The Thessalonians feared that those who were alive and remained to the parousia—Christ’s presence with his churches in the messianic age—would have some advantage over their dead loved ones (1 Thess 4:15 HCSB). Paul calmed their fears by reinforcing the truth: The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we…
Adam Clarke
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A “perfect” condition requires “perfect” people, a “perfect” relationship to God, and “perfect” knowledge. Paul envisioned all these for the saints: But when that which is perfect (Gk. teleios) has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a…
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Book Of MatthewProphecy
Meditations in Matthew Sixteen: Building the Church
by Mike Rogersby Mike RogersWhat did Jesus mean when he said, “I will build my church”? In last week’s post (here), we defined the terms “church” and “kingdom” as Jesus used them in Matt 16:18–19. The church (Gk. ekklēsia) comprises all persons in covenant relationship with God during the messianic age. The kingdom is…
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The scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus’s disciples for violating a Jewish hand-washing tradition. In his response, he quoted Isaiah 29:13: Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from…
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Book Of 1 ThessaloniansProphecyQuestions and Answers
Paul and the Rapture — Part 3
by Mike Rogersby Mike RogersThe “rapture passage” (1 Thess 4:13–5:11) creates problems for the current prophetic models. Their interpretations implicate Paul in error. They portray him as naïve and inconsistent. They do not take the Olivet Discourse to be “the word of the Lord” to which Paul appeals (1 Thess 4:15), even though the…
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Book Of MatthewProphecy
Meditations in Matthew 4: Christ’s Temptations
by Mike Rogersby Mike Rogers“Matthew . . . is the Gospel of the King and His kingdom.” We have seen this in our previous posts on Matthew. For example, the “little horn” king (Herod) opposed the King (Matt 2). And, John the Baptist preached the gospel of the kingdom (Matt 3:1). In Matthew 4,…