BeachCast.TV: Bible Exploration, Apologetics and Church History with Dr. Chase A. Thompson:

In 2nd Thessalonians, Paul mentions the appearance of the Man of Lawlessness (or Son of Perdition) as one of the events that must happen before the return of Jesus. When we look throughout the Bible, we see that it is possible, even likely that the Man of Lawlessness is the same as the Beast/Antichrist. What can we learn from Scripture about this scary individual? Is it possible to know who he could be? Has he already appeared?

Happy Good Friday, friends! It is going to be incredibly strange celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus this weekend while under quarantine, but that is not going to damper my celebration. The best news in history cannot be dampened by a silly pandemic, nor was it dampened by any of the dozens of pandemics that have happened since the first century. In Christ Alone is one of my favorite modern Christian songs, and on this good Friday, I glory in the truth of this verse:

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost…

In Christ Alone, Stuart Townend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvFtXphmMU

Do yourself a favor, and watch the video above and worship! Today is a day of celebration and thanksgiving. Thanks be to God the Father and to the Son for His enormous, incomprehensible sacrifice.

Today's Bible passages are Leviticus 14, Psalm 17, Proverbs 28 and 2nd Thessalonians 2. Our focus passage, and the topic of our discussion both today and tomorrow will be based on the 2nd Thessalonians passage. Here is the pertinent part:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.5 Don't you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

2nd Thessalonians 2:5-12

Paul says here - very clearly, and unmistakably, that the Second Coming/Return of Jesus will NOT occur until TWO things happen: #1 The Apostasy (or Great Apostasy) and #2 The revealing of the Man of Lawlessness. Tomorrow our focus will be on WHO the Man of Lawlessness might be, and today our focus is on what in the world this apostasy is all about. First, let's talk about the word Paul uses - 'apostasy,' because it is not a very common word. In English, the word means, "the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief." It comes from the Greek word that Paul uses here, "ἀποστασία apostasía" which means to "forsake," or "fall away," and itself comes from a word that indicates a divorce. This is a concept that is developed powerfully in the Old Testament, where God often describes Himself as a Bridegroom, and His people Israel are a bride that has been unfaithful, and fallen away. For instance, this passage in Jeremiah 3:

If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Wouldn't such a land become totally defiled? But you! You have prostituted yourself with many partners— can you return to me? This is the Lord's declaration. 2 Look to the barren heights and see. Where have you not been immoral? You sat waiting for them beside the highways like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. 3 This is why the showers haven't come— why there has been no spring rain. You have the brazen look of a prostitute and refuse to be ashamed.

Jeremiah 3:1-3

Hosea also compares Israel's falling away from God the same as an unfaithful spouse. Indeed, God commands Hosea the prophet to marry an unfaithful woman named Gomer, who ultimately cheats on him, so that the unfaithfulness of Israel can be demonstrated in vivid and devastating ways. Note the promise at the end of Hosea, however:

I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for my anger will have turned from him. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:4-5

To apostatize, then, is to renounce or fall away from faith in the same sort of way as an unfaithful spouse breaks away from a marriage to be with another. Notice the RELATIONAL language employed. When people say, quite tritely, that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion, this is the sort of thing they are talking about.

Theologically speaking, Paul is pointing out here in this passage that Jesus will not return for His Second Coming until there is a significant 'falling away' or apostasy. Unfortunately, Paul gives us almost zero details as to this coming apostasy, and the word he uses there is used quite infrequently in the Bible. I think, however, that Matthew 24 gives us quite a bit of insight into what Paul is referring to, and I believe - but can't prove - that the apostasy that Paul is referring to in 2 Thessalonians 2, is the 'falling away' that Jesus is referencing here:

"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 Jesus replied to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains. 9 "Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:3-14

Note here how lawlessness and falling away are connected together so tightly - this makes me even more certain that Paul's Thessalonians reference is to Jesus' Olivet discourse. Paul also seems to talk about this falling away/rebellion/apostasy in 1 Timothy 4, and probably 2nd Timothy 3 as well:

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

1 Timothy 4:1-2

But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

I believe that the Bible is telling us something very important here, and I don't believe most who teach on the end-times emphasize it enough: Before the return of Jesus happens, there will be a noticable, remarkable falling away by professing Christians. This happens all throughout church history (just as Jesus explained that it would in the Mark 4 parable of the sower), but this apostasy has been called the 'Great' apostasy, because it will be obvious that it is happening. Will all of the church fall away? Of course not! But many who profess only with their mouth will turn from Christ when it becomes less expedient (and perhaps more dangerous) to follow Him. I come from the Bible belt - millions of people identify as Christ followers, but know Him not. Before Jesus returns, a remarkable and heart-rending apostasy will happen, and a 'Man of lawlessness' will be revealed, perhaps even leading the charge in the apostasy. And then, at some point, the end will come. That's what we see here in today's short 2nd Thessalonians passage. What does that mean for our following of God in this day and hour? I'd like for John Piper to answer that question for us, in closing:

"So be sober for prayer, because the great danger facing us is that we fall in love with this world and become spiritually dull and the day come upon us like a thief and we be destroyed. O pray, brothers, pray for the coming of the kingdom and for your strength to endure and escape the trap of spiritual apathy. Pray that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

And that's exactly the way I would talk about the coming of the Lord today. It is just around the corner. The end is near indeed. If anyone dallies with sin and the world, thinking, "I have lots of time," he plays the fool. The Judge is at the door. And the time remaining should be spent in earnest prayer that we not be made drunk and hard by the cares and pleasures of this world.

John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2007).

When will Jesus return? Do certain things need to happen before He does? In 2nd Thessalonians 2, Paul outlines two big events that need to happen before the Second Coming occurs: #1 The Apostasy, and #2 The coming of the 'Man of Lawlessness' In today's two-parter, we discuss the Apostasy - what is it, and has it happened yet?

The world has changed. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost; for none now live who remember it. Time no longer has any meaning. Is today Thursday, or is it all just one long endless day? Oh wait, I mean - Happy Thursday and welcome into the REAL episode #100 of the Bible Reading podcast! I'm going to celebrate by taking the day off. See you tomorrow! Okay, maybe not. Today's Bible readings include Leviticus 13. Psalms 15 and 16, Proverbs 27 and 2nd Thessalonians 1. Today's Big Bible question is from Proverbs 27:6:

Better an open reprimand than concealed love. The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

Proverbs 27:6

I don't know about you, but I'd generally rather be greeted by a holy kiss, rather than a friendly wounding, but Proverbs here is telling us something significant. An enemy might give excessive kisses, compliments, flattery, etc, but when a real friend wounds you, then you can be sure that those wounds are trustworthy. What is up with that, and why are we wounding each other anyway - shouldn't we just encourage each other and stay away from wounding altogether? Let's read the Proverb and come back and talk about whether or not it is appropriate to sometimes wound your friend.

Think about the worst injury you've ever had. For me, the worst physical injury I've had was a shoulder injury that I obtained one morning in 1991 when a friend of mine and I skipped school, and went caving in a remote area. I was attempting to climb up a wall in the cave when the rocks under my feet gave way, and all my weight was hanging on my right arm, which promptly dislocated, and did so six other times as I tried to climb out of the chasm I was in. Despite two surgeries, one by one of the best surgeons in the world - Dr. James Andrews - My shoulder has literally hurt almost every day since then. Not 100 percent of the time, but enough. If a friend had offered to kick me in the shins that day, and given me a bruise of a wounding, instead of a lifetime of shoulder pain, I would have been a fool to turn it down. Yes, the shin-kick would hurt, but a million times less than the shoulder injury has hurt. This is the dynamic the Proverbs is telling us about. The wounds from a friend help us to avoid the often permanent and sometimes catastrophic maimings from sin.

I have had the privilege of having a number of high caliber, high quality friends. People that weren't just in it for the fun of it, or to have a good time, or to their own advantage, but faithful friends and brothers who were great teammates, and helped me to be a better man. I can think of multiple times in my life where a friend stepped in front of me when I was headed towards trouble, and had a hard conversation with me - warning me and (lovingly!) wounding me, to spare me from much greater and more catastrophic injury. I can think of several times in my life - times that I am immensely grateful for now - when a loving friend has stepped in my way and wounded me in order to help me.

Once, in the mid 90s, I had become disillusioned with church - with the hypocrisy and the loving of traditions instead of the love of God and His Word. I was befriended by a group that seemed passionate and on fire for God. Some thought they were a cult, but all I could see was their refreshing passion! I began to meet with them some. Not whole hog, but some. A Christian friend grew very concerned about that, did some research, and had a very hard meeting with me in which he solemnly warned me about joining that group. It wasn't hard because he was mean, but it was hard because it was awkward, and I didn't listen at first. He won me over, however, and I am eternally grateful that he chose to wound me, rather than let me suffer a fate worse than wounding. In the latter 90s, I had a friend who valued integrity walk beside me and lovingly wound me many times over my habit and sin of lying and telling half truths. Over the course of years, and many faithful wounds, I was brought to repentance, and learned to value the truth in a much greater way, probably saving myself and my family the damage that would have been done by thousands of lies and half-truths. This same friend also lovingly wounded by in the early 2000s over my habit of pirating music and games. Digital thievery surely wasn't as bad as physical thievery, right? More wounds, more repentance, and more maimings from sin avoided. I can recount countless other times, but the point is that when somebody loves us and wants the best for us, we can trust that their wounds are designed for our best.

Jesus Himself gives us a pattern for those types of helpful woundings:

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won't listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn't pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.

Matthew 18:15-17

So - WHEN should you wound a friend?

#1 - When it will clearly and obviously benefit and help them in the long run. Be careful when 'wounding' a friend with your words when you will be the primary benefactor of their repentance. Wounds from a friend a trustworthy precisely because they aren't motivated by selfish causes, but by love for another.

#2 When what they are doing is clearly and obviously unbiblical and will lead them into the dangers of sin. Avoid wounding a brother of the kind of doubtful matters addressed in Romans 14. Is your brother not celebrating the Sabbath the way you do? Does he eat only vegetables, and you eat meat? Does he celebrate Easter, and you don't (or vice-versa!) does he believe in open communion, and you believe in 'fencing the table?' It's fine to have an opinion on these doubtful matters, and to even discuss that opinion from the Bible in order to reach a consensus, but it is not find to WOUND a friend over doubtful matters.

5 One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Romans 14:5-10

3. When you can do the wounding with the meekness and humility of Christ, and without a plank in your own eye - or hypocrisy. If you are a drunkard thinking you need to wound a liar (or vice-versa), then Jesus' counsel to you would probably be to first remove the plank from your own eye.

4. When you can be sure that you yourself aren't a professional critic, or friend-wounder. If you find yourself in the position of being a constant friend wounder, it is possible that you are giving into judgmentalism and a spirit of criticism, rather than actually seeking the overall good of your brother. It is not your business to criticize, it is your business to EDIFY.

Don't criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear

James 4:11 and Ephesians 5:29

TRUE friends are very scarce. We have a great many acquaintances, and sometimes we call them friends, and so misuse the noble word "friendship." Perhaps for some, after a bit of adversity, when these so-called friends have looked out for their own interests, and left us to do the best we can for ourselves, that word friendship may come back to us with sad and sorrowful associations. The friend in need is the friend indeed, and such friends, I say again, are scarce. When you have found such a man, and proved the sincerity of his friendship; when he has been faithful to thy father and to you, grapple him to thyself with hooks of steel, and never let him go. It may be that, because he is a faithful friend, he will sometimes vex you and anger you. See how Solomon puts it in this very chapter: "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

It takes a great deal of friendship to be able to tell a man of his faults. It is no friendship that flatters; it is small friendship that holds its tongue when it ought to speak; but it is true friendship that can speak at the right time, and, if need be, even speak so sharply as to cause a wound. If you are like many other foolish folk, you will be angry with the man who is so much your friend that he will tell you the truth. If you are unworthy of your friend, you will begin to grow weary of him when he is performing on your behalf the most heroic act of pure charity by warning you of your danger, and reminding thee of thine imperfection. Solomon, in prospect of such a case, knowing that this is one of the greatest trials of friendship among such poor imperfect beings as we are, tells us not to forsake our friends, for this reason...the man who has been to us and to our family a true friend: "Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not."

C. H. Spurgeon, "The Best Friend," in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 45 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1899), 289.

Nobody likes to be wounded, right - especially by their closest friends! Why in the world does the Bible claim that wounds from friends are actually trustworthy and beneficial?!

Happy Wednesday, friends! Today marks THREE weeks of sheltering in place for those of us in central California, and it is for me, a personal record for sheltering in place/staying home and social distancing, beating my previous record of 5 days when I had the flu in 5th grade and two weeks when my mom's car was hit by a moving van when I was 8 or so. Are you going crazy yet? I sort of see some signs that my family is, therefore I am planning on building a temporary shelter/respite place in the laundry room for me and the boy, because he still seems mostly sane.

Today's Bible readings include Leviticus 11 and 12, Psalms 13 and 14, Proverbs 26 and 1 Thessalonians 5. Yeah, Robert Murray M'Cheyne kind of went crazy on us today! Today's big Bible question: Will College Football Happen this year?! I go live to my special guest, Ryen Russillo for his take. Oh, wait, that's actually a topic for a different show - our actual question is: Will it be possible for Christians to know that that the coming of Jesus is soon? Well...what do you think? Don't guess yet - let's read 1 Thessalonians 5, then come back and discuss it, and then we will read our other 50 Bible chapters for the day.

Here's the pertinent part of 1 Thessalonians to help us answer the question:

About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4

Will Jesus REALLY come back in 1994? Spoiler alert: NO!

The picture for today's episode of the show is a copy of the book 1994?, with my desktop and microphone in the back. Yes, that is a CVS prescription bottle that is acting as a space on my microphone boom arm. More importantly, is the book 1994? one of my great theological treasures! You can't tell from the picture, but the book is a 551 (!) page, well researched book by author and radio host Harold Camping that was written in 1992 and makes the very bold claim that Jesus will return in 1994. In fact, the back of the book contains this stunningly wrong prediction:

"Whether we like it or not, the end of history is almost upon us. Abundant biblical information focuses on 1994 as the likely end of the world. This information should be declared to the world because it severely and eternally impacts each and every individual of the more than 5.5 billion people of the earth."

1994? 1992, by Harold Camping

I'll be honest with you. I haven't read this book, and I've barely opened it. I bought it for 25 cents at a Trussville library sale as an illustration of the fact that people have been trying to predict the exact date of the second coming for hundreds of years, and have struck out every time. Tonight, for the first time, I read a few paragraphs of this book, and I've got to tell you that my mind is blown. Some how, some way, Brother Camping calculates that the date the world began was on 11,013 B.C. I am afraid that I have no idea whatsoever how Camping arrived at that date, as I turned to page 442, and just started reading. I do not have time to read a whole 550 page book of nonsense, even if I wasn't doing a daily Bible podcast. So, the world apparently began on 11,013 B.C., and here is how, according to Camping, we get to 1994:

Especially interesting is Jacob's age when he came under the care and protection of Joseph. When asked of Pharaoh his age, he answered in Genesis 47:9 "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, 'The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. From this verse, Camping makes the following conclusion, "We can't help but see the parallel between this account and the pilgrimage of believers in this world. When do we escape the evil days of this earth? In one sense we escape them when we become saved, but the final escape is the end of the world. We see again how 13000 years, or the year 1988 stands out as the end of the world.

This is the sort of reasoning you get in books of this ilk - books that attempt to pin down the exact date of the return of Jesus. Many, many attempts have been made to this in the past. The Jehovah's Witnesses predicted the second coming, and other important Bible prophecy events, would happen in 1878, 1881, 1914, 1918, 1925 and more, but all of these events were busts, and had to be retconned. Camping himself recalculated his dates, and came up with a "beyond a shadow of a doubt" return of Jesus that would happen on May 21, 2011. When that failed, he moved the date to October 21, 2011. When that failed - he very wisely, and humbly repented of his silliness, shared the Matthew 24:36 truth that 'no man knows the day or the hour of the return of Jesus," and then began to study the Bible to learn about about what it taught and about Jesus, than to try and figure out dates and such. Good job, Mr. Camping. You messed up, but you got there eventually in the grace of God.

The problem with trying to discern the exact date of the return of Jesus is what Jesus Himself claimed about His Second Coming: The angels in Heaven didn't know the date, Jesus the Son of God didn't know the date, but ONLY the God the Father knew the date of His return. I think that means that the timing of the return of Jesus is not ENCODED or hidden somehow, someway in the Bible - but, quite literally ONLY the Father knows that date.

Now, that said and believed, we have a curious thing here in 1st Thessalonians: "But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief." Jesus, as He said, is going to return like a thief in the night - in a way that will surprise the world...but, according to Paul - those believers who aren't in the dark WON'T be surprised by the return of Jesus. Instead, they will be ready. Is this a contradiction between the teaching of Paul, and the teaching of Jesus? Not at all. In fact, the teaching of Jesus largely emphasized the same thing:

35 "Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Luke 12:35-40

So - the Second Coming should NOT hit Bible-believing, blood-bought followers of Jesus by surprise. Why not - because they know the hour? NO! Because, NO MATTER WHAT HOUR IT IS, they are living and acting like the Master (Jesus) could return at ANY MOMENT! Think of it like this: You work at an office, and the boss is away. If everybody is diligently working while the boss is away, then his return won't shake anybody up in the least, and it certainly won't surprise anybody, or alarm anybody (least of all, the boss), because all of the workers are diligently and alertly doing what they are supposed to do. Suppose, however, that the workers goof off. They play games on their phones, make personal calls, peruse social media, and get a game of poker going in the break room. When the boss returns then - THEY WILL BE SURPRISED - exactly like a sleeping homeowner of a house that a cat-burglar breaks in. You're not surprised by such a thing if you are waiting and watching alertly, but it catches you way off guard if you are sleeping or goofing off. The antidote to being surprised is NOT knowing the exact time of the boss's return, but knowing that he could return at ANY SECOND, and doing exactly what He commanded you to do while He was gone.

I think that is the primary reason why Paul is telling believers that the coming of Jesus should not catch them like a thief in the night - because they are awake and alert. That said, I think there might be a secondary sense here too. Maybe. The fact is that Jesus describes (in Matthew 24, Luke 22, etc) and Paul describes (in this passage and several others) and other Old and New Testament books do indeed give us some hints about how things are going to look around the time of the return of Jesus. This information on the Second Coming is somewhat vague, and I believe purposely so. If it wasn't, then we believers, being human, would likely procrastinate on the Great Commission and wait until the last minute, and it is clear that though Jesus didn't know the exact date of His return, He did seem to know the Second Coming would be far in the future (see Matthew 25:19, Matthew 24:48, among other hints), thus He sent the believers out with urgency, and we still have that same urgency. Our mission is to be serving the King and His Kingdom when He returns!

Will we know His arrival is getting near? I think the answer is MAYBE. Some true believers from all centuries have believed they lived in the time of Jesus' return, and thus far, they have all been wrong. That means the signs of Jesus' coming could be misinterpreted. That said, I believe that the nearer we get to His return, the clearer the events unfolding on earth will match the events foretold in Scripture. The principle is: The Nearer we get, the clearer. I think it is telling that Jesus, in Luke 12, said the disciples would not know the hour. I take that to mean that we will not know the exact date, but that the Body of Christ on earth at the time will not be surprised like a thief in the night (even though Jesus will indeed come like a thief in the night!) for two reasons: #1 They will be working, alert, awake, watching, and crying out Maranatha - come, Lord Jesus! #2 - The Body of Christ on earth at that time will begin to see a more closely matched set of circumstances and events unfolding that unmistakably matches biblical prophecy. That generation won't know the day or the hour either, but I suspect that they will have a collective sense that it is going to happen soon.

People have tried - and failed! - to predict the date of the return of Jesus for centuries. Jesus said that He will come like a thief, but Paul said that Christians shouldn't be surprised at the coming of Jesus. Is there a contradiction there? Is it possible for us to know that Jesus' coming is near?

Greetings and salutations, friends, and happy whatever day it is. I think it is Tuesday today, but the days are running so much together, that I am only pretty sure it is April, and that we are still, sadly, in 2020, the most remarkable and craziest year of my life. Yesterday our eight year old was talking about the NEXT time a pandemic came along, and wondering what we might do then, and my first thought was that pandemics are very rare, my second thought was I hope there is no NEXT pandemic, and my third thought was that this particular pandemic, for an 8 year old, is going to take up a significant portion of her life if it stretches much further. Perhaps such things will be somewhat normal in her mind. I hope that this never becomes normal, however.

Hope you all are holding up well! Today's Bible readings are Leviticus 10, Psalms 11 and 12, Proverbs 25 and 1st Thessalonians 4. Our focus passage is derived from Psalms 11:1, "I have taken refuge in the Lord." In today's short episode, I'd like for us to consider two things about this passage: What it means, theologically, that the Lord is a our refuge AND practically, how can we take refuge in Him? Let's read those two Psalms passages, and come back and discuss.

So -what is your favorite hymn? Mine changes, but I think my usual answer is a Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

This hymn is based upon passages like Psalm 11:1, and also, even more specifically, it is based on Psalms 46:

God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. 2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, 3 though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil.Selah 4 There is a river— its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. 5 God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns. 6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice. 7 The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah 8 Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; he sets wagons ablaze. 10 "Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth." 11 The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah

Psalm 46:1-11

Verse 5 is one of the most quoted verses on Instagram, but we should probably point out that the 'her' in this case is not a particular female that God will keep from failing or toppling, but the City of God - the Refuge of God, the Shelter of God that we are talking about today. Many times in the Scriptures, particularly in the Psalms, we are pointed to God's protection over His people - that HE HIMSELF is our shelter/refuge/fortress. Consider these comforting truths:

I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple. 5 For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

Psalms 27:4-5

19 How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in you. 20 You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues.

Psalm 31:19-20

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:2-3

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May you shelter them, and may those who love your name boast about you. 12 For you, Lord, bless the righteous one; you surround him with favor like a shield.

Psalm 5:10-12

for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy. 4 I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings.Selah

Psalm 61:3-5

So - how does God protect us? How is He a Shelter? I offer three ways here (and note that this is NOT an exhaustive list. )

1. He supernaturally protects us by His sovereign Will. Consider Romans 8:26-28, "26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." I included that first part because it is important. God sovereignly protects His people as a fortress by sovereignly and particularly causing all events to work together for the GOOD of those who KNOW Him and are CALLED according to His purpose. This means that the God who NUMBERS THE HAIRS ON YOUR HEAD also orders the everyday affairs and details of your life to protect you and propel you into His good purposes and pleasures. It won't always be easy, or pain-free, but it will always be for your ULTIMATE GOOD. That is a protection and a shelter from God. Bonus: The Holy Spirit is praying for us in our weakness. (Jesus is too, according to Hebrews!)

2. He supernaturally protects us by His sovereign power, and His angels. First, the angels. God commands and organizes His angels to protect His people, so says passages like Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them." AND Hebrews 1:14, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Also, God Himself protects us, according to numerous passages like Psalm 121:4-5, "Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.5 The Lord protects you;" Also consider the promise to Israel in Isaiah 41, that Christians inherit also, because we are grafted into the vine of Israel as God's people:

I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said to you: You are my servant; I have chosen you; I haven't rejected you. 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:9-10

3. He supernaturally protects us by His salvation and preservation for eternal life. John Piper, years before the coronavirus pandemic, tweeted out, "World death rate holds steady at 100%. (Hebrews 9:27) "It is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment." This tweet is very appropriate today, because the fact is, we are all going to die one day. Some tragically, some early, some horribly, and so on, and so forth. This is discouraging, or it would be if it were not for the supernatural preservation and salvation of Jesus! Here's his promise, "Everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." 1st Thessalonians 4, another passage we will read today, points us very specifically to this hope. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! And when He does, the dead in Christ will rise first, and meet the living in Christ people and they will be MADE NEW - in the twinkling of an eye - in a blink - our old perishable and mortal bodies will be made immortal and imperishable. No matter how badly it ends for some of us - WE WILL NOT PERISH, because the moment our heart stops beating, and we breathe our last, in the next moment, we will step into eternity as a blood-washed, Christ-saved, Grace-purchased child of God, and what we will step into is many magnitudes better and more joyful than what we are stepping out of!

Allow me to close with this bit of good news from John Piper about how God is our refuge:

God Is Your Refuge and Strength

And you will follow his lead if you believe that he is your refuge and strength, which is what verse 1 says: "God is our refuge and strength." People turn away from the risks of significance and choose the brief security of success because they don't really believe this—that God is their strength, and God is refuge, and God is their defender and their refreshment.

But I want you to believe it. Look at the connection between verses 2–3 and verse 6. "Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam . . . " The words for "shake" and "roar" are the same Hebrew words used in verse 6: "The nations rage [roar] and the kingdoms totter [shake]."

The point of using these same words like this is to show that whether the threat to us is from nature (with earthquakes and floods and storms, verses 1–3) or from political upheaval and wars (verse 6)—whether our world is shaking from nature or from the nations, God is our refuge.

And not just a refuge but an active counter force and a source of peace and refreshment. Verse 6b says that God's response to the raging nations is this: "He utters his voice and the earth melts." His response to dangerous seas that roar and foam is to become for us (note verse 4) another kind of water—river (not a tumultuous sea)—a river whose streams make glad the city of God.

This is the secret this morning to whether you will choose significance or mere success: The risks of significance turn out to be no risk at all if you believe that God is your refuge and strength and defender and refreshment. I pray that you will believe it and that God will make plain the path of significance.

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/god-refuge-for-his-people-exalted-among-the-nations#god-is-your-refuge-and-strength

The Bible talks about God being a shelter, tower, refuge and fortress for God's people over and over again. What does that mean, practically, and how to we actually shelter in God?

Happy Monday, Friends! Today is DAY 20 of Quarantine/Shelter In Place/Stay Home Order for us in rainy central California. Yes, I said rainy. Boo. I'm not complaining about shelter in place, because it actually seems to be working, and I am kind of glad that California was the first to begin issuing those sorts of orders, but like you, I'm praying for God to heal our land, and things return to the new normal. If you're paying attention to the numbers and the graphs, today was an interesting day for the U.S. Maybe a good day, but let's see if its an anomaly, or a trend. I'm praying for a trend!

Today's Bible passages are: Leviticus 9, Psalms 10, Proverbs 24 and 1st Thessalonians 3. Our focus is on standing firm, which is the thing that prompted Paul to write his letter to the Thessalonians in the first place. The thing is, the Thessalonians were in a very similar place to where many of our churches are right now. The were undergoing a heavy, heavy trial. Not a plague of virus, but more a plague of persecution. Paul and Silas founded the church in Thessalonica, and initially things were going well. They preached in the Jewish synagogues there, and several Jews converted and began to follow Jesus, along with several God-fearing Greeks (who were Greek/Gentile people that had adopted some of the beliefs and customs of the Jews) and several prominent Thessalonian women. So the young church was a rather eclectic mix of Jews, Gentiles that had adapted Jewish customs, and then just regular old Greeks. Unfortunately, many of the remaining Jewish people in the synagogue - many of whom had rejected Paul and Silas' teaching - they were apparently very upset and the founding of this new church, and the teaching of Paul and Silas, and they ignited a city-wide riot, which led to Paul and Silas leaving the city in order to help restore peace. Paul and Silas travelled to Berea and preached there, but the incensed Jewish people of Thessalonica sent a band of agitators to Berea, and they also vigorously opposed Paul and Silas.

So - this church in Thessalonica was just weeks or perhaps months old, and had very immature leadership, and their pastors/church planters were forced to leave the city. Again and again, Paul and Silas tried to come back and visit the Thessalonian church to encourage them, but again and again they were prevented from doing so. And this made Paul more and more concerned that the church might be undone by these attacks, and not standing firm. So, he sent Timothy to encourage the church and check on their wellbeing, and the letter of 1st Thessalonians is Paul's response to the news that the church was doing well and walking in faith. Let's read the short chapter now, paying special attention to Timothy's report.

6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

You can tell that Paul is absolutely brimming with joy when he hears that the church is STANDING FIRM in the Lord. Considering how young that church was, and considering how strong the opposition against them was, it is a genuine miracle that they were standing firm. The good news is that, even though their human pastors had left, their chief pastor/shepherd - Jesus, the head of the church, had never abandoned them. I am reminded of His promise:

14 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep...27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

John 10:14-15 and 27-30

That passage, in turn, reminds me of the wonderful song In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend - one of my favorite modern worship songs, that my wife and daughters led our church to sing during our livestreamed worship time yesterday.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

In Christ Alone, Stuart Townend

This passage and the song it is based on give us our first clue and our first hope in standing firm during affliction: The power to stand does not come from ourselves, but from Christ our Savior and Preserver - the AUTHOR and the FINISHER of our faith. What else does God's Word say to us about standing firm? Let's begin with Philippians 4:1 - "So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends." Now, if you're like most people you might only read one chapter a day of the Bible, and while it is great to read at least a chapter a day, sometimes we miss things when we don't read bigger chunks of Scripture, like the meat of what Paul is saying in Philippians 4:1. He's just finished telling the Philippians HOW to stand firm in the Lord in trials and afflictions, but you've got to go back a few verses to see it:

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

Philippians 3:12-21

This one section here has several truths that will help you and I to stand firm in a situation like the one we are faced with now - when the whole world is shaking!

Step #1 - Forget what is behind. Worrying about the past is as counterproductive to standing firm as worrying about the future, which Jesus also cautions us about. We stand firm by trusting God TODAY and walking in HIS DAILY BREAD. (Remembering Matthew 6:34, "Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"

Step #2 Pursue Heavenly goals, not earthly goals. This is an allusion to Seeking FIRST the Kingdom of God. We stand firm by, first and foremost prioritizing the love of God, the loving of our neighbor and the seeking of the King of God. Vs. 19 shows the deadly danger that comes from focusing on earthly goals - such a pursuit ends in destruction. But those who first pursue the king and His Kingdom - who follow Jesus - they have this amazing promise from Jesus in Matthew 19:29

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.

Matthew 19:29

#3 Focus on the Hope that is the Return of Jesus. We are citizens of Heaven, says Paul - and as citizens of Heaven, we eagerly await the Return of the King to establish His Heavenly/Earthly Kingdom forever. In that hope, and in the eager waiting for the return of Jesus, is strength to stand firm. TWICE in the very short letter of Paul to the Thessalonians here he refers them to the Second Coming of Jesus and tells them to take comfort, hope and encouragement in His return:

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13=18

So - there's three ways that we stand firm in the midst of global affliction and shaking. We don't worry about yesterday or tomorrow, but rest in God's daily bread provision of protection for us. We pursue Heavenly goals and the Kingdom of God rather than earthly/worldly goals, and we anticipate, hope for, and rest in the hope of the Second Coming of Jesus. Let's ask Charles Spurgeon to close us out with a brief comment on 1 Thessalonians 3:8

When I have seen God's people steadfast, my fears have fled. Yes, I have said, the Lord keeps the feet of his saints. He is a wall of fire round about his own. If it were possible, the powers of evil would deceive the elect, but it is not possible. The saints are steadfast, and each steadfast one cheers his minister and helps him lay aside his anxieties and rejoice in the certainty that the gospel will triumph.

The steadfast people benefit our life by stimulating us to greater exertion. I believe the steadfast help the minister to a high degree of usefulness. When the man of God sees his people living to God at a high rate of piety, he speaks many things that otherwise he never would have spoken. He glories in the work of God, and with no bated breath or trace of hesitation, he points to his people and cries, "See what God has done!" He exults over converts with a holy joy. He cries, "See what they used to be and what they are now! See how life has been made to spring up in the midst of death and how light shines where before darkness reigned." Take away the living evidences of divine power from the church, and you lower the preacher's spirit at once and deprive him of power to demonstrate his commission by the signs that follow it. Of godly established Christians, I may quote the words of David, "Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate" (Ps 127:5). The best answer to all the opponents of the old-fashioned gospel is the godly zeal of a fervent church.

Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1614.

And I would add to what Spurgeon says here that it is not only ministers that are excited and encouraged to see Christians standing firm, but also OTHER CHRISTIANS, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, etc.