Why must there be a "tribulation period?"

The tribulation period is a time of great catastrophe on earth.  Many will lose their lives, both those who reject and those who stand for Christ.  Why must this be?  What good could possibly come out of this?  Daniel 9:24-27 answers this question, identifying six goals God will accomplish at the end of the 70 weeks (490 years).  These goals have to do with Daniel’s people and … holy city (i.e. Israel and Jerusalem).  In typical Hebrew poetry, the goals are in pairs.

·        To finish transgression.  To make an end of sins.  The grievous events of this period will usher in the righteous rule of Christ.  The curse of Genesis 3 will be lifted.  Christ will rule with a rod of iron, indicating there will be sin and sinners.  But it will be glorious, a different time than the world has ever known.  What happens in these seven years that makes an end of sin?  Jeremiah 30-31 give the answer.    (Jeremiah calls Daniel’s 70^th Week The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, Jer. 30:7.)  Here is a summary of how God concludes Israel’s sinfulness:

For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you;

Though I make an end of all nations where I have scattered you,

Yet I will not make a complete end of you.

But I will correct you in justice,

And will not let you go altogether unpunished.  (Jer. 30:11)

God will finish correcting Israel (Jer. 30:12-15).  Then, those who devoured Israel will be devoured (Jer. 30:16-17).  Then God will restore Israel so they are truly His people and He their God (Jer. 30:22).  The New Covenant will be the foundation of this restoration when God says I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (Jer. 31:31-34).

·        To make reconciliation for iniquity.  To bring in everlasting righteousness.  God can only forgive Israel’s sin if reconciliation is made and if they can be declared righteous (justified).  This requires the Lamb of God, the Messiah who, as Daniel’s prophecy points out, is cut off, but not for Himself at the end of the 483^rd year (Dan. 9:26).  Everlasting righteousness characterizes the Kingdom which Messiah brings in.

·        To seal up vision and prophecy.  To anoint the Most Holy.  The Most Holy likely refers to the Holy of Holies in the Messianic temple in Jerusalem.  Every vision and prophecy ultimately points to Christ (Rev. 19:10; Lk. 24:25-27; Jn. 5:39).  In Jerusalem, the center of government and worship, Messiah will be a priest on His throne (Zech. 6:12-13; Psalm 110).  At that time, The Kingdoms of this world (will) have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever (Rev. 11:15)

I hope you are encouraged to study the Bible more on these subjects.  But the Bible demands action, response.  These “purposes of God” give insight about His purposes for us.  In the cross of Christ our guilt for sins was also satisfied.  We exalt Christ now by accepting Him and His gracious offer of reconciliation.

Walking as Dear Children

(#893, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 5:1-2.

This "practical" section of Ephesians is in 3 parts:

w    The calling of the Christian, 4:1-16.

w    The conduct of the Christian, 4:17-6:9.

w    The conflict of the Christian, 6:10-24.

ƒ      The essence of our walk: imitate God, v1.

This is associated with the previous chapter where Paul urged the example of God in the matter of forgiveness.  Now he urges it in a more general sense.  This is consistent with the frequent exhortations to exhibit God's likeness (1 Peter 2:21; Matt. 11:29).

How do we do this?  We must do it as "dear children".

    1.  The new birth: "children" suggests that we are begotten of God.  We are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

    2.  Dear (beloved): we do this with affection and love toward the Father.

    3.  We imitate Him through continual association (2Co. 3:18).

    4.  Imitation is the product of dying (2 Cor. 4:8-11).

ƒ      The motive of our walk: love, v2.

The Ephesian church was the one that left it's first love (Rev. 2:4).  Yet much is said of love in this epistle (1:4,15; 2:4; 3:17,19; 4:2,15,16; 5:2,25; 6:23,24). 

This love is measured by Christ's love (v2; John 12:12; 13:34; Eph. 5:25).  Love is the greatest commandment.

Love is here described as a "sacrifice" for Christ gave Himself up out of love (Gal. 2:20).

ƒ      The effect of our walk: sweet-smelling sacrifice, v2.

As Christ's sacrifice is a sweet-smelling aroma, so the life lived out of His love is also acceptable to God. 

Present your bodies to God as a living sacrifice.

Keeping the Unity of the Spirit

(#892, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 4:30-32.

Paul's burden is endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).

w    vs. 4-6: the unities to be kept.

w    vs. 7-16: the gifts encourage and maintain that unity.

w    vs. 17-29: hindrances to unity of the Spirit are to be put off.

w    vs. 30-32: the conclusion or summary.

ƒ      The unifying power -- the Holy Spirit.

It is not a manmade unity.  Only God can bring this about.

w    Grieving the Spirit spoils and hinders the unity of the Spirit.

w    We grieve Him by sin, particularly the sin of corrupt speech.

w    We ought not grieve Him because we have been sealed by that same Spirit.

ƒ      Things that hinder unity.

w    Bitterness: a resentful disposition, the attitude of constant antagonism toward others.  This will trouble, defile and destroy our testimony (Heb. 12:15).

w    Wrath: the fierce mental excitement that springs out of bitterness (Prov. 21:24).  It also springs from lack of love, misunderstanding and pride.

w    Anger: the passion excited by the wrong done to ourselves rather than good anger which is concerned about the wrong done to God.  God forbids this sinful anger (Col. 3:8).

w    Clamor: the cry of strife, a loud outburst of anger.

w    Evil speaking: that which wounds the reputation of others.

w    All malice: a state of mind which closely resembles bitterness or resentment.

All this is to be put away!

ƒ      Things that promote and maintain unity.

w    Kindness: this is associated with love (1Co.13:4), illustrated by God (Titus 3:4) and a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

w    Tenderheartedness: a compassionate sense of the miseries and infirmities of others (Phil. 2:4).  Christ is our example in this (Hb. 4:15).

w    Forgiving one another: though offended we must forgive because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us!

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian and His Walk

(#890, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 4:7-16.

Our theme is taken from such words and phrases as these...

w    v12: perfecting the saints.

w    v12: edifying (building up) of the body.

w    v13: perfect man.

w    v14: no more children.

w    v15: grow up unto Him.

w    v16: increase of the body.

Spiritual maturity and growth has always been a problem in the church.  Paul had it in Corinth (1 Cor. 3).  They were babes in Christ, full of envy, strife and division.  Paul had it in mind when he said "forgetting those things that are behind..." (Phil. 3:13-14).

ƒ      The need for maturity and growth stated, vs. 14-15.

Immaturity is detrimental to the unity of the body.  Maturity involves doctrinal stability (v14) whereby we are no longer children.  In this passage childhood represents immaturity.  The child is bound to the elements of the world (Gal. 4:1-3). The child thinks and understand in a particular way that must be outgrown (1 Cor. 13:11).  Spiritual children are unskillful in the Word (Heb. 5:13).  Individuals must grow to spiritual adulthood for the whole church to grow (v16).

ƒ      The measure of spiritual maturity and growth, v13.

The measure is "the stature of the fullness of Christ."  God's ultimate purpose is conformity to His Son (Rom. 8:29).  Christian growth is the process of being renewed in the image of Christ (Col. 3:10) and to this we labor (Phil. 3:12-14).

ƒ      The method or means of maturity and growth.

w    Gifts are given to the Church by Christ (v7,11).  In Christ there is a fulness answering to all our individual needs.

    1.  Apostles and prophets are foundational gifts (Eph. 2:20).

    2.  Evangelists, pastors and teachers are ongoing gifts.

w    We are joined with Christ (vs. 15-16).  Our growth is related to Christ as the Head and proceeds from His supply.

w    Love ("oil for the joints" according to Spurgeon) enables the growth to take place in the context of the body of believers.

I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Phil. 3:12)