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Perfection

We know there has been only one perfect person, who knew no sin (2 Cor 5:21 ³¹), to ever walk this earth, and that's Jesus the Christ (Anointed). In the beginning man was created in the likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27; 5:1-2), but then he sinned. And I believe at the end of this age, when He -- "...the last Adam made a quickening spirit" (1 Cor 15:45 KJV) -- comes again, all believers who have become the children of God (Rom 8:14-17) will be like Him (Rom 6:5 ³), who is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15; Heb 1:3). On that Day it will be life in paradise (Rev 2:7) with Him ("We have Been Redeemed" ^mp3) as though we had never sinned (Psa 103:11-12 ³²). As for now, some say that we cannot be perfect, but Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Mat 5:48 KJV).

What son does not desire to be like the perfect Father? If Jesus knew we could not be, He would not have said it. The work that the Lord God does is perfect (Deu 32:2-4), and He finishes it (John 5:36 ³³). Striving (Luke 13:24; 2 Tim 2:3-5) for perfection is a higher goal than just in the natural.

(2 Tim 3:16-17 KJV) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

The Word of God helps us to understand perfect in its various ways, and also helps us to be perfect and complete. If we let our depraved nature run its course, ⁵⁷ we will fall prey to Satan, away from the Lord God just like the children of Israel did, away from what He desires to perform in us, and end up in captivity with everything lost and destroyed. The word perfect, according to which Greek word used, and where and how it is applied, can mean "of full age, mature, complete, finished," etc.

Like Building a House

To envision perfect, we could look at a tangible objective that we would like to complete, for example, building a house ⁵⁶ (for I'm a carpenter), or even a Bible study like what you see here. First, must have acquired some knowledge, understanding (Isa 11:2, 9) and ability (Dan 1:3-4); then, go forward, and along the way, be willing to learn (Mat 11:29-30 ⁴²), not being a know-it-all (Phil 3:7-16).

Before beginning construction, need to be a wise builder (1 Cor 3:10), count the cost (Luke 14:28-30), sell all to buy land (Mat 13:44), give all for the kingdom (Mat 19:12; Luke 18:29-30), prepare (Mat 3:1-3 ³⁴) mind, heart, soul (Mat 22:37-40 ⁴⁰) and body (Mark 2:18-20), and establish a solid (firm) ^mp3 foundation ⁵⁶ (Mat 7:24-25 ³⁵). And then, to build a proper house upon that foundation (Eph 2:19-22), need the best material (1 Cor 3:11-14), a schematic (2 Tim 2:15 ³⁶), all the appropriate tools (Eph 6:11-18; Rom 6:13) and some construction skills (Dan 1:17). In the process of building, may need to learn (Prov 9:9 ⁴²) new things not yet experienced (Rom 5:3-5) to be able to complete the house (Ezra 6:14-15).

Prepared for Troubles

It is challenging to building one -- mine is still being worked on (Phil 1:6) with so much more to learn (Phil 3:7-16) -- but once finished, completed, perfected a soul can rest through the raging agonizing freezing winter (2 Cor 11:23-28), the blistering hot summer (Mat 24:32-34), the dark dreary hellish night (Rev 8:12 ³⁷) and through the fire (1 Cor 3:11-14) if it is fire proof.

Who can build a perfect house that can withstand the various seasons (2 Tim 4:1-8; Gal 6:9) and storms, and be even fireproof? But God only! Christ is over such a house (Heb 3:1-6). One day after all what we might have experienced, there will be a storm (Mat 24:21 ³⁹), a test (Zec 13:7-9 ⁷⁷) in the night (1 Th 5:1-5 ³⁷) like no other.

Because of that, we need to be aware of what is being taught and not taught in today's churches, and know the truths that concur with the Word of God, which will help prepare us for the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer 30:7 ⁴¹), for the Great (Trouble) Tribulation (Mark 13:24 ³⁹), for the temptation that will come upon the entire world (Rev 3:10), no matter what rapture theology believed. Until then I'm going to continue to study so my spiritual house will be prepared for all its trials (James 1:2-4 ⁶¹) and troubles (Mark 13:8 ⁶²). Your house too can be ready if you learn (Prov 1:5 ⁴²) God's Word by becoming a scribe (Mat 13:52), and let the truths grow (Mark 4:32 ⁴³) and take root in your heart.

(Rom 15:4 KJV) "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Study and Search for Myself

I am better at understanding prophecy when I study (2 Tim 2:15 ³⁶) the Word and search the scriptures (Acts 17:11) for myself.

Some Lying Pieces Do Not Fit Correctly

In doing so, I found that some lying (John 8:44) pieces did not fit correctly into the picture, such as the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory, ⁵⁸ which sounds as bad as Gap (the earth is only around six-thousand years old, not eons ²⁹) and Day-Age Theories (the Lord God created everything in six literal days ³⁰ in which evolution had no part). Those established Theories should not be taught as if they were Biblical doctrines, because they contradict the truth. If we do not understand something, we should not force a piece just so the picture will look complete for everyone to see (Mat 23:1-7), appearing to be theologically smarter and omniscient.

Scripture Confirmation

Before accepting any of the various prophecies (2 Pet 1:20-21) within Christian circles, need to see if the teachers are confirming their revelations (Rom 16:25-27 ⁷) with the scriptures (John 5:39-40), and with the prophets (John 5:45-47) and eyewitnesses (John 1:45) mentioned in the Bible (Heb 10:7). I have found that O.T. prophets (Mat 24:15), prophecies (Isa 8:13-15; 28:16) and scriptures (Psa 118:22-23) were referred to time and again by other prophets (John 19:37), Apostles (Rom 9:32-33) and disciples' (1 Pet 2:6-8) of Jesus, and by Jesus himself (Mat 21:42, 44) verifying (Luke 4:17-21) the Word (Luke 24:25-27).

For instance, on the way to Emmaus after Jesus' resurrection, two disciples discussed with Him about all what had happened to Him. That was when the Savior "...expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself..." (Luke 24:13-32 KJV).

Before, when He had talked of persecution (John 5:16), rejection (Mark 8:31 ⁶³), betrayal (Mat 26:20-25 ⁴⁴), denial (Mat 26:30-35 ⁴⁵), suffering (Luke 18:31-34 ⁴⁶), crucifixion and resurrection (Mat 16:21-23 ⁵⁴), His disciples could not receive or believe it. Peter knew He was the Christ, the Son of God (Mat 16:16-17), and John knew He was the Word (John 1:1-5, 14). Yet Peter just could not accept what was going to happen to Him (Mark 8:31-33 ⁴⁶).

(Luke 24:25-27 KJV) "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken: {26} Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and enter into his glory? {27} And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scripture the things concerning himself."

(Luke 24:44 KJV) "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

(Luke 24:46 KJV) "And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"

His disciples did not understand (Luke 18:34) or know (John 20:9) the scripture at first (John 2:22) -- until Jesus had talked with them after His resurrection (Luke 24:34-53). And too, the saying in Luke 18:31-34 was hid from them. They did not even know what He was talking about.

Luke 18:31-34 KJV) "Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. {32} For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: {33} And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. {34} And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken."

Note: In like manner, some Church members, who are ignorant of the scriptures, do not know or understand what will happen and is expected of them ⁵⁹ when they follow Christ (Mat 16:24-28 ⁴⁷), partake of His body (Luke 22:15-20), which was broken for us, and become members of one bread and one body (1 Cor 10:16-17 ⁶). The real facts are, if we belong to Him and in Him (Rom 8:35-39), we too will experience persecution (John 15:20 ⁶⁴), rejection (Luke 10:9-11), suffering (Col 1:21-29; 1 Pet 4:12-13), also tribulation (John 16:33), trouble (2 Cor 1:7-8) and possibly martyrdom (Acts 7:53-60) before our resurrection.

I believe doubt and fear came when their expectations were not met. His disciples desired to see the kingdom established (Isa 2:2-5; Micah 4:1-5), which they had heard so much about. And many thought it would immediately appear (Luke 19:11). Instead, the O.T. scriptures about the suffering Servant (Isa 53) come to pass in which Jesus Christ as prophet (Deu 18:15 ⁴⁸) had spoken.

Foretold

Your adventure in the Bible will seem to be endless. You will find more pieces to complete the bigger picture. If you like reading a mystery novel, I assume you will love reading God's Word time and again. You will not only see what was foretold about our Savior's first coming, but also much about His second coming (Heb 9:28).

Members of His body (Eph 5:23-32 ⁶) have gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-12; Eph 4:7-16), equipping them for their calling, and some have the gift of prophecy (Rom 12:6 ⁴⁹). My gift is the understanding (Luke 24:45) of various written prophecies and parables. Many of the prophetic truths are in Jesus' parables. His speaking in them was foretold by the prophet (Psa 78:2-3).

(Mat 13:35 KJV) "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." ⁵⁰

Kept Secret

They were a way of telling us much about the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:31-35) -- which is synonymous with kingdom of God (Mark 4:30-34) -- things which had been kept secret from the foundation of the world, even from prophets (Dan 9:24; 12:4, 9) of old. Many prophets and righteous men desired to see and hear things many had seen and heard (Mat 13:17).

Hearing and Receiving

To grasp the meanings of the parables, each Christian needs to read them for himself with some guidance (John 16:13; Acts 8:27-35) and receive what God has for him. If you are Jesus' disciple, "...it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven..." (Mat 13:11 KJV).

And if you belong to Him, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27 KJV).

Being of His sheepfold, we need to be careful to whom we are hearing (2 Pet 3:3-4) and what we are receiving in these troubled last days, even if it were from an angel (Gal 1:6-12; Heb 13:2).

(Heb 1:1-2 KJV) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, {2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

In these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son (Heb 1:1-2). After His ascension, He conveyed messages (and things) to John (Rev 1:1; 4:1-2) and to Paul (2 Cor 12:1-4; Gal 1:11-17) by revelations; and by the scriptures (Rom 16:25-27), by the Word of God and by His Holy Spirit (John 14:26) conveys and reveals things unto us (1 Cor 2:9-16).

Beware!

Without a doubt many disciples of Jesus, including myself, have been led astray because of false teachings (2 Pet 2:1-3). I do not profess to be a know-it-all (Phil 3:7-16) or have all the truths, but the records show that a secret and pre-tribulation rapture doctrine started to come about before the 20th Century, sometime after the early Church Fathers died, and not from the eyewitnesses in the Bible.

(Mat 24:11 KJV) "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."

(Col 2:8 KJV) "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Good Ground

In the parable in Matthew 13:3-9 and 18-23, a sower went forth to sow.

(Mat 13:23 KJV) "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

He who received seed into the good ground hears the Word and understands it (Mat 13:51-52 ⁵¹). His heart was prepared (Mat 3:1-3 ³⁴) when he received it. It will take root is his life, grow and bear fruit. He will have something to show for his faith (James 2:14-26) when reward (Mat 16:27 ⁵²) time comes (Rev 14:12-13). And the Biblical truths he learns will carry him through until then.

Stony Places

But he (Mat 13:5-6) "...that received the seed into stony places..." and has no root endures for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, he is offended (Mat 13:20-21), or as Luke's account puts it, "They on the rock...receive the word...have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13 KJV). Having no root, he develops no sound Biblical doctrine to sustain him.

(Mat 13:20-21 KJV) "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; {27} Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended."

(Luke 8:13KJV) "They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away."

There are some hidden revelations for the pretribbers who will not hang in there long enough when tried -- in my general opinion to see if they truly love God (Deu 6:5-6 ⁴⁰) -- and learn some significances of persecution, tribulation, trials (Dan 11:35; 12:10) and refining (Mal 3:1-3) fires (Zec 13:7-9). In my agony I can see truths behind suffering for Jesus. Most importantly Christians are being conformed to the image (Rom 8:28-29) of God's dearly beloved (Mat 3:17 ⁶⁰) Only Begotten (Psa 2:7 ⁵) Son (John 1:14 ⁴), becoming more like Him.

Wheat and Tares

In another parable, Jesus spoke of wheat and tares that will grow together until time of harvest (Mat 13:24-30, 37-43).

(Mat 13:30 KJV) "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."

The tares (darnel or false grain) that resemble wheat are pawns in the hands of Satan. They lack commitment, for they are shallow and do not examine the Biblical truths for themselves. They appear to be righteous on the outside (Mat 23:25-26). They work really hard to be seen only of men (Mat 6:5), helping to spread those false doctrines, theories, misinterpretations and false visions that are so readily accepted by the large, dominate church groups. I can partly understand why there are so many tares today. Life is so easy when following crowds (Mat 7:13-14), looking like everyone else and accepted, but very difficult when standing alone, different and rejected.

Satan's Lie

By the groves, pretending Christians everywhere have believed Satan's pre-trib rapture lie. For them to accept it, they may have never truly repented and been grounded in God's Word. For sure the father of lies (John 8:44) has influenced the Church greatly on this dogma. Many like Adam and Eve in the garden have yielded to him.

Path of the Least Resistance

Another thing, it is so easy to believe that our rewards (Mat 5:12 ⁵²) come without an effort on our part (Mat 10:37-39 ⁵³). Man has a tendency to take the path of the least resistance. Sure we are saved by grace through faith and not of works (Eph 2:8-10), but works (James 2:14-26) are a result of a heart that understands, bears fruit and brings forth (Mat 13:23).

Burned or Refined

I believe the pretribbers need to re-examine their salvation before it is too late. When it comes time for the harvest, the tares will be gathered into bundles to be burned would much rather be refined (Mal 3:1-3) now than burned later (Zep 2:1-4; Luke 3:16-17) -- and the wheat will be gathered into the Lord's barn (Mat 13:30). The harvest is coming! For each person that bears fruit, it is going to be such a joyful event. ^mp3