• We left off last week with Paul finishing the “thanksgiving” section of his 2nd letter in Chapter 1.
• You have to understand the context of the letter.

2 Thessalonians 1
5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief (rest) to you who are afflicted, along with us.

• There is major religious persecution happening to the very young Church in Thessalonica.
• It causes a lot of questions about faith, teachings and leadership.
• Paul talking about God’s judgment and wrath doesn’t seem like much comfort in the “thanksgiving” paragraph.
• But there is one statement that brings comfort: “righteous/just judgment of God”
• Persecution is relative… so is the understanding of “vindication”.
• Paul is saying, “relax”… rest in Jesus.

11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.[1]

• Paul is taking words of comfort from Isaiah 66:
• 5 You who tremble at his word,

hear the word of the Lord:
“Your brothers who hate and exclude you
for my name’s sake have said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified
so that we can see your joy!’
But they will be put to shame.”[2]
 
THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS
2 THESSALONIANS 2

• William Neil said this: This passage is “probably the most obscure and difficult passage in the whole of the Pauline correspondence.”
• Michael Holmes more recently said that this passage is “by common consent one of the most obscure in the Pauline corpus.”
• Paul’s purpose in this passage is to provide his readers not with a prediction of what will happen in terms of a blueprint for the future but, instead, comfort, meeting their very real pastoral need.[3]
• This next passage is just a glimpse of what Paul had taught the Church at Thessalonica, which we don’t have the privilege of knowing all that was taught.
• This apocalyptic paragraph is not conclusive.
• We would look to Revelation as the bigger picture of end times.
• This paragraph just brings confusion to us.
• Things which are mentioned just once or twice in the Scripture, we have a tendency to whisper.
• Things that are constantly repeated we have a tendency to shout… identity in Jesus.

Crisis (serious problem)
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a 1) prophecy or by a 2) message or by a 3) letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come.

• None of the things that Paul had said were supposed to happen when Jesus comes again had happened.
• They should have said to themselves, “Where are the dead who have been resurrected? [1 Thess 4:13, 16]
• Where is the cry of command, the voice of the archangel, or the trumpet call of God? [1 Thess 4:16]
• Where is the sudden destruction that was supposed to come upon the pagan neighbors [1 Thess 5:3]?”
• Don’t underestimate how irrational fear is and how contagious fear is.
• We can see that easily in the classic fable of “Chicken Little.” I hope you know the story.
• An acorn falls on Henny Penny’s head, and she runs around saying, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.”
• So yes, fear is irrational, but it’s also contagious.
• “Thus, even though the claim ‘the day of the Lord has come’ may have seemed obviously false, it nevertheless has caused the young church of Thessalonica to be greatly alarmed, fearful of whether they will avoid the wrath connected with that day of judgment and instead experience salvation.”[4]
• What caused the confusion?
• Compare verse 2 with verse 15
• 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.
• Prophecy/utterance was omitted.
• At the very end of the first letter (5:21–22) he talks about treating the Spirit and spiritual utterances.
• There he seems to be aware of a danger threatening the church—about them being misled by a false prophecy.
• In fact, he exhorts them in the first letter not to naively accept every spiritual utterance but [instead]—I’m quoting now from 5:21 and 22 of the first letter—he says [they] have to “test all things,” “hold fast to the good,” [and] “hold yourselves away from every kind of evil prophecy.”[5]

 
Correction
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. (speaking of future)
5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, (speaking of present) 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. (speaking of future) 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12 so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness. (speaking of present)

• Chapter breaks weren’t added until the twelfth century ad, and verse divisions weren’t added until the sixteenth century ad, so we shouldn’t be influenced unduly by those editorial features.[6]
• •  The apostasy in verse 3--is this a political or religious apostasy? And does it involve Christians or non-Christians?
• •  The man of lawlessness in verses 3–4 and again in 8–9—who is this evil figure who is not Satan himself but, in my alternate title, “Satan’s superman”?
• •  The temple of God in verse 4—does this refer to the temple in Jerusalem or the church? And if it does refer to the temple in Jerusalem, should we take this reference literally or metaphorically?
• •  The restraining thing in verse 6 and the restraining person in verse 7—to what and to whom does this refer? And which of the (are you ready?) seven or more proposed answers is the most likely one?
• •  There are two comings [or] “parousias” in verse 8. One is the coming of Jesus that is mentioned many times in the New Testament, but the other is the coming of the man of lawlessness. And how does the one coming of Satan’s superman relate to the coming of Jesus Christ?
• •  The powerful delusion of verse 11 that God sends—is this the cause of those who have rejected the truth of the gospel, or is it the consequence of those who have rejected the gospel?
• But this is the important point: Don’t let the exegetical difficulties of this second paragraph blind you to the fact that Paul’s primary point is actually very, very clear.
• The claim that the Day of the Lord has already come is obviously false.
• This was written in 52 AD approximately.
• 18 years before 70 AD and definitely before our current time!
• Why? Because there are several important events that have to happen first.
• Therefore, there’s no reason for the Thessalonians to panic about such a false and obviously wrong prophecy.[7]

 
STAND FIRM
Comfort
13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen (elected) you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Paul never explains the meaning of “chosen/election”.
• This is why we have division among the saints.
• 1) Did God choose some to be saved and others to be condemned to hell?
• 2) Did God choose the believers because they chose Him out of their free will and He knew their choice in His foreknowledge?
• We can argue that all day… but one just seems like an evil God.
• Paul wants them to think of themselves as the first crop of, well, Christians; the first crop of Jesus followers.
• And they’re only the first. There’s a larger harvest that is surely going to come; they are only firstfruits for salvation.[8]

Command
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.

• To say it differently, the opening problem [is that] the church was ready for the return of the Lord but not steady for that day.
• And what did they do? They panicked over a false prophetic claim that the Day of the Lord had come.
• So now the solution, here in paragraph four, is they have to stand firm and hold fast[9]

Closing Prayer
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.[10]

• in this paragraph, he creates a sharp contrast, a sharp contrast between the doom facing unbelievers and what the Jesus followers will experience.
• And Paul ends the passage with this very positive note that God has chosen them; God has elected them.
• God has ensured that the Day of the Lord will be, for them, not a day of judgment but will be a day of salvation.
• So, whenever Paul talks about the end times, it’s never to predict but always to pastor, to provide his readers with comfort.
• And what that means is important for Christian pastors and teachers and believers today because if any of us would use now Paul’s end-time passages to predict and not to pastor, [turning] the apostle’s words into some kind of blueprint for predicting the future, that kind of person is guilty of misusing and even abusing the Word of God and preventing others from hearing the wonderful comfort that God brings to us about things yet to come.[11]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th 1:5-7, 11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Is 66:5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[7] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[8] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th 2:1–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

• We left off last week…
• In this passage, is primarily, as we’ve noted a number of times, not predicting but pastoring.

 
1 Thessalonians 4
THE COMFORT OF CHRIST’S COMING
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming (parousia) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

• Paul referred to the coming of the Lord as his parousia, a term that commonly meant the glorious “coming” of a deity or the official visit of a sovereign to a city, who himself was often honored as divine.
• An imperial visit was an event of great pomp and magnificent celebrations, with rich banquets, speeches that praised the imperial visitor, a visit to the local temple, rich donations, celebration of games, sacrifices, statues dedicated, and arches and other buildings constructed.
• Money was minted to commemorate the event, crowns of gold might be given, and at times a new era was inaugurated.[1]

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

• So it could be, for instance, a general to his soldiers, saying “Charge!” or it might be a captain to the rowers.
• So the first command has, again, the idea that it is spoken by somebody who has power and authority [at] a time of great importance or excitement.[2]
• “Trumpet of God” – I can’t find any historical record, Josephus included, where this is mentioned.
• In funeral processions the trumpets were sounded, and so common was this custom that when the emperor Claudius died the sound of the trumpets was so deafening that it was thought that the dead could hear them.
• But the idea of this verse is not simply that the dead will hear the great sound of the trumpet call of God, but that they will respond to the command to rise[3]

17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together (harpazō) with them in the clouds to meet the Lord (apentesis) in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

• The key verb harpazō, and that’s found here in verses 16 and 17.
• This is where, again, we get the word and the idea of the rapture because harpazō in Greek was translated into rapio in Latin and the Vulgate, and from that we get the noun “rapture.”[4]
• There’s pretty strong evidence that the word, the verb harpazō, was used rather widely in the ancient world to refer, in the context of death, to how people were snatched who were taken away from the advantages of life to death.
• Paul is using “harpazo”, unlike what the common world expects, [being] snatched from life to death, but meaning we’re going to be snatched from life to not death but life to life or from one kind of life to an eternal form of life.[5]
• To meet (apatensis) was almost a technical term that described the custom of sending a delegation outside the city to receive a dignitary who was on the way to town.[6]
• Read: Polybius spoke of the great pomp of such occasions (5.26.8), and author after author described how not only certain officials but also all the population would file out of the city to meet the emperor in his parousia.
• Josephus, for example, tells how the citizens of Rome went out to meet Vespasian as their new emperor (who, by the way, had just come from leading the Roman troops in the battles to quell the Jewish rebellion that began in a.d. 66):
• “Amidst such feelings of universal goodwill, those of higher rank, impatient of awaiting him, hastened to a great distance from Rome to be the first to greet [apentesis] him. Nor, indeed, could any of the rest endure the delay of meeting, but all poured forth in such crowds—for to all it seems simpler and easier to go than to remain—that the very city then for the first time experienced with satisfaction the paucity of inhabitants; for those who went outnumbered those who remained. But when he was reported to be approaching and those who had gone ahead were telling of the affability of his reception of each party, the whole remaining population, with wives and children, were by now waiting at the road-sides to receive him; and each group as he passed, in their delight at the spectacle and moved by the blandness of his appearance, gave vent to all manner of cries, hailing him as “benefactor,” “savior,” and “only worthy emperor of Rome.” The whole city, moreover, was filled, like a temple, with garlands and incense.[7]
• Matthew 25:6
• So one of its other occurrences is in Matt 25:6, the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
• We read how the virgins, all of them, went out to apantēsis, to meet, the bridegroom; and then, once the bridegroom comes, what happens? Do they take off with him on the honeymoon? Well, of course not. The wedding hasn’t even happened yet. They escort him to the place he was always going—the wedding banquet, the wedding feast.
• Acts 28:15
• The second occurrence takes place in Acts 28:15, and the context is Paul has appealed to Caesar, and so he is on this perilous journey to appear before Nero himself. And there are Christians in Rome who hear that Paul is coming, and so they, somewhat naturally, say [that] Paul, an important person from their point of view, is coming. And so what they do? They send a delegation party out to—here comes that same word in our text from Thessalonians—to apantēsis, to meet the apostle.
• Well, what happens when they meet Paul? Do they escape with Paul and go into hiding? Well, the answer, of course, is no; they escort Paul to the place he was always going, Rome, the place from which they, the members of the delegation party, came.[8]

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.[9]

• But the concern of the teachers was not to explain all the details of Christian eschatology but rather to console members of the church in their moment of agony, as the final verse once again clarifies.[10]

 

• I don’t believe the Bible, here or elsewhere, talks about the rapture in terms of a sudden disappearance of Christians—where they just vanish, they’re gone, and this happens for seven years;
• and then, while the bad stuff happens after seven years, these Christians who have enjoyed, well, perfection in heaven and fellowship with God and Christ, somehow come back, and [that] begins the thousand-year reign of Christ.
• That teaching, I’m afraid, is not supported in the clearest text anywhere, potentially, in the Bible, on the rapture—the one found in our passage, 1 Thess 4:17.[11]

 

• Now, we have these two passages which both deal with the second coming of Jesus, and both of them, we’ll see, are primarily speaking a word of comfort.
• But there is an important difference between the two of them; that is, 4:13–18 and 5:1–11.
• [Thessalonians] 4:13–18 speaks about comfort with regard to deceased Christians at Christ’s return, whereas 5:1–11 speaks about comfort with regard to Christians who are alive at Jesus’s return.[12]

 
1 Thessalonians 5
THE DAY OF THE LORD

• People are way more interested in the last days on earth than they are with the abundant life here on earth with Jesus.
• 1970- Hal Lindsey’s book – The Late Great Planet Earth. – Sold over 1 million copies!
• Edgar Whisenant - 88 Reasons Why the Rapture will Happen in 1988 – Sold 4.5 million copies!
• Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins – 16 novels (’95-’07) – Teenage Series – 3 movies with Kirk Cameron... 65 million copies
• Probably one of the few things I have in common with John Calvin… he wrote a commentary on every book of the Bible except Revelation.
• The real question is, “Are you ready for that day?”
• Similar to Y2K… are you ready?
• They worried whether they were worthy enough to avoid the judgment connected with that end-time day and whether they would indeed experience salvation and eternal life with Christ at His return.
• That this is the specific trouble—namely, not just a general concern about the timing of the event but, rather, their status at that event.[13]
• The problem doesn’t seem to be one of knowledge but, rather, one of anxiety and apprehension and fear about their status on the Day of the Lord.

5 About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

• So, up to this point in the letter, three times Paul has used that first term “coming,” the Greek word parousia. He used it in 2:19 [and] 3:13, and he used it in the immediately preceding paragraph as well.
• The Day of the Lord concept is different; it has its roots in the Old Testament, where it refers to a future time when God would come to do what? Well, on the one hand, He’s going to punish the wicked; and on the other hand, He’s going to vindicate the righteous, His people, although, when we look at the text, there’s almost a stronger emphasis on the notion of judgment associated with the Day of the Lord than there is with the vindication of God’s people.[14]
• Listen to a number of these selected verses from various Old Testament prophets, all of them describing the judgment connected with the Day of the Lord.
• Joel 2:31 says, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
• Zephaniah 3:8, where God says that He will “pour out my wrath on them—all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.”
• Jeremiah 46:10 - “But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—a day of vengeance for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood.” Obadiah 15 - “The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.”
• Amos 5:18–20 - “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on a wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?”[15]

3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

• Paul is comforting them by saying that you have no reason to fear the Day of the Lord.
• Paul, in this reference, is making a clear allusion—not a very subtle one at all—to the propaganda and the sloganeering of the Roman state and its rather boastful claim of providing for its citizens these two benefits.
• But Paul has a stern warning for all who face the Day of the Lord by looking to Rome and its political power to save them on that day instead of God.
• As he says in the rest of the verse, he says all those who proclaim peace and security—what’s going to happen to them? Then “sudden destruction comes upon them … and they will certainly not escape.”[16]

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.

• Paul says the same thing twice for the purpose of emphasis but just says it in reverse/opposite.

6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.

• Contrasting metaphors.

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

• They were worried [about] whether or not they would avoid the judgment connected with that end-time day and [would] instead experience salvation and eternal life with Christ.[17]

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.[18]

• Once again, Paul is being pastoral.
• Stay focused. You are good for the final day.

You have been made holy, righteous, redeemed and justified.

[1] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 223). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
[2] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 225). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
[4] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 226). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
[7] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 227). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
[8] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Th 4:13–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 228). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
[11] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[12] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[13] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[14] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[15] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[16] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[17] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[18] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Th 5:1–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

John 15
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

• 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 - 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.[1]
• Judgment Seat of Christ – Is for believers and is a judgment of their works based upon done by self or “in Christ”.

It’s the fruit that burns… not the believer

• Romans 14:23 - …everything that is not from faith is sin. [2]
• Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,[3]
• Will our selfish works even be in heaven because they are sin? Or will they be listed without any penalty?

 
7 If you remain (abide) in me and my words remain (abide) in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

• Abide – Live my life by another source.
• It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit.[4]
• Describe what living by faith looks like for me.
• This is what we hear… “This abiding relationship is natural to the branch and the vine, but it must be cultivated in the Christian life. It is not automatic. Abiding in Christ demands worship, meditation on God’s Word, prayer, sacrifice, and service—but what a joyful experience it is! Once you have begun to cultivate this deeper communion with Christ, you have no desire to return to the shallow life of the careless Christian.”[5]
• This is not about memorizing the Word of God… This is about knowing your Father so well that you know what His will is for your life and it greatly impacts how you communicate with Him.
• This is not a formula for getting what you want.
• This is the result of knowing the Father.
• 1 John 2:13-14 – 1) Children understand forgiveness, 2) young men understand how to overcome the evil one and 3) the fathers know the One who is from the beginning.
• There is an intimacy with the Creator.

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

• How is fruit born through our lives?
• Father through the Son through our lives (while we rest).
• Who produces the fruit? The gardener through the vine through the branch.
• You can think you do a lot but hopefully it is the Father doing it through you.
• Yield to His life and much fruit will be produced and God is glorified.
• It is impossible in the flesh but only works in the Spirit.
• Many of these things could be counterfeited by the flesh, but the deception would eventually be detected, for real spiritual fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit.
• Man-made results are dead and cannot reproduce themselves, but Spirit-produced fruit will go on reproducing from one life to another.
• There will be fruit—more fruit—much fruit.[6]

 
CHRISTLIKE LOVE
9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.

• To the 11 disciples.
• There is only 1 way to do this… yield their life to another.
• Christ’s love becomes their love for each other.
• Unity – You will never see unity in the Church (body of Christ) until they learn to live their life by another.
• When we have been opposed, hated, belittled, even irritated by others… we are given a free pass.
• This is our thinking in the flesh.
• Christ says, love them as I have loved you.
• I know you can’t do it… you’ve already proved that.
• So yield your life to me and I will do it for you.
• Remain (abide) in me and I will do it for you.
• I got you!

10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

• What are his commandments?
• Love the Jesus and others – I John 3:23
• Do you view this as a command (as you were probably taught… so as to control your behavior)?
• Or do you see this the result of abiding in Christ?
• Jesus perfected the Law…
• Did he do this in His own strength to prove His obedience to the Father?
• Or was Jesus obedient as a result of abiding with His Father’s love?
• You always start with intimacy…
• Out of intimacy comes obedience.
• We are taught to start with obedience.
• I’m convinced that I can have a lot of sad breakfast with men and women who have entered into difficult circumstances.
• But my response to each person will always be the same.
• Get to know the Father.
• This is trusting that God’s Word will be true.

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

• What is a friend?
• It is not accountability partner.
• It is knowing the other person so well that you don’t have to ask them the personal questions.
• Who were Jesus’ friends?
• Not only the disciples (and us), but also the Father and the Spirit.
• No greater love was ever displayed than what Jesus did for us at the cross.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. [7]
Believe in Jesus’s name and love others.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Co 3:12–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 14:23). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 8:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 356). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 15:1–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

• Someone asked this week, “How do you know the ‘Rapture’ is going to occur?”
• I don’t…

Luke 21
THE NEED FOR WATCHFULNESS
34 “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

• “So what happens if we are in the middle of sinning?”
• 1 John 3:9 (CSB) - Everyone who has been born of God does not sin*, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin**, because he has been born of God.

     * or not practice sin
     ** or to keep on sinning

• 1 John 3:9 (NLT) - Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
• “What about unconfessed sin?”
• “What about judgment?”
• Luke 14:12-14 - He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

 

• Colossians 1:27 - God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
• Colossians 3:4 - When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
• Romans 5:10 - For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

• All these parables relate to the Second Coming… not the Rapture.

Matthew 25
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’
7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’
12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’
13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
 
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
22 “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’
24 “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27 then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned.
28 “‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
 
THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory,

• 2nd Coming
• Church has already been raptured.

and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
 - Davidic Throne in Jerusalem
 - The Church will be with Him.
32 All the nations (Gentiles) will be gathered before him (those that survived the Tribulation),
 - ALL Jews will already be saved.
 - Roman 11:25-26 - I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved,
 - Half way through the Tribulation, the AntiChrist will try to eliminate every Jew.
- But the redeemed Gentiles will come to their support, comfort and needs.
and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 “‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine (Jews), you did for me.’
41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’
44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”[1]
 
 Mark 13
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
 
Joel 3:1-2 - Yes, in those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather all the nations
and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
I will enter into judgment with them there
because of my people, my inheritance Israel.
The nations have scattered the Israelites
in foreign countries
and divided up my land.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 24:1–25:46). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

• Walked to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem with Chloe on Friday Morning…
• Explained how Hitler tried to eliminate all the Jews from Europe as part of his domination plan.
• Map of Jewish Communities and Deaths
• Explained that it really wasn’t Hitler’s plan but Satan’s plan.
• He will always try to rid the world of the Jews because he knows that a remnant of Jews will someday call Jesus back.
• It has happened since Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Greeks, Muslims, etc.
• Tomorrow… Trump moving US Embassy to Jerusalem.
• Picture of Trump make Israel Great sign

 
Jeremiah 31
35 “This is what the Lord says:
The one who gives the sun for light by day,
the fixed order of moon and stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea and makes its waves roar--
the Lord of Armies is his name:
36 If this fixed order departs from before me--
this is the Lord’s declaration--
only then will Israel’s descendants cease
to be a nation before me forever. [1]

• Satan will have to destroy the sun, moon and the stars to illuminate the Jews
• We talked about the 4 unconditional covenants 2 weeks ago…
• 1) Abrahamic Covenant – Many descendants and possess the land
• 2) Palestinian Covenant – You shall return to this land and blessing restored upon your belief.
• 3) Davidic Covenant – The Messiah will come through your lineage
• 4) New Covenant – I will put my Word in your heart.

Jeremiah 33:19-22 - 19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night so that day and night cease to come at their regular time, 21 then also my covenant with my servant David may be broken. If that could happen, then he would not have a son reigning on his throne and the Levitical priests would not be my ministers. 22 Even as the stars of heaven cannot be counted, and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so too I will make innumerable the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who minister to me.” [2]
 
Luke 21
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

• Redemption –

1) Saved from the “penalty of sin”
2) Saved from the “power of sin”
3) Saved from the “presence of sin”
 
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
 
THE NEED FOR WATCHFULNESS
34 “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During the day, he was teaching in the temple, but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. 38 Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.[3]
 
Matthew 24
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

• The fig tree in the Bible is often a picture of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Luke 13:6–10); and the other trees would picture the nations of the world.
• The budding of the trees indicates that summer is near.
• The beginning of these signs indicates that the Lord’s coming is near.
• The generation alive on earth at that time will see these events take place.
• Our generation sees a foreshadowing of these signs. We do not look for signs as such; we look for the Savior (Phil. 3:20).
• Jesus can come for His church at any time.[4]

 
Matthew 24
NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR
36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone. 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. 44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
1 About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.[5]
 
FAITHFUL SERVICE TO CHRIST
45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 31:35–36). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 33:19–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 21:5–38). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 89–90). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Th 5:1–5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Clarification from last week:

• Hebrew Christians – fled to Pella according to Eusebius and another group fled to Masada
• At Masada 960 killed themselves rather than being taken siege by the Romans in 73 AD.
• 2 women and 5 children survived according to Josephus.
• The disciples asked Jesus 3 questions:

Matthew 24
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples (Mark 13:4 - Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately) approached him privately and said, “1) Tell us, when will these things happen? (66 AD) 2) And what is the sign of your coming (Shekinah Glory) and 3) of the end of the age?” (world wars)

• Jesus answered 3) first and 1) second… (last week)
• 2) “What is the sign of your coming?”

 
Scholars of prophecy do not agree on all the details of future events. But the following summary is a fair representation of what many prophetic scholars believe as to the order of events:
1. The Rapture of the church (1 Cor. 15:51–58; 1 Thes. 4:13–18). This can occur at any time.
2. The leader of the ten European nations makes a seven-year agreement with Israel (Dan. 9:26–27).
3. After three-and-one-half years, he breaks the agreement (Dan. 9:27).
4. He moves to Jerusalem and sets up his image in the temple (2 Thes. 2:3–4; Rev. 13).
5. The Antichrist begins to control the world and forces all people to worship and obey him. At this time God sends great tribulation upon the earth (Matt. 24:21).
6. The nations gather at Armageddon to fight the Antichrist and Israel, but see the sign of Christ’s coming and unite to fight Him (Zech. 12; Rev. 13:13–14; 19:11ff).
7. Jesus returns to the earth, defeats His enemies, is received by the Jews, and establishes His kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11ff; Zech. 12:7–13:1). He will reign on earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1–5).[1]
 
Matthew 24
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place”, (let the reader understand)

• Daniel 12:11 - 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. – 3.5 years[2])
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. [3]

16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house, 18 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.
 
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky (Shekinah Glory), and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Unconditional Covenants (4)

• Abrahamic Covenant – Genesis 12

– Genesis 15 - Land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Descendants (Euphrates River to River of Egypt) – Have yet to possess it.

• Palestinian Covenant - Deuteronomy 30 –
• 1 “When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am commanding you today, 3 then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, he will gather you and bring you back from there. 5 The Lord your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your fathers. 6 The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.[4]
• Davidic Covenant – 2 Samuel 7 – Eternal Kingdom – Messiah will be Son of David
• New Covenant -  Jeremiah 31:31-34 – 31 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin. [5]

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

• The fig tree in the Bible is often a picture of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Luke 13:6–10); and the other trees would picture the nations of the world.
• The budding of the trees indicates that summer is near.
• The beginning of these signs indicates that the Lord’s coming is near.
• The generation alive on earth at that time will see these events take place.
• Our generation sees a foreshadowing of these signs. We do not look for signs as such; we look for the Savior (Phil. 3:20).

Jesus can come for His church at any time.[6]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 89). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Da 12:11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Th 2:3–4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 30:1–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 31:31–34). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 89–90). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.