GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
06-22-2022
PASTOR ROBERT R. MCLAUGHLIN
PDF: GBC06222022NOTES
Christian Soldier 81, Doctrine Of The Rapture, 8.
Because we have completed Point 8 in our study of the Doctrine of the Rapture, and before we begin Point 9, as well as the fact that we have not studied this for a week, we will begin with a brief summary of Point 8.
Point 8. The Rapture and the Place of Human Good and Divine Good.
Therefore, the summary;
- We are always to be ready and alert, in season and out of season, to offer salvation and metabolize doctrine but, that is not, to take us away from the true issue of Satan wanting to be like God.
2TI 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2TI 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2TI 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;
2TI 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.
2TI 4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- God has doomed to destruction the world, which by its very nature is against God and yet so many believers are working overtime to try and preserve the world that God has doomed.
Forgetting of course the fact that TLJC controls history.
- Many believers have become sidetracked because they are minus doctrine and have falling into the trap of cleaning up the devil’s world.
- The greatest delusion Satan imposes on all unbelievers and the majority of Christians is that only what the world says is evil could originate from the devil, if there is any devil to originate anything at all.
Remember, one of the greatest lies that the devil has accomplished is that he does not really exist.
- It is the revelation of God which reveals that governments, morals, education, art, commercialism, vast enterprises and organizations, and much of religious activity are included in the devil’s world.
- Satan has constructed all the good which he can incorporate into it and be consistent in the thing he aims to accomplish.
And what are the things he aims to accomplish?
- He aims to rule the world and make it better than the one God originally created and wants it to become better than what God had created for man.
- A serious question arises whether the presence of gross evil in the world is due to Satan's intention to have it so, or whether it indicates Satan's inability to execute all he has designed.
- The probability is great that Satan's ambition has led him to undertake more than any creature could ever administer.
- God reveals to us that the whole cosmic system must be annihilated, not its evil alone, but all that is in it, both good and bad.
- God will incorporate nothing of Satan’s failure into that kingdom which he will set up upon the earth.
- All the programs out today, whether Christian or non-Christian, will be rejected when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to set up His kingdom in the Millennium.
- At the Second Advent or coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will separate the wheat from the tares so that the wheat will remain on the earth for the Millennium while the tares will be cast into the Lake of Fire; MAT 25:41.
MAT 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
- The satanic lie is expanded to the point where its manifestation embraces all that is in the cosmos, and is built on the one original idea which characterizes it all, namely, independence of God.
Note that the one thing that Satan promotes is independence from God.
He is the father of creature credit!
And today;
- Scores of believers are involved with trying to clean up the world and make it presentable for the Lord Jesus Christ when in reality they are helping the super- creature genius, Satan himself!
- In pursuing his determination to exalt himself above God, Satan must oppose the divine will and his opposition naturally will be exerted where God is acting at a given time.
I taught you many times before from this pulpit that one of the greatest achievements that we can ever accomplish is to get attention from Satan’s kingdom.
- Since God has no present program which he is following along lines of reformation, education, or civilization, there is no conflict or satanic resistance in those areas.
In other words,
- Since God is not in the business of reforming the world, Satan will not oppose those well-meaning Christians who are working so hard to try and make this a Christian world.
Satan's viewpoint is "anything goes" providing the world improves before Christ comes back.
Or creature credit verses creator credit!
In other words;
- When it comes to improving education, civilization, or any form of reformation, which would improve the world, there is no satanic resistance.
Why?
- Because any plans to clean up the world and make it a better place to live complements Satan's evil goals and policies to be like God.
- The present relation of God to the cosmos, beyond His sovereign permission and restraint of it, is to save out of it an elect people for his heavenly glory.
In other words,
As 1TI 2:3-4 says that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Or…..
2PE 3:9 He is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
On the other hand;
- Satan's twofold objective-to exalt self, and to oppose God which is the key by which much may be known that otherwise would be unknown.
This simply means that if believers get involved with improving the world, they will find little opposition as they contribute to exalting Satan.
In fact, improving the devil's world will bring blessing from Satan.
- If the believer is preoccupied with making the world a better place to live, not only is he sidetracked by the wrong emphasis, but he can never fulfill the plan of God and bring glory to God.
- If the believer cannot be deceived or is indifferent toward doctrine, he is often tempted to place an undue emphasis upon some minor truth while ignoring the major truths.
This is when they fulfill passages like;
MAT 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
MAT 23:14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation.]
MAT 23:15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
MAT 23:16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'
MAT 23:17 "You fools and blind men; which is more important, the gold, or the temple that sanctified the gold?
MAT 23:18 "And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering upon it, he is obligated.'
MAT 23:19 "You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering?
MAT 23:20 "Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.
MAT 23:21 "And he who swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it.
MAT 23:22 "And he who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
MAT 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
MAT 23:24 "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
MAT 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self indulgence.
MAT 23:26 "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
MAT 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.
MAT 23:28 "Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
MAT 23:29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
MAT 23:30 and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
MAT 23:31 "Consequently you bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
All these things that believers are getting involved with, and yet if you ask them questions about the Bible and they really cannot give you precise answers.
Finally;
- The value and delusion of a counterfeit are increased by the nearness of its likeness to the real and Satan does just that with his many forms of counterfeits system of truth.
This brings us to Point 9.
Point 9. The place of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the counterfeits of Satan related to the Rapture.
Satan can satisfy all the external religious cravings of the world, and yet accomplish his own end by withholding that on which man's only hope depends.
This of course is the grace of God and the saving work of TLJC and then the metabolization of doctrine.
It is no longer safe to be blind to that which promises general good, simply because it is good and is garnished with the teachings of the Bible.
For remember good has ceased to be all on the one side and to be evil on the other.
Remember, back in the garden
Everything began when God gave them the command concerning the trees that were in the garden that they were not to eat of one tree, the tree of knowledge of Good and evil; GEN 2:9-17.
GEN 2:9 And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Then skip down to GEN 2:15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
GEN 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
GEN 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die. "
Notice that there were trees which were for stimulation of the soul, the eyes, every tree that is pleasing to the sight.
There were also trees that were good for foods, every tree that is good for food; provisions for the body.
Then there is the tree that was related to the human spirit and spiritual sustenance that a believer uses which was the tree of live (s), plural and that tree was capacity to appreciate what God has provided in grace.
Man had immediate capacity to appreciate God's grace provision.
Then the test, the tree of knowledge of good and evil was a test, because good and evil are Satan's policy.
This tree was forbidden because good and evil result in spiritual death.
Spiritual death is the result of good and evil.
However,
The point is that man in his creation relationship with God was under grace not under works.
And….
There were two things that Adam and the woman did not need in that relationship, one, was the knowledge of human good and the other was the knowledge of what is evil.
Evil is the thinking of Satan whereas good is the application of that policy of evil which is basically why human good should be rejected by believers.
Good and evil are two things man did not need to know or understand his relationship with God.
Evil is the thinking policy of Satan and good is the application of that policy to experience in history.
Satan says, in effect, if you serve me, you will get the credit.
In Satan’s plan, the one who gets the credit is the creature, whereas in God’s plan it is the CREATOR who gets the credit.
As you have heard so many times before, it is creature credit verses Creator credit.
After the Fall, man's relationship with God is based on regeneration.
Both Adam and the woman became saved before they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.
So, the grace relationship before the fall was based on creation.
Everything was provided and one thing is forbidden as an extension of the angelic conflict into human history, and that is eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
After the fall, the relationship is based upon regeneration.
However, at the time of the Fall, man ate of the forbidden tree.
The first sin was a sin of negative volition toward the plan of God.
A sin that the majority of humans, including believers, are still committing today.
At this time, man immediately understood good and evil, was immediately under the rulership of Satan, and immediately performs human good: operation fig leaves.
So, The original parents had a choice to choose God's plan or Satan's plan and they chose Satan's plan.
Therefore, the salvation plan of God came into effect.
Notice good has ceased to be on one side and evil are the other.
Actually, in the world system….
Under the authority of Satan, good and evil are on the same side.
The real church is now even more numerous, subtle, and powerful, than ever before the present enemies, however, like the unclean birds in the mustard tree, have taken shelter under her branches.
MAT 13:31 He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
MAT 13:32 and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
These vultures are fed by deceived believers who in satanic blindness are committed to the furtherance of good to the world if it is based upon scripture little realizing that they are often supporting the real enemy of God.
He is saying that this is all taking place in the church!
And, that members of the church do not even realize what's going on behind the scene!
Many of them are too busy and they simply do not care what Satan is doing as long as they are left alone.
You see,
If you do not understand the angelic conflict, eschatology, and the Doctrine of evil, you will not understand what is taking place behind the scenes.
And all of this is brought out by that statement little realizing that they are often really supporting the enemy of God.
Ever since the garden when the free will of man was tested and man fell and gave rulership to Satan, he has developed counterfeits to deceive mankind.
A counterfeit is Satan's most natural method of resisting the purpose of God, since by it, he can realize to that extent his desire to be like the Most High.
In other words;
Satan watches what God does and then tries to counterfeit that as best as he can.
It is evident that……
The method of this deception is to imitate the real ministers of Christ as they cover their lies with the most subtle forms of hypocrisy.
2CO 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
2CO 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2CO 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.
This means that you better have enough doctrine to be able to discern.
Why?
Because hypocrisy, sincerity, emotionalism and legalism are the order of the day.
It should be noted these false ministers do not necessarily know the real mission they have signed up for.
They are sincere, but sincerely wrong!
This just means that these false teachers and even true teachers are deceived and don't really even know it!
They are sincere, preaching and teaching the best things the angel of light, their energizing power, is pleased to reveal unto them.
Their gospel is one of human reason, and appeals to human resources.
There can be no appreciation of divine revelation in them, for they have not come really to know God or His Son, Jesus Christ.
They are ministers of righteousness, which message should never be confused with the gospel.
One is directed only at the reformation of the natural man, while the other aims at regeneration through the power of God.
The predictions for the last days just before the Rapture are not only being fulfilled by false systems and doctrines, but they are found in the visible church itself.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.
Great religious activities are possible without coming into the real meaning of the Christian way of life and the power of God; 2PE 1:3-4.
2PE 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2PE 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
It is possible to fight against sin and not present the Savior or to urge the highest scriptural ideals and yet offer no reasonable way to attain it.
There is a strange fascination about these undertakings which are humanitarian, and are religious only in form and title.
There is a strange attractiveness in the leader who announces that he is not concerned with the doctrines of the Bible because the helping of humanity is his one passion and care.
It is sweet, but sweetly wrong.
Yet all his passion is lost and his care is not real unless it is coupled with a very positive message of another way of salvation.
That counterfeit way is any other way that is minus faith alone in Christ alone, and therefore it is salvation by works.
Now, Ignorance of the dispensation of the Rapture, and an inaccurate understanding of the Gospel has led astray and distracted these people to help Satan clean up his world, and create further accusation against God.
This is why we have the promises to the true church concerning the Rapture!
There are certain passages of scripture which definitely promises the church a removal before the 70th week or the Tribulation period.
For example,
In REV 3:10, when it says I will keep you
from the hour of testing -- John uses the word tereo, for keep.
When this verb is used with "en" it means to cause one to persevere or stand firm in a thing while remaining on the timing of God.
When it is used with "ek" it means to guard by causing one to escape in safety out of.
Since "ek" is used here, John is promising removal from the hour of testing not a preservation through it.
This is further substantiated by the use of the words "the hour."
God is not only guarding from the trials but from the very hour itself.
He guards us from the very hour when these truths will come on earth to those who dwell on earth!
It does not mean protection in a situation, but total exemption from it.
It is clear that the context and other statements in scripture require that the interruption be "complete exemption from that which is predicted."
As for the context,
Note that the promise is not merely to be kept from the temptation but, from the "hour" of temptation.
From the period of trial as such, not only from the trial during the period!
In 1TH 5:9, We have promises of the Rapture that we should concentrate upon.
The contrast in this passage is between light and darkness and between wrath and salvation from that wrath, 1TH 5:1-9.
1TH 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
1TH 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1TH 5:3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1TH 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief;
1TH 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
1TH 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
1TH 5:7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
1TH 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
1TH 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1TH 5:10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
1TH 5:11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Note that 1TH 5:2 indicates that this wrath and darkness is that of the day of the Lord.
What is the day of the Lord?
Turn to JOE 2:1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near,
JOE 2:2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations.
In Amos 5:18, it says “alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light.
ZEP 1:14 near is the great day of the lord, near and coming very quickly; listen, the day of the lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly.
ZEP 1:15 a day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
ZEP 1:16 a day of trumpet and battle cry, against the fortified cities and the high corner towers.
ZEP 1:17 and I will bring distress on men, so that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
ZEP 1:18 neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord's wrath; and all the earth will be devoured in the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete end, indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.
So, the darkness mentioned in 1TH 5 is the darkness of the 70th week,
Paul clearly teaches in 1TH 5:9, that our expectation and appointment is not to wrath and darkness but rather to salvation.
In 1TH 5:10, Paul indicates the method of that salvation is to live together with him
1TH 5:9 for God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1TH 5:10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
In 1TH 1:9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
1TH 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come
Paul clearly indicates that our expectation is not wrath but the revelation of "His Son from heaven."
This could not be unless the son were revealed before the wrath of the 70th week falls on the earth
The fourth passage is one we've read but we need to note some principles; 1TH 4:13-18 which is where we will pick it up next time.