A Silly But Serious Question

[Steven Budlong]

Dear Way Corps & Fellow Saints,Yesterday I received an interesting question from a friend of mine. She and her husband deal in vintage posters, the very rare and high-end stuff. I thought I would share the question and my answer. It has a lot to do with our culture and how we rush to judgment in labeling people, places and things. I have learned that we often get it wrong, very wrong, even dead wrong.I also remind myself of what Dr. Wierwille always said, “Just because it’s labeled pickles on the outside doesn’t mean its pickles on the inside.” Now, understand that in my writing this response I know that Amy's husband will read it too. He is Jewish and she is a Christian. Spiritually they are unevenly yoked, and they know it, but they really do care about the world and our futures.The title of the email was “A Silly But Serious Question.” Here is part of it:Hi Steve,It was so good seeing you this weekend. Here is my silly but serious question (Please Don't Laugh). If Evangelicals or the Christians that are Rapture-Ready believe that the end is here, and are warning that Barack Obama is the antichrist, and that we need to fight him, than why would they oppose his candidacy? Wouldn't they want to endorse him so that Jesus will return?I know that this is probably just a fundamental misunderstanding of the Bible on my part, but I keep hearing about Obama the antichrist, the messiah, etc… Thanks for indulging me.AmySo how do you respond to that? I have talked the Word with them as well as politics, religion, popular culture, the arts and personal stuff. Although we deal professionally, they are my friends and they know where I stand. They know that I believe the scriptures are my only reference for truth outside of myself. What I found interesting about the question is they did not label me among the “Rapture-Ready-Evangelicals.” I liked that. I never liked being lumped with Jesus Freaks, Catholics or Protestants either and I have run from labels ever since I was ejected from The Way. I am a Christian first.If people want to know about my heritage I ask them, “Do you want the myths or the family tree?” Then I say, “I am an American.” If people want to know about my politics I tell them I was born into a Republican family but consider myself a Constitutionalist. That means that I as a citizen have a “contract” with my Government called the Constitution. And I read the Constitution as if it were (for it is not) The Word of God. What does it say line by line and word by word? How do you interpret those words in light of the context or having been used before? What were the cultural implications stapled to those words (we use to call them orientalisms, remember?) and can they be applied today? What is “to” us and what is “for” us? And so on and so forth.So here was my answer:Amy and Charles,Regarding Evangelicals they operate on fear, not love. Beware. The Christian right is just as wacky as any extremist group. Some Muslim extremists use the Koran; Some Christian extremists use the Bible, or more specifically the Book of Revelation. Some Jewish extremists use the Torah. All are forms of Fascism and Fascism says, "I am and therefore you are not.” Well, you know what happens when someone declares, "you are not!" You end up with discrimination, persecution or a holocaust.Communism is really no different. Communism says, "we are but we have no need of you comrade.” They both send you to the same place with different names. Call it Auschwitz or call it the Gulag.Anyway, regarding the Anti-Christ, the Bible says he will not be revealed until he enters into the temple in Jerusalem. That temple is likely not yet built (the second one was destroyed in 70 A.D. by Rome) and it stands to reason that when it is rebuilt no Gentile will have access to the inner sanctum, which is why some speculate that the Anti-Christ will be Jewish, as was the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Jewish. But then again times change and being politically correct even in Israel, is a big deal. So Gentiles may have access despite the Law of God. Wait/Stop/Pause -- right here on this very point... I am speculating. And I need to stop and tell you that speculation can only be offered as opinion but never as truth. We have to, in all matters, discern between speculation and truth. Truth is limited to us by what God has revealed in the scriptures. In Deuteronomy it says that what God has revealed unto us is for us and our children's children down the line of time. But most Christians can't separate truth from speculation. That is why religion in general is such a mess of poorly digested and regurgitated doctrines.The Bible also says to the Christian living at the end of “man’s day”, fear none of this, for no man knows the times or seasons of the Messiah's second coming in G L O R Y, for the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. It will not be understood until it comes to pass. You see the first coming of Christ was as a man, as the "promised seed" of Genesis 3:16. That is why Israel did not recognize him. The Judeans expected a warrior king like David, to put down the armies of Rome and reclaim David's throne. They did not discern or divide the two aspects of Christ's coming in Isaiah. It says they "wrestled" with this in the scripture; namely Christ's suffering as the son of man and his Glory in his coming as the Son of God. And in between these two events is “now!” That is where we live, in the "now."The other mistake Christians have made is to claim Jesus is God as Jehovah is God. But it can't be, for that is idolatry and the Old and New Testament cannot contradict each other. The term "trinity" does not appear in the Bible. It was not canonized as Christian until 325 A.D by the Council of Ephesus under the watch of the most questionable Emperor Constantine (a soldier, politician and emperor mind you, hardly a Christian first). So for me, I place "Trinity" down there with Christmas, Easter, Santa Claus, Bunnies and Chocolate Eggs. They are all pagan. Christians have confused the unity of God, His Son, His Children, His Creatures and His Creation with the myths of the Romans, Greeks and Hindus, all of which have three gods in one person and one god in three persons. They call this "a (or the) mystery of faith". Well, do you really think one plus one equals three and one? Just how far will that get you in life, much less a check-out line?A son may have the nature and authority of his Father, but that is different than being one and the same. Remember, "unity" not "trinity", and then the Old and New Testaments will fit together like a hand in a glove.And So Obama is not likely to be the Anti-Christ, let alone the Messiah. He is just an American doing his best with what he knows. Like me, God will judge him according to his heart, works and conscience. I hope that helps.”Truly Yours,SteveThat is how I replied. That is how I see it. I don’t want to go into the scripture here and there and teach or debate what I want to communicate. I just spoke the truth as I remembered it and now they can choose whether to believe me, hear me again or mock me (ouch, I hate it when they mock me). Yes, they can choose just like we can choose in November. For me, what is important is whether my contract with the government will be strengthened or weakened. I do not care about labels. That is why God told us to try the spirits. Check out what is really going on behind those masks people wear. That's what discerning of spirits is for. It is for knowing what is going on behind the curtain. So I will choose. Will you choose? And what will you choose... hmmm??? Your vote, your voice really does count. You really are God's best and it really does all add up in the end. We'll see!Respectfully Yours,Steven C. Budlong

[Janis Lang Johnson]

Interesting question. However, it seems clear in the Word that we aren't to entertain foolis questions:
[22] Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. [23] But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. [24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [26] And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. II Timothy 2: 22-25

Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

So it would depend on the seriousness of the question and whether or not you got "a feeling" from God to even bother.

As to the return of Jesus Christ, that should have been a clue to you that this question was a trap. Why? Matthew 24 is very clear. In my heart of hearts the words of my Lord and Master speak far louder than what any other man may say about him.

[1] And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple. [2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. [3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? [4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these [are] the beginning of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! [20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. [23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. [24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [25] Behold, I have told you before. [26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. [27] For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. [29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. [32] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: [33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. [34] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. [35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. [36] But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24 1-36

No man knows, no man can make it come faster, man although his ego is HUGE, can not affect the date that GOD has set forth for his return.

As to the antichrist. I John says very clearly those that don't believe Jesus has come in the flesh are antichrist.

The son of perdition is another story. What marks him out to God's people, and we may not even be THAT generation, will be he suffers a mortal head wound and the false prophet heals or raises him fromthe dead. Start marking days after the. Christ, who said this himself will not return until the son of perdition is revealed. According to God's Word, he will reign about 7 years. At the end of that seven years, nobody knows exactly when, Christ will return. The son of perdition does not bring the wrath of God, it is the great tribulation. NEVER in God's Word are we promised to be saved from tribulation. We are saved from WRATH to come. Completely different word, usage, temprament, everything.

If those folks really want to know God's Word, then teach it to them to the end they get born again speak in tongues and begin their relationship with God.

All is does is upset the Christian. And I get upset if my hair doesn't turn out right sometimes, I let that go when I lived in Minnesota and had to wear a balaclava all winter.

Just tossing in my two cents. See ya,
Janis

[Steven Budlong]

David,

Very well put, and thank you for your insight on the use of temple in Paul's epistles. It is an interesting way to look at it. As we were taught, a word or words must always interpret themselves in light of their previous usage and in their context, so your point is well made. As for "things to come" it could in fact have a double meaning. Bullinger talks a lot about this in work on prophecy and in figures of speech. I guess we will know for sure when it is fulfilled. I for one am getting prepared. I am cleaning up my life and taking care of my side of the street. God bless!

Steve

[David & Linda (Smith) Scovel]

Once again a good word. I work in a lot of Jewish peoples houses and get to share with them regarding the OT and the Messiah. I don't press them on the "Christian" aspect as they are not there yet. Paul taught them from the OT declaring that Christ was the Messiah (remember, as of yet he had not written the letters which would become the basis for Christian understanding). It opens us up to intriguing dialogues. My responsibility is not to make sure they are converted, but water and plant (probably in reverse).

We as Christians are so given to speculation as to what when where, why and how of the end-times that I think we miss the preparation, especially in regard to the aforementioned "rapture (their term, not yours), that we may have never considered that the timing of what we've been led to believe might be off. In that case have we truly prepared our hearts to endure should the times get hard, or do we have the "I'm outta here" mentality that has been prevalent in the community of the saints.

What if..... and I could go on, but in regard to "the anti-christ" (of which 1 John gives us all the qualifiers for them), what if the whole "temple in Jerusalem jive" is down the wrong path. I say this because the word used for "temple" in the scriptures, specifically the Pauline Epistles is never used in the context of a physical temple. Paul always relates it to the spiritual body of Christ. Therefore, I Thessalonians has to be looked at with that understanding rather than what we've been told about that the temple has to be rebuilt (not until Ezekiel's in the millennium).

2.3 "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2.4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Could the Church really be that deceived to allow that. Hasn't it been in other areas. The Boy Scouts at least have it right. "Be Prepared!"

Thanks for the reminder about our contract, "WE THE PEOPLE!!!!"