and backing of the ministry and the people he is dealing with know it. So I would say that one is a full-fledged "Elder," eligible to fulfill all the aspects of his office, when he is ordained by the laying on of hands of the presbytery.
In the early Church there were two classes of officers "Elders" and "Deacons." The "Elders" were in charge of the spiritual oversight and operation of the Church, while the "Deacons" were in charge of the temporal affairs of the Church and the administration of its charities, etc.
In the first four verses of the sixth chapter of Acts, we have the introduction of the office of "Deacon" into the Church. In this case a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the administration of the charities and care of them by the Church was taking place. In other words, they felt they were being discriminated against and that partiality was being shown. It is altogether possible that this was the case, since the Jerusalem Church was predominantly Jewish and they had not yet learned that all men were equal in God's sight and that there was neither Jew nor Greek in the body of Christ. When this murmuring reached the apostles, they called the whole company together and instructed them to choose out from among them seven men filled with the Holy Ghost and wisdom, and they would appoint them over this business, but they would give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word. That was their job and they did not have time to attend to the administration of temporal matters. Verse six says that when these men were chosen and brought to the apostles they prayed and laid their hands on them. These men were ordained to administer in the office of a "Deacon" in that Jerusalem Church.
In the third chapter of I Timothy we have set forth the qualifications of a "Bishop" or "Elder" in the first seven verses. Then verses 8-13 set forth the qualifications of a "Deacon." You will notice there are some strict requirements on the "Deacon" as well as on the "Elder," and some of them are the same. God is very particular about any person who administers in any office in His Church. The deacons were required to be filled with the Holy Ghost the same as the elder was required to be Spirit filled. All who administer any office in the Church or occupy any position of leadership in the Church are to be Spirit-filled people.
QUESTION: Please explain I Peter 5:1-3; especially verse 3 which says, "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." How could a pastor or minister be a lord over God's heritage?
ANSWER: I Peter 5:1-3 reads: "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
The reference here to "elders" refers to the office in the church (pastor, bishop, presbyter, overseer). The first thing I wish to notice is how different this actually is from the claim of the Catholic church that Peter was the first bishop or pope (official head of the church). He presents himself here as just an elder among other elders, and makes no ambiguous claim to any special position among them at all. His only claim of distinction is that he was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. This was the requirement for apostleship (Acts 1:21-22), and Peter was one of the twelve apostles. Perhaps the other elders he addressed here were not, which gave him a degree of distinction among them. But it still remains that he presented himself as an elder among elders and made no reference to his being an apostle. There was an humble quality among those first ministers of the Christian church. Jesus taught His disciples this. In Matthew 20:25-27 we read: "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." Then in verse 28 He presents Himself as the pattern, example, or model and said, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." The idea of promoting one minister above others and attaching clerical and ecclesiastical titles to his name was reserved for the apostate church in a later time as it slipped into apostasy on its way into the dark ages and the establishment of the "man of sin" (II Thessalonians 2:3-4) as the universal head of the church. Exalting of ministers above other ministers was the path that led to this. Paul referred to it as "the mystery of iniquity" in II Thessalonians 2:7. John referred to one, Diotrephes, who loved to have preeminence in the church (III John 9), and denounced him for this.
In I Peter 5:2, Peter gives this charge to these elders: "Feed the flock of God which is among you,..." It is the duty of all pastors to feed the souls of his congregation on the pure, unadulterated Word of God. In John 21:15-17, Jesus charged Peter three times to feed His sheep and His lambs. In Acts 20:28, Paul charged the elders of Ephesus, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Therefore, it is clearly the pastor's duty and responsibility to feed the souls of his congregation.
Continuing on in verse 2, Peter states that the pastor or elder is to accept his office and responsibility of the congregation not by constraint (coercion or pressure), but willingly (God loves willing service). They are not to have money as a prime objective but are to serve with a ready mind. Paul also gives this as a required qualification for a bishop (I Timothy 3:3) or elder (Titus 1:7). ("Bishop" and "elder" are interchangeable and the same scripturally). In these two texts Paul says they are not to be given to or greedy of filthy lucre (money).
Then verse 3 says, "Neither as being lords over God's heritage [the margin here says "overruling"], but being ensamples to the flock." The pastor is not to be a tyrant, despot or overlord, but is to be a shepherd, feeder, and helper of his flock. Paul says in II Corinthians 1:24, "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." We see that we are not to domineer over them or dominate their lives and faith but are to faithfully teach them the standards of God's Word. We are to help them by every means available to us to grow and mature in their faith and experience; but in the meantime, while they are coming to the full standard, not be chastising them all the time for not being up to it.
The true pastor will teach his congregation the principles of truth in the New Testament. Then he will say to them, "This now is the instruction and this is how you do it. Just watch me now and see how it works." He is to be the example for them. Paul said in Philippians 3:17, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample." Again in Galatians 1:15-16, Paul said, "But when it pleased God, who...called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;..." What a great truth is expressed here! Paul realized that he was not qualified to preach Christ until he could reveal Christ. Neither is anyone else. Again in Philippians 4:9, Paul says, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Note: They had seen in him what they had heard from him. If a minister preaches a standard that he cannot produce a good example of but, at the same time, chastises his congregation if they are short of it, is an example of one of the ways in which he overrules or exercises lordship over them.
Read Ezekiel 34:1-10, and get a good, clear, concise picture of an unfaithful minister (pastor) who is a lord over God's heritage. Verse 3 says the shepherds eat the fat and clothe themselves with wool but feed not the flock. Verse 8 says they feed themselves but feed not the flock. Verse 4 says they have not strengthened the diseased, healed the sick, bound up the broken, brought back those who were driven away, sought the lost; but they have ruled with force and cruelty. What a sad state for a congregation who has a pastor who does not take care of their needs and is always demanding more of them but actually doing less for them.
How different this is from the true, humble pastors whom the Holy Ghost appoints as overseers of congregations. They rule over them by guiding them (Hebrews 13:17) and showing them how the gospel works out in their own lives.
QUESTION: Please comment on Ezekiel 34:2-6 (Who are these shepherds?); also taking into consideration verse 12 "The cloudy and dark day."
ANSWER: The shepherds spoken of in these verses would be those whom God had appointed to guide, care for, and feed His flock, the children of Israel. This would refer to their priests and prophets. Also in this case, since Israel's government was a combination of church and state, it might include their kings and rulers as well. These were all set over the children of Israel to seek their welfare and best interest and to guide them in both sacred and secular things. We get a good view of the Good Shepherd in the 23rd Psalm. We see the Good Shepherd here providing all the wants of His sheep, leading them to the still waters and providing for them security and sufficiency so that they lie down in peace in green pastures. He never forsakes His flock but is with them in trouble and adversity the same as in prosperity which is evidenced by His walking with them through the valley of the shadow of death. He always provides abundance for them even to the overflowing stage and sets them a table right in the presence of their enemies.
In John 10:11, Jesus declares Himself to be the Good Shepherd and declares that the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. Then in verse 12 He speaks of the hireling, whose own the sheep are not, and when he sees the wolf coming he leaves the sheep and fleeth; the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. Jesus further explained in verse 13 that the reason the hireling flees when danger and trouble threatens is because he is just a hireling and is primarily interested in his hire and temporal gain and does not care for the sheep.
Again in Luke 15:3-7, Jesus presents another graphic picture of a Good Shepherd looking after his sheep. He has a hundred sheep and one wanders away and gets lost. He leaves the ninety-nine in the fold and goes in search of the lost one until he finds it; then he puts it on his shoulder and carries it home. He cares for all his sheep and when one is in trouble, that is the one he seeks to help.
These shepherds spoken of in Ezekiel 34:2-6, were supposed to be like this and like the Good Shepherd of John 10:11, and the Shepherd featured in the twenty-third Psalm. But, oh, how different they were! They were like the hireling Jesus mentioned in John 10:12-13, and were looking after their own comforts and gain. They were entirely insensitive to the needs of the flock. They did not strengthen the diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring back those who were driven away, nor seek that which was lost. They ruled with force and cruelty. They were totally unfaithful and entirely insensitive to their responsibility as shepherds of a flock. As a result, the sheep were scattered and wandered through all the mountains and high hills of the whole earth and became meat to be devoured by the beasts of the field. This all actually happened to the children of Israel again and again because of their wickedness and idolatry which was instigated by their priests, prophets, and rulers. It is also a type of what has happened to the people of God (spiritual Israel) during this gospel dispensation and has a second fulfillment there.
In Isaiah 9:16, we read, "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Again we read in Isaiah 3:12, "...O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." In Jeremiah 23, beginning with verse 9 is a strong indictment against the prophets and priests of Israel. Verse 11 says, "For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord." We also read in verse 13, "And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err." Clear on down through verse 32 God is strongly proclaiming against the prophets who prophesy in His name declaring that "the Lord hath said," but they prophesy lies and falsehoods.
The awful consequences of all this false prophesying and the profanity among priests and prophets are found in Jeremiah 14:13-16, which I will insert here. "Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword;..." It becomes apparent here that the people who listen to the prophets who prophesy falsehoods and offer security in those falsehoods and doctrines that are not according to God's Word, shall become victims of those prophets (be devoured by the beasts of the field the false prophets) and share the same fate with them.
In Hosea 5:10 it says, "The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water." A few other texts regarding landmarks and bounds will add a little emphasis to this text where it says "The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound." When the Israelites entered into Canaan land, everyone received an inheritance consisting of a piece of land secured by bounds and landmarks. This was to remain in that family throughout their generation. This inheritance was considered such a valuable and sacred thing that the daughters of one tribe were forbidden to marry into another tribe because it would affect their inheritance which was not transferable to any other tribe. In Deuteronomy 27:17 a curse was pronounced upon anyone who tampered with the landmark and altered the bounds of his neighbor's field. Also read Proverbs 22:28 and Deuteronomy 19:14. We see this was a very strong charge against the princes of Judah who were like them that removed the bound. The princes of Judah would be their prophets, priests, and rulers. They had tampered with God's Word and law, and prophesied falsely to the people and led them into error and idolatry, and God's wrath was against them.
This whole discussion describes the class and condition of the shepherds in Ezekiel 34, and the awful consequences of their lordship over the people. It will be necessary to wait until another time to consider the other part of the question, "the cloudy and dark day."
QUESTION: What should be the position of the Church of God and saints in general in regard to ministers and gospel workers who willingly submit themselves into the hands of doctors and go to hospitals or resort to medicines? Would it be thought conceivable that God would instruct such an one to submit to doctors, etc.?
ANSWER: Divine healing has been a fundamental, cardinal doctrine of the Church of God from its inception on the Day of Pentecost and throughout this dispensation of time down to now. In Act. 5:12 we read of many signs and wonders being wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles. Verse 15 tells of them bringing forth the sick and laying them on beds and couches in the street in order that the shadow of Peter might pass over them that they might be healed. Verse 16 tells of many people from the cities roundabout bringing their sick folks into Jerusalem, and they were every one healed. The Church started out this way, and everywhere the gospel of the kingdom has been preached, both then and all along through the ages of time until now, it has been accompanied by healing of the sick. The preaching of the gospel and divine healing have always gone hand in hand they are actually components one of another.
The doctrine of divine healing was taught and practiced by all the early ministers of this Evening Light Reformation, and is still taught and practiced by the true ministers of God today. My parents were both among the early pioneer ministers of the Evening Light Reformation, and I had first hand knowledge from them as to how this doctrine was taught and practiced among them. They taught that saints should trust God with their bodies as well as their souls, and it was God's will and plan to heal His people without the aid of doctors and medicines in answer to the prayer of faith. This has been the code that true saints of God have lived by throughout this age of time. God has set His seal to it, and has healed every kind of sickness and disease in the books, and has confirmed the preaching of this doctrine with signs following.
It has always been considered substandard for saints in light to resort to medical remedies and treatment, and still is. There are too many among us today going to hospitals and dying there in the hands of the doctors. This is not according to God's Word. Because of this, we are being robbed of victories and the manifestation of God's power and glory in our midst. But when ministers do these things, what shall we say? What can we say in behalf of those who have persevered in their faith, died in the faith, and refused to accept deliverance from pain, sickness, and death by human aid in order to please God and hold their integrity with Him? Consider the young saints who have laid their lives on the line to trust God and be faithful to Him in times of severe and potentially fatal sickness young mothers and fathers trusting God with their families as well as their own lives, and have persevered and gone down to the bars of death trusting in the Lord. Then God came and healed them, raised them up, and now they sit in the service listening to someone preach who has been in the hospital and maybe had an operation, etc. What shall we say; what can we say to people like that in such a case? Folks, it cannot be that we would ever represent folks as being in good standing who do these things and lower the standard of truth in this way until they have properly cleared themselves.
F. G. Smith, in his book What the Bible Teaches, on page 197 (chapter ten, "Divine Healing"), says, "This blessed truth is established in the Word of God." Then he continues, "This doctrine has been ignored by many; but 'what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?' (Romans 3:3.) It is not what men believe or do not believe that is to settle the great facts of truth, but it is what the Word of God says."
The healing which was to characterize the life of Jesus Christ was prophesied in Isaiah 35:3-6, Isaiah 53:4-5, and in many other Old Testament scriptures. These prophecies of Isaiah were declared to be fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus in Matthew 8:16-17 where it says, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." And we also read in Matthew 4:24, "And his (Jesus') fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy: and he healed them."
Jesus also delegated this power and authority to cast out devils, heal the sick, and preach the kingdom of God when He sent forth His twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:12-13). He also delegated this same power and authority to seventy others when He sent them forth in Luke 10:1-9. In fact, Jesus delegated to the Church, His body, and especially its ministry, this power and authority to heal the sick and cast out devils, as well as other miraculous things. This was a permanent arrangement throughout this gospel age of time. The commission as given in Mark 16:15-18, states this: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;... And these signs shall follow them that believe;... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Do we believe that the part of Jesus' commission which says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" is still in effect today? Surely, we do. But what foundation do we have for believing this and not believe also that part of the same commission which says that they who believe "shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" is also in effect today? Surely, the commission that Jesus gave shall stand in its entirety in all of its parts until the end of the world. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever."
In James 5:14-15, we read these instructions to the Church after it was set up and operating: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;..."
Yes, the doctrine of divine healing is well founded in the Holy Scriptures throughout. This is what God's ministers are to preach and teach to the people. But if we are going to preach it, we must also practice it and demonstrate its work ability. The Word of God says, "The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits." II Timothy 2:6. The ministers are to be ensamples to the flock (I Peter 5:3); teach them what to do and then show them how to do it.
This doctrine taught so general and generously throughout the New Testament is being grossly corrupted in our day. We have a parallel of this in the corrupting of the gospel in regard to salvation in the New Testament. Paul was preaching the pure gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ only without any human works attached to it. The Judaizers in Paul's day accepted Christ as the Messiah, but they connected to that circumcision and the works of the law, without which they said people could not be saved. This was a corruption of the pure gospel of salvation which Paul was preaching, and it was in this area that he had his greatest conflicts. In II Corinthians 2:17 Paul declared himself to be not of the number which corrupted the Word of God.
We have the same principle at work here in our day in corrupting the Word of God with regard to the doctrine of healing. It is held that God gave us physicians and gave them skill, knowledge, and understanding of the human body to be able to help us in our sicknesses. Oh, of course, we say, they have their limits, but they do what they can do and then God does the actual healing. Is this not the same corrupting principle that Paul encountered in his day regarding salvation? But I say, if God has to do the real healing in the final analysis of the case, why not let Him do it all in the first place and not get any human works mixed in with it? Let God get all the glory and we get all the inspiration and blessing that comes with this work of God upon us. This is God's plan and purpose for bringing about a closer relationship between His children and Himself.
QUESTION: Is it right for one to be bearing "Bishop" as a name?
ANSWER: I presume the questioner in this case has reference to "Bishop" as a title in connection with one's name such as, "Bishop John Doe." First of all I would point out to all of us that we should never identify the scriptural term "Bishop" in the New Testament with the term as used in modern Christendom with all its attached pomp and preeminence. They are far different in their usage and meaning. It would certainly be wrong for an humble saint minister to attach that title to his name in its modern usage and meaning.
However, the term "Bishop" is a scriptural term found different times in the New Testament and in connection with "Overseer," "Oversight," and "Elder" all of which derive from the same root word. These words occur a number of times in the New Testament, and refer to the same office. "Bishop" does refer to an office in the Church and not to any particular individual. In I Timothy 3:1, Paul says, "...If a man desire the OFFICE of a bishop, he desireth a good work." I do not recall any of our brother ministers attaching the term "Bishop" to their name so I am not used to it and it would probably cause me a little shock and a little raising of my eyebrows and wrinkling of my forehead to see it. However, several of our brethren have attached the term "Elder" to their names which is the same thing.
In Titus 1:5, Paul says, "For this cause left I thee,...that thou shouldest...ordain ELDERS in every city,..." Then Titus 1:7 says, "For a BISHOP must be blameless, as the steward of God;..." It is evident here that "Elder" in verse 5 and "Bishop" in verse 7 are used interchangeably and refer to the same office. We also see here that a "Bishop" was the "Steward" of God. In I Corinthians 4:1, Paul declares himself to be a minister of Christ and "Steward" of the mysteries of God. Then Paul was a "Bishop" though he never attached that term as such to his name. Paul continues in I Corinthians 4:2, "Moreover it is required in STEWARDS, that a man be found faithful." In I Timothy 1:12 he said again, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me FAITHFUL, putting me into the ministry." Again in Luke 12:42 we read, "And the Lord said, Who then is that FAITHFUL and wise STEWARD, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?" This verse is important because it makes it clear what the duties of a "Steward" ("Bishop") are to give the household of God their portion of meat in due season. Or as Peter puts it in I Peter 5:2, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [or "Bishopric"] thereof,..." He continues in verse 3, "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
Oh, how different this is from the modern ecclesiastical "Bishop" in his pomp, preeminence and position of "LORD" over God's heritage. In Luke 12:43 Jesus said further concerning the "FAITHFUL" and good "Steward" (Bishop), "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." Paul said in Titus 1:7 that a "Bishop" was the "Steward" of God and in Luke 12:42-43 the term "Steward" (Bishop) is used. These terms are used interchangeably which makes it clear that a scriptural Bishop is a servant not a lord.
I will say again in closing that I have never known of any of the brethren attaching the term "Bishop" to their name or signature. Neither do I recall any place in the New Testament of any of those brethren using it either such as Bishop Paul, Bishop Peter, Bishop Timothy, etc. though all of these were Bishops. We have one case where Peter referred to himself as an "Elder" (I Peter 5:1) and "Bishop" and "Elder" were interchangeable terms in the New Testament usage and referred to the same office (Titus 1:5 and 7). However, I think that perhaps Peter referred to himself as an "Elder" here not so much to emphasize his eldership as to equate himself with the other elders. His statement here is, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,..." He was placing himself right among them and not above them.
Some of the brethren have used the term "Elder" and some "Pastor" attached to their name and signature. I think the most of them just sign their name without any other identifying term attached at all. I don't know that we could have any scriptural quarrel with anyone who used any of these terms Bishop, Elder, or Pastor in their signature because they are all scriptural terms and identify the office and position of the individual. Perhaps the reason our brethren have not used the term "Bishop" is because of the pomp, honor, and position it signifies in the modern religious world today which is entirely foreign and strange to the humble, lowly servants of the Church to whom it was applied in the New Testament.
I feel inclined to insert a few thoughts in this space in discussion of what I consider to be a topic to saints; the idea of a clear perspective, a deeper comprehension, and a more thorough understanding of the standards of God's Word for Christian living and the abundant supply in the economy of God's grace for attaining to high standards of holy living.
Gregory Mantle in the introduction of his book Better Things from Above inserts a quote from Faber which says, "The devil can fight as successfully against God with low views as with mortal sins. Low views of the privileges and possibilities of the Christian life result inevitably in slackness and weakness."
Low views produce low standards for the life which, in turn, results in only limited blessings from God and a limited measure of divine grace which, in turn, robs us of victories which we might otherwise have and the richness and fulfillment which should be realized in Christian living. This is true because we have low views of Christian standards and consequently settle for a low plane of living with whatever degree of blessings, joy and grace that affords. Therefore we do not expect much of ourselves nor demand much of ourselves in the way of Christian living and do not expect much from God in the way of divine aid to raise our standards of living and do better and gain greater victories. Thus we live our lives on the defensive and always have our defenses out and are loaded with excuses for our failures when we are overcome in the trials and tests of life. My answer to those who live this way is that whatever excuses you have for your failures in being what God wants you to be and failing of the grace of God in the test; you better be thinking up some good ones because you are going to have to meet God with those excuses some day. The good news I bring you is that you do not have to go through life this way on short rations because the same God who wrote the Bible and set up the standards of holy living outlined in those holy scriptures, set up an economy of grace to go along with those scriptures to supply every person with a sufficiency of grace to enable every Christian person to come up to the full standard of every principle of truth taught in the New Testament if they will just humble their hearts and submit to God and go down and get it.
It is appalling and downright pitiful and tragic that many people get all involved in worldly activities after the worldly mold and patterns even to the extent they allow those things to hinder them from their Christian duties and attending church services, etc., and they still affirm they are keeping victory and living for God and pray all the time whether they are in service or not and God is blessing them right along. What I fear is that some people get all caught up in these things and carried away with them and get all elated and feel a strong sense of satisfaction in themselves over what they are doing and actually honestly mistake this for spiritual blessings. Folks, I affirm this is not true and cannot be true in God's setup of things. It is certainly low views when we think we can mix up our lives between the Lord and these worldly activities and feel this to be acceptable to God and that He blesses our lives right on. We can defeat ourselves; yea, even destroy ourselves with our thinking low views.
We can see many signs of compromise (low views) among the people today immodest dress, bodily adornment, jewelry, worldly fashions, cutting and frilling the hair, worldly amusements, etc. These things belong to the outward life and we can see them and all of them are an important part of the general let down and departing from the "faith once delivered to the saints." However, there is another type of compromise which is more subtle and hidden which we do not see on the outside and therefore it gains its ground and does its fatal work in the soul without our knowing it until it is done. That is a type of compromise hidden in the heart involving attitudes, feelings, bitterness, unforgiveness, resentments, pet peeves, etc., and God's Word says there are many defiled with these things. (Hebrews 12:15-16.) For one to have these things in his life and retain them and cherish them and excuse them because of circumstances and how he was treated and still feel himself clear before God and justify himself in them is a clear, direct compromise of the scriptural codes for holy living and will render him ineffectual in prayer and dry up his prayer life and bring him to total defeat in his purpose to live for God and be saved. We must be healed of our hurts, wounds, bitterness and critical and bad attitudes if we expect to prosper in our spiritual lives and get to heaven in the end. Let us all seek to encompass in the scope of our thinking and perspectives the possibilities of the healing of our souls and total victory over all these things through the abundance of God's grace. Let us not entertain any low views here.
The good news I bring you today is that you do not have to be a victim of circumstances. You can, through the grace of God, rise above them. Read Romans 8:35-39. Neither do you have to live under the cloud of hurt feelings, offences, mistreatment, spitefulness, misrepresentations, etc., but can rather abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 31:20 says, "...thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Job 5:21 says, "Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue:..." The margin says here "When the tongue scourgeth."
Some people could stand an actual whip lashing better than a tongue-lashing. When hard and sharp things are said to them, it cuts them down and they can never get over it. It is a peculiar kind of pride that causes people to be so sensitive to what people say to them. By the grace of God you can be healed of this sensitiveness and rise above it and overcome it. Read Matthew 5:43-44 and then settle it that whatever God tells us to do, He has already provided the grace and strength to enable us to do it. It begins with humility and denial of one's self. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6.) Let us never say we can't do this or that God instructs us to do. Only say we have not been able to do it yet but we are on our way.
If you are down under or plagued by any of these things, you don't have to be. You are thus because you have settled for it that way. You have concluded you are just that way and that is your natural makeup and you can't help it. However, under God you can. You can appeal to God and submit yourself to Him and He can heal you of that defect in your nature and make you over new ALL NEW. (II Corinthians 5:17.)
One of the things in which the children of Israel displeased God and brought His judgment down on them was that they limited the Holy One of Israel. (Psalm 78:41.) Let us therefore beware lest we fall after the same example of unbelief. Let us not limit the Holy One of Israel nor discount what His grace can do for us and just plain quit thinking we can't rise above these things and every other thing that is contrary to us and detrimental to our spiritual lives and would hinder us from fulfilling the Bible standards for holy living and boldly declare "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil 4:13.
I have no question to answer or discuss this month and in looking through some of my old letters I came upon this composition which I received in my mail maybe six or eight years ago from Olive Hicks of Goodland, Kansas. I read it over again and it struck me as being highly important and beneficial to every reader. So I send it forth to you in the name of the Lord just as she herself composed it and sent it to me with the possible exception of inserting here and there the full scripture text where she only gave the scripture reference (chapter and verse). The Wisdom of the Bible
"The Bible is the greatest book in the world. It has been a greater influence on mankind than all other forces put together. It is the most significant literary work existing in the world because it excels in beauty, power, and depths of contents. In this Book are infinite wisdom and infinite love. Between its covers are the mind and heart of God; for man's good, for his guidance, and his spiritual nourishment. It is a book of faith, a book of morals, and a book of religion; but it is also a book which teaches man his own individual responsibility, his own dignity, and his equality with his fellow man.
"The Bible teaches us how to find joy in sorrow, strength in weakness, and light in darkest days; how to bear adversity and scorn and how to fight life's battles courageously. The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of thinking, and the most comfortable way of growing. The Bible is God's chart for us to steer by; to show us where the harbor is; helping all who come to it to live above the problems and troubles of life.
"The Bible stimulates the conscience and defines principles of right and wrong. It strengthens the will and this forms character. It can restore to us faith in the values of truth, beauty and goodness. Points of view found in the Bible have their value for today.
"Men cannot be well educated without the Bible, for knowledge of the Bible is a liberal education. Throughout the centuries men of many faiths and origins have found in the Bible words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration, and it has been to them a fountain of strength and an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the mind and soul. The more we read the more it will become plain to see what things are worthwhile and what are not and what things make men happy. The Bible can give men fortitude and steadiness of faith and vision. It has continued to be a source of power in the lives of men.
"To the influence of this great Book are we indebted for all the progress made in civilization.
"In II Timothy 3:15, Paul wrote, 'And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation...' The eighth chapter of Proverbs glorifies wisdom throughout. Beginning with verse 22 it goes on to tell how wisdom was with God when He created the heavens and the earth and all things therein.
In II Timothy 3:16-17 (And here I insert the full text which was not in the original manuscript): 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.' "Since God inspired all of the holy scriptures, we see that the Bible expresses the thoughts of God and is a source of true wisdom.
"In Matthew 7:24 Jesus said, 'Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.'
"Colossians 3:16 says, 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;...
"I Corinthians 1:25 says, 'Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;...'
"I Corinthians 2:6-8 says, 'Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.'
"Job 28:12 says, 'But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?' Then Job 28:28 says, '...Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.' (And let me insert right here that you read all the intervening verses between Job 28:12 and Job 28:28, extolling wisdom.)
"The Bible shows us ourselves. It is the only dependable mirror in which we can see ourselves as God sees us.
"May God teach us to cherish the beauty and greatness of His wisdom and how to live so as to bring joy and blessings into the lives of others. Any may God lead us on to the highest wisdom; to know ourselves and to know Him." (And I insert here my own 'Amen' to this thought.)
QUESTION: Please explain Romans 11:29. Does this mean that if God calls a person into the ministry or for any other phase of the work of God and endows him with gifts suitable to his call; if that person backslides his gifts and calling still continue on even after he has backslidden?
ANSWER: The answer to this question is a resounding "NO." The text in the question has no reference at all to Divine calls and gifts of the Spirit in the operation of the New Testament Church. But this text refers to God's purposes and plans concerning Israel and the covenant and promises made with their fathers. The full text reads: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." Verse 28 says of the Jews that "...they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." "The fathers" in this text refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To these men God gave a covenant incorporating some broad, sweeping promises; first to Abraham and then confirming them with Isaac and Jacob, heirs together with him of the same promises.
The covenant and promise made to these men have a far-reaching importance, so let us look at them a little. In Genesis 12:1, we have the call of Abraham to separate himself from his father's house and his kindred and go to a land that He would show him. In Genesis 12:2 He promised to make of him a great nation and bless him and make him a blessing and to make his name great. Then Genesis 12:3 is the all-important promise, "...In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." This is very far-reaching. In Genesis 18:18 is another reference to this same promise but this text uses the term "all nations" instead of "all families" as in Genesis 12:3. In Genesis 17:19 God said to Abraham that his wife, Sarah, would bear him a son and he should call his name "Isaac." He further said He would establish His covenant with him and with his seed after and it would be an everlasting covenant. And in Genesis 21:12 God told Abraham that "...In Isaac shall thy seed be called." And again in Genesis 22:18 God said to Abraham "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
Now it must be evident from these statements that it was God's original plan and purpose to bless and provide the blessing of salvation to the whole world (Gentiles all nations the same as the Jews) and this was to be brought about through Abraham's seed. Now a reference to Galatians 3:16 will throw a bright light on all of this. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
It must be clear, then, that the ultimate end of the covenant with Abraham and all its promises transcended centuries and ages and cut right straight through to Jesus Christ and terminated in Him.
So let us back up a little now to the call of Abraham to leave his father's house and be separated from his kindred (Genesis 12:1). There was a distinct reason for this. The people where Abraham grew up, including Abraham's father and his household, were all idolaters. It may be assumed that Abraham himself worshiped idol gods and served them, too. We read in Joshua 24:2 "...Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham,...and they served other gods." Verse 3 continues and says "And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood,..." We see here that God was not pleased to establish His covenant of salvation and grace with a people serving and worshipping idol gods. So He separated Abraham from them and revealed Himself to him until he knew and recognized Him as the true and living God and accepted Him as his God. Because he obeyed His voice and went out from his people as he was instructed to do and forsook his idol gods, God established His covenant with him and made him the head and beginning of a new race separated from all others. This was the Israelites and speaking of them in I Kings 8:53 Solomon said, "For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance,..." Again in Deuteronomy 26:18 we read, "And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments." And finally in II Samuel 7:24 we read, "For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God."
It was through this line, this separated, distinctive, holy, peculiar, separated unto the Lord line, that the Messiah was to come; the SEED of Abraham in whom all the nations of the world were to be blessed. God chose and separated Israel unto Himself for this particular, specific purpose. Several times Israel was in severe crisis and threatened with extinction, but God most miraculously and in most unexpected ways intervened and preserved and sustained them until time for Christ to be born and presented to the world. God's Word said in Genesis 49:10, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Even though they were a conquered and subjected people under the Romans when Christ was born, yet their political system and religious system were still pretty much intact and they were permitted a measure of freedom to operate their system among themselves. To this extent Genesis 49:10 was fulfilled and God had succeeded in bringing this line through intact and accomplishing His purpose for getting His Son into the world.
Soon after the life and ministry of Christ (70 A.D.) the Jewish nation with their capitol city, Jerusalem, and the Jewish polity was totally and most miserably destroyed but not until He had carried out His plan and accomplished His purpose through them. But in all of this there was no repenting, withdrawing, or changing of plan or purpose on God's part. He accomplished what He had in mind to accomplish in them. Neither was there any breaking of any of God's promises to them in forsaking them and permitting them to be so miserably destroyed without His aid. True, God had promised to be with them and not forsake them. In Hebrews 13:5 a reference is made to this promise "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." But right along with that promise He also said, "If you forsake me, I will forsake you." (II Chronicles 15:2, 24:20; Deuteronomy 31:16-17.) When the Jews filled up their cup of iniquity in rejecting God's Son and crucifying Him and had utterly forsaken God; then He abandoned and forsook them as a people and let them miserably perish. But He had faithfully warned them of this several times and was thoroughly justified in abandoning them. They ceased to be a special people unto God at that time and will never be such again.
QUESTION: Will you please comment some on the different parts of the ministry and other officers in the Church; the methods of their selection, the method of certification or ordination and procedure for this and their duties, etc.
ANSWER: This is a very big subject and I am certain I will not be able to cover it in the space allotted to me in this column, but perhaps I can produce a few important points that might be helpful to the questioner. Though it is a very large topic, it is a very beautiful one and I am glad for the opportunity to present a few points on it for the consideration of the readers.
First, let us realize that the human body which is used as a model of the Body of Christ, the Church, throughout the 12th chapter of I Corinthians and in many other scriptures of the New Testament is the most complete, synchronized and most completely harmonious in the functioning of all its parts of any organism that there is. The reader may read the entire chapter of I Corinthians 12; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23 and Galatians 1:24 as they are all related to this point. God fashioned, built and organized His Church on this model. But to build a Church after this fashion (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 8:2; Colossians 1:18) is to assemble the members of the Church together to join them together by joints and bands (Colossians 2:19) and furnish it with organs and necessary facilities to function as a unified body. To form the body of Christ, He has brought together, in order, a number of persons, saved men and women who have been saved and cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus, and put them together in an orderly, functional, structured whole so they can function as a unit.
Then within this body He has provided a special, distinct group of individuals called ministers with various gifts and callings to meet the health needs of the body, and among other things, to function as a kind of built-in, self-healing facility so that the body may maintain a good, |
