The Carpenter's Apprentice Archives

Volume 7, Number 4                                                                                                                     April 2006

A Consuming Fire

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR AND TREMBLING." (Hebrews 12:14-21)

It has been almost a year, but next month we will finish our overview of the imminency of Jesus= parousia as seen in the book of Hebrews. I=m undecided at the moment, but I may follow that in July with a recap of the most obvious references as a review.

Our opening passage is rich with meaning. These are not just nice little rules to live by; they are imperatives for those who were in the Refiner=s fire of tribulation. The Judaizers were using every means at their disposal to destroy the faith and obedience of believers. The author, as he has done repeatedly in this letter, encourages the reader to endure with grace: APursue peace with all men@. While they possessed a faith which would Aovercome the world@, that victory would not come by military might. It was to be a spiritual victory.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had taught His followers how to deal with their enemies. Paul reiterated those principles in the simple statement, AIf possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men@ (Romans 12:18). Their history, and ours, demonstrates it is not always possible. The idea is that believers should give no cause for offense, save in the gospel message which does offend the ungodly. That=s off topic now, but I hope to follow up on it at length in the future.

Next, we encounter language which is unique in scripture Athe sanctification@ [my emphasis]. The definite article in the Greek language is definite. The author seems to be addressing a specific sanctification rather than the general idea of sanctification as we often hear it used. I=m still researching this idea, but my initial impression, given the context of Hebrews, is that Athe sanctification@ under consideration here had to do uniquely with first century Christians.

The true sons of God were about to be revealed and separated out of old covenant Israel. The unbelievers would remain in Jerusalem and suffer the fiery consequence which followed this sanctification. Like I said, I=m still studying this one. None of the commentaries I have address this phrase, so help me out and take a look at the resources you have. If you find discussion (or have thoughts) on this topic, I=d love to hear from you.

That topic is of critical importance because without Athe sanctification@ no one can see the Lord. Remember, our context is that of a race and not everyone makes it to the finish line. Although some never even take the race seriously, all have fallen short. Yet, the reader is admonished to see to it that no one who has begun the race falls short of the finish line. ASee to it@ is from episkopes which is one of the words we translate as Aelder@ in scripture.

Those who received these words were within sight of the finish line for the redemptive work of Christ. The old covenant was, if you will, the starting block from which they sprang and the glory of the consummated new covenant beckoned them to stay the course. But in addition to that, they were to encourage and help one another so that every believer remained faithful until the work was complete. The Judaizers were doing just the opposite; they were attempting to coerce others to forsake what they had begun and return to bondage. If you can for a moment imagine the tension here, you will begin to see the urgency with which the author writes, ABut we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.@ (Heb. 10:39)

It is of no small consequence that we find a discussion of Esau=s rejection of his birthright in this context. While Aall the nations of the earth@ had a blessing coming through Abraham=s seed, the Hebrews were a people whom God called and gave special promises. It was their birthright to receive the benefit of the gospel of the Christ first. From the outset of its proclamation, it was the Atrue Jew@, as Paul called believers in Romans, who became recipients of the promise made to the fathers. Those who were only Jews by physical birth rejected their spiritual birthright. Because of that rejection, God would not grant them repentance and they perished shortly in the fall of Jerusalem. By the grace extended to spiritual Israel, they burst through the finishing line in the glorious appearing of Christ as He came in the glory of His Father, delivered them from their oppressors, and poured out His wrath on the enemies of the kingdom of God.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. (Hebrews 12:22-25)

This is a glorious picture for the believer and it is tempting to deal with the description of the heavenly reality which the faithful had sought for generations; but space compels me to simply note that, as glorious as it is for the believer, the >terror@ evoked by the physical copy pales in comparison to the awesome manifestation of the glory of the kingdom. The Mosaic covenant was about to pass away. Those who had rebelled against it might, by God=s grace, find escape in the new covenant which was promised. However, anyone who rejected the new covenant had no hope because no other provision would be forthcoming. God=s final offer was before them and to reject it was a terminal decision.

Do not miss the importance of the contrast being made here. The old covenant was a created thing which could be shaken because it was based on the physical. The new covenant could not be shaken because it is not founded on created things which can be shaken. It is immutable, invincible, unshakeable and victorious. There were (and are) only two kinds of people, those who viewed the kingdom with Areverence and awe@ and demonstrated their gratitude through obedience, and those who despised it and experienced God as Aa consuming fire@ in the destruction of the physical Jerusalem they worshiped.

The biblical authors warned of the coming destruction by fire again and again, but like the prophets of old, their warnings went largely unheeded. In 70 A.D. God came A...in flaming fire, taking vengeance...@ on those who persecuted new covenant Israel - true Israel.

Last month I encouraged you to visit the web site I=ve put up dealing with Alast things@ - www.eschatology101.com . One of the things found there is the AYeah, but what about . . .?@ section. That title came right out of my own experience as I began to explore covenant eschatology. Every time someone provided a solid answer to one of my futurist questions, I was sure my next question would nail them and my response is what inspired the title of that section.

In retrospect, I realized I had started pretty much with the strongest arguments against the preterist view and was working my way through a list which was getting progressively less compelling, even if they couldn=t be answered. It is somewhat embarrassing to realize that now, but I guess I needed to go through that exercise before I felt free enough to seriously entertain the idea I might actually be wrong.

So, the topics you=ll find in the AYeah, but what about@ section are something of a chronicle of my own journey in this area of study.

One question which often arises is based on the events at Christ=s ascension as recorded in Acts 1. You remember how the disciples were standing there gazing into the heavens when two men dressed in white linen joined them and said, AMen of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.@ (v. 11)

From this passage it is argued that Christ=s coming must be exactly like what they saw as He ascended. That certainly seems plausible given the Ajust the same way@ in the text above, but a closer examination of scripture opens other possibilities.

First, realize they did not see Him enter heaven. He disappeared into a cloud and that was the last they saw of Him. We=ll not get into Acloud comings@ here, but realize that God had come Aon the clouds@ many times in their history and never once came physically to earth. It is a reference to His acting in the physical realm through various agencies: frequently armies.

Those who contend that Christ=s appearing has to be exactly as He ascended are confronted with another problem. In his most recent book, The Elements Shall Melt With Fervent Heat, Don Preston notes what should be obvious to anyone insisting on an Acts 1:11 physical coming that looks exactly like the ascension.

Without a doubt, most Christians agree that 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 is a picture of Christ=s coming to vindicate the saints. The problem is that Paul describes that event as being A...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:@

See the problem? Where is the Aflaming fire@ in Acts 1:11? If Christ must return in the Ajust the same way@ as He left, then Paul was wrong. However, Paul got his story directly from Jesus just like the other Apostles. If he was wrong, Jesus was wrong. The other obvious conclusion would be that scripture contradicts itself and that isn=t a direction one wants to take either. Anyone who is honest with the text can get uncomfortable rather quickly when attempting to maintain a futurist view.

The very fact that a fulfilled view eliminates problems like this is strong evidence that it is the proper perspective. The recorded events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem are, in every way, consistent with the descriptions of Christ=s parousia as described in the new testament.

The destruction of Jerusalem was physical evidence of the spiritual judgment which had fallen upon the covenant people. Those whose trust was in the trappings of the Mosaic Covenant, perished with it. True Israel saw Christ come, Ajust the same way@ as He ascended.

When I talk about the importance of having a proper understanding of Alast things@, one of the responses I get frequently is, AIt doesn=t matter which view you hold, we still need to be doing the same things for the kingdom of God@ (or words to that effect).

One of the most compelling reasons I found for making this study was the potential for serious implications for our faith and practice. I=m still exploring those and the discussion is wide open for those who wish to engage it. However, we=ll skip all those for now and simply speak to the core issue.

For years prior to his death J. Vernon McGee had a radio ministry called AThrough The Bible.@ It was (and still is www.ttb.org ) a five year study of the scripture. I used to listen to Dr. McGee (among others) on a regular basis back in the 1970's. McGee was a dispensational pre-millennialist and and his view, in my experience, is pretty representative of that popular take on eschatology.

They (like all futurists) see the sun setting for God=s creation. Things (according to them) must get continually worse since God has ordained it such. Consequently, they take no responsibility for civil matters. One should not get involved with the political process directly. We are to be Asalt, leaven and light@ where we are but there are places we should not take our faith because doing so is working against God=s ordained order.

Dr. McGee described such involvements in picturesque language saying, A. . . it's just polishing brass on a sinking ship@. Seeing the planet as doomed, the thoughts of many Christians are dominated by getting aboard a life boat. They have heard the call AAbandon ship@ and it never occurs to them to verify whether that message came from the Captain or not!

I recently heard an affirmation of this view from the pulpit. The minister remarked that we shouldn=t expect that things are going to get any better because we elect the right people to office. The implication was that even if we insisted upon Godly civil servants who would uphold the rule of law and exalt God as Lord and King, things will only get worse and we would only be putting off the inevitable.

Does it matter what we believe on this important topic? You=d better believe it does! I certainly don=t want to be found working against God. I=ve done that before and I know the consequences of such failure. And, those who refuse to engage the world in areas where it matters should be concerned if they are delinquent in their responsibility for ruling and reigning in this life. Edmund Burke observed, AAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. A

Sadly, most Christian I meet (even those who aren=t of the dispensational tribe) have adopted the idea that supporting and doing what is right is futile. They have given up on any vision of victory and adopted a mentality of admitting defeat as slowly as possible. Without a victorious view, it is impossible to have a victorious outcome.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Romans writing, ADo not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.@ (Romans 12:21). Good overcomes evil - that is the principle which seems largely lost in the American Christian community. John wrote, AFor whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?@ (1 John 5:4-5)

For all the messages we=ve heard on Aovercoming faith@, there is a dearth of action based on those admonitions. As long as the message is AWork at making the world a better place but know you can=t succeed@, we will never know victory. It is time for the shepherds of God=s people to quit speaking out of both sides of their mouths and proclaim the message of victory in no uncertain terms. Indeed it is past time.

As I=m hurrying to finish up this month=s newsletter, Sharon is in the mountains of north central Nicaragua with the medical mission team from Olive Branch Ministries. As always, your prayers and financial support have been a real encouragement to us both. Because of your generosity, Sharon received even more than she needed to pay for this trip. The excess will either be used to provide for special needs they may encounter during the trip or applied toward her next trip.

She will provide us all with a full report next month, but for now I=ll just say this is the first time in all the trips where we will not be able to have regular communication of some sort. They are really in the boonies this time: no Internet or email service; no hot water; the only phone is in the mayor=s office and it is only answered during business hours!

I did get an email before she left Managua on April 23^rd, but I don=t expect to hear from her again until the 28^th. That=s way too long and I=ll really be anxious to get that word when she returns to Managua. More next time.

The Apprentice=s Journal

It=s tax time! Actually it is always tax time. Tax freedom day is still almost a month away and one would think that when a government directly takes almost half of what the average person makes there would be an outcry from the public. Americans today are a far cry more tolerant of injustice and theft than were our forebears who were up in arms over a one percent tea tax. Apparently, we love the monster that consumes our resources, our children and our families because we voluntarily continue to feed it every time it growls. Perhaps one day we will find the courage of our founders and defend our families against such violations.

Working at a tax and accounting firm has given me a much clearer picture of just how unjust our system has become. I knew it wasn=t a pretty picture, but even my previous imaginings didn=t prepare me for the reality. People who are sincerely striving to understand and obey the law are being persecuted because of their pursuit of lawful conduct.

©Copyright 2006 ~ Permission to reprint for personal, non-profit use is hereby granted, providing that the context of the quote is maintained and credit is given to The Carpenter's Apprentice.

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