christians don’t know what to do with ascension

May 17th, 2012

Under the above title, the Dutch newspaper, “Nederlands Dagblad”, placed an article about ascension day. The following comment from a pastor speaks volumes:

This coming Thursday will be Ascension Day. Rarely do you hear someone talk about the Ascension Feast, while Christmas and Easter often receive this appellation.

In the article, a brief analysis is given of this phenomenon. As it turns out, one third of the pastors in the Protestant Churches do not see Jesus’ ascension as a physical fact, but as a metaphor. Let’s be blunt and say, as “a cunningly devised fable” (2Pet.1:16). But what do you think of orthodox pastors? In a survey, they were asked what they considered to be the most important significance of Jesus’ ascension. The vast majority of them responded: Jesus reigns as King. I would be ashamed to say this! Is it not clear that in this world King Jesus does not reign, but the opponent “the god of this eon” and “the prince of the power of the air” does reign (2Cor.4:4; Eph.2:2)? Is this not confirmed every day we read the newspaper?

Augustine

It was the church father, Augustine, who advanced the idea that Christ presently reigns and that we now are living in the “thousand year realm”, during which satan is bound. This is an accumulation of fatal misunderstandings; because 1. Christ does not reign now; 2. the thousand-years apparently are not a thousand years and 3. Satan is, not now, bound at all. In biblical prophecy, it is undisputed that the Messianic Kingdom from out of Jerusalem will be established over all the nations of the world (Isa.2:2-5). The time period is nearly expired that the Messiah, “after two days” (read: after two millennia) of absence will again be present and will assume the promised rulership (Hos.6:1-3; 2Pet.3:8), from the only place that had previously been designated by God: Mount Zion (Ps.2:6).

what does count?

In the past, the good Shepherd David was anointed king, but still had to wait a long time before he actually would reign in Jerusalem. The same applies to the Son of David. And as the prince, Joash, was hidden in the temple (2Kings 11), so the Lord Jesus Christ is now, in the heavenly sanctuary, hid from view. There, He serves as High Priest, carrying the people on his shoulders and on His chest. Soon he will come as the King-priest “after the order of Melchizedek”. Then, and not earlier, the song will sound:

The kingdom of this world became our Lord’s and His Christ’s, and He shall be reigning for the eons of the eons! Amen!”
Revelation 11:15

And the writer of Hebrew-letter adds the following:

8 …Yet now we are not as yet seeing all subject to him. 9 Yet we are observing Jesus, Who has been made some bit inferior to messengers (because of the suffering of death, wreathed with glory and honor), so that in the grace of God, He should be tasting death for the sake of everyone.
Hebrews 2

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Paul & water baptism

May 12th, 2012

Paul, in his letters, often speaks about baptism. Automatically, Christians think, immediately, about baptism in water. This is not right. The baptism in water, as John the Baptist that practiced in Israel (John 1:31), was only a type of baptism with the holy Spirit in which Christ would baptize (Acts 1:5). Baptism in water is characteristic of John, while baptism in Spirit is precisely typical of Christ.

Paul speaks in his letters about “baptized in one Spirit into one body” (1Cor.12:13) and “baptized into Christ” (Rom.6:3; Gal.3:27). It must be clear that this is “not a work of human hands”. Immersion into Christ, i.e., unification with Him is not a ritual and takes place without a drop of water.

Immersion into Christ, i.e., unification with Him is not a ritual and takes place without a drop of water. Of all his letters, only in 1Corinthians does Paul mention water baptism. When we disregarded 1Cor.15:29 (see previous blog) only the following passage remains:

13 Christ is parted! Not Paul was crucified for your sakes! Or into the name of Paul are you baptized? 14 I am thanking God that I baptize not one of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone may be saying that you are baptized into my name. 16 Yet I baptize the household of Stephanas also. Furthermore, I am not aware if I baptize any other. 17 For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel, not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ may be made void.
1Corinthians 1

Paul is grateful that he has baptized only a few. He was not opposed to water baptism, but it was not part of his commission: “For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel…” This is the only doctrinal statement that Paul makes in his letters about water baptism! Is that not significant? As a Hebrew of the Hebrews, the apostle had grown-up with “a doctrine of baptisms” (Heb.6:2), and to this day in Judaism, many ritual washings (mikwa’ot) are an elementary practice. But the “apostle of the nations” explains that for him only “one baptism” counts (Eph.4:5). It is not the baptism in water, but the baptism “in one Spirit: the “baptism into Christ.”

 

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what is meant by: “baptizing for the dead”?

May 10th, 2012

This expression is obtained from what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:29.

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? (KJV)

The way in which the vast majority of Bible translations show this text makes the content rather enigmatic. And that turns out to be an excellent breeding ground for the most fantastic explanations. Just think of the Mormons, who, on the basis of this text, conduct massive baptism-services for already deceased people. They are famous for their possession of a fabulous amount of genealogies (“endless genealogies” 1Tim.1:4) with the intention of being able to register baptisms for the dead. Recently, this was in the news, when it became known that some deceased persons of the Dutch royal family were, posthumously, baptized by them.

However, it is surprising that the difficulties, which this verse invariably causes, entirely disappear by moving the punctuation marks. You should know that punctuation (= the placement of punctuation marks), per definition, is the work of translators, because in the original text all letters are placed next to each other, without commas and periods, even without spaces between the words. That makes 1 Corinthians 15:29, in this case, difficult to understand.

Below, you can see a interlinear of this verse (ISA):

The rendering in the Concordant Version of Scripture is as follows:

Else what shall those be doing who are baptizing? It is for the sake of the dead absolutely if the dead are not being roused. Why are they baptizing also for their sake?

This view is not only in harmony with the original text, but it also appears to fit perfectly in the context of Paul’s argument. In this chapter, he refutes the assertion of some in Corinth who said that there is no resurrection of the dead. Paul shows, extensively, the absurdity of that view and refers, in context, to the practice of baptizing. Although Paul wrote earlier in this letter:

For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel…
1Corinthians 1:17

But that does not take away that whosoever is baptized does this with a view to the resurrection. Because the idea behind the water baptism is that one goes into the water (grave) and consequently rises again (cp. 1Petr.3:21). Would there be no resurrection, then one baptizes himself for… the dead! Ever so pointless.

“Baptizing for the dead” was not a “recognized practice in the early Christian church”, as one usually thinks, but indicates a baptismal-practice that has been robbed of its meaning (resurrection).

 

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Worldliness

May 10th, 2012

In some Christian circles, the term “worldliness” is very well-known. What does it mean and what does it not mean? The concept is taken from Romans 12 verse 2, where Paul writes (CLV):

and not to be configured to this eon, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to be testing what is the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect.

this eon

The expression, configured to this eon, in most Bible versions reads: “conformed to this world”. The word “world” here is literally eon (Gr. aion). “This eon” is the world-period/age that is currently ongoing and is in contrast to the “eon to come” (Eph.1:21) and to “the coming eons” (Eph.2:7), when Christ will reign. In 2Cor.4:4 the diabolos (devil) is named “the god of this eon”, and “this eon” in Galatians 1:4 is called “the present evil eon”. It is the eon in which the lie (falsehood) reigns.

configured

The word “configured” is literally derived from schema and here indicates: coming into the schemes of this evil eon; be involved in the confusion of thoughts, motives, opinions, values, cries, attitudes and objectives of this evil eon.

thinking

In opposition to “be not configured to this eon”, Scripture states “be transformed by the renewing of your mind (thinking)“. This contrast makes it clear that “configured to this eon” means to think as one thinks in this eon. Not: do as one does things in this eon. The configuration is not focused on a certain outward behavior, fashion, hair style or other visible feature. These are at best an expression of that thinking, but the configuration lies in the thought itself.

thinking and speaking

When Scripture speaks of the evil in this eon, it always refers to thinking and speaking. Those two belong together. The barrel produces what is in it. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Mat.12:34). In the first chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul writes about the wisdom of this eon (which is foolishness before God!) And also about “the discusser of this eon” (cp 1Cor.1:20, 2:6, 3:18). The so-called wisdom of this eon is the “treasure” of thought that is being presented to us in schools and universities, in religious institutions, in newspapers, books, magazines, television, radio, and on the Internet, etc.. With that kind of thinking, we are confronted, daily and continuously. Unless there is a substantial other input, we can not escape becoming involved in that kind of thinking. The believer distinguishes himself in his thinking by having it oriented on the will of GOD. God’s will “reforms” us, i.e., we become transformed in our mind (our thinking).

metamorphosis

The word for “reformed” is in Greek: metamorphosis, which refers to a transformation such as a caterpillar encounters when it becomes a butterfly. This particular word is also used in 2 Cor 3:18. There, Paul shows how this metamorphosis affects us.

Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the spirit.

When we examine the context in which this verse appears, it shows that Paul was writing about the reading of the books of Moses. For the religious reader, these books are line upon line and law upon law, hence: “a ministry of death” and “a ministry of condemnation” (3:7.9). But when the covering, at the reading, is removed, we discover CHRIST and He makes us shine, according to Paul (3:15,16). We are then being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Lord Who is spirit. HE does this and we encounter it. What God wants is that we focus on Him so that we as a reflector, will reflect HIS glory.

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… and tabernacles among us

May 4th, 2012

 

And the Word became flesh and tabernacles among us, and we gaze at His glory, a glory as of an only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

In the evangel of John, Jesus Christ is presented as the Son of God. But before He, as the Son of God, was born of Mary, He already existed as “word”, logos; the word through which all things came into being, because God spoke and it was there. How should we understand this pre-existence of Jesus Christ, as word? John compares the glory of the Incarnate Word with the tabernacle, in which God dwelt. The tabernacle also had a “pre-existence”. After all, on the mountain, God had shown to Moses a design or model (Exo.25:9, 40; 26:30) and had talked about everything, in detail. When the tabernacle was built, the design became concrete and tangible. So it is with the Son of God. When He was born, the Word became flesh. Everything in the Word that God had spoken before, testified of Him. Already in the first word that sounded: “Let there be light!” God had Christ in view (2Cor.4:6). And when Adam was created “in God’s Image” – that Image was none other than the Christ, Who was to come (2Cor.4:4; Col.1:15). And so it continues, even after Genesis 1. All histories, characters, rules, rituals, etc. speak of Him. And do not forget: the tabernacle itself…

 

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a look back at: debate about heaven & hell

May 4th, 2012

Thursday, April 26, a debate took place in Utrecht about heaven & hell, organized by the Evangelical Broadcasting Organization, among others. Earlier, I gave it some attention, but did not hide the fact that I had little or no expectation of good to come out of this scheduled meeting. Reading the various reports of the debate, proved that my expectation was not wrong. Certainly, the atmosphere of the debate, according to the speakers (Vreugdenhil, Kollenstaart and ter Beek) was good, but unfortunately they kept each other sweet with theologizing and fiction. Let me illustrate this with a few quotes from the report that the Nederlands Dagblad published:

On one thing the three speakers agreed. The Bible speaks of hell ….

This seems to be harmony, but it sounds false for anyone who wants to hear only the Scripture, because the word “hell”‘ is not a “sound word”, i.e., it finds no basis in Scripture. During this debate, it served as a container-concept. If the Bible now speaks about Gehenna (= valley of Hinnom), the lake of fire, the realm of death, outer darkness, the second death, the judgment over the nations, the judging before the great white throne, etc., everything fell under the heading of “hell”…

The Bible speaks of hell in terms of fire, darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth – these are metaphors, figures of speech.

Such a conclusion is inevitable, when you’re mixing all these concepts. Gehenna, i.e., the valley of Hinnom, is an unmistakable literal location where fire will burn, literally. The prophet Isaiah (66:24) talks about it in realistic language and Jesus confirmed this several times. This also applies to “the lake of fire and brimstone.” With the words “outer darkness” it is different, because this formulation is used in parables as a place outside the room of festivities, where this room serves as the image of the Kingdom that will come (Mat.8:12; 22:13). “The weeping and gnashing of teeth”, speaks of the wrath (see Ps.112:10) of them (= Israel), who mistakenly thought to participate in that coming Kingdom, but they will perish (Acts 3:23; Ezek.20:36-38).

When asked about the “facts concerning hell”, Vreugdenhil pointed out that we only read about three hours of darkness on earth, when Jesus descended to the place where the evil forces dominate, and He put them to shame. “But you read nowhere that that place ceases to exist – it is forever…

A series of errors! The three hours of darkness where God left Jesus to His enemies, Vreugdenhil calls it “the hell”, but there is not one Scripture that supports this so-called “fact”. And what to think of the argument that Jesus experienced “hell” for three hours, while everyone else who ends up in that place will be there forever? For Jesus, hell was only temporary? Where is the logic? Furthermore, I will be silent about the idea that Jesus, during the three hours of darkness, descended to hell and put the evil powers to shame by triumphing over them. This He did not on the cross, but when Jesus rose from the dead (cp Col.2:15 and 1Cor.2:8).

God wants all men saved, but will He gets what he wants, asked Knevel? No, replied Kollenstaart, bluntly, there are those who are perishing, ‘because man has the freedom of choice.’

There are people who are getting lost, says Kollenstaart. That’s right. But since when is a condition of being lost a hindrance for God to save? Being lost is precisely a prerequisite to be rescued! Kollenstaart states that God does not get what he wants. Well, that’s not the God of whom Job spoke with awe, “I know that You can do all things, And no plan of Yours can be thwarted” (42:2). How can Kollenstaart sing the hymn in which it says: “What God’s love desires, His power will not deny Him? God indeed will that every person be saved, but if a man does not want it, it will not happen. In other words, God proposes, but man disposes?

But what about the Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, who is responsible for terrible crimes? Is a denial of hell not at great odds with God’s justice, asked a lady of Johan ter Beek? He had a solution for this. He does believe in a judgment, but maintains the promise that God will make the world completely new. ‘God will erase our memories and eventually His own, as well, so there will be no more any memory of evil.’

Johan ter Beek was the only speaker in the debate which maintained that God will save everyone. “Eventually, it will turn out well for everyone,” he correctly contended. But what a poor argumentation! The Bible does speak of wiping away every tear, but not of the erasure of memory. Isaiah 65:17 says, “the former shall not be remembered, nor shall they come upon the heart.”, but that’s different than deleting the memory. Pol Pot awaits, to continue with the given example, “tribulation and anguish” (Rom.2:9), because God will avenge. But God does not stop half-way with His work, because Pol Pot’s heart would then still be unchanged. God not only takes vengeance, He also reconciles. That is to say, He changes enemies into lovers, who eventually will say, to the glory of God the Father: “Jesus is Lord” (Phil.2:10,11)! “By the blood of the cross,” says Colossians 1:20. For on the cross God demonstrated: no enmity so great, but that my love surpasses it, always!

The recent discussions, under the leadership of EO, showed how in Christian Holland people think about- and how embarrassed they are with the topic of “hell” But it gave a welcome opportunity for GoedBericht.nl, precisely against this dark background, to make known what Scripture reveals and to highlight the spurned message of the apostle of the nations:

Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching.
1Timothy 4:9-11

 

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up against the current

May 1st, 2012

Since I wrote in my previous blog about the aversion, within Christendom, with respect to “sound doctrine”, today I want to point out the other side of the coin. As true as it is that the general trend shows a downward flow, so it is true also that there will always be living fish that will swim up against the current. Amid the religious masses, there are, fortunately, always a few who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart; who do not follow the traditions of people, but pursue the truth and love His word. However lonely your position may be in an environment of empty religiosity, do not think you’re the only one. Elijah also once lived in the belief that he alone was left, until the Lord showed him that there were seven thousand others, who had not bowed their knee to Baal (Rom.11:2-4). Indeed, a small minority, but still seven thousand times more than Elijah thought there were!

I mean to say this: there is no reason to mope or to withdraw onto an island. Believers together form “one body”. I.e., they belong together and are given to each other for encouragement, support and correction. Cherish it and fellowship with each other, outside of human institutions and…

… pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are invoking the Lord out of a clean heart.
2 Tim.2:22

 

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lonely, not frustrated

April 27th, 2012

farewell message

Paul’s last letter is 2Timothy. His execution is imminent (4:6), yet he encourages his young, fellow-worker Timothy. Significantly, in this letter is the undiminished glory of the Evangel that was entrusted to him, against the background of a christendom, which, as a great house, is in decline (2Tim.2:17-21). From the book of Acts, we know that Paul, through his preaching, had left a trail of ecclesias behind him in Asia. But now, at the end of his life, he finds that “ALL in Asia have turned away from me” (1:15). How much pain is hidden in such a comment! Timothy gets in this letter the assurance that what had happened in Asia, is a preview of what would take place throughout Christendom.

3 For the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing being tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires, 4 and, indeed, they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths.
2Timothy 4

Notice the definite tone: the time described here, will come assuredly. Also, note the general character: the people will not endure sound doctrine. All in Asia had turned away from Paul, and Timothy is being prepared that this will be the situation throughout Christendom. That which is called the “professing church” will, en masse, turn away from the truth and not tolerate sound doctrine. Try it and tell the truth (the Scriptures – 2Tim.3:16,17) to Christians and they will turn away from you. Teach sound doctrine and they will not bear it. Instead of accepting sound doctrine, they have, in accord with their own desires, gathered to themselves teachers they approve of. Literally, the verb used means to accumulate. An endless mountain of books, audio programs, church communities, confessions, theological training, conferences, radio broadcasts, magazines, institutions, etc., are accumulated, in which teachers tell the people what they like to hear. Not truth, but fiction. Although doctrine, but not sound doctrine.

not frustrated!

Why do I write this blog? I regularly receive comments from people, who through the website of GoedBericht.nl have come to know the Good News concerning “the Saviour of all mankind”. They have seen the Scriptures open-up and their hearts have been put on fire (See: Luke24:32). But they always get their joy dampened by the aversion they encounter, everywhere, among Christians, churches and congregations. Precisely where they think to meet a receptive ear, in practice, they encounter an intolerable environment. People can not bear to hear, “It is written.” It is for the encouragement of those who suffer on account of this negativeness, that I draw attention to the farewell message of the apostle Paul. It is painful to experience the massive rejection, precisely among Christians. It is lonely, nowhere being able to find a “home” church. However, it is not necessary to be frustrated. Disappointment is always based on too high an expectation.The development in Christendom has been foretold with precision. We would, therefore, not expect otherwise! From out of that perspective, we have one more reason to rejoice in the truth of the Scripture and of Paul’s words, in particular!

 

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translation: Peter Feddema

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the third heaven

April 26th, 2012

In response to a presentation of this past Sunday, I received a question about the “third heaven” of which Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 12:2 :

I am acquainted with a man in Christ, fourteen years before this, (whether in a body I am not aware, or outside of the body, I am not aware — God is aware) such a one was snatched away to the third heaven.

Although the Talmud and the Kabbalah and also the Koran speak of seven heavens, the Bible acknowledges that there are three. Heaven is the collective name for everything that is above us. The Greek word for “heaven” (ouranos) is derived from the words for “see” and “upwards”. Directly above the earth’s surface is the atmosphere, where “the birds of heaven” fly. Above that is the space where “the stars of heaven” are. And above it is the place where into Paul (in or outside the body) has been taken: the third heaven. This, in the Hebrew Bible, is spoken of as “the heaven of heavens” (Deut.10:14; 1Kings 8: 27; 2Cron.2:6; 6:18; Neh.9:6; Ps.68:33; Ps.148:4). This is the heaven which is above or transcends the two, visible heavens.

Some have thought that the “third heaven” must be understood chronologically: it would be the new heaven mentioned in Revelation 21. The speculative idea is that the current heaven has been preceded by an earlier heaven, that would have been destroyed before Genesis 1:2. Then, they connect that to 2Peter 3:5-7, which is supposed to speak about that. This is a forced idea, partly because Peter, in this passage, the same as in 2Peter 2:5, speaks of “the world of the ancient time” in the days of Noah. But, in my opinion, decisive against this view is that the new heaven of the future, will not, at all, be the third, but the second heaven in the series. Revelation 21:1 says:

And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the FORMER heaven and the former earth pass away…

The word “former” here is “protos,” which is the superlative of “pro”, i.e., the foremost or first.

Summarized: there is no reason to take the “third heaven” otherwise than as “the heaven of heavens”; this the highest heaven.

 

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translation: Peter Feddema

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debate – debacle

April 22nd, 2012

This week and the next, the subject of ‘hell’ will be featured prominently in the spotlight of the Christian world. Three books have recently been published in the Dutch language, particularly because of the success within the English-speaking world of the book “Love Wins”, by Rob Bell. Today, at the initiative of the EO (Evangelische Omroep) and the ND (Nederlands Dagblad), a study will be published on what Christians believe concerning hell. And for next week Thursday evening, a debate is to be held, organized by the same clubs. That is also the limitation of the debate, because no opportunity will be provided for a sound, Biblical perspective on this topic. True, the book by Rob Bell will be defended, but anyone believing that Johan ter Beek will bring the biblical vision into the spotlight, will be disappointed. Today, he gave a shot across the bow in the ND, but got no further than: “we need to stimulate our imagination again” … In an announcement of the EO, we read the following:

The existence of hell and the question whether it still conveys a message to people is central to a special theme-broadcast.

Whether or not hell still conveys a message to people is completely uninteresting, at least, such it is for someone who is looking for the truth. “What does Scripture say?” That is the question! The approach of the EO and the ND is typical of organizations for whom the feelings of the grassroots are normative. Bread-eating prophets, the Bible calls them. The EO continues:

The reason for the discussion is whether people, for all times, will be punished in an eternal hell or that people, even after death, will have a second chance.

Three concepts ,expressed in one sentence, make the confusion evident!

1. “Eternal” is in Scripture: eonian, i.e., pertaining to an eon/s. Eons are time periods that have a begin (“before the aeons”) and an end (“consummation of the eons”). The second coming of Christ is not the beginning of an endless eternity, but the beginning of “the oncoming eons”. Because translations have been trying to translate this away, the average Bible reader has no longer any idea of “things to come.”

2. The same applies to the concept of “hell“, which we encounter in our Bible translations. That word goes back to the word Gehenna, which is the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem. That is generally well known, but this information is ignored. When Jesus spoke of Gehenna, He was referring to the last verses of Isaiah, which foretold that in the coming Kingdom, in that valley of Hinnom, will be seen the decomposition of the carcases of ungodly men. Whoever wants to make of this specific, geographic location and prediction a mythological hell, is guilty of gross deception.

3. The Bible teaches no “second chance“, nor a first chance, either. God, surely and purposefully, will save all, but “each in his own order.” The judgment at the great white throne (Rev.20) is a disciplinary judging, i.e., everything will be set right. “Affliction and distress, will come on every human soul which is effecting evil”, Paul wrote (Rom.2:9). For everyone, whose name does not appear in the book of life, will be awaiting “the second death”. When death, as the last enemy, will be nullified, and everyone of humanity will be made alive (beyond the reach of death), only then will GOD become “all in all” (1Cor.15:22-28). This is not a chance, but a certainty!

The American author, Rob Bell, says that the love of God is so great that we cannot exclude [i.e., a second chance after death; AP], in advance.

Rob Bell has successfully managed to throw a club in the Christian chicken coop. He has asked probing questions … but he gave no answers. Rob Bell does not proclaim that “God is the Saviour of all men”. He believes only “that we cannot rule this out, in advance”. With this we should be content, it seems. It looks risky what the EO ventures to do next week. Wlll then again, the tough answers, straight from Scripture, be jealously kept outside the door?

 

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translation: Peter Feddema

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