Major Christian
Doctrines in the Bible
The
controversy surrounding major Christian doctrines is resolved.
Jesus Christ
Dispensation of Grace
Gospel
Indwelling Holy Spirit
Church
Body of Christ
Rapture
Bride of Christ
Introduction
The first century Christian church was immediately attacked by the sons of Satan who tried to neutralize the doctrines. The first group was the Judaizers as described by the Apostle Paul. The second major group was the Gnostics who existed in Paul time but became more influential in the second and third centuries. The Gnostics did more than spread lies and false doctrines like the Judaizers. The Gnostics attempted to destroy the true gospel by distributing copies of the Holy Scriptures with subtle but highly destructive changes. Copies of the corrupted Gnostic text were circulated widely around the Mediterranean area. The most well-known corrupted scriptures are:
Codex Sinaiticus (Sin.) was discovered in the library at the Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai in 1859 by German theologian and Biblical scholar Count Konstantin von Tischendorf (1815-1874). Some of the Old Testament is missing; however, the whole 4th-century New Testament is preserved, with the Letter of Barnabas and most of the Shepherd of Hermas at the end. It was taken to St. Petersburg (Leningrad, Russia) and in 1933 sold by the Soviet regime to the British Museum Library in London for only 100,000 British Pounds Sterling. It is a partial manuscript believed to be dated about 350 A.D. as shown in the table below. Later revisions representing attempts to alter the text to a different standard probably were made about the 6th or 7th century at Caesarea.
Codex Vaticanus (B) was discovered in the Vatican Library, where it remains and is believed to have been since before 1475 A.D. It is a partial manuscript believed to be dated about 300 A.D. as shown in the table below. The New Testament is missing Hebrews from Chapter 9, verse 14, Philemon and Revelation. The text type is mostly of the Alexandrian group.
Codex Alexandrinus (A) was discovered in the patriarchal library at Alexandria in the seventeenth century and taken to the British Museum Library in London as well. It contains most of the New Testament but with lacunae (gaps) in Matthew, John , and II Corinthians, and also contains the extracanonical books of I and II Clement. In the Gospels the text is of the Byzantine type, but in the rest of the New Testament it is Alexandrian. It is believed to be dated about 450 A.D. as shown in the table below.
Beatty Papyri (P) became available in the period between 1930 and 1960 from two wealthy book collectors, Chester Beatty and Martin Bodmer. These fragments of papyri were mainly found preserved in the dry sands of Egypt. They are all Alexandrian text type. The various papyri fragments are now located in Dublin, Ireland; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Cologny, Switzerland; Vatican, Rome, and Vienna, Austria. These fragments are partial manuscripts with the Gospel of John 18:31-33 and 18:37-38 (manuscript P52) being the oldest, dating to about 130-140 A.D. P52 is now in the John Rylands Library in Manchester, England. The others are believed to be dated about 200 to 250 A.D. as shown in the table below.
ca. A.D. 135 200 250 300 350 450Matthew P45 B Sin. Mark P45 B Sin. A Luke P4,P45,P75 B Sin. A John P52 P66 P45,P75 B Sin. A Acts P45 B Sin. A Romans-Hebrews P46 B Sin. A James-Jude B, P72 Sin. A Revelation P47 Sin. AThe dating of these manuscripts is possible because in 1895 a German pastor by the name of Adolf Deissmann published a rather innocent-sounding book titled Bible Studies. Deissmann was reading scraps of papyrus found in 2,000-year old Egyptian garbage dumps. These papyri did not contain Scripture but were private letters, business transactions, receipts, and marriage contracts that were dated. The grammar and vocabulary contained in the papyri had unique features which were compared and matched with the undated Scripture papyri.
Gnosticism was an esoteric religious movement that flourished and spread to Egypt during the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. They presented a major challenge to orthodox Christianity. Most Gnostic sects professed Christianity, but their belief sharply diverged from those of the majority of Christians in the early church. It is believed that the Gnostics butchered the Greek text with these 5,000 changes, which are mostly deletions. The Gnostics can be identified because the deletions match their theology. The Gnostics did not believe:
The virgin birth of Jesus.
That Jesus was the Son of God.
That Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
That Jesus ascended to Heaven.
That Jesus was the Creator.
That Jesus removed the sins of all mankind.
History proves that the Greek Textus Receptus or Received Text as edited by Desiderius Erasmus from the Holy Greek Byzantine Manuscripts is the inspired word of God. This work was not a translation, since all of the original manuscripts and the resultant new printed Bible were in the Greek language. Only the King James Version and the New King James Version were translated into English from the Greek Textus Receptus.
The Eastern Greek Church has preserved more than 5,000 Greek copies of our Bible. The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into Greek and is called the Septuagint. The New Testament Scriptures were originally written in Greek and required no translation. They are referred to as the Byzantine Text or Byzantine Manuscripts. There are a few slight differences among these 5,000 copies. Hundreds of manuscripts have been traced to texts existing at the end of the 2nd century A.D. However, no manuscript even relatively complete in form comes from that period.
Byzantium is the name given to both the state and the culture of the Eastern Roman Empire in the middle ages. Both the state and the inhabitants always called themselves Romans as did most of their neighbors. Western Europeans, who had their own Roman Empire, called them Orientals or Greeks and later, following the example of the great French scholar DuCange, Byzantines, after the former name of the Empire's capital city, Constantinople. The Byzantine Christians have become the current Greek Orthodox Church.
The major doctrines of the Bible were severely neglected and distorted during the Dark Ages (476 AD - 1100 AD), "600 years of degenerate, godless, inhuman behavior." These doctrines are available today only because of the 5,000 Greek manuscripts that survived. Today Christian churches continue to distort, neglect, and ignore these doctrines.
The following major doctrines of the Bible are presented as defined in Scripture without influence or changes made by modern-day Christian denominations.
Jesus Christ was God Manifested in the Flesh
Jesus was conceived in a virgin's womb by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was God manifested in the flesh, lived a sinless life, and in death on the cross took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. He rose bodily from the grave to give all who believe in His resurrection eternal life with Himself and God the Father in Heaven.
Some Bible teachers attempt to destroy the Deity of Jesus by claiming He gave up His attributes of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence when He came to Earth in the likeness of men. This false teaching originated in the heretical Bible translations such as the New American Standard Bible, American Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Revised Version, J. N. Darby Version and Modern Language Bible version. The King James Version and New King James Version as presented below are correct.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the] [point] [of] death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The heretical versions translate verse 7 to read "emptied Himself" in place of "made Himself of no reputation." Jesus did not empty Himself of anything. He "poured" Himself into the likeness of men. He did not pour His Devine attributes onto the ground as claimed by false teachers. He did not have the visual reputation of God. People could not visually discern that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. Jesus was God cloaked or veiled in a human body, or as correctly stated in the lyrics of the infamous hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing which reads, "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity." The King James Version and New King James Version both have a very good translation of the Greek Textus Receptus. False teachers quickly grasped the heretical versions to blaspheme God by trying to reduce Jesus' deity to only that of a good, personal, relational, kind and loving man. The following web pages and book give a full explanation of why Jesus had all of the attributes of God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Kenosis - Christ "emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:7)
The Problematic Translation of "emptied himself" as found in Philippians 2.7
Amazon.com: God, I don't Understand by Kenneth Boa
Hark the Herald Angels Sing - by Charles Wesley
"Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!""To strip Jesus of His Divine attributes is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of the most serious degree. This constitutes having committed the unpardonable sin of which no one can have eternal life as clearly explained in Matthew 12:31. To deny Jesus' Godly attributes is contrary to many positive witnesses (verses) such as 2 Timothy 3:16 which clearly states "Jesus was God manifested in the flesh." Again, the heretical versions translate this verse incorrectly as well in an attempt to strip Jesus of His deity. The heretical versions read, "Jesus was manifested in the flesh," "He was manifested in the flesh," or "Who was manifested in the flesh." This is blasphemy. It strips Jesus of His Deity and destroys the most important doctrine in the Bible. Every person is manifested in the flesh. My cat is manifested in the flesh.
Matthew 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy [against] the Spirit will not be forgiven men." 32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the [age] to come."
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. (Jesus was God in the flesh in the likeness of a man.)
John 10:30 I and My Father are one.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:14 The Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Colossians 1:15 He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 " If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, "I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
Ephesians 3:9 The mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. (Jesus was the Creator.)
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I (Paul) am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe in Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us."
John 20:27 Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Isaiah 43:11 "I (God), even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. 12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses," Says the LORD, "that I am God. 13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"
Summary: Jesus Christ is Himself God and He chose to become a man in order to redeem us from our sin (John 1:1-14). Jesus Christ was the Creator (John 1:3, Col 1:15-16, Eph 3:9 and Heb 1:2). God exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said, I AM, he was equating Himself with the God of The Old Testament. The Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 26:64-65) because he claimed to be God.
In 1 Timothy 1:17, Paul simply couldn't go any further without sounding out this tremendous doxology. Who is "the King eternal?" He is the Lord Jesus Christ. And who is the Lord Jesus? He is "the only wise God." Paul is teaching us that the Lord Jesus was God. Paul considered Him to be God manifest in the flesh, and here he gives this wonderful testimony to that fact.
1 Timothy 1:15 says, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," and in Isaiah 43:11, God says, "besides Me there is no savior."
You cannot believe that Jesus is the savior unless you also believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. Also, see John 4:25-26, 5:18, 8-58, 9-35, 14:9-11, Heb 1:3, 1:8-9, Phil 2:6, Titus 2:13, 2Peter 1:1, Romans 9:5, 1John 5:20, Isaiah 9:6, 44:6, 45:21, Rev 22:8-9, Luke 24:52 and Mark 2:5-10. Jesus has all of the attributes of God because He is God.
Jesus had all of the attributes and power of God the Father while always acting according to the Father's will. Jesus knew everything about the people, both His followers and His enemies. Jesus could read their minds and foreknow their future thoughts and actions. Jesus had command of the elements. He could control gravity by walking on water. He could control the wind. He knew the location of the fish and could create them at will to guide them into the fishermen's nets. Jesus could heal people at a far distance of many miles. Jesus could restore a dead person to life. Jesus could create life with His spoken word just as He had done in the creation of the Earth and the entire Universe.
Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, [you] hypocrites?
Mark 2:8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts.
Luke 6:8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand here." And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Matthew 8:7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this [one], `Go,' and he goes; and to another, `Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, `Do this,' and he does [it]." 10 When Jesus heard [it], He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, [so] let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
Matthew 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
Mark 4:38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
John 11:41 Then they took away the stone [from] [the] [place] where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up [His] eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said [this], that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Luke 9:20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." 21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."
God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are at all times in full agreement because they are one God. God is monotheistic. Reducing or diminishing the Devine attributes of Jesus leads to a doctrine of two or more gods which is polytheism. Such a false doctrine is that of a cult.
1 Corinthians 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us [there] [is] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom [are] all things, and through whom we [live].
Attributes of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Compare all of the major Bible versions on the following web page:
Dispensation of Grace
We live in the Dispensation of Grace. Many churches simply ignore or deny the fact that God had dealt differently with mankind in past ages. These churches simply ignore the dispensational doctrine. They mix and stir together everything in the Bible, while applying some of the Scriptures that they like to themselves and ignoring the rest. We can easily see that God's commands given to Adam and Eve do not apply to us today. This was the gospel for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We call this the Dispensation of Man Innocent. God told them:
Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
Israel was given the Ten Commandments and told to keep them. Israel offered the blood of bulls and goats as atonement (temporary cleansing) annually for the sins of the people. Israel failed just as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and all of the others failed.
Exodus 34:28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. 29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony [were] in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
Numbers 7:11 For the Lord said to Moses, "They shall offer their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar." 12 And the one who offered his offering on the first day [was] Nahshon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah. 13 His offering [was] one silver platter, the weight of which [was] one hundred and thirty [shekels], and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 14 one gold pan of ten [shekels], full of incense; 15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering; 16 one kid of the goats as a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This [was] the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
The Dispensation of Grace was revealed to the Apostle Paul by the resurrected Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
A more detailed description of the many dispensations and the gospel that applied to each can be found on the following web page:
The Seven Dispensations
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
by Dr. C. I. ScofieldThe Dispensation of Grace began with the conversion of Saul of Tarsus whom Jesus renamed Paul as described in Acts 9. The true beginning was the revelation given by the resurrected Christ Jesus to the Apostle Paul during a period when Paul went from Damascus to the desert. He wrote that he "went to Arabia."
Acts 9:3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It [is] hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord [said] to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought [him] into Damascus.
Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught [it], but [it] [came] through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called [me] through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those [who] [were] apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
Many people believe the Dispensation of Grace began in Acts 2, but this is certainly not correct. The twelve Apostles were teaching faith in Jesus as the Son of God, His resurrection, and requiring obedience to the Law and circumcision in Acts 2. Other Bible teachers called "ultra dispensationalists" falsely claim that the Dispensation of Grace began later in Acts 28. The late Acts claim is certainly flawed because the Apostle Paul had converted many Gentiles to the faith without the requirement of the Law or circumcision for several years prior to that.
Gospel
The gospel in the Dispensation of Grace is different from the gospel in each of the other dispensations. God's requirements for obedience differ in each dispensation. The Dispensation of Law began with Moses. The gospel was to believe in God and keep His commandments. Jesus preached the same before His crucifixion because His Earthly ministry was in the Dispensation of Law. Jesus recited some of the Ten Commandments as requirements, but certainly all of them were requirements.
Exodus 15:26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I [am] the Lord who heals you.
Matthew 19:17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that] [is], God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " `You shall not murder,' `You shall not commit adultery,' `You shall not steal,' `You shall not bear false witness,' 19 `Honor your father and [your] mother,' and, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Most Christian churches teach a "do good" gospel. They teach that we must be righteous and do good. They say we must keep the Ten Commandments and Jesus' commandments in order to go to Heaven. They quote Jesus from the New Testament and David from the Old Testament book of Psalms chapter 119. This teaching is actually contrary to the Bible. The Bible does not say a person can go to Heaven if he is good or keeps the commandments. In fact, the Bible teaches much differently. We are told in the Bible that the Law was given to lead us to Christ. The Law was not given to make us righteous. The Law was given to reveal sin in our hearts. The Law was a curse before it prevented people from going to Heaven by works. The Law brings death, not life eternal. A person who is true to his heart should realize that he cannot keep the Law. Pride and arrogance is in the heart of him who thinks he can become righteous before God by keeping the Law.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God [is] evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor [to] [bring] [us] to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 7:9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which [was] to [bring] life, I found to [bring] death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed [me].
The gospel in the present Dispensation of Grace is to "confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead." The gospel appears in several books of the Bible which were all written by the Apostle Paul. We are saved by faith without the burden of the Law and without the requirement for male circumcision. "Confess the Lord Jesus" means to openly or in a prayer to God express faith that Jesus was conceived in a virgin's womb by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was God manifested in the flesh, lived a sinless life, and in death on the cross took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. The second part of the gospel which says you must "believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead" means that a person truly believes in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Jesus did not raise Himself as many false teachers claim.
Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name [was] Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored [one], the Lord [is] with you; blessed [are] you among women!" 29 But when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "[The] Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
We are called upon in the Bible to repent from unbelief and turn to God in faith. Jesus said, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church, "The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
Luke 15:7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Salvation is by faith in the resurrection of Jesus, not simply believing your sins have been forgiven. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:11-22, " And if Christ is not risen, your faith [is] futile; you are still in your sins!" Paul is telling us that Jesus would not have been the Son of God without the resurrection, and His death on the cross would not have been sufficient for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world. Indeed, one must believe in the resurrection of Jesus as the Son of God in order to receive eternal salvation. Faith in the resurrection of Jesus is the gospel in this Dispensation of Grace.
Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first [day] of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead [men]. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go [and] tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:11 Therefore, whether [it] [was] I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching [is] empty and your faith [is] also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if [the] dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith [is] futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, [and] has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:25 (Jesus Christ) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (resurrection).
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Scripture does not teach that salvation is accomplished by having one's sins forgiven. Most Christian churches teach the false doctrine of effectual forgiveness. They teach that sins are not forgiven until one believes Jesus died for his sins. They falsely believe that having one's sins forgiven equates to being saved. The effectual forgiveness doctrine is not in the Bible. Actually the Bible teaches just the opposite. While we were enemies of God (meaning unsaved) we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. It does not require faith to be reconciled to God as many churches falsely teach. Reconciliation does not mean one is saved as these churches teach. It means the enmity between man and God as a result of Adam's transgression has been reversed, and the sins of the whole world have been forgiven. We are saved by sincere faith in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. We are spiritually baptized with the filling of the Holy Spirit upon our salvation to eternal life as a child of God.
Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (His resurrection).
In Romans 4:25 we see the separation between the forgiveness of sins and salvation. Jesus was delivered up and crucified for the forgiveness of our sins, and He was raised from the dead to provide the way of salvation. The only sin which has not been forgiven is the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. This has been called by some as the "unpardonable sin." The denial of Jesus Christ is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for which there is no forgiveness.
Mark 3:28 " Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;" 29 "but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"-- 30 because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Matthew 12:31 " Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy [against] the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the [age] to come.
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Many churches present a salvation invitation or altar call that is not the complete gospel as given in the Bible. Baptismal regeneration is not the gospel in this Dispensation of Grace. The Apostle Paul warned us about other gospels and false gospels. These incomplete gospel messages do not result in eternal salvation for the person responding. The following are some examples of incorrect or incomplete salvation invitations.
The correct and complete gospel is presented in the Bible verses above, not in these common church invitations. We are to have a deep faith and truly believe that Jesus was God in the flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, was resurrected by the Father to give us eternal life, and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is our advocate and makes intercession for us. You are born again by receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon faith in these gospel truths. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus said, Matthew 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." 14 "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Jesus also said, Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you ; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" Jesus said the way is "narrow" and "difficult." Who are these people who say "Lord, Lord" that Jesus is referring to? They certainly are not atheists who will obviously spend eternity in hell. Jesus is talking about people who fail to understand His gospel. Jesus is talking about many people who attend church every Sunday but simply think inviting Jesus into their heart is the gospel. Jesus is talking about TV evangelists who beg for money and present an incomplete gospel message that leaves out the resurrection. Jesus is talking about people whose improper prayer is not heard by God. These people are all on the broad way that leads to destruction as Jesus promised. You can be confident and sure about
your eternal salvation by faith alone. Click here to say, "I just prayed to confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior." |
Many churches teach Romans 10:13 as the gospel, "For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'" This verse is a summation of the gospel as presented in Romans 10:9 above but should not be presented as the gospel.
Unfortunately most "Christian" churches have one or more false doctrines they hold above the gospel or in place of the gospel that they defend vehemently (heatedly, violently, fervidly, passionately, hotly, intensely and vigorously). Any church or church member that teaches that salvation is available only through their church must be lost by definition because the claim shows they do not understand the gospel.
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List of False Doctrines and False Worship in "Christian" Churches |
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Church Name or Denomination |
The list of false doctrines that are most important to them. These are emphasized instead of the gospel. |
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Roman Catholic Church |
Roman Catholics worship the Virgin Mary and the Pope. They give the Pope the title of "Holy Father" which is blasphemy against God who is the only Holy Father according to Scripture. They falsely claim Mary can forgive sins, answer prayer, provide salvation, and intercede before God. They falsely claim that Mary's mother also had an immaculate conception in giving birth to Mary. They falsely claim that Mary had perpetual virginity, had no other children, is a co-redemptress with Jesus Christ, and ascended to Heaven without having died. All of these claims are clearly shown in the Bible to be false and many are outright blasphemy. Dozens of other false doctrines are emphasized. They falsely teach that salvation can only be obtained through membership in their church. |
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Presbyterian Church |
Presbyterians worship John Calvin and his false doctrines of Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance (TULIP). The attributes of their god are different from the attributes of the Almighty God of the Bible. Therefore they worship a false god. |
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Reformed Churches |
Reformed Churches worship John Calvin and his false doctrines of Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance (TULIP). The attributes of their god are different from the attributes of the Almighty God of the Bible. Therefore they worship a false god. |
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Lutheran Churches |
Lutheran Churches worship their founder, Martin Luther, infant baptismal regeneration, the Ten Commandments, and legalism even though Luther is claimed by them to be the "father of grace." Luther incorrectly interpreted grace as "unmerited favor" when in fact the Apostle Paul gives the definition as the relaxation of the Law and circumcision to the Gentiles. Lutherans deny the dispensational truth of the Bible and never teach about the Dispensation of Grace. |
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Pentecostal Churches |
Pentecostal Churches worship "speaking in tongues" and being "slain in the Spirit" (fall or being pushed to the floor). Unfortunately their "speaking in tongues" is most likely fake. |
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Calvary Chapel Churches |
Calvary Chapel Churches worship the founder, Pastor Chuck Smith. They also worship the Ten Commandments, works, and legalism while denying the Dispensation of Grace whereby we are saved by faith without the Law or works. |
| Church of Christ Churches | Church of Christ Churches worship baptismal regeneration that they claim is only effective in their churches. They falsely teach that salvation can only be obtained through membership in their church. |
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Ultra Dispensational Churches |
Ultra Dispensational Churches can be credited with acceptance of dispensational truth in the Bible. However, they deny that God has the power to intervene in the person lives of mankind in this Dispensation of Grace. They don't preach the Ten Commandments from the Dispensation of Law, but they have new commandments such as "do not pray for healing and do not baptize. They incorrectly list things God can't do in the Dispensation of Grace. They believe that a pray for healing is sinful and hopeless. Their approach to God is similar to many pagans who say, "There is a God but He is dead." |
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Baptist Churches |
Baptist Churches worship tithing, the Ten Commandments, works, and legalism while placing top emphasis on tithing. The salvation invitation given to visitors is rarely the gospel. They deny the dispensational truth of the Bible. |
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Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches |
Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches worship dress codes, church membership and tithing in that order. They have appended the Ten Commandments in churches and church schools with hundreds of new church laws. They are perhaps the most "bondage" church group in the United States. They were founded as a dispensational church according to the Bible but have now turned back into legalism and the Law. They falsely teach that salvation can only be obtained through membership in their church. |
| Evangelical Free Churches | Evangelical Free Churches are neither evangelical nor free. They practice "bondage" techniques against the members. They worship tithing, the Law, and legalism. They deny the dispensational truth of the Bible. |
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Methodist Churches |
Methodist Churches worship homosexuals and accept anyone as a member irregardless of their vial, sinful lifestyle. |
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Episcopal Churches |
Episcopal Churches worship homosexuals and accepts anyone as a member irregardless of their vial, sinful lifestyle. |
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Greek Orthodox Churches |
Greek Orthodox Churches worship statues or icons of the Apostles which is idolatry. They deny the dispensational truth of the Bible. |
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Mormon Churches (LDS and FLDS) |
Mormon Churches worship their founder, Joseph Smith, and deny the Trinity doctrine of the Bible even though it is clearly given four times in the Book of Mormon which says, "And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end." 2 Nephi 31:21, Mosiah 15:5, Mormon 7:7, and The Testimony of the Three Witnesses. They are a "bondage" church that majors in using brainwashing techniques on members. The attributes of their god are different from the attributes of the Almighty God of the Bible. Therefore they worship a false god. They falsely teach that salvation can only be obtained through membership in their church. |
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"King James Version Only" Churches |
"King James Version Only" churches can be of any denomination. They worship the 1611 King James Version of the Bible while being blind to the fact that the Greek Textus Receptus is the true "Received Word of God." They worship the 1611 KJV book, rather than the Author. Bible Life Ministries' recommends the King James Version or New King James Version as being equally acceptable but believes all other versions are corrupted. |
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Suggested reading that will help to explain why churches prefer false doctrines. |
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Indwelling Holy Spirit
God gives the indwelling Holy Spirit to all who believe the gospel in the current Dispensation of Grace. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit did not occur in any of the previous dispensations. Certainly the Holy Spirit came into the lives of many of God's people, but this was on a temporary basis. King David pleaded with God not to take the Holy Spirit from him. King David is an example showing that a permanent indwelling was not common.
Psalms 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [by] [Your] generous Spirit. 13 [Then] I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. We can assume that his filling continued.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
Jesus told his disciples that He was going away (death and resurrection), but He would send a "Helper." We know from Scripture that the "Helper" was the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, given to believers at the moment of salvation.
John 15:26 " But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Later, on the same day as His resurrection, Jesus entered the room through closed doors where the disciples were discussing His resurrection. The women who had visited His tomb and were told by an angel that He had risen were explaining their experience to the others. After Jesus entered He breathed on [them], and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This was the exact fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send a "Helper." It was the beginning of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the saints.
John 20:1 Now on the first [day] of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw [that] the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying [there]; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying [there], 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace [be] with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them [His] hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on [them], and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
The people did not speak in other tongues on Resurrection Day when Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit. The revealing of the indwelling Holy Spirit with great power and astonishment occurred in Acts 2, but this was after Jesus breathed on the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was the revealing of the power and majesty of the Holy Spirit. It was not the beginning of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the saints. The Holy Spirit was given in John 20:22.
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 "And how [is] [it] [that] we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
Speaking in tongues and performing healing miracles are not evidence for salvation or the indwelling Holy Spirit. Satan and his agents can do those things. Rightly dividing the word of truth is evidence of possession of the Holy Spirit. Satan and his agents always twist Scripture.
The Holy Spirit was also revealed to the believing uncircumcised Gentiles who were not bound by the Law or circumcision. The indwelling Holy Spirit was a gift from God as promised by Jesus. The Holy Spirit is never poured out on the unbeliever as falsely taught by John Calvin.
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
The Apostle Paul instructed the Gentile believers to "walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." This is not a lawful commandment like the Ten Commandments but rather sound doctrinal advice for believers in the Dispensation of Grace.
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The indwelling Holy Spirit produces "fruit of the Spirit" that was not possible under the Law.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those [who] [are] Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The indwelling Holy Spirit is one of the "Great Bible Mysteries" that was not foretold or prophesied in the Old Testament.
Mystery No. 2 - The Holy Spirit Divine Indwelling of Christ in the Believer
The second part of the mystery was the filling of believers with the Holy Spirit. This is often referred to as having "Christ in you," being "in Christ," or "Christ lives in me."
Colossians 1:24-27 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the MYSTERY which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ died in vain."
Acts 10:44-45 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
Church
The word "Church" in the Bible does not refer to a particular Christian denomination or a building on the street corner with a cross on the front. The "Church" consists of past and present true believers in Jesus Christ from the original foundation of the Church as described below to the present and future days ending at the Rapture. Most dispensationalists tend to make the "Church Age" identical to the Dispensation of Grace, but it certainly is not. Other Bible teachers and denominations place the beginning of the Church at the "Day of Pentecost," but this is not true either. Certainly the Church already existed prior to Act 2 because Jesus told His disciples to "tell it to the church" in Matthew 18:17 prior to His death and resurrection.
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some [say] John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed [this] to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." 16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that `by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell [it] to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."
Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Jesus referred to the coming Church prior to His crucifixion. The most likely beginning of the Church which Jesus promised to Peter occurred on the same day as Jesus' resurrection. The disciples were meeting after the resurrection, and Jesus entered through a closed door. Jesus said to them, "Peace to you! As the Father sent Me, I also send you." This instant was the beginning of the Church. Every living believer at this moment and every believer since has become a member of Jesus' Church. Followers and believers in Jesus who died during His Earthly ministry are in the "Body of Christ" but not in the Church. A good example is John the Baptist.
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace [be] with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them [His] hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on [them], and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Body of Christ
The "Body of Christ" is more than the Church. It is all those who have believed in Jesus Christ as the Almighty God who humbled Himself in human flesh as the Son of God. Pastor and Bible teachers who claim the Body of Christ and the Church are one in the same have failed to "rightly divide the Word of Truth."
John 10:30 I and My Father are one.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:14 The Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Colossians 1:15-16 He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, "I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." JOHN 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. (Jesus was God in the flesh in the likeness of a man.)
Ephesians 3:9 The mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. (Jesus was the Creator.)
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the first person in the "Body of Christ." She was the first to know about the coming Son of God, and she believed.
Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name [was] Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored [one], the Lord [is] with you; blessed [are] you among women!" 29 But when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "[The] Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mary's cousin Elizabeth was the second person to enter into the "Body of Christ" because she also believed when told. Her baby in the womb, John the Baptist, was the third person in the Body of Christ for he leaped with joy in the womb upon hearing the good news. Elizabeth's husband, Zacharias, was most likely the fourth person to enter into the "Body of Christ" after he was filled with the Holy Spirit and believed.
Luke 1:39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed [are] you among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of your womb!
Luke 1:67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 "Blessed [is] the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who [have] [been] since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, 72 To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. 76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
Joseph, to whom Mary was betrothed, entered into the 'Body of Christ" as he was told and believed.
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
All of Jesus' disciples and the twelve Apostles (not counting the one who betrayed Him, Judas Iscariot), Mary Magdalene, and the other women among them entered into the "Body of Christ" upon their faith in Jesus as the Son of the Living God. People who did not believe in Jesus during His Earthly ministry could come into the "Body of Christ" upon believing Jesus was the Son of the Living God and faith in His resurrection. The "Body of Christ" continues to increase to this day as people hear the gospel and believe.
Thomas was doubtful of the resurrection of Jesus. This doubt nearly sent Thomas to an eternal Hell in the "Lake of Fire." Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand [here], and put [it] into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas did as Jesus asked and replied, "My Lord and my God!" Thomas was saved, but he also received a severe scolding from Jesus for his doubtfulness. Jesus said, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed [are] those who have not seen and [yet] have believed." This is a harsh warning to the doubter and unbeliever who should not expect a personal visit from the resurrected Jesus Christ as evidence.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand [here], and put [it] into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed [are] those who have not seen and [yet] have believed."
Some pastors and Bible teachers who are generally dispensational in their theology say the twelve Apostles are not a part of the "Body of Christ." These false teachers claim the twelve Apostles will be judging Israel during the Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times. This is incorrect. Many false teachers like to use the phrase "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" from the Bible, instead they are "wrongly butchering the Word of Truth." These teachers falsely believe a sinful Israel will require judging during the Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times, but it will not. During His Earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed the establishment of the Kingdom of God in Israel where He would be her King. He sent the twelve Apostles to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but instructed them not to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6). The Kingdom of God was not established at that time because the people crucified the King (Jesus). Therefore the twelve Apostles were denied the opportunity to judge Israel as stated in Matthew 19:27. After Jesus' resurrection He again proclaimed the Kingdom of God would be established in Israel. He told the Apostles, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." John 20:21. Again He was rejected and the Kingdom of God could not be established in Israel. The twelve Apostles were denied the second opportunity to judge Israel. The heresy that the twelve Apostles are not included in the "Body of Christ" is troubling, since it entails such extreme twisting and denial of Scripture. It is inconceivable that these false teachers could be filled with the Holy Spirit while at the same time being blind to the truth.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 "nor bag for [your] journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 "And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When His disciples heard [it], they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at [them] and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" 28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace [be] with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them [His] hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on [them], and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the] [names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The twelve Apostles certainly will not judge Israel during the Millennium (1000-year reign of Christ after the Rapture) because this will be a sinless period. Satan will be bound in "The Bottomless Pit," unable to deceive mankind.
The twelve Apostles will not be judging Israel in the New Jerusalem during the Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times because Israel will not be there. The Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times begins with the Rapture, continues through the Millennium, continues with the New Earth and New Jerusalem, and continues forever. There will not be any sinful people in the New Jerusalem who require judgment because "there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles." Only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be there. There will be no need for any judgments because all judgments have already been decided and executed. The New Jerusalem will contain God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, Holy Spirit, Saints comprising the "Bride of Christ," and the one hundred forty-four thousand saved out of Israel during the Tribulation. The twelve Apostles will not be judging anyone because Israel was "broken off" because of unbelief. God then turned to the Gentiles with the gospel of grace. The Jewish people who become believers are being grafted in again but this grafting will end with the Rapture. Many false teachers claim God will raise up Israel in the "last days" and will restore Israel to leadership of the world. This is not true. The claim has no Scriptural basis.
Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is [the] Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I] [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Romans 11:26 does not mean that everyone in Israel will be saved in the End Times as many Bible teachers claim. It means that Jesus Christ (Deliverer) came out of Israel to give all in Israel the opportunity to be saved during His Earthly ministry but Israel rejected Jesus in their blindness. So God turned to the Gentiles with the offer of salvation by faith without works which is described in Scripture as a part of the "Mystery."
Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this [is] My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
God will defend Israel immediately after the Millennium during the War of Armageddon but Israel will not enjoy any special position or leadership during the End Times that follow.
Revelation 16:14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, [which] go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed [is] he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"
Jesus will sit on His Great White Throne at the end of the Millennium to judge all the Earth. The Devil will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Jesus will open the Book of Life which contains all of the names of the saints in Him. All others whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number [is] as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet [are]. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the] [Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rapture
The "Rapture" will be the assembly by Christ in the air of the living "Church" saints and the "Body of Christ" saints who have died. Many pastors and Bible teachers use the phrase "Rapture of the Church." That is technically and theologically wrong. The Rapture will include more saints than those in the "Church." Some people in the "Body of Christ" died before the beginning of the "Church." They will all be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
The dead in Christ will rise first. These are people in the "Body of Christ" who have died, such as the Virgin Mary, twelve Apostles (not including the one who betrayed Him, Judas Iscariot), Apostle Paul, John the Baptist, and everyone else. The living members of the "Church" shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The Scripture is very clear on these points.
The word "Rapture" does not appear in the Bible. It is derived from the Greek verb, "harpazo," meaning "caught up" or "taken away," which translates into the Latin word "rapturo" from which we get the English word "Rapture." The Rapture will occur just prior to the start of the Tribulation. In fact the Tribulation will begin immediately upon removal of the saints in the Rapture because the Holy Spirit will also be removed from the Earth. The Tribulation will be a seven-year period divided in two 3 1/2-year periods, the first period being the Tribulation and the second period being the Great Tribulation. Chaos will begin immediately after the Rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others [do], but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and [as] a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Bride of Christ
The "Bride of Christ" is more than the "Body of Christ." The "Bride of Christ" includes the "Body of Christ" and saints from the Old Testament who were resurrected soon after Jesus' resurrection. This doctrine is presented with such clarity that it seems troublesome that anyone would disagree; yet many pastors and Bible teachers equate the Church, Body of Christ, and Bride of Christ as all the same. They certainly are not.
The Old Testament saints did not go immediately to Heaven upon their deaths because their sins had not been forgiven. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, including the sins of the Old Testament saints, pagans, and sinners. Jesus died for everyone. After Jesus' resurrection all of the Old Testament saints were raised. Some of them appeared in Jerusalem before going to Heaven where they await to become a part of the "Bride of Christ."
Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them [and] [be] their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the] [names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The joining of the "Bride of Christ" and Christ Jesus is called "the marriage of the Lamb" in Scripture.
Revelation 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write: `Blessed [are] those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."
The one hundred and forty-four thousand saved out of Israel during the Tribulation will not be a part of the "Bride of Christ." They have a special dressing in robes of white and a special duty. The "Bride of Christ" will be assembled by Christ Jesus at the Rapture.
Revelation 7:2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred [and] forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel [were] sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand [were] sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand [were] sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand [were] sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand [were] sealed. 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation [belongs] to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, [Be] to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
Where Does Faith Come From? Faith of the Son of God or Your Faith?
God's Attributes - Does God hate?
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False Doctrines of the "Pope" of Geneva
What Love Is This?
Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God by Dave HuntThe Seven Dispensations
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
by Dr. C. I. ScofieldBible Charts by Clarence Larkin
The best book for the study of dispensations
is:
Dispensational Truth - Gods' Plan and Purpose in the Ages
by Clarence Larkin, 1918 ISBN: 0-89540-388-9
The best study Bible for learning the dispensations is:
The New Scofield Study Bible - Genuine King James Version
Genuine Leather, Burgundy, ISBN: 019527749X
Highly recommended book for studying many different theologies is:
The Moody Handbook of Theology
by Paul Enns, ISBN: 0-8024-3428-2
An extremely well written and documented book in refute of Calvinism is:
The Other Side of Calvinism
by Laurence M. Vance, Ph. D., ISBN: 0-9628898-7-3
You may contact the author by clicking the mailbox above.
Copyright © 2009 by Kent R. Rieske, B.Sc., and Bible Life Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
Permission is granted to copy this information in whole and without revision providing that full credit is given to the author. This information may not be copied in part and the information may not be included in any material that is offered for sale. You are encouraged to place a link to this article on your website.
Prophecy
Today for the Body of Christ
God's Election & Man's Free Will
Are the Sins of All Mankind Forgiven?
