Letters  

Amillennialist (Con't.)  

III. The Third division of the discourse deals exclusively with the second coming of Christ for judgment (Matt. 25:14-46) It is presented in the parable of the Talents, and the scene of judgment

       A. The parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) - If we would render a good account to the Lord at His coming, faithful service is required, although the Lord delays His coming

1. Men are not equal in talents, abilities, opportunities or advantages                        2. All are given opportunity to improve, and are held responsible for the proper use of their talents                                                                                                       3. There is a time of reckoning when the Judge of the whole earth will commend and reward, or will reprove and punish each of us

        B. The Scene of Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46) - Matthew who had been a tax collector is the only one to preserve this portion for us

1. When the Son of Man is come, He will sit upon His throne surrounded by His angels, and will judge the nations                                                                            2. Here will be a separation of the wicked from the just for all eternity

a. The righteous, located on His "right", the place of reference, are welcomed to inherit the Kingdom                                                       b. The Kingdom is said to have been made ready for them from the foundation of the world. Hence these were chosen to salvation from eternity.                                                                                               c. The evidence offered of this fact is the character of these people.

  l.) they are merciful and benevolent even to the hungry and thirsty                                                                                                   2.) they are hospitable even to His obscure disciples                          3.) they are generous clothing the poor saints

                     4.) they are kindly in ministering to the sick and persecuted brethren

d. Not so the ungodly on His left hand, the place of rejection (41-45)

l.) These people lack mercy and benevolence. Their charity is based upon selfishness                                                                                 2.) Although sentenced to "Depart ...into everlasting fire," they do not confess their selfishness, their hardheartedness, nor their neglect of the members of the household of faith.

e. Hell is a reality. It was prepared for the Devil and his angels (See: Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; Rev. 12:7). Jesus declares "These shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:46).

l.) "Punishment" demands consciousness                                               2.) his punishment ever-lasts because finite men have sinned against God who is infinite                                                                             3.) Justice demands infinite punishment. Death does not release the sinner from God's judgment.                                                                 4.) The separation of the wicked from the just, a time when God shall vindicate His own, is certain. Must go. "May God Smile On You."—J. S. Bach

Dear D. W.                                                                                                  November 11, 1993

        ...You ask about the words "at hand" (II Thessalonians 2:2), and the word "then" (Matthew 24:9). Let me begin with the words "at hand." The words "at hand" mean "near in time; not distant." So, the Bible says, "The day of Christ is at hand."

       In Philippians 4:5, Paul wrote, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." Here, it means, the Lord is near; that he is ever-present to witness our conduct; that he is nigh unto all them who call upon him. God is an ever-present help in time of trouble.

      In Revelation 1:3, "...the time is at hand"—the Apostle John is simply saying that the time is at hand when these things should begin to be fulfilled. They are not yet all fulfilled. Read on.

       Second, the word "then:"

       You seem to know of only one definition of the word. There are several meanings, although only 4 concern us here. l.) "Then" means "at that time specified, either past or future"; cf. "And the Canaanite was then in the land" (Genesis 12:6). "Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (I Corinthians 13:12). 2.) "Then" can mean "afterward, soon or immediately afterward"; cf. "First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matthew 5:24). 3.) "Then" can mean "that time"; cf.

Till then who knew                                                                               The force of those dire arms?—Milton

And, 4.) "Then" can mean "at another time."                                                               As now and then                                                                                                     At one time or another.—Milton

     The word "then" appears not 8, but 9 times in Matthew 24. Consider:

l.) vs. 9—"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations FOR MY NAME'S SAKE." While you want to completely apply this to the Jewish nation, let me ask you if you know any Jew who is hated because he has espoused the name of Jesus. This passage does not refer to the Jews, but to Christians who at this time were Jews. As a people, the Jews do not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

     I have pointed out in several previous letters that Matthew 24 applies to the Jewish nation as a whole, but in a cursory way: the intent is given in verse 3: "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, `Tell us, when shall these things be? and WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGN OF THY COMING, AND OF THE END OF THE WORLD?" The reason you miss this point each time is because you are trying to bend Scripture to agree with your position.

     The fact that you and I are living as people have done for 6000 years proves that the end of the world has not yet come ...doesn't it? The disciples ask, "...What shall be the sign of thy coming, AND (a connecting link) of the end of the world?" One of your major problems is that you deny the physical return of Christ. Yet, in Acts 1:11, Luke records the angels at the ascension of Christ as telling the disciples assembled there, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come IN LIKE MANNER as ye have seen him go into heaven." But you have chosen to deny the physical return of Christ, and the fact that every eye shall see him (Revelation 1:7); although, certainly in a spiritual sense, he is "at hand."

 2.) vs. 10—"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." When shall these things be? see verse 3, and see that Christ is yet to physically return.

3.) vs. 14—"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." This is what true Christians are attempting to do at this time. We send our children into the far reaches of the earth to give them the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no salvation in any other, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). We give our sons to bear the message. We give our wealth to speed them on their way. Then, we pour out our soul for them in prayer. D., what are you doing for the kingdom of God?

4.) vs. 16—"Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: ..." and,

5.) vs. 21—"For then shall be great tribulation, SUCH AS WAS NOT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE." Compare these with Revelation 16:3 —"And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea: and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea." D., have you ever known such a thing to have occurred? It certainly did not occur in 70 A. D.

     Look at the rest of the 16th chapter of Revelation. In vs. 8, the fourth angel pours out his vial upon the sun, and the sun scorches men with fire. In vs. 12, the sixth angel pours out his vial on the Euphrates River and dries it up. When did this occur? 70 A. D. No, these are yet future.

     In Matthew 24:22, we read, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." You apply this to the fall of Jerusalem? then, read on through verse 28. It clearly refers to the coming of the Lord Jesus.

6.) vs. 23—"Then if any man shall say unto you, `Lo, here is Christ, or there;' believe it not."

7.) and 8.) vs. 30—"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and THEN shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

9.) vs. 40—"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

       This is not yet fulfilled, but it will be shortly. Not since the days of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) have we seen the desire of men to be united in their rebellion against God. Must go. "May God Smile On You."—J. S. Bach

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