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By God's grace, still presenting the same old message from the same old Book...

Matthew 28:16 (KJV) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is the way I understand some of the events that will transpire after the rapture. This side, the side we are now on, believers have Christ in them, and as Jesus says, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. When a Christian leaves this present life, they go to be with the Lord and will ever be with the Lord. The church is raptured, and that leaves no believers on the earth. After the rapture, during the great tribulation, with the 144,000 (an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel) will be saved and go forth declaring God’s word, and during that time the church commission as given to the eleven will not will not be in effect, for the church is not present it having been raptured, therefore the church ordinances will not be used.

Consider these words, in context as they are used in Matthew 28:20, “...even unto the end of the world.” Here are some thoughts about how I am understanding this. There are times words are used, such as with this example: “Our great grandparents lived in a different world.” Now actually in a sense it was not a different world, but in another sense, were a person to travel back in time, it would certainly appear to be a different world. That world they lived in is gone, in a sense, and now we live in a different world. Using that chain of thought, since Matthew 28:20 in context is part of the commission given to the church, and as the church is raptured, the world as it was with the church present is gone, and there is a new world. Jesus is not with the church on the earth, alway, for the church is not alway on the earth.

In closing, these following words are dealing with professing believers that are part of no church, or are a part of churches that clearly have departed from the pattern given for the church in Scripture. These comments require a consideration of how to identify the church. Would you know the church if you saw it? The church Jesus founded is not a building made with wood, bricks and such like. A church is commissioned to carry out the great commission. Is a person a member of the church, simply because they are saved? I think not, for a church has an assembling of believers, for there is no church without our assembling together. There is church discipline. There is organized worship and participation in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper. Christians can and do worship privately, but public worship is necessary. Public worship includes preaching, reading of he Scripture, prayer, singing, baptism, Lord’s supper, giving, missions, brotherly love, evangelistic efforts, the abiding of the Holy Spirit (Matt 18:20; Eph 2:22), and the assembling of believers, for without the assembling of ourselves together there is no church. Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The ordinances are not for private, but for use within the church. We do not baptize ourselves. We do not observe the Lord’s supper alone. A true local church provides biblical teaching by qualified men sent by God. Other such examples could be given to help one identify a church.

In the passage of Scripture (Matthew 28:16) the disciples went away to Galilee, unto a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. Their going to the mountain didn’t save them, but they went to the mountain because they were saved. What sort of believer counts it a strange thing to be a doer of what his Lord says? Proverbs 4:18 (KJV) But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Is one that is off on their own path on the path that is as a shinning light? Would the disciples have meet Jesus to hear the commission if they had not gone away, where they were appointed to go? Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Are we as believers, to cut our own path, or are we to follow the path revealed by the word? Psalms 119:105 (KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Surely the path of the just is as a shining light, for the words lights the way.

What happens to those apart from the church at the rapture? Are there valid excuses whereby a person will be excused, or does our Lord save some and leave them to do there own thing, rather than follow Him?

John 10:4 (KJV) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Is the rapture limited to the church alone, and the others not part of the church are lost? It shows from Scripture that for us, now, our place in the church. There are many that claim it is merely legalism to expect a person to be a doer of the word, and not a hearer only. Are such persons saved? Are those that have not been obedient to the Scriptures, regarding the church, actually saved? If any say no, do you yourself claim to be without sin? Have you dealt with the beam in your own eye? For only then can you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. There are some I would not have close to my eye (John 10:5; Ps 101:3; 119:18; Pr 4;25; 17:24). Luke 6:42 (KJV) Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Isaiah 32:17 (KJV) And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

1 John 4:14 (KJV) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Obedience and Joy

John 15:9 (KJV) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Not Only A Hearer, Also Be A Doer Of The Word To Have Righteous Assurance And Boldness

1 John 3:18 (KJV) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

August 18, 2004
Bob Krajcik
Mansfield, Ohio

 

Bible Study Letters

A message of comfort from the Scriptures,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.

Come and hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Psalms 66:16

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