1

Lesson 8

2

Topic Outline

Recap Last Week’s Lesson Further Explanation (rising from Q/A session)

Return [9] - Judge Application to Us Quiz Question / Answer Session

3Recap - Ascension

ascended in cloud of glory

sympathizes with us

intercedes for us

priesthood forever

to right hand of God

Dra

win

g by

Ric

hard

Hoo

k

declared high priest

order of Melchizedek

symbolic angel

one mediator

4

Further Explanations to last week’s Q/A• If Jesus (not the Holy Spirit) is the ‘intercessor’ in Rom 8:26-27, why does Jesus say there will be another Counselor (Jn 14:16)?

• Explain Matthew 12:31-32, and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven

• If the “us” in Gen 1:26 is not God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, then what does it mean?

• If the “power of the Holy Spirit” indicates power that belongs to/ comes from the Holy Spirit = then the Holy Spirit is a being, right?

• Explain again the argument how David is subordinate to the Lord Jesus (Matt 22:41-45) and Jesus, being a high priest like Melchizedek, is superior to Abraham (Heb 7:4-17)

5

Appeared6

PropheciesRelationships

Jesus

To Return9

Ascended8

Spiritual body5

Resurrected1

Born of Woman4

Alive body3

Dead body2

Empowered7

New Earth

10

A Jesus-centered Viewpoint

6

Appeared6

PropheciesRelationships

Jesus

To Return9

Ascended8

Spiritual body5

Resurrected1

Born of Woman4

Alive body3

Dead body2

Empowered7

New Earth

10To Return (as Judge)

A Jesus-centered Viewpoint

7

9. To Return (as Judge)

• from heaven to Mt. Olivet (Zech 14:1-4, 8-11, Acts 1:9-12)

• visibly, in glory (Matt 24:29-31)

• authorized by God (John 5:25-30)• believers at Christ’s judgment seat (2Cor 5:10)• the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30-31)• the living and dead (Acts 10:42, 2Tim 4:1-2)• vengeance on enemies (2Thes 1:8, Rev 11:18)• reward the faithful (Rev 11:18, Matt 25:34-36)

Judg -1

8

Zechariah 14:1-4Judg -2

Points:1. In a context demonstrably being ‘the last days’ and the time of the

coming of the Christ – the return of Jesus as judge and king – the location is explicitly stated to be the Mt of Olives, near Jerusalem

1 Behold, a day of the LORD is coming, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in the midst of you. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward.

Application:Bible prophecy can be very detailed, as in this case, which is why the angels in Acts 1 could be so confidently specific.

9

Zechariah 14:8-11Judg -3

Points:1. This passage confirms that the prophecy is about the coming king

(representing the LORD) to Jerusalem, whom we know from other references to be Jesus, the Christ (e.g., Luke 1:32-33, Jer 3:17).

8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue in summer as in winter. 9 And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one. 10 The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft upon its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Han'anel to the king's wine presses. 11 And it shall be inhabited, for there shall be no more curse; Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

Application:The fact that “there shall be no more curse” is language of the Kingdom age (cf. Rev 22:3) as is “Jerusalem shall dwell in security” (cf. Ezek 28:26, 34:28) = reason why apostles asked about Kingdom being restored to Israel (Acts 1:6)

10

Acts 1:9-12Judg -4

Points:1. “a cloud” = the clouds of heaven upon return (Matt 24:30, 17:5); “come in same way” = back to Mt. Olivet, just outside Jerusalem as predicted in Zech 14:4, 9,16 (cf. Jer 3:17, Ezek 43:7)

9 And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." …. 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near to Jerusalem…

Application:The coming of Christ will not be in secret, or mystically invisible (cf. Matt 24:23-28) but plainly, in the open, and cause for lamentation; so don’t be deceived by the false teachers (e.g., JW sect argues for invisible 1914 coming).

2. A parallel passage which describes the scenario of Jesus’ return to earth (1Thes 4:16-17) also includes clouds, trumpet call etc.

11

Matthew 24:29-31Judg -5

Points:1. Reaffirms that the return of Jesus as the Christ will be seen in

conjunction with unmistakable celestial signs coupled with the actual appearance of Jesus with his angels etc.

2. “tribes of the earth” = Jews in the land of Israel; “loud trumpet call” = sounding of last trumpet = resurrection time! (1Cor 15:52)

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; 31 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Application:There will be no valid excuse for people to claim that they did not perceive that God has sent His Son back to this earth

12

John 5:25-29Judg -6

Points:1. God granted Jesus the authority and the power to be the

judge of the world, which included the living and the dead.2. The outcome for those raised from the dead (along with the

living called to the judgment seat) is one of two verdicts: eternal life, or eternal death.

Application:"I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (Jn5:30)

25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, 27 and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

13

2 Corinthians 5:10Judg -7

Points:1. Context: v. 1-9. Paul is talking of the prospect of a believer being “further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life”, i.e., receiving eternal life from Jesus. When does this

happen? When Jesus makes the pronouncement from his judgment seat, that is spoken from his glorious throne in Jerusalem (Matt 25:31)2. The context of Matt 25:31 is the parable of the separation of the “sheep from the goats”, i.e., Jesus the judge-king is pronouncing the blessing (right hand) or the curse (left hand) on those judged.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Application:Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34)

14

Acts 17:30-31Judg -8

Points:1. Context: v. 1-29 Paul is preaching in Athens to “very religious”

people who worship “an unknown god”, arguing that it is really the God of heaven who [alert!] plans to judge the world by Christ!

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."

2. “by a man” = the resurrected Jesus is still considered a man; the same point is made of him in his mediator role (1Tim 2:5)

3. “by raising him” = the fact of Jesus being raised to eternal life is essential to God’s assurance of righteous judgment

Application:…but now he commands all men everywhere to repent = applies to us! = ignorance (“I didn’t know”) is no excuse; see also Matt 25:44-45

15

Acts 10:39-43Judg -9

Points:1. Context: Peter preaching to Cornelius (a devout Roman centurion)

who had gathered his friends to hear a message of salvation (11:14)

2. Explicit basic teaching: Jesus is to judge the living and the dead

39 And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Application:See how several key teachings come together in this passage: death & resurrection of Jesus, witnesses of the living Lord, commission to preach, judgment of the living & dead, forgiveness of sins for those who believe

16

2 Timothy 4:1-2Judg -10

Points:

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his king- dom: 2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.

Application: [why so important & urgent?]

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. (2Timothy 4:3-4)

1. Clear reinforcement of the basic Bible teaching of Christ to judge the living and the dead + provides the timeframe: “by his appearing and his kingdom” = does not happen when we die

2. “be urgent”, “convince, rebuke, exhort” = forceful language to emphasize the importance and manner in preaching the word

17

2 Thessalonians 1:5-8

Points:1. Context: Paul writing to believers of what is to befall those who

have persecuted them; the time frame is specific:“when he [Jesus] comes on that day to be glorified in the saints” (v.10)

2. Vengeance is on the disbelievers [not know] & disobedient [not obey]

5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering-- 6 since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Judg -11

Application:They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might (v.9) = same end as in Mt 25:41,45 “depart from me…eternal fire…eternal punishment”.

18

Revelation 11:18Judg -12

Points:

The nations raged, but thy wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, for rewarding thy servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear thy name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." .

Application:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were

judged by what they had done (Revelation 20)

19

Matthew 25:34-36Judg -13

Points:

34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' ..46 And they …the righteous [go] into eternal life."

1. Real belief entails faithful behavior = goods deeds are ‘natural’2. “inherit the kingdom” = “go into eternal life” (here on earth)Application:Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:27) = both areas are important

20Summary – Return as Judge

coming back to Mt Olivet

judge living & dead

faithful rewarded

righteous judgment

visible return w/angels

Dra

win

g by

Ric

hard

Hoo

k

made judge by God

‘all’ to judgment seat

Judg -14

wicked punished

21

So What?To those who had just condemned him, Jesus declared:"You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matt 26:64)

Judg -15

For those who presumed to be ‘true disciples’, Jesus said:"Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me you evildoers’”(Matt 7:21-23)

What will he say to you?

22

Quiz1. Jesus is to return to earth in the same way he left, with

clouds of glory, angels, the sound of a _______, to the Mount of Olives, which is just outside of _________.

2. The ‘elect’ , both the living and the resurrected _____, will be gathered (by the angels) to the Lord who, sitting at his _______ seat and on his throne of glory, will pronounce the verdict of reward or punishment.

3. The faithful will receive ________ and go into the _______ of God. The wicked will be _______ and go into ________.

4. How far off, in terms of time, is the return of Christ and the judgment of the world?

5. What should we be doing in the meantime?

23

Homework Reading

9. To Return [King]• over all the world (Rev 11:15-17, Zech 14:8-9)• in Jerusalem (Ps 2:2-6, Zech 14:16)• on David’s throne (Luke 1:31-33, Is 2:1-3)• shares throne (Matt 19:27-28, Rev 2:26-27,3:21)• rules with rod of iron (Rev 19:15)• brings peace & rightness (Is 9:6-7, 11:3-5)• is King of Kings (Rev 19:15, 17:14)• Kingdom to last forever (Dan 2:44-45,7:15-18)

24

Questions &

Answers

25

…to be continued

26

Another Counselor – John 14:16, 26

Supplemental Reference Material #1

16 And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you…26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Points:1. The text is explicit: there is “another Counselor” (i.e., Comforter

or Advocate – Gk. parakletos) = “Holy Spirit” =“the Spirit of truth”, to be sent by God. Clearly, it is not Jesus, but a power which would enable the apostles to remember and teach truth, a capability that is not the same as that discussed in Rom 8:26.

2. Jn 16:13 says,“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” = inspired like prophets (2Pet 1:21)

27

Apostles to speak as prompted by God

Supplemental Reference Material #2

19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10)

11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." (Luke 12)

14 Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21)

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders …13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. (Acts 4)

Assurances

Fulfilled

28

Original Word Word Originpneu'ma from (4154)

Transliterated Word

PneumaPhonetic Spelling

Parts of Speechpnyoo'-mah  

Noun Neuter  Definition

1. the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son [NGF disagrees]a. sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his personality and

character (the \\Holy\\ Spirit) b. sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his work and power (the

Spirit of \\Truth\\) c. never referred to as a depersonalized force [since comes from God or Jesus]

2. the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated a. the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides b. the soul [wrong – NGF]

 King James Word Usage - Total: 385

Spirit 111, Holy Ghost 89, Spirit (of God) 13, Spirit (of the Lord) 5, (My) Spirit 3, Spirit (of truth) 3, Spirit (of Christ) 2, human (spirit) 49, (evil) spirit 47, spirit (general) 26, spirit 8, (Jesus' own) spirit 6, (Jesus' own) ghost 2, miscellaneous 21

Spirit – Strong’s Concordance

Supplemental Reference Material #3

But see John 3:8

1

3

2

29

Blasphemy against Holy Spirit Supplemental Reference Material #4

31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12)

28 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- 30 for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." (Mark 3)

Points:1. If the Holy Spirit was the 3rd person of the Trinity (non-Bible term),

it makes no sense in allowing Jesus and God to be blasphemed and forgiveness allowed, but not so with the Holy Spirit.

2. Rather, this is a case of the hearers refusing to embrace the very means that would bring repentance – they called God’s Spirit “unclean”! (cf. Is 5:20); to refuse to repent = could not be forgiven

30

The “us” in Gen 1:26-27Supplemental Reference Material #5

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Points:1. v.26 translation indicates plurality (“us”, “our” ) and the Hebrew

elohyim (translated “God”) can indicate plurality as well; however, it could be 2,3,12, or 2000; the text does not say whom/how many

2. “image” and “likeness” are the same as used in Gen 5:3 (refers to Seth in image/likeness of Adam), indicate form and appearance, certainly entail gender (v.27), and thus suggest angels = the “us”

3. The idea of “dominion over the …” is cited in Ps 8 & Heb 2 with a connection of man, and notably Jesus, relative to angels

4. v. 27 is explicit, however, that God, singular, is the Creator, i.e., the primary source, thus, the angels were His helpers (Ps 103:20)

31

Original Word Word Origin~yhla plural of (0433)

Transliterated Word

'elohiymPhonetic Spelling

Parts of Speechel-o-heem' 

Noun Masculine

 Definition

1. (plural) a. rulers, judges b. divine ones c. angels d. gods

2. (plural intensive - singular meaning) a. god, goddess b. godlike one c. works or special possessions of God d. the (true) God e. God

 King James Word Usage - Total: 2606

God 2346, god 244, judge 5, GOD 1, goddess 2, great 2, mighty 2, angels 1, exceeding 1, God-ward + (04136) 1, godly 1

God – Strong’s Concordance

Supplemental Reference Material #6

32

Warning about False ProphetsSupplemental Reference Material #7

4 And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray …9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved…. 23 Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Lo, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24)

Points:1. In his explanation about what would be “signs concerning his

coming” and “the end of the age” , Jesus warned about false prophets and false teachers 3 times = a very important issue!

2. Though there will be tribulation (v.9), there is assurance for those who endure to the end (v.13) by their faith in Christ and his word.

33

1Thessalonians 4:16-17

Supplemental Reference Material #8

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; 17 then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Points:1. Context: belief in the resurrected Jesus is the basis for confidence

in his return to raise from the dead those who died in faith. They will join the living disciples at the judgment seat of Christ and those who are rewarded with be “with the Lord” forever.

2. v.16-17 detail parallel those in Matt 24: descent from heaven, trumpet sound (signal for dead to be raised), archangel, & clouds

34

• Illustration: it is taught that believers are 'raptured' up to heaven to avoid the great tribulation on earth; the primary text to prove this is 1Thessalonians 4:17. Is this sound exposition? Let's see:

a) neither v.17 nor its context says anything about "tribulation" or "heaven" = these terms/ideas are being read into the text

But the location is notspecified. To claim it is heaven is an assumption. A more likely location is the earth since (1) that's where the Lord was coming in the first place (2) countless other passages put the Kingdom there.

c) v.16 says the the Lord will "descend from heaven" = he is coming down to the earth; v. 17 says that the risen dead + alive believers are caught away together "to meet the Lord in the air [not heaven], and so we shall always be with the Lord".

b) the Greek word presumed to mean 'rapture' simply means 'caught away' (e.g., Acts 8:39), not 'caught up'

Tribulation and “the rapture” – what’s the true Bible teaching?

Supplemental Reference Material #9a 1 of 3

35

When you align the details of 1Thes 4 with those of Matthew 24, it is apparent that the 'caught away' occurs after the tribulation, not before it! Here's the analysis:

v.16 descend from heaven with the archangel's call with the sound of the trumpet of Godv.17 caught away together in the clouds to meet the Lord

v.30 see the Son of Man coming on the cloudsv.31 send out his angels with a loud trumpet call they will gather his elect

2. but v.29 in Matthew says "Immediately after the tribulation of those days" = v.30-31 take place after the tribulation; also, being "caught away" is upon Jesus' Return

3. since v.16-17 = same event as v.30-31, they also take place after the tribulation.

Tribulation and “the rapture”

1. these passages speak of the same event Points:

Supplemental Reference Material #9b 2 of 3

36

• Does it matter how we interpret this passage? Yes! There is far more at stake than getting a sequence wrong.

• So, while the church in Philadelphia was told they would be "kept from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world" (Rev 3:10) they were the exception, not the rule (e.g. Rev 2:10,13,6:9-11,11:7).

• They may forget that God uses the time of tribulation to bring people back to Him, and that's the best time to have His people there witnessing to the unbelievers and demonstrating God's love in very tough times. [see “The Great Tribulation” handout sheet]

They may overlook the verses that indicate persecution (on account of God and Christ) has been the experience of the faithful throughout the ages.

Tribulation and “the rapture”

• The rapture is an attractive teaching because it gives the (false) hope to believers of not going through the tribulation. What will these believers think when they are not 'taken away' but 'left behind'? Panic? Believe that Christ has abandoned them?

Supplemental Reference Material #9c 3 of 3

37

The Holy Spirit – a being or a power?

Supplemental Reference Material #10

Evidence for HS = a power:

1. The text of Luke 1:35 equates (by parallel phrases) the two terms: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will

overshadow you”

Similarly, comparing Luke 24:49, “until you are clothed with power

from on high” with Acts 2:4, “they were filled with the Holy Spirit”

equates the two terms. This conclusion is confirmed in Acts 1:8: “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”.

2. The phrases “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Jesus”, indicate (on the basis of English grammar) that this “Spirit” is possessed or owned by God and Jesus. The Trinitarian viewpoint does not have ‘God the Holy Spirit’ being owned by either ‘God the Father’ or ‘God the Son’, for that would be non-sensible. However, it does make sense if the Holy Spirit is a power.

38

King David is subordinate to (his son) Jesus

Supplemental Reference Material #11

Argument from Matthew 22:41-45

However, the Scripture written by David says: The LORD [YHWH] says to my (David’s) Lord [Adonai] indicating that David is subordinate to that Lord

Jesus was the descendant (son of David) and in Jewish genealogy,the descendant is regarded as subordinate to the ancestor

Since Jesus = that “Lord” in the quoted text, then : king David is subordinate to the Lord Jesus, the Christ

YHWH says to my Adonai (superior, who = Jesus)

39

Melchizedek (Jesus) is superior to Abraham

Supplemental Reference Material #12

Argument from Hebrews 7:4-7

However, Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, who in turn blessedAbraham; and Scripture says: “It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior”

i.e., Melchizedek is superior to Abraham

Abraham was the patriarch of the nation of Israel = a most important person, and forefather of Levi, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac

Since Melchizedek is a prototype (non-dying king-priest) of Jesus, then : Jesus is superior to Abraham

Also, the Melchizedek priesthood is superior the Levitical since Levi was “in the loins” of Abraham

40

Spirit in John 3:6-8

Supplemental Reference Material #13

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."

In all 4 cases, “Spirit”, “spirit” ,”wind” is the same Greek word Pneuma

Also, in all 4 cases, none of the words start with a Capital letter: it has been applied by the translators

(and their interpretation)

41

Eternal (unquenchable) fire and punishment

Supplemental Reference Material #14

 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor'rah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly . (2Pet 2:6, the parallel passage)

the whole land brimstone and salt, and a burnt-out waste, unsown, and growing nothing, where no grass can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomor'rah, Admah and Zeboi'im, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath-- (Deut 29:23, Moses’ commentary)

just as Sodom and Gomor'rah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 7)

1

And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into brimstone; her land shall become burning pitch.  Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up for ever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. (Isaiah 34:9-10, cf. 66:24 = like oil well fire [as long as fuel lasts] or garbage dump [but objects are consumed]

2= the punishment lasts forever, a total, unending overthrow

42

X

XStart

Judgmentby Christ

Disciples must “all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” Supplemental Reference Material #15