Armageddon

An asteroid the size of Texas is about to impact the earth. One month remains before the entire planet will be obliterated. NASA recruits a team of deep core drillers and amazingly they do it. They save the world from total destruction. The movie's title? Amageddon!

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In a similar 1996 movie (Independence Day) aliens are coming with vastly superior technology. They intend to invade and destroy the earth. But a brave group of pilots manage somehow to destroy their huge spaceship. Now, in a 2016 movie, another group will have to save our planet as the same group of aliens returns in Independence Day II, only with even greater technology.

What's going on? Why are we fascinated by the possibility of some grave terror coming to destroy us all? And why suggest that the strange word Armageddon points to it? Perhaps it is because we partly do and partly do not believe it possible.

The word Armageddon appears but once in the Bible, in Rev. 16:16.

And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. - Rev 16:13-16 ESV

The word is a transliteration of a Hebrew word into the Greek language: Harmageddon.  Spelled that way the Hebrew could literally mean hill (har) or mountain of Megiddo, a place of crowds (remember that the Hebrew in John's time had no vowels). This Megiddo was actually not a mountain. It was barely a hill in the plain of Esdraelon on which many generations had lived and built forts to guard the Via Maris, the trade route that linked Egypt with the empires of Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia to the north. Many, many battles were fought in that great plain southwest of the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee (Judges 5:19-21; 2 Kings 9:27; 23:29). However,  no one knows for certain what Armageddon means. While some spell the word in the Greek as Harmageddon, scribes of other manuscripts spell the word with one d and two g's; others with two d's and one g as above.

The Seven Bowls or Vials judgments described in Rev. 16 differ from the earlier Seven Trumpet judgments of Rev. 8:1-6. They bring final judgment upon all those who have taken the mark of the Beast and upon the earth itself. For an extended and detailed description of the varied views about Armageddon check out the Christian Eschatology articles in Wikipedia, especially the articles under the sub-titles: contrasting beliefs, the millennium, Biblical texts and key terms.  More details are also included in the seven bowls article.

The position of this blog is that the seven bowls and Armageddon are images, symbols. They are not to be taken literally. A literal battle will not take place on the literal plain of Megiddo in northern Israel. Nor dare we expect a literal thousand years, a millennium, to follow. What then awaits? To what do these symbols point? Using familiar language pointing to a place of many battles over the centuries, John symbolizes the final great conflict between the forces of good and the forces of evil, a battle in which the forces of evil will be defeated by God's Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:11-16). The judgments of God are coming upon the earth and upon all who have opposed Him. And

"blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed" — Rev. 16:15 ESV

Christ's Sharp Two-edged Sword

We've all heard the saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." This adage suggests that the independent press is more effective in governing a people than direct violence. The idea has been expressed in various forms many times. This particular form, says Wikipedia, was coined by English author Edward Buller-Lytton in his 1839 play Richelieu. 

John's Revelation says that from Jesus' mouth "came a sharp two-edged sword" (Rev. 1:16).

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The image has often been portrayed literally, but what does it mean symbolically? The phrase is found several more times in Revelation:

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. ... Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. - Rev 2:12, 16 ESV

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ... And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. - Rev 19:15, 21 ESV

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the coming Messiah as a shoot from the stump of King David's family:

. . . but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. - Isa 11:4 ESV

How does the Christ strike the earth and kill the wicked with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips? And in Revelation what is this sword of Christ's mouth that strikes down the nations? The straightforward answer is that Christ has always done everything with His Word. John wrote of this in the beginning of his Gospel. There John speaks of Christ as the Word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. - John 1:1-3 ESV

That Word creates and redeems, but He also judges and condemns the wicked. When He speaks it happens. No one can resist the power of God's Word. Moreover this Word is both sharp and two-edged; it can cut in either direction. One day all will stand before Him to be judged by His Word. And His sword will bring vengeance and judgment upon those who dare to oppose Him.

Even Christ's apostles and disciples are permitted to wield that sword. Paul calls it the sword of the Spirit. It is part of the armament to be worn by soldier / disciples as they fight the devil to the death.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, - Eph 6:16-17 ESV

We believers find great security in the power of the Word. It is Christ's Word; Christ's creative Word. It is the Word that strikes down the nations and rules them with a rod of iron.

On the other hand, the believer is comforted knowing that Christ's Word accomplishes all that the Lord wishes. With His Word He called us to faith, confirms us in the faith and promises to guard us until we reach our heavenly home. The Word of our Good Shepherd brings forgiveness and the promise of life forever as well as His all-powerful and eternal protection.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. - John 10:27-29 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. - John 15:7 ESV 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33 ESV

Jesus' Appearance In The Revelation of John

What literally does Jesus look like? There are hundreds of artistic guesses. No one knows, because no one made a drawing of Him while He walked this earth for about 33 years. The best we can do is try to imagine what a 30-some year-old man might have looked like in first century Galilee / Judea. Here is a site that claims to document some "face to face" encounters and visitations with Jesus Christ @ Divine Revelations. Below are some free typical examples posted in dreamstime.com.

    

None of these are what John says he saw. Listen and imagine for yourself: 

"Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.  - Rev 1:11-15 ESV

Did our Lord mean to give us a literal vision of Himself, because none is recorded elsewhere in the Bible? By no means. This description, like all of the visions in The Revelation, is symbolic. It is a picture with multiple meanings that point far beyond the mere picture itself. Let's take a look and ask what Jesus is saying both to John and to us in this revelatory symbol of Himself. Then consider what it means for your own life.

What did John hear and see? He saw:

one like a son of man - Certainly Jesus fully intends for us to remember that He is and always will be human. He is Immanuel, God with us in human form. Volume after volume has appeared across the centuries to emphasize that the risen Christ was and ever will remain not only true God, but also true man, as the Christian creeds emphasize. As our Brother He understands us since He was tempted in every way even as we are (Heb 2:17-18; 4:15). 

wearing a long robe with a golden sash - Revelation was written in code. That is, it is written with reference to the Old Testament. The image here is that of a Jewish high priest with a partly golden sash around his waist (Ex. 28:2-8; 39:5). The prophet Daniel shares this same image as he writes what he saw when the Son of Man appeared to him (Dan. 7:9-13; 10:5-6). In John's revelation Jesus portrays Himself as the High Priest who made the final sacrifice for all mankind (Heb 7:15-16), He is the ancient of days, the eternal God, the risen ruler of kings on earth, the one coming with the clouds to judge all the tribes of the earth (Rev. 1:5-8). 

his hair white as wool or snow. White is the color of purity (Isa. 1:18). All those made clean by the blood of Christ wear white robes (Heb 9:13-14; Rev. 7:9-14). White is also the color our hair turns when we are old. So the white hair points to experience and becomes a symbol of wisdom. Jesus is that wise One with eternal experience and wisdom in all things (Lev. 19:32; Job 32:7; Prov. 16:31).

his eyes like a flame of fire - they penetrate past our empty pretence, into our hearts. Jesus is the all-knowing One. None can hide fro His gaze. This then is a warning to all who will stand before Him. He is the all-consuming fire of those who resist Him (Ex. 24:17; Deut. 4:23-24; 9:3).  

his feet like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace - The LORD appeared to the prophets in a body shining like bright bronze and the mineral beryl. None dare resist this powerful One (Eze. 40:3; Dan. 10:6). 

his voice sounding like the roar of many waters. The waters rose in the days of the flood that destroyed all but Noah's family. Now the same Lord is coming in judgment, with power mightier than the waves of the sea (Psalm 93:4; Isa. 17:13; Ezek. 43:2). 

his face shining like the sun in full strength. The sun does destroy  those unprotected (Psalm 121:6; Isa. 49:10. But the Sun shines with healing upon those who are finally set free (Mal. 4:2).

Recall that John knew Jesus personally. He was one of the inner-circle of three who were with Him on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2). In this revelation Jesus appears in much the same way, in His majesty, power and glory. This is the message John is to send through these symbols that serve both as a warning and as Good News of comfort to the seven churches—and to all members of the church.

Next time we shall consider the two-edged sword that came from the mouth of this mighty Son of Man and what that means to us who put our faith and hope in Him. 

What Is Eschatology?

Dr. C. H. Dodd

A Welsh New Testament scholar and Congregational minister by the name of Charles Harold Dodd  (1884-1973) taught Biblical criticism and exegesis in England at The Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Cambridge. His name is connected with a twentieth century view of the end times called realized eschatology. In Dodd's view Christianity is an historical religion unlike all others. However, history should be considered in its religious sense—that is mythological or symbolical, not literal or scientific. There was no literal series of events as described in the Bible.

We must understand what the term eschatology means in order to grapple with Dodd's claims. Eschatology is the study of the eschaton (the day at the end of time when God will judge all mankind). In the Greek language the word is eschotos - the last, as in Jesus' parable:

And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' - Mat 20:8 ESV

Implied in most studies of eschatology is the view that history has meaning: as our world had a beginning so it will have an end, a purpose. All events in human history are moving forward with purpose and meaning.  In Dodd's view eschatology's meaning is now rather than in the future, hence the term realized. In his view God's purpose has already been realized. And what is God's purpose? His purpose is to realize the kingdom of God on earth. To that end Dodd quotes Jesus in Matthew,

Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. - Mat 12:25-28 ESV

The phrase the kingdom of God has come upon you, says Dodd, means that God's kingdom has absolutely arrived. The Spirit of God is present and Satan's kingdom is being torn down. This is going on now. There is no future kingdom coming. God's purposes are being realized in various degrees in what is happening in the here and now. The Day of the Lord has come.

Realized eschatology continues to have strong influence in liberal churches that deny Christ's atoning death, his resurrection and his imminent return at the end of history as we know it. To them the purpose of Christianity and the church is to do good deeds, especially by working in the realm of politics and power to bring about societal change and equality. They have a different Gospel altogether. Their Gospel is basically that Christ died because he taught men to love one another. We are to follow in his path. As we do so, the kingdom of God is being realized now.

The young church in ancient Thessalonica also had a problem with the day of the Lord, but it was not Dodd's problem. Paul writes,

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. - 2Th 2:1-4 ESV

I'll take up their concern and Paul's response next time. Meanwhile know with certainty that the Scriptures do indeed teach that history has meaning and is moving toward the eschaton, the Last Day and Christ's return.

The Life-giving Power Of God's Mercy

The previous conclusion or therefore was an admonition, based upon the Law of God. Do this, do that, said the author, and you'll see some amazing things. It did not, however, offer the motivating power and energy to pull off such a life style. One doesn't help people to grow and change merely by threats and punishment. All that does is get their attention—and some temporary changes. The real spiritual power comes through the love of Jesus. This is why the Hebrews writer says,

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." - Hebrews 12:18-21 ESV

The reference, of course, is to the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:1-23:33). It was a very frightening scene, with all the thunder, lightning and blaring of trumpets. Who wouldn't be scared? But, says the writer, that's not the mountain we've come to. No indeed. We've come to . . .

Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV

Here we encounter grace and undeserved mercy, all because Jesus has completed and fulfilled all that the bloody sacrifices of the Old Covenant pointed to. He is the mediator of a new covenant. His sprinkled blood, poured out on the altar of the cross of Calvary, shouts forever forgiveness, freedom and life for all who will accept it. It does not bring judgment, but rather justification.

This leads to the second great conclusion, the second therefore. 

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, - Hebrews 12:28 ESV

The shaking refers to this earth. God shook the earth once when He came down to Mount Sinai to pronounce judgment upon all who reject His commandments. The prophets announced again and again that there will be a final judgment day, a final shake-up of everything! At that time earth and heaven will pass away (Isaiah 13:13) and all will stand before the Judge who will separate the sheep from the goats, His children from those who have rejected Him (Matt. 25:31-34).

Therefore, says the Hebrews writer, be grateful, be excited and look ahead to what is coming. And let that be the motivation for the pursuit of a God-like, a godly, holy life.  And for those who question and doubt these words, listen again to a warning:

Our God is a consuming fire. - Hebrews 12:29 ESV (see also Isaiah 66:15). 

After Death Comes Judgment

A recent CNN article documents the experiences of people who died and returned to life, near death experiences (NDEs). In the article you can read about the work of Dr. Steven Laureys who heads the Coma Science Group at the university hospital in the city of Liege. He and his colleagues published a scientific study on near death experiences in late March, 2013.

Laureys believes, "There is no evidence there can be conscious experience without brain activity. . . The public is historically afraid to be buried alive," Laureys said. "People are afraid to sign up as organ donors." They are scared they may have to watch them being extracted from their bodies.
There are more than enough spiritual models for NDEs, he said—and superstitious ones. "There are a lot of crazy explanations out there."
It's high time for more hard science, Laureys said. A high percentage of his coma patients report having had NDEs, and he believes many of us go through these "afterlife" experiences when we die.
Laureys doesn't want to speculate on the existence of heaven or hell, but he does say that only a small minority of near-death experiences are horrifying. Most of them are pleasant and uplifting. From his accounts, it sounds like more people go to "heaven" than to "hell."

I have written previously about the plausibility and fact of near-death experiences. It is not true that "There is no evidence there can be conscious experience without grain activity." In my post I quoted Dr. Sam Parnia's book Erasing Death: The Science That Is Rewriting the Boundaries Between Life and Death, Dr. Sam Parnia of the Nour Foundation tells about his study of such near death experiences (NDE). He concludes,

Today, the tantalizing question for science is, If the human consciousness or soul does indeed continue to exist well past the traditional marker that defines death, does it really ever die as an entity? Our new studies will continue to explore this and other significant ethical questions. For now, though, we can be certain that we humans no longer need to fear death.

So human science continues to pursue the question of what happens after death. As we read the letter to the Hebrews we have God's answer, an answer that we do well to heed.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. - Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV

What is this judgment that comes after death? Jesus spoke often about it in his teachings. For instance,

Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. - Mat 10:15 ESV 

But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. - Mat 11:22 ESV 

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ... The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. - Mat 12:36, 41 ESV 

Beyond that we typically think about such scenes as are painted in the book of Revelation

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. - Rev 20:11-15 ESV

Does the Hebrews passage teach us that earthly time ceases upon death and that we are rushed immediately to the Day of Judgment, as some believe? One site lists 87 Bible verses about Judgment Day and then invites you to decide if this or that verse is or is not helpful. I found that to simply add to the confusion. It seems wiser to apply the interpretive principle of Law and Gospel to this question and to all Bible verses about Judgment.

The Law passages teach

1. Everyone of us will be judged by God for the life we have lived
2. In terms of human history no one knows When that day or hour is, not even the angels of heaven. 
3. The day will come unexpectedly, like a thief at night. 
4. Those who have rejected the life and death of Jesus as the all-atoning sacrifice for their sins will stand naked and accused before the eternal Judge. There will be no escape. 
5. They will be condemned to eternal suffering, sorrow and darkness—hell or hades the Bible calls it. This is variously described as fire, internal anguish, loneliness, fear and darkness. None of us wants to face such a fate, but it will be given to us if that's what we choose.  

The Gospel passages teach

1. Jesus came to rescue all men of all ages from this judgment since God does not desire the eternal death of anyone. 
2. He offered His sinless life in complete obedience to His Father as the all-availing sacrifice for all men's sins. 
3. Those who accept Him and His sacrifice are secure and safe from condemnation. Judgment for them has already happened. When Christ died, they died. When He rose from the dead they rose with Him. 
4. On Judgment Day they He will appear to receive them into the glory of a new heaven and a new earth. On that day they will receive new and eternal bodies. 
5. Believers have every reason to look forward to that day with joy and to pray every day, "Come Lord Jesus!" 

We could speculate as some do about when that Day will come. Across the centuries many have. It seems wiser to set all such speculations aside and to devote yourself to doing what the Lord Jesus has called you to do today. Learn to pray as the LORD teaches through the prophet David: 

• My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! - Psa 31:15 ESV

•  I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. - Psa 34:1 ESV

Time To Build On The Foundation

A friend told me a few days ago that he had purchased a book on framing. He is planning to help his son with a backyard building project and hopes that the book will give him further insight into this task. I wished him good luck and told him I would be quite useless in this regard. I also asked him what kind of foundation they would be building upon. He said they were using concrete pilings instead of pouring a concrete foundation. I smiled and again wished him well, because I have no skill in laying a basic foundation, let along going beyond that to the task of framing the building.

The apostolic writer of the Hebrews uses the analogy of building to describe the Christian's life. Time to get beyond the foundation, he writes.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. - Hbr 6:1-3 ESV

Notice his use again of the word therefore. That word comes up again and again and again. He makes a point and then builds upon it, like a master framer. Its almost as if he's saying, "Time to put up another stud or building stone in this building. Or did you forget that we've already worked on the foundation?

Notice his seven points (BTW, seven is always a critical number in the Bible) :

1. leave the elementary doctrine of Christ
2. repentance from dead works
3. faith toward God
4. instruction about washings
5. the laying on of hands
6. the resurrection of the dead
7. eternal judgment

1. The elementary doctrine of Christ is where we start, the beginning, the foundation upon which we build—and in this case our entire future, not merely an earthly shelter or house. So a quick comment on each of his points. And always keep in mind that he's talking about something dynamic, living—your personal relationship with God. He's saying again, "Time to grow up! Time to move on toward the plan and purpose God has for your life. That's what should be happening if you have a true and alive relationship with Jesus as your Savior."

2. Repentance from dead works. Are you still there trying to prove yourself to God? Are you still desperately hoping that He will overlook your past failings? So often, for instance, we try to get God's attention by sending a big check to some homeless shelter. I personally get so disgusted by the tactics of some of those places. One sent me a bright shiny dime pasted to a card, as if to tell me that I have to add to this and send some more money. Otherwise I'm not a good Christian. I threw the whole letter, dime and all into the trash. I will NOT be shamed into proving that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. I will not!

3. Faith toward God. Faith is not the mere gathering of information. It is not an intellectual exercise. I read that even the demons believe (James 2:19). James' point is that their lives are not transformed and changed. They remain in rebellion. They remain centered upon themselves. They continue to use others and care nothing about the harm they are doing. Like their leader, Satan himself, they simply devour you, eat you up and move on (1 Peter 5:8). Plenty of examples of people like that in the Bible, people who act like the demons. Jesus points us to the Pharisees

who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." - Mar 12:40 ESV

The Apostle Paul warns,

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. - Gal 5:15 ESV 

4. Instruction about washings. My oh my, but the Old Testament is packed full of instructions about ablutions or washings of face, feet, hands, babies, clothes, floors, ones entire body, food, when to wash, how to wash and on and on and on. Read, for instance, the list of things that Aaron and his sons were to do as they went about their duties as priests  (Exodus 29-30; 40:12; Leviticus 1:9-13; 6:27; 11:25-40,  Numbers 19:19, etc.). The list seems endless. What was it all about anyway? We'll be getting to it later in this letter (Hebrews 9:9-10). Basically all these washings were parables, symbols, proverbs, illustrations. They were not ways by which God's wrath over sin was appeased. There is but ONE WASHING (or baptism if you prefer the Greek word): the washing of Jesus to which we were joined when water was poured over us. Paul puts it this way:

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. - Rom 6:4-5 ESV

5. Laying on of hands. This is not and never has been something that has to do with receiving supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit as those of us in the charismatic movement talk so much about. The key to unlocking this reference is the Day of Atonement in the annual liturgy of the Old Testament people. We read about sin, blood, the death of goats and bulls on that Day in great detail in Leviticus 16. A bull had to die. A goat had to die. Then the blood of the bull and goat were sprinkled on the horns of the altar all around. Then a remaining goat was sent out into the wilderness, to Azazel, after Aaron had laid his hands on it.

"And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness. - Lev 16:20-22 ESV

All this pointed very vividly to Jesus who was dragged out of the city to shed His blood for us all.

6. The resurrection of the dead. When Jesus went to the grave site of his dear friend Lazarus, Martha confessed her faith in the Biblical teaching that the dead shall rise on the last day. Some like the Sadducee party denied this teaching, but it is clearly taught in many places. Some believers worry that on that Great Day we will have somehow prove our worthiness, somehow give evidence that we've lived a good enough life after our Baptism so that we may be allowed into heaven. But that is not so for us believers. For us all is completed, finished, over, done, complete, even as Jesus said, "It is finished"(John 19:30). Our sins have been atoned for by Jesus' death on the cross and we have already been raised with Christ. We now await the completion of this great wonder. So Paul teaches,

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Col 3:1-4 ESV

7. Eternal judgment. This is a continuation of theWord's teachings about the resurrection. Jesus spoke about that final Day when the angels will gather all mankind to stand before His throne and then the sheep and goats will be separated. This too was clearly taught in the Old Testament.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecc 12:13-14 ESV

All this is foundation stuff. It is the beginning. Lets not go back again and again and again to these basics. This is kids' stuff. It is time to move on, time to do some framing of this building. We have the Book and in that Book is this great letter. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings and move on.

Building On The Right Foundation.

What happens if you don't build properly? Here's a cartoon by Ed Stein I found in the December 12, 2008 issue of Rocky Mountain News that illustrates my point. Stein is illustrating the failures of the American auto industry and their desire to receive bailout money from Washington. In their case it seems they needed to rebuild and restructure their business practices in the light of the ever-changing world economy. Failing to do that, they faced collapse. Views on this issue abound.

Here's what Jesus says,

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." - Mat 7:24-27 ESV

This is what the church has always taught. We must both hear and do the Word of our Lord Christ. Any individual, any church, any church body that fails to do that sets himself/herself up for failure. And the ultimate failure will come when the foundation is tested at the end of this age. In the verses just prior to those quoted, Jesus says,

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' - Mat 7:21-23 ESV

Who is a worker of lawlessness? And what is Jesus getting at? Just this. Everyone knows, in some sense, right from wrong. We come packaged that way. It is in our hearts. We know we are to love and worship God alone. We know we are to love and care for those around us.

But what is also in our hearts is the overwhelming desire to do it my way! and ignore our obligations to love and serve the Lord with all our heart, mind and will. Our natural focus is upon ME! That's called sin. When we hear God's Law revealed in Holy Scripture that sense of sin is deepened and sharpened even more. The primary purpose of God's Law is to reveal our hopeless condition. We are sinners and under judgment. There is no way out.

It is at that point that Jesus comes to us to tell us that He has carried the full weight of our sin in His body on the cross. "Give up on yourself!" He says. "I've already laid a new foundation for your life. Put your faith and your entire trust on Me! And then you will never need to be afraid and guilty again. From this point on, your life is built upon the Rock!"

This is why we are so very, very concerned about the correct teaching of God's Word. Anything taught, said or done that draws us away from that foundation must be rejected and denounced. This is why we will tell you not to commune at the Lord's Supper when we serve it in our public worship services. We insist that you hear us out first. We need to explain in detail why this central, vital, and overwhelmingly important teaching about Jesus Christ is critical. When you hear us out and agree, then we all know we are building together on the one and only foundation. Then we hold hands and kneel before our Lord and Master together. And we rejoice together as we hear Him say,

"Take and eat. Take and drink. This is My body and My Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins. Go in peace and serve Me!"