The Sovereign God 011
Matthew 24 Part 4
Deception About the End
“Don’t be deceived.” Vss 23-28 tell you that if someone says that Christ’s final return in person has happened, don’t listen. His return will not be in secret or like that of a normal person; His final return will be so incontrovertible that no one will be able to miss it. Notice that the deceivers are wrong on at least two critical points: One, they’re wrong on the timing (there’s that word again). They’re too early! The deceivers are those who claim He’s walking around on earth as a regular person when He’s really in heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father.
Last Means Last Except . . . post 2
A Never-Ending Last Days
We also use the word “last” to describe days past, not future. “In the last few days” would be an example. But that would be stretching the meaning of “last” too far in the Hebrews passage. Clearly, the author is speaking of the end of something because he warns people about something passing away and of something else appearing and that they should view those “last” days in faith, as if they’re headed toward a destination, a goal, a finish. But the finish is something better than what was past, not something worse. Those who suffered in the past were giving their lives for us, for something to come, for something better. Hebrews 11. The Israelites who left Egypt were headed somewhere; they wandered because of disobedience, not because the goal could not be accomplished. The “last” days refers to the time just before the accomplishment of the mission or goal for which the faithful saints gave their lives.
The Matrix – Post 1
The Matrix – Too Complex to Pin Down
The Matrix has been studied from so many perspectives, perhaps showing how brilliant the movie is. There’s really no telling what the beliefs of the movie’s makers are; there’s such a montage of meaning in it. Analyzing all the underlying meaning is daunting, but that is not my goal with movies. Because I want to edify my Christian faith when watching a movie, I’m always going to gravitate to the biblical meanings that were either intentionally or accidentally in the movie. I believe it appears in all aspects of life even in artistic works. I don’t contend that there are no other meanings; I just don’t see the need to go there. Reviewing it from a biblical perspective only is still daunting. In the Matrix are the obvious Christian messages and the not so obvious. But it’s odd for a movie to be so wrapped up into a worldview that so parallels the Christian or biblical worldview as The Matrix does. It will take several posts to get anywhere with this movie, so here are my initial thoughts. Continue reading “The Matrix – Post 1”
Jacob has been Slandered by Preachers & Teachers 2
Jacob – A Bad Rap 2
Download a pdf of this discussion: Jacob
Third, in only one event in his life did Jacob ever deceive anyone – his father, when his mother ordered him to pretend to be his brother, Esau, in order to receive his father’s blessing. But let’s look at that situation in its entirety. All of Jacob’s life, his father Isaac had disobeyed God and ignored his wife. His wife, Rebecca, had heard from God Himself that Jacob was to receive the birthright. Yet, Isaac ignored the word of God, preferring his own interests in Esau the hunter and in the human law that required that the inheritance and birthright go to the firstborn. For over 40 years, instead of listening to God’s word and analyzing the character of his sons based on what they placed as priorities, Isaac followed legalism and his own desire. Rebecca knew this, and even Isaac admitted this when he proclaimed about Jacob after the deception: “And he will be blessed.” How could Jacob be truly blessed by taking something by fraud? Could not Isaac have said the opposite? Something like: “Jacob, you stole the blessing by deception; therefore, it is invalid. It shall go to Esau.”
Continue reading “Jacob has been Slandered by Preachers & Teachers 2”