Creation

Love of the Truth

Ken

The clarion call of the Christian is we love the Truth. The difference between a scientific principle, a mathematical fact, or an accurate record of a historical event being true and the Truth, is only the Truth can save us. History is full of discouraged baseball players, scientists, mathematicians, and historians who pursued the World Series, science, mathematics, or history, without changing society for the better. Why? Only the love of the Truth can save us. Too long have we allowed ourselves to be satisfied with substitutes for the Truth to satisfy us in our quest to navigate life, build families, pursue employment, advance our education, seek our leisure, establish a framework of government, balance our footprint on the earth, police our streets, defend our nation, pursue the boundaries of scientific understanding, right the inequities of society, all this and more. 

Every Christian will rightly agree the Truth is none other than Jesus Christ. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV). The only reason the Truth can save anyone is because Jesus is the Truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). We love the truth because Jesus is the Truth, and we love Jesus. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1John 4:19). 

Why such significance to loving the Truth? “10 And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned [Greek, krino, judged, damned] who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2Thessalonians 2:10-12). Paul describes the circumstances of those who are left behind at the Rapture. 

Does this mean those left behind at the Rapture are forever condemned to Hell, if they were stubbornly resisting the Truth, when the Harpazō (Rapture) took place? If that were so, we should back away from evangelism to give people a chance for their repentance after the Rapture. Not hardly!

Let’s evaluate the Scripture. 

The Greek word krino in 2Thessalonians 2:12 can be correctly translated as “condemned” (2:12 NKJV), “judged” (2:12 NASB), or “damned” (2:12 KJV). Because we commonly think of damned as an eternal condition, e.g., Eternal Damnation, it gives us cause for interpreting 2Thessalonians 2:12 with this viewpoint; but, Scripture does not demand such a dire interpretation. 

How is this so? 

Possibly the most popular verse in the New Testament is John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV). Two verses later, Jesus said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned [Greek, krino, damned]; but he who does not believe is condemned [Greek, krino, damned] already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18 NKJV). 

How can anyone ever be saved, if they are damned? Evidently, you are condemned or damned, while you are not believing, but you are not condemned or not damned, while you are believing. If this were not so, then there is no Good News in the Gospel. And, we are Eternally Damned forever. 

But, there is still something profoundly different about the rejection of the Truth (2Thessalonians 2:12), or loving not the Truth (2:10) at the moment of the Rapture. Just as the coldest temperature is normally recorded immediately before the rising of the sun in the morning, the coldest reception to the Truth will come directly before the Rapture. 

Paul uses the words “strong delusion” (2:11). “Strong [Greek, energeia, superhuman power]” (2:11) refers to the supernaturalness of energy displayed by God in sending the “delusion [Greek, plano, deceit, delusion, error]” (2:11). This combination of words means it is not just any delusion, but the delusion made possible in the one time of human existence, when the Spirit indwelt humans are universally and instantaneously removed from the earth, taking away all restraint to the working of the wicked one. A floodgate of wickedness will be opened. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He [the Holy Spirit] is taken out of the way” (2Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV). 

Paul also uses the Greek word dunamis or “power” (2Thessalonians 2:9), when referring to the supernatural power being exercised by Satan at the time of the Rapture. By the way, this dunamis is also the supernatural power (but even greater) manifested by God in our salvation — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power [Greek, dunamis, supernatural power] of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

We need to pay careful attention to the use of the word “power” in NT Scripture. This is much like the symbols around electrical currents announcing “Danger Electrical Shock Hazard.” Just as we may hear stories of some electricians touching hot electrical wires without damage, others may become profoundly dead. Pay attention, when Scripture uses the word “power.” 

How often have we experienced a sense of powerlessness in our day-to-day lives, much less in our spiritual life? We need to reconnect to the truth of the Scriptures regarding supernatural or superhuman power. We need God’s supernatural power flowing through us by our love of the Truth. We need to adjust our expectation of God performing the Truth of His Word by demonstrating His power according to our love of Him, who is the Truth. 

In this instance, we prefer not to be insulated from God’s power: 

(1) By the resistance of sin in our lives, i.e., “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). 

(2) By the predominance of supernatural opposition, i.e., “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could we not cast it out? So He said to them, This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28-29). 

His power is a superhuman, transforming, subduing power. 

“Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working [Greek, energeia, superhuman power] by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21). 

His power is a superhuman, death overcoming, resurrection power. 

“Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working [Greek, energeia, superhuman power] of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). 

Love of the Truth 

We need to stay alert to the enemy’s significant supernatural power by maintaining our love of Jesus, who is the Truth. That will not only overcome the wicked one, but will draw us closer to Jesus. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Prophecy is not intended to frighten us, but to appropriately warn us of what to expect from the enemy. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power [Greek, dunamis, supernatural power of God or Satan], signs, and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:9). 

We are not attempting to promote the Apostasy in order to see the return of the Lord. That will take care of itself. We are to go about our normal lives, but with the expectation of the imminent return of the Lord — by Rapture, if we are still here, or by Resurrection, if we have already gone Home to the Lord (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). 

You will note the Truth to be loved is things will overall, progressively get worse and worse, not better and better. That is not pessimism but prophecy. “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Timothy 3:13). 

All of the defining epochs of humanity’s existence have ended in man’s failure. 

(1) Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden because of not trusting our Creator, but setting into motion the Messiah, who will be the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).

(2) The world was destroyed with a worldwide flood because of our wickedness, but punctuated by rainbows, reminding us of God’s faithfulness (Genesis 9:13). 

(3) The world was divided into different languages and disbursed to overspread the world at the Tower of Babel because we defied the Living God, but the Almighty set apart faithful Abraham, who would be the spiritual father of Israel (Genesis 11). 

(4) The nation of Israel, who gave us the Scriptures (Romans 3:2), saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD because they rejected the Messiah, but God has given Himself the Church, a called out assembly, to evangelize the world with the aid of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). 

(5) The Church has wrestled with periods of hot for the Lord and cold indifference to the Truth to the point of a lukewarmness that sickens the Lord, where the Lord is outside the Church, knocking on the door seeking entrance (Revelation 3:20). 

UPDATE: Since I posted this blog entry, “Love of the Truth,” I have modified my thoughts about the overall progress of the Church in a world of “evil men and impostors [who] will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2Timothy 3:13). I still believe overall, humanity and the world is getting worse and worse. I still believe the Church is characteristically lukewarm – “you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:20) – BUT I believe the Church will open the door to Christ knocking. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). The Church answering the knocking at the door is the Rapture. Proof of that is found nearly immediately after in the text, where only the Church can answer the door, and it is “a door standing open” (4:1). Also, the Trumpet Voice commands, “Come up here” (4:1), which is the Rapture. “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after these things” (Revelation 4:1). All of this demonstrates the Church’s Laodicean lukewarmness will end on a note of hot and not cold. This will be the fulfillment of Christ’s words to Peter, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Hallelujah!

Is this all part of the prophetic plan? 

Yes, because we are constantly being reminded of the truth of why we were created to glorify Him (Revelation 4:11) by our constant abiding with Him (22:3). 

Summary

Why do we love the truth of prophecy? 

The true purpose of prophecy is to bear testimony to the Person and Work of Jesus. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

Father, cause us to love the Truth of Your Word, as we are strangely attracted to it because of Jesus. Magnify Yourself by the fulfillment of Your Word, promises, and prophecies. May Your Kingdom come and will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Eagerly Waiting for Jesus

Ken

“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28 NKJV). 

Three Appearances of Christ (Hebrews 9:24-28)

Courtesy of Believers Bible Commentary. 

Verse 26. Christ has appeared. His First Coming. Came to earth to save us from the penalty of sin. Past tense of salvation. “He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). 

Verse 24. Christ now appears. Present ministry to save us from the power of sin. Present tense of salvation. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24). 

Verse 28. Christ will appear. Anticipating the imminent return of our Messiah to save us from the presence of sin. Future tense of salvation. Coincidental with our Rapture. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). 

Our rapture is our Blessed Hope because we will see Jesus. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

The blessedness of our rapture is we shall see Jesus as He really is. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1John 3:2). 

Since the Cross, the universe has never seen any event of such magnitude as the instantaneous, worldwide catching up or rapture of all those who are eagerly waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28). 

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, raptured, forcefully snatched up] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17).  

We know of nothing that remains for our Lord to accomplish before He raptures His Church home. Hence, our departure is imminent. It is solely the Father’s sovereign timing, which the universe awaits before He raptures His Church. “7 Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 20 He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). 

Father, truly eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things You have prepared for those who love You (1Corinthians 2:9). Eagerly, we desire to be present with You; but, we pray we will keep our hand to the plow in the meantime laboring for You. Cause us not to give up on raising our families, supporting our brothers and sisters, reaching out to the unredeemed, and maintaining our secular employments. Magnify Yourself through the Rapture of Your Church. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). To You belongs the victory. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Millennium-Sabbath Theory

Ken

Years ago, I ran across a 1965 copy of Halley’s Bible Handbook, which was originally published in 1927. Substantially, the Millennium-Sabbath Theory was a belief held in the beginning of the Christian Era, where the non-canonical Epistle of Barnabas mentioned the belief that, even as there had been 2,000 years from Adam to Abraham, and another 2,000 years from Abraham to Christ, then there would be another 2,000 years for the Christian Era, which would be followed by the Millennium (1,000 years). The reasoning was six days of creation would be followed by the Day of Rest. Dr. Henry Halley reasoned, “Inasmuch as we are now drawing toward the close of 2,000 years of the Christian Era, it will be soon be known for sure what there is to this belief. There are many things on the horizon that seem to be saying that the Great Day may be nearer than we think.” 

A Warning and Two Observations

First, Jesus warned us about setting dates about His return. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36 KJV). 

Second, understanding and sensing about how far along we are to His return is not forbidden. “We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long” (Psalm 74:9). 

Third, evidently there were those in the Early Church, who did not pursue useful employment, because they were supposedly waiting for the return of Christ. (Evidently, they hadn’t read the non-canonical Epistle of Barnabas.) “5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies” (2Thessalonians 3:5, 11).

Ussher’s Chronology 

James Ussher (1581-1656) was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland (Anglican), who interpreted the Scriptures literally, and arrived at a date for Creation as “‘the entrance of the night preceding the 23rd day of October… the year before Christ 4004’; that is, around 6 pm on 22 October 4004 BC” (from Wikipedia on James Ussher). By the way, astronomer Johannes Kepler calculated the Creation at 3992 BC and physicist Isaac Newton at 4000 BC. The evolutionary biologist, Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002), disagreed with Ussher’s Chronology, but graciously defended Ussher, who “represented the best scholarship of his time.” With the evolutionary model being understood by mainstream science as the plausible explanation On the Origin of Species (1859, Charles Darwin), it is comprehensible that secular science rejects the miraculousness of young earth creationism, the geological explanation of the Flood, or the anthropological model of the Tower of Babel, as illustrated by the Scopes Monkey Trial (1925).

Calculations From Creation to the Millennium 

Archaeological discoveries in the 19th century at the  Library of Ashurbanipal (Nineveh, Assyria) set the stage for breakthroughs in determining Gregorian calendar date equivalents to ancient and Biblical records. 

George Smith (1840-1876) was the Assyriologist, who translated the Epic of Gilgamesh. He was hired by Sir Henry Rawlinson of the British Museum. The breakthrough came when an entry in the Assyrian records referenced an eclipse of the sun at Nineveh. Science can determine by location the time of that eclipse. That was their Rosetta Stone moment. Those archaeological records and Biblical records now have Gregorian calendar dates, which is the dating system presently used by most of the world. 

6,000 years + 1,000 years = 7,000 years 

Ussher: Creation 4004 BC

Ussher: Exodus 1491 BC 

George Smith (1867): Exodus 1446 BC 

George Smith (1867): Creation 3959 BC 

Ussher’s dates were 45 years too long. You must subtract 45 years to adjust to astronomical time, e.g., Creation 4004 – 45 = 3959 BC.

Updating Ussher’s Chronology with the scientific accuracy of the dating equivalents, we can further apply the Millennium-Sabbath Theory and proceed 6,000 years from Adam to the Beginning of the Millennium. 

Creation to Beginning of Millennium: 

6000 – 3959 = 2041 AD

Conclusion 

I will let Brother Paul make the concluding exhortation. 

“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away” (1Corinthians 7:29-31). May the Spirit of Christ impress our hearts to promote the return of Christ. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen. 

Who Came First?

Ken

God our Creator made man [Hebrew, âdâm] on the sixth day. The LORD God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground, then He specially created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. But, He allowed the man to name her, establishing man’s priority as the head of the woman. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1Corinthians 11:3 KJV). May the Body of Christ function as well in these Last Days, as He intended in the Original Creation. 

Natural, Supernatural, Miraculous

Ken

The difference is emphasis. Natural law is normal, which is expected. Supernatural is beyond normal. Miraculous is also beyond normal with an emphasis upon unexpected. Natural law is supported by the scientific method of reproducibility, which both secular and sacred admit. Supernatural is beyond the scope of science, at least until the discovery of consistent, reproducible natural law explanations. Miraculous is beyond the scope of physics with an emphasis upon unexpected. Creation can only be miraculous, since a supernatural Creator speaks the world into existence. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3 KJV). Natural laws are the rules to which nature must comply; however, supernatural interaction with the natural world can modify outcomes, when applied. Miracles are directed from the supernatural often unexpectedly with unexpected outcomes. Humanity irrespective of religious or philosophical persuasion is subject to natural law. Supernatural beings both of the Creator and against the Creator may interact with the natural world, but subject to the Creator and conforming to the necessities of their being. Miracles also may interact with the natural realm, but especially are subject to the will of the Creator. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11p-12). 

Identity Crisis: Who Are You?

Ken

LORD, I am who You say I am (John 1:12). You are the Most High God (Genesis 14:18), the “High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity” (Isaiah 57:15 KJV), who has condescended to dwell with mankind (Revelation 21:3). You have created me in Your image (Genesis 1:27) that I may magnify You in choosing to walk with You in obedience (Genesis 17:1) and reverential trust (fear of the LORD: 2Chronicles 19:9). I am saved by Your grace through faith in You to walk in holiness (Ephesians 2:8-10). As a nation, we are blessed to be called by Your name to humbly pray and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways that You may turn (2Chronicles 7:14) and rain righteousness upon us (Hosea 10:12). As a Church, we are Your mirror to reflect Christ’s righteousness, love, and saving grace to the world (2Corinthians 3:18). A husband represents the headship of Christ to their wife (Ephesians 5:23). Parents represent Christ’s lordship to their children (Ephesians 6:1). Men ought to respect the biological uniqueness of women to bear the seed of humanity (1Timothy 2:15), as women need to respect the biological necessity of man providing the seed for the propagation of the human race (Genesis 2:18). LORD, may we understand who You are that we would know who we are. Magnify Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Documentary: Objectified

Ken

Objectified (2009, 75 minutes) is a “documentary film [by Gary Hustwit] about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.” In the first couple of minutes, Jony Ives, former Chief Design Officer at Apple, Inc., said, “When you see an object, you make so many assumptions about that object in seconds. What it does, how well it’s gonna do it, how heavy it is, how much you think it should cost. The object testifies to the people that conceived it, thought about it, developed it, manufactured it.  Ranging from issues of form, to material, to its architecture, to how it connects to you, how you touch it, how you hold it. Every object, intentional or not, speaks to who put it there.” Amen. “I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14 KJV). LORD, thank you for reminding us how great a Creator You are and how You tenderly remember our frame that we are but dust! Magnify Yourself! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Center of the Earth

Ken

Is Jerusalem the center of the earth? We know Creation took place in the Middle East at the confluence of four named rivers, one of which was the Euphrates (Genesis 2:14) in a region once called the Cradle of Civilization and still identified as the Fertile Crescent. Biblical history establishes Jerusalem as the “city of David” (2Samuel 5:7), the capital of Israel and where Solomon built the Jewish Temple. For Jews, Jerusalem is the center of their earth. And, for Christians, the Gospel would spread starting from Jerusalem “unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV). Jesus ascended back to heaven from the Mount of Olives east and just outside of Jerusalem (1:12) and will descend to the same spot at His Second Coming (Zechariah 14:4). Rome destroyed the Jerusalem Temple (70 AD). The Crusades took and lost Jerusalem. Islam built the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Three of the main religions of the world are monotheistic and Jerusalem centric. Modern Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, and the United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem in the 21st century. Any wonder David the Psalmist enjoined, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6)?

The Case for Creation

Ken

Not everything is as it seems. There is a Creator, but no one has seen Him, except Philip. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9 KJV). Creation is a certainty, for Jesus certified, “From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). Physical geology seems to indicate untold periods of time to form the Grand Canyon, but what about God carving it suddenly with a catastrophic Flood? In classical physics, how can light reach us from distant galaxies in only six literal days, but then our Supernatural Creator and Judge will return “in the twinkling of an eye” (1Corinthians 15:52) and ultimately the “heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll” (Isaiah 34:4). Figurative, poetic hyperbole, or “Is any thing too hard for the LORD” (Genesis 18:14)? LORD, restore again Your rightful place as Creator, Judge, and Sustainer of All Possible Universes, in the hearts of Your people. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

If It Works for You

Ken1 Comment

How do people rationalize their belief that God created the universe in six literal days only thousands of years ago? “God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4 KJV). Two years ago [2022], I posted these articles: A Young Earth Creationist’s Speculative Use of Einstein’s Gravitational Theory of General Relativity (GR) and  Starlight and Time: An Amazon Book Review. I attempted to reconcile a literal interpretation of Genesis with the more prevalent evolutionary understanding. I quoted a creationist scientist, who used terms like ‘six days as measured by which clock,’ ‘gravitational time distortion,’ and ‘GR [General Relativity].’ But, I would only emphasize, Whatever works for you to make your confidence in God to stand, whether you agree with my position or not. “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (14:10). God bless you!