THE ETERNAL SOUL
IT'S FIRST HABITATION
AND
IT'S FINAL HOME
Genesis chapter # 1: 1-25: states that in "the beginning" God created the "heaven" and the "earth." After the earth and heaven were set in place in an orderly fashion, with all the "elements" necessary to maintain all forms of life; he proceeded to create creatures to occupy the seas and the fowls to occupy the air space.
Next he "ordered" the earth to produce all "living creatures" including cattle creeping things and beasts of all kind. Then God produced his "master piece"; By mutual agreement with the three parts of the complete "Godhead". Let us make man [S# 120 ‘adam; mankind] after our image and "likeness" and let them, [notice the plural, man and woman, husband and wife] have dominion over everything we have made. Verses # 26-31. When God had completed the "forming" of man from the dust of the earth, God breathed into him the "breath of life." Man then received and was made " a living Soul".
The word "soul" S# 5315 OT "nepshesh"[ a living being with desires, emotions, passions and a will] and is translated as soul, life, creature, mind, heart, person, my lust, yourselves and man and is used 754 times in the OT. The NT word is S# 5590 "psuchee" [breath of life, seat of feelings, desires or heart] and is translated as life, soul, heart and mind.
Chapter two gives a complete outline of this great story that took six days to finish. The description of this place named "Eden" is given in this chapter.
Genesis chapter three introduces Satan and his fall from an Angelic being to the status of a "serpent". This also tells of the fall of mankind from a "holy state" to that of a sinner and the penalty of death. This included mankind being driven from the presence of God and from their home Eden, and being required to earn his living by physical labor.
Chapter four introduces the "Sabbath" and the birth of children, the first "murder" and the two lines of humanity Cain and Seth. These two families represent the family of God and the family of man.
The mixing of these two families and the results of this intermarriage are described in Genesis chapter # 3:6-20.
Romans 5:12-21;Paul writes; By one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin. Heb 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jesus says in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved this world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent his Son into the world, that through him the world might be saved. John 10: 10; I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.
To accomplish this required that Jesus would be crucified, that by his blood the sin of the world might be taken away. John 1:29. See also John 12: 27, 17:1-26 and 18: 37.
Included in the plan of God was the fact that in three days Jesus would be resurrected from the grave. See Matt. 12: 40, Mk. 8: 31, 14: 58, John 2: 19-20 and Matt. 28: 1-6.
Also in the plan of God was that after 40 days he would ascend into Heaven to prepare an everlasting home for his saints. John 14: 1-3 and Acts 1:1-9.
He gave great details of this great event [the Second Coming] in Matt. ch. 24: Mk. ch. 13 and Lk. ch. 21.
Before we move forward in this study there are some things that we must outline. We must know that the "body" our soul occupies was not designed to live in the Heavens above.1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.
This being true we either die and our bodies return to dust and be resurrected at the return of Jesus.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
There are a number of different opinions about the "order of", or the chain of events associated with his Coming. I want to move very carefully to connect the scriptures together and to search the writings of Paul, Peter and John to try to harmonize all into a continuing story.
To begin we must agree that the Bible is "one book" and the various writers were "moved on" by the Holy Ghost to write; and that they don't tell contradicting stories.
We begin with Matt. ch. 24.that is called the Olivet discourse. The disciples were showing him the beauties of the Temple in Jerusalem. He had seen this great structure many times. After viewing the many buildings of the Temple area he spoke and said; "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down"!. Then he was asked three questions concerning the Temple. # 1 When shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming? When shall be the end of the world?
First we must find the meaning of the word "end" S# 4930 "sunteleia" meaning the completion of an event or scheme of things, not to cease to exist. This word is found five times in the NT Matt. 13: 39, 40, Matt. 24: 3 and Heb. 9: 26.in all places involving the "end of the world".
Also the word "world" S # 165 "aion" meaning "age", period of time or a dispensation. It is used 125 times in the NT and has no relation to the universe we call the world. This is S# 2889 "kosmos" and is used 199 times an orderly-ordained world. or universe.
So this chapter is dealing with the dispensation of the generation that was living at that time; see verse # 34 "Till all things be fulfilled".
The first thing Jesus said to them was, don't be deceived. Then he gives the reason for this statement. There was a general wide spread expectation especially among the Jews of the "Messiah" [the "Anointed One, in Greek the "Christ"] to appear.
Jesus was saying that many men would appear claiming that they were the promised one. But these had rejected him as the promised Saviour. The next sign to look for was conflict among nations with them going to war to satisfy their desire for power and dominion. But these are only the beginnings of the sorrow that awaited them in the future.
The disciple's and those that followed them as believers could expect to be persecuted imprisoned and even put to death for the cause of the name of Jesus. Many Christians were betrayed by family members, even parents and brothers. See Luke 21:16-17.
After this; look for false prophets that would bring excitement and cause many to turn from the true Gospel to follow them. Because iniquity [ S# 458 "anomia" wickedness, contempt for and breaking the law of God] shall abound, the love of God will grow cold by many.
Verse # 13 The promise is given that all who endure these afflictions to the end [this time the word "end" is S# 5056 "telos" the final point of a goal set. the termination of or bring to a close of life or the coming of Jesus.
Verse # 14 This Gospel of the "Kingdom of God" shall be preached in the entire world, for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end be." [The word for world here is S# 3625 "oikoumeue" the land, the universe or the inhabited earth.] [The word for nations is S# 1484 "ethnos", ethnic groups, foreign nations or the Gentiles]
Verse # 15 "When you see the abomination of desolation of Daniel chapter 9: 23-27 and 12: 11 stand in the "holy place"[Mark 13: 14 reads "where it ought not" and Luke describes it chapter 21: 20 as Jerusalem being compassed with armies]
I am now going to take you to another study of mine, “Daniel's Seventy Weeks”.
Now to examine closely the “seventy weeks” prophesy of Daniel ch. 9.beginning with vs. 24.
“Seventy weeks are “determined” [ S# 2852 “chathak”; to decree, settle, to mark out This determination was made by God and is absolute.] #1 To finish the transgression, #2 make an end to sins, #3 and to make reconciliation for iniquity, #4 and to bring in everlasting righteousness, #5 and to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most Holy. This is the only time this word is used in the Bible.
There is no room for altering the meaning of the word; “Determined”. This carries the same weight of intent as the 400 years of Egyptian captivity or the 70 years of Babylonian captivity.
The things that would be accomplished by this prophecy were:
First; to finish the transgressions, next put and end to sin. This would require the sinless blood of Jesus Christ. See Eph. 2:13-20 and Col. 20-22.
This would bring in the possibility of righteous living for the first time. See: Isa 53: 1- 12, Matt. 1: 21, Lk. 1:77, John 1:29, Rom.6: 1-8.
This would all be accomplished with the anointing of "the Most Holy" Jesus as the Me #1 the transgression of Babylon against Israel would end. During the reign of Belsshazzar in 538 BC the city was surrendered to Syria without a battle; See Daniel ch 5:
Now to look closely at #2 “make an end to habitual sins”. [S# 2403 “chatta’ah” habitual sin against God or man] And to set up "his Kingdom" which is the Church of the Living God. See; Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 12:28, [the kingdom of god "is come" unto you] 16:17-28, John 18:36, Rom. 14:17, 1st. Cor. 4: 20, 15:24, Col. 1: 13.
#3 something new or different would be necessary to make this reconciliation. This is the Messiah or Christ. See: Matt. 3: 13-17 and Lk.4: 16-21.
Note: this period of time is divided into three parts; # 1; seven weeks, # 2 sixty -two weeks and # 3 one week.
Almost all Bible teachers agree that these weeks must be converted into years to have any relationship to future events. Then the first division equals 49 years.
The edict of Cyrus was given @ 538 BC, in 536 BC. 49,897 Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. The altar was built and the first “sacrifice” was offered in the seventh month of that year. The Temple construction began in 535 BC, with the laying the foundation; but was stopped shortly by Artaxerxex. [Xerxes] and did not begin again for 15 years. This occurred when Darius [also known as Ahasuerus] the successor to Cyrus ordered a search for records of the treasures of Babylon and found a scroll containing the decree of Cyrus concerning the Temple and Jerusalem. Ezra Ch. # 6. The Temple was completed @ 516 BC.
Remember the exact prophecy of Daniel 9:25 was to “Build Jerusalem, the streets and the wall”. Note: The building of the Temple is not mentioned in this prophecy! [It had already been completed for @ 22 years]
We now must determine the exact decree and the time of the decree that “fits” the prophecy of Daniel.
One of the basics of this teaching is the “Gap Theory” that teaches that God “stopped” the clock of time in the middle of the 70th. Week and would not start it again until the “Time of the Gentiles” is fulfilled. Luke 21:24. The “time of the Gentiles” Is the time that God allotted to the Roman armies to complete the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple so that the prophecy of Jeremiah would be fulfilled? God never “set” a time when Gentiles or any group of people would be “cut off” from a relationship with him just because of who they are or of what race or nationally they represent. See Matt.10: 32-33, 12:50, Lk.12: 8, John 3:15-16, 4:14, 11:26, Acts 2:21, 10:43, 1st John 5:18, Rev. 22:17.
God has never stopped “his clock” in the fulfillment of prophecy. See the prophecy of Israel’s Egyptian captivity in Gen.1513 and its fulfillment Ex. 16:40-41 and Acts 7:6. Also the Babylonian captivity by Jeremiah in ch. 25:11-12 and 29:10 with its fulfillment in Dan. 9:2- and 2nd. Chr. 36:21.
The history of the “Dispensationalist Doctrine” began with John Nelson Darby an Evangelist with the Plymouth Brethren of Wales.180 to 1882 AD. This teaching was “perfected” by Cyrus I. Scofield; 1843 to 1921 AD, and his reference Bible. For this teaching to “compute” a “Gap Theory” had to be developed in the teaching of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel chapter 9.Cyrus
Scofield presented his Bible and teachings to the Southern Baptist with his Reference Bible became the “Standard of Teaching in the Baptist Theological Schools. And later by Finnis Jennings Dake with the introduction of his Annotated Bible and his book “God’s Plan for Man”. 1902 to 1987 became the “Standard” of the Pentecostal ranks. They preferred to use the word Parenthesis” instead of “Gap” to define the period of time between the 69th. to the 70th. week of this prophecy.
Mr. Dake was an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God, in Texas and later in Oklahoma and finally in Zion Ill. He fell into disrepute in 1936 when he was arrested and charged with violating the “Man Act” by transporting a 16 year old, girl hitchhiker across state lines for immoral purposes. They registered as Mr. and Mrs. Christian Anderson at a number of motels in Ill. Am Mo. Mr. Dake pleads guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 6 months in prison. Among Dake’s teaching was that “Jesus as God had no beginning” but as man he was not eternal. There is great danger when people become “attracted to a Charismatic teacher and accept a “new doctrine” or system of beliefs without examining the word and the person first.
When God gives a word of prophecy it will “come to pass” as spoken. It must not be altered in any way. The problem results by not closely examining “the Word” and following Bible and world history especially the history of the Christian Church to understand the order of events.
There is also a wrong concept of Paul’s teaching of Rom. Ch.11: about the natural branch [The Jewish Nation] being “broken off” verse 17. All Jews were not “broken off”; only the idea that they all were saved because that they were of “the seed” of Abraham. Paul writes in verse 2 that God had not “cast away” his people”. But that they were cut because of unbelief and in the future they would be as the Gentiles; “live in the cut off condition” until they believed on Jesus the Son of God. “By grace are ye saved through faith”. Eph..2:8. See also John 1: 11-14. It is still “whosoever will” can be saved. Mk. 8:34, Acts 10:34-35 and Rev. 22:17.
The Christian Church began with Jews and continued its growth and expansion with Jews until Peter goes to Caesarea and preached to Corneilus a Gentile after much doubt. Acts chapter 10.
Now we must examine the discourse of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel chapter twenty-four. It is important to harmonize the message of Matt. 24: with Marks ch.13: and Luke ch. 21:5-38. The statements of Jesus refer to and mark the prophecies of Micah 3:5-12 “Zion shall be plowed as a field”; and Hosea 9:11-17. “Woe to them when I depart from them.”
Before we go further with this discourse, I want to breakdown in parts the message of Jesus in these three Gospel discourses. I believe they must be examined in parts to arrive at a proper understanding of the message.
In Matthew’s account from verse one to verse 28 deals with the events that would occur before and including the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Although the prophecy concerning the false prophets and perhaps false Christ’s will be in evidence until the second coming of Jesus Verses 29 through 31 refers to the end time coming of Jesus.
For proof see; Matt.27: 50-54, Mk. 15:37-39 and Lk.23: 44-48. This can also be verified by history of that time.
Verse 32: begins the parable of the “fig tree”. Note; there is nothing said about the “generation of the fig tree”, only instructions to observe the fig tree in understanding his teaching.
There appears to be a problem with verse 29 with the word “Immediately”; Verse 30 is far removed from verse 29.Verse 29 confirm the prophecy of Joel 3:11-16 and Isa. 13:6- 11. All these things happened during the tribulation that began with the siege of the Roman armies prior to 70AD.
Now look at Mark 13: 24, the writer makes it very plain that “after that tribulation” Jesus would appear. The main part of confusion of understanding this text is that that Jesus is teaching two future events, #1 the coming judgement of God on Israel and Jerusalem in particular; and his Second Coming to gather his elect. [Saints]
Now let’s examine closely this discourse by Jesus:
First is the deceivers, second wars between nations and third, persecutions of the Church. Next offences and betrayals followed by "false prophets" and finally the Gospel reaching the entire world; then the "end" would come.
The mistake made by many teachers begins with this verse. Notice! the last words "THE END WOULD COME". When a certain thing ends, something else must begin or there is no "hereafter".
Now Jesus begins to explain what he has just said. When you see the abomination Daniel spoke of; if you are in Judaea you must escape to the mountains. If you are outside your house, you cannot take time to take anything with you. And to the women that have nursing children you need to pray that your flight would not be in winter or the Sabbath day for that will add difficulty to your departure.
You are about to see a time of TRIBULATION [S# 2347 "thlipsis" 45 times, trouble, pressure, anguish, distress,] like you have never seen and no one will see such a time in the future. But for the sake of God's elect he will shorten these days.
At this time the false prophets and false Christ will take advantage of the sorrow and attempt deceit.
· Verse # 27 begins in detail the coming of Christ Jesus. # 1 it will be with the speed of "lightning" as it flashes through the sky. He will be seen in America, Europe, Asia and Africa in a split-second.
· Verse # 28 describes Jesus as a "dead carcass" and the saints as "hungry eagles" looking for food.
· Verse # 29 immediately after the tribulation of "those days" you will see signs in the Heavens. The sun goes dark, the moon cannot reflect the light of the sun and demonstrative powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
· Verse # 30 At this point of Jesus the Son of man shall appear in heaven. Those that are living on the earth that are not God's elect will mourn when they see Jesus coming in heaven with great power and glory.