The Carpenter's Apprentice Archives

Volume 5, Number 7                                                                                                                     July 2004

Glory!

After printing last month=s newsletter, it occurred to me I had previously promised to address the subject of glory. It is one of those words which we use often but, if asked to define, struggle for words to relate in a clear and concise manner. At the same time, it is a word we use all the time. What do we mean when we say, AGlory be to God.@? The Bible uses various words which, depending on the translation, are rendered Aglory.@ A brief overview is in order before we zero in on the one we will emphasize in this piece.

Nevertheless, the translators extended the reach of doxa in LXX to include several other words. We don=t have space to exegete them here but they all deal with the manifestation of glory: brightness, radiance, majesty, splendor, etc. Though this is a departure from the classical usage in the Greek it becomes the most notable in the text. Most Christians who=ve studied awhile are familiar with the word shekinah in reference to God=s glory. As spectacular as the manifestations are in scripture, we need to remember they are just manifestations of the real source of glory.

Isaiah describes faithful Israel as an important aspect of God=s glory, AI will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.@ (Isaiah 43:6-7). It should not escape our attention this prophecy is a type for the fulfillment which would take place when spiritual Israel was called in the first century.

Although there is a sense in which glory is ascribed to mankind and the larger creation, God=s word resounds with the message that His glory exceeds the natural realm by a factor so great as to reduce it to all but insignificant. Herein lies the problem with earth worshipers , humanists, etc. They fall into the same snare of those Paul describes in Romans 1 as worshiping the creation rather than the Creator; but that=s a subject for another time.

God intends for the glory of what is seen to draw us to the greater glory of the unseen. Paul writes of his ministry, AHaving therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not as Moses, who used to put a veil over his face that the sons of Israel might not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.@ (2 Corinthians 3:12-18).

One can hardly miss the phrase Afrom glory to glory.@ Paul recognizes the Old Covenant had glory. However, it was not the consummate glory which was to be revealed shortly in Christ. We should note that those who understood the glory of the Law, as Paul did, were being transformed to a greater glory which would be the fulness of what they had received in earnest through the Spirit. Those who clung to the glory of the Old Covenant demonstrated their view was still veiled by the physical system. The rending of the veil of the temple at Christ=s death had proven insufficient to convince them that God had provided a Amore excellent ministry.@ (Hebrews 8:6) The glory which was coming in their day is largely the subject of scripture. Since the fall, it had been in view but only from far off. With the arrival of Christ, it had been brought near and its consummation was Aat hand.@ Let=s spend a little time looking at what the scripture says about that glory.

In his treatment of the glory of God in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (8 1982), E. F. Harrison states, AIn the ultimate sense, no subject is more important than this. Yet there is difficulty in trying to analyze God=s glory because of its many aspects.@ Considering the magnitude of God=s glory, even Harrison=s observation becomes a gross understatement. Nevertheless, it behooves us to make a beginning in the investigation of this matter.

Perhaps no event is so telling in this regard as Moses on Mt. Sinai. In asking to see God=s glory, he was in effect asking to see His essence. As he, Aaron and the 70 elders ascended the mountain they saw a pavement of sapphire leading to God. The mountain flashed with the fire of God. The visage terrified the people but, as glorious as it was, the manifestations of God=s power and glory were not enough for Moses . Such a request as Moses makes is an indictment against those who wanted a sign from Christ. Moses wanted to see God. Christ said those who saw Him had seen the Father. Yet, seeing the Father in Him they demanded signs. Moses, deluged with signs longed only to see God. Indeed it is an indictment against many today who need signs to confirm that God is who He says He is. The evidence suggests many still follow for the loaves and fishes.

Without reservation, the incarnation of Christ, is the greatest manifestation of God among men. The author of Hebrews writes, AAnd He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.@ (Hebrews 1:3) However, the Incarnate Christ laid aside His glory (Amade himself of no reputation@ - KJV, Philippians 2) by veiling it in human flesh. Only once were men allowed a glimpse >beyond the veil@: at the transfiguration. The scripture records that when God spoke, the disciples Awere sore afraid@ (Matthew 17:6). The word Mark uses in his gospel means Ascared out of their wits.@ Their reaction is by no means an exception in scripture.

The glory of God is an aspect of the holiness of God. He alone is worthy of such honor and none can share it [not even Moses (the Law) or Elijah (the prophets) regardless of their part in God=s redemptive plan]. We see this idea conveyed numerous times in scripture. When the tent of meeting, the tabernacle, and the temple were dedicated no one was allowed to enter while God=s presence remained.

Isaiah was transported into the presence of the Lord and his declaration was A"Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.@ (Isaiah 6:5) On the day of atonement, the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the people. His duties were carefully spelled out and failure to observe them meant his certain death. When Aaron=s sons, Nadab and Abihu, were killed for offering strange fire, Moses reminded Him of God=s words, ABy those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.@ (Leviticus 10:3)

I will forever be grateful to R. C. Sproul, Sr. for his teaching on Uzzah. You remember him as the well-intentioned man who reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant when the ox cart it was riding on started to tip over. God had prescribed the manner in which the Ark was to be carried but they had ignored His instruction. Uzzah and his cohorts got an immediate lesson on just how seriously God takes holiness. As you certainly remember, Uzzah did not survive the lesson. In our humanness, we want to plead Uzzah=s case, AGod, he was only trying to protect the Ark. He certainly wasn=t deserving of death.@ I believe Sproul rightly observes that God deemed the touch of defiled human flesh to be far more polluting than the dust of the earth to which the Ark might have fallen. How very much we tend to take God=s holiness for granted! We should be ever mindful that we abide and thrive in the presence of God only because of our position in Christ. He alone is our cause for glory.

In the New Testament, glory is most often seen in eschatological terms. The authors realized they were living in a time when the glory of the old was being eclipsed by the glory of the new. Romans 8:18, 1 Peter 4:13 and 1 Peter 5:1 are three prominent passages which deal with this idea. As you read them, do be aware the translators did a less than honest job with the first and last one. Both contain variants of the Greek mello which tell us that Paul and Peter both proclaimed the revelation of that glory was about to be. Most translations just have it in the future tense. That is simply incorrect. It was in the future to them, but it was in their immediate future, not our future. Again, Harrison notes, AThe eschatological goal is characteristically described in terms of glory.@ He cites Hebrews 2:10 to demonstrate God=s purpose toward mankind in Christ, AFor it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.@

Herein we see the heart of God=s redemptive plan. Biblical scholarship is overwhelming agreed that they understood where they were in God=s time line. Their anticipation of being transformed A from glory to glory@ was no misplaced hope. They received the reward of their faith and, in Christ, we are heirs of the same glory they received almost 2,000 years ago.

With the previous topic in mind, I want to commend a new book to you this month: Behind the Veil of Moses by Brian L. Martin. While I have yet to do a thorough reading of it, I have scanned it quickly and highly recommend it as something of a primer for covenant eschatology. Brian was a futurist who set out over a decade ago to debunk the preterist Aheresy.@ If you=ve lived many years, you know what frequently happens to those who take up such missions. Brian studied himself into the fulfilled prophecy camp. Over the years he wrote various articles to friends and family explaining what he was seeing in scripture. In time, they encouraged him to compile them into book form and after much work, it is now available. At 417 pages plus Appendices, it is a sizeable undertaking. However, it is well written and reads easily. I think you=ll find the style and clarity of writing really appealing.

The title is drawn from the passage quoted in the previous article. Just as many of the Jews of Paul=s time could not see past the veil of Moses, so many Christians today are still blinded by a physical interpretation of Christ=s ministry and kingdom. The book calls the reader to look behind the veil of Moses (the physical) and see what God promised and fulfilled in the spiritual realm through Christ. The use of simple tables and charts (nothing even remotely close to what futurists map out) will be most helpful in understand the comparisons and parallels he makes between eschatological passages. I look forward to a thorough reading and encourage you to take a look while introductory pricing is available. The book is presently available for $16.95 postpaid.

I also want to highly recommend Richard E. Longenecker=s Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period. I=ve been at this one awhile and should finish it up shortly. Exegesis is the study of the meaning of words and phrases especially with reference to scripture. There are various rules of exegesis which are employed in an attempt to understand what something meant to its original author and audience.

The underlying thesis of the book is that in order to understand what scripture teaches, we need to seriously consider how the New Testament authors understood and applied it. For us to exegete the text (especially the Old Testament) in a way they did not can put us on a path to problems. We are way down that path in Christianity at the moment and one has to wonder how long it will be before we retrace our steps and begin anew with the greater light which is now available. Since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and with the continuing archaeological finds in Palestine, how scholars view the text we have received is constantly being refined. I know that is uncomfortable for those who think they alone have Athe faith once and for all delivered to the saints@ but the reality is none of us have a complete and perfect understanding of God=s word. The truth is more likely that we hardly come close!

As far as I know, Longnecker is not in the preterist camp. However, what he writes makes it hard for me to understand how his eschatological views could fall elsewhere. Of the various forms of apostolic exegesis he identifies, he focuses largely on what is called pesher interpretation. Without getting technical, this form of interpretation is generally seen in the New Testament with an introductory formula of something like Athis is that.@ A good example is Peter=s proclamation at Pentecost that what the crowd is witnessing is that which Joel prophesied would happen in the last days.

As I have made my way through it, I have been amused by Ellis= comment that the book is an Aengagingly written introduction to the subject.@ It is humbling to know that others spend their lives delving into subjects which most of us will only be able to touch on briefly. Nonetheless, it is of extreme importance we at least glimpse the magnitude of what is before us.

I regularly encounter people who have so isolated themselves from dissenting views they have little hope of ever grasping the larger picture. In many ways I view them much as I would a stranger to this planet arriving in the Sahara Desert and concluding this world is uninhabitable. Diligence demands more! Longenecker=s book is published by Eerdman=s and is readily available from most popular outlets.

A while back, I addressed the topic of why one=s eschatology makes a difference. Among the things we noted, was the idea that one=s view of last things impacts their world view in a variety of ways. A recent article in The Christian Science Monitor brought home this point in a most graphic way. The July 7^th issue contained an article by staff writer Jane Lampman titled, AMixing prophecy and politics.@ In the piece, she details how many Christians, most unwittingly, have embraced an eschatology that is on the verge of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

One of the rising concerns of Christians who do not fall into the dispensationalist camp is that those who do are committed to having their AArmageddon@ if they have to use politicians to bring it about. Until the modern state of Israel was established by the U. N. in 1948, most dispensationalists were comfortable just biding their time until the rapture. Since that time, they have been aggressively pursuing a course of action which will produce what they believe scripture teaches. Most fail to understand they are lending their support to atheists who are killing Christians. Lampman=s article should be required reading for everyone who casually holds the dispensationalist view. The origins of the modern state of Israel, Zionism, and Christian Zionism are anything but biblical. Yet, many Christians insist that our government support modern Israel even if it means violating the U. S. Constitution to do so.

While at a local bookstore recently, I scanned a book by Timothy P. Weber titled, On The Road to Armageddon . It=s now on my Awish list@ at amazon.com and it will provide you with an in depth look at the forces behind what is taking place in the middle east today. In her article Lampman quotes Weber:

The danger is that, when people >know= how things are going to turn out and then act on those convictions, they can make these prophecies self-fulfilling, and bring on some of the things they predict.

This is a very real danger and those who hold a dispensationalist view need to give it careful consideration. Lampman closes by quoting Dr. Martin Marty as saying those who mix prophecy and politics Acould start World War III.@ That is indeed a chilling thought and one that ought to give pause to anyone who thinks promoting conflict in the middle east is required by scripture. Read Lampman=s article  .

The Apprentice=s Journal

Whew . . . It=s Hot! The rains have just about stopped now and summer is here with a vengeance. We=ll be in the upper 90's today and the worst is yet to come. Still, it is great to see the rain diminish for awhile. The backyard is still way too wet to mow, but the front is so dry I=m watering some spots almost daily. If I could just balance the two ! The heat means the end for most of the garden is near. The beans are producing very little now and the tomatoes are all but gone. There are a few ears of corn still finishing up but most are in the freezer. The okra is coming on like gang busters and we=ll enjoy it fresh until the late fall. A few watermelons are hanging in there and may survive yet.

Critter update: The bluebirds have at least two babies this time around and I suspect they=ll be ready to fly soon. I=d really like to see more of them but they continue to be secretive. I did look in the house one day recently to check on the hatchlings. Neither of the parents was in sight. After my ten second peek, I looked around and the male was sitting on the fence nearby. When I left, he immediately came to check on the nest and then went back to gathering bugs for the hungry mouths. The toads have pretty much moved on at this point. However, there are many new little toads around the yard. I hope the bullfrogs get fat thinning that population!

The critter surprise of the month came one morning when I found a large red-eared turtle between the house and the air conditioner. I guess he washed down under the fence in one of the big rains and couldn=t find his way out. I relocated him to the city=s mosquito breeding ground next door and by the afternoon he was gone.

The positive side of the rain is that the flowers are doing well. Sharon=s AAugust@ gardenia has been blooming since January. Nothing here seems to do quite what it is supposed to do. The Encore azaleas bloomed from September until April but haven=t done anything since. They are supposed to bloom two or three times a year but they only manage one long season of blooms.

©Copyright 2004 ~ 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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