Plainer Words Online
By
Tom L. Ballinger
 
Plainer Words since 1968
 
PWO # 391
 
February 24, 2015
 
THE GOLDEN RULE FOR BIBLE STUDY
 
ASK YOURSELF THESE FOUR QUESTIONS WHEN READING A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE:
 
1.     WHO was the writer?
2.     TO WHOM was he writing?
3.     WHAT was the subject of the writing?
4.     WHEN was it written?
 
ALL of the BIBLE WAS WRITTEN FOR US, and
ALL of IT IS FOR OUR LEARNING.
BUT, ALL of the BIBLE IS NOT WRITTEN TO US, nor
IS IT WRITTEN ABOUT US.
 
On March 30, 2005, I wrote a “Plainer Words Online …The Kingdom’s New Creation – Part IV.” The following is a quote from that study on Page 11:
 
[Quote] It seems that most “scholars agree” that the Day of Christ is the Day of the Lord under another name. I, for one, have always been skeptical of something that most “scholars agree” upon. A number of Plainer Words readers have said, after reading some studies of mine on the Day of Christ; “Tom, I just don’t see it.” For a long time, neither did I. That doesn’t mean that it is not truth.
 
In John Chapter Eight, the Jews were hurling vehement denunciations against the Lord Jesus because He asserted that He knew Abraham, and the Jews did not. The Lord Jesus told the Jews [Pharisees], “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” (John 8:44a).
 
Then, they claimed that Abraham was their father, and Jesus didn’t know him at all.
 
According to the reply of the Lord Jesus, Abraham saw the “Day of Christ” before Abraham died. The Jews claimed Abraham was their father while the Lord Jesus maintained that His Father was God. Jesus Christ replied:
 
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My Day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).
 
Abraham saw Christ’s Day by faith. He must have revealed His Day to Abraham. Faith comes by hearing the Word. Abraham saw Christ’s Day by faith.
 
“My Day” was christened by Paul as the “Day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:4).
 
Admittedly, when one begins to see the Day of Christ, a radical re-adjustment in one’s perception of Dispensational Truth is required. Alas, many are comfortable where they are and what they believe to be true. To believe the Day of Christ is the same Day as the Day of the Lord will result in being an ashamed workman (2 Timothy 2:15).
 
On the other hand, some readers have replied positively to the concept that the Day of Christ is the Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God.
 
A recent case in point: concerning the Day of Christ, we received an email from a prominent Bible teacher, who will remain unidentified, saying something to the effect—“that it is funny how you can only receive knowledge when you are ready for it. When I saw it, it was easy. I just saw it; BAM! All became clear and my world view of end time events made the future so crystal clear. I still need to finish the details but I see it, Tom. I see it.” [End of Quote]
 
It is imperative that the Day of Christ be rightly divided from the Day of the Lord. When this is done the plot of the Bible unfolds.
 
End Note:
 
“Golden Rule for Bible Study” was the great creative work of Dr. E. W. Bullinger. I have taken the liberty to revise some of his wording, but the meaning still remains Dr. Bullinger’s.
 
~~THE END~~
 
Copyright© 2014 by Thomas L. Ballinger
 
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