America in Prophecy: Or, Is it? Pt3

 

February 14, 2021                                      NOTES NOT EDITED
America In Prophecy: Or Is It? Pt. 3
Acts 17:26-27

 

SIS:  America is not mentioned in Biblical prophecy of the Last Days because we are no longer a world leader, if a nation at all, but Christians still have a mandate to practice justice politically and seek the salvation of souls spiritually.

Armageddon.  Nearly any adult alive in the Western world has heard that word.  It has an ominous cloud hanging over it as a symbol of the apocalyptic end of human history.  Armageddon comes from two Hebrew words.  “Har” means mount or hill, and “geddon” is a reference to the city, Megiddo, in the Jezreel Valley of Northern Israel.  Rev. 16:12-16 describes the final epic battle of Armageddon:

“The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon’s mouth, from the beast’s mouth, and from the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle of the great day of God, the Almighty. “Look, I am coming like a thief. The one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame is blessed.” So they assembled them at the place called in Hebrew, Armagedon.”

Armageddon, or Megiddō, is site of nearly continuous conflict throughout the ages.  It is an easily defended mount or hill that sits at the crossroads of ancient trade routes.  These trade routes were called the “Via Maris,” or “way of the sea.”  Wikipedia describes it like this:  “Via Maris is one modern name for an ancient trade route, dating from the early Bronze Age, linking Egypt with the northern empires of Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia — along the Mediterranean coast of modern-day Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.”

The Jezreel Valley, the broad, fertile plain in this reason was a precious commodity many groups tried to gain control over.  At the Tell of Megiddō, (a tell is an archeological term for a mount with several layers of civilizations stacked on top of each other) there are at least 26 layers of civilizations, including the grand rebuilding under King Solomon.  The history of battles at Megiddō go back to the Bronze Age.  The first major battle of the ancient world recorded in history took place at Megiddō when Pharoah Thutmoses III fought the King of Kadesh about 1479 B.C.  So, as we see, the Valley of Jezreel and the Hill of Megiddo host both the first major battle of human history and the last. 

Everything in human history in regard to nations have been pointed in the direction of Armageddon since the beginning of time.  The Bible teaches the continuing rebellion and open sinfulness of man that leads to the ultimate battle where Jesus Christ, Himself, leads the Army of the Redeemed against the Armies of the Reprobates.

This is important to note because the Bible teaches a continuing decline of humanity, including America.  America has been the “saving power” of the world since WW1.  We have been the world’s “policeman,” holding back evil regimes.  That will all change as the end of the world nears.  We have been in the End Times since Jesus left the earth 2020 years ago.  We see the fabric of America hopelessly torn by crippling economic implosion, crushing encroachment of illegal immigration, the crud of unbridled moral depravity, and soon the cataclysmic fracture of the rapture.  America’s fate has been sealed which is why the Bible is silent in regard to America’s prominence in the Last Days.

So, now that we have a sufficient foundation of “doom and gloom” for the morning, what should be the Christian response during the death of our nation?

Let briefly outline several ineffective and negative responses that we should avoid.

① We could retreat or run from culture.  Someone has called this “rapture practice,” the equivalent of dawning white ascension robes and sitting on a mountain top so we can be closer to Jesus when He “comes in the air.”  Groups, like the Millerites in the 19^th century have already tried this. This is a non-sensical, not to mention, a non-Biblical approach to life.  Jesus said we are to be “salt and light” (Mt. 5:13).  Salt does little good if it stays in the shaker and light is ineffective if we put it under a basket.  Retreating is not an option.

② We could simply become constant critics of culture. Of course, we as Christians are called to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).  So often that gets translated, according to one writer as, “lobbing gospel grenades from within the safe and secure confines of the church walls.”  We become know for “everything we are against” without communicating clearly everything we are for. This is an ineffective approach to the ills of culture because the world just tunes us out.  Again, let me say, the church must stand up and speak out boldly against evil.  But as we “speak truth in love” let’s make sure they see the love as well as hear the truth.

③ We could create a “Christian sub-culture” trying to give the world a Christian version of the same products and services they consume daily.  Some has said that when we do this we become the Christian version of “Walmart.”  We are just a “cheap version” of the same worldly entertainments the lost world is already consuming.  When we as the church try to provide the same activities the world provides we water down, or completely neglect, the one, unique product that the church provides that people can get nowhere else in the world—the soul-saving, life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. We turn the Great Commission upside-down when we play to the consumerism of culture.  Instead of “we all go,” church ministry morphs to a “you all come.”  This has proven to be ineffective in transforming our culture or maximizing a harvest of souls.

④ We could just let ourselves become “absorbed by culture.”  [CUDDLE CULTURE] We just do what they do, go where they go, watch what they watch, and enjoy the same recreation they enjoy.  In other words, we just surrender to culture.  Many churches have done just this. They are pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-alcohol, and just pro-sin in general.  I don’t think I need to press the issue that this is NOT an effective way for the church to influence culture for good.

So, let me offer a BETTER WAY for Christians and churches to engage culture in these declining years of American society.  We can, and should, 1. Watch and Pray; 2. Work poltically; and Witness and Warn persons passionately.

1.  WATCH AND PRAY (MK. 13:33; Mt. 24:42)

“Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.” (Mark 13:33, HCSB)

“Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42, HCSB)

I quoted both of these texts because they both occur in a longer section teaching about the Last Days.  They both say the same thing, but they use two different words, both translated “be alert” (CSB).  Mark’s version actually adds another watch, “blepō,” meaning to “look intently.” or “watch in the sense of being highly alert.”  The point I am making here is that in regard to the issue of prophecies regarding the Last Days, we must be very, very vigilante. 

The idea of watching involves three components:  1.  vigilance (wakefulness), 2. Protection (as in stationing a guard), and 3. learning, or studying the signs or situations.  One of the two main words used for “watch, or be alert” is  agrupneō.  A trusted Greek resource points out that this word means, “to make an effort to learn of what might be a potential future threat” (Louw-Nida).

Remember, over 60% of the Bible is prophecy.  An entire book in the New Testament, Revelation, is devoted wholly to the prophecy of the Last Days.  Sadly, most church folk are ignorant of the prophetic texts even though they are the majority of the Bible. 

What is the point of “watching” in regard to the prophecies of the Last Days? When most people think of this—and most do at some point—the result is “fear and panic.”  Last Days images conjure up in peoples’ minds a God or wrath raining down fire and brimstone.  That is certainly part of the Last Days, but is it the purpose for “watching” and learning about the Last Days prophecies.  God’s wrath is definitely a component of the Last Days—a wrath like no one has ever seen or will ever see again.  But, the theme of Biblical prophecy is not God’s “wrath,” but God’s mercy.  Prophecy is given to prepare us not panic us.  Prophecy is an “act of God’s mercy” God does not want anyone—not one single soul—to experience the coming wrath of His judgment.  Prophecy is a “doorway” into God’s mercy.  Peter reminds us that just as God warned people of His coming wrath of judgement in Noah’s day, so He warns us today.  2Pet 3:7-13

“But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.” (2 Peter 3:7–13, HCSB)

God’s prophetic Word is an expression of His love and mercy because He wants “all people to be saved.”  Of course, we know all people will NOT be saved. Not everyone heeds warnings.

Mt. Pinatubo is a stratovolcano in the Philippines. June 12, 1991, it erupted, resulting in the second-largest eruption of the 20th century. The ash plume height reaching more than 40 km (28 mi) high and ejecting more than 10 km3 of magma. The eruption cost $700 million in damage, $100 million of which was damage to 16 aircraft flying at the time of the eruption and $250 million in property.  More than 800 people perished.  And yet, everyone knew Mt. Pinatubo was a volcano.  How could such loss of human life and massive property damage happen?  Here’s what the Philippine Department of Volcanology said, “When a volcano is silent for many years, our people forget that it’s a volcano and begin to treat it like a mountain.” 

This is why Christians must “watch diligently” studying the massive number of prophetic signs given in the Bible.  We “watch” not in fear, but in preparation—preparing our witness and warning to others, and making sure our own hearts are prepared for what is coming.

2.  WORK POLITICALLY

Now, some may argue, “if this nation is doomed and the path to destruction is assured, why bother with politics?”  There is no easy answer to that question.  The answers are actually complicated and even confusing at times.  The first reason we must work politically is that while we cannot change the course of the trajectory for our nation and world, we can preserve the liberties for a time so that we can more freely present the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Second, we must work politically because God has told us to “work until He comes.”  Jesus taught his disciples to, “Engage in business until I come back.” (Luke 19:13)

This work includes all the common business of life, including participating in the political process.  Also, working politically does not mean just working on national issues.  In fact, the real difference we can make is in “local politics.”  We can still have a great influence in our local community even if we seem to be able to have much less influence in our State and National politics.  If Christians demonstrate the love of God as we stand for truth, we may not have a great affect on the outcome of elections, but we may have an “eternity changing affect” on our neighbors.

Working politically will NOT—I repeat, will NOT—prevent the ultimate demise of America as a superpower.  Working politically, however, can change the ultimate destiny for non-Christians in our community.  It can be, as one person wrote, “a bridge to evangelism. It can break down prejudice and suspicion, open doors, and gain a hearing for the gospel.” (The Grand Rapids Report, 1982).

Just the other day, a church in our area baptized 90 new believers as a direct result of taking a very public, and very unpopular stand against government overreach during the Covid virus response. 

As someone has pointed out, politics means “about the people.”  We are part of the people.  Avoiding politics is not possible.  The beloved Christian philosopher, Francis Shaeffer often remarked, “man is not just a soul to be saved.”  Shaeffer meant that we must view a person holistically seeking to meet all the needs of our neighbors.  Another great theologian, John Stott said, “Therefore, if we truly love our neighbors, and because of their worth desire to save them, we chall be concerned for their total welfare . . . and, our concern shall lead to practical [meaning political] programs.” (Decisive Issues).

3.  Most importantly, WITNESS and WARN Prophetically

As I began, I mentioned that nearly everyone has heard of Armageddon and almost everyone has some idea of the teaching about the End of the World.  As we saw from our clip earlier, “Judgement Day” even came up in the comedy movie, “Ghostbusters.” 

One of the most successful fiction series ever written was the “Left Behind Series” by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins based upon the Last Days prophecies in the Bible.  It eventually reached 16 substantial volumes.  Sixteen years ago, the Left Behind series caught the eye of the venerable news outlet, “60 Minutes.”  They wrote,

“All together, there are 58 million books in print, and another 20 million in spinoffs. Plus, the "Left Behind: The Kids," audio books and comic books are all worth more than $100 million in annual revenues. Their latest book, "Glorious Appearing," sold 2 million copies before its publication date in March. It's also No. 1 on this week's New York Times bestseller list.”  The books also sparked several major movies, including such A-list actors as Nicolas Cage.

People are interested in Bible prophecy.  Like salt, it creates a thirst explore spirituality deeper. 

Throughout the Bible we are exhorted to “warn” people of God’s coming judgement, and prepare them to receive the grace of God that will save them from eternal damnation.  One of the great Last Days prophets in the O.T. gave this instruction to God’s people:

Ezek. 33:1-7, “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his trumpet to warn the people. Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his blood is on his own hands. If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. However, if the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives, then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood. “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.”

There is no act of love, short of dying for another, greater than witnessing to and warning neighbors of pending disaster.  That is the very essence of discipleship. Not everybody will heed the Bibles waring and accept the free gift of saving grace, but we are obligated to witness and warn them anyway. 

I remember two young men who were standing by the side of the road holding a sign that said, in big black letters, “THE END IS NEAR!”  As one car drove past them the young men put the window down and yelled obscenities at the young men calling them idiots. Just a few seconds later there was a loud crashing sound and a plume of smoke rose off in the distance.  One young man looked at the other and said, “Do you think we should change the sign to say, BRIDGE OUT AHEAD?”

More and more our nation is being covered in a blanket of darkness.  We as God’s people must—I cannot stress this enough—we must let our light shine with a “bold, loving, prophecy-driven witness.”  We must WATCH AND PRAY; WORK POLTICALLY; and WITNESS PROPHETICALLY as the dark cloud of God’s judgment descends upon on our world.

Prophecy is not given by God to panic us, but to prepare us for what lies ahead so we can prepare others.

America In Prophecy: Or Is It? Part 2

 

February 7, 2021                      NOTES NOT EDITED
America in Prophecy—Or, Is It? Part 2
Acts 17:24; Psalm 9, esp. vss 16-20

 

SIS: The decline of America as a world power is a major step toward the coming End of the World, and Christians, especially in America should step up efforts to win the lost.

This is Part 2 of a three-part series on America in prophecy. Last week we surveyed “POSSIBLE SIGHTINGS of America in Prophecy.” The conclusion was, the America is either absent in the Last days, or a vassal nation of a Global Confederacy that will rise up against Israel.  This week we want to look at PROBABLE REASONS for the silence of prophecy in regard to America.

To establish the context for how God works with, in, and through nations, let’s read from Psalm 9 and Acts 17:26-27.

PROBABLE EXPLANATION for Bible’s Silence on America

My Conclusion:  A process is already taking place in which will result in America being gobbled up by a larger global confederacy that will eventually attack Israel at the Battle of Armageddon.  First, let me survey four “possible” factors for the fading of America as a superpower in the last days which contribute to America’s fading as a superpower, and the one catastrophic event that seals her fate. The first three are like flood waters of wrath rising up behind a great dam and a final fracture will bring judgment pounding upon the world the likes of which nobody has ever, or will ever again see.

❶ Crushing Economic Implosion

Let me say that it is no secret why empires fall.  History gives us an abundance of examples, and a significant factor deals with something as simple as arithmetic.  You might state it like this: “if your outgo exceeds your income it will be your downfall.” 

The Book of Deuteronomy give the principles to govern a new nation God is developing.  That nation is Israel.  Israel’s welfare as nation was based upon a very simple, but powerful principle.  It is the principle of “Blessing and Cursing.” Israel, as a nation, serves as an example to all nations.   Deu. 11:26-28 gives this principle:

““Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse: there will be a blessing, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse, if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God.”

God’s commands cover every aspect of life, including the economics of a nation.  A few chapters later Deu. 28:12 tells us:

“The Lord will open for you His abundant storehouse, the sky, to give your land rain in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.”

Massive debt is a major contributing factor to any democracy, or a democratic Republic, simply because man’s greed always overcomes his good sense—both individually and as a government.  Remember my simple principle of economics:  “If your outgo exceeds your income it will be your downfall.”

Currently, the debt is over $27 Trillion dollars, [SLIDE] or over $83,000 per person growing at something like $45 per second—IF WE STOPPED ADDING TO IT BY TRILLIONS A YEAR!.  As I said, scholars of history have known the crippling power of debt for centuries.  Here’s what one history scholar said about why economic policies kill nations:  “A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”  [SLIDE]

That is the warning of Alexander Tytler, a Scottish nobleman and professor of history in the 19^th Century.  He developed what his called the Tytler Cycle. [SLIDE] I’ve included a copy in your notes.  Democracies, or democratic republics cycle from the birth of freedom to the death in tyranny in about 200 years on average.

During the Covid pandemic alone the government has committed almost $4 trillion in relief, with almost $3 trillion disbursed.  Did the government just sell $3 trillion in gold to someone?  No, all those stimulus packages are “monopoly money.”  They are just increased borrowing against our nation’s future, almost certainly guaranteeing our future will be very bleak.  How much is a Trillion Dollars?  If a person spent $1 million every day since Jesus was born, you would still not have spent a trillion dollars. 

I want to take a “video pause” for just a minute to try to demonstrate the enormity of the U.S. Dept [VIDEO]

US Debt of $20 Trillion Visualized in Stacks of Physical Cash - YouTube

One very big contributing factor to the reason America is no longer a superpower in a few short years is a crushing economic implosion.

❷ Crippling Encroachment (Attack) by Foreign Power 

Many people worry, and with some good reason, of an attack from another nation, perhaps Russia, China, or North Korea.  I think that type of devastating attack would almost certainly require some kind of nuclear attack, which would be self-defeating for any nation making that move.  During the Cold War we referred to this as “MAD”—or Mutually Assured Destruction.  So, I don’t think a military attack from beyond our borders is what contributes to our demise as a superpower.

I don’t worry so much about an attack from beyond our borders as I do an invasion across our borders. On January 21, one day after Biden signed a sweeping executive order eliminating deportations and ending the examination of non-citizens at the border BEFORE they entered the US, a caravan of thousands of people from Honduras seeking entrance into the US.  Here’s what one report said, “Mark Morgan, Acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner, believes that the migrant caravan could in fact contain as many as 5,000 people. He blames the Biden administration for this crisis. Ken Cuccinelli, acting DHS Deputy Secretary, said that the caravan is “an absolute human Petri dish opportunity for the transmission” of the CCP virus. He warned that the new strains of the virus might enter America through these people.”

A nation without borders cannot sustain itself as non-citizens take more resources than citizens can provide.  A nation cannot survive this “open border” policy that invites a migrant invasion. It is not a matter of humanitarianism but of commonsense policy.

Not a “nuclear” attack from beyond our borders but “non-citizens” encroaching in massive numbers across our borders.  Recall from our texts in Psalms and Acts, and there are others, God establishes nations. There can be no nation if there are no borders.  Open borders equals chaos.

Notice what is part of the curse for a nations that has rebelled openly against God, as ours has (Deuteronomy 28:33):  “A people you don’t know will eat your land’s produce and everything you have labored for.” [SLIDE]  Hear this:  open borders are not the “cause” of our calamities in the U.S., but part of the curse for not honoring God. The border crisis is a symptom, not the disease.

❸ Contaminating Crud of Moral Depravity

Over 40 years ago, a beloved Christian evangelist, Vance Havner, spoke directly about America’s rapidly deteriorating moral foundations.  He said, “At the rate America is decaying morally, we should change our national symbol from an eagle to a vulture!” [SLIDE] And, that was 40 plus years ago long before Same-sex marriage, and a man by the name of Bruce Jenner would be voted Glamour Magazine’s “Woman of the Year.” In accepting this award, Bruce Jenner [SLIDE] (man-becoming-a woman) said, ““I never in a million years thought that I would be here.”  Well, Vance Havner would have certainly said the same thing if he were alive in 2015.  (He died in 1986).

As I have noted before, Ronald Reagan once said, “America is great because America is good. When we cease to be good, we will cease to be great.”  Someone else has said, “When we are no longer One Nation Under God, we will be One Nation Gone Under.”

The contaminating crud of moral filth flows into American life like a busted four-inch pipe pump at a sewage treatment plant pumps raw sewage into the streets.  The stench from the moral decay of America is hard to imagine. During his reign of terror, Hitler brutally murdered at least 12 million Jews, disabled people, Slovakians, gypsies, black people, and other persons considered, undesirable.” In most peoples’ minds, Hitler is a personification of the Devil, himself.  Yet, in just one year, 2020, America murdered over 42.7 million babies!  A baby can be legally killed by decapitation while she is in the birth canal entering this world.

Just the moral depravity of the abortion slaughter is enough for God to utterly despise America and rain down upon us the full weight of His wrath.  Consider Romans 1:24-28.  Listen for the repetition of a very significant phrase:

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.

The phrase, “God gave them over,” is repeated three times. It comes from one word, “paredōken, literally means, “to give something to someone.” It is in the active voice. It is not merely the fact that God takes the Hand of His blessing from a morally depraved nation, but He actually “gives them to the Devil.” Henry Alford, a nineteenth century Greek scholar of great note, said this about paredōken: “not merely permissive, but judicial . . . the divine wrath hardens men, and hurries them on to more fearful degrees of depravity.”

When a nation becomes so contaminated with the creeping crud of moral depravity, they have crossed the line of no return.  Now, look at where this text in Romans draws the line of no return.  Verse 24:  “Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.”

Then, that sexual impurity is further described verses 27-28:  “The males in the same way also left natural relations with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. 

Here's an important point to note. Once a society embraces “rampant homosexuality,” they have already passed the point of no return.  America passed that point on June 26, 2015, when the Highest Court in our land declared Same-sex marriage as the law of our land. People cheered in the streets and Obama, president at that time, had the White House lit up to resemble the Gay Pride Flag.  [SLIDE]  Trump turned American away from embracing Gay Activism.  Biden is turning America back.  His Ass’t Secretary of Health is a man who thinks he is a woman.  Rachel Levine used to be Richard Levine. [SLIDE]

Our crippling economic crisis, the creeping encroachment of illegals invading our borders, and the contaminating crud of the total moral collapse of our society has guaranteed that America will soon no longer be a superpower on the world stage.  

NOW LET ME NOTE:  Don’t despair. This does not mean that there will not be a great harvest of souls yet gathered into the ark of God’s salvation. America’s chapter as a superpower may be coming to an end but the work of the church is just getting started.

The crippling economic crisis, the creeping encroachment of non-citizens at our borders and the contaminating crud of moral depravity alone would knock, and has knocked, any nation off the world stage.

But, there is one more event—the most cataclysmic event to date in human history that will utterly fracture the America’s foundations, and also the world’s.

❹ Catastrophic Fracture of the Rapture

I cannot say how long it will be before America really crashes and burns as a superpower and is absorbed into the “toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue” (Dan. 2). It may be hours, maybe days, perhaps even a few years (though I don’t think our time is going to be measured in years).  I believe the Bible indicates that one final event will be the catastrophic event that sends America into absolute chaos—and I don’t think “absolute” is even a strong enough term.

The Bible tells us, (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18):  “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. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

[SLIDE] This refers to the “rapture,” or the “snatching away” of God’s people from the earth.  The word translated, “caught up,” is “harpāzō. It means to “take something forcefully or quickly.” We get the word, “rapture,” from the influence of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Bible.  “Rapere” in Latin means to “kidnap, or snatch away.”

Now imagine in the United States what kind of chaos will ensue when in one catastrophic event literally millions of Christians vanish. Here’s one prophecy teacher’s description of what will follow when millions of Christians are snatched away in the rapture: [SLIDE]

“Jumbo jets plummet to earth as they no longer have a pilot at the controls [assuming the co-pilot is also a Christian].  Driverless busses, trains, subways, and cars will cause unimaginable crashes. Students will sit staring at the front of the classroom where once there was a teacher. Doctors and nurses will seem to have abandoned patients in the middle of surgeries. Doctors and nurses will stand holding surgical instruments over an empty table where there once was a patient. Fires and explosions may rage from stoves and appliances left unattended. Panic grips every household and city in the country (D. Jeremiah. 97).”

The “catastrophic fracture” from billions of people globally being snatched away will cause such incredible panic that the world will cling to any “messiah figure” that can offer hope and order.  Enter:  the Anti-Christ.

Everything will change in one catastrophic moment.  For those that are “Left Behind,” and not taken in the rapture, the changes will be more horrible than anyone can imagine.  But, what about those of us taken in the rapture?  We will also undergo a cataclysmic, eternal change.  Paul says in 1Cor. 15:52: 

“in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.”

That change will be beyond spectacular.  This reminds me of an old hillbilly who took a trip to New York City.  He’d never been out of his little town in the hollers of Appalachia before.  His wife and daughter were shopping and the man and his son were just in the mall taking in the sights.  The man noticed a set of metal doors that opened and an old lady walked in.  The doors closed behind her.  About a minute later, the doors opened again and out walked a beautiful young lady with flowing blonde hair.  The old hillbilly nearly swallowed his tongue and said to his boy, “Quick son! Go get your Momma’! I’m gonna’ run her through that machine.”

The Rapture is the event that changes everything in the twinkling of an eye.  Sadly, for our nation, it will utterly fracture the already crumbling foundations.

[SLIDE] Crippling Economic Implosion, Crushing Encroachment of Illegals across our borders, the Contaminating crud of moral decay in our society all contribute to the fall of America from a place as a superpower, but the Catastrophic Fracture of the Rapture will utterly destroy our nation. 

Is America a major player in the Biblical prophecy of the Last Days.  No, she is not.  As hard as that is for people to accept, it is the sad reality.  Nobody can say exactly when any prophetic event will take place, but all the signs point to it be very, very close. There are no additional prophetic signs or events that must be fulfilled before the Rapture.

As we leave this morning, I want to remind us of the purpose for prophecy in the Bible.  Over half the Bible is prophecy, and 100% of the Bible’s message is to prepare us for heaven.  The situation in America in the immediate future might see a brief period of seeming prosperity and revival—or it may not.  All the signs of a coming cataclysmic closure to human history are lining up like never before in history.  America, as we have learned, is not a superpower at the end.

So, are you READY?  Are all your loved ones ready?  The rapture is just around the corner. Have you given your life to Jesus Christ?  

America in Prophecy: Or, Is It? Part 1

 January 31, 2021                       NOTES NOT EDITED
America in Prophecy—Or, Is It?  Part 1
Acts 17:24; Psalm 9, esp. vss 16-20

 SIS: The decline of America as a world power is a major step toward the coming End of the World, and Christians, especially in America should step up efforts to win the lost.

America has indeed been a glorious example of God’s Providence upon a people, second only to Israel.  **SUN RISING OVER D.C.***  Reagan:  ***shining city on a hill***  Also said, **Am. is great because America is good****.  Many of our Founders spoke of the “manifest destiny” of America referring to a special touch of God’s Providence they felt fell upon this new experiment in nation-building.  Yet Benjamin Franklin upon existing the Constitutional Convention after signing that great document was approached by a lady.  She asked him, “Sir, what have you given us.”  Franklin replied, “a Republic.”  Then, he added what is a prophetic statement, “if you can keep it.” The average age of a democracy or republic throughout history has only been about 200 years.  We are 50 years past that and the signs of our decline are in our face. 

Mark Hitchcock, to whom I am much indebted for what I know and preach about the Last Days, travels all over the world preaching on Bible prophesy.  He is also an adjunct professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.  His knowledge of Bible prophecy is broad and deep.  He has remarked on several occasion that most often asked question from an audience in regard to Bible prophecy is some version of, “What about America in Bible prophecy.”  He even remarked that in a recent meeting in Canada the first question that came up was, “Where is America in Bible prophecy?”  He was in Canada and they wanted to know about America! 

It is hard for many people in the U.S. to accept but the reality is this:  the Bible has nothing to say about America directly or indirectly as a major nation on the historical scene during the Last Days of human history.

Now, there are certainly many other nations, and cities mentioned but not the United States or any US city.  Israel and Jerusalem are mentioned many times in Bible prophecy. In fact, Israel is at the very center of God’s story of mankind.  Babylon in Iraq is mentioned.  Ezekiel 38 lists other Last Days Nations.  Some are mentioned by their current name, others are mentioned as ancient territories settled by the different tribes of the sons of Noah.  Before I give you a list of those nations, lets get a BRIEF OVERVIEW of the timeline of God’s redemptive story.  

The End Times Clock started ticking with the Ascension of Christ as we entered the “Church Age.” In 1948 Israel became a nation again, the key element in Last Days theology.  The next event on the Last Days Time-Line has always been the “Rapture” quickly followed by a Seven Year Tribulation, with two great battles serving as bookends.  Ezekiel 38 tells of the Battle of Gog and Magog.  Revelation 16 speaks of the final battle, Armageddon.  This will be the Second Coming of Christ and the beginning of the 1000 year reign on earth called the Millennium.  Satan, who has been bound for 1000 years, will be released and a brief battle will utterly conquer him and consign him to final judgement.  The Great White Throne Judgement will take place and saints will live forever in heaven while those who rejected Christ will suffer forever in hell.  Today, our study lands in the region of the Rapture—the next great event on the Last Days Time-line. [SLIDE] 

Now, let’s go back to review the National Actors in the final scenes of human history.  Here’s a slide point out these actors.  Ezekiel 38 lists the nations as: Gog of Magog, or Russia (or Rosh); Mechech, or Central Asia; Tubal, or Turkey, Southern Russia; Persia, or Iran; Cush, or Sudan and Ethiopia, Put, or Libya; Gomer, or Turkey; Many peoples with you, or other Islamic nations. This is the battle at the beginning of the seven year tribulation. A revived Roman Empire including Western Nations, China and India come into play at the end of the seven years of tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon. 

The Bible also lists Israel and the cities of Jerusalem and Babylon as major Actors on the Last Days Stage . . . but, no America.  

Today, I obviously cannot cover all the aspects of the Last Days prophecies in detail.  We will be studying Bible prophecy for the next several weeks, and then I hope we can get into a verse by verse study of Daniel when society opens up more in the Spring, Lord willing.

This morning I want to briefly survey what I call “POSSIBLE SIGHTINGS of America in Prophecy,” which like “Possible Sightings of UFO’s or Big Foot,” the arguments for the USA in prophecy are less than convincing. What I want to spend a little more time on PROBABLE REASONS for the silence of prophecy in regard to America, and then close with PRACTICAL REPSONSES to prophetic teaching. 

1.  POSSIBLE SIGHTINGS of America In Prophecy

❶The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel  Recall from your Bible history
that Israel consisted of ten tribes of the sons of Jacob.  After the death of King Solomon, they were later divided into a Northern Kingdom of Ten Tribes and a Southern Kingdom of Two Tribes:  Judah and Benjamin, referred to as Judah.  In 722 B.C. the Northern Kingdom (referred to as Israel) were conquered and carried off by the Assyrians.  They never reconstituted as a nation in Israel again.  Judah, the Southern Kingdom, would be carried off into captivity in Babylon through three stages beginning in 605 B.C. and ending 70 years later. (Note: there are other ways to calculate the 70 years of Babylonia Captivity).  We know that Judah, the Southern Nation, did return rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple and dwelling in the land.  So, some groups refer to the Northern Kingdom as the Ten “Lost” Tribes of Israel.  Cults like the World-wide Church of God and Herbert W. Armstrong and the Mormon Church use this idea of “Ten Lost Tribes” to build their false doctrines. The Ten Northern Tribes were conquered, but they were not lost.  Anna, in the story of Jesus as an infant in the Temple is of the northern tribe, Asher (Lk. 2:36).  In Rev. 7:4 we see representative from each of the Twelve Tribes in heaven.  This theory is just one of the many, very suspect, sightings of America in prophecy.

I will mention some other “possible sightings.”  ❷Some see America as the “tall and smooth-skinned people” (Isa. 18:2) from a land of “buzzing insect wings.”  They feel this refers to American helicopters and airplanes.  It actually tells us in Isaiah 18:1 that this is Cush, the region of Sudan and Ethiopia. ❸Daniel 7 mentions an a “lion with eagle’s wings” in the prophecy of the Four Beasts. America’s national symbol is an eagle, so people read that back into the passage. This actually refers to the Babylonia King of the Exile, Nebuchadnezzar. ❹Some see the USA in the reference to “merchants of Tarshish” (or “young lions” in some translations) in Ezekiel 3:13. The thinking goes like this:  Tarshish refers to the general region of Spain; Columbus was from Spain; Columbus found America, so Tarshish refers to America.  This type of reasoning is dubious at best. ❺Some people see a possible sighting of America in regard to Babylon in Revelation 17-18.  First of all, Babylon is a city, not a nation.  Second, of the 300 times Babylon is mentioned in the Bible it overwhelmingly refers to the ancient city in what is Iraq today. ❻A similar attempt is made to equate America with the “persecuted woman” of Revelation 12.  Like other “possible sightings” of America in Bible prophecy, this fails scholarly scrutiny. Other fanciful interpretation trying to find America in Last Days prophecy pop up all the time.  None are credible. 

So, the summation of the matter in regard to “possible sightings” of America in Biblical prophecy is this:  there is no credible interpretation of any text that directly or indirectly refers to America.  America, as the superpower we are today, simply does not exist in the final stages of the ending of the world as we know it, which is right around the corner.  This is very troubling, and shocking, for many people to hear—but it is the cold, hard fact of the matter.

 

So, where did America, the dominant superpower today, disappear to and how does it happen so suddenly.

Gray Areas: Preaching Truth in the Marketplace

 

January 24, 2019                                  NOTES NOT EDITED
The Gray Area:  Truth in the Marketplace
1Corinthians 8:1-13

SIS--In a culture drowning in a sea of relativity, believers have the privilege to present the grace of God to a lost world based upon the eternal truth of the Word of God.

Let me begin our study today with one reminder:  It’s never wrong to do right and it is never right to do wrong.  There are issues that are clearly “black and white.”  We don’t need to seek further guidance in these areas, just greater obedience.  For example: “should a Christian give at least ten percent regularly to the church.  The answer is black and white. Yes! Or, should a Christian oppose abortion?  The answer is black and white.  Absolutely.  Abortion is murder.

Other issues appear “gray,” and not black and white.  Like, should a Christian play the Lottery? Should a Christian listen to non-Christian music--even if it is good, 70's rock and roll like Led Zepellin or Lynyrd Skynyrd?  Should Christians go to an R-rated movie--or any movie for that matter. Can a good Christian support the Democrat Party—or Republican Party?  These are just a sampling of ethical questions followers of Christ face.

Some people call these morally problematic issues, "gray areas."  Paul dealt with such a gray area in Corinth in the 1st century:  can a believer eat meat that had been used in a pagan sacrifice? 

The matter we want to address today is, how do we navigate through those issues that the Bible does not directly address? How do we, as Christians, engage the marketplace today where living in the “gray area” of relativity has become the norm. How do we supply biblical, rational, personally satisfying answers to the troubling issues of our day?

Today, we will examine how we push “gray areas” into the Light of gospel truth while seeking to move others closer to meaningful relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's read how Paul dealt with this matter and how we can deal with such "problem areas" today. Paul will show us, as he did the Corinthians, that we can come to a godly conclusion in this matter.  There are FOUR IMPORTANT ASPECTS we must consider.  First, the general PROBLEM of “gray areas” in life; second, we must consider the POWER of Love; third, we must consider the importance of the PERSON of Christ; and fourth, we must consider the PRIVILEGE of offering grace.  Mentally note these considerations as we read.

“About food offered to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him. However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.” (1 Cor 8:1–13)

BACKGROUND:  In Paul’s day, people believed evil spirits would try to invade humans by attaching themselves to the food offered in pagan ritual. The only way to remove these demons was to sacrifice the meat to a god.  Then the meat was eaten in pagan rituals and the excess sold in the market. So, meat offered to idols involved, the actual sacrifice, the religious meal in the temple, and the left-over meat sold in the market, which is where Paul engages the issue.

The actual sacrifice is clearly in the “black” area, as is participating in the religious meal in the pagan temple. No gray area in those regards.

In reality, there was no way to avoid this meat in the marketplace for the most part. This created a huge moral dilemma for Christians in the first century.

As we address the issue of “gray areas” first consider the

1.  The problem of Gray Areas, itself (vv 1-3)

A primary understanding in regard to “gray areas of ethics” is this:  While gray areas may exist within communities, they should never exist in the heart of individuals. We must resolve them.

1 About food offered to idols:  We know that “we all have knowledge.”  Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.  3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

What is a "gray area."  A gray area may be defined as "an area, situation, etc., lacking clearly defined characteristics."

Are there “gray areas” in theology?  Yes, and Paul tells us why this is.  We think we “know” more than we actually “know.”  In verse 1 Paul is being “sarcastic” in his response to the Corinthians. He is not praising their “so-called” knowledge, but actually pointing out it is not sufficient.  The Good News Bible catches this nuance.  “All of us have knowledge”, as they say” (verse 1).  This “so-called” knowledge arises out of a person’s prideful, sinful nature.  It is disconnected from a relationship with Jesus Christ, the true source of all knowledge and truth (Jn. 14:6).  Notice again verse 2:

The Corinthians had a false idea of what “true knowledge” meant.  They saw it a “having superior information.” Paul corrects them saying, you do not know as you ought to know” (2b). Paul defines true knowledge by saying, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (v3).   True knowledge does not arise out of gaining information, but undergoing a transformation.  True knowledge arises out of a relationship with God, that is being “known by Him”  “So-called knowledge” creates “gray areas” because it arises out of human intellect and opinion detached from faith, and how ever spectacular that intellect may be, falls short of the true knowledge that comes from actually knowing the,“Logos” (Jn. 1:1) or foundation of all knowledge, Christ.  The great Christian scholar, Anselm, referred to this relationship between faith and intellect as, “Faith seeking understanding.” Intellect unhinged from faith creates “gray areas” at best, and plunges man into ethical “blackness” at worse.  True knowledge must be founded in a relationship with God in Christ, “being known by God.” Paul is pointing out that “gray areas” in our knowledge arise out of a faulty relationship with God through His Word, not a lack of intellect or information.

Paul is addressing believers who already “knew” that Christians believed there was no True God but Yahweh.  Look at verse 4:

“About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.””

Often, our lives slip into “gray areas” and we need to be reminded where the True Light of Truth can be found.  This brings us to Paul’s second consideration in regard to pushing gray areas into the white light of truth

2. The Centrality of the PERSON of Jesus Christ.

  Verses 5-6 tell us:  “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him.”

Circle that word, “yet,” (KJV, “but”).  This is the grammatical equivalent of slamming on the breaks of a car.  It is a sharp interruption in the syntax of the sentence (NIGTC).  It is like putting what follows in bold letters, underlining it, and highlighting it in bright yellow.

Paul is saying to us today, “yes, people have all kinds of views and all kinds of arguments for what they believe in, BUT the only thing that matters is, Jesus Christ.”  In essence Paul is stating, “There is not gray area in regard to Christ.  His Perfect Light eliminates any question of what is right or wrong, good or bad.  Our goal in speaking with people in the marketplace, whether at the grocery store or social media, it to “get them to Christ!”  IT DOES ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD TO WIN AN ARGUMENT BUT LOSE A SOUL.  Truth matters, but it matters for a reason.

People speak today as if “Truth” is established by who has the best argument.  Or, still yet, others believe that there is no “real, absolute truth” and everything is “gray.”  Paul holds up a big STOP SIGN and says, “Not so!”  In Christ there is no “darkness” (no gray) at all.  1John1:5 explains it this way,

“Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.”

A person can know everything there is to know about the Bible and any other subject under heaven, BUT still fall short of true knowledge which is based upon a relationship with God through Christ.  Paul goes on to discuss further the importance of the Person of Christ as a “model” for marketplace engagement.  We follow not only the words of Christ, but the example of Christ’s life.

Notice the absolute nature of the language used in describing Jesus Christ:   one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him.”

Note the parallel made between God and Jesus.  Jesus is God.  His Truth is God’s Truth because He is God.  This is Paul’s way of establishing the ABSOLUTE, FINAL, AND COMPLETE truth found in the Word of God.  John establishes the relationship between Jesus and the Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jn1:1

The written Word of God is authenticated by the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ. They are TRUE, and ABSOLUTELY true.  Any attempt to dispel the “gray” of a situation apart from searching the written Word of God by way of a relationship with the Living Word of God will always lead to error and darkness.  “Gray areas” develop when human opinions masquerade as God’s pronouncements. 

When faced with ethical “gray areas” our appeal must be to Jesus Christ as revealed in the Word of God.  The PERSON of Christ is a preeminent consideration in all ethical matters.

Now with a solid understanding of what causes and cures the “gray areas” of life, lets’ go back and pick up another very important consideration for how a Christian should engage others in the marketplace of ideas.  Consider

3.  The POWER of Love.

“¹About food offered to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.”

Knowledge puffs up—love builds up.  There are many divisive issues—important issues—we are faced with today.  Some, are literally life and death issues, like the prospect of “death panels” if our government pushes us into socialized medicine.  We already see the seeds of these “death panels” in regard to the life-saving Covid vaccines. When healthcare becomes scarce, health services must be rationed.  Someone else decides who will live and who will die.

In Hitler’s Germany there was actually a mathematical formula that determined who was “essential” to society, and who was not.  You can imagine where the Jewish people landed in regard to that equation.  History shows us clearly, and sadly, how important discussions of right and wrong are in society.

So, what we need to understand is that this study of how to push “gray areas” into the Light of God’s Truth is extremely important—even to the extent of being matters of life and death.

Our text tells us, “in order to understand and to navigate the divisive and even explosive discussions in the marketplace, we must have something more than “superior knowledge.”  We need a “superior love!”  Some people are thrilled to have a “superior” knowledge of the Bible, and are not bashful about letting others know; but, knowledge lead to pride, Paul says, and we know that “pride goes before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).

Knowledge is important, but love is more important. Years ago, somebody wise (I don’t even remember who) told me, “Nobody cares what you KNOW until they KNOW that you CARE!”

In forty-three years of ministry I’ve never seen someone “argued” into a relationship with Jesus Christ!  I am not saying that knowledge is not important, but only repeating what Paul is saying, “knowledge is not MOST important.”

When we engage people in the marketplace, what’s in our heart is eternally more powerful than what is in our head!

Let’s come around now to a practical application of the Biblical teaching on “resolving gray areas in the marketplace.”  Consider,

4.  The PRIVILEGE of presenting Grace.

Verse 7 Paul states, “not everyone has THIS knowledge.” Understanding Paul’s teaching in regard to “how we resolve gray areas of life,” verse 7 is key.  It begs the questions, “who” are the “everyones,” and what knowledge does “this” knowledge refer to?

In verse 1 Paul says, “we all [everyone] has knowledge.” This cannot be a knowledge of Christ leading to salvation, because clearly not everyone is saved.  I would translate verse 1 as, “everyone has an opinion.” We all possess “information.”  In verse 1 there is no article, such as “the, or this” before knowledge. It is just, general knowledge. Some scholars refer to it as “head knowledge.”

In verse 7 the Word of God puts a specific identifier before knowledge referring to it as “this knowledge” which grammatically points back to what the text just discussed:  the PERSON of Jesus Christ.  Paul is saying, “Everyone does not have a relationship with Christ, even if they have some general knowledge about Him.”

Some scholars believe that this “everyone” refers to “weak Christians.” This interpretation creates a problem in explaining how a person can be a “Christian” and not know that there is no God but Christ! This interpretation is further complicated by the fact that vs 7 also says, “they habitually practice idolatry.” The words in the CSB translated, “so used to,” or the NASB, “being accustomed,” refer to a habit, or on-going practice.  It is hard to see how any “true” believer could “habitually” participate in a pagan ritual.  It is probably wise to just assume such a habitually pagan person is not a Christian.

This is where the idea of grace comes in.  Regardless of whether Paul is referring to “extremely confused believers,” or actual “non-believers” we have the PRIVILEGE of presenting the grace of God with them bringing them further into the Light of Truth.  As I’ve said before, “our goal of engaging in the marketplace is not to win arguments, but win souls.” We have the privilege of sharing the same gift of grace we have received with others.

Grace means, the unmerited favor of God.  It refers to the “free gift of salvation” provided by the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.  We who have received grace have the privilege of presenting it to others. 

Everything in what Paul says in verses 8-12 should be seen as contrasting our “right to express our knowledge with the privilege of showing God’s grace.”  Keep that in mind as we read these verses:

“8 Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ.”

Paul clearly tells us: “the issue is not the food people put in their mouths” but the content of “what is in their hearts.” We must not get bogged down in “straining gnats and swallowing camels” (as Jesus said, Mt. 23:24).  When engaging with others in the marketplace the goal is not get them to experience our superior knowledge, to experience the “grace of God that leads to salvation.” 

The problem of living in a “gray area” is vividly described in two terms used in verse 9 and verse 11.  In verse 9, the word translated, “stumbling block” refers to a major hindrance, usually in reference to a fall.  Asserting our knowledge without presenting God’s grace, “hinders” the person’s relationship with Christ.  The second word used in verse 11, is “destroyed, ruined.” It is as bad as it sounds.  It means destroyed, from the word, appolumi, which is related to the name given the Devil in Rev. 9:11, Apollyon, or The Destroyer. 

Follow Paul’s line of thinking in regard to showing our knowledge instead of presenting God’s grace.  It is a hindrance, it is destructive and to further show how bad this is Paul calls it, in verse 12, “sinning against Christ.”  The work of Christ was not to correct man’s worldly thinking but to change one’s eternal trajectory! 

Gray areas of life obscure what is essential, what is eternal.  Gray areas are a type of “theological limbo” where what is incidental, “eating food that had been offered to idols,” obscures what is essential, “establishing and maintaining a walk in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.”

As we summarize what Paul has taught in regard to “gray areas” of life, let us understand clearly that the entire purpose of a believer’s life is to present the saving grace of God in Christ to those we encounter in the marketplace.

Let me conclude by showing that Paul completely elucidates, brings into the light of truth, the gray area.  Look at verse 13:

“Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.”

After considering what causes the problem of gray areas, and considering the centrality and importance of the person and work of Christ, and considering the power and preeminence of love, and finally considering the privilege of presenting the saving grace to others, he declares:  “I just give up any activity that would be a possible hindrance to others coming to know Christ.” (v13, paraphrased)

So, when people say to me, “I have a right to drink wine [OR INSERT ANY ACTIVITY],” my reply is simply, “Yes, and I have the privilege to present the grace of God to others by removing that activity that could become a hindrance.”

Engage people in the marketplace by pushing gray areas into the Light of the Truth in a spirit of grace and love.