“The things on high, hold in esteem, not the things upon the earth:”
Colossians 3:2 · Rotherham
10 messages9 videos217 passages side by side1 Corinthians 15 · Revelation 20–22
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
J. B. Rotherham, 1902. A literal translation that uses commas and word order to show emphasis in the Greek and Hebrew. Words in brackets are supplied by the translator.
Berean Standard Bible
A modern, accurate translation in plain English, shown beside Rotherham so you can compare the two.
The series opens by establishing that heaven is a real place where God lives and rules, and that Jesus is there now. Then it asks a harder question: why does heaven feel so vague to so many believers, and what does Scripture actually say about the bodies we will live in?
Heaven is not a figure of speech. The New Testament speaks of it constantly, places God's throne there, and tells us God himself created it. A throne means authority, so heaven is the seat of government over everything else.
The word heaven (ouranos) appears 278 times in the New Testament
God lives in heaven; his throne is there, and a throne represents authority
God created heaven; Scripture mentions three heavens
Supporting verses: Matthew 5:16, the Lord's Prayer, 1 Kings 8:27, Deuteronomy 10:14
The three heavens
3
The third heavenThe realm of God, his throne and his presence. Paul was "caught up to the third heaven."
2 Cor 12:2
2
The second heavenThe realm of darkness: "the prince of the power of the air," powers in high places.
Eph 2:2 · 6:12
1
The first heavenThe sky, where the birds fly.
Gen 1:20
Matthew 5:16
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16In like manner, let your light shine before men,—that they may see your good works,—and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.
Berean Standard Bible
16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:9–10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9Thus, therefore pray, ye: Our Father, who art in the heavens,—Hallowed be thy name, 10Come may thy kingdom,—Accomplished be thy will, as in heaven, also on earth:
Berean Standard Bible
9So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
1 Kings 8:27
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
27But, in very deed, will God dwell, upon the earth? Lo! the heaven, yea the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built?
Berean Standard Bible
27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
Deuteronomy 10:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14Lo! unto Yahweh thy God, belong the heavens even the highest heavens,—the earth, with all that is therein.
Berean Standard Bible
14Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.
Psalm 11:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4Yahweh, is in his holy temple As for Yahweh, in the heavens, is his throne, His eyes, behold—His eyelashes test the sons of men.
Berean Standard Bible
4The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.
2 Corinthians 12:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven;
Berean Standard Bible
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
Ephesians 2:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2In which at one time ye walked, according to the age of the world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, of the spirit that now energiseth in the sons of disobedience,
Berean Standard Bible
2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 6:12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but, against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-holders, of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies.
Berean Standard Bible
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The disciples watched Jesus leave. They were grieving and had scattered at the cross, carrying something like trauma. The angels' promise was that this same Jesus would return the same way. Meanwhile he sits in authority, and our citizenship is already registered there.
The ascension and the state of the disciples: sorrow, fleeing, "PTSD"
"This same Jesus... will come back in the same way"
Our citizenship is in heaven
The overcomer sits with Christ on his throne; all authority has been given to Jesus
Acts 1:9–11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9And having said these things, as they were beholding, he was lifted up, and a cloud caught him away from their eyes. 10And, while they were looking steadfastly into heaven as he was going his way, then lo! two men had taken their stand beside them, in white garments,— 11Who also said—Men of Galilee! why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus who hath been taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye yourselves have gazed upon him going into heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
9After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. 10They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Philippians 3:20
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
20For, our citizenship, in the heavens, hath its rise; wherefore, a Saviour also, do we ardently await,—The Lord Jesus Christ,—
Berean Standard Bible
20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Revelation 3:21
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
21He that overcometh, I will give, unto him, to take his seat with me in my throne, as, I also, overcame, and took my seat with my Father in his throne.
Berean Standard Bible
21To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Matthew 28:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18And Jesus, coming near, spake unto them, saying—All authority, in heaven and on earth, hath been given unto me;
Berean Standard Bible
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
III
What are your pictures of heaven?
Before going further, the message invites each listener to look honestly at the images of eternity they carry. For many, including pastors, those images produce dread or boredom rather than longing.
An invitation to examine personal impressions of eternity
Many believers, including pastors, have dread or dullness: floating, undefined spirits
Heaven treated as a "footnote"; symbolism made it feel unreal ("how big was that oyster?")
IV
Trapped between two realms
This world feels solid and immediate, while heaven feels like fog. We assume tomorrow will look like today even as the culture around us comes apart, and the good things of earth feel more real than anything we can picture of eternity.
This world feels hyper-real; heaven feels vague
The "bias towards normalcy" while culture collapses (woke culture, gender, abortion, communism)
Earthly pleasures (food, travel, marriage, animals, music) feel more real than heaven
Earth as a "temporary testing lab"; the Far Side cartoon of boredom on a cloud
God is spirit, but spirit is not the same as unreal. Angels and demons are real without being physical, and dreams and visions are real experiences that happen without the body. At the same time, the risen Jesus insisted he had flesh and bones. Real and physical are separate questions.
God is spirit, but that does not mean he has no body
"A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have"
Real does not require physical: demons and angels are real but not physical
Dreams and visions are real experiences without the body
Demons seek bodies to express themselves (Legion and the pigs)
John 4:24
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
24God is, spirit; and, they that worship him, in spirit and truth, must needs worship.
Berean Standard Bible
24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Luke 24:39
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
39See my hands, and my feet,—that it is, I, myself: Handle me, and see! because, a spirit, hath not, flesh and bones, as ye perceive, I, have.
Berean Standard Bible
39Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Mark 5:12–13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12and they besought him, saying—Send us into the swine, that, into them, we may enter; 13and he suffered them. And the impure spirits, going out, entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the cliff into the sea, about two thousand, and were choked in the sea.
Berean Standard Bible
12So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.
Paul answers the question "with what body do they come?" with a seed. What goes into the ground is not what comes up, yet it is the same life. The resurrection body is continuous with this one and completely transformed.
The seed and the plant: what is sown is not the body that will be
Different kinds of flesh; heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; differing glory
Sown perishable, in dishonor, in weakness; raised imperishable, in glory, in power
"There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body"
Sown and raised 1 Corinthians 15:42–44
It is sown
perishable
in dishonor
in weakness
a natural body
It is raised
imperishable
in glory
in power
a spiritual body
1 Corinthians 15:35–38
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
35But some one will say—How, are the dead raised? and, with what kind of body, do they come? 36Simple one! What, thou, sowest, is not quickened, except it die; 37And, what thou sowest, not the body that shall come into existence, dost thou sow, but a naked kernel—if it so happen, of wheat, or of any of the rest,— 38Howbeit, God, giveth it a body, as he pleased, and, unto each of the seeds, a body of its own.
Berean Standard Bible
35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. 38But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.
1 Corinthians 15:42–44
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
42Thus, also the resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption, 43It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory, it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, 44It is sown a body of the soul, it is raised a body of the spirit; if there is a body of the soul, there is also of the spirit:—
Berean Standard Bible
42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
The first Adam received life. The last Adam gives it. Believers are begotten from above into Christ's line, and the promise is specific: our lowly bodies will be changed to be like his glorious body, and we will bear the image of the man from heaven.
The first Adam became a living soul; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit (ginomai)
The first man from the earth; the second man from heaven
Begotten from above: believers are a new creation; Christ is the firstborn of many sons
We will be like him; our vile bodies changed to be like his glorious body
Verse 49: we will bear the image of the man from heaven
1 Corinthians 15:45–49
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
45Thus, also, it is written—The first man, Adam, became, a living soul, the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46Howbeit, not first, is the [body] of the spirit, but that, of the soul,—afterwards, that of the spirit. 47The first man, is of the ground, earthy, the second man, is, of heaven: 48As, the man of earth, such, also, the men of earth, and, as, the man of heaven, such, also, the men of heaven; 49And, even as we have borne the image of the man of earth, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
45So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17On the contrary, now, no longer, are we gaining it. So that, if any one is in Christ, there is a new creation! the old things, have passed away,—Lo! they have become new!
Berean Standard Bible
17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Romans 8:29
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
29For, whom he fore-approved, he also fore-appointed to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren,—
Berean Standard Bible
29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
1 John 3:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2Beloved! now, are we, children of God; and, not yet, hath it been made manifest, what we shall be,—We know that, if it should be made manifest, like unto him, shall we be, because we shall see him, just as he is.
Berean Standard Bible
2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
Philippians 3:21
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
21Who will transfigure our humbled body, into conformity with his glorified body, according to the energy wherewith he is able even to subdue, unto himself, all things.
Berean Standard Bible
21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
A settler moving to a new country studies it before he goes. Heaven's symbols are given so we can do the same. They point to things we already understand: a wedding feast, a river, the end of tears. And heaven does not stay far away. It comes down to a new earth.
Quote from the book Heaven: a settler studies his new country before he goes
Heaven's symbols point to things we understand: the marriage supper, the river of life, no tears
Heaven comes down to a new earth
In eternity we will be "hyper-alive"; earth is a gray fog by comparison
This world is not heaven; it pulls us to depend on God
Revelation 19:9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9And he saith unto me—Write! Happy, they who, unto the marriage supper of the Lamb, have been bidden! And he saith unto me—These words, are, true [words] of God.
Berean Standard Bible
9Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 22:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And he pointed out to me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, issuing forth out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
Berean Standard Bible
1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 21:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And he will wipe away every tear out of their eyes,—and, death, shall be no more, and grief and outcry and pain shall be no more: the first things, have passed away.
Berean Standard Bible
4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2And, the holy city, new Jerusalem, saw I coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Berean Standard Bible
2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Continued
Faith, longings and the view of heaven
I
Faith without striving
Healing often gets tangled up with striving and legalism, as if enough effort will finally earn it. One man near death simply said, "God, I believe you," and was healed. Faith that rests on God also frees ministers from carrying responsibilities that were never theirs.
Striving and legalism in seeking healing
Testimony of a man near death who simply said, "God, I believe you," and was healed
Release from false responsibility in preaching, counseling and evangelism
Contrast between healings in India (a deaf girl's first word, "Hallelujah") and a meeting in Ireland
II
A very unbiblical view of heaven
One pastor admitted he dreaded heaven as "endless tedium." Mark Twain's view of life and death was bleak. But God would not create an eternal home we cannot relate to, any more than a father would serve his children gravel.
A pastor's confession of dread and fear of "endless tedium"
Mark Twain's bleak view of life and death
Atheism as "a young man's game"
God would not create heaven as something we do not relate to ("eating gravel")
III
Benny's dream
In a dream, Benny moved through scene after scene: music and worship, design and creativity, swimming and breathing underwater, flying. In each one he said, "This is what I've always wanted." Then he saw Jesus in brilliant light, and that was the fulfillment of everything.
Music and worship; design and creativity; swimming and breathing underwater; flying
Each scene: "This is what I've always wanted"
Seeing Jesus in brilliant light: the ultimate fulfillment
Heaven as the fulfillment of longings that cannot be met on earth
IV
A song about our longings
A dream of a Swiss family singing carried the same message: our deepest longings are fulfilled only on the other side. A word at a prayer meeting added the urgency. Faith and tears can only be used on earth, so use your faith now.
The dream of a Swiss family singing that our longings are fulfilled only on the other side
Word at prayer meeting: faith and tears can only be used on earth; use your faith now
02
Message 02 of 10 · Sep 8, 2024
Set Your Mind on Things Above
Part two turns from what heaven is to how we think about it. Colossians tells us to set our minds above. This message explores what Christ has been preparing, what our relationships will be like, why the resurrection body matters, and how Greek philosophy taught the church to distrust the body.
Most of our thoughts are about ourselves. Paul calls us to deliberately fix our minds on the things above. The old saying "so heavenly minded you're no earthly good" gets it backwards: the people most focused on his appearing are the ones who watch and pray.
"Not on earthly things"
Most thoughts are about ourselves ("WIIFM: What's In It For Me")
"So heavenly minded you're no earthly good" is a lie
Passionately waiting for his appearing; watch and pray
Colossians 3:1–2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1If, therefore, ye have been raised together with the Christ, the things on high, be seeking, where, the Christ, is—on the right hand of God, sitting; 2The things on high, hold in esteem, not the things upon the earth:
Berean Standard Bible
1Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Titus 2:13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13Prepared to welcome the happy hope and forthshining of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Christ Jesus,—
Berean Standard Bible
13as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 26:41
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
41Be watching and praying, that ye may not enter into temptation: The spirit, indeed, is, eager, but, the flesh, weak.
Berean Standard Bible
41“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Look at a dragonfly and remember that the whole creation was made in seven days. Christ has been preparing a place for his people for two thousand years. Imagine what that place is like.
Creation's wonders (dragonflies) made in seven days
Christ has been preparing a place for 2,000 years
John 14:2–3
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2In the house of my Father, are, many dwellings; or else I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. 3And, if I go, and prepare a place for you, again, am I coming, and will take you home unto—myself, that, where, I, am, ye also, may be.
Berean Standard Bible
2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
Many people carry broken families and unfulfilled relationships into old age. In heaven we will still remember. What is removed is the pain and the hurt. Relationships are expanded and perfected, and no one will have the ability to wound or sin against another.
Earthly unfulfillment and broken families
We will remember earthly things; only pain and hurt are forgotten
Relationships will be expanded and perfected; no ability to hurt or to sin
Fellowship with millions at once
1 Corinthians 13:12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12For we see, as yet, through a dim window, obscurely, but, then, face to face: as yet, I gain knowledge, in part, but, then, shall I fully know, even as I was also fully known.
Berean Standard Bible
12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
IV
Marriage and humor
Marriage is meant to be a safe harbor, yet many marriages have lost their laughter. God created humor. He is relational, not a stiff legalist, and every relationship in heaven will be immersed in holy love with no regrets.
Marriage as a "safe harbor"; many marriages have lost laughter
God created humor; God is relational, not a stiff legalist
All relationships immersed in holy love; no regrets (Donald's testimony)
Being filled with the Holy Spirit at age eight as a foretaste
The Lord himself descends. The dead in Christ rise first. Then those who are alive are caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
The Lord descends; the dead in Christ rise; the living are caught up
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16Because, the Lord himself, with a word of command, with a chief-messenger’s voice, and with a trumpet of God, shall descend from heaven,—and, the dead in Christ, shall rise, first, 17After that, we, the living who are left, together with them, shall be caught away, in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:—and, thus, evermore, with the Lord, shall we be!
Berean Standard Bible
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, 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 will always be with the Lord.
From the moment we are caught up we are inseparable from him. The bride of Christ is not a statement about gender. Marriage is only a weak picture of the union believers will have with Christ.
Inseparable from him from that moment on
The bride of Christ is not about gender; marriage is a weak symbol of union with Christ
El Shaddai: the nurturing God
2 Corinthians 11:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2For I am jealous over you with a jealousy, of God; for I myself betrothed you unto one husband, to present, a chaste virgin, unto the Christ,—
Berean Standard Bible
2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
Genesis 17:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And it came to pass that, when Abram was ninety and nine years old, Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I, am GOD Almighty,—Walk, thou before me and become thou blameless:
Berean Standard Bible
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
Angels and demons can appear, and spirit bodies can be seen and touched. Heaven is described with things we can picture: houses, gardens, rivers, fruit, music and smells. God himself is the light of the city.
Angels and demons can manifest; spirit bodies can be seen and touched
Paradise: a Persian word for a tended, walled garden
Hebrews 13:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2Of the entertaining of strangers, be not forgetful, for, hereby, unawares, have some entertained, messengers.
Berean Standard Bible
2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Revelation 21:23
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
23And, the city, hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they should shine therein; for, the glory of God, illumined it, and, the lamp thereof, was the Lamb.
Berean Standard Bible
23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 22:1–2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And he pointed out to me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, issuing forth out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2in the midst of the broadway thereof. And, on this side of the river and on that, was a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, every several month, yielding its fruit; and, the leaves of the tree, were for the healing of the nations,
Berean Standard Bible
1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Jesus is the forerunner who has gone ahead of us behind the veil. Until the resurrection, no one but Jesus has a resurrection body. Believers who have died are in an intermediate state, and the new bodies are given at the Rapture.
Jesus the forerunner (prodromos)
The intermediate state; no one has their resurrection body yet except Jesus
Resurrection bodies are received at the Rapture
John 3:13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13And, no one, hath ascended into heaven, save he that, out of heaven, descended,—The Son of Man.
Berean Standard Bible
13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
Hebrews 6:18–20
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18In order that, through means of two unchangeable things, in which it was impossible for God to make himself false, a mighty consolation, we might have, who have fled along to grasp, the fore-lying hope, 19Which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into the interior of the veil: 20Where a forerunner in our behalf hath entered, even Jesus, who, according to the rank of Melchizedek, hath become, a high-priest unto times age-abiding.
Berean Standard Bible
18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
The Hebrew view saw soul and body as one living person. Platonism taught that the body is evil and the spirit is good, and that idea flowed into Gnosticism, which John called the spirit of antichrist because it denied Christ came in the flesh. Scripture says the body is good.
Nephesh: soul and body as one
Platonism and Neoplatonism taught the body is evil; the logos as a demigod
Gnosticism and John's warnings about the spirit of antichrist
The body is good; the influence of Platonic thought on church theology
Genesis 2:7
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7So then Yahweh God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed in his nostrils the breath of life—and man became a living soul.
Berean Standard Bible
7Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
1 John 4:2–3
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2Hereby, do ye perceive the Spirit of God:—every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ as having come, in flesh, is, of God; 3And, every spirit that doth not confess Jesus, of God, is not. And, this, is the [spirit] of the Antichrist, touching which ye have heard that it cometh: even now, is it, in the world, already.
Berean Standard Bible
2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
Paul heard things he was not permitted to speak, and John was told to seal up what the seven thunders said. Heaven is not a static place. It is a place of continual learning about God.
2I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven; 3And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, [I know not],—God, knoweth, 4How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:
Berean Standard Bible
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
Revelation 10:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And, when the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write, and I heard a voice out of heaven, saying—Seal up the things which the seven thunders have uttered, and do not write, them.
Berean Standard Bible
4When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to put it in writing. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
Our present body is a tent: temporary and easily taken down. What God gives is a building, solid and eternal. The same word was used of the great stones of the temple that the disciples admired.
The earthly tent versus a solid, eternal building
The same word used of the temple's great stones
2 Corinthians 5:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1For we know that—if, our earthly tent-dwelling, should be taken down, we have, a building of God, a dwelling not made by hand, age-abiding in the heavens.
Berean Standard Bible
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Mark 13:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And, as he was going forth out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him—Teacher! see what manner of stones, and what manner of buildings!
Berean Standard Bible
1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”
03
Message 03 of 10 · Sep 22, 2024
Heaven Is Real, Eternity Is Long
Part three asks why God makes a new heaven and a new earth at all. It traces humanity's long effort to build utopia without God, the shadows in Scripture that point to eternity, and the long list of things that will never be found in the city of God.
Three passages, spread across both Testaments, tell the same story. The present heavens and earth pass away, and God creates new ones. The former things will not be called to mind.
New heavens and a new earth
The heavens pass away with a roar; the elements melt
A new heaven and a new earth; no more sea
Isaiah 65:17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17For, behold me! Creating new heavens, and a new earth,—And the former shall not be mentioned, neither shall they come up on the heart,
Berean Standard Bible
17For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
2 Peter 3:10–13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10Howbeit the day of the Lord will be here, as a thief,—in which, the heavens, with a rushing noise, will pass away, while, elements, becoming intensely hot, will be dissolved, and, earth, and the works therein, will be discovered. 11Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons, ought [ye] all the while to be, in holy ways of behaviour and acts of godliness,— 12Expecting and hastening the presence of the day of God, by reason of which, heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and, elements, becoming intensely hot, are to be melted; 13But, new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, are we expecting, wherein, righteousness, is to dwell.
Berean Standard Bible
10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Revelation 21:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for, the first heaven and the first earth, have passed away, and, the sea, is no more.
Berean Standard Bible
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
In Eden, Eve rejected God's right to make humanity in his image his way. Ever since, people have tried to build a perfect society without him. Communism is one example. A Soviet judo champion who attacked churches later escaped and became a believer.
Eve rejected God's right to make humanity in his image his way
Humanity's desire to build a utopia without God (communism)
Story of a Soviet judo champion who attacked churches, escaped and became a believer
Genesis 3:4–6
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And the serpent said unto the woman,—Ye shall not die, 5For God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then shall your eyes be opened,—and ye shall become like God, knowing good and evil. 6And, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was desirable to the eyes and the tree was pleasant to make one knowing, then took she of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and she gave to her husband also, along with her, and he did eat.
Berean Standard Bible
4“You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
God gave the first Adam and then Christ, the last Adam. The world is now trying to produce a third Adam of its own through technology, artificial intelligence and biology. Revelation calls that number "the number of a man." The wound in the universe is one only God can heal.
The first Adam; Christ the last Adam
The world's attempt to create a third Adam through technology, AI and biology
"The number of a man, 666"
A fatal wound in the universe that only God can fix
Three Adams
The first Adam
"A living soul"
From the earth, made of dust. Received life from God.
1 Cor 15:45, 47
The last Adam
"A life-giving spirit"
From heaven. Christ gives life, and we bear his image.
1 Cor 15:45, 49
A "third Adam"
"The number of a man"
The world's counterfeit, built through technology, AI and biology, without God.
Rev 13:18
1 Corinthians 15:45
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
45Thus, also, it is written—The first man, Adam, became, a living soul, the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
45So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
Revelation 13:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18Here, is, wisdom: he that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for it is, the number of a man; and, his number, is 666.
Berean Standard Bible
18Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.
Much of the Old and New Testament is a shadow of eternal things. Mountains are one thread: Abraham, Moses, Sinai and the Transfiguration all happen on mountains. Israel also built high places for false worship, imitating the real meeting place.
Old and New Testament things as shadows of eternity
Mountains as places of encounter: Abraham, Moses, Sinai, the Transfiguration
Israel's high places for false worship
Colossians 2:17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
Hebrews 8:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5Who, indeed, are rendering divine service, with a glimpse and shadow, of the heavenly things; even as Moses hath received intimation, when about to complete the tent,—For see! saith he—Thou shalt make all things according to the model which hath been pointed out to thee in the mount.
Berean Standard Bible
5The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Matthew 17:1–2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And, after six days, Jesus taketh with him, Peter and James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain, apart; 2and was transformed before them,—and his face shone as the sun, and, his garments, became white as the light.
Berean Standard Bible
1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Believers are already a new creation. When Psalm 2 says "this day I have begotten you," Paul applies it to the resurrection. Jesus is the firstborn of the new creation, and we follow him.
Believers made a new creation
"This day I have begotten you" refers to the resurrection
33That God hath fulfilled, the same, for our children, by raising up Jesus: as also, in the second psalm, it is written—My son, art, thou: I, this day, have begotten thee.
Berean Standard Bible
33He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’
We are clay pots and we are sheep. The glory belongs to God. A live demonstration with Linda and Greg helped the congregation see believers as they will look when transfigured.
We are "pots" and "sheep"; the glory is God's
Demonstration with Linda and Greg: seeing believers transfigured
2 Corinthians 4:7
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7Howbeit we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that, the surpassing greatness of the power, may be of God, and not from ourselves:—
Berean Standard Bible
7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
God laid the foundation of the world according to a plan, and that plan was settled from the Garden. Elections do not change it. God calls things that are not as though they were, and we pray for his will to be done on earth as it already is in heaven.
Katabolē: a foundation laid according to a blueprint
God's plan was settled from the Garden; elections do not change it
God calls things that are not as though they were
The Lord's Prayer: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
Ephesians 1:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; in love,
Berean Standard Bible
4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
Romans 4:17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17Even as it is written—Father of many nations, have I appointed thee: before him whom he believed—God, who causeth the dead to live, and calleth the things that are not as things that are:—
Berean Standard Bible
17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
Matthew 6:10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10Come may thy kingdom,—Accomplished be thy will, as in heaven, also on earth:
Berean Standard Bible
10Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The separation that began in Eden ends. God dwells with his people. Every source of grief is removed, and God says these words are trustworthy and true. He is the Alpha and the Omega, and he finishes what he starts.
God dwells with his people; no more separation
No tears, death, mourning, crying or pain
"Behold, I make all things new"; "These words are trustworthy and true"
The Alpha and the Omega: God finishes what he starts
Revelation 21:2–5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2And, the holy city, new Jerusalem, saw I coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice out of the throne, saying—Lo! the tent of God, is with men, and he will tabernacle with them, and, they, shall be, his peoples, and, he, shall be, God with them; 4And he will wipe away every tear out of their eyes,—and, death, shall be no more, and grief and outcry and pain shall be no more: the first things, have passed away. 5And he that was sitting upon the throne said— Lo! I make all things, new. And he saith—Write! because, these words, are, faithful and true.
Berean Standard Bible
2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
Philippians 1:6
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
6Being persuaded of this very thing—that, he who hath begun in you a good work, will perfect it, until the day of Jesus Christ;
Berean Standard Bible
6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Many Old Testament symbols reach their fulfillment in Revelation, where two cities stand opposite each other: Babylon and Zion. Heaven is defined as much by what is missing as by what is present.
Old Testament symbols fulfilled in Revelation; Babylon versus Zion
No disappointment, unmet longings, tyranny, bondage or lack
No death, no evil, no lies, no farewells
No more Revelation 21–22
No moreTearsRev 21:4
No moreDeathRev 21:4
No moreMourningRev 21:4
No moreCryingRev 21:4
No morePainRev 21:4
No moreCurseRev 22:3
No moreNightRev 22:5
No moreSun or moonRev 21:23
No moreSeaRev 21:1
No moreTempleRev 21:22
No moreAnything uncleanRev 21:27
No moreLiesRev 21:27
Revelation 22:3
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
3And, no curse, shall there be, any more; and, the throne of God and of the Lamb, shall be, therein,—and his servants will render divine service unto him,
Berean Standard Bible
3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.
In Scripture, night is linked with sin, fear and thieves. The sun and moon mark time, which is a mercy to unbelievers who still have time to turn. In the city, God's glory is the light and the Lamb is its lamp.
Night associated with sin, fear and thieves
Sun and moon mark time as a mercy to unbelievers
God's glory illuminates the city; the Lamb is its lamp
Revelation 21:25
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
25and, the gates thereof, shall in nowise be shut, by day,—night, in fact, shall not be there,—
Berean Standard Bible
25Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.
Revelation 22:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5And, night, shall be, no more; and they have no need of the light of a lamp or the light of a sun, because, the Lord, God, will give them light,—and they shall reign unto the ages of ages.
Berean Standard Bible
5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
1 Thessalonians 5:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2For, ye yourselves, perfectly well know—that, the day of the Lord, as a thief in the night, so, cometh;
Berean Standard Bible
2For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
The sea in Scripture often stands for restless, raging nations. Jesus calmed the storm with a word. Before the throne lies a sea of glass, perfectly still. The beast rises from the sea, and the waters where the harlot sits are peoples, nations and tongues.
The sea as a symbol of turbulent nations
Jesus calming the storm; the sea of glass before the throne
Waters are peoples, nations and tongues; the beast rises from the sea
Isaiah 57:20
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
20But, the lawless, are like the sea when tossed,—For, rest, it cannot! But its waters toss out mire and dirt.
Berean Standard Bible
20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.
Isaiah 17:12–13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12Alas! the booming of many peoples, Like the booming of the seas, shall they boom,—And the rushing of nations! Like the rushing of mighty waters, shall they rush. 13Though nations like the rushing of many waters, shall rush, Yet shall one rebuke him, And he shall flee far away,—And be chased As the chaff of the mountains before a wind, And as whirling stubble before a storm!
Berean Standard Bible
12Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters. 13The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.
Psalm 89:9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9Thou, rulest over the swelling of the sea, When the rolling waves thereof lift themselves, Thou, dost bid them be still:
Berean Standard Bible
9You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.
Mark 4:39
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
39And, roused up, he rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea—Hush! be still! and the wind lulled, and it became a great calm.
Berean Standard Bible
39Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
Revelation 4:6
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
6and, before the throne, [is] as a glassy sea, like unto crystal. And, in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, [are] four living creatures full of eyes, before and behind;
Berean Standard Bible
6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.
Revelation 17:15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
15And he saith unto me—The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are, peoples and multitudes, and nations and tongues.
Berean Standard Bible
15Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
Revelation 13:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And I saw, out of the sea, a wild-beast coming up; having ten horns, and seven heads, and, upon his horns, ten diadems, and, upon his head, names of blasphemy.
Berean Standard Bible
1Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
XII
When man tries to create a utopia
A world in rebellion against God damages everything it touches: education, marriage, gender. The message gave examples from the current culture.
A world in rebellion messes up everything (education, marriage, gender)
Many riddles will be solved at the Rapture. God allows opposition, but it comes to nothing. The church frustrates principalities and powers simply by continuing to say yes to God.
Riddles solved at the Rapture
God allows opposition, but it comes to nothing
The church frustrates principalities by continuing to say yes to God
Psalm 29:10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10Yahweh, at the Flood, was seated, And Yahweh hath taken his seat, as king, unto times age-abiding.
Berean Standard Bible
10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
Psalm 2:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4He that sitteth in the heavens, will laugh,—My Lord, will mock at them:
Berean Standard Bible
4The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.
Ephesians 3:10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10In order that now, unto the principalities and the authorities in the heavenlies, might be made known, through means of the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God,—
Berean Standard Bible
10His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Voltaire, Stalin, Mao and the persecuting popes will not be there. In heaven, we will never be disturbed again.
Voltaire, Stalin, Mao and persecuting popes are gone
In heaven we will never be disturbed again
Revelation 21:27
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
27And in nowise shall there enter into it, anything common, or he that doeth abomination and falsehood,—but only they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Berean Standard Bible
27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance. If what we have now is only the deposit, then the rest is more of God. Eternity is how long he will take to show us the riches of his kindness.
The Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance
If 10% is the down payment, the rest is more of God
Eternity to show his kindness
Ephesians 1:13–14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13In whom, ye also—hearing the word of the truth, the glad-message of your salvation,—in whom also believing,—were sealed with the Spirit of the promise, the Holy [Spirit], 14Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the acquisition;—unto his glorious praise.
Berean Standard Bible
13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 2:7
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7That he might point out, in the oncoming ages, the surpassing riches of his favour in graciousness upon us, in Christ Jesus;
Berean Standard Bible
7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
04
Message 04 of 10 · Sep 29, 2024
Not Fully Alive on This Earth
Many Christians feel no excitement about heaven at all. This message sets the gray existence of a fallen world beside the fullness of joy in God's presence.
Joy is not found in heaven's scenery. It is found in God's presence. We will gaze on his face.
We will gaze on his face
Psalm 16:11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11Thou wilt cause me to know, the path of life,—Fulness of joys before thee, Pleasures at thy right hand evermore.
Berean Standard Bible
11You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Revelation 22:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4and they shall see his face, and, his name, [shall be] upon their foreheads.
Berean Standard Bible
4They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
IV
This life is a gray existence in a fallen world
Compared with what is coming, this life is gray, lived in a fallen world.
V
"Shabby. So shabby."
A man who returned from an encounter with eternity described this world in three words: "Shabby. So shabby."
05
Message 05 of 10 · Oct 6, 2024
Accomplished
Rotherham translates God's words in Revelation 21:6 with one word: "Accomplished!" This message follows that word from Gethsemane to the seventh bowl to the new creation, and asks what it means to overcome.
The word means done, accepted, obeyed, fulfilled. God's plan from the beginning reaches completion despite the fall. It is the same word Jesus used when he taught us to pray "Your will be done." The Christian life is simple but not easy: it means making Jesus Lord.
"Accomplished": done, accepted, obeyed, fulfilled
The A and the Z; the fountain of life; the overcomer inherits
God's plan from the beginning is accomplished despite the fall
"Your will be done": the same word
Christian life is simple but not easy; making Jesus Lord
Revelation 21:6–7
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
6And he said unto me—Accomplished! I, am the A, and the Z, the Beginning and the End: I, unto him that is thirsting, will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely: 7He that overcometh, shall inherit these things,—And I will be, to him, a God, and, he, shall be, to me, a son;
Berean Standard Bible
6And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. 7The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
In Gethsemane, Jesus sweated like drops of blood. The speaker believes Jesus faced eternal separation from the Father there. His prayer used the same word: not my will, but yours be accomplished.
Jesus sweating blood in Gethsemane
The speaker's belief that Jesus faced eternal separation from the Father
"Not my will, but yours be accomplished"
Matthew 26:39
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
39And, going forward a little, he fell upon his face, offering prayer, and saying—My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from me,—Nevertheless, not as, I, will, but as, thou, wilt.
Berean Standard Bible
39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Luke 22:44
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
44and, coming to be in an agony, more intensely, was he praying; and his perspiration became, as if great drops of blood, falling upon the ground.]]
Berean Standard Bible
44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When the seventh bowl is poured out, a loud voice says "It is done," and the greatest earthquake in history follows. The tribulation under the Antichrist is different from the wrath of God. The mark of the beast is more than a tattoo: it involves technology and allegiance.
"Accomplished" followed by the greatest earthquake in history
Distinction between the tribulation under the Antichrist and the wrath of God
The mark of the beast as more than a tattoo: technology and allegiance
A third of mankind dies; the scroll sweet in the mouth, bitter in the belly
Revelation 16:17–18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17And, the seventh, poured out his bowl upon the air.—And there came forth a loud voice out of the sanctuary, from the throne, saying—Accomplished! 18And there came to be lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and, a great earthquake, took place,—such as had never taken place since men came to be on the earth,—such a mighty earthquake, so great;
Berean Standard Bible
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!” 18And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake.
Revelation 13:16–17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16And he causeth all—the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond,—that they should give unto them a mark, upon their right hand or upon their forehead; 17[and] that no one should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Berean Standard Bible
16And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Revelation 9:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18by these three plagues, were slain, the third part of mankind, by reason of the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, that proceedeth out of their mouths;
Berean Standard Bible
18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.
Revelation 10:9–10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9And I went away unto the messenger, asking him to give me the little scroll; and he saith unto me—Take it, and eat it up; and it shall embitter thy belly, but, in thy mouth, shall be sweet as honey. 10And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger, and did eat it up; and it was, in my mouth, as honey, sweet, and, when I had eaten it, embittered was my belly.
Berean Standard Bible
9And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” 10So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.
God is the ultimate starting point: the Great I Am, who existed before anything else. Before creation, God was alone. The message also addressed UFOs and Bigfoot as demonic manifestations.
God as the ultimate a priori: the Great I Am
God was monos, alone, before creation
UFOs and Bigfoot as demonic manifestations
Exodus 3:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14And God said unto Moses, I Will Become whatsoever I please, And he said—Thus, shalt thou say to the sons of Israel, I Will Become hath sent me unto you.
Berean Standard Bible
14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
1 Timothy 1:17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17Now, unto the King of the ages,—incorruptible, invisible, alone God, be honour and glory, unto the ages of ages, Amen!
Berean Standard Bible
17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Our mental "hard drive" is limited, and we often only think we know. A child pondering where God came from runs into that limit quickly. One day we will know fully, even as we are fully known.
Overcoming is not a matter of willpower. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. In the end we will be perfect sons and daughters, never able to sin again.
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world
We will be perfect sons and daughters, never able to sin again
1 John 5:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4Because, whatsoever hath been born of God, overcometh the world; and, this, is the victory that hath overcome the world—our faith.
Berean Standard Bible
4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
There will be no hurting, lonely or depressed people in heaven, and worship will be perfect.
No hurting, lonely or depressed people in heaven
Perfect worship
Revelation 7:16–17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither in any wise shall the sun fall upon them, nor any burning heat; 17Because, the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne, shall shepherd them, and shall lead them unto life’s fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away every tear out of their eyes.
Berean Standard Bible
16‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’ 17For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Scott Hoy died, and Jesus asked him what he was proud of and gave him a choice. When Ray had a stroke, Jesus appeared and asked him what he wanted to do. God speaks to his people.
Scott Hoy's death experience: Jesus asked what he was proud of and gave him a choice
Ray's stroke: Jesus appeared and asked what he wanted to do
God speaks to his people
John 10:27
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
27My sheep, unto my voice, hearken,—and, I, know, them, and they follow me,—
Berean Standard Bible
27My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
What we inherit is a new heaven and a new earth, new in kind and not a renovation. The New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ.
A new heaven and a new earth (kainos), not a renovation
The New Jerusalem: the bride of Christ
Revelation 21:1–2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for, the first heaven and the first earth, have passed away, and, the sea, is no more. 2And, the holy city, new Jerusalem, saw I coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Berean Standard Bible
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Almost no one preaches on eternal separation from God anymore. Revelation 21:8 puts the timid and the unbelieving at the head of the list. Sorcery and idolatry are real, as experiences in Kenya show, and the message calls for balance.
Almost no sermons on eternal separation from God
The list includes the timid and the unbelieving
Sorcery in Kenya; idolatry; the need for balance
Revelation 21:8
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8But, as for the timid, and disbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their part, is in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone,—which is the second death.
Berean Standard Bible
8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
06
Message 06 of 10 · Oct 13, 2024
A Rundown of Major Events
Before looking closely at the city of God, this message lays out the sequence of events in Revelation 20, from the Rapture through the Millennium to the great white throne, and what each one means for believers.
The message lays out the order. The Rapture is a reward for overcoming saints. Three and a half years of the Antichrist system follow, then three and a half years of God's plagues. Armageddon and the Second Coming lead into the thousand-year Millennium, which ends in a final rebellion.
The Rapture as a reward for overcoming saints
Three and a half years of the Antichrist system
Three and a half years of God's plagues; a third of mankind dies
Historical comparisons: Holocaust, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot
Armageddon; the second coming; the thousand-year Millennium
Final rebellion at the end of the Millennium
The sequence of events
01The RaptureOvercoming saints caught upRev 3:10
02Antichrist system3½ yearsRev 13:5
03God's plagues3½ years; a third of mankind diesRev 9:18
04ArmageddonThe Second ComingRev 16:16 · 19:11
05The Millennium1,000 years; Satan boundRev 20:1–6
06Final rebellionGog and Magog; the devil cast into the lake of fireRev 20:7–10
07Great white throneBooks opened; the second deathRev 20:11–15
08All things newA new heaven and a new earthRev 21:1–5
Revelation 3:10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10Because thou didst keep my word of endurance, I also, will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 13:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5And there was given unto him, a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and it was given unto him to act, forty and two months.
Berean Standard Bible
5The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
Revelation 16:16
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16And he gathered them together unto the place that is called, in Hebrew, Har Magedon.
Berean Standard Bible
16And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Revelation 19:11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11And I saw heaven, set open, and lo! a white horse, and, he that was sitting thereon, [called] Faithful, and True; and, in righteousness, doth he judge and make war;
Berean Standard Bible
11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.
An angel seizes the dragon and throws him into the abyss for a thousand years. The repetition of "thousand years" points to a literal period.
The abyss; the thousand years repeated as literal
Revelation 20:1–3
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And I saw a messenger, coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain upon his hand; 2and he laid hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is Adversary and the Accuser, and bound him for a thousand years,— 3and cast him into the abyss, and fastened and sealed [it] over him,—that he might not deceive the nations any more, until the thousand years, should be ended: after these, must he be loosed for a short time.
Berean Standard Bible
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.
John sees thrones, and those seated on them are given authority to judge. They include tribulation martyrs who refused the mark. The first resurrection is the overcoming saints caught up to the throne. The rest of the dead do not rise until the thousand years are over.
The bride of Christ on thrones; judging angels
Tribulation martyrs who refused the mark
The mark of the beast as technological merging and allegiance
Old Testament Millennium passages; the seventh day as rest
The first resurrection: overcoming saints caught up to the throne
The rest of the dead not resurrected until after the thousand years
Revelation 20:4–5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and sentence of judgment was given unto them; and [I saw] the souls of them who had been beheaded because of the witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and such as had not done homage unto the wild-beast or unto his image, nor had received the mark upon their forehead or upon their hand; and they lived and reigned with the Christ, for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead, lived not, until the thousand years, were ended. This, is the first resurrection.
Berean Standard Bible
4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection.
1 Corinthians 6:3
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
3Know ye not that we shall judge, messengers? and not, then, matters of this life?
Berean Standard Bible
3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
Revelation 12:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5And she brought forth a son, a manchild, who was about to shepherd all the nations with a sceptre of iron; and her child was caught away unto God and unto his throne.
Berean Standard Bible
5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Isaiah 11:6–9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
6And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And, the leopard, with the kid, shall lie down,—And the calf and the young lion and the fatling—together, With, a little child, leading them; 7And the cow, with the bear shall find pasture, Together, shall their young ones, lie down,—And, the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw; 8And the sucking child shall caress over the hole of the asp, Yea over the viper’s den, hath the weaned child stretched out his hand: 9They shall not hurt—nor destroy, in all my holy mountain,—For filled is the land with the knowledge of Yahweh, As the waters, to the sea, form a covering.
Berean Standard Bible
6The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. 7The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. 9They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.
The two witnesses represent two groups of believers, Jewish and Gentile. Their deaths are celebrated by the world, and then they are caught up: a second rapture. Even knowing the judgments come from God, the world refuses to repent. Worship is what Satan wants above all.
Two groups of believers: Jewish and Gentile
A second rapture; the world celebrates their deaths
The world refuses to repent even knowing judgments come from God
Worship as Satan's central goal
Revelation 11:7–12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7And, as soon as they have completed their witnessing, the wild-beast that is to come up out of the abyss, will make war with them, and overcome them, and slay them. 8And their dead bodies [lie] upon the broadway of the great city, the which is called, spiritually, Sodom and Egypt, where, their Lord also was crucified. 9And [some] of the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations, see, their dead bodies three days and a half, and, their dead bodies, do they not suffer to be put into a tomb. 10And, they who are dwelling upon the earth, rejoice over them, and make merry, and, gifts, will they send one to another,—because, these two prophets, tormented them that were dwelling upon the earth. 11And, after [the] three days and a half, a spirit of life from God, entered within them, and they stood upon their feet; and, great fear, fell upon them who were beholding them. 12And they heard a loud voice out of heaven, saying unto them—Come up hither! And they went up into heaven, in the cloud, and, their enemies, beheld them.
Berean Standard Bible
7When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. 9For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them. 11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 12And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.
Those in the first resurrection are called blessed and holy. Blessed means happy, enjoying the long benefits of grace. Holy means different, set apart.
Blessed: happy, long benefits of grace
Holy (hagios): different, set apart
Revelation 20:6
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
6Happy and holy, is he that hath part in the first resurrection: upon these, the second death, hath no authority; but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him for the thousand years.
Berean Standard Bible
6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
When Satan is released, he gathers Gog and Magog, as numerous as the sand of the sea. Fire comes down from heaven and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire. The phrase "ages of the ages" is used both for eternal punishment and for eternal life.
Gog and Magog, as numerous as the sand of the sea
Fire from heaven; the devil cast into the lake of fire
"Ages of the ages" used for both eternal punishment and eternal life
Revelation 20:7–10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7And, as soon as the thousand years, shall be ended, the Accuser shall be loosed out of his prison, 8and will go forth to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, the Gog and Magog, to gather them together unto the battle—the number of whom, is as the sand of the sea. 9And they came up over the breadth of the land, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. And there came down fire out of heaven, and devoured them; 10and, the Adversary that had been deceiving them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [were] both the wild-beast and the false-prophet; and they shall be tormented, day and night, unto the ages of ages.
Berean Standard Bible
7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. 9And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Judgment is carried out by one man, Christ Jesus. Books of works are opened, along with the Lamb's book of life. Two categories stand there: unbelievers, and believers who did not overcome.
Judgment by one man, Christ Jesus
Books of works and the Lamb's book of life
Two categories: unbelievers and believers who did not overcome
Revelation 20:11–12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11And I saw a great white throne, and him that was sitting thereon, from whose face fled the earth and heaven, and, place, was not found for them. 12And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and, books, were opened, and, another book, was opened, which is, the book, of life; and the dead, were judged, out of the things written in the books, according to their works.
Berean Standard Bible
11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Acts 17:31
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
31inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in which he is about to be judging the habitable earth in righteousness, by a man whom he hath pointed out,—offering faith unto all, by raising him from among the dead?
Berean Standard Bible
31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Abraham's question settles the matter. Whatever we do not yet understand about judgment, the Judge of all the earth will do what is right.
Genesis 18:25
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
25Far be it from thee! to do after this manner. to put to death the righteous with the lawless! Then should righteous and lawless be alike, Far be it from thee! Shall, the Judge of all the earth not do justice?
Berean Standard Bible
25Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Every believer's work will be tested by fire. Some will gain rewards and some will lose them, but those who lose their rewards are still saved.
Works tested by fire; rewards gained or lost
Those who lose rewards are still saved
1 Corinthians 3:12–15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12But, if anyone is building, upon the foundation—gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13Each one’s work, shall be made, manifest; for, the day, will make it plain, because, by fire, is it to be revealed,—and, each one’s work, of what sort it is, the fire itself will prove:— 14If, anyone’s work, shall abide, which he built, a reward, shall he receive,— 15If, anyone’s work, shall be burnt up, he shall suffer loss, but shall, himself, be saved—though, thus, as through fire.
Berean Standard Bible
12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
Bondage comes through what we open ourselves to. We become servants of whatever we yield to.
Bondage comes through what we open ourselves to
Romans 6:16
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16Know ye not that, unto whom ye are presenting yourselves as servants for obedience, servants ye are unto [him unto] whom ye are obedient, whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness?
Berean Standard Bible
16Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
Hades is the place of departed spirits. Death and Hades give up their dead, and then are thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death.
Hades as the place of departed spirits; the second death
Revelation 20:13–15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and, death and hades, gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged, each one, according to their works. 14And, death and hades, were cast into the lake of fire. This, is, the second death—the lake of fire. 15And, if anyone was not found, in the book of life, written, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Berean Standard Bible
13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The word for "new" is kainos: fresh and unused. God does not renovate the old earth. He makes a new one.
Kainos: fresh, unused; not a renovated earth
Revelation 21:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5And he that was sitting upon the throne said— Lo! I make all things, new. And he saith—Write! because, these words, are, faithful and true.
Berean Standard Bible
5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
07
Message 07 of 10 · Oct 20, 2024
The Bride and the City
An angel invites John to see the bride, the wife of the Lamb. This message looks at the ranks of angels, life on the new earth, the reward of nearness to God, and the two cities that every person must choose between.
The temple had a great bronze sea for the priests' washing. In the new creation there is no more sea because there is no more need for washing.
The brass sea in the temple: no more need for washing
1 Kings 7:23
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
23And he made a molten sea,—ten cubits from the one brim to the other, it was round all about, and, five cubits, was the height thereof, and, a line of thirty cubits, would encompass it round about.
Berean Standard Bible
23He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference.
One of the seven angels who held the bowls invites John to see the bride. Angels have ranks and assignments.
Ranks of angels
Revelation 21:9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9And there came one of the seven messengers which had the seven bowls, that were full of the seven last plagues, and spake with me, saying— Hither! I will point out to thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
Berean Standard Bible
9Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
Daniel prayed for 21 days before the answer arrived, because the prince of Persia resisted the messenger. There are organized ranks of principalities over nations and cities. Michael came to help, and the next battle would be with the prince of Greece, whose philosophy would later influence the church.
Daniel's 21 days of prayer; the prince of Persia
Organized ranks of principalities over nations and cities
Michael the archangel; the coming fight against the prince of Greece
Greek philosophy's influence on the church
Daniel 10:12–13, 20–21
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12Then said he unto me, Do not fear, Daniel, for, from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard; and, I, am come, by reason of thy words. 13But, the ruler of the kingdom of Persia, withstood me twenty-one days, but lo! Michael, one of the chief rulers, came in to help me,—and, I, left him there, beside the kings of Persia. 20And he said, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? But, now, must I return to fight with the ruler of Persia; I, therefore am going forth, and lo! the ruler of Greece, is coming. 21Howbeit I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth,—but there is no one who holdeth strongly with me concerning these things, save Michael your ruler.
Berean Standard Bible
12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 20“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.
Gabriel is the angel of revelation and messages. Angels minister to the heirs of salvation, but we must never worship them. Even Michael did not presume to rebuke the devil himself, which calls for caution in spiritual warfare.
Angel of revelation and messages (Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19, 26-38)
Angels minister to heirs of salvation; do not worship them
Michael did not presume; caution in spiritual warfare
Daniel 8:16
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16Then heard I a human voice, between [the banks of] the Ulai,—which cried out, and said, Gabriel! cause this man to understand the revelation.
Berean Standard Bible
16And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”
Luke 1:19
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
19And the messenger, answering, said unto him—I, am Gabriel,—he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things.
Berean Standard Bible
19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Hebrews 1:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14Are they not, all, spirits, doing public service,—for ministry, sent forth, for the sake of them who are about to inherit salvation?
Berean Standard Bible
14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Revelation 22:8–9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8And, I, John, am he that was hearing and seeing these things; and, when I had heard and seen, I fell down to do homage at the feet of the messenger who had been pointing out unto me these things,— 9and he saith unto me—See [thou do it] not! A fellow-servant, am I, of thee, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the words of this scroll: unto God, do homage.
Berean Standard Bible
8And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Jude 1:9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9Whereas, Michael, the chief-messenger, when, with the adversary, disputing, he was reasoning about the body of Moses, durst not impose on him a defamatory sentence, but said—The Lord rebuke thee!
Berean Standard Bible
9But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
The nations bring their glory and honor into the city. Only those written in the Lamb's book of life enter.
Nations bring glory into the city; only those in the book of life enter
Revelation 21:26–27
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
26and they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. 27And in nowise shall there enter into it, anything common, or he that doeth abomination and falsehood,—but only they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Berean Standard Bible
26And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations. 27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
There are real differences between believers, and the bride is made up of overcoming saints. Jesus warned against hearts weighed down and told us to pray to be counted worthy to escape. Kill sleep.
Differences between believers; the bride as overcoming saints
Pray to be accounted worthy to escape; "kill sleep"
Hebrews 11:6
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
6But, apart from faith, it is impossible to be well-pleasing; for he that approacheth unto God—must needs have faith, that he is, and that, to them who seek him out, a rewarder he becometh.
Berean Standard Bible
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Luke 21:34–36
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
34But be taking heed unto yourselves, lest once your hearts be made heavy—with debauch and drunkenness and anxieties about livelihood, and that day come upon you suddenly, 35as a snare,—For it will come in by surprise, upon all them that are dwelling on the face of all the earth. 36But be watching in every season, making supplication, that ye may gain full vigour, to escape all these things that are about to be coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Berean Standard Bible
34But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. 35For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Revelation 22:12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12Lo! I come speedily, and my reward is with me, to render unto each one as, his, work is.
Berean Standard Bible
12“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
In Gethsemane the disciples fell asleep from sorrow. Sorrow and weariness still put believers to sleep spiritually. A vision of lying in a plexiglass coffin pictured that condition. If you are there, get help.
Sorrow and weariness cause spiritual sleep
Vision of lying in a plexiglass coffin
Luke 22:45
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
45And, arising from prayer, he came unto his disciples, and found them falling asleep by reason of their grief;
Berean Standard Bible
45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Ephesians 5:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14Wherefore it saith—Up! thou sleeper, and arise from among the dead, and the Christ will shine upon thee.
Berean Standard Bible
14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Unforgiveness and bitterness keep us from maturing. Hurts have to be dealt with, not stored. Husbands are warned not to burden their wives.
Unforgiveness and bitterness; maturing
Advice to husbands about burdening wives
Hebrews 12:15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
15Using oversight—lest any one be falling behind from the favour of God,—lest any root of bitterness, springing up above, be causing trouble, and, through it, the many, be defiled:
Berean Standard Bible
15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
Ephesians 4:31–32
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
31All bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and outcry, and profane speaking, let it be taken away from you, with all baseness; 32And be ye gracious one to another, tenderly affectionate, in favour forgiving one another—even as, God also, in Christ, hath in favour forgiven you;
Berean Standard Bible
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Peter 3:7
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7Ye husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them according to knowledge,—as unto a weaker vessel, unto the female [vessel], assigning honour, as joint—inheritors also of life’s favour,—to the end that unhindered may be, your prayers.
Berean Standard Bible
7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
The New Jerusalem is the bride, and its dimensions are symbolic. The reward is nearness to God. That calls for taking his word seriously, as in the command not to be unequally yoked. There is no temple in the city, because God and the Lamb are its temple.
The New Jerusalem is the bride; dimensions as symbolic
The reward of proximity to God
Taking God's word seriously (the unequally yoked example)
No temple: God and the Lamb are the temple
Revelation 21:10–11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10And he carried me away, in spirit, unto a mountain great and high, and pointed out to me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God; 11having the glory of God,—her lustre, like unto a stone most precious, as a jasper stone, shining as crystal;
Berean Standard Bible
10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.
Revelation 21:16
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16And, the city, four-square, lieth, and, the length thereof, is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city, with the reed,—twelve thousand furlongs: the length, and the breadth, and the height thereof, are, equal.
Berean Standard Bible
16The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height.
Revelation 21:22
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
22And, sanctuary, saw I none therein; for, the Lord, God, the Almighty, is the sanctuary thereof, and the Lamb.
Berean Standard Bible
22But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14Be not getting diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?
Berean Standard Bible
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
In Ezekiel's vision, the priests who did not go astray live closest to the sanctuary. Faithfulness is rewarded with nearness. Teachers will be judged more strictly.
Priests who did not go astray live closest to the sanctuary
Teachers judged more strictly
Ezekiel 48:11–12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11for the priests that are hallowed—the sons of Zadok, who kept my charge,—who went not astray when the sons of Israel went astray, as, the Levites, went astray. 12So then they shall have an offering out of the offering of the land a holy of holies,—toward the boundary of the Levites;
Berean Standard Bible
11It will be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept My charge and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. 12It will be a special portion for them set apart from the land, a most holy portion adjacent to the territory of the Levites.
James 3:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1Not, many teachers, become ye, my brethren, knowing that, a severer sentence, shall ye receive;
Berean Standard Bible
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Revelation sets two cities side by side: Babylon the Great and the city of God. The call to God's people is to come out of Babylon.
Babylon the Great versus the city of God
"Come out of her, my people"
A tale of two cities
Aspect
Babylon the Great
The city of God
Built by
Man: Nimrod's Babel, "let us make a name for ourselves"Gen 11:4
God: coming down out of heavenRev 21:2
Pictured as
The great harlot riding the beastRev 17:3–5
The bride, the wife of the LambRev 21:9
Worship
The mother-and-child counterfeit; idolsJer 7:18
God and the Lamb are its templeRev 21:22
Who enters
Every nation she has deceivedRev 18:23
Only those in the Lamb's book of lifeRev 21:27
Its end
Destroyed by the beast and ten kingsRev 17:16
Its gates are never shutRev 21:25
The call
"Come out of her, my people"Rev 18:4
"Come, I will show you the bride"Rev 21:9
Revelation 18:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2And he cried out, with a mighty voice, saying—Fallen! fallen! is Babylon the Great, and hath become a habitation of demons, and a prison of every impure spirit, and a prison of every impure and hated bird;
Berean Standard Bible
2And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.
Revelation 18:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And I heard another voice out of heaven, saying—Come forth, my people, out of her,—that ye may have no fellowship with her sins, and, of her plagues, that ye may not receive;
Berean Standard Bible
4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
08
Message 08 of 10 · Oct 27 & Nov 3, 2024
A Tale of Two Cities
Every believer holds three citizenships. This two-part message traces Babylon from Nimrod's Babel through the ancient mother-and-child cults to its final form in Revelation, and calls God's people to come out of her.
We are citizens of the United States, of Zion, and potentially of Babylon the Great. Scripture calls us to come out from Babylon, because our real citizenship is in heaven.
United States, Zion and Babylon the Great
"Come out of her"
Our citizenship is in heaven
2 Corinthians 6:17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
17Wherefore come ye forth out of their midst, and be separated,—saith [the] Lord,—and, one impure, do not touch; and, I, will give you welcome,
Berean Standard Bible
17“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Scripture was written over 1,600 years and still tells one story. Genesis is Paradise Lost and Revelation is Paradise Restored.
The unity of Scripture over 1,600 years (Sidney Collett)
Genesis as Paradise Lost, Revelation as Paradise Restored
Genesis 3:24
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
24So he expelled the man,—and caused to dwell—in front of the garden of Eden—cherubim and a brandishing sword—flame, to keep the way to the tree of life.
Berean Standard Bible
24So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.
Revelation 22:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14Happy, they who are washing their robes, that their right may be unto the tree of life and, by the gates, they may enter into the city.
Berean Standard Bible
14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
The message traces false worship to Nimrod and Semiramis. Semiramis claimed a divine pregnancy, and mother-and-child worship became Satan's counterfeit of the promised seed of Genesis 3:15. The cult spread through Egypt, Assyria, Greece and Rome.
Semiramis claims a divine pregnancy; mother-and-child worship as Satan's counterfeit of the promised seed
Nimrod as the sun god and the bull; Semiramis as the moon goddess; Tammuz born December 25
Spread to Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Rome and the Roman Catholic Church
Baal and Ashtaroth worship; obelisks; the golden calf
Genesis 10:8–10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8And, Cush begat Nimrod.—he, became a hero in the earth; 9he, became a hero of hunting before Yahweh, for this cause, it is said. Like Nimrod, a hero of hunting before Yahweh. 10So the beginning of his kingdom came to be Babel, and Erech, and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Berean Standard Bible
8Cush was the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; so it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.” 10His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Genesis 3:15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
15And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed,—He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
Berean Standard Bible
15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Ezekiel 8:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14So he brought me into the opening of the gate of the house of Yahweh, which was toward the north,—and Lo! there, women sitting, weeping for Tammuz.
Berean Standard Bible
14Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, weeping for Tammuz.
Judges 2:13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13Yea, they forsook Yahweh,—and did service unto the Baal and unto Ashtaroth.
Berean Standard Bible
13for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
Mother-and-child images appear across cultures, which the message traces back to the scattering from Babel. Pergamos is called the place "where Satan's seat is."
Mother-and-child images across cultures (Isis and Horus, Ishtar, Shing Moo, Hertha, Disa)
9For this cause, was the name thereof called Babel [="Confusion"]; because there, did Yahweh confuse the speech of all the earth,—and, from thence, did Yahweh scatter them abroad, over the face of all the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
9That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.
Revelation 2:13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13I know where thou dwellest, where, the throne of Satan, is; and thou art holding fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed near you, where, Satan, dwelleth.
Berean Standard Bible
13I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Jesus' first warning about the end of the age was about deception. Those who do not receive a love of the truth are given over to strong delusion.
Jesus' first warning about the end of the age
Strong delusion for those who did not receive a love of the truth
Olympic opening ceremonies and halftime shows as rituals
Matthew 24:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And, answering, Jesus said unto them—Be taking heed, lest anyone, deceive, you;
Berean Standard Bible
4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
2 Thessalonians 2:10–11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10And with all manner of deceit of unrighteousness, in them who are destroying themselves, because, the love of the truth, they did not welcome, that they might be saved;— 11And, for this cause, God sendeth them an inworking of error, to the end they should believe in the falsehood,—
Berean Standard Bible
10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,
A demonized girl announced that Paul showed "the way of salvation," and Paul cast the spirit out. In Ephesus, the crowd shouted for hours, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
The demonized girl; "a way of salvation"
"Great is Diana of the Ephesians"
Acts 16:16–18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16And it came to pass, as we were on our way unto the place of prayer, a certain damsel, having a spirit of Python, met us,—who, indeed, much gain, was presenting unto her masters, by divining. 17The same, following after Paul and us, kept crying aloud, saying—These men, are servants of the Most High God,—who, indeed, are declaring unto you a way of salvation. 18And, this, she continued to do for many days. But Paul, worn out, and turning unto the spirit, said—I charge thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out from her. And it came out the same hour.
Berean Standard Bible
16One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” 18She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.
Acts 19:28
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
28Now, hearing this, and becoming full of wrath, they began crying aloud, saying—Great, is Diana of the Ephesians!
Berean Standard Bible
28When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the message teaches that the gospel was written in the constellations before it was corrupted into astrology. Jeremiah confronts the worship of the Queen of Heaven.
Papal symbols; the Madonna title
The gospel in the constellations, corrupted into astrology
The Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah)
Psalm 19:1
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1The heavens, are telling the glory of GOD, And, the work of his hands, the expanse is declaring;
Berean Standard Bible
1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Jeremiah 7:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18The children, gather wood, and The fathers, kindle the fire, and The women, knead dough,—To make sacrificial cakes to the queen of the heavens, And to pour out drink-offerings to other gods, Provoking me to anger!
Berean Standard Bible
18The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.
God shows both kindness and severity. There is a point of hardening. God radiates love and judgment against sin together.
God's mercy and justice; a point of hardening
God radiates love and judgment against sin
Romans 11:22
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
22See, then, the kindness and the severity of God: upon them who have fallen, severity,—but, upon thee, the kindness of God, if thou abide still in the kindness,—otherwise, thou also, shalt he cut out;
Berean Standard Bible
22Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Hebrews 3:13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13But be exhorting one another, on each successive day,—while the To-day is being named! lest any from among you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Berean Standard Bible
13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
The message contrasts the titles given to Mary, Queen of Heaven and Mediatrix, with the one mediator, Christ Jesus. Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, confession, the mass or celibacy.
Mary called Queen of Heaven and Mediatrix
Doctrines contrasted with grace: works, confession, the mass, celibacy
Calls to return to the "mother church"
1 Timothy 2:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5For there is, one, God, one, mediator also, between God and men,—a man—Christ Jesus:
Berean Standard Bible
5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:8–9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this [hath come to pass] —not from you, of God, the free-gift! 9Not from works, lest anyone should boast.
Berean Standard Bible
8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
II
Vatican II
Vatican II officially stated that its doctrine did not change. The message recalls the historical persecution of those who read and translated the Bible, such as Tyndale.
Official statement that doctrine did not change
Historical persecution of Bible readers (Tyndale)
III
Globalism and religious unity
Movements for religious unity name fundamentalists as the obstacle. "We have decided to opt for man." Interfaith gatherings are growing, and evangelical leaders are embracing them.
All World Religions Day; fundamentalists named as obstacles
Descartes and rationalism made reason the supreme authority. In the charismatic church, reason is sometimes treated as an enemy instead. The message also addresses the "Omega Point" and the idea of an "ultra-human" man.
Descartes and rationalism; reason as supreme authority
Reason as an enemy in the charismatic church
The Omega Point and "ultra-human" man
Proverbs 3:5–6
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5Trust thou in Yahweh, with all thy heart, and, unto thine own understanding, do not lean: 6In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and, he, will make straight thy paths.
Berean Standard Bible
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Isaiah 1:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18Come, I pray you, and let us settle the dispute Saith Yahweh,—Though your sins be found like scarlet, As snow, shall they be made white, Though they appear red like crimson, As wool, shall they become.
Berean Standard Bible
18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
The European Union produced a poster based on the Tower of Babel. Deuteronomy says God divided the nations according to the sons of God, and kept Israel as his own portion.
The European Union's Tower of Babel poster
Nations divided according to the sons of God; Israel as God's portion
Genesis 11:4
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
4And they said Come on! let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower with its head in the heavens, so let us make for ourselves a name,—lest we be scattered abroad over the face of all the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
4“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”
Deuteronomy 32:8–9
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8When the Most High gave inheritances unto the nations, When he spread abroad the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the peoples, According to the number of the sons of Israel. 9For, Yahweh’s portion is his people,—Jacob, his inherited possession.
Berean Standard Bible
8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance.
Nimrod built Babel and Nineveh, "that great city." Revelation keeps returning to "the great city" and finally reveals the great harlot riding the beast.
Nimrod's Babel; Nineveh "that great city"
The great city and the great harlot
The woman riding the beast; halftime and Commonwealth Games imagery
Jonah 1:2
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
2Arise, get thee to Nineveh the great city, and proclaim unto it,—that their wickedness, hath come up, before me.
Berean Standard Bible
2“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
Revelation 11:8
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8And their dead bodies [lie] upon the broadway of the great city, the which is called, spiritually, Sodom and Egypt, where, their Lord also was crucified.
Berean Standard Bible
8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.
Revelation 14:8
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8And, another, a second [messenger] followed, saying—Fallen! fallen! is Babylon the great, who, of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness, hath caused all the nations to drink.
Berean Standard Bible
8Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
Revelation 16:19
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
19and the great city became [divided] into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and, Babylon the Great, was brought into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the wrath of his anger;
Berean Standard Bible
19The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.
Revelation 17:1–5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1And one of the seven messengers who had the seven bowls came, and spake with me, saying—Hither! I will point out to thee the judgment of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth committed lewdness,—and they who were dwelling upon the earth were made drunk with the wine of her lewdness. 3And he carried me away into a desert, in spirit. And I saw a woman, sitting upon a scarlet wild-beast full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And, the woman, was arrayed with purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls,—having a cup of gold in her hand, full of abominations and the impurities of her lewdness; 5and, upon her forehead, a name written, a secret: Babylon the great, the Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
1Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” 3And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
VII
The final destruction of Babylon
The message examined imagery from the Commonwealth Games ceremony, including the bull, the woman and the "new light," and the rituals of current performers.
The bull, the woman and the "new light" in the Commonwealth Games ceremony
Babylon is the mother of prostitutes. Ten kings give their power to the beast, and then the beast turns on the harlot and destroys her, and in doing so fulfills God's purpose. The great city is the world's false religious system.
The mother of prostitutes; ten kings who give power to the beast
The beast turns on and destroys the harlot; God's purpose fulfilled
The great city: the world false religious system; Babylon mentioned 22-43 times in Revelation
Revelation 17:12–13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12And, the ten horns which thou sawest, are, ten kings,—who, indeed, have not received, sovereignty, as yet, but, authority, as kings, for one hour, shall receive, with the wild-beast. 13These, have, one mind, and, their power and authority, unto the wild-beast, they give.
Berean Standard Bible
12The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. 13These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
Revelation 17:16–17
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
16And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the wild-beast, these, shall hate the harlot, and, desolate, shall make her, and naked, and, her flesh, shall they eat, and, herself, shall they burn up with fire. 17For, God, hath put into their hearts, to do his mind, and to do one mind,—and to give their sovereignty unto the wild-beast, until the words of God shall be completed.
Berean Standard Bible
16And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
The alternative to Babylon is the marriage of the Lamb and the city of Zion. That means coming out of every work of darkness, including gossip, fear and unbelief. If the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness. Being the bride has a cost.
The marriage of the Lamb; the city of Zion
Coming out of every work of darkness: gossip, fear, unbelief
"If the light that is in you is darkness"; dark light
The cost of being the bride
Revelation 19:7–8
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7Let us rejoice and exult, and give glory unto him, because the marriage of the Lamb, is come, and, his wife, hath made herself ready; 8and it hath been given unto her, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, bright, pure, for, the fine linen, is, the righteous acts of the saints.
Berean Standard Bible
7Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. 8She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
Matthew 6:23
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
23But, if thine eye be, evil, thy whole body, shall be, in the dark;—if therefore, the light which is in thee, is, darkness, the darkness, how great!
Berean Standard Bible
23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Ephesians 5:11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11And be not joining in fellowship in the unfruitful works of darkness, but, rather, be even administering reproof;
Berean Standard Bible
11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
09
Message 09 of 10 · Nov 10, 2024
The Jury Trial, Part 1: Conscious After Death
What happens to a believer the moment they die? The congregation becomes a jury, and two cases are presented over two weeks. This week is the case that believers are conscious and with the Lord immediately after death.
Life is a mist, and we are told to number our days. The congregation is asked to act as a jury and hear two cases. Funerals usually assume the dead are already in heaven. Is that what Scripture teaches?
Life as a mist; numbering our days
The congregation as a jury; two cases presented
Funerals assume the dead are in heaven
James 4:14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
14Men who are not versed in the morrow—of what sort your life [will be]; for ye are, a vapour—for a little, appearing, then, just disappearing!
Berean Standard Bible
14You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Psalm 90:12
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
12How to number our days, so grant us to know, That we may win us a heart that hath wisdom.
Berean Standard Bible
12So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.
"Soul sleep" can mean two different things, so the message prefers the biblical phrase "asleep in Christ." The key question is whether the soul, the nephesh, can be separated from the body.
Two meanings of the term; preference for "asleep in Christ"
Nephesh: is the soul separable from the body?
1 Corinthians 15:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18Hence also, they who are fallen asleep in Christ, are lost:
Berean Standard Bible
18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Dreams and visions show that a person can have real experiences apart from the body. Hallucinogens are also used to contact other realms, which Scripture names as sorcery.
Dreams and visions experienced apart from the body
Paul did not know whether he was in the body or out of it, but he saw and heard. John experienced Revelation fully: he saw, heard and wept. Joseph received instructions in a dream. In each case, "sleep" refers to the body.
"In the body or out of the body, I do not know"
John experienced Revelation: seeing, hearing, weeping
Joseph received instructions in a dream; "sleep" refers to the body
4And, I, began to weep much, because, no one, worthy, was found, to open the scroll, or, to look thereon.
Berean Standard Bible
4And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.
Matthew 2:13
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13Now, when they had retired, lo! a messenger of the Lord, appeareth by dream unto Joseph, saying, Arise, take unto thee the child and its mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there, until I tell thee,—for Herod is about to seek the child, to destroy it.
Berean Standard Bible
13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
At death the spirit returns to God who gave it. The human spirit is made alive through the new birth. Paul says God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep.
The human spirit made alive through new birth
God will bring with him those who sleep
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
7And the dust return to the earth, as it was,—and, the spirit, return unto God, who gave it.
Berean Standard Bible
7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
13But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are falling asleep,—lest ye be sorrowing, even as the rest also, who are without hope; 14For, if we believe that, Jesus, died, and rose again, so, also will, God, bring forth with him, them who have fallen asleep through Jesus;
Berean Standard Bible
13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Hades is the place of departed spirits. The rich man and Abraham have a conversation, which shows consciousness. There is a fixed gulf and no crossing over, which leaves no room for purgatory.
Hades as the place of departed spirits; conversation shows consciousness
No crossing over; contrast with purgatory
Luke 16:22–26
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
22And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried away by the messengers, into the bosom of Abraham. And, the rich man also, died, and was buried. 23And, in hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And, he, calling out, said—Father Abraham! have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue,—because I am in anguish in this flame. 25But Abraham said—Child! remember—That thou didst duly received thy good things in thy life, and, Lazarus, in like manner, the evil things; but, now, here, he is comforted, and, thou, art in anguish. 26And, besides all these things, betwixt us and you, a great chasm, hath been fixed,—so that, they who might wish to cross over from hence unto you, should not be able, nor any, from thence unto us, be crossing over.
Berean Standard Bible
22One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ 25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’
God is "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to him.
Matthew 22:31–32
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
31But, as touching the resurrection of the dead—Have ye not read what was spoken unto you by God, saying— 32I, am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?—He is not God, of the dead, but, of the living.
Berean Standard Bible
31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: 32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
Luke 20:37–38
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
37But, that the dead do rise, even Moses, disclosed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord—The God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob: 38Now, God, he is not, of the dead, but, of the living,—for, all, unto him, do live.
Berean Standard Bible
37Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”
John sees the souls of those killed for the word of God. They cry out, they are given white robes, and they are told to rest a little longer.
Revelation 6:9–11
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9And, when he opened the fifth seal, I saw, beneath the altar, the souls of them who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the witness which they held. 10And they cried out with a loud voice, saying—How long, O Sovereign, the Holy and True, dost thou not vindicate and avenge our blood from them that dwell upon the earth? 11And there was given to them, each one, a white robe, and it was bidden them, that they should rest yet a little while—until the number should be made full of their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, who were about to be slain as even, they.
Berean Standard Bible
9And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. 10And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” 11Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.
Christ went and preached to the spirits in prison who were disobedient in Noah's day. The message presents these as people who were nonetheless saved.
The disobedient in Noah's day who were nonetheless saved
1 Peter 3:18–20
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18Because, Christ also, once for all, concerning sins, died,—Just in behalf of unjust,—in order that he might introduce us unto God; being put to death, indeed, in flesh, but made alive in spirit,— 19In which, even unto the spirits in prison, he went and proclaimed,— 20[Spirits] unyielding at one time, when the longsuffering of God was holding forth a welcome in the days of Noah, there being in preparation an ark—[going] into which, a few, that is eight, souls, were brought safely through by means of water,—
Berean Standard Bible
18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
Ephesians 4:8–10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8Wherefore he saith—Ascending on high, he took captivity captive, [and] gave gifts unto men. 9Now this, He ascended; what is it,—save—that he also descended into the under parts of the earth? 10He that descended, he, it is who also ascended over-above all the heavens, that he might fill all things;
Berean Standard Bible
8This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” 9What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
More passages are added to the case: the thief on the cross, Stephen, Jairus' daughter, Elijah and the boy, Rachel and Eutychus.
The thief on the cross; Stephen; Jairus' daughter; Elijah and the boy; Rachel; Eutychus
Luke 23:43
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
43And he said unto him—Verily, I say unto thee this day: With me, shalt thou be in Paradise.
Berean Standard Bible
43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Acts 7:59
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
59And they stoned Stephen, as he was invoking and saying—Lord Jesus! give welcome unto my spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
59While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Luke 8:52–55
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
52And they were all weeping, and beating themselves, for her. And he said—Be not weeping; for she died not, but is sleeping. 53And they were deriding him, knowing that she died. 54But, he, grasping her hand, called aloud, saying—O girl! arise! 55And her spirit returned, and she rose up instantly, and he ordered that something should be given her to eat.
Berean Standard Bible
52Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” 53And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. 54But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” 55Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat.
1 Kings 17:21–22
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
21And he stretched himself out upon the boy, three times, and cried unto Yahweh, and said,—O Yahweh, my God! Let the life of this boy, I pray thee, come again within him. 22And Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of Elijah,—and the life of the boy came again within him, and he lived.
Berean Standard Bible
21Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!” 22And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.
Genesis 35:18
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
18And it came to pass when her soul was going forth—for she died, that she called his name Ben-oni,—but, his father, called him, Ben-jamin.
Berean Standard Bible
18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
Acts 20:9–10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
9And there sat, a certain young man by name Eutychus, in the window, who was getting overpowered by a deep sleep; and, while Paul was discoursing yet further, being overpowered by his sleep, he fell, from the third story, down, and was taken up dead. 10Going down, however, Paul fell upon him, and, embracing him, said—Be not making confusion; for, his soul, is, in him.
Berean Standard Bible
9And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead. 10But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
Jesus distinguished between killing the body and destroying the soul. Paul wanted "to depart and be with Christ," and wrote of being "absent from the body, present with the Lord."
"To depart and be with Christ"
"Absent from the body, present with the Lord"
Matthew 10:28
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
28And be not in fear, by reason of them that are killing the body,—and, the soul, are not able to kill. But fear, rather, him who is able, both soul and body, to destroy in gehenna!
Berean Standard Bible
28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Philippians 1:23
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
23I am held in constraint, however, by reason of the two,—having, the coveting, to be released, and to be with, Christ, for it were far better!
Berean Standard Bible
23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
2 Corinthians 5:8
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
8We have good courage, however, and are well pleased—rather to be away from home, out of the body, and to come home, unto the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
XII
Questions and clarification
Greg laid out three positions: annihilation, full consciousness, and semi-consciousness. The congregation then showed their current beliefs by a show of hands.
Greg's three positions: annihilation, full consciousness, semi-consciousness
We need to know what we truly know and avoid dividing over secondary beliefs. Next week's case was previewed.
Knowing what we truly know; avoiding division over secondary beliefs
Preview of next week's case
Romans 14:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5[For], one, indeed esteemeth one day beyond another, whereas, another, esteemeth every day:—let, each one, in his own mind be fully persuaded.
Berean Standard Bible
5One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
XIV
Closing prayer
The message closed in prayer.
10
Message 10 of 10 · Nov 17, 2024
The Jury Trial, Part 2: Asleep Until the Resurrection
The second case: believers who die are asleep until the resurrection and receive their glorified bodies at the Rapture. The message ends where both cases agree, with the hope of meeting Jesus in the air.
After a summary of last week's case, the first question is whether sleep after death contradicts the promise that we have eternal life now.
Summary of last week's case
Eternal life now: does sleep contradict it?
John 5:24
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
24Verily, verily, I say unto you: He that heareth, my word, and believeth in him that sent me, hath life age-abiding, and, into judgment, cometh not, but hath passed over, out of death into life.
Berean Standard Bible
24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
Jesus called death sleep, both for Jairus' daughter and for Lazarus. Paul uses the same language again and again. It is the voice of the Son of God that wakes the dead.
"The child is not dead, but sleeping"; "Lazarus has fallen asleep"
1 Corinthians 11; 1 Corinthians 15: "We shall not all sleep"
1 Thessalonians 4-5: those who have fallen asleep
The voice of the Son of God will awaken the dead
Mark 5:39
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
39and, entering, he saith unto them—Why are ye making a tumult, and weeping? The child, is, not dead, but, is sleeping;
Berean Standard Bible
39He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
John 11:11–14
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11These things, he said, and, after this, he saith unto them—Lazarus, our dear friend, hath fallen asleep; but I am going, that I may awake him. 12The disciples, therefore, said unto him—Lord! if he have fallen asleep, he will recover. 13But Jesus had spoken concerning his death; whereas, they, supposed that, concerning the taking of rest in sleep, he had been speaking. 14Jesus, therefore, then, said unto them, plainly,—Lazarus, died;
Berean Standard Bible
11After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.” 12His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.” 13They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus. 14So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
1 Corinthians 11:30
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
30For this cause, many among you are weak and sickly; and, not a few, are falling asleep.
Berean Standard Bible
30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
51Lo! a sacred secret, unto you, do I declare:—we shall not, all, sleep, but we shall, all, be changed,— 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet; for it shall sound, and, the dead, shall be raised, incorruptible, and, we, shall be changed.
Berean Standard Bible
51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Thessalonians 5:10
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
10Who died for us, in order that, whether we be watching or sleeping, together with him, we should live.
Berean Standard Bible
10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
John 5:28–29
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
28Do not be marvelling at this: because there come an hour, in which, all they in the tombs, shall hearken unto his voice, 29and shall come forth,—they who, the good things, have done, unto a resurrection, of life; but, they who the corrupt things, have practised, unto a resurrection, of judgment.
Berean Standard Bible
28Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Familiar spirits are different from Samuel's actual appearance. When Samuel came, he asked Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
Familiar spirits versus Samuel's appearance
"Why did you wake me up?"
1 Samuel 28:11–15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me. 12And, when the woman saw Samuel, she made outcry with a loud voice,—and the woman spake unto Saul, saying—Wherefore hast thou deceived me, thou thyself being Saul? 13And the king said unto her—Be not afraid, but what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, A god, saw I, coming up out of the earth. 14And he said to her—What was his form? And she said—An old man, coming up, he being wrapped about with a robe. Then Saul knew, that it was, Samuel, so he inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down. 15And Samuel said unto Saul, Wherefore hast thou disquieted me, by bringing me up? And Saul said—I am in sore distress, for, the Philistines, are making war against me, and, God, hath turned away from me, and answereth me no more—either by means of the prophets, or by dreams, therefore have I even called for thee, to let me know, what I am to do.
Berean Standard Bible
11“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied. 12But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered. 14“What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence. 15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
IV
Two options
The jury now has two options to weigh.
Option A: immediately in heaven, conscious
Option B: asleep, unconscious, until the resurrection body
The two cases before the jury
Option A · Part 1
Conscious with the Lord at death
"To depart and be with Christ" Phil 1:23
"Absent from the body, present with the Lord" 2 Cor 5:8
"Today you will be with me in Paradise" Luke 23:43
The souls under the altar Rev 6:9–11
The rich man and Lazarus Luke 16:22–26
Option B · Part 2
Asleep until the resurrection
"The child is not dead, but asleep" Mark 5:39
"Lazarus has fallen asleep" John 11:11
"We will not all sleep" 1 Cor 15:51
The voice of the Son of God wakes the dead John 5:28
"Why have you disturbed me?" 1 Sam 28:15
Both cases agree: no one receives a glorified body until the Rapture, and we will meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thess 4:16–17
Read in context, Paul's famous phrase sits inside a passage about two bodies: the earthly tent and the building from God. Paul does not want to be "naked." He wants to be clothed over with the glorified body, and that is when he comes home to the Lord.
The earthly tent and the building from God
"Clothed over" with the glorified body; not wanting to be "naked"
Coming home to the Lord in the glorified body
The famous phrase read in its context
2 Corinthians 5:1–8
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
1For we know that—if, our earthly tent-dwelling, should be taken down, we have, a building of God, a dwelling not made by hand, age-abiding in the heavens. 2And verily, in this, we sigh, earnestly desiring to clothe ourselves over, with our habitation which is of heaven,— 3Although, indeed, even clothing ourselves, we shall not be found, naked;— 4And verily, we who are in the tent, do sigh, being weighed down, while yet we are not wishing to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe ourselves over,—in order that, what is mortal, may be swallowed up, by life. 5Now, he that hath wrought us for this very thing, is, God,—who hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit, 6Having good courage, therefore, at all times, and knowing that—remaining at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord,— 7By faith, are we walking, not by sight;— 8We have good courage, however, and are well pleased—rather to be away from home, out of the body, and to come home, unto the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come. 6Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Creation groans, and we groan with it, waiting for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Redemption means buying back what was mortgaged in Eden.
Huiothesia: son-placing; circumcision, bar mitzvah and placement at 30 in Jesus' life
The creation groaning; the firstfruits of the Spirit
Redemption as buying back what was mortgaged in Eden
Romans 8:19–23
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
19For, the eager outlook of creation, ardently awaiteth the revealing of the sons of God,— 20For, unto vanity, hath creation been made subject—not by choice, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope 21That, creation itself also, shall be freed—from the bondage of the decay into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God; 22For we know that, all creation, is sighing together, and travailing-in-birth-throes together until the present,— 23And, not only so, but, we ourselves, also, who have the first-fruit of the Spirit— [we] even ourselves, within our own selves do sigh,—sonship ardently awaiting—the redeeming of our body;—
Berean Standard Bible
19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
As a parenthetical argument for last week's case: God has emotions such as anger, love and jealousy. And Scripture speaks of spirit, soul and body as distinct, which points to a soul that can be separated from the body.
A parenthetical argument for last week's case
God has emotions: anger, love, jealousy
1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Matthew 10:28 as evidence of a separable soul
James 4:5
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
5Or think ye that, in vain, the scripture speaketh? Is it, for envying, that the spirit which hath taken an abode within us doth crave?
Berean Standard Bible
5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
23But, the God of peace himself, hallow you completely, and, entire, might your spirit, and soul, and body,—[so as to be] unblameable in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ,—be preserved!
Berean Standard Bible
23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read the word out of a heart relationship with God. Don't be too sure, but be prepared to give an answer.
Read the word with a heart relationship
Don't be too sure; be prepared to answer
2 Timothy 2:15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
15Give diligence, thyself, approved, to present unto God,—a workman not to be put to shame, skillfully handling the word of truth.
Berean Standard Bible
15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
1 Peter 3:15
Rotherham Emphasised Bible
15But, the Lord Christ, hallow ye in your hearts, ready always for a defence, unto every one that is asking you a reason concerning, the hope within you,—nevertheless, with meekness and reverence:
Berean Standard Bible
15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
XII
Either way, a glorified body
It does not matter which view is right, because God is good. Deathbed experiences offer anecdotal evidence. We can receive ministers who differ on secondary issues, and we share one hope: meeting Jesus in the air.
It does not matter which view is right; God is good
Anecdotal evidence from deathbeds
Receiving ministers who differ on secondary issues