4/17/12

Is this a church?


Seems a little odd, doesn't it?  After all, who ever heard of someone living in a church building?  Strangely enough, I have.  I grew up in a little town in upstate New York called Melrose.  The Lutheran church there sold its building in the early seventies to move to Spiegletown and so someone made the church into a home.  Like the picture, they left the stained glass windows intact and I always wondered what the inside looked like?  Perhaps something like this picture???  So, did the early church meet in homes?  The following passages show they did, and not just in one location either...

WEB: Romans 16:5. Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.

KJV: Romans 16:5. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 
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WEB: Romans 16:23. Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother.

KJV: Romans 16:23. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

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 WEB: Colossians 4:15. Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house.

 KJV: Colossians 4:15. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
  
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 WEB: Philemon 1:2. to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

 KJV: Philemon 1:2. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:


The underlined words in the above passages reflect a translation of the greek word "ekklesia".  Here is what Strongs Bible dictionary has to say on this...

Strongs 1577: ekklesia
from ek, "out of," and klesis, "a calling" (kaleo, "to call"), was used among the Greeks of a body of citizens "gathered" to discuss the affairs of state, Acts 19:39. In the Sept. it is used to designate the "gathering" of Israel, summoned for any definite purpose, or a "gathering" regarded as representative of the whole nation. In Acts 7:38 it is used of Israel; in 19:32,41, of a riotous mob. It has two applications to companies of Christians, (a) to the whole company of the redeemed throughout the present era, the company of which Christ said, "I will build My Church," Matt. 16:18, and which is further described as "the Church which is His Body," Eph. 1:22; 5:23, (b) in the singular number (e.g., Matt. 18:17, RV marg., "congregation"), to a company consisting of professed believers, e.g., Acts 20:28; 1Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:13; 1Thess. 1:1; 2Thess. 1:1; 1Tim. 3:5, and in the plural, with reference to churches in a district.

There is an apparent exception in the RV of Acts 9:31, where, while the AV has "churches," the singular seems to point to a district; but the reference is clearly to the church as it was in Jerusalem, from which it had just been scattered, Acts 8:1. Again, in Rom. 16:23, that Gaius was the host of "the whole church," simply suggests that the "assembly" in Corinth had been accustomed to meet in his house, where also Paul was entertained. 

I know, this is a bit intense, but the point is that "Churches" are people, not buildings.  There is nothing holy about wood, stone, mortar or shingles, but the people who follow Jesus are made that way by his sacrificial life-gift.  Now, I really do not have anything against beautiful building and I absolutely love leaded windows, but our emphasis should be placed on people because that is where true holiness resides.  Christians could still meet in the converted church as shown in the picture and look there even is a baptistery (bathtub)!!!!

Apr. 17 Numbers 25, 26


Apr. 17
Numbers 25, 26

Num 25:1 Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab:
Num 25:2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods.
Num 25:3 Israel joined himself to Baal Peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel.
Num 25:4 Yahweh said to Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.
Num 25:5 Moses said to the judges of Israel, Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor.
Num 25:6 Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 25:7 When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand;
Num 25:8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
Num 25:9 Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.
Num 25:10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 25:11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.
Num 25:12 Therefore say, Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace:
Num 25:13 and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.
Num 25:14 Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites.
Num 25:15 The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midian.
Num 25:16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 25:17 Harass the Midianites, and strike them;
Num 25:18 for they harassed you with their wiles, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.
Num 26:1 It happened after the plague, that Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
Num 26:2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel.
Num 26:3 Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
Num 26:4 Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as Yahweh commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt.
Num 26:5 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
Num 26:6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
Num 26:7 These are the families of the Reubenites; and those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.
Num 26:8 The sons of Pallu: Eliab.
Num 26:9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Yahweh,
Num 26:10 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign.
Num 26:11 Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn't die.
Num 26:12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;
Num 26:13 of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
Num 26:14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.
Num 26:15 The sons of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;
Num 26:16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;
Num 26:17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
Num 26:18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
Num 26:19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Num 26:20 The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.
Num 26:21 The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
Num 26:22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.
Num 26:23 The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
Num 26:24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
Num 26:25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
Num 26:26 The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
Num 26:27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, sixty thousand five hundred.
Num 26:28 The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.
Num 26:29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.
Num 26:30 These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;
Num 26:31 and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;
Num 26:32 and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
Num 26:33 Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
Num 26:34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
Num 26:35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
Num 26:36 These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
Num 26:37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
Num 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;
Num 26:39 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
Num 26:40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
Num 26:41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
Num 26:42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
Num 26:43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
Num 26:44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.
Num 26:45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Num 26:46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
Num 26:47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand and four hundred.
Num 26:48 The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;
Num 26:49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
Num 26:50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
Num 26:51 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.
Num 26:52 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 26:53 To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
Num 26:54 To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance: to everyone according to those who were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given.
Num 26:55 Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
Num 26:56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.
Num 26:57 These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
Num 26:58 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.
Num 26:59 The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt: and she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
Num 26:60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
Num 26:61 Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.
Num 26:62 Those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
Num 26:63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
Num 26:64 But among these there was not a man of them who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
Num 26:65 For Yahweh had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. There was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" Chapter Twelve by Mark Copeland

                         "THE BOOK OF DANIEL"

                            Chapter Twelve

"The Vision Of The Time Of The End" concludes with assurance of ultimate
victory for Daniel's people (Israel), in words suggestive of the final
resurrection (1-3).  Daniel is given instructions to seal the book
because it pertain to things in the future.  Asking when these things
will be accomplished, he is given cryptic answers, but is reassured that
he himself shall rest and rise to his inheritance at the end of the days
(4-13).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  Identifying the "time of trouble" and "time of the end" in this
      chapter

   *  The instructions for Daniel to "shut up the words, and seal the 
      book"

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The ultimate victory of Daniel's people - Dan 12:1-3
   - Final instructions and answers given to Daniel - Dan 12:4-13

2) What events were to occur "at that time"? (1-3)
   - Michael, the great prince who watches over Daniel's people, shall
     stand up
   - There shall be time of trouble, unlike any before
   - Daniel's people (those whose name found written in the book) will be
     delivered
   - Many will who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to life and others
     to shame
   - The wise and those who turn many to righteousness will shine

3) What suggests that this "time" is not the Last Day or end of time as
   we know it? (2)
   - Only "many" are said to arise, not "all"; thus this text may be
     figurative (cf. Jn 5:28-29)

4) What instructions was Daniel given, and why? (4,9)
   - Shut up the words, and seal the book
   - For the words are closed and sealed until "the time of the end"

5) What questions does Daniel ask of the man clothed in linen? (6,8)
   - "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?"
   - "What shall be the end of these things?"

6) What answers are given to Daniel? (7,11-12)
   - "It shall be for a time, times, and half a time"
   - "From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the
     abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1290 days."
   - "Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the 1335 days."

7) What words of comfort and assurance are given to Daniel? (10,13)
   - "Many will be purified, made white, and refined...the wise shall
     understand."
   - "...you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of
     the days."