Light-work

Agog Over Gog and Magog

Epicenter, the book and companion DVD by Joel C. Rosenberg, allows us a peek behind the curtain. The author explores and explains the connections to prophesy, history, and current events informing the plot lines of his best selling political thrillers. Here's a link to Joel Rosenberg's blog, if you want to learn more about his thinking. He was also a guest on Glenn Beck yesterday marketing his latest, Inside the Revolution.

In 2000, Mr. Rosenberg observed an alliance forming between Russia and Iran. This unprecedented development prompted him to retrieve a book he had read almost ten years earlier, The Coming Peace in the Middle East, by Tim LaHaye. According to Rosenberg, Coming Peace described "a coming period of security and prosperity in Israel, followed by the rise of a military alliance between Russia, Iran, and a group of other Islamic countries that would target Israel and drive the world to the brink of the apocalypse in what Ezekiel described as 'the last days'" (Epicenter, p. 24). Dr. LaHaye found the basis for this understanding in his interpretation of the "prophesy against Gog," found in Ezekiel 38-39. Mr. Rosenberg was intrigued; "If the rebirth and re-population of Israel described in Ezekiel 36 and 37 were coming true in my lifetime, was it not at least remotely possible that the peace and prosperity - and future war and divine rescue - described in chapters 38 and 39 could soon come true as well?" (p. 29).

This view that Ezekiel 38-39 is describing "the next big thing" on a prophetic time-table informs Mr. Rosenberg's writings. Is this the right spot in time to connect this prophesy? It's a great question that we will speak to in tomorrow's post. But first let's make a few preliminary observations.

The pinpoint accuracy of biblical prophecy does not become obvious until after the fact. Here is a great case in point from the Light-Work Resource Collection. From our vantage point in history, Daniel 9:1-21 is breath-taking as you line up each verse with a four century time-line of middle eastern history. But for those living in the 4^th or 5^th century BC, they could only speculate about how each new development might play out according to Daniel's predictions. This is the speculative challenge Mr. Rosenberg faces. He has written novels "about how the Ezekiel scenario could unfold" (p. 29). How Ezekiel 38 and 39 are actually fulfilled  might be much different. But IF they were fulfilled "next," his scenario's are plausible.

Prophesy rarely provides time markers that allow us to discern WHEN a particular event will occur. Prophesy tells us WHAT will happen, but generally leaves us in the dark about WHEN. This is a function of prophesy's purpose: It is not intended to equip us to become "junior prophets" who predict the dates of future events. Prophesy invites us to get ready for what will happen without knowing exactly when. And it encourages us that God is in control when events unfold just as predicted.

Before checking tomorrow's post, read Ezekiel 38-39. Make some summary observations about WHAT will happen and we'll compare notes tomorrow.

Wow, Wampum, Win, or Whack?

Yesterday, a L-W regular spotted an intriguing connection: The Obama Administration's "help" for domestic automakers comes from the same mold as Nebuchadnezzar's image. King Neb was king of the ancient world's leading superpower in the sixth century BC. One night he saw a spectacular statue in his dreams. The four sections of the statue represented a succession of four kingdoms. Each was associated with a specific commodity, gold with Babylon, silver with Medo-Persia, bronze with Greece, and iron and clay with Rome.

In a sermon series on the book of Daniel a few years ago, I observed that these metallic associations well captured the leadership philosophy of each empire. Here's my summary from one of the sermon slides. Please note that I have used the tried and true preacher's tactic of beginning each point with the same letter - I'm sure you're impressed:

• Gold /Wow!  Using spectacle and “dazzle” to inspire people to follow
• Silver / Wampum!  Using money to purchase allegiance
• Bronze / Win!  Using superior strength to overcome opposition
• Iron / Whop!  Using terror / fear to crush men’s will to resist

So, which approach best summarizes the administration's plan to limit consumers to "responsible" automotive choices? For the auto manufacturer, the government is using wampum as leverage. Toward the consumer, the government is bent on winning. Consumers want one thing, the government wants another. By using its wampum-based influence over the manufacturers, the administration limits consumers to choices it deems "responsible." Whatever choice the consumer makes constitutes an administration victory. Won't this be fun!

Is Planet Earth the Bullpen or the Tryout?

AP is in a small group discussing The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and has a question: Is living according to God's purposes here on planet earth "practice" for what we will do in heaven? Great question!

Life in heaven shares some characteristics with life on earth. For example, the concept of stewardship is evident in both realms. In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story of the unjust servant. He does so to extol the virtue of living for eternity (Luke 16:9). He reinforces His appeal with this statement: “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?” (Luke 16:11). Life on earth and life in heaven share this characteristic - they are both realms in which men and women are entrusted with responsibilities. Luke 16:11 even declares that how well one fulfills those responsibilities on earth determines his suitability for a greater level of responsibility in heaven.

I think that calling earthly stewardship "practice" has some merit - clearly stewards are doing something on earth that is preparation for something similar they will do in heaven. But there is another notion that attaches to the term "practice" that COULD be a bit misleading. "Practice" refers to activity in which you don't keep score as you prepare for the occasions when you will. Think of the bullpen at the ballpark where that relief pitcher is warming up. This idea doesn't fit with an earthly exercise of stewardship wherein God is clearly keeping score and evaluating our effectiveness. Luke 16:11 sounds more like a "tryout" than a "practice:" Our conduct as stewards in the management of earthly resources determines our suitability to be "moved up to the majors."

I am not sure what term would best capture this nuance. Until we come up with a suitable word, you might want to hold "practice" alongside these important clarifications.

1. There are some aspects to life on earth that are echoes of life in heaven: Stewardship, work, rest, and worship are four that come to mind. Let's call these "shared aspects."
2. There are other aspects to life on earth that will not be encountered in heaven: Marriage, disciple-making, and fighting the old sin nature are three. Let's call these "unique aspects."
3. Some aspects to life on earth will be experienced in heaven but in a profoundly altered way. For example, on earth "spiritual growth" centers on character transformation. This process will be completed when we see Jesus face to face. But there will still be room for growth of another kind, growth in knowledge and understanding. Surely in heaven we will know God truly, but not exhaustively. Perhaps in eternity we will continue to grow as we learn more about our God with each passing aeon. Let's call these "redirected aspects."
4. All shared aspects like stewardship, work, rest, and worship will be experienced in heaven in a greater way. Everything of life in heaven that echoes life in the new earth will be deeper, richer, and more glorious. By this reckoning, the earthly may seem to be little more than a warmup for the real deal that is eternity.
5. Our experience of life in heaven will reflect the ways in which we have lived for His pleasure in all aspects (shared, unique, and redirected) of our lives on planet earth. On this count, how we have lived our lives on planet earth will matter more than anything!

Yes, life on earth is practice for eternity. But it is also the proof of where you belong. It is both bullpen and tryout.

Outrageous Parking Fees and Obama Nation Ambassadors

The abuse of "diplomatic immunity" by United Nations delegates on the streets of Manhattan was big news in the 90's. Things were really getting hot when Mr. Giuliani decided enough is enough, although something of a truce was eventually established. Things haven't changed much in ten years - deadbeat diplomats are still in the news.  I can understand their motivation. Why should they be subjected to the rules and regulations of a country of which they are not citizens?

This is a question not unlike one we face as followers of Jesus. Our ultimate citizenship is not of this earth! Here is the Apostle Paul's summary:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Phil 3:20-21).

We don't belong here. Our home country is elsewhere and it makes our current living conditions seem so decidedly inferior. How I long for our homecoming! So we have to ask, "What are we doing on this God forsaking planet?"  Here's Paul's answer:

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20).

We have been given an assignment, to represent the Kingdom of Heaven on the rebellious planet. Those who break off their hostilities with God and embrace Jesus as their Savior have their citizenship immediately transferred. But, they remain, for a time, in their host countries as delegates. Here's where the issue of parking fines comes in. In a previous post, I made the case for respect for the office of the President, regardless of who occupies it. Now let me add a note about results.

One of the characteristics in our host countries is their highly developed capacity for judicial sentiment. They can accurately identify what is right and wrong when it is applied to someone else. There is abundant evidence of this characteristic in the current criticisms flying between Republicans and Democrats. When you find yourself thinking, "Isn't this a case of the pot calling the skillet black," you are watching judicial sentiment in action. Earthlings can accurately identify a mere speck in someone else's eye even while ignoring a 2 x 4 in their own.

Peter once wrote to citizens of heaven living in a hard place on earth. Here's what he reminded them:

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Pet. 2:12-15).

To be sure, we submit to the laws and leaders of the land because it is God's will. But when we do, there are two additional outcomes: Ill-informed critics are demonstrated as fools for the fact that their criticisms don't stick. Second, lost people observe the kind of behavior which makes God look good and which gives them reason to praise Him when He shows up.

When we show disrespect for the laws and leaders of our host countries, we curtail our ability to represent well our King and His Kingdom. We do not have diplomatic immunity! Our King requires us to make Him look good by showing the citizens of our host country how a model citizen would behave. There's far more at stake here than our like (or dislike) for a President who will occupy an office for a few earthly years. Don't muddy the water with petty parking fine failures when it could hobble someone's ability to share eternity with our King.

Save Us From Ourselves, Mr. President!

President Bush, pictured here with the big guns Ben, Henry, and Chris, spoke from the Rose Garden earlier this morning to announce some extraordinary measures for extraordinary times. He underscored the need for decisive action to address the current economic crisis.

Without getting into the merits of the specific measures he outlined, allow me to make two observations. First, the measures being proposed truly are extraordinary, but for reasons that make me nervous. A hallmark of the Reagan revolution was the reduction of government. Make no mistake about what is being proposed - it is a level of market intervention that would make Ronnie blush.

The warrant for this action is a "crisis of confidence." I do agree that an economy cannot function without trust. But there are two ways to "restore confidence." Option one is to restore market integrity. Option two is to successfully convince everyone that things are okay when they are not. Which of two roads has been taken? Some of it sounds like option one. But some of the measures that fit with such a course were glaringly absent - so I have my doubts.

The President said that the question - "How did we get here?" - can be answered later: Now is the time for action. Let me pose it anyway - Who is to blame? Here's my list of culprits, and this is just for starters - the home buyer who got a loan he shouldn't, the appraiser who falsely valued the home, the bank that approved a loan it shouldn't and then bundled it with other bad loans, the funds that bought those high risk bundles, the Fed that kept pumping out money to keep it all rolling, the Treasury that kept selling bonds to churn up more cash, and the general populace who were happy to live off the fruits of this debacle without questioning where it would all lead.

My point is that there is no one culprit, except basic human nature. Now we are reaping what our greed and selfishness have sown, and the government is taking unprecedented measures to rescue us from the consequences. If we are insulated from feeling the pain, won't we just carry on, once our "confidence is restored?" Will these extraordinary measures simply delay the day of reckoning?

King Solomon was no slouch in the wisdom department. Here's one of his nuggets: A man of great anger will bear the penalty, for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again (Prov. 19:19). Is the same dynamic relevant to more than just a few angry men? If the government rescues us from ourselves, will we have reason to change? I suspect these extraordinary measures will become the norm as our tax dollars are used to save us from ourselves.

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 10

If you have been following this series of posts, you will appreciate a chart which takes the eschatological terms from 1st and 2nd Thessalonians and assembles them into a chronological framework. Events are defined by bubbles because the text doesn't allow for more precision. Click on the chart to get a bigger view. Note that this chart only shows the horizontal perspective - the view of what lies ahead for those who oppose the Gospel. We will eventually add to this chart (in the upper half) the "vertical perspective" which looks at the same future through the eyes of those who will participate in the "welcome." When we have completed our chart, I will provide a downloadable copy. Any questions so far?

Expelled & Exemplary

Yesterday, we hit the multiplex for the screening of Expelled, Ben Stein's expose of the bias against anyone daring to question the Darwinian explanation for the origins of life. Regardless of whether you are an unabashed evangelist or staunch critic of evolution, I recommend you give Expelled a fair hearing.

Let me be clear about what the movie is, and what it is not. This is not an evaluation of the scientific evidence that supports or questions the Darwinian thesis; Mr. Stein is not debating the relative merits of evolution or intelligent design. He is identifying a very clear and present danger to free speech - The climate in the halls of the scientific community is hostile, militantly so, to anyone who dares to question the prevailing consensus, ie, all life began from a single living cell which has produced the diversity of life we see today through the process of natural selection. Here is an extended trailer for the movie that gives a good overview of what to expect.

I find it fascinating to talk about the coming "great delusion" (see yesterday's post) and then see a clear, contemporary manifestation of the thing. The bias Ben Stein is exposing in one in which "the evidence which shall not be named" is refused a place at the table. A rigorous and robust examination of the data for and against competing theories of life's origins is disallowed. Unless you can salute the party line, you had best keep your mouth shut. Raise a question, lose your job! Does anyone, evolutionist or otherwise, think this is a good way to do science? Here's one more clip worth watching - it's an interview of Ben Stein by Glenn Beck from last year.

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 9

Imagine coming upon someone at a railroad crossing slumped over the steering wheel in his stalled car. In the distance you see the headlight of an approaching freight train. What is the only response that makes sense? Spring into action to rescue the stranger from imminent peril! Forget the car, get the driver to safety! For many, the approaching Day of the Lord will arrive like that oncoming train. They are oblivious to their peril - but are at profound risk.

What can we discern from 1st and 2nd Thessalonians about this Day and the events surrounding its arrival? By the way, none of these predicted events (here's the list from a previous post) answer to events in history since the first century. This means that the chronological perspective of the Thessalonians is identical to ours. Whatever was "in the present" for them is relevant to our day. Whatever was "in the future" for the Thessalonians is still in our future. This could change at any moment. In fact, I suspect we are very near the in-breaking of these future events. But AT THE MOMENT, we are looking forward from the same chronological vantage point as the original recipients of these epistles.

Remember that there are two perspectives on the Day of the Lord (see yesterday's post) and sorting out the many references to eschatological events in the Thessalonian Epistles is made simpler by observing this distinction. The opponents of the Gospel will experience the coming of the Day of the Lord in a VERY DIFFERENT way than the saints. Both will encounter an eschatological 180. For saints it will mean going from persecution to comfort. For Jesus' detractors it will mean going from peace and safety to wrath.

What does the approaching train look like? To keep this short, I have attached a very useful list which you can download. This has key verses grouped by terms. If you will print a copy and keep it handy, I can summarize what the coming train looks like without bulking up this post with full quotes. We will work backwards from our fixed reference point, the parousia (coming) of the Lord.

Okay, here is what lies ahead FOR GROUP ONE - Those who hinder the gospel (1 Thess. 2:14-16) and who persecute the saints (2 Thess. 1:6-8). They have an appointment with wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 2:16). It is an irrevocable future certainty established in the past (1 Thess. 2:16). Jesus will return to earth in force to effect the eschatological 180 by which these afflictors become the afflicted (2 Thess. 1:6-8). Those who do not know God and those who have not responded to the gospel with the actions of faith will be dealt retribution by Jesus and His fiery host (2 Thess. 1:6-8).

This day of wrath will be TOTALLY unexpected. Prior to its arrival, men will consider themselves to be living in a time of peace and security (1 Thess. 5:1-4). They will have no more clue to what's coming than the unsuspecting victims of a cat burglar (1 Thess. 5:1-4). This doesn't mean Jesus will return without warning. Alas, the recipients of this wrath will be deceived about the times in which they live and oblivious to the warning lights flashing around them. Here are two of those warnings: (1) Society will have embarked on a grand (sic) experiment. Everywhere apostasy will be in vogue; life with God factored out of the equation will have become the accepted and celebrated norm (2 Thess. 2:1-3). (2) This trend will be capped by the appointment of a leader, "the man of lawlessness" who has become the poster child and dynamic public cheer leader for "living my way, not God's way" (2 Thess. 2:1-3). In reality, the philosophy he espouses is a sure path to self-destruction but NO ONE GETS IT. The majority will view his rise to prominence as an event of near Messianic significance (2 Thess. 2:3). He, for his part, will gladly assume the mantle of deity (2 Thess. 2:4). Empowered by Satan himself, this one will be equipped to deceive the masses (2 Thess. 9-10) who will blindly follow him in the pursuit of pleasure-driven living (2 Thess. 2:11-12).

For the present, several forces are at work. (1) Lawlessness, this philosophy of living in defiance of God, is clearly at work, but not openly (2 Thess. 2:7). It is held in check, for the time, and forced to work behind the scenes (2 Thess. 2:7). There will come a time when the restraints come off and "lawlessness" comes out of the closet. But not yet. (2) God has not yet released the great delusion. For the time, it is possible for men to appreciate the merits of the truth, to get it. But when "the apostacy" is in full swing, men's hatred of the truth will reap a universal delusion. Men will find lies and fabrications to be thoroughly convincing (2 Thess. 2:11-12). They will find it impossible for "any reasonable man" to embrace anything other then their "live for pleasure" approach to life (2 Thess. 2:12).

All of this is not a pretty picture. But there is still time to rescue some. Lawlessness has not yet become the dominating philosophy it will. Men are not yet beyond seeing the appeal of the truth. Yes, some may refuse rescue, insisting instead to straddle the tracks before the wrath, daring it to oppose them. But there will be some, like the Thessalonians, who will listen.

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:9-10).

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 8

We hear a lot about bubbles in the US. The tech bubble burst about 10 years ago, the real estate bubble is popping before our eyes. One American bubble is still intact, the bubble of comfortable Christianity. Jesus taught his followers to expect something else: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20).

The saints in Thessalonica were definitely NOT in the comfortable Christian bubble. Things seemed to start off well-enough: When the Apostle Paul came to this city in Macedonia, his first three weeks of ministry were remarkable for their impact. Paul began his ministry in the Jewish synagogue “explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women” (Acts 17:3-4).

Paul was making waves. The caretakers of the status quo were jealous and fired back. They formed mobs that seized some disciples, dragging them before the authorities on trumped up charges. They accused them of treason and got the populace and local authorities agitated enough to view the disciples as a threat to the public good. These events set the tone for life as a new believer in Thessalonica. To align yourself with Jesus was to find yourself viewed as an enemy of the state. The church had barely been birthed before persecution was in full swing.

Paul was forced by the spiritual climate in Thessalonica to leave, but these precious believers never left his thoughts. While ministering in Corinth months later, the reports of their progress prompted him to write an epistle of encouragement, 1st Thessalonians, to be followed not long after by 2nd Thessalonians. These letters were written to reinforce saints under fire. One of the key elements of this reinforcement is the concept of "the eschatological 180." This concept is well captured in 2 Thess. 1:6-8:

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thess. 1:6-8).

"The eschatological 180" gives hope to saints under fire. Because they have chosen to obey the Gospel, they find themselves on the receiving end of tribulation and affliction. But when Jesus is revealed, the tables will be turned. Everyone who has suffered for Jesus will be comforted. Now it will be the persecutor's turn on the receiving end. Jesus and His angels will be dealing out the hot retribution. All who do not know God, despite their claims to the contrary, as well as those who do not translate the Gospel into a new way of life will be the ones feeling the heat.

By the way, this is not the typical Sunday School image of gentle Jesus. But, it is an accurate and under-appreciated side of our Savior rarely considered in Christian bubble-land. Yes, Jesus is loving and patient, looking for our return with the eyes of the prodigal's father. But there will come a point when His countenance will change, when He declares "enough," when men will answer to a Fell Warrior for their hardened rebellion against Him. In that day, you do not want to be Jesus' enemy. It won't turn out well.

The focal point of the eschatological 180 is the ARRIVAL of "the Day of the Lord." This will mark the point where things get flipped around for both saints and persecutors. Recognizing this fact is key to unlocking the framework upon which the many eschatological terms in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians hang. Paul wants to encourage the saints by describing two different experiences of the Day of the Lord. The saints' experience of it will make living for Him worth it. The persecutors' experience of it will declare the saints' vindication.

So, let's assemble these terms into two different logical sequences, one is the version for saints, the other is the version for Jesus' detractors. But before we do, don't miss this key point for saints under fire. Right now, it may look like following Jesus isn't the safest thing to do. But there will come a day when the ONLY SAFE PLACE will be at Jesus' side. It will be worth it - stay committed; stay calm; stay with Him.

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 7

Here's our previous synthesis of I Thess. 4:13-18: When Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom, it won't matter whether you are dead or alive. Everyone "in Jesus" will join the welcoming delegation that meets Him "off-planet," everyone will be included in all the festivities. So temper your grief for those who die (in the Lord) with knowledge of your reunion with them at the parousia of Jesus. And, encourage each other as you anticipate welcoming Jesus back to earth.

I don't like labeling this event "the rapture" because there is so much theological baggage associated with the term. As we have seen from previous posts, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 is describing an event that is a component part of the parousia of Jesus. A better term would be "the welcome." I like it because it well captures what the passage describes and because of the way the phrase, "the welcome," implies something bigger to follow. This something bigger we have identified in a previous post as the "coming of the Lord," an event that is mentioned elsewhere in 1 Thess. 2:19, 3:13; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 8.

Can we position "the welcome" within some sort of escatalogical framework? There are a number of other terms and phrases in 1-2 Thessalonians that outline a framework. Here they are:

1. "The wrath" is used in 1 Thess. 1:10; 2:16.
2. "The day of the Lord" is mentioned in 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:1-2.
3. The revelation (or revealing) of the Lord is described in 2 Thess. 1:7.
4. Something called "the apostasy" is identified in 2 Thess. 2:3.
5. Associated with "the apostasy" is the revelation (or revealing) of the man of lawlessness in 2 Thess. 2:3.
6. The "mystery of lawlessness" is noted in 2 Thess. 2:7.

It is VERY INFORMATIVE that Paul includes a number of chronological markers in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians to construct a framework among these events. For example, in 2 Thess. 2:3, Paul says that the "day of the Lord" will not come unless the "apostasy" comes first. In 2 Thess. 2:8, he declares that the "mystery of lawlessness" is already at work.

Using the event descriptions in these passages and their associated chronological markers, let's map out the big picture. Let's outline how these various events relate to one another and figure out where "the welcome" fits in this picture.

Shoes and Other Important Stuff

Last week, I saw this ad in the local paper. A bank is advertising a new service that is intended to simplify life. The caption reads, "You have bigger priorities to think about." Like what? Young Ms. Imelda's thought bubble reads: "My First priority? Work. And Shoes." Wow, a new bank service that frees us up to think about important things, like shoes! How exciting!

Here is something worth thinking about. Economic news in America is dominated by the sub-prime debacle, the liquidity crisis, the falling dollar and bank bailouts, to name just some of the topics. These are not insignificant issues. But there is another story being followed closely by the foreign press and I want to make sure it's on your radar. Here is a link to a recent article headlined Biggest Grain Exporters Halt Foreign Sales. You will also find this article from Reuters helpful. A shortage of basic commodities, especially rice, maize, and wheat, has led to riots and prompted governments to stop exporting. Kazakhstan has now joined Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, China, Cambodia and India by refusing to export what they need for themselves.

According to the Reuters article, the cost of rice increased 40% in three days when Vietnam announced it's halt to exporting. The chart to the right shows you how the price of rice has exploded upward in the last six months. What's a little jump in the price of rice, right? In America, where we spend 10-20% of total income for food, it probably isn't too big a deal when the price for a box of Uncle Ben's is a little more. But in less developed countries, 50-60% of income goes to food. When dietary mainstays like rice and wheat have doubled in price for families already on the edge, there is no shortage of panic.

What would happen to life in comfortable America if a food shortage came to our homes? Would we be any less prone to panic? My personal opinion is that we would FREAK OUT! So few in America (myself included) have EVER had to worry about having enough food to live. The appearance of shoes on our list of "important things to think about" is a sad commentary on our insulated lives. To those living on the edge, this is a crisis where the appeal, "Give us this day our daily bread," MEANS something. Thank God for what you have, pray for those who lack, and share what you have been given. Those are our priorities.

The End is Near!

According to "six beloved prophets," the end times began on Sept. 16, 2004, at 4:42 PM. Yep, that's what the weekly at the check out counter told me. (There are pictures of three of the "beloved prophets" on the cover - the one of Nostradamus is especially endearing.)

So why wasn't I informed? Did you know this? The "Crucible Institute, an international prophecy think tank," released a report that "contains proof that the End Times have already begun." Dr. Mark Miller exclaims, "This kind of precision is unprecedented in the history of prophecy analysis." This is so exciting!

Sorry to break up the party - but Jesus has a different word for this kind of precision, "pointless." "When" is not the problem, being ready is: “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will” (Matt. 24:44).

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 6

We have established that 1 Thess. 4:13-18 is giving us some "new information" about the return of Jesus. Namely, all those "in Jesus," regardless of whether they are alive or asleep (ie, body is in the grave), will be included in the welcoming party that meets Jesus in the clouds. We have drawn this from the text (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and context (1-2 Thessalonians) without using any eschatalogical labels. So far, so good.

When will this happen? Is this the next big thing for believers to expect? Asking this question begs for some sort of eschatological framework. ("Eschatology" means "the study of last things.") And there are lots of different brands of eschatology out there. All of these theological labels represent a specific road-map to the future - there is some overlap among them, but each has a unique take on the sequence of events following Jesus' First Coming: Preterism, Dispensationalism, Covenant-Theology, Amillenialism, Post-millenialism, Pre-millenialism and Realized Eschatology. Even among these terms there are some varieties: Partial Preterism differs from Full Preterism; Classic Dispensationalism is fading behind Modified Dispensationalism. Among Pre-millenialists, subsets include Pre-tribulation, Post-tribulation, and Mid-tribulation Pre-millenialism.

I don't think it is necessary (right now) to explain the differences between each label. I mention them to make a point. The number of these labels is high and the breadth of what each designates is significant. This makes the task of understanding 1 Thess. 4:13-18 much more complicated when we have to assign this passage a place within one of these frameworks. Is it possible to answer the "when" question without using a label as an interpretive decoder ring? None of these labels were in use by the Thessalonians who constituted Paul's original audience. When Paul wrote 1-2 Thessalonians, he intended for these epistles to be understood without resort to such labels. Yes, they do not contradict what the Bible elsewhere teaches, but they were meant to stand on their own.

So why don't we attempt to answer the "when" question without using our favorite decoder ring. If you will read 1-2 Thessalonians, there are some clues about timing that will pop off the page. Why not read these two epistles before reading the next post, and then we'll compare notes. Let me get you started. The first passage with a clue to what's next is 1 Thess. 1:9-10. From this passage, we learn that model believers are characterized by "waiting for [God's] Son from heaven" and that Jesus will deliver them "from the wrath to come."   

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 5

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15, Paul reports having received a fresh revelation concerning the parousia, the "coming." Paul's "new information" is the second of two data downloads; the first packet came during the earthly ministry of Jesus. If you want a detailed account of what is summarized in the next two paragraphs, get Alva McClain's, The Greatness of the Kingdom.

Jesus came to Israel offering Himself as the Messianic King promised in the Old Testament. But His offer was rejected. This outcome had been decided long before Passion Week. So Jesus began preparing His inner circle by providing some "new information." The mystery parables (Matt. 13), the upper room discourse (John 12-16), the high priestly prayer of John 17, and the post resurrection appearances were primary teaching venues for this new information. Jesus taught His disciples that there would be an interim between His first advent and the establishment of His kingdom.

Even at His ascension, the apostles struggled to grasp the idea that Jesus was leaving and the Kingdom wouldn't be established until after His return. In Acts 1:6, they inquired: "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus did not answer their question directly - but after His ascension moments later, the remarks of the angels could not have been more pointed: "They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven'" (Acts 1:11). This was something not seen in the Old Testament. There were to be TWO DISTINCT VISITS to earth by Jesus with a period of time intervening between these two visits. The idea that Jesus is coming AGAIN is quite familiar to us, but was BIG NEWS to the early believers.

1 Thess. 4:13-18 is about this second coming, but adds new information. This is the first notice of a meeting off-planet, "in the clouds," for those "in Jesus" at the parousia. There is more. By the time Paul wrote Thessalonians, a significant period of time had passed since Jesus' ascension. It was natural for believers to wonder, "Have those who have died missed out on the second coming?" Paul reveals that ALL those "in Jesus" will be included in the welcoming delegation, regardless of whether they are alive or asleep. It was not new information that those alive at the time of the parousia would welcome Jesus' return. It WAS new information that those who are "asleep" would also be included.

Here's a synthesis of I Thess. 4:13-18:  When Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom, it won't matter whether you are dead or alive. Everyone "in Jesus" will join the welcoming delegation that meets Him "off-planet," everyone will be included in all the festivities. So temper your grief for those who die (in the Lord) with knowledge of your reunion with them at the parousia of Jesus. And, encourage each other as you anticipate welcoming Jesus back to earth.

Okay, now we are ready for the big question: WHEN will this "parousia for all" happen? WHEN can we do some cloud surfing and welcome Jesus back to planet earth? I'm ready - maranatha!

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 4

In 1st Thessalonians 4, Paul is describing an event which we have labeled "1-T-4." In our previous post, we gathered some clues about this event, noting that it is described as "the coming of the Lord" in 4:15. Variations of this expression and an associated phrase can be found a total of eight times in the two letters to the Thessalonians. Based upon these eight passages, here are some more clues about "1-T-4."

1. The word, "coming," is a translation of the Greek word, parousia. This word has the basic meaning of an arrival or presence as in 2nd Cor. 7:6: "But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus." Interestingly, this word is often used in a special sense of a particular kind of arrival: Parousia "became the official term for a person of high rank, especially of kings and emperors visiting a province" (Bauer, Arndt, & Gingrich, p. 635).
2. This special sense for parousia is clearly being used by Paul in Thessalonians. A trumpeted arrival, the discharge of accountability, victory celebrations - all of these features fit with the special meaning of parousia. Here is a poignant indicator: In 1st Thessalonians 4:17, we read: "Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." The word translated "meet" is "used of a delegation sent forth from a city to greet a visiting dignitary and formally escort him into the city" (DBI, p. 860).
3. Paul is using "coming" in its special sense (of the arrival of a king) and sees those who are "in Jesus" serving as the welcoming committee. It should be noted that there is a change of axis, however. This coming and meeting will occur on a vertical plane. Jesus will "descend from heaven" and the dead in Christ will "rise" (1 Thess. 4:16). Living saints will be "caught up" to meet Him (1 Thess. 4:17).
4. The prospect of this meeting is considered a strong incentive for righteous behavior (1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23).
5. This "coming" will be something of a celebration, a time of joyous association among comrades (1 Thess. 2:19).

Let's pull together these clues. In 1st Thessalonians 4, the main event Paul is discussing is the "coming" of Jesus. As a king and his retinue come to a province, so Jesus will come from heaven and be met by an enthusiastic delegation who will come to him off-planet. For the delegates, this prospect is both fuel for righteous living and a reason for eager anticipation.

Paul was not the first one to talk about Jesus' "coming." So, why does Paul intimate that he has something new to say about it?  Here is 1st Thessalonians 4:15: "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord." Paul is boldly declaring that he has been given special revelation about some new aspect of the "coming." What is this brand new insight?

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 3

Please humor me. "The rapture" has so many different notions attached to it - it will help you to process the information below if you jettison the term for the time being. (You may have it back, once we invest it with biblically informed content.) I would like to start with a clean slate. So let's pretend we know nothing about whatever is being described in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. We will call this event "1-T-4" and begin to gather clues about it.

1. 1st and 2nd Thessalonians are among the earliest New Testament epistles. They may predate most, if not all, of the books in the New Testament. So other epistles were not available to the original audience to serve as "interpretive keys" for "1-T-4." However, if a term or phrase is used repeatedly WITHIN 1st and 2nd Thessalonians to refer to "1-T-4," this will be very helpful in drawing a composite picture of the event.
2. "1-T-4" is called "the coming of the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:15). This phrase or a variant of it appears six times in these two epistles.
3. 2 Thess. 2:1 is important because it LINKS the "coming of the Lord" with "the day of the Lord," a phrase that also appears in 1st Thess. 5:2.
4. When we say the "coming of the Lord" is linked to the "day of the Lord," we are not saying these are synonyms, two terms that describe the same event.  Look at 2 Thess. 2:1-2, for example, where both terms are linked; it appears that the "day of the Lord" represents a period that cannot begin without the "coming of the Lord." Think of the "day of the Lord" as an extended span of time, and the "coming of the Lord" as a specific event that kicks it off.
5. We have hit the motherload. There are eight passages connected to "1-T-4" within the Thessalonian Epistles. We should be able to draw a compelling composite drawing of "1-T-4."

Here for handy reference are these eight passages. We will gather more clues in Part 4 - but for now, start with a clean slate, look at all eight passages, and tell me what you see, Grasshopper!

1. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? (1 Thess. 2:19).
2. So that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (1 Thess 3:13).
3. 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep (1 Thess 4:15).
4. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2).
5. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:23).
6. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come (2 Thess. 2:1-2).
7. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8).

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 2

How much is a ticket to the Superbowl worth? That depends ALOT on whether it is a ticket to a past or future event. If it is an unused ticket to Superbowl XLII, it may have some collector's value - I see a stub on ebay with a current bid of about $40. But it won't gain you entrance to anything. A ticket to Superbowl XLIII is worth far more because it will grant you entrance to the next ultimate football spectacular on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009 - the current price range is between $2,600 and $12,935. 

The believers in Thessalonia were wondering what kind of ticket they were holding. Paul had declared, "Jesus is coming back," and that everyone "in Jesus" has a ticket with his name on it. But as the big day was delayed, some "in Jesus" died. The Thessalonians wondered, "Have these ticket holders missed out? Is the 'coming of the Lord' only going to be attended by those who live long enough (or are born late enough)? Or have we missed out, the main event has already happened, and we're just holding onto memorabilia instead of a living hope?"

Paul responded to these burning questions by writing the following: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Paul is making a rather bold claim: Just because a man has died doesn't mean he will miss anything. (This is SOME TICKET!) In fact, NOBODY, alive OR dead, will miss anything.

There's not a lot of controversy about what I've said so far. But now it's time to jump off the deep end and try to keep our heads above water. Here's how we will approach the issues. FIRST, we will gather clues from 1 Thessalonians about the event Paul is describing. THEN, let's ask and answer this question: Is this a description of something hitherto unknown or is it supplementary information about something described elsewhere in the Bible? NEXT, we will try to pinpoint where this event fits with other future events in the Bible. FINALLY, I will propose a solution to these questions which attempts to boldly declare what the Bible expressly says and refuses to "fill in the gaps" where the Bible is silent.

By the way, there may be a few posts on other issues sprinkled throughout this series. But each post titled, "The Next Big Thing," is intended to move us through the process I have outlined in the paragraph above. If you are still on board with me by the time we reach the end, how you live WILL BE DIFFERENT. Don't say I didn't warn you!

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 1

In the late sixties, I was scanning the shelves of Dightman's Bible Book Store when I came across Clarence Larkin's book, Dispensational Truth. Originally published in 1918, it is the quintessential prophecy chart book from the heyday of the Scofield Reference Bible. Who wouldn't get excited about having such a detailed prophetic road map? It's like a great directory of time with a red "you are here" arrow to help you anticipate "what's next."

Mr. Larkin was both a Bible student and draftsman, and his chart filled opus has all the tidiness of an architect's blueprint: There is a place for everything and everything is in its place. The example to the left is just half of one of the 90 charts in his book! The prophetic framework popularized by Scofield and charted by Larkin informs the "Left Behind" series that has sold 65 million copies! In this framework, "the next big thing" is the rapture, an event in which believers will meet Jesus "off planet" while those who are left behind go through seven years of tribulation.

The key associated passage seems straight-forward: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17). At some point in time, believers will be united with Jesus among the clouds, never to be separated from Him again. I believe that this passage is descriptive of something we CAN look forward to. But when? Now that's a great question! Warning: Please do not read subsequent posts on this topic unless you are willing to have your presuppositions challenged and your charts messed up.