10/25/14

From Gary.... You are what you think about all day long


Philippians, Chapter 4 (NAS)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.


Today is all you have; make the most of it!!!  I encourage you to dwell on both the picture and the passage from the book of Philippians- if you do, I sure that you will have a "better" day, no matter what happens. And it begins with our thinking and ends with what we do about it. So, do something about it a imitate Snoopy's facial expression as much as you possibly can.  Who knows, maybe others will smile TOO!!! 

From Jim McGuiggan... Weak on dragons

Weak on dragons

Judging by our behaviour in public and private many of us are all belly and pelvis with no head or heart. Winston Churchill was certain that anyone under forty who was not a radical had no heart and anyone over forty who was not a conservative had no brain. Jesus came urging us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and so make use of all our faculties and sanctify all the areas in which these varied aspects of us work.

Some religious people are all emotion and others are all reason and because this is so, or nearly so, one group has little or no interest at all in what the other feeds on. Such polarisation is not confined to religious people—you can see it everywhere you look, with poets and novelists to the right of us and scientists and the "practical" people to the left of us.

Karl Barth insisted that we can't understand the Bible without a good imagination and around the same time in Glasgow, Scotland, prominent preacher G.H. Morrison was making the same point. Though I wouldn't know exactly how I'd go about proving it I still feel sure that we can't live a full life without a good imagination.

In the area of biblical studies my impression is that our sense of its truth and that it presents God's truth makes us a bit afraid of the Bible. Because we believe that every word is precious we're suspicious of anything that might obscure its truth-content and "imagination" strikes many of us as not quite friendly to truth. We're certain that the power of the Bible is its propositional truth and that its power over us comes only via the intellect so that whatever approach we make it must be heavy on intellect and technical approaches. The capacity to imagine or to dream doesn't seem to have a lot in common with getting at the truth-content of the Scriptures.

I'm sure that's a mistaken impression. Catechisms at their best are very useful and they mean to get at the truth and get it out and I'm sure it might be possible to master a catechism without a lot of imagination. I suppose it would be like mastering any other synopsis of "truth" put out by teachers. I don't see students with their tests in front of them indulging in dreams and visions (unless the student was G.K Chesterton). In any case, the Bible is anything but a catechism!

It's easy and difficult to define "imagination" but clearly it suggests the ability to "image" things, to take abstractions and make them concrete by visioning them, by giving them a shape. People who can do that well without seriously distorting the truth they're working with are richer than the rest of us whose only avenue to life and truth is through the rational capacity; the weighing of arguments, the proving of premises or constructing a sound and valid syllogism. Creeds and catechisms certainly have their value (within limits) but they get to the hearts of people by the intellect while the Bible, in addition to that, often sneaks up on us or woos us by telling us a story or by a poem or painting a verbal picture of worlds in collision and ocean waves crashing against each other. It's filled with metaphors, parables, hymns and irony, heroes and villains, lambs and dragons. Of course, the intellect is needed to produce and work with all these but the Bible is no "geared-only-for-the-intellect" production. It assures us that sometimes the will of God is seen and understood only by those with the right heart—that too is needed to understand scripture (see John 7:17, Matthew 5:8 and Romans 12:2 and elsewhere).

The narrative nature of scripture (with its many varied types of writing) carries forward not just a massive number of moral and spiritual truths—it develops and forwards the Story of something God is doing and means to complete. He has an actual and concrete agenda. Jack wants to build a house, Jill wants to create a lovely garden and God wants to bring his beloved creation to joy-filled and holy glory. Each of those truths makes contact with the intellect but in their purpose they involve more than rational truths. The Bible not only tells us what God has in mind, it is one of the instruments he uses to accomplish what he has in mind.

The Bible inspires as well as informs, it enables as well as enlightens, it feeds the emotions as well as the intellect and it appeals to our hungers as well as our rationality. The capacity to reason is never scorned much less jettisoned but the Bible simply will not tolerate the idea that God made us as breathing computers or that our rational ability is not shaped and enriched by all the other faculties and capacities God has gifted us with as well as our experiences.

There is a real danger in reading the Bible as if it appeals only to the intellect and if the one reading in that fashion happens to be a teacher/preacher, the danger and the damage spreads. There must be truth! But the truth about God is not simply the kind of thing that is exhausted by an intellectual grasp of it and, come to think of it, I don't believe that any truth about anything can be grasped fully merely at the intellectual level—even mathematical equations (but that's another discussion for another time).

I'm certain of this: the Bible is a book of wonder and mystery and excitement because it deals with God and his commitment to the human family and the creation at large. It takes seriously our world and the conflicts that go on in it; it speaks of victories and losses and long-term assurance that the hope of the righteous will be fulfilled because that hope comes from the God of good hope! Bless me, even Hollywood with all its blindness can sometimes see that and if Hollywood can see it, what is wrong with us that we can't? We go to movies (sometimes) based on good biblical research that offer a faithful dramatic re-telling of the story and we're thrilled to the heart, come away inspired and more determined than ever to follow the Master. And then what? We gather as a church and work with scripture as if it were a catechism! Shame on us if we turn such a Book into such a book!

Micheal Flaherty, of Walden Media, reminds us that C.S Lewis thought that Eustace Scrubb's education was "weak on dragons".  At the start of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Lewis introduces us to "a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubbs, and he almost deserved it." Of our poor Eustace Lewis remarks: "He liked books if they were books of information" but he had no time for heroes, talking animals or the world beyond facts and figures, quantities and measurements, proofs and empirical realities. It was no surprise then that he didn't know what to expect in a dragon's cave, Lewis explains, "but, as I said before, Eustace had read only the wrong books. The books he read had a lot to say about exports and imports, governments and drains, but they were weak on dragons." Yes, there lies a major problem with a host of us, our reading and reflection is weak on dragons.

I hurry to make the point that I've known some accountants and others who worked in jobs dealing with quantities and figures that would have run off with Don Quixote in a heartbeat. I recognise too that some mathematicians glory in the adventure of mathematics—thank God—but when they do they have got their imagination in gear! Listen to them sometime—their speech and imagination are on fire!

This I know, Jesus taught plenty but he never used a syllogism. I don't say he wouldn't—only that he didn't and as he taught he urged people to unharness their imaginations and see truths that weren't there before their eyes.

To teach the Bible by passing out information as if we're getting ready for the Big Examination in the Sky is hardly the way to enlist the hearts and minds of people in a war that is going on right now. There is more to the truths of the Bible than correct information because the central truths of the Bible are about God and he isn't a "subject" in some cosmic curriculum.

Let us, then, become familiar with heroes and villains, dragons and damsels, heroic deeds and honourable men and women. If we do, we might discover that we are reading and teaching the Bible better than we ever have done. And if that happens maybe before long we'll be startled by young people who have enlisted in the War rather than swotting for an upcoming information-test.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

Reincarnation and the Bible by Kyle Butt, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1248

Reincarnation and the Bible

by  Kyle Butt, M.A.

The American Heritage Dictionary states that reincarnation is the “rebirth of the soul in another body.” For many years, the belief in reincarnation was generally associated with eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. However, it is becoming increasingly popular to proclaim a belief in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, yet still maintain a belief in reincarnation. The obvious question arises from such a situation, “What does the Bible say about reincarnation?”
One straightforward statement that speaks directly to the idea of reincarnation is found in Hebrews 9:27-28: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” Without any vague terms, the writer of Hebrews explains that the general course of man’s existence is to taste death only once, and then be judged based on the actions that were accomplished in that one life. In order to underscore the number of times a person dies, the inspired writer declared that men die the same number of times that Christ was offered on the cross—only once. Such a statement goes a long way to prove that the Bible does not teach for reincarnation. (This verse deals with the generality of man’s existence, and excludes miraculous situations, where Christ, an apostle, or a prophet raised someone from the dead.)
Another biblical passage that militates against the idea of reincarnation is found in Luke 16:19-31. In this passage, Jesus told a story in which a poor man named Lazarus, and a rich man, both died. The Bible explains that Lazarus died and “was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (16:22), but the rich went to “torments in Hades” (16:23). The text further states that the rich man “lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom” (16:23). Here we have three men who once lived upon the Earth but have died, yet we do not see their souls or spirits reinhabiting some earthly body. Instead, we see the three men—Lazarus, Abraham, and the rich man—in a fully cognizant state in the realm of the dead, separate and apart from any earthly ties. In fact, the rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to Earth to warn his brothers, but Abraham refuses. Therefore, if Lazarus had died, and his soul no longer was on Earth, then he could not have been reincarnated to another earthly body or person. Furthermore, Abraham’s presence in this “realm of the dead” shows that Abraham had not been reincarnated either.
Again, in Luke 23:43, Jesus told the penitent thief who was crucified next to Him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” One must ask, if the body of the thief was going to remain on the Earth, and the soul of the thief was going to be with Jesus in Paradise, then what part of that man would be left to reincarnate into another earthly body?
Matthew 17:1-13 poses yet another situation that speaks against the idea that reincarnation occurs. In this passage, Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to a high mountain where Jesus was “transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him” (17:2-3). The presence of Moses and Elijah in this instance raises a very important question: If men are reincarnated, what were Moses and Elijah doing talking with Jesus? We know that the physical bodies of Moses and Elijah were not present (see Jude 9). Therefore, their spirits were present, which means that those spirits were not inhabiting some other earthly bodies. It is interesting to note that those who believe that the Bible allows for reincarnation sometimes use Matthew 11:8-14 to claim that John the baptizer was Elijah reincarnate, yet Matthew 17:3 proves that Elijah’s spirit was not in the body of John the baptizer. On the contrary, when Jesus mentioned that John had come in “the spirit of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), He simply meant that John had similar attributes to Elijah.
In looking at the Bible, one gets the clear picture that humans die only once, and that their disembodied spirits go to a “realm of the dead” to wait for the final judgment. The idea of reincarnation does not derive from nor can it be sustained by, the Bible. On the contrary, the Bible implicitly denies even the possibility of reincarnation. Because it is “appointed for men to die once,” we should be that much more diligent to make sure that the one life we live on this Earth accords with the will of the Divine Parent of the human race (Acts 17:29).

REFERENCES

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000), (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin), fourth edition.

From Mark Copeland... Jonah - Messenger To Nineveh (1:1-4:11)

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                Jonah - Messenger To Nineveh (1:1-4:11)

INTRODUCTION

1. We now come to the most well known of "The Minor Prophets":  Jonah,
   whose name means "Dove"

2. His book does not contain prophecy per se, rather it contains the
   history of a prophet...
   a. A prophet reluctant to fulfill the mission God assigned him
   b. A prophet who complained when his mission proved successful
   -- What kind of prophet is that?  Perhaps one that reveals what may
      be true of ourselves!

3. This short book of "Jonah" easily falls into four sections...
   a. "Running Away From God" (chapter one)
   b. "Running To God" (chapter two)
   c. "Running With God" (chapter three)
   d. "Running Ahead of God" (chapter four)

4. In this brief survey of the book, we will simply read our way
   through it...
   a. Making observations as we go along
   b. Offering lessons that can be glean from each section

[With the first chapter then, we soon find Jonah...]

I. "RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD" (1:1-17)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. God commissions Jonah to preach in Nineveh - 1:1-2
      2. Jonah rebels against God's plan - 1:3
      3. God has a plan for Jonah - 1:4-17
         a. He sends "a great wind on the sea" - 1:4-16
         b. He prepares "a great fish" - 1:17

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. Jonah is also mentioned in 2Ki 14:23-25
         a. He prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (ca. 793-753
            B.C.)
         b. He was from Gath Hepher (4 miles NE of what was later
            Nazareth in Galilee)
      2. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria
         a. It was located about 220 NNW of the present city of Baghdad
         b. The Assyrians were noted for their cruelty, especially to
            prisoners
      3. The city of Tarshish
         a. A Phoenician outpost in SW Spain
         b. On the edge of the Mediterranean world, Jonah was running
            in the opposite direction of Nineveh
      4. In retrieving Jonah, God gained some converts (the sailors)
         - cf. 1:14-16

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER ONE...
      1. God concerns Himself with the wickedness of heathen nations
         - 1:2
      2. One cannot run away from God! - cf. Ps 139:7-11
      3. God is able to use incidents in the lives of His servants for
         His glory - cf. 1:5 with 1:14-16

[With the end of chapter one, Jonah is now in the belly of the great
fish.  Having run away from God, we now find him...]

II. "RUNNING TO GOD" (2:1-10)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. Jonah's prayer - 2:1-9
      2. Jonah's deliverance - 2:10

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. The prayer is written like a psalm; its present form may have
         been composed after the fact, looking back
      2. Jonah realized that what happened was God's doing - 1:3
      3. It is interesting to note that his prayer is more of a
         THANKSGIVING, than a petition

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER TWO...
      1. "Someone has observed that there are times when we must be
         made to go into the lowest depths that we may regain a living
         faith" (Hailey)
      2. Prayers in time of need should be made with an attitude of
         thanksgiving as well as petition - cf. Php 4:6

[Having learned his lesson, Jonah is now ready to do God's will; so we
next see him...]

III. "RUNNING WITH GOD" (3:1-10)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. The Lord again commissions Jonah to preach in Nineveh - 3:1-2
      2. Jonah obeys and proclaims God's message - 3:3-4
      3. The people of Nineveh are moved to repent, including the king
         - 3:5-9
      4. The Lord takes notice, and relents of the disaster He had
         intended to bring - 3:10

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. Jonah's message was brief, yet clear - 3:4
      2. An unusual fast is proclaimed  - 3:5-7
         a. Three days without food AND water
         b. For both man AND beast
      3. With sackcloth for both man and beast, the king calls for a
         true change of behavior - 3:8-9
      4. The king of Assyria reasons like the prophet Joel - cf. 3:9
         with Joel 2:14
      5. Nineveh's example of repentance is a rebuke of Israel...
         a. Israel in Jonah's own day - cf. 2Ki 17:13-14,18; 2Ch 36:15-16
         b. Israel in the days of Jesus - cf. Mt 12:41

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER THREE...
      1. Such preaching of condemnation is often conditional - cf. Jer 18:7-10
      2. The least likely prospects might be the ones who will convert
         - e.g., 1Co 6:9-11
      3. We see the place of fasting and prayer, as one seeks to
         petition God - e.g., Ezr 8:21-23

[Jonah's mission was a success!  Souls headed for destruction were
saved!  You would think that Jonah would have been elated.  But in the
final chapter we are surprised to see this prophet...]

IV. "RUNNING AHEAD OF GOD" (4:1-11)

   A. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER...
      1. Jonah vents his anger - 4:1-4
         a. Angry because he knew that God would relent - 4:1-2
         b. So angry that he desires to die - 4:3-4
      2. God uses a plant, a worm, and a hot east wind to teach Jonah
         - 4:5-11
         a. A plant to provide shade for Jonah - 4:5-6
         b. A worm to destroy the plant - 4:7
         c. A vehement east wind that with the sun exhausts Jonah - 4:8
      3. God uses the plant to teach Jonah an object lesson - 4:9-11
         a. Jonah is angry about the plant - 4:9
         b. Shouldn't he have similar pity on Nineveh? - 4:10-11

   B. OBSERVATIONS IN READING THE TEXT...
      1. We find Jonah manifesting a sectarian spirit
         a. Perhaps there was an underlying racism in Jonah's heart
         b. This may explain why he fled to Tarshish in the beginning
      2. He possessed the same spirit as:
         a. The elder brother of the prodigal son - cf. Lk 15:11-32
         b. The Pharisees toward Jesus eating with sinners - Mt 9:10-11
      3. Jonah is shown to have more compassion for a plant, than for
         innocent children!

   C. LESSONS FROM CHAPTER FOUR...
      1. We learn the danger of a sectarian spirit
         a. It makes us to be petty
         b. It blinds us to matters of greater importance
      2. We see God's nature
         a. He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger
         b. Abundant in lovingkindness, He is willing to relent when
            there is repentance

CONCLUSION

1. The book of Jonah is of value to PREACHERS...
   a. Never prejudge an audience
   b. Don't try to avoid the responsibility God has placed on you

2. The book of Jonah is of value to ALL CHRISTIANS...
   a. Don't have a selfish, narrow-minded, sectarian spirit
   b. Be concerned for all the wicked, whoever and wherever they are

3. The book of Jonah is of value to SINNERS...
   a. God loves you
   b. Destruction is coming...
      1) But He sent Christ and the apostles to reveal His will and
         save you
      2) Today He has His preachers and teachers to warn you
   c. Salvation is available wherever there is true repentance and
      obedience!

Finally, may the example of Nineveh's repentance remind us of what
Jesus said:

   "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this
   generation and condemn it, because they repented at the
   preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."
                                                   (Mt 12:41)

Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah; have we repented at the
preaching of One (Jesus) Who is much greater?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... Joel - The Day Of The Lord (2:28-3:21)

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                 Joel - The Day Of The Lord (2:28-3:21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson on Joel, we saw that...
   a. Joel's prophecy was occasioned by a plague of locusts - 1:2-4
   b. He proclaimed the plague as a warning from God - 1:15-16
      1) If the people would not repent, "the day of the Lord" would
         come and bring greater destruction - 2:1-5
      2) If they did repent, then material blessings would  follow 
         - 2:12-14
   c. Joel therefore called for a national repentance - 2:15-17a
   d. Evidently his work was effective, for he describes the blessings
      that had come - 2:21-27

2. We also noticed some lessons to be learned from the book...
   a. The value of natural calamities (can serve to turn men to God)
   b. The nature of true repentance - 2:12-13
   c. The character of the Lord - 2:13b
   d. "The day of the Lord", when referring to God's judgment on a city
      or nation, can be averted - cf. also Jer 18:7-8; Jonah 3:1-10

3. In this lesson, we shall complete our survey of Joel by reading 
   2:28-3:21...
   a. With attention to the prophetic element of this passage
   b. Offering comments concerning its interpretation

[Let's begin with a careful reading of this passage...]

I. JOEL'S PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE

   A. WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS "AFTERWARD" (2:26-32)
      1. God's Spirit will be poured out on all flesh - 2:28-29
      2. Wonders in heaven and earth to appear before the coming of 
         "the day of the Lord" - 2:30-31
      3. There shall be deliverance in Mount Zion and Jerusalem - 2:32

   B. WHAT SHALL OCCUR "IN THOSE DAYS" (3:1-17)
      1. God will judge all nations on account of His people - 3:1-3
      2. Specifically mentioned are Tyre, Sidon and Philistia - 3:4-8
         a. Who had mistreated God's people
         b. Who shall be treated as they treated others
      3. The nations are called to do battle - 3:9-12
         a. "Prepare for war!"
         b. Come to the "Valley of  Jehoshaphat", where the Lord will
            judge the nations
            1) Jehoshaphat means "God shall judge"
            2) The valley referred to may be the Kidron near Jerusalem
      4. The outcome - 3:13-17
         a. There will be a great harvest
         b. "The day of the Lord" is described...
            1) As near in this "valley of decision"
            2) In which the heavenly bodies are diminished and shaken
         c. While God's people find shelter and strength in Him
         d. The Lord will be known and dwell in Zion, Jerusalem forever
            remaining holy

   C. WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS "IN THAT DAY" (3:18-21)
      1. Judah shall be blessed by a "fountain...from the house of the
         Lord" - 3:18
      2. Egypt and Edom will be desolate because of their violence 
         - 3:19
      3. Judah and Jerusalem shall abide forever, acquitted of their 
         guilt - 3:20-21

[Such is the prophetic message of Joel.  What he SAYS is clear enough.
What he MEANS is something else!  Here are a few thoughts on...]

II. INTERPRETING JOEL'S PROPHECY

   A. THERE ARE THREE KEY PHRASES...
      1. "it shall come to pass afterward" - 2:28
         a. This period of time is clearly defined by Peter in Ac 2:
            14-21
         b. In which he applies it to the events on the Day of 
            Pentecost
      2. "in those days and at that time" - 3:1
         a. The same period of time as described in 2:28-32
         b. I.e., at some point during the Messianic age
      3. "in that day" - 3:18
         a. The context places this AFTER "the day of the Lord"
         b. I.e., at some point during the Messianic age, but not until
            AFTER the judgment of the nations in the "Valley of 
            Jehoshaphat"

   B. DETERMINING THE TIME AND EVENTS...
      1. Certainly 2:28-29 refers to a period beginning with the 
         events described in Acts 2
         a. Peter said "this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel" 
            - Ac 2:16
         b. An inspired statement pinpointing when this prophecy began
            to be fulfilled
      2. However, there are different opinions regarding Joel 2:30-3:21
         a. "The day of the Lord" in 2:30-31 is variously interpreted
            as:
            1) The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD
            2) The final coming of the Lord
         b. The judgment  in the "valley of Jehoshaphat" in 3:1-17 is
            variously interpreted as:
            1) Figurative, by some; literal, by others
            2) Referring to no specific judgment, by some
            3) Referring to a specific judgment at some time, by 
               others...
               1) E.g., after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD
               2) E.g., The "Battle of Armageddon" prior to the 
                  "millennium" - Re 16:14-16
               3) E.g., the battle after the "millennium" described in
                  Re 20:7-10
         c. Various views are also offered for the blessing of Judah 
            and Jerusalem in 3:18-21
      -- With such differences in interpretation, one should not be 
         dogmatic

   C. HERE IS MY OWN UNDERSTANDING OF 2:30-3:21...
      1. The passage is not to be taken literally
         a. It would be physically impossible for ALL the nations to 
            gather in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" - 3:2,12
         b. The "Valley of  Acacias" is located on the other side of 
            the Jordan River, making it geographically impossible to be
            watered by a stream from Jerusalem - 3:18
      2. This passage speaks in terms meaningful and comforting to 
         Israelites in Joel's day
         a. The prophecy was initially given to comfort them, give them
            hope for the future
         b. Therefore prophetic elements are described in terms to 
            which they could relate
            1) E.g., deliverance in their capital, Jerusalem - 2:32
            2) E.g., judgment upon those enemies who oppressed them 
               - 3:1-8
            3) E.g., desolation of such enemies as Edom and Egypt 
               - 3:19
            4) E.g., blessings to befall the nation and the land 
               - 3:18,20-21
      3. But it refers to spiritual realities fulfilled with the coming
         of the Messiah!
         a. Salvation and deliverance will indeed come out of Zion and
            Jerusalem - cf. 2:32 with Lk 24:44-47; He 12:22-24
         b. God will judge the enemies of His people - cf. 3:1-17 with
            Re 4-20 (esp. Re 20:7-10)
         c. In the end, God's people will prosper and the wicked will 
            be desolate - cf. 3:18-21 with Re 21-22 (esp. Re 22:1-2)
      4. This is true whether or not any particular event is referred 
         to in this passage
         a. I lean toward the view that "the day of the  Lord" in this
            passage is the FINAL JUDGMENT when the Lord comes again
         b. Others think that it refers to the DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
            in 70 A.D
         c. Whatever one's interpretation, the application is the 
            same...
            1) The means and source of salvation:  The Lord Himself 
               - 2:32
            2) The day of the Lord is coming!
               a) A terrible day for the wicked - cf. 3:14-16a
               b) But for God's people there is shelter and strength 
                  - cf. 3:16b
               c) And in the end, blessings for the people of God, 
                  while their enemies lie desolate - cf. 3:18-21

CONCLUSION

1. In studying "The Minor Prophets"...
   a. Determining the proper INTERPRETATION is certainly a worthy goal
   b. But determining the proper APPLICATION is our essential task!

2. If this be true, then the crucial question is this:  Have we found
   that salvation, deliverance, shelter and strength which only the Lord
   can provide when the final "day of the Lord" comes?

To know where to look, one should carefully read Peter's sermon on the
Day of Pentecost, after he had quoted Joel - cf. Ac 2:22-39

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... Joel - The Day Of The Lord (1:1-2:27)

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                 Joel - The Day Of The Lord (1:1-2:27)

INTRODUCTION

1. We now turn to the book of Joel, and this will be the first of two
   lessons

2. The name "Joel" means "Jehovah is God", and we know very little
   about the author...
   a. The name appears frequently, with at least a dozen men sharing
      the name in the O.T.
   b. Described as "the son of Pethuel" (1:1), there is no reason to
      associate him with any other Joel mentioned in the Bible

[As we begin our study, let's do so with some...]

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

   A. THE DATE...
      1. The date of the book is uncertain
         a. Some place it as one of the earliest of the "literary 
            prophets" (ca. 900 B.C.)
         b. Some believe it was written after the Exile (ca. 400 B.C.)
      2. Hailey, Young, and other scholars defend the early date
         a. Suggesting a date of 830 B.C.
         b. Which is the date I am presuming for our study

   B. THE OCCASION...
      1. Joel's prophecy was occasioned by a calamity that had struck
         the land
         a. Literally, it is described as a locust plague
         b. Some suggest that the locusts were symbolical of an army 
            that had invaded
      2. I take the description of the plague as literal
   
   C. THE MESSAGE...
      1. Joel sees the locust plague as a warning from God
         a. That the calamity was heralding "the day of the Lord" which
            was coming
         b. That if the people did not repent, this "day" would bring
            even more destruction
      2. So Joel's message is "Seek the Lord through repentance!"
         (1:1-2:27)
      3. Joel also has some things to say about what shall come to pass
         "afterward" (2:28-3:21)

[With this brief background as an introduction, let's now begin reading
the book with the aid of the following outline...]

II. OUTLINE OF THE BOOK (1:1-2:27)

   A. THE LAND IS LAID WASTE (1:1-12)
      1. Joel provides a graphic description of the locust plague (1-4)
      2. He calls for people to weep over the devastation (5-12)

   B. A PLEA TO CRY OUT TO THE LORD (1:13-20)
      1. To be led by the priests, consecrating a fast and calling the
         people together (13-14)
      2. For the present destruction is heralding the coming "day of 
         the Lord" (15-18)
      3. Joel and the beasts take the lead, with their own cry to the
         Lord (19-20)

   C. THE COMING "DAY OF THE LORD" (2:1-11)
      1. A cry to warn the people, for the day is coming! (1)
      2. This particular "day of the Lord" is vividly described (2-11)
         a. It will be a recurrence of the locust plague
         b. Described as an invading army, an army led by God!
   
   D. A CALL TO REPENTANCE (2:12-17)
      1. Voiced first by God Himself (12)
      2. Then elaborated upon by Joel (13-17)
         a. Repent, for God Who is gracious may relent and provide a 
            blessing
         b. Make it a national repentance, led by the priests

   E. THE LORD'S PROMISE IF THERE IS REPENTANCE (2:18-20)
      1. He will be zealous for His land, and show pity to the people
         (18)
      2. He will bless them with grain, wine, and oil (19)
      3. He will remove the "army" (locusts) from the north (20)

   F. A CALL TO COURAGE AND GLADNESS (2:21-24)
      1. A call directed by Joel towards:
         a. The land, for the Lord has done marvelous things (21)
         b. The beasts of the field, for the pastures and trees are 
            fruitful once again (22)
         c. The children of Zion, for the Lord is blessing the land 
            with rain and a full harvest (23-24)
      2. This passage implies the people repented, and the Lord was 
         keeping His promise!

   G. THE LORD'S REASSURANCE (2:25-27)
      1. God will restore what His "army" (the locusts) had destroyed
         (25)
      2. They will be blessed with plenty, and praise God for His grace
         (26)
      3. Then they shall truly know that God is over them (27)

[This ends the first part of Joel's prophecy.  It clearly pertained to
the people of his day.  The rest of the book looks forward to a period
described as "afterward" (2:28), "in those days and at that time"
(3:1), and "in that day" (3:18).  This section we will examine in
our next lesson.

But from what we have read thus far, what lessons can we learn from 
Joel?]

III. LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JOEL

   A. THE VALUE OF NATURAL CALAMITIES...
      1. They can serve to turn men back to God
      2. God certainly used them to reach out to His people in the O.T.
         - cf. Am 4:6-12
      3. But not all calamities come from God; some came from Satan 
         - cf. Job 1:6-19
      4. Whether calamities come from God, Satan, or are purely 
         coincidental, they should be times of reflection concerning
         life and our relationship to God - e.g., Job 1:20-22

   B. THE NATURE OF TRUE REPENTANCE (2:12-13a)
      1. It must be with all our heart (12a)
      2. It must be inward, not just outward (12b-13a)

   C. THE NATURE OF GOD (2:13b)
      1. He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great 
         kindness - cf. Ps 103:8-14
      2. He relents from doing harm when we repent - cf. Jer 18:7-8

   D. "THE DAY OF THE LORD" CAN BE AVERTED...
      1. "The day of the Lord" often refers to God's judgment upon a 
         nation
         a. Such judgments were many, and often described in terms 
            indicative of the final judgment at the end of time - cf. 
            the judgment of Babylon, Isa 13:1-13
         b. In the first part of Joel's prophecy, it referred to a 
            plague of locusts that would be greater than what they had
            already experienced - Joel 2:1-11
      2. But such judgments could be averted - cf. Jer 18:7-8
         a. Such happened with the city of Nineveh - cf. Jonah 3:1-10
         b. And when we compare Joel 1:11; 2:1,11 with 2:13-14,18-23,
            it appears to have been averted in Joel's day!
      3. Of course, this does not pertain to the "ultimate" day of the
         Lord at the end of time, but to the "preliminary" judgments 
         that God often brings upon a nation

CONCLUSION

1. Our next lesson will complete our survey of the book of Joel, in 
   which we will find...
   a. Joel writing of events that heralded the beginning of the 
      Christian dispensation
   b. More lessons that are of value to the Christian

2. But in closing, may I remind you of that "day of the Lord" which is
   yet to come?
   a. A day vividly described in 2Pe 3:7-10
   b. A day which cannot be averted, but for which we can prepare 
      - 2Pe 3:11-14

For those who prepare themselves for this coming "day of the Lord", 
they will find that indeed the Lord is "gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness" (Joel 2:13). But for those who continue
in their sins, we can only say along with Joel...

   "Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall
   come as destruction from the Almighty." (Joel 1:15)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... Obadiah - The Judgment Of Edom (1:1-21)

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                Obadiah - The Judgment Of Edom (1:1-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. The first of the "The Minor Prophets" we shall consider is Obadiah,
   whose book is the shortest of all books in the Old Testament

2. His name means "Servant of Yahweh (Jehovah)", and was quite
   common...
   a. Thirteen different people are called by this name in the Old 
      Testament
   b. One Jewish tradition identifies him as the one who was Ahab's 
      steward
      1) Who hid 100 prophets from Jezebel, Ahab's wife - 1Ki 18:3-4
      2) Who feared the Lord from his youth - 1Ki 18:12
   c. He may have also been...
      1) The Obadiah sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law in Judah 
         - 2Ch 17:7
      2) The Obadiah who was one of the overseers in repairing the 
         temple under Josiah - 2Ch 34:12
   -- Whoever this Obadiah was, his message contains valuable lessons
      for us today

[Before looking at the book itself, let's consider some...]

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

   A. THE DATE...
      1. Two dates are often proposed:  845 B.C. and 586 B.C.
      2. The prophet refers to an attack on Jerusalem; commentators 
         offer these two possibilities:
         a. The days of Jehoram (848-844 B.C.), when Philistines and 
            Arabians attacked the city - 2Ch 21:8-10,16-17
         b. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (586 B.C.)
      3. The internal evidence appears to support the early date of
         845 B.C. (Keil, Hailey)
         a. The language of Obadiah is much different from Jeremiah
         b. There is no mention of the destruction of the temple, the
            deportation to Babylon, the remnant who went to Egypt
      -- I accept the early date, that it was around 845 B.C.

   B. THE MESSAGE...
      1. The fall of Edom
         a. Because of its pride
         b. And its cruelty against Israel, their cousins
      2. The exaltation of Zion
         a. When Seir, the Edomite counterpart of Zion, will be cast 
            down
         b. The rescued of Israel will be in Zion, for in it the 
            redeemed shall be found
      -- For this reason I have subtitled this lesson as "The Judgment
         Of Edom"

   C. THE HISTORY OF EDOM...
      1. The people of Edom descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother
      2. There was sibling rivalry between Edom and Israel, found first
         in Esau and Jacob
         a. The twins struggled in their mother's womb - Gen 25:22-26
         b. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob - Gen 25:27-34
         c. Jacob stole Esau's blessing as the firstborn - Gen 27
      3. While Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled (Gen 32-33), their
         descendants were often at odds with one another
         a. In the Exodus, Edom refused Israel passage through their
            land - Num 20:14-21
         b. Edom was finally subjected by David - 2Sa 8:13-14
         c. During the reign of Jehoram, Edom revolted - 2Ki 8:20-22
      4. Located south of the Dead Sea, they built their cities in the
         cliffs and thought themselves impregnable
      5. After the prophecy of Obadiah...
         a. The Edomites were overcome by the Nabataeans, forced to 
            settle south of Judah
         b. Around 100 B.C., they were conquered by John Hyrcanus of
            the Maccabees
            1) Who forced many of them to be circumcised and accept the
               Law
            2) As such, many became nominal Jewish proselytes (Herod
               the Great was one)
         c. By 100 A.D., Edom as a race and nation had become lost to
            history

[With this background, let's now read through the prophecy of Obadiah,
with the aid of the following...]

II. OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

   A. THE COMING JUDGMENT ON EDOM (1-9)
      1. The decree has gone forth to the nations (1)
      2. Deceived by pride in her location, Edom will be brought down 
         (2-4)
      3. Destruction will be complete (5-6)
      4. Edom will be betrayed by allies (7)
      5. Not even wisdom and might can save them (8-9)

   B. THE REASON FOR JUDGMENT ON EDOM (10-16)
      1. For violence and unbrotherly conduct toward Jacob (10-11)
      2. A rebuke against such conduct (12-14)
      3. Therefore the "Day of the Lord" for them will mean receiving 
         the same sort of treatment! (15-16)

   C. THE EXALTATION OF ISRAEL OVER EDOM (17-21)
      1. Deliverance and holiness will be found on Mt. Zion, not Mt. 
         Seir (the prominent mountain in Edom)! (17a)
      2. The house of Jacob shall consume the house of Esau (17b-18)
      3. The children of Israel will possess Edom and surrounding
         nations (19-20)
      4. The ultimate rule will be that of the Lord's (21)

[With this brief perusal of Obadiah's "vision" concerning Edom (1),
here are some thoughts regarding...]

III. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY

   A. ITS IMMEDIATE FULFILLMENT...
      1. Edom's destruction began with the Babylonian invasion under
         Nebuchadnezzar (ca. 600 B.C.)
      2. It continued into the fourth century B.C. with the invasion of
         the Arabs known as the Nabataeans, forcing them to a region 
         south of Judah
      3. In the second century B.C., the Maccabees brought them under
         subjection when Judas Maccabeus slew twenty thousand of them
      4. John Hyrcanus (134-104 B.C.) forced the remnant to accept
         circumcision and the Law

   B. ITS ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT...
      1. May likely have been with the coming of the Messiah (Jesus 
         Christ)!
      2. For with His coming, and the establishment of the spiritual
         kingdom beginning in Jerusalem...
         a. Deliverance and holiness did come from Mt. Zion (i.e. 
            Jerusalem)! - Lk 24:47
         b. The kingdom (rule) is the Lord's! - cf. Lk 1:31-34; Mt 28:
            18; 1Pe 3:22; Re 1:5
         c. The house of Jacob (i.e., the true spiritual Israel) did 
            possess Edom as the Gentiles among them became Christians!
            - cf. Ro 11:13-18 (where faithful Gentiles are spoken as 
              being grafted into the stock of Israel)
      3. As support for this interpretation, consider:
         a. The prophecy of Balaam - Num 24:15-19
            1) Which foretells how "A Star shall come out of Jacob, A
               Scepter shall rise out of Israel" (the Messiah?)
            2) And how Edom will be come a possession
         b. The prophecy of Amos - Am 9:11-12
         c. The application by James at the council in Jerusalem - Ac 15:13-17
            1) Who understood the conversion of the Gentiles to be a
               fulfillment of Amos
            2) Therefore the fulfillment is figurative, not literal, as
               Gentiles become Christians

[Finally, a few thoughts about some...]

IV. LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF OBADIAH

   A. "PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION..." - Pr 16:18
      1. Pride leads to vanity and a sense of independence from God
      2. Just as Edom took pride in their geographical location, 
         allies, wisdom and might
      3. Such arrogance God will punish - cf. Isa 13:9-11
      -- Are we on guard against such pride?

   B. DO NOT MISTREAT YOUR BRETHREN...
      1. This was Edom's guilt also (10)
      2. How we treat our brethren affects our relationship with the 
         Lord - cf. 1Co 8:12
      -- Are we careful about our dealings with our brethren?

   C. "DO NOT REJOICE WHEN YOUR ENEMY FALLS..." - Pr 24:17-18
      1. This Edom did when Judah was plundered (12)
      2. This sort of gloating is displeasing to God!
      -- Do we rejoice when our enemy falls?

   D. IN TIME OF DIVINE JUDGMENT, GOD PROVIDES A MEANS AND PLACE OF
      ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO TURN TO HIM...
      1. Note again verse 17, where Mount Zion would become a place of
         deliverance
      2. Today, spiritual Mount Zion is a place to which we can turn 
         - cf. He 12:22-24
      3. It is a place where we can find:
         a. "the city of the living God"
         b. "the heavenly Jerusalem"
         c. "an innumerable company of angels"
         d. "the firstborn registered in heaven"
         e. "God the Judge of all"
         f. "the spirits of just men made perfect"
         g. "Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant"
         h. "the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than 
            that of Abel"
         -- Of course, this is what we come to as we obey the gospel of
            Christ!

CONCLUSION

1. With this brief look at "The Book Of Obadiah", we have seen that...
   a. The prophets were not limited in their prophecies to just the
      nation of Israel
   b. God held the heathen nations accountable for their actions
   c. While it was written primarily to comfort the Israelites in 
      Obadiah's day, there are lessons to be gleaned for us as well
   d. The message of hope may have had its ultimate fulfillment in what
      we can enjoy ourselves today, in the person and work of Jesus!

2. In verse 15, we find the expression "the day of the Lord"...
   a. An expression often used by the prophets referring to God's 
      judgment upon the nations
   b. The particular "day of the Lord" of which Obadiah wrote was 
      "near", and was fulfilled with the destruction of Edom
   c. But there is another "day of the Lord" yet to come...!
      1) Of which God's judgments upon the nations were only a shadow,
         a type
      2) Peter writes of that day, in which the whole world will be 
         judged - 2Pe 3:7-13

Are we ready for that "day of the Lord"?  Or do we in our arrogance
take pride in our wisdom, might, or position in life?  If so, "the 
pride of your heart has deceived you" (3). How much better to humbly
recognize that...

   "...on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be
   holiness;" (Ob 1:17)

Have you come to Mount Zion, and to Jesus the Mediator of the New 
Covenant?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... Introduction To The Minor Prophets

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                   Introduction To The Minor Prophets

INTRODUCTION

1. While Christians are not under the Old Testament as a system of 
   justification, the OT is of great value for us today...
   a. Written for our learning, it is a source of comfort and hope 
      - Ro 15:4
   b. Written for our admonition, we learn what mistakes to avoid 
      - 1Co 10:11
   c. As with all scripture inspired of God, it is profitable "for 
      doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
      righteousness" - cf. 2Ti 3:14-17

2. This is especially true with regard to "The Minor Prophets"...
   a. A collection of twelve books that make up the last part of the 
      Old Testament
   b. Beginning with Hosea, and ending with Malachi

3. Those willing to study these books will find their lives enriched as
   they increase...
   a. Their knowledge of God's holiness, righteousness, justice and 
      mercy
   b. Their understanding of God's dealings in the nations of men
   c. Their appreciation of the Bible as a literary masterpiece

[With this lesson, we begin a series of studies in which we will survey
"The Minor Prophets". Before we examine our first book, some 
introductory material may prove helpful...]

I. WHO WERE THE PROPHETS?

   A. THE OLD COVENANT HAD DIFFERENT KINDS OF INSTRUCTORS...
      1. There was Moses, the lawgiver - Neh 8:1,14; 9:13-14; Jn 1:17;
         7:19
      2. There were the priests, administrators of the law - Lev 10:
         8-11; Hos 4:6; Eze 22:26; Mal 2:7
      3. There were the wise men, who gave counsel - 2Sa 14:1-24; 
         20:16-22
      4. There were the psalmists, poets who were the "sweet singers" 
         of Israel - cf. 2Sa 23:1; 1Ch 6:33
      5. There were the prophets, communicators of the Word of God

   B. A "PROPHET" WAS A SPOKESMAN FOR ANOTHER...
      1. Like Aaron was for his brother Moses - Exo 4:16; 7:1
      2. The word literally means "to boil up like a fountain"
      3. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, a prophet...
         a. Was a spokesman for God - 2Pe 1:21
         b. Was given something to say, and had to say it! - Jer 20:7-9
      4. A prophet was primarily a "forth-teller", though sometimes a 
         "fore-teller"
         a. God's word often pertained to future events
         b. The fulfilled prophecies of these prophets are therefore a
            strong proof of inspiration
         -- But much of their word concerned not the future, but
            current events

   C. OTHER DESIGNATIONS HELP TO DEFINE THE ROLE OF A PROPHET...
      1. Early in Israel's history they were called "seers" - 1Sa 9:9
      2. Another appellation was "man of God" - 1Sa 9:6; 1Ki 17:18
      3. Also known as a "servant of God" - 1Ki 18:36; 1Ch 6:49
      4. They served as God's "messenger" - Isa 42:19
      5. They were also assigned the role of "watchman" - Eze 3:17; 
         33:7

[The prophets were therefore servants of God, divinely appointed and 
inspired to proclaim His Word. At times, they were messengers of God's 
word as it applied to the present, serving as watchmen of the people of
God; other times, God's message pertained to the future, and as such 
they were "seers" of things to come.]

II. HOW ARE THE PROPHETS CLASSIFIED?

   A. IT IS COMMON TO SPEAK OF "ORAL" AND "LITERARY" PROPHETS...
      1. The "oral" prophets are those who left no writings bearing 
         their names
         a. Such as Elijah and Elisha - cf. 1Ki 17; 2Ki 2
         b. Many others, including Nathan (2Sa 12), Gad (2 Sam 24:11), Ahijah (1Ki 11:29)
      2. Those who left books bearing their names are called the 
         "literary" prophets

   B. THE LITERARY PROPHETS ARE CATEGORIZED AS "MAJOR" AND "MINOR"
      PROPHETS...
      1. Augustine is credited with being the first to classify them in
         this way
      2. The distinction pertains only to the length of the books
         a. The "major prophets" include the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah,
            Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
         b. The "minor prophets" are those twelve books from Hosea to 
            Malachi

[As we consider the works of the "literary" prophets, we should note 
that the order of the books in our Bibles is not chronological.  
Therefore it may serve useful to review...]

III. THE LITERARY PROPHETS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Please note:  Dating the prophets is not without controversy, and with
some it can be very difficult. What I provide below are the estimates 
among many conservative scholars...

   A. NINTH CENTURY (EARLY ASSYRIAN PERIOD)
      1. Obadiah (ca. 845 B.C)
      2. Joel (ca 830 B.C.)
      3. Jonah (790-750 B.C.)
      -- This is during the period of "The Divided Kingdom" in Israel's
         history; to the north and east the empire of Assyria was 
         beginning to make its presence known in Israel

   B. EIGHTH CENTURY (ASSYRIAN PERIOD)
      1. Amos (755 B.C.)
      2. Hosea (750-725 B.C.)
      3. Isaiah (740-700 B.C.)
      4. Micah (735-700 B.C.)
      -- In 722 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into 
         Assyrian captivity; these prophets were proclaiming God's 
         message as the nation was being threatened from the north

   C. SEVENTH CENTURY (CHALDEAN PERIOD)
      1. Jeremiah (626-586 B.C.)
      2. Zephaniah (630-625 B.C.)
      3. Nahum (625-612 B.C.)
      4. Habakkuk (625-605 B.C.)
      -- Assyria was eventually defeated by Babylon; these prophets 
         served as God's messengers when the Babylonian empire 
         threatened the kingdom of Judah

   D. SIXTH CENTURY (THE EXILE)
      1. Ezekiel (593-570 B.C.)
      2. Daniel (605-536 B.C.)
      -- Like many of their countrymen, these prophets were taken into
         Babylonian captivity; from Babylon they served as God's 
         messengers to both captives and kings

   E. SIXTH AND FIFTH CENTURIES (POST-EXILIC PERIOD)
      1. Haggai (520 B.C.)
      2. Zechariah (520-518 B.C.)
      3. Malachi (ca. 440 B.C.)
      -- After the Jews were allowed to return home from Babylonian 
         captivity, God used Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the 
         people to rebuild the temple; later, Malachi was used to 
         reform the priesthood during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah

[Finally, here are some thoughts on...]

IV. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS

   A. THREE THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND AS YOU STUDY THE PROPHETS...
      1. Seek to understand the political, social and religious 
         conditions of the times
         a. Any interpretation must consider how the message was 
            relevant for the people to whom the prophet spoke
         b. Secondary fulfillment of prophecy is often found in the NT,
            but this can be understood only when applied by inspired 
            writers of the NT
         c. Guard against making interpretations that are purely 
            speculative
         d. Any application to modern events must be carefully 
            harmonized in light of the NT
      2. Consider God's relation to the heathen nations (i.e., other 
         than Israel and Judah)
         a. The prophets often revealed how God directed their destiny 
            and judged them
         b. This may provide insight as to how Christ rules the nations
            today! - cf. Mt 28:18; Re 1:5; 2:26;27
      3. Note any teaching regarding the Messiah and His coming kingdom
         - Ac 26:6-7; 28:20
         a. The immediate mission of most prophets was to save God's 
            people from idolatry and wickedness
         b. Failing that, they were sent to announce God's judgment and
            the coming destruction of the nation
         c. But many prophets left a message of hope for the future, 
            regarding the Messiah who would come and establish a 
            kingdom that could never be destroyed!
         
   B. SOME OF THE GREAT THEMES DEVELOPED BY THE PROPHETS...
      1. The holiness of God - He is absolutely pure, righteous, just,
         merciful, tender, loving, and longsuffering
      2. The sovereignty of God - He rules the universe and is above
         all
      3. The immutability of God's word
         a. He carries out His promises
         b. One can depend upon Him to act consistently with His Word
      4. The terribleness of sin
         a. God abhors iniquity, and will not tolerate, overlook, nor
            excuse it
         b. But He is willing to forgive those who humbly repent
      5. Repentance and righteousness
         a. This is the clarion call of the prophets
         b. Though severe is God's punishment of the wicked, yet God's
            mercy is great in loving kindness upon the righteous who 
            are of broken spirit and contrite heart
      6. The worship due God - The proper reverence, awe, and respect
         for God will cause one to praise Him and give thanks for His 
         wonderful grace and mercy!

CONCLUSION

1. Why study "The Minor Prophets"?
   a. This question was asked by a dear sister in Christ, when I 
      preached this series before
   b. She did not see the value of Christians studying this portion of
      the Old Testament
   c. Yet, she later remarked how much she got out of our study

2. Why study "The Minor Prophets"? Because in them we learn about...
   a. The nature of God, His holiness, justice, righteousness and mercy
   b. The workings of God, as He dealt with nations, bringing judgment
      upon the guilty
   ...which can help us in our relationship with God today, giving us 
      comfort and hope to face the future, knowing that God is in 
      ultimate control!
   
I hope this brief introduction has whetted your appetite to study "The 
Minor Prophets". Our next lesson will begin the study in earnest with
a look at the book of Obadiah...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... The Vision Of The Time Of The End - III (Daniel 11:36-12:13)

                          "THE BOOK OF DANIEL"

         The Vision Of The Time Of The End - III (11:36-12:13)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have been studying the final vision recorded in the book of
   Daniel...
   a. Depicting what will affect Daniel's people (i.e., Israel) - Dan 10:14
   b. Describing events "in the latter days, for the vision refers to
      many days yet to come" - Dan 10:14
   c. Its words were closed and sealed "till the time of the end" - Dan 12:9
   -- For such reasons this vision has been called "The Vision Of The
      Time Of The End"

2. In the introductory remarks of the vision, there is a glimpse of
   spiritual warfare...
   a. Angelic forces withstanding each other - Dan 10:13a,20
   b. Angelic forces helping each other - Dan 10:13b,21; 11:1
   -- Such forces affecting the nations of Persia and Greece

3. As the vision unfolds, a series of future conflicts involving
   nations is described...
   a. Between the Persians and the Greeks - Dan 11:2-4
   b. Between kings of the South (Egypt) and kings of the North (Syria)
      - Dan 11:5-35
      1) In this conflict, Israel would be caught in the middle
      2) Israel would suffer extreme blasphemies by one Syrian king
         (Antiochus Epiphanes)

4. Beginning with Dan 11:36, there is a large diversity of opinion...
   a. Regarding the identity of the king described in Dan 11:36-45
   b. The time in which events described in Dan 11:36-12:13 would be
      fulfilled

[As with any difficult portion of Scripture, especially one involving
prophecy, dogmatism should be avoided.  In this study, our final one in
this series of lessons on the Book of Daniel, I shall offer what I
believe is a plausible explanation of the text...]

I. THE IDENTITY OF THE KING AND HIS TIMES

   A. THREE DIFFERENT VIEWS...
      1. The king is Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria
         a. The vile and blasphemous ruler described in Dan 11:21-35
         b. The time of his persecution would therefore be 169-167 B.C.
         c. The time of the Maccabean revolt
         -- This view is espoused by Albert Barnes in his commentary
      2. The king represents the Roman emperors
         a. Who persecuted Christians in the early years of the church
         b. The time of this persecution would therefore be 60-313 A.D.
         -- This view is proposed by Robert Harkrider in his workbook
      3. The king represents the Anti-Christ
         a. A future ruler still to come
         b. The time of this persecution would be shortly before the
            return of Christ
         -- This view is held by pre-millennialists, but also by some
            amillennialists (e.g., Edward Young)

   B. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES SEEMS A LIKELY CHOICE...
      1. The allusion in previous verses is undoubtedly to Antiochus
         Epiphanes
      2. There is no indication in the prophetic narrative of any
         change; notice...
         a. "Then the king shall do..." - Dan 11:36
         b. "At the time of the end the king of South shall attack
            him..." - Dan 11:40
         c. "At that time Michael..." - Dan 12:1
         d. "And at that time your people shall be delivered..." - Dan 12:1
      3. A sudden transition, with no given indication, is not in
         accordance with what is usually found in prophetic writings
         (Barnes)
      4. The word "king" is never applied to Antichrist (if there in
         fact be "the Antichrist", as the Bible speaks of many
         antichrists - 1Jn 2:18,22; 4:3; 2Jn 7)
      5. The description that follows can easily be applied to the
         person and times of Antiochus Epiphanes

[This is not imply there is no difficulty with applying this passage to
Antiochus Epiphanes and his times, but I believe it possesses fewer
difficulties than alternative views.  Now let's consider what is
described to come...]

II. THE EVENTS AT "THE TIME OF THE END"

   A. THE BLASPHEMY OF THIS KING...
      1. He shall magnify himself above every god - Dan 11:36-37
         a. Speaking blasphemies against the God of gods
         b. Prospering till the wrath that has been determined is done
            (suggesting that this was allowed by God as part of divine
            judgment against Israel) - cf. Dan 11:35; as with the case
            of Assyria and Israel, Isa 10:5-12
         c. He shall not regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire
            of women, nor any god
      2. He shall honor a god of fortresses - Dan 11:38-39
         a. A god which his fathers did not know (some suggest the
            Roman god Mars, or Jupiter)
         b. He shall act against the strongest fortresses with this
            foreign god, rule over many and divide the land for gain
      -- In his commentary, Albert Barnes explains how this could apply
         to Antiochus

   B. THE CONQUESTS AND END OF THIS KING...
      1. The king of the South (Egypt) shall attack him - Dan 11:40
         a. Note that this will occur "at the time of the end"
         b. This may help pinpoint the meaning of the "latter days" of
            Dan 10:14
      2. The king of the North (Antiochus Epiphanes) will respond and
         overwhelm the countries - Dan 11:40-43
         a. Entering the "Glorious Land" (Israel)
         b. Overthrowing many, while Edom, Moab and Ammon will escape
         c. Egypt will not escape, even Libyans and Ethiopians will
            submit
      3. He shall come to his end - Dan 11:44-45
         a. News from the east and north will trouble him (from Persia)
         b. He shall proceed to destroy and annihilate many, planting
            his tents between the seas and the glorious holy mountain
            (Mt. Zion, Jerusalem?)
         c. Yet he shall come to his end, no one helping him (Antiochus
            died in 163 B.C. of a terrible disease)
      -- Again, Barnes relates in detail how these events could refer
         to Antiochus

   C. THE ULTIMATE VICTORY OF DANIEL'S PEOPLE...
      1. To occur "at that time" - Dan 12:1
         a. To be assisted by "Michael...the great prince who stands
            watch over the sons of your people" - cf. Dan 10:13,21
         b. In a time of a trouble not seen before
         c. Deliverance of Daniel's people "at that time"
            1) I.e., the time just previously described 
            2) I.e., the time of the conflict involving Antiochus
               Epiphanes
      2. Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake - Dan 12:2
         a. Some to everlasting life
         b. Some to shame and everlasting contempt
         -- Note that this is not likely the physical resurrection of
            the dead, for then "all" (not "many") shall be raised 
            - Jn 5:28,29
      3. Those who will shine at this time - Dan 12:3
         a. The wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament
         b. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the
            stars forever and ever
      -- Using the figure of the resurrection, this may depict the
         Maccabean revolt when the Jews came out of caves and mountain
         hideouts to resist Antiochus - cf. Dan 11:33-35

   D. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ANSWERS GIVEN TO DANIEL...
      1. Shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end
         - Dan 12:4
         a. Perhaps what is meant is to stop writing, and secure what
            he has written
         b. Compare this with Dan 8:17,19,26
            1) Both visions (Dan 8, 10-12) were to be sealed up
            2) Both pertained to many days in the future
            3) Yet both visions were fulfilled within 200-400 years
         c. Contrast this with Rev 22:10
            1) The vision of the Revelation was not to be sealed, for
               the time was at hand
            2) How then the explanation of some that the events of
               Revelation have yet to begin, nearly 2000 years later?
      2. Two final questions answered
         a. One question overheard by Daniel - Dan 12:5-7
            1) Daniel saw two others, one on each side of a river bank
            2) One asked the man clothed in linen (cf. Dan 10:5-6)
               above the river:  "How long shall the fulfillment of
               these wonders be?"
            3) The answer: "...a time, times, and half a time; and when
               the power of the holy people has been completely
               shattered, all these things shall be finished."
               a) The "time, times, and half a time" (3 and a half
                  years, 42 months, 1260 days) is commonly used to
                  describe a definite, marked, period of tribulation 
                  - cf. Dan 7:25; Re 11:2,3; 12:6,13-14; 13:5
               b) When the persecution has accomplished its purpose,
                  then the things described will take place
         b. The question asked by Daniel - Dan 12:8-13
            1) Not understanding, Daniel asks:  "...what shall be the
               end of these things?"
            2) Daniel is first told:
               a) To go, for the words are closed and sealed till the
                  time of the end
               b) That many shall be purified, and the wise shall
                  understand - cf. Dan 11:33-35
               c) That the wicked shall do wickedly, and not understand
                  - cf. Dan 11:32
               d) That there will be a period of "1290 days" beginning
                  from:
                  1/ The time the daily sacrifice is taken away - cf.
                     Dan 11:31
                  2/ The abomination of desolation is set up - cf. Dan 11:31
               e) Those who wait and come to "1335 days" will be 
                  blessed
               -- Whether literal or figurative, these numbered days
                  appear to apply to the period of the Antiochian
                  persecution (ca. 168 B.C.)
            3) Daniel is then told:
               a) To go his way till the end
               b) For he shall rest and arise to his inheritance at the
                  end of the days
               -- This "end" or "end of the days" may refer to the
                  actual resurrection on the day of Judgment, not "the
                  time of the end" spoken of throughout this vision

CONCLUSION

1. We have seen that "The Vision Of The Time Of The End" describes
   events that would...
   a  Affect Daniel's people (i.e., Israel) - Dan 10:14
   b. Take place "in the latter days, for the vision refers to many
      days yet to come" - Dan 10:14
   c. Occur in "the time of the end" - Dan 11:35,40; 12:4,9

2. From the context, "the time of the end" likely refers to the closing
   days of God's dealings with Israel as His covenant nation; i.e.,...
   a. The inter-testamental period between Malachi and Matthew
   b. The period involving the Greek-Persian and Egyptian-Syrian
      conflicts
   -- Which is how the phrase is used in "The Vision Of The Ram and The
      Goat" that depicts many of the same events - cf. Dan 8:1-27
      (esp. 17,26)
                  
3. As we conclude our study of the Book of Daniel, we have found it to
   be a book that...
   a. Strengthens faith in God and His Word through its fulfilled
      prophecies
      1) Describing the rise and fall of world empires - Dan 2,4-5
      2) Foretelling the establishment of God's everlasting kingdom 
         - Dan 2,7,9
      3) Depicting the events to befall the people of Israel - Dan 8,9,
         10-12
   b. Inspires faithfulness to God through its examples of dedicated
      faith and service
      1) Of Daniel - Dan 1,6
      2) Of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego - Dan 3

While there is certainly much in this book that challenges our
understanding, may we never neglect to mine its spiritual treasures
preserved for the people of God:

   "For whatever things were written before were written for our
   learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the
   Scriptures might have hope." - Ro 15:4

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011