Category: Ramblings

The general principles for Bible interpretation are, foremost, the literal interpretation followed by historical, grammatical and contextual interpretation.   Another major principle, Scripture-Interprets- Scripture Principle,  is to let other relevant Scripture passages interpret the passage under study.

Yet there is one overarching principle concerning the important doctrines and major prophecies which is very important.   I will call it the Harmonization Approach Principle.   When we say the Bible is infallible, we mean that the Bible is never wrong and is completely trustworthy as God is infallible.  2 Pet 1:19; 2 Tim 3:16-17.  So when we are interpreting a particular doctrine or prophecy with all relevant Scripture verses, we must believe all verses, including apparently antinomic verses, are true and without error.

This Principle will lead to either one of the following conclusions regarding paradoxical doctrine and major prophecies in my opinion.

1. Acceptance of Apparently Antinomic Beliefs By Faith In One Single Doctrine.  

Take the example of the Christology doctrine.   We find all relevant verses support both the premise that Jesus is 100% man and 100% God at all times.  Although it is paradoxical to our understanding, we accept this doctrine by faith.   Same for other paradoxes such as Predestination and Free Will.  Take another example in the Holy Trinity doctrine.  We find all relevant verses support both the premise that God is One and yet there are 3 distinct Divine Persons who are God individually.   The term Holy Trinity is thus given to accept this reality that there are 3 distinct Divine Persons in One Essential God-head.

2. The Belief That Can Best Accommodate All Relevant Scripture Passages As True. (Some theologians call it the Harmony Of Scripture Principle.)

Take the argument whether salvation is by faith alone;  or salvation is by faith and works together.   The belief that salvation is through faith alone by the grace of God and evidenced by works is that one single belief which can accept all relevant and apparently antinomic verses as true.

Take another example in the argument whether the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah or whether the Rapture and the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus is one single event or 2 separate events.  The belief of 2 separate events best accommodate all relevant verses pertaining to these 2 subjects.

Have you not noticed that for most paradoxical doctrines or prophecies,  we accept the 2-events prophecy and  2- positions stand –  even 2 apparently antinomic stand – which best accommodate all the relevant Scripture passages instead of holding on to one extreme position or stand ?

By saying  “best accommodate”,  I do not mean to come to a compromise or best guess position of all the verses.  On the contrary, I believe and accept all verses,  even apparently antinomic, to be true since it is God’s Word which is infallible or inerrant.  Besides,  human finiteness cannot fully explain the infiniteness of God and His ways.

Many believers do not take either extreme actually.  They are likely to agree on some points of each extreme.

** All information on this subject is gleaned from Gotquestions.org website.

Obedience without Faith is Legalism;
Faith without Obedience is Cheap Grace (aka hyper grace).

Recently I heard the following 2 arguments arguing for the belief of Unitarian God:

1. Arguing for literal interpretation hermeneutics, one must accept Jesus as the Son of God and that He can do nothing aside from God the Father as mentioned in the Scriptures;
2. Arguing for faithful adherence to the exact words from the Bible, there is no such term as Trinity mentioned in the Bible so one will be inviting a curse if one adds this new word into the Bible.

Arguing further since mutually exclusive events cannot possibly happen together, similarly it is impossible to have 3 distinct Persons in one Essential God, thus proving conclusively the Unitarian nature of God.  And that the doctrine of the Trinity of 3 distinct Persons in One God-head is mere tradition handed down the centuries.

As for me, I believe in the Holy Trinity – that God is 3 distinct Persons in one Essential God-head. And Jesus is 100% God and 100% man.

I will narrow the argument to only one very important question :

Is Jesus fully God?  

For our salvation is at stake if we believe a different Jesus.

The Unitarian-God belief essentially denies Jesus is God.

All the greatest scientific minds in the world cannot explain how Light can have dual nature in being particulate and wave in nature. But that contradiction does not deter scientists from accepting the observable truth and create new invention out of such knowledge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave%E2%80%93particle_duality

It is not surprising that the article in the above link says this : “Although the use of the wave-particle duality has worked well in physics, the meaning or interpretation has not been satisfactorily resolved; see Interpretations of quantum mechanics.” And Niels Bohr regarded it as a duality paradox.

So likewise if we cannot explain satisfactorily how light can have dual mutually exclusive nature, are we to dismiss the doctrine of Christ being 100% God and 100% man as well due to our limited knowledge ?

I will also appeal to interpret Scripture literally as well for my argument that Jesus is fully God. Read these verses and consider whether Jesus is equal to God and is fully God.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.

Phil 2:5-7
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard EQUALITY WITH GOD a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

John 20:27-29
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and MY GOD !” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Rev 4: 9-11
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and OUR GOD, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Rev 3:14-19

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,  I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

As the Laodicean church is mentioned last among the seven churches in Revelation,  it can very well be the state of the church in the last period of the last days.  The Laodicean church does seem to portray the church in the First World cities today.  The city of Laodicea had vibrant economy sectors in banking, education and manufacturing.   There were banks,  medical schools developing the Phrygian eye powders and clothing factories.  They were wealthy and self sufficient.  It is ironic that the citizens and the church saw themselves as rich, smart and lacking nothing as a result, but on the contrary, our Lord saw them as poor, blind and naked instead.

Wealth is deceitful and attempts to choke the life of the believer.  Affluent cities today are defying God’s moral laws and most live in dissipation.  Are not the global cities today reveling in making merry and money?  Are we not living in such cities focusing on such economy sectors and trusting our security solely on such wealth ?  How easily such affluence can make us poor, blind and naked with pride, self satisfaction and complacency instead.  We cannot serve both God and Mammon or we will end up being lukewarm.

The only way to get right healing from Christ our Lord for our spiritual sickness is to obey His exhortation to repent and be zealous in whole hearted devotion to Him.

Whenever  some believers talk about knowing God’s Will, what they actually mean is to know the correct decision they are making for a particular area of their lives, such as,  finding the right partner or job, or buying the right apartment or car at the right time.

Search for the words “God’s will” or “the Lord’s will”, or what does God wants for us in the Bible, you can find the following verses :

1. 2 Pet 3:9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2. Eph 5:15-18. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
3. 1 Thess 4:3-5. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable,  not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.
4. 1 Pet 2:13-15. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
5. 1 Pet 4:12-19. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

It is God’s predestinating purpose for us to be saved in Christ Jesus and to be a people growing in Christlikeness and eventually be perfect in Christ.  Eph 1:4-14, Titus 2:11-12,  Rom 8:28-29, Eph 2:8-10.

So from the Word of God above,  we can see it is the same purpose that God wants us to be saved in Christ Jesus (2 Pet 3:9),  be Spirit-filled (Eph 5:15-18), be sanctified (1 Thess 4:3-5), be submissive (1 Pet 2:13-15), and be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake and doing good (1 Pet 4:12-19).

If we are walking in these 5 areas according to God’s will, God is already controlling our wants and desires.  And when the Word of God dwells richly in you and the Spirit of Christ is filling you, you will prosper in whatever you do because you will make the right and wise decision for any area of your life.

Psalms 1:1-3

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

– Gleaned from the book, How To Get The Most From God’s Word, by Dr John MacArthur.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

From the above passage,  it is clear that branches which do and do not bear fruit are both grafted onto the True Vine.  God, being the Vinedresser,  will prune those that bear fruit to bear even more fruit while cutting away those that do not.  This clearly illustrates that there are false and true believers staying together in Christendom and it will be futile for those that do not bear fruit to insist and claim to be in Christ to their own peril.

It is also clear from the above passage that every true believer in Christ will bear fruit as evidence of truly abiding in Him and so prove to be His disciple.

What is the fruit that a true believer will bear ?

Search the Bible for the word “fruit” and these defining verses will come up.

1. Gal 5:22.   The fruit of the Spirit.
2. Heb 13:15.   The fruit of our lips that bless His Holy Name.
3. Col 1:10.   Fruit in every good work.
4. John 4:35-38.  Gathering fruit (souls) for eternal life.

The question to ponder seriously is how to be the branch that bear fruit and do not end up as one that does not !

Abide in Christ and obey His Word !   John 15:4,7.  John 14:23-24

John  15:4,7

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me... If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

In John MacArthur’s book, How To Get The Most From God’s Word, I was excited to read about the principle of probability in validating prophecy.  He mentioned that the strongest objective argument for the validity of Scripture comes from fulfilled Bible prophecy.  He added that the principle of probability could objectively prove the validity of the prophecy if the event occurs exactly as prophesied with incredible odds.

John MacArthur is a well known cessationist.  Though he is correct that prophecy in the primary sense has ceased¸ I believe he errs in not believing in the possibility of prophecy in the lesser sense at all.  (Please see footnote.)  Let me explain.  I believe prophecy as in special revelation in the Bible is complete, but the gift of prophecy in the lesser sense (such as the prophecy of a global famine by Agabus in Acts 11:27-30) is still possible. This type of one-off message must not be confused with the ridiculous frequent fortune telling practiced by some.

For such message to be valid as prophecy in the lesser sense, it must have incredible odds of probability to start with.  For example, if I prophesy an earthquake this year in a particular country like Japan, the probability is actually pretty high, say 50%.  The odds of difficulty will be compounded if I prophesy the month, the day, the city, the exact building that will collapse and finally subsequent visions to reinforce the first vision and the message as well.  By then, the odds will be so incredible that when all these details occur according to the prophecy, it is incomprehensible to deny it is not a message from God.

Just a few prophecies concerning our Lord would yield incredible odds of probability which could only proved Him to be the Messiah – born in Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah, raised in Nazareth, betrayed with 30 pieces of silver, died on the cross, and men casting lots over his garments.

Agabus’s prophecy of a global famine will not twist the doctrine of salvation a bit and is inconsequential to Christian spiritual growth in his or her daily walk with Christ. So the significance probably was something which would affect the ordinary life of the Judea Christians at that time.   In this particular case, the famine brought hardship on the Judea Christians which the Antioch Christians were able to help by preparing such relief for them upon learning of a coming global famine.  They sent the relief later through Paul and Barnabas to the elders in Judea.

Footnote :

“…in the primary sense of prophets, as vehicles of direct and fresh revelation, it seems we must say that this charisma is no longer given. There is no longer anyone in the church who may dare to say, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying…” or “Thus says the Lord.” It has been argued, however, that prophets may be used in other and lesser senses. Some think there may be men today like the prophet Agabus (Acts 11:28; 21-10-11) whose function is not to add to revelation but to foretell some future event. This is possible. But both church history and personal experience make me cautious…”  – John Stott, Baptism and Fullness.

Rom 11:25-28
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob”…28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

I have always wondered why the Jews do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah over the centuries.  That is because they believe in only one coming in the advent of the Messiah to establish His glorious reign on earth which is prophesied.  But Christians believe in 2 comings – the First Advent and the Second Coming – so that all prophecies of the initial suffering and the eventual glorious reign of the Messiah on earth are not contradicted.

Similarly, can the post-tribulation position be holding out zealously that the Rapture and the Second Coming is one single event instead of 2 separate events ?

As I studied the different positions, I separated common argument tricks such as red herring, argumentum ad hominem, straw man and weak analogy argument from each position.

I have noticed the evidence supporting the arguments against pre-tribulation rapture in favor of post-tribulation are mostly Scriptural references that clearly state that Jesus our Lord will return after the Tribulation and that belief is also held by the pre-tribulation rapture believers since they believe in the 2 event scenario,  and interpreting into the Greek text of the verses.  Interpretation into the Greek text of verses should only be the last evidence as it is not as weighty as clear Scriptural references on the possibility of the 2 event scenario.

The pre-tribulation rapture seems more plausible to me after weighing the evidence, considering the main arguments against each position, and taking the position that best include all Scriptural references with the “least” contradiction.    I now believe in 2 separate events – the Rapture and the Second Coming – instead of one so that all prophecies concerning these events are not contradicted.

1 Thess 4:16-17 and 1 Cor 15:51-52 clearly refer to a Rapture in the future.

I will start from the weaker evidence to the stronger evidence to explain my position in a pre-tribulation rapture.

1. The first evidence is based on imminency.  Many Scriptural verses exhort that Christians should be looking for the Lord to come at any time.  If the church has to go through the tribulation, then we cannot be looking at Christ our Lord coming at any moment.  He cannot come for at least 7 years, since we are not in the Tribulation now, and when it comes, it will last for 7 years first.
2. The Church is not mentioned in Rev 6 to Rev 19 as being on earth. It is strange that Apostle John did not mention the church as he described the tribulation of Daniel’s 70 weeks and the church’s role.  Instead the 144,000 Jews from the 12 tribes were mentioned.
3. The Epistles have no specific warning and advice for the church to prepare for the kind of tribulation found in Rev 6 to 18. They have vigorous warning on spiritual apostasy, calamities and present persecution unlike that of the Tribulation but strangely silent on such traumatic event.
4. Several verses promising believers that they will be kept out of God’s wrath will be contradicted as many martyrs die during the Tribulation. Rev 3:10; 1 Thess 1:10.
5. (2 Thess 2: 7-9. the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders…)   The Holy Spirit who now restrains lawlessness will be out of the way before the Lawless One is revealed.  That implies the true church in which the Holy Spirit indwells has to be out of the way as well.
6. If the Rapture and the post-tribulation coming of our Lord is one event just prior to the start of the Millennium, coinciding with all the goats being removed and all sheep given glorified bodies in the judgment of sheep and goats,  then who will populate the earth and rebel with Satan against our Lord at the end of the Millennium ?  It only make sense if the Rapture happens before the Tribulation and there are new believers during the Tribulation who survive it when the Lord returns with His saints with glorified bodies to reign at the start of the Millennium, and their future descendants are still capable of sin during the Millennium. (Isa 65:20; Rev 20:7-10).
7. The events at Christ’s post-tribulation coming differs completely from that of the Rapture. The most detailed texts in Matt 24 and Rev 19 do not mention Rapture at all.

*Evidence is mostly gleaned from the article “Why A Pretribulation Rapture ?” by Richard Mayhue and the Believers’ Bible Commentary on 2 Thess 3.

Regardless of holding whichever position, it is inconsequential to our common salvation.   Our Lord only wants us to stay watchful, eagerly await His Return and care for His people meanwhile.

The 7 Year Tribulation period will be unprecedented in terms of terrible distress.  Escaping this wrath does not mean we will not face many lesser tribulations, which will increase exponentially in intensity, from the beginning of birth pains to the arrival of Antichrist on center stage.

Postscript 1 :  For further reading

https://faith.edu/faith-news/the-inhabitants-of-the-millennium-and-the-timing-of-the-rapture-part-1/

Postscript 2 :  Another piece of evidence supporting the pre tribulation rapture.

In Rev 6:9,  we read that the martyred saints are still souls and in Rev 4:4 and 4:10, we read that there are 24 elders before the throne of God.  It is only after rapture do saints have glorified bodies.  The plausible explanation is that the elders, who are resurrected saints,  will be able to appear before the throne with glorified bodies while the martyred saints during the Great Tribulation are still souls waiting for the second coming of our Lord to avenge them.

Postscript 3 :   More explanation by eminent professors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANUhVvtW08k