THE END OF THE WORLD OR THE END OF AN AGE? (Part Three)

By Bob Myhan

Jesus, in Matthew 24:34-35, exclaimed, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

The phrase, “all these things,” refers to the things which Jesus had been speaking – the demolition of Jerusalem and of Herod’s temple. He then continues:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36).

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).

Though He knew these events would take place sometime in the near future, He did not know the exact “day and hour” of their occurrence. The Father knew but neither “the angels in heaven, nor the Son” [or, it is presumed, the Holy Spirit] knew it. Of course, it would probably have been a disadvantage for them to know “that day and hour.” They probably would have been inattentive in regard to the signs Jesus gave them. One might, indeed wonder why it would be that Jesus did not know something that the Father knew, inasmuch as He and the Father “are one” (John 10:30). This is a difficult question, to be sure. However, Jesus said,

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak" (John 12:48-50).

Since Jesus came to do His Father’s will and had been given a command as to what He should speak, it must be the case that the exact “day and hour” of Jerusalem’s destruction was not included in that command. Just prior to His ascension He said, concerning the establishment of His kingdom,

"It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8).

Thus, the “day and hour” the kingdom was to be established was no more a part of the command given Him by His Father than the “day and hour” Jerusalem and the temple were to be destroyed.

[To be continued]

DIVINE PROVIDENCE (Part Sixteen)

By Bob Myhan

The Christian and Providence (Continued)

Another reason for God, in His infinite wisdom, to give Christians a role in providing salvation to alien sinners is that the methods and opportunities of personal evangelism are so diverse: visiting them where they are (Acts 9:10-19; 22:12-16), inviting them into your home (Rom. 16:3-5), taking them aside after an assembly (Acts 18:24-26) or talking to them at work during break or lunch period. One should always be on the lookout for opportunities to evangelize, recognizing that authority plus ability plus opportunity equals responsibility.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15-16)

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:11).

Christians also have a role - individually and collectively - in the providence of God where edification is concerned. The scriptural collective of “Christian” is “church.” The primary purpose of the local church is to provide for the mutual and reciprocal edification of saints.

If Jesus had no specific purpose in mind when He instituted the local church, there would be no direction for its activities. We would be "at sea without a compass," producing large-scale confusion, of which God is not the author (1 Cor. 14:33). Besides this, to say that Jesus ever acted without purpose is to charge Him with folly; there is no wisdom in purposelessness. But what purpose did He have in mind when He instituted the local church? He was providing for the mutual edification of saints.

Immediately after the church was established, its members "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42).

In the age of miraculous spiritual gifts, the gift of prophecy - rather than tongues - was to be used in the assemblies so that the members could be edified.

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (1 Cor. 14:1-5, 12, 22-33)

This is also the primary responsibility of the evangelist. The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch to edify the saints at that place. There was more to do than he could do himself, so he went to Tarsus to recruit Saul to help him.

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:19-26).

Every member of the local church shares in the responsibility.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Eph. 4:11-16).

We are to be "teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Col. 3:16); we are to "consider one another to provoke unto love and good works" (Heb. 10:24, 25).

Each one of us must be aroused to his personal responsibility, and should be appreciated for doing his part (1 Cor. 12:12-27). In time, all saints "ought to be teachers" (Heb. 5:11-14). This requires effort; it comes by perspiration not inspiration.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15)

[To be continued]