JanMary

a. The believers who came to Christ during the great Tribulation (after the rapture of the Church), and who remain on earth, as well as unbelievers from the nations "to inquire and seek knowledge" from Him (Isaiah 11:10) "will be gathered from the 4 corners of the earth" to the Messiah when He descends to earth with His raptured Bride, to set up His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem. ....the Shepherd will call and His "sheep" will come to worship in Jerusalem from all nations. (His bride who returned with Him will be reigning with Him...having finally come into the authority He promised. b. There will be believers and seekers from all nations, including the believing Jews scattered throughout the world who will have been evangelized by the 144,000 Jewish evangelists who recognized Jesus as their Messiah after the rapture and during the great tribulation, whom scripture says "were sealed and protected from Anti-Christ's" destruction.( Rev 14) c. This is referring to Jesus' Second Coming, since Jesus does not descend to earth at the rapture, nor is He visible at that time to unbelievers. The Church's rapture will be an event which will stun those left here on earth having happened in a "twinkling of an eye" when His trumpet sounds from Heaven. The dead in Christ will rise and the believing Bride will follow to meet them in the air, then to celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven for 7 years, while the earth is experiencing God's wrath during the 7 years of tribulation under Anti Christ's wicked reign. (Believers born again before the rapture will be delivered from the wrath of God! Romans 5:9 but many more will be saved during the Tribulation) d. No one knows the day nor the hour, only the Father, Jesus said, but the countdown for the "last days" began in 1948 when Israel was ratified once again as a nation. On May 14, 2018 Pres. Trump moved America's embassy to Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of their rebirth, recognizing Jerusalem as their capital, and other nations are following. We could be called "up" at any time.

a. It uses word pictures of the animal kingdom...natural enemies lying down in perfect peace with one another. b. Perfect peace...with Messiah reigning on His earthly throne from "His Holy hill". c. The entire world. d. Satan will be locked in a prison dungeon for the 1,000 year reign of Messiah on the earth. The entire earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. e. Due to the knowledge of the Lord which means: Personal intimate relationship with Jesus, rather than knowledge about Him. f. Every knee will bow in Heaven and on earth...no one left wondering any longer.. Universal.

a. Jesse was David's father. b. Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Power and Might, Knowledge of Yahweh, Fear of the Lord. c. He will be the ultimate Judge, without the limitations of a human monarch who judge based on witness testimony or evidence. Jesus will judge based on His knowledge of the human heart and its' motives, in righteousness and truth. d. The Poor and needy, weak and powerless. e. He will strike the earth with the Rod of His Mouth...and will slay the wicked. (hell will be their punishment for rejecting His gift of eternal life).

a. Fallen nature wants to feel POWERFUL, and what better way than to suppress and put the foot on the of the weak and powerless? (Jesus compared the unbelievers as Goats! (They are always jockeying and fighting to be the leader and to get on the highest place of advantage) b. We can pray for our leaders who make and implement those laws, and we can and MUST vote for good and honest leaders, before that privilege is taken from us. c. We can reach out and give and serve in areas where we feel led and we can and must speak out on behalf of those who have no voice (especially for the unborn who cannot speak). We are His voice, His hands and His feet in this world, to spread the good news that He came to seek and to save the lost, the fallen, "who so ever" sees their need and will come to Him.

a. He is a trap and a snare to all who believe their own works and "righteousness" are sufficient to achieve God's acceptance and eternal life. b. They prefer to go their own way, live by their own rules and opinions, ignoring God's only way (His Son's sacrifice and death on the cross for their sins) and end up in hell by "doing it their way". c. A headline in today's newspaper says it all: "The Bible is the enemy of science". To admit that God is Almighty, Righteous and must be obeyed, requires that they be accountable to Him, subject to Him and His Word...and the pride of life ensnares them, keeping them in bondage to self.

a. Prophecy declared Messiah would be born, both human and Deity, having no end, yet always having existed. The Text makes all of those clear that Jesus, the child born is the Messiah who would sit on David's throne. b. Wonderful Counselor: He is Omniscient. He knows all there is to know about all there is to know! Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing it to huge or too trivial for Him. Mighty God: He is Omnipotent...all powerful. He created the Universe (is even now creating), upholds it all on His shoulders. Everlasting Father: His heart is love. He's the perfect Father Who lives forever and will never leave his children for one second alone. Prince of Peace: He IS peace, willing and able to still all my fears, and to keep me on a stable path with His quiet strength. c. I need His Comfort and Peace to quell the "stuff" going on in just about every area of my life...aging, health issues, family division, provision, change, loss, family deaths, grief and sorrow.

a. God's message to Ahaz through Isaiah was that Syrian King Rezin and Pekah, usurper of the throne of Israel, though planning to wage war against Judah, they would not be allowed to act..."Take heed and be quiet, fear not, neither be faint hearted over threats of these two "stumps of smoking firebrands". b. Ahaz feared man ("sickening dread") more than he trusted the faithfulness of God and His promise. c. II Kings 16: 7-9: Ahaz sent a message to Tiglath-Pileser, King of Assyria to come and save him, accompanied with the temple's and treasuries silver and gold, becoming a vassal. d. His decision to "save his own bacon" with his own methods, brought future trouble upon the whole nation,such as hadn't been seen....stripped of their belongings, leaving Judah with open scorn and shame. e. We rely on our own understanding believing that "a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush". We can't see the unseen realm, so we trust what we can see and understand more readily than what seems impossible to our ears.We like the sure thing, and think we know what that is! Often we disobey because we don't like what we hear, or what is expedient for us. Faith sometimes feels like we're jumping off a cliff with no net to catch us. We learn to trust God more and more as we have experience of His "net" of faithfulness in past "jumps". .

a. God knows the heart of man. He will not force Himself or His truth upon anyone. Some will hear and receive truth (Scripture, the Gospel, prophecy), in gentle words of encouragement. Others, with hardened hearts of rebellion will not receive truth even in cold harsh language. These verses are God revealing the hardness of these people's hearts...in essence He's saying: "Isaiah, go and tell them but they have made up their minds...they will not hear, or see or desire to turn to me in repentance until they are led into captivity. The truth you speak to them now WILL dawn on them at that time and they will cry out for mercy!" b. God's Word will never return void but will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent! (Isaiah 55:11) Isaiah's mission will bear results, in the future, when the people finally wake up to the truth due to their painful consequences. I'm sure Isaiah felt hopeless at the time. c. Anger is always the result of hearing "NO" or boundaries! God was telling them through Isaiah that He was at the end of His patience with them. Isaiah must have felt like his breath was wasted, and of no purpose, carried away on the wind. d. Jesus quoted the parable of the sower. The kernel of truth is hidden in the parable for those seekers who long for truth, and hidden from the hardened hearts until and if they decide that they want to know the truth. e. Yes! Jesus longed for every heart to desire to be saved...to come to Him in humility and accept His grace and outstretched arms of forgiveness. But they are the few who will enter through the narrow gate of truth....the majority will desire to live in their "own truth"...the lie of Satan that they can earn or work their way into Heaven apart from Jesus' sacrifice or that there is no God, and they are the master of their own fate. f. The hope is in the knowledge that there are many ears who will hear and eyes that will see. But the message must be preached to every creature, so that "at that day" there will be no excuse for having rejected His extended hand of Mercy and grace!

a. Isaiah recognized that he too was a sinner. As He recognized God's Holiness and majesty, he said "I'm ruined". He became afraid of God and felt completely unworthy and incapable of speaking God's words to the people. b. The Lord sent a Seraphim to Isaiah with a live coal from the altar to touch Isaiah's lips, saying: "Behold, this coal has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven. (God let Isaiah know that it was to be HIS HOLINESS, not Isaiah's righteousness which would enable him to speak to the people. (Just as Peter was humbled from his prideful boasts about his love (agape) for Jesus, then Jesus said after Peter admitted he only "liked (Phileo) Jesus," Feed my sheep, Tend my lambs". ( In essence, "Feed them with My love, rather than that which you lack in your own strength.) c. Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? (The Triune God) d. Here am I, send me! e. I said "no", or "wait" a few times as a new believer out of fear. I pray that I will not repeat that ever again when sent. I learned early on, that I can do NOTHING apart from Him. Jesus is my example in that He said the same thing. One of my favorite verses is Ps 103:14: "He knows our frame and earnestly remembers and imprints on His heart, that we are dust". (amp.) That removes the fear and pressure from me, and places the weight of the message or service upon His Almighty shoulders, then "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

a. Isaiah was grieving the King's death. The Lord had revealed the "woe's" coming upon Israel for their evil ways, and His anger (v25). These were also Isaiah's friends and neighbors with whom he dwelled. He was downcast and unprepared to be sent out as "God's voice to the people." Now God not only revealed "I AM" to Isaiah in might and power and holiness, He revealed Isaiah to Isaiah (I am undone, I am a man of unclean lips) Isaiah could now go forth in that authority and anointing with revelation knowledge of the God he was representing to the people, and in total dependence upon Him, now that he "saw who he is" in relation to God. b. Isaiah was taken into the supernatural realm where God reigns in power, might, holiness, majesty, glory and honor, high above all of His creation. He saw the Glory, felt the foundations shaking, and heard the sounds of worship and awe accorded to Whom alone is worthy of praise. c. God is Holy, and is the Lord of hosts, and the whole earth is full of His glory!

a. God's vision was for the vinyard to be lush and fruitful...good fruit, a rich harvest b. He dug, trenched, removed the stones from it, planted the choicest vines, built a tower in the midst and hewed out a winepress. c. It yielded a crop of useless wild sour grapes. c. The vintner said He would remove the hedge of protection around it, and it would be eaten and burned up. He broke down it's wall, so it could be trodden by enemies. He would lay it waste, leaving it un-pruned or cultivated, filled with briars and thorns and no rain would fall upon it. d. It is a picture of His beloved people, the house of Israel and the men of Judah who rejected Him. Instead of good fruit, he found injustice, oppression, bloodshed, rather than justice and righteousness.

a. This prophecy tells us that Jerusalem and the worship of Messiah Jesus will include the Gentiles. b. This same prophecy tells us that the Jews and Gentiles will be united in oneness...in the corporate worship of the One True God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (By this time in history, the Jews will have discovered that Jesus has always been their Messiah) c. The desire to come to Jerusalem to worship will be driven by spiritual hunger, .. ..that "He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths." d. Nations will live at peace with one another...Turning "spears into pruning hooks" to produce food rather than to kill and make war. Jesus will decide disputes, rather than wars being fought to settle differences. "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!"

a. God had created sons, to be great and exalted, to worship Him and to be His people, holy and separate from the nations around them. They rebelled and broke away from Him, alienated and sinful, yet demanding His blessing. b. Rebellious Christians spend time in wilderness living, having turned away from intimacy with their Lord, living confused and compromised lives, wasting time and are useless to the Kingdom of God until they repent and return to their Father. c. Praying much, but with blood on their hands, evil doing, promoting injustice, oppressing others, especially the orphans and widows. d. They wanted His blessing and favor while living apart from Him in sin and rebellion, and to turn a blind eye on their evil ways. He offered them cleansing and restored sonship with Him when/ if they would repent and live in obedience.

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 3:9-16) Why do so many churches avoid exercising any church discipline? Fear, intimidation, not wanting to "hurt feelings", backlash, losing numbers if some are offended, wanting to be liked rather than respected. What is the result of a thoughtful and appropriate application of church discipline? Growth and maturity in the body! Setting a good example! A healthy church! Strong leadership! Respect for those in authority. Satan's work is hindered, strongholds are torn down, and problems are dealt with rather than being "swept under the rug." What is the result of neglect of church discipline? Jesus said "a little leaven spoils the whole lump". A little sin, disorder, gossip, divisiveness, spreads until the entire church is affected. As others see lack of discipline, the "flesh" will follow whatever it can get by with! Satan gains a stronghold to divide the church, discourage the pastor, and to destroy the sheep!

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) If we were to follow Paul’s rule, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat,” wouldn’t that allow people to starve? No. It sounds harsh. What are the positive results of this rule? It's called "tough love", and teaches one to take responsibility for oneself. The consequence of not being handed provision while sitting on their duff, would be that they would get to work! To whom in a Christian community would this rule apply. To every able bodied one who needs to earn a living! To whom would it not apply? It would not apply to the elderly, infirm, children, widows with young children, those too mentally challenged to earn a living.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9) What kind of example did Paul set with regard to work when he was in Thessalonica? Paul did not shirk or behave in a disorderly way, but instead with toil and struggle worked night and day so as to not burden anyone with his support. He worked at his trade as tentmaker and then worked tirelessly teaching and discipling and sharing the gospel. As a Christian worker, did he have a right to support? Yes! Paul taught that the Christian worker was entitled to support, and "not to muzzle the ox when it was treading the grain!" The Thessalonians who were idle and slothful, were waiting for the rapture any day, so they just sat and waited and busied themselves with meddling and gossip instead of working to provide for their families. Why didn’t he exercise that right? He preferred to be an example to those who were idling, to demonstrate that on one knows the day nor the hour of the rapture, so to keep on "hoeing the garden" as St. Francis of Assisi said when asked what he would do if he knew Christ was coming today!

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15) What does the Bible teach about sloth and idleness among those who can work but refuse to? Summarize it briefly. What is our Christian duty? We are to follow Paul's example! Work in order to provide a living for our family and to help those who can't, so as to not be a burden on others. Slackers who won't work mustn't come to the "feed trough" looking for handouts from those who do work. Further, he added, do not associate with those who are slothful, so that they may be ashamed!

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5) Why is perseverance so important as we see wickedness increasing? As the world gets darker we will shine more brightly, reflecting the Light of Jesus to draw the lost to Him. We are the island in the sea of chaos and evil for those around us who are seeking refuge and answers. It is necessary for us to persevere, both for the Lord to be glorified in and through us, and for the furtherance of the spread of the gospel! He has promised us victory! He IS the victory. What happens if we stop believing and being patient? Satan gains a foothold in causing despair and depression in the saints of God. We will sink in the mire and need rescuing instead of being rescuers for the unsaved! He has called us to REST IN HIM and to be patient in suffering, even as Jesus "learned obedience through the things that He suffered." The servants are not above our Master and when called to suffer, to remember Whose we are and to lean on His promised comfort and assurance. How can we help one another persevere? We are called to watch over one another, studying how we may admonish, warn, urge, and encourage one another. (Heb. 10:24) We encourage by pointing each other to Jesus when we see someone sinking and flagging. We can remind each other of who we are in Christ, and pray for one another so that no one sinks into hopelessness. We are to listen and be alert and to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. What part does faith and perseverance have in our salvation? We are saved by grace, and we walk by faith. Perseverance is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, imparted by Him as we cling to Him in spite of painful and long trials and waiting, "working" or walking out our salvation. It's His character being worked into us as He conforms us to His image as we trust Him. What part does God’s redemption and grace have in our salvation? Here is what the Lord showed me one day when I was thanking Him for my salvation: The Father chose me and gave me to Jesus as His love gift. The Holy Spirit wooed and pursued me and led me to Jesus. Jesus saved and redeemed me and gave me to His Father as His love gift. My part was to say Yes to this unspeakably gracious and wonderful invitation imparted by our Triune God and Savior!

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) What makes people so gullible that they believe the Antichrist’s deceptions? The unsaved love the darkness, and power. The deceptions and miraculous signs and lying wonders will be attended by great power, provided by the Prince of Darkness, the Father of Lies! They want and are attracted to power, but do not love the Truth and shun the Light. What is the reason that God gives them over to this deception? He does this because they rejected and did not welcome the Truth (His Son Jesus) when He came, that they might be saved in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in the Truth, but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness. (in other words, those will have no excuse at the judgment and can blame no one but themselves and their conscious choices.) Why is a fearless seeking of God’s truth so important to us? Jesus told us "If you abide in My word, you are my disciples. And you will KNOW the Truth and the Truth will set you free." And "All Truth is embodied and personified in Jesus". John 4:21. We seek Jesus Who is Truth. We have an enemy, the deceiver who's goal is to lead us away from Truth, into error and destruction and deception....to give him place in our lives to reign in bondage over us, and away from freedom and a life that will glorify Christ! How can a preaching of the truth set people free? Paul said in Romans, How can they believe if they don't HEAR, and how can they HEAR if one is not sent? People need the opportunity to HEAR the truth in order to make a decision about what to believe. We're born into Adam's sin and darkness and will stay there until hell, unless the Truth is presented so that those who are hungry can choose the Light of the World, Jesus, (or to choose to remain in darkness).Many know they are in bondage and are "stuck", unable to get free on their own and welcome having their chains loosed through the Truth!

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5; Revelation 13:5-8) What are the characteristics of the Antichrist that Paul gives in this passage? 1. The man of lawlessness (sin) 2. The son of Perdition (empowered by Satanic power) 3. He exalts himself against and over all that is called God. 4. He seats himself in the temple. 5. He proclaims that he himself is God. 6. Paul warns God's people about this anti-Christ man. What does Revelation 13:5-8 add to our basic understanding? 1. He is called the Beast. 2. He is given the power of speech to utter boastful and blasphemous words. 3. He is given freedom to exert his authority and his will during 3 and a half years. 4. He slanders God, blasphemes His Name and His abode. 5. He vilifies those who live in Heaven. 6. He is permitted to wage war on God's holy people and to overcome them. (those saints who come to Christ after the Rapture) 7. He is given power to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. 8. He is paid homage and "falling down adoration" by all the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been recorded in the Lamb's book of Life.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) In what way were the Thessalonians confused? The Thessalonians were alarmed and fearful that they had been left behind in the Rapture or departure of the church and The Day of the Lord had arrived on earth, due to false reports and deception. What is the order of Christ’s coming in relation to the revealing of the Antichrist? The Rapture or departure of the Bride of Christ into Heaven. The rebellion. The Anti-Christ is revealed. Then the Day of the Lord (Joel chapter 2).

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) How might you describe Christ’s glory? "The city has no need of the sun nor the moon to give light to it; for the splendor and radiance, (glory), of God illuminate it, and the lamb is its lamp." (Rev 21:23) I think of His glory like lightning streaking across the black sky....all power and majesty and brilliance, and radiance, almost blinding to human eyes. Comparing it to the brightest form of light we see, would be like comparing the difference between lightning and a lightning bug, as Mark Twain once said. (although he was talking about something else, but I've always liked that) How will his glory be terrifying to unbelievers? The Apostle John, who knew and loved Jesus and walked with Him while He was on earth, "fell at His feet as if dead" when He saw Jesus in all His glory on the Isle of Patmos.(Rev 1:17) I can only imagine what an unbeliever will do, other than faint or have a heart attack from sheer terror! If heaven involves sharing this glory forever, what would it be like to be excluded forever from the glory? It would be sheer torment and hell! The worst kind of self imposed punishment, because one is there by choice! In what ways is the phrase “outer darkness” a helpful description of hell? Outer darkness, is shut away from all source of Light. Every kind of evil, and the source of all Evil will reign there in that utter blackness, with no escape and no hope of ever being released. It makes me shudder to think of it!

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) According to verse 9, what kind of punishment will unbelievers experience? They will suffer everlasting punishment. One definition of “hell” is “a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.” What parts of this definition are confirmed in verse 9? The amp. defines this place as: everlasting ruin, destruction and perdition, eternal exclusion and banishment from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Which parts of the definition trouble you? Why? Eternity is a long time to suffer....forever without end, knowing that one had the opportunity to be with Christ in His glory forever, and instead there will be no escape ever, from the choice to reject His offer of grace and mercy. That it is so final and yet so unavoidable if the right choice is made, is why it troubles me. He invites everyone and compels (gentle pressure) everyone, yet so many will ignore His yearning for them to come to Him. The entire Trinity is involved in that compelling invitation: The Father chose me and gave me to His Son as His love gift. The Holy Spirit woos and pursues me and leads me to Jesus. Jesus saved and redeemed me, and gave me to His Father as His love gift. That one can ignore and reject Him just plain grieves me, and that they will have to live with their decision for eternity.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) Would God be just if he did not punish sin? No, He would not be just. Thank God He punished sin once and for all on the Cross when Jesus suffered and died for the sins of everyone on earth. For God to punish a believer would be double jeopardy, and He doesn't do that. However those who refuse to accept Jesus as their sacrifice for sins, will face eternity in hell....but that is their choice by ignoring God's grace... a consequence of choice, and indeed an unspeakable punishment. For there not to be justice, would mean there had been no real choice and we do have the gift of free will. What is the difference between rehabilitation and retribution? Rehabilitation is to restore to a former capacity or reputation. Retribution is punishment...that given or exacted in recompense. The difference is that rehabilitation is restorative, while retribution is punitive. When does a Christian’s rehabilitation take place? At the moment one receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, and His cleansing blood washes the sins, guilt and shame away. We grow in grace until we "see Him face to face on that day", but from the moment of salvation we are righteous in His sight. When does a sinner’s retribution take place? At the judgment seat of Christ, when one shows up without Christ's robe of righteousness to cover sin. How do you balance love and justice? I think only God is capable of balancing the two. They are two aspects of Who He is...Justice can be "merited reward" or punishment. Sometimes in His dealings, He metes out justice for one who has been wronged, and punishment for the unbelieving one who committed the offense.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? These strengthen us and build endurance, patience, character, and long suffering...qualities which are only "worked" into us. Kind of like steel being tempered...the more pressure, the stronger the metal. The persecution causes us to dig deeper in our faith and to rely on the strength of the Lord instead of our own. It purifies our motives and causes us to stop and think about what is really important in life. James 1:3-4 these "trials prove our faith, so that we become people whose faith is perfectly and fully developed. What would we be like without the testing of our faith? We would be weak "flabby" fleshy Christians...probably strong willed, self serving, self pandering....more than likely not bearing much good fruit which honors the Lord and builds His kingdom.