1 Advent - Sunday

first posted 11/27/04

Isaiah 1:1-9,    Rebellious Judah
2 Peter 3:1-10,   The Day of the Lord
Matthew 25:1-13    The Lord’s return

God gave this revelation to Isaiah concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the period leading up to the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, while Judah became a puppet of the Assyrian Empire. God had raised up Israel as his children, but they had rebelled against the Lord. They were dumber than an ox or an ass, because they didn’t know to whom they belonged or who fed them. They were sinful, corrupt and estranged; they had forsaken the Lord. Why would they continue to rebel and be punished? From head to toe they have been injured.

Consider the devastation of country and city; aliens (Assyria) had devastated and overthrown the land. Jerusalem was left like an abandoned shelter made of sticks (or like a hobo’s shelter made of cardboard), like a besieged city. Except for the Lord’s mercy they should have been like Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-28).

Remember the predictions of the holy prophets and keep the commandments of the Lord as taught through the apostles. Realize that there will be scoffers who argue that Christ’s return will never happen. They ignore the fact that the world which existed long ago (at the time of Noah) was destroyed by the word of God by the Flood. The world that exists now has been designated for destruction by fire reserved for the Day of Judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. But don’t overlook the fact that God’s view of time from his perspective in eternity is different than ours.

“With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8; compare Psalm 90:4). It is not slowness, but forbearance, on the Lord’s part, desiring that all might reach repentance and that none should perish. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10; compare Matthew 24:42-44).

Jesus told the parable of the wise and foolish maidens to illustrate the coming of the kingdom of God. It that culture, it was customary for the bridegroom to fetch the bride from her parents’ home to his own. Ten maidens with their lamps were waiting for the groom to arrive. Five had wisely brought extra oil; but the other five were foolish and had brought no spare oil. The groom was delayed, and the maidens fell asleep.

At midnight a cry announced the coming of the bridegroom, and all the maidens arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish maidens’ lamps were running out of oil, and they asked to borrow some oil from the wise maidens, but the wise maidens declined because they needed the oil for their own lamps. So the foolish maidens went to buy from the dealers.

While they were gone, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in to the marriage feast and the door was shut. The foolish maidens returned and asked to be admitted, but the Lord did not know them. Jesus warned his hearers to be alert, because no one knows the day or hour (of the Lord’s return).

Isaiah was trying to warn the Judeans about the consequences of rebellion against God, during the period of Israel’s history when the Northern Kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians and the people were carried off into captivity as the result of God's judgment against Israel's wickedness and disobedience. Judah was on the same course and was heedless of the consequences. Even an ox or an ass knows its owner and who feeds it, but Judah apparently didn’t. Why would they continue to rebel against the Lord and be punished?

Only God’s mercy had kept them from becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah (completely destroyed by fire from heaven in God’s judgment against their wickedness). Judah didn’t learn the lessons of the God’s judgment on the Northern Kingdom, so they repeated Israel's sins and were carried off into Babylonian Exile for seventy years from 587 to 517 B.C.

They didn’t learn the lesson of that exile, and were unprepared for Jesus' coming at the time of his earthly ministry. As a result Jerusalem was conquered by the Romans and the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. (in fulfillment of Jesus’ word; Luke 19: 41-44; Matthew 24:1-2). Israel ceased to exist as a nation, and the people were scattered throughout the world. Only since World War II, has the nation of Israel been reestablished. Judaism effectively ended with the destruction of the temple, which has never been rebuilt.

We are well-advised to remember the predictions of the prophets of the Lord and to do as the Lord has commanded. There are many scoffers today who reject the concept of a Day of Judgment and the Lord’s return. Jesus has promised to return to judge the earth and to save those who have trusted and obeyed him (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus warned that his return will be unexpected, as was the destruction of the world by the Flood in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:36-39).

Jesus is going to return for his bride, the Church, those “born-again” disciples who have trusted and obeyed him and have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the “oil” that causes our spiritual lamps to produce light in the darkness of this world. Christians are called to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). The Holy Spirit is the anointing “oil” of spiritual healing and salvation (The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we belong to Christ and that we have eternal life; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). 

Those who do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ do not belong to him (Romans 8:9b). The anointing (infilling) by the Holy Spirit is a discernable experience which one can know with certainty for oneself (Acts 19:2). The Lord gives the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit only to his disciples who trust and obey him (Isaiah 42:5e; John 14:15-17).  Now is the time to seek and obtain the “oil of salvation;” the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The history of God’s dealing with Israel is also a parable and an allegory which applies to us. The fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the carrying off of the people into captivity as the result of God’s judgment against wickedness and disobedience, which was repeated in the Babylonian exile, and in the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., is a preview of the Day of Judgment, when the Lord will condemn the wicked to eternal death, destruction in Hell with all evil, and eternal exile from his kingdom and his presence. God’s word is absolutely dependable; it has been fulfilled over and over. Are you ready for the Lord’s return?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

1 Advent - Monday

first posted 11/28/04

Isaiah 1:10-20,    God’s judgment on Judah
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10,   Confirmation by the Holy Spirit  
Luke 20:1-8    Jesus’ authority

Isaiah declared God’s judgment upon the rulers and people of Judah, which he refers to as “Sodom” and “Gomorrah” (because of their immorality and rebelliousness; Genesis 18:16-19:28; compare Jeremiah 23:14). The Lord does not delight in the outward forms of worship without inner reverence and obedience. It is futile to try to worship the Lord without repenting and returning to obedience to the Lord.

The Lord refuses to hear the prayers of those who are guilty of sin. Repent; stop doing evil; “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression;” provide for the needy (Isaiah 1:17). Be reasonable! If you are willing and obedient (to do the Lord’s will) the Lord will completely forgive your sins no matter how many and terrible they are; the Lord will cleanse you completely from all your guilt, and you will receive the good things of life. But if you refuse and rebel (against the Lord’s Word) you will be destroyed.

Paul greeted the Thessalonian congregation in the names of himself and his co-workers Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy. Paul gave thanks to God for the Thessalonians’ faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ. Paul acknowledged that God had chosen the Thessalonians, because they had received the Gospel not only in word, but confirmed by power and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, with full assurance (certainty; without doubt).

Paul and his co-workers demonstrated the Christian lifestyle and the Thessalonians imitated the examples set by them and by the Lord. They received the Gospel amid affliction, “with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Not only had they proclaimed God’s Word in Macedonia (of which Thessalonica is the capital) and in (neighboring) Greece (Achaia) but (news of) their faith in God has traveled everywhere, so that Paul had no need to mention it further. It is well known that the Thessalonians had turned form idols to serve the true living God, and to wait for (the return of) his Son from heaven whom God raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from God’s coming punishment of sin.

Jesus was teaching and preaching in the temple and the religious leaders came and asked Jesus to tell them who had given him his authority to do these things. Jesus, in reply, asked them whether John the Baptist’s baptism was from heaven or from men. The religious leaders discussed the question among themselves. They realized that if they answered that John’s baptism was from heaven that Jesus would ask why they hadn’t believed John (and done what he said); but if they said it was not from heaven, they were afraid that the people would stone them, because the people believed John was a prophet of the Lord. The leaders decided to answer that they didn’t know, so Jesus also declined to answer their question regarding Jesus’ authority.

We cannot please God with the outward forms of worship if we do not reverence and obey him in our hearts. The Lord refuses to hear the prayers of unrepentant sinners (Proverbs 15:8, 29; see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right). If we expect to be forgiven and saved we must repent and turn to the Lord and to obedience of his Word.

The Thessalonians were examples of believers who received the Gospel and applied it in their daily lives. They had copied the examples of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the apostles. They had the assurance of their salvation because they had not only received the Gospel in word; but they had obediently applied it in their lives and had received the indwelling Holy Spirit which is the seal and guarantee that they were in Christ and had eternal life  (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Those who do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ do not belong to him (Romans 8:9b). The anointing (infilling) by the Holy Spirit is a discernable experience which one can know with certainty for oneself (Acts 19:2). The Lord gives the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit only to those who trust and obey him (Isaiah 42:5e; John 14:15-17). As a result of their obedience, the Thessalonians’ faith was a testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the region.

The religious authorities challenged Jesus’ authority, but refused to be accountable to him for their own authority. Jesus was under no obligation to answer to them, since they refused to answer to him. It is obvious that they didn’t accept John’s divine authority because if they had they would have done what John preached; they would have repented and returned to obedience to the Lord and would have been ready to receive Jesus as the Messiah. It’s obvious also that they didn’t believe that Jesus was preaching and teaching by divine authority, because they rejected his message, and refused to obey him.

It will be obvious who has believed in Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus will do what he says. Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say” (Luke 6:46; compare Matthew 7:21-24)? Those who love the Lord will keep his commandments (John 14:21) and will receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Do we think that we can have fellowship with the Lord while continuing to do evil? Do we imagine we can claim to be Christians while tolerating injustice, oppression and poverty in our land and in our world? Have we acknowledged Jesus’ authority over our lives? What kind of witness to the Gospel will we be?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

1 Advent - Tuesday

first posted 11/29/04

Isaiah 1:21-31,     Judgment and redemption
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12,    Paul’s example at Thessalonica
Luke 20:9-18    Parable of the vineyard

The faithful city (Jerusalem) has become a harlot (unfaithful to the Lord). Once justice and righteousness dwelt in her, but now murderers lodge there. Her silver has become dross (impurities). Her wine has been adulterated with water. Her princes are rebels against the Lord, who consort with thieves. They do not defend the fatherless or aid widows.

Thus the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares wrath upon his enemies and vengeance upon his foes. The Lord will smelt away her dross, as with lye, and remove all the alloy (common metal used to adulterate precious metals). The Lord will restore righteous judges and counselors, as at the beginning. Then she shall be called the city of righteousness and the faithful city.

“Zion (the plateau on which Jerusalem was built; used in scripture to refer to Jerusalem; the People of God; the Church; the eternal city in Heaven) shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness” (Isaiah 1:27). But rebels, sinners and those who forsake the Lord will be destroyed. They (the unrepentant) will be ashamed of their idolatries (pagan religious practices were conducted under “sacred” oaks; gardens were isolated by hedges or walls and used for prayer and meditation). They will become like withered oaks and unwatered gardens.  The strongest (of those who are unrighteous) shall be like tow (un-spun flax fibers; used as tinder), and their deeds the spark which will destroy both with unquenchable fire.

Although Paul (and Silas) had been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi for proclaiming the Gospel, and disbelieving Jews stirred up opposition against Paul also in Thessalonica, Paul didn’t let opposition to the Gospel keep him from proclaiming it to the Thessalonians, and the results were very worthwhile. The faith of the Thessalonian Christians was a testimony to the truth of the Gospel and had become well-known throughout the region (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Paul denied the charges of the opposition that he was preaching heresy, immorality or deception. He asserted that he had been approved by God and entrusted with the Gospel. He refused to modify his message to please his hearers. Paul refused to use his preaching to flatter his hearers or to seek the acclaim of people.

Paul had sought no financial reward from preaching the Gospel, and he supported himself so as not to be a financial burden to the Church (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Instead of needing to be cared for by the Thessalonians, Paul had cared for their spiritual needs like a nursemaid cares for her children. Paul had great affection for the Thessalonians and was willing to share not only the Gospel, but everything with them.

Jesus told the parable of the vineyard: A man planted a vineyard and then went to another country, leaving the vineyard in the care of tenants. At the proper time, he sent a servant to collect his portion of the harvest, but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. The owner sent other servants and these were beaten and injured and cast out empty-handed. The owner decided to send his beloved son, believing that the tenants would respect him, but the tenants, realizing that the son would inherit the vineyard, killed the son, supposing that when the owner died the vineyard would be theirs. But Jesus declared that the owner would come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.

The reaction of those listening to the parable was, “God forbid” (Luke 20:16 RSV)! Jesus told them to think about the scriptures which say, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” [Psalm 118:22-23 (compare Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7)] and “everyone who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but when it falls on any one it will crush him" (Isaiah 8:14-15).

Jerusalem had once been a holy city faithful to the Lord, but had turned away from serving the Lord in trust and obedience.  She no longer upheld justice and righteousness, but instead pursued wealth and power. In her greed she had allowed and participated in the contamination and adulteration of what was precious; she had adulterated and diluted the "wine" with water. Her religious and political leaders rebelled against God’s Word and were corrupt, using their positions to their own material benefit, and ingnoring the needs of the poor.

The Lord will judge Jerusalem. The rebellious and disobedient will be eternally destroyed in the fire of Hell, but those who repent and turn to the Lord in trust and obedience will be saved and restored to the eternal city of Jerusalem in the kingdom of God in heaven.  The Church and America are each in a similar position today to that of Jerusalem at the time of Isaiah; each is in a sense the “New Israel;” the “New Jerusalem” (see also entries for Holy Week, even year).

Paul is the example of a faithful servant of the Lord. Despite physical persecution and slander, Paul faithfully proclaimed the Gospel. He didn’t attempt to flatter his hearers or use the message for his personal profit. He faithfully cared for the believers who were his responsibility. Paul is an example of what Pastors and also every believer should be.

In one sense the vineyard represents the world, and we are all tenants accountable to God, the creator. The Church and America are also each individually represented by the vineyard; they are each in situations comparable to Judaism and Israel at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus is the cornerstone; everyone who trips on that stone will be eternally destroyed. Those who have rejected and disobeyed Jesus will be punished with eternal death and destruction.

Isaiah’s prophecy against Jerusalem was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) and the Jews were carried off to captivity in Babylon for seventy years from 587 to 517 B.C. Israel didn’t learn the lesson of Babylonian captivity and were unprepared for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled again: Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 A. D. The temple was destroyed and has never been rebuilt; the people were scattered through out the world and the nation ceased to exist until the Jews began to return following World War II. God has demonstrated his judgment on injustice and sin repeatedly in the history of his dealing with Israel. This scripture should also be a warning to America and to the Church today.

We need to take a serious, honest look at ourselves.  Are our religious and political leaders faithful servants of the Lord, or are they pursuing their own greed and polluting and adulterating what is precious? Are we faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, or manipulating it to flatter our hearers and deceive them. Are we using the Gospel to nurture God’s people or are we exploiting it for our selfish material benefit? Are we faithfully harvesting God’s vineyard and giving him the fruit of the harvest? Are you ready for Jesus' return?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

1 Advent - Thursday

first posted 12/01/04

Isaiah 2:5-22,    The Day of the Lord  
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13,    Paul’s concern for the Thessalonians
Luke 20:27-40      Questions about the resurrection

Isaiah urges Israel to walk in the light of the Lord.  The Lord has rejected Israel because they have turned from the Lord and sought guidance from diviners and soothsayers and have made alliances with foreign nations. Their land is full of riches and treasure; they have great military might; their land is full of idols and they worship the works of their hands. The Lord will humble the proud and haughty. Take refuge in the rock; hide from the terror of the Lord.

In the Day of the Lord the Lord alone will be exalted. The Lord has a day against all that is proud and exalted. Man shall be humbled, and his pride brought low. Idols will utterly pass away. Mankind will seek refuge from the wrath of the Lord in caves in the rocks and in holes in the ground. In that day mankind will cast off their idols which they made for themselves to worship; they will leave them to the moles and the bats. Don’t look to mankind for help, for he is nothing, compared with the Lord.

Paul had been anxious about the new congregation in Thesalonica, and had sent Timothy to exhort and strengthen them. Paul had been harassed by Jews who opposed the Gospel, and had been driven from Thesalonica (Acts 17:1-15). Paul wanted to reassure the Thessalonians that afflictions and persecutions are to be expected. Timothy had returned to Paul with a good report of the faith and love of the Thessalonian congregation, and Paul had been comforted and reassured, knowing that the Thessalonians were standing fast in their faith.

Paul gave thanks for the Thessalonians' faith, and prayed that he might see them again face to face and add whatever was necessary to complete their faith. Paul prayed that the Lord would cause them to increase and abound in love toward fellow believers and to all people, so that their hearts would be established blameless in holiness before God at the coming of the Lord Jesus.

Some Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, asked Jesus a question. According to Jewish law, if a man marries and dies without leaving a son to inherit his property, the man’s brother takes the widow as his wife to produce a son for his brother. The Sadducees suggested a scenario in which seven brothers each tried to fulfill this obligation with their brother’s wife, but none of them produced children. When the woman died, the Sadducees wanted to know whose wife she would be in the resurrection.

Jesus said that marriage is an institution which belongs to this age. The same customs do not apply to the age to come. Those who attain eternal life cannot die any more. They are equal to angels, and are children of God. Jesus cited God’s revelation of himself to Moses in the burning bush as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and said that God is not God of the dead but of the living. Some of the scribes (teachers of the law) remarked that Jesus had answered well, and no dared ask any further questions.

There is a Day of Judgment coming. God will punish those who have walked in worldly wisdom, seeking guidance and council from worldly counselors, making alliances with worldly powers and authorities, building military and political power, and coveting and accumulating the riches and treasures of this world.

The purpose of life is to learn to walk in the light of the Lord. On the Day of the Lord none of those worldly things will be of any benefit. Those who are in Christ will be saved. The unsaved will try to hide from the wrath of the Lord in caves and tunnels, but won’t be able to escape destruction.

The Thessalonians were on the right path; they were learning to walk in the light of the Lord. They were applying God’s Word in their daily lives. They were standing fast in their faith, regardless of affliction and persecution. They were following Jesus’ and Paul’s examples.

Paul wasn’t seeking worldly guidance or wisdom; he wasn’t seeking political or military power; he wasn’t accumulating worldly wealth. Paul’s treasure was seeing the Thessalonians turn from idolatry to serving the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2:8-9) and standing firmly on their faith despite persecution.

The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, and one reason they didn’t was because they imagined all sorts of legal problems would result. Determining which of the brothers would have the woman as wife was an example. But Jesus said that circumstances of eternal life will be a lot different than life in this present world. We won’t be concerned with marriage relationships. There won’t be death either. We will be guided by God’s wisdom; we won’t need military or political power because God will supply all the power and security we need;  we won’t need to accumulate gold and silver because God will supply everything we need, and he will provide security that material possessions can never provide.

I’m convinced that the meaning and purpose of this life is to prepare for eternal life. This is our only opportunity to seek God and come into a personal relationship with him through the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ (Acts 17:26-27; see entry for Sunday, 4 Pentecost, even year). This is our opportunity to learn and prepare to live in the eternal kingdom. Jesus said that we should seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be ours as well (Matthew 6:33). Are you walking in the light?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

1 Advent - Friday

first posted 12/02/04

Isaiah 3:1-4:1,     Anarchy in Jerusalem
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12,    Exhortation to purity
Luke 20:41-21:4    The widow’s offering

The Lord will take away from Jerusalem everything necessary to sustain life; Food, water and all civil functions. The experienced leaders will be removed and there will be only the inexperienced to lead. The people will oppress one another, and there will be no respect for one another.

No one will want to rule over the ruins that are left. Jerusalem has fallen because their speech and deeds are contrary to the Lord and she has defied the Lord. Their political and moral corruption witness against them. The Righteous will fare well because they will be rewarded according to their deeds, but the wicked will receive what they have done to others. The people will be oppressed by children and ruled by women; their leaders have misled them and confused their direction.

The Lord has begun to contend against them. The Lord condemns the elders and princes, because they have used their positions to make themselves rich and to oppress and crush the poor. The women of the people have behaved wantonly and haughtily. The Lord will afflict them with diseases and take away their finery; instead of perfume there will be stench; instead of beautiful hair, baldness, instead of fine clothes, sackcloth; shame will replace beauty. The men will die in battle. There will be so few men left that many women will join themselves to each man, and will earn their own support.

Paul exhorts believers to apply what they have learned from the example of the apostles and the scriptures. It is the will of God for believers to be purified from sin: that we abstain from immorality and keep marriage holy. We are to be careful not to wrong one another through transgressions of the marital relationship. We are to love one another as we have been taught by God; we are to grow in the practice of love. We are to live quietly, minding our own affairs and working productively so that unbelievers will have no reason to reproach us.

The Sadducees had questioned Jesus about the resurrection of the dead (Luke 20:27-40; see entry for yesterday, Thursday, 1 Advent, odd, year). After answering them, Jesus asked them a question: How is the Christ David’s son, since David calls him Lord? Then Jesus publicly told his disciples to beware of those who make a practice of appearing to be righteous and praying in public, while they oppress and steal from the poor. They will receive greater condemnation (than those who make no pretence of righteousness).

Jesus watched as people were putting offerings into the collection box. He noticed that a poor widow had put in two pennies, and he commented that her gift was greater than all the others, because while the rest contributed out of their surplus, she had, in her poverty, given her entire living.

The Lord condemned Jerusalem for political and moral corruption. The religious and political leaders claimed to belong to God, but they were not acting in accord with God’s Word. The leaders were using their positions of leadership to make themselves wealthy while oppressing the poor. The Lord also condemned the people for pursuing material wealth and pleasure, instead of seeking justice and righteousness.

Isaiah’s prophecy occurred during the fall of the Northern Kingdom to the Assyrians, but the people didn’t heed the warning. As a result the temple was destroyed and Judah was carried off to exile in Babylon for seventy years from 588 to 517 B.C. Judah didn’t learn from that captivity, and was unprepared for Jesus’ coming. In 70 A.D. the temple was again destroyed, by the Romans, the nation of Israel ceased to exist, until it was reestablished after World War II. Jesus has promised to return to judge the world (Matthew 25:31-46). Are we ready for Christ's return?

The Thessalonian congregation is an example of people living according to God’s Word under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They were surrounded by a very immoral society, but they were not participating in that immorality, and they were growing in love and caring for one another. They were learning how to live to please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

Jesus rebuked those who like to appear to be “Christians” but who don’t follow God’s will (Compare Matthew 7:21-24). He rebuked political and religious leaders who use their positions to become wealthy at the expense of others, and who oppress and crush the poor. Are we making decisions based on God’s Word, or is material profit the standard against we measure everything? Is pleasing God our first priority, or are we only interested in pleasing ourselves? Are we giving the Lord our whole lives, or does he just get our leftovers.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

1 Advent - Saturday

first posted 12/03/04

Isaiah 4:2-6,    Jerusalem’s restoration  
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18    Christ’s return
Luke 21:5-19    The end of the age

In the Day of the Lord the branch of the Lord (the righteous remnant, or the Messiah) will be beautiful and glorious. The survivors of Israel will delight in the fruit of the land. Those who are recorded in the Lord’s Book of Life will remain in Jerusalem and will be called holy. The Lord will have cleansed them from filth and bloodstains by the spirit of judgment and fire. The Lord will dwell on Mount Zion among his people in a canopied pavilion in a cloud of smoke by day and a flaming fire by night (see Exodus 13:21). The canopy will provide shade from heat by day, and a refuge and shelter from storm and rain.

Paul reassured believers that those who died before Christ’s return would be raised to eternal life. Thus those who mourn have hope that they will be with their loved ones again. Those who are alive at Christ’s return will not precede those who have died in Christ. The Lord will descend from heaven at the sound of the Lord’s trumpet and a cry of command, and the dead in Christ will rise, and those who are alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord, and we will be eternally with the Lord.

People were admiring the temple building, and Jesus told them that the day was coming when the temple would be a pile of rubble. They asked Jesus when that would occur, and Jesus warned them not to be led astray, or to follow false christs who claimed to announce the return of Christ. We are not to be alarmed by wars and uproars because those things will take place before the end of the age. There will also be various disturbances of nature, such as earthquakes, famines, and manifestations in the heavens.

Before these things, believers will be persecuted and brought to trial. It will be an opportunity for believers to testify to the Gospel. Believers are not to be anxious beforehand about what to say, because the Lord will give us words and wisdom (at the time needed) that our adversaries cannot withstand or contradict. Believers will be denounced by parents, siblings, relatives and friends. Some will be put to death for Jesus’ name’s sake. But not so much as a single hair on our heads will perish. Through endurance we will gain our lives.

Isaiah’s vision is of the restored Jerusalem. The Lord will dwell among his redeemed people. The creation will be restored to its perfect state before the fall of mankind. The Lord will be present among his people as he was present in the pillar of cloud and fire during Israel’s wilderness wanderings. The Holy Spirit is the “pillar of cloud and fire” that leads God’s people through the wilderness of this life into the New Jerusalem in heaven (see entry for Wednesday, Trinity, even year).

Those who die in Christ will be raised to eternal life along with those who are still alive when Jesus returns. Those who are in Christ have been freed from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). We will be reunited with our loved ones who have died in Christ and with our Lord for all eternity.

Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the temple was fulfilled in 70 A.D. Many false christs have arisen and have led many astray. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that believers are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Those who do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9b).

The Lord gives his Holy Spirit only to those who trust and obey him (Isaiah 42:5e; John 14:15-17). It is possible for one to know with certainty whether one has received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). Those who have personal fellowship with Jesus through his indwelling Holy Spirit don’t have to worry about his return as long as we’re doing what he leads us to do. I can personally testify to the truth of the promise that the Lord will give us words of testimony at the time they are needed.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?