Pressing Charges against God - Part 2

The Temptation to Press Charges against God

Most likely, every saved individual reading this post has been tempted to “press charges against God.” Nearly all of us have been tempted to blame or accuse God. Sadly, many of us have given in to such temptation. The temptation to accuse God is twofold.

The Temptation from Within

The knowledge we have about God produces a very real temptation to accuse Him. You see, life is hard. When hard times hit, they hit hard. Sicknesses make us uncomfortable. Because of physical illness, we have sleepless nights. Some struggle financially. Others deal with the death of a loved one. None of these trials are easy.

When the catastrophe hits, we are tempted to blame God because of our knowledge of Him. We who are saved know two things about God. First, we know from God’s word that He loves us. Second, we know that God is omnipotent (all-powerful). Here is where the temptation lies. If God really loves me, and He has the power to stop a calamity from happening to me, then why didn’t He stop it? God knew that this that has come my way is hurting me, yet He did nothing to stop it, and we know that He could have! Every child of God must resist the temptation to accuse and blame God. We must remember that if God saw fit not to stop something, then He has a plan greater than we are able to see.

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

The Temptation from Without

The temptation to accuse God lies not only in our knowledge of God, but there is also a temptation from without.

In my previous post, I mentioned that we who have been justified enjoy two blessings. First, if you are justified, you cannot be condemned; second, if you are justified, no one can even bring charges against you.

However, there is someone who would love to bring you into condemnation and press charges against you. I am talking about Satan, whom the Bible calls in Revelation 12:10 “the accuser of the brethren.” Satan accuses us in two ways. First, He goes before God and accuses those who are saved. We see this clearly in the story of Job. Satan stood before God, telling God that the only reason Job served Him was because God had blessed Job so much. The devil accused Job to God. Second, the devil accuses God to those of us who are saved. We see this clearly in the garden of Eden. The serpent, speaking to Eve, asks her if she and Adam can eat of any tree in the garden. Eve replied that she and her husband could eat of any tree in the garden, except the tree in the middle of the garden. In Genesis 3:5, the serpent told Eve that the only reason God prohibited them from eating of that tree was because God knew that they would be like Him if they ate of it. In other words, Satan was accusing God of withholding something good from Adam and Eve. “God doesn’t want you to have this because He doesn’t want what’s best for you.” Satan accused God to Eve!

This is how the accuser of the brethren works. He goes before God, accusing us; then he comes to us, accusing God. Now, when the devil goes before God to accuse us, what does God do? From scripture, I know exactly what God does. Romans 8:33 says, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.” God does not allow the devil to press charges against you! Because you are saved by God’s grace, covered by His blood, any charges brought by the devil is immediately dismissed. God will hear nothing of it.

Now, let me ask you a question. When the devil comes to you accusing God, how do you respond? Do you dismiss it as God does for you, or do you entertain it? Do you stand up for God as He stands up for you, or do you listen to the devil’s accusations? Many of us blame and accuse God because the devil put those thoughts in our mind, but we do not stand up for God as He stands up for us. When Satan brings charges against God to you, dismiss them! That’s what God does for you!

The Millennium - Part 2A

Why a Millennium?

After clearly understanding that the Millennium is a literal, 1000-year period where Jesus Christ reigns literally upon this earth, the student of this subject is, in most cases, questioning the purpose of such a time. WHY? Why have a literal Millennium where we, the saints of God, reign with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years, and then have a little time when Satan is again released, and then have the judgment of the doomed and the damned, and then reign with Christ for ever? Why don’t we just reign with Christ for ever starting at the second coming of Christ?

In studying the following points, I hope the reader considers my efforts to answer this question a success. I feel like there are good reasons why the literal reign of Jesus Christ upon this present earth will come to pass.

It would do the reader good to understand, first and foremost, that when dealing with subjects such as the Millennium, we are dealing with items relating to the plan of God. We must always remember, especially when attempting to answer “why this…” and “why that…” that God’s ways are higher than our ways. I will never be able to answer fully why God does this or that. I do not understand everything about God; and, if I ever do, I would do good to seek a better concept of God. There are, however, answers in the Bible to some of our questions concerning the Millennium. A look at a few scriptures may enable us to understand the purposes of a literal Millennium upon this present earth.

Some Upcoming Events

Before looking at the Millennium exclusively, it is necessary to examine a few events that will happen to us all; some events occurring sooner than others.

DEATH

The first event that is certain to happen to all of us who are not alive at the coming of Christ is death. Let us look at what happens at the death of the Christian, then at the death of the sinner.

When a Christian dies, his body becomes lifeless; his soul goes to be with Jesus Christ immediately. There is no soul sleep. Notice:

II Corinthians 5:8 – “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

When an unsaved man dies, the moment he closes his eyes in this world, he opens them in hell. Listen to the account of Jesus Christ of a rich man who died and what happened to him immediately:

Luke 16:22, 23 – “…the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

It is clear that the moment he died, the rich man found himself within the regions of the doomed and the damned.

I understand that there are gospel tracts that seem to indicate that as soon as an unsaved person dies, they are immediately before God in judgment. The Bible does not teach this. The Bible does teach that judgment comes after death. Notice:

Hebrews 9:27 – “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment.”

It is Bible truth that judgment occurs after death, but the scripture does not say that judgment occurs immediately after death. Actually, Revelation 20 tells us that there will be a resurrection of the unsaved dead after the Millennium, and they will stand before God at that time. Hell, we are told, will deliver up the dead that is in it. Those who are in hell will come forth out of hell and be judged after the Millennium at the Great White Throne Judgment. The unsaved man does not go to a judgment immediately at the time of death. He immediately goes to a literal, burning hell.

THE RAPTURE

The rapture means nothing to the man who dies without Jesus Christ. At the time of the rapture, the man who died lost will be yet in hell. The rapture will not change that fact.

The word “rapture” is one of those words that does not appear in the King James Bible. Like the word “millennium,” though the actual word is not in the Bible, its meaning certainly is. By the word “rapture,” we mean “caught up.” Notice:

I Thessalonians 4:16, 17 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

There are two things that happen in this verse. First, the dead in Christ will rise to meet the Lord in the air. Secondly, we who are alive and remain will join them. The “dead in Christ” refer to Christians who will have already died when Jesus comes for the church. As for these Christians who have already died, the “dead in Christ,” what are they doing when Jesus comes for them? Are they sleeping in a grave? NO! Absolutely not! Their bodies are in graves, but their souls are with the Lord. As a matter of fact, when Christ comes for the church, the souls of these Christians will come with Him. Notice:

I Thessalonians 4:13 – “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

So, it is clear that when a Christian dies, he goes immediately to be with the Lord. Then, when Jesus comes for the church, his soul will come with Christ to be reunited with his body. His body will come forth from the grave, being changed into a glorious body, “like unto His glorious body!” Those who are saved and yet alive when Jesus comes for His church will immediately be changed, receiving at once a glorious body like Christ’s, and will meet Christ in the air.

We will receive a “glorified body,” as we call it, at the rapture. Once we receive this glorified body, it is impossible for us to be lost at that point. The Bible says concerning us who receive a glorified body – “…so shall we ever be with the Lord.” When I rise to meet Jesus in the air, I will receive a glorified body, and never again will I be separated from Christ.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

This is another event that is meaningless to the one who has died as an unbeliever. I personally believe that the judgment of the believer will take place at the rapture. The Bible says in Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” I believe that the best picture of the judgment seat of Christ is found in I Corinthians chapter 3:

I Corinthians 3:10-15 – “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

There are a couple of things to note concerning this passage. First, nothing is said in the passage regarding sins. God is not judging sins in this passage. God the Father already judged my sins. The judgment of my sins took place nearly 2,000 years ago. Look at it:

Isaiah 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Christ was judged at the cross of Calvary for my sins. I will not have to stand in judgment for my sins; Christ stood in Pilate’s judgment hall for my sins! When a believer stands at the judgment seat of Christ, he is not standing there to find out if he’s saved or not – the glorified body he received at the rapture tells him he’s saved! He is not standing there to show the Lord whether he’s saved or not, for “the Lord knoweth them that are His.”

So, it is clear that sins are not dealt with at this judgment. Four times in the above passage, we read the word “work.” The judgment seat of Christ is about our works. In the aforementioned passage, Paul gives us a picture of a building. The apostles and prophets laid the foundation for this building. Paul gives us the warning – “But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” What we do for Christ will be examined at this judgment. At this judgment, our works for the kingdom of God will be added to the foundation. After everyone’s works have been added to the building, the fire will be set to it. Everything we did for show, for selfish motives, for self-benefit, out of hypocrisy, or anything else that brought glory to self will be burned to a crisp. Those works will be gone. They will go up in smoke, and no reward will be given for those works. But the works that truly promoted the work of God out of a pure heart will remain. When the smoke clears, here is what we will have –

Ephesians 5:27 – “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

This judgment of the believers’ works will take place, I believe, shortly after the rapture.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

After the tribulation, the scripture makes it clear that Christ will return to the earth. He will come with the saints who met him in the air at the event we call the rapture. It is at this time that the Millennium will begin. Christ, when he comes to the earth again, will come to set up His kingdom upon this earth. At this time, the beast (antichrist) and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire. The devil will not be cast into the lake of fire at this time. I will elaborate more on the second coming of Christ shortly.

THE MILLENNIUM

This is the 1,000 year reign of Christ. It immediately begins when Christ returns to earth with His saints. During this time, the devil will be bound. He will no longer deceive the nations.

SATAN LOOSED

After the Millennium, Satan will be loosed out of his prison for a short time. He will then be able to deceive the nations again. Those of us who were in the rapture will NOT IN ANY CASE BE DECEIVED. As I stated earlier, the Bible says that when we meet Jesus in the air, “so shall we ever be with the Lord.” We will never be separated from Christ. So, when the devil is loosed for a short season after the Millennium, there is no way he will deceive us who were with Christ in the rapture. There is no way for us to be lost at that point.

SATAN DESTROYED

After the short time when Satan is loosed, those whom he deceives will fight one final battle with Satan as their leader. Fire from heaven will destroy them, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and the false prophet are.

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

After the destruction of Satan, the unsaved dead will be resurrected. They will stand before God at the great white throne. The books will be opened. They will see that God is just in allowing them to go to hell. They will see that their name is not in the Lamb’s book of Life. Then, “death and hell” will be cast into the lake of fire.

THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

After the final judgment, Satan and unbelievers are gone for good. At this time, God destroys the heaven and earth that are in existence now, and He creates a new heaven and a new earth. The New Jerusalem will come down from God out of heaven and will settle upon this earth. In the new heaven and new earth, we will reign with Christ for ever and ever.

STAY TUNED...

The Millennium - Part 1A

A Literal Millennium

Introduction

As I begin this study on the Millennium, it is important to understand, first and foremost, that this is a brief study, and is in no way designed to be an in-depth study of this subject. Clearly, I understand that this study is basic rather than exhaustive. There is no way in this brief study to answer every question concerning the Millennium, to examine every passage of scripture dealing with the Millennium, or to establish myself as an expert on this massive subject. In this study, it is my desire to present the basics of this vital Bible doctrine.

The Primary Passage – Revelation 20:1-6

The twentieth chapter of Revelation is perhaps the easiest understood chapter of the book of Revelation. In spite of the simplicity of its language, many Bible readers still choke at its clarity. Let us look at the passage which I will be examining throughout this study.

Revelation 20:1-6 – “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

It would be good for the reader to understand that the word, “millennium” is found neither in the above passage, nor anywhere else in the Bible. Some have chosen not to believe in a literal Millennium because the word, “millennium” is not found in the Bible. Though the word itself may not be in the Bible, its exact meaning is found in the Bible, and we see it clearly in the above passage.

The word “millennium” comes from two Latin words. The first, “mille,” means “thousand;” and the second, “annus,” means “years.” So, the Latin word “millennium” is the exact equivalent to our English phrase “thousand years.”

Five times in the above passage we find the phrase “thousand years.” First, in verses 2 and 3, we are told that an angel took the devil, bound him, and cast him into the bottomless pit to remain for a thousand years. In these two verses, the phrase “thousand years” is found twice. So, we who believe in a literal millennium believe that during the millennium, the devil will be bound for A THOUSAND YEARS! In verse 4, I am told that those who were martyred during the tribulation LIVED and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. In verse 5, I am told that the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. In verse 6, I am told that those who escape the second death will reign with Christ for a thousand years.

So, the Millennium is a Bible doctrine that is preached by Bible-believing preachers, proclaiming that those who escape the second death, especially those who suffer for the gospel, will live and reign with Jesus Christ upon this present, literal earth for 1,000 years of peace.

The Binding of Satan

In the aforementioned passage of scripture, Revelation 20:1-6, John informs me that, at the beginning of the Millennium, the devil himself is bound with a chain and confined to the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. Praise God for this truth! The devil, who caused so much trouble through the centuries for both Israel and the church, is bound! Satan, the god of this world who blinded the minds of them who refuse to believe Christ, is in confinement! Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of this passage is the fact that it only takes one angel to bind that old serpent. When Jesus Christ was arrested, the Romans sent a band of soldiers, each soldier possessing a torch and a sword. When Peter was arrested and placed in jail he was guarded a band of soldiers. But when God binds the devil, he does not send heaven’s armies! He does not send the artilleries of heaven’s forces! He does not empty heaven’s fort of its officials! Jesus Christ, the commander-in-chief of the heavenly realm, simply sends one officer – just one angel – and Satan’s freedom to deceive the nations is a thing of the past!

TO BE CONTINUED…

A Full Gospel without Full Salvation - Part 4B

This post is “part 4B,” because it is not only a continuation of the series as a whole; it is a continuation of part 4. In this post, I will discuss further the fact that full salvation is a secure salvation.

Full Salvation is a Secure Salvation – Continued

The full salvation that we receive from the hand of Christ is a secure salvation. Many are afraid of the word “security.” A good number of “full gospel” advocates have little or no security in regards to their salvation. Our security rests on a foundation of several truths. The first truth that I looked at is the Biblical fact that…

“FULL SALVATION” NEVER EXPIRES – CONTINUED

The last point I made concerning this truth was that, in the book of John, at least six times, Jesus associates the act of believing with “everlasting” or “eternal” life. I pointed out that the word EVERLASTING literally means “LASTING for EVER.”

I will continue my thoughts here. The phrases “eternal life” and “everlasting life” occur in the book of John alone thirteen times. When Jesus used these phrases, showing how to possess eternal, or everlasting life, He always spoke in the present tense. Christ always taught that if we believe on Him, we HAVE everlasting life. He presently gives us everlasting life RIGHT NOW. Some are trying to be faithful so they can obtain everlasting life after they die. This is not the everlasting life that Christ gives.

John 5:24 – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH [present tense] everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”

I John 5:13 – “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye HAVE [present tense] eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

In these two verses, one speaks of “everlasting life;” the other speaks of “eternal life.” Both speak of possessing this life presently. Other verses that show this clearly are John 3:15; John 3:16; John 3:36; John 6:40; John 6:47; and John 6:54. Full salvation is not probation. It is complete justification, as we saw clearly in part 2 of this series.

“FULL SALVATION” CANNOT BE SNATCHED BY THE DEVIL

At this time, I want to look at some clear verses of scripture from John’s Gospel, the tenth chapter.

John 10:10 – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

It is understood that the thief, in the above verse, is the devil. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Although this is his express purpose, I want to make it clear that the devil cannot kill the child of God by taking away everlasting life. Jesus makes this truth very clear in the same chapter. Notice:

John 10:27, 28 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Now, what did Jesus mean when He said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish”? What He meant was, “I give unto them eternal life; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH!” The phrase “never perish” means that the devil cannot kill me spiritually. He cannot take away my everlasting life. Yes, the thief comes to steal. And he is doing just that. He is stealing even from Christians. He steals their joy. He steals their peace. The thief comes to kill. And he is doing just that. He is killing those who serve him. Those who give their lives to the service of the devil end up on the deathbed, gasping for their final breath. They are there oftentimes because of the hard lives they have lived for Satan. The devil rewards those who serve him – with death. He kills his own! Then, he destroys them in an eternal, burning hell.

But as for the Christian, the devil has no authority to kill or destroy him! The Christian is in the fold of the Good Shepherd. He has no authority to take eternal life from one sheep that belongs to the Good Shepherd. THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH! When you receive full salvation, you receive life that all the devils in hell cannot touch!

“FULL SALVATION” CANNOT BE DIMINISHED BY MAN!

Not only can the devil do nothing about my salvation, but mankind is helpless is destroying my salvation.

John 10:28, 29 – “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and NO MAN IS ABLE to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

What a great truth! A man who believes on Christ is safe from the hand of man. In the United States, we do not appreciate this truth as they do in other countries. There are nations in the world where it is dangerous to be a Christian. Richard Wurmbrand suffered for fourteen years in a Romanian prison, simply for preaching the gospel. The guards beat his body, but they could not touch his soul! His body was deprived, but his soul was secure! The Romanian government was able to confine Richard Wurmbrand to a prison cell; they were able to deny him the simple pleasures of life; they were able to sever him from the ties of his family. But there is one thing they did not do, because they were not able to do it – “NO MAN IS ABLE to pluck them out of my Father’s hand!” These merciless guards could not snatch his salvation from him! It was untouchable! The devil can’t kill me spiritually (or physically, for that matter); man cannot cause me to be lost!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

A good closing passage for this series is found in Romans 8. Look with me:

Romans 8:35-39 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Full Gospel circles, the songs written by Adger M. Pace are frequently sung. He wrote He’s my King; Victory Today is Mine; and Heaven’s Jubilee. A lesser known song of his is the song entitled Deeper than the Stain Has Gone –

When with holy choirs we’re standing in the presence of the great King,

And our souls are lost in wonder as the white-robed choirs sing.

Then we’ll praise the name of Jesus with the millions ‘round the throne.

Praise Him for the power that reaches deeper than the stain has gone.

Praise the Lord for FULL SALVATION!

God still reigns upon His throne.

And I know the blood still reaches

Deeper than the stain has gone.