Tidbit #5
From the Bible
("Tidbit" - A Choice Morsel of Food)
July 19, 2011
THE ANCIENT OF DAYS
The name ─Ancient of Days ─ is found in the Seventh Chapter of "The Book of Daniel." It is mentioned three times. This title is commonly believed to be a Personal reference of God as Father, or as God Himself. The idea that Daniel saw God as the Father may seem to be right, inasmuch as we read in Daniel 7:13 that the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Days. Many believers see in this context—the Father and—the Son.
THE CAST OF TWO CHARACTERS:
THE ANCIENT OF DAYS AND THE SON OF MAN
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him" (Daniel 7:14)
This lends confirmation to the conventional "wisdom" of many that the "Ancient of Days" is God Himself, and the Son of Man is Jesus Christ.
However, the Man seen in the night vision is ONE LIKE the Son of Man, NOT THE SON OF MAN HIMSELF. It is a man LIKE the Son of Man; likewise, it can be said that the Ancient of Days is One that is portrayed to be God Himself.
A few comments are in order before we look into a particular vision that Daniel had. His Book was one of Dreams and Visions. The Lord spoke to Daniel by means of, and through, dreams and visions. He experienced the dreams and visions of major prophecies. He was, at times, transported into the arena in which great events were taking place in the spiritual realm of the heavens. At times, in his visions and dreams, he even interacted with the angels. He was given supernatural ability to interpret the dreams of others and he was empowered to read and interpret the Handwriting of God, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN which was written on the wall of Belshazzar's banquet hall (Daniel 5:25-28).
In Daniel 7, it should be noted that the scenes, described, are mostly in the invisible spiritual realm in the heavens. The heavens are populated with God's heavenly hosts and Satan's fallen angels.
The scenes that play out in Daniel's dreams are dramas in the heavens. That part of the drama which will take place on the earth, humanly speaking, will not be seen as Daniel saw it. Daniel saw four beasts that were fiendish in appearance, troubling to behold, and wildly grotesque. Should we dream Daniel's dream, we would call it a nightmare.
The four beasts in Daniel Chapter 7 are four kings. What Daniel sees are spiritual representations of these kings. These are how God will see them. Since He looks upon their hearts, He sees them as being grotesque because they are desperately wicked. When these kings show up on earth, the first one will not look like a lion with eagle's wings, the second will not look like or have the appearance of a bear with three ribs in his teeth, the third king will not look like a leopard with four heads and four wings on its back, nor will the fourth king appear as a dreadfully powerful and strong creature with iron teeth and ten horns on his head.
The men of that age will see these as handsome creatures. But, to God, they are as fierce beasts of the wild.
Each of the four kings will have great influence over the turbulent masses. They will be the quintessential politicians of their time – they will be flatterers who promise peace and prosperity. But, inwardly, they are ravenous wolves (i.e., wild-beasts). They will be the embodiment of evil, and it's as if when the Lord looks at them, they have the appearance of the beasts described in Chapter Seven. These creatures (beasts) in the heavenly realm represent their counterparts in the earth in the consummation of that Pre-Millennial Kingdom of God.
In the progress of time in Daniel Chapter 7, we read of "the Ancient of Days" in the three following verses:
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire" (Daniel 7:9).
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him." (Daniel 7:13).
"Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom" (Daniel 7:22).
"The Ancient of Days" is the expression used in reference to the LORD (Yahweh). The vision in Daniel's mind was inspired by the LORD. What Daniel saw was not the Eternal LORD Himself, but an aged man in whose dignified and imposing form, the LORD reveals Himself. In plainer words, God showed Daniel, in the night dream, an old man; not that God is an old God but the vision of an elderly man who inspired, in that day, dignity and respect. Age inspired veneration and conveyed the impression of majesty. This impression is heightened by the robe He wore which was white as snow, and by the appearance of the hair of His head which was like pure wool, and, also, by the flames of fire which are seen to go forth from His throne.
The expression used in references to God in Daniel (Dan. 7:9, 13, & 22) is not intended to suggest the existence of God from eternity. It was the venerable appearance of old age that was uppermost in the writer's mind. (Compare Ezek 1:26).
We have a Plainer Words Bible Study on the Book of Daniel. It is in Eleven Parts. We have taken a fresh look at the book. We have laid aside the writings of the prominent expositors of "The Book of Daniel" and have "plowed new ground." It is suggested a study be made of "A Fresh Look at Daniel" as found in the Plainer Words web site:
Click:
http://www.plainerwords.com/artman2/publish/2008/A_Fresh_Look_at_Daniel_-_Part_1.shtml
(This is a Publication of Plainer Words)
Tidbit #4
From the Bible
("Tidbit" - A Choice Morsel of Food)
January 26, 2011
COMPLETE IN CHRIST
The following thoughts were written sometime ago and we refer to it quite frequently. We must never grow careless of being "complete in Christ."
"As a believer, I am complete in Christ. I died with Christ to the worldly way of looking at things. Being complete in Christ, I am not compelled to live by the rules, creeds and precepts of worldly Christianity, which insist on self-abasement and a voluntary humility which is the result of a vainly puffed-up mind. Being complete in Christ, I am not subject to church ordinances. Those who submit to such ordinances openly display their incompleteness. Self-imposed restrictions have, indeed, the outward appearance that popularly passes for wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion, humility, and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the fleshly nature. The fleshly mind of incomplete Christians think by not doing this or that, they improve their stature as Christians. Those who believe that Christ Jesus has done it all are those who rest, comfortably, in the fact that they cannot add one cubit to their completeness. They are filled to the fullest. In Jesus Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. And Colossians 2 informs me that I am in Christ and; thereby, I am complete, or perfect in my standing before God. All because of the unmerited favor bestowed on all who believe present truth. I no longer fret over my standing in Him. I am no longer occupied with my good works or lack of them—in plainer words, my focus is not upon myself. Therefore, I am free to be occupied with God Himself."
"My spiritual pursuit is to increasingly know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, that in resurrection, I might attain a prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
The question Christians should ask themselves; "Am I complete in Christ?" If so, the believer should acknowledge it.
(This is a Publication of Plainer Words)
Tidbit #3
From the Bible
("Tidbit" - A Choice Morsel of Food)
October 15, 2010
In operating a business, we continually emphasized that—BASICS BUILD BUSINESS! Business is built upon fundamental "Building Blocks." If the building blocks of a business are not held fast, goals are not reached, profits are not reaped, and there is no confidence in Management. Likewise, there are BUILDING BLOCKS in Bible Study which, if not followed, results in confusion, loss of confidence in Scripture, stunted Christian growth, and most alarming of all—ERROR!
We call these BUILDING BLOCKS THE GOLDEN RULE FOR BIBLE STUDY.
The Bible student must ask these questions when reading a passage of Scripture:
- WHO IS speaking?
- TO WHOM is the speaker speaking?
- ABOUT WHAT is the speaker speaking?
- WHEN WAS it spoken?
Remember the profound and sage advice written by Dr. Ethelbert W. Bullinger in his landmark treatise, "How to Enjoy the Bible" (September 1907, Page 65). He said the following:
"While the Word of God is written FOR all persons, and FOR all time, yet it is as true that not every part of it is addressed TO all persons or ABOUT all persons."
Or, it could be said another way:
While ALL of the Bible is FOR YOU, it is not all TO YOU, nor is it ALL
written ABOUT YOU.
These are the building blocks of Bible Study that should be laid down in order to enjoy the Bible.
(This is a Publication of Plainer Words)
Tidbit #2
From the Bible
("Tidbit" - A Choice Morsel of Food)
September 20, 2010
THE GLORIOUS APPEARING
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [epiphaneia] of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
As members of the “Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23), we look to Titus 2:13 as our great HOPE. However, we should be sure that we are NOT looking for two events as the verse suggests.
We need to recognize that the figure of speech, “Hendiadys,” appears, twice, in this one verse. One of the “Hendiadys” relates to the Hope mentioned. We are NOT to be looking for two Hopes which would be:
(1) that blessed hope, and
(2) the glorious appearing
A “Hendiadys” is where two nouns, in this verse, are joined together by the conjunction “and.” The two nouns are in the same case; thus, indicating that one thing is in view. We are not to look for two hopes. It needs to be recognized that a “Hendiadys” occurs in the verse which means—TWO THINGS ARE MENTIONED, BUT ONLY ONE THING IS MEANT. (See Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, by E. W. Bullinger, P. 669). Or, as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “Hendiadys:”
“the expression of an idea by the use of usually two independent words connected by ‘and’ (as nice and warm) instead of the usual combination of independent word and its modifier (as nicely warm) “
Hendiadys is pronounced as “Hen-die-adas.”
Our Hope is the glorious Appearing. Taking into consideration the “Hendiadys,” the idea of the phrase is—Looking for that blessed hope; that is to say, the glorious Appearing.
Ephesians 4:4 corroborates this when speaking of the Unity of the Spirit: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.”
The ONE HOPE of our calling is the APPEARING; that is to say, the EPIPHANEIA. This glorious Appearing is the phenomenal event which brings to an end, the Dispensation of the Grace of God. Grace ends, and Government begins, i.e., the Kingdom of God.
Another “Hendiadys” occurs in the latter part of the verse:
“the Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Here, One Person is meant, not two: the Appearing of the great God; that is to say, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
This identifies the GREAT GOD as our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
Consider this Link for the expanded Truth on the Glorious Appearing:
http://www.plainerwords.com/artman2/publish/2008/The_Epiphaneia_Phenomenon_printer.shtml
(This is a publication of Plainer Words)
Tidbit #1
From the Bible
("Tidbit" - A Choice Morsel of Food)
What and When Is Christ's Day?
Very little is written about the future "Day" when there will be a world-wide acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. The diligent student has the responsibility of identifying "The Day of Jesus Christ" in the purposes of God. Let this tidbit be a starting point in the understanding of "what" the Day of Christ is and "when" it dawns.
The Lord Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:56; "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My Day: and he saw it, and was glad." Jesus Christ said that Abraham saw (i.e. perceived) His Day. How did Abraham "see" His Day? God revealed Christ's Day to him; hence, Abraham saw the Day of Jesus Christ, by faith, and was "glad." The Bible student ought to "see" Christ's Day and be glad.
Notice Paul's references to the Day of Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 1:8
Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 5:5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1:14
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
Philippians 2:16
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
The Day of Christ begins with His Appearing [the Epiphaneia], which is to say, His Kingdom [Basileia] (2 Timothy 4:1) and the blazing forth of the glory of the great God, even our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This is when the hope of the calling of the Mystery is realized. This is when our faith gives way to sight. This is the next event on God's prophetic clock. This is when Christ Jesus, in His role as the Head of the high calling, convenes [calls into session] the Ecclesia (Church), which is His Body. As the Great Convoker, He, alone, calls His Ecclesia into session. This marks His assumption of sovereignty over the nations. Those who have been memberd into "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" will, either, be raised out from among the dead, or will be changed from mortal to immortal, and will take their place, or station, in His Government.
For over two-thousand years, Christ has, silently, been building His Ecclesia (Church). Ever since Acts 28, He has been calling and choosing those who are to be revealed as members of this present body of believers who are to be "called on high." He is, silently, calling and building His Ecclesia on the grounds of Present Truth. The religious "Christian world" is unaware of this. Most Christians believe He is actively building the visible church, and they are unaware that the visible church is the work and contrivance of men.
The outstanding characteristic of the Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head is that the Lord Jesus Christ holds all of the Preeminence! (Col. 1:18). He shares this with no man!
(This is a Publication of Plainer Words) |
