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Author
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Topic: "Change Is Coming!"
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Found in Him
Advanced Member
Member # 7596
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posted
Good Stuff!
I say the change that we need to make is turning our focus 100% to the Bridegroom right now!
Matthew 25:1-13
What will become of this planet when the door of the dispensation of grace has been closed?
We have work to do until then don't we?
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
Posts: 1503 | Registered: Jan 2009
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barrykind
Advanced Member
Member # 35
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posted
JANUARY 30, 2009
Hello Barry! In this issue...
From the Editor
SPECIAL REPORT: "Change Is Coming!"
Pithy Quote
Question of the Week
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FROM THE EDITOR
This week as I met with the Lord our conversation naturally turned to the "change" that has been promised for so long (and has now apparently come) to the United States. He reminded me that the True Government is on His Shoulder, and obviously His Kingdom is not of this world. There is an even bigger change coming, and that should be the focus of our thoughts, prayers, and daily activities.
Preparing for His Kingdom to come, and helping others to prepare, is a revolutionary act. I discuss this in my book, "The Irresistible Kingdom." Although this book has (of course) generated controversy, the main point of the book is that God's Ultimate Purpose is for Christ to have the preeminence - the first, the full, and the final place - in all things. The implications are staggering. This is not a time for theological quibbles and doctrinal diatribes that add nothing to spiritual life. Don't be distracted by small-minded thinking. The Kingdom is real, and though it is irresistible, it does not come easily, or cheaply. Truth is never free. It costs a lot to obtain it and costs even more to live it.
I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
http://www.TheSchoolOfChrist.Org
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CHANGE IS COMING!
by Chip Brogden
http://www.TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/articles/change.html
(From Chapter Twelve of "The Irresistible Kingdom". Note: The word "Church" in this book always refers to the religious system, never to the Ekklesia.)
When we pray "Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,"[1] do we really know what we are doing? We are asking for two things. On the positive side, we are joining together with God and agreeing with Him, praying in line with His Eternal purpose in Christ for the recovery of the Heavenly Order and the establishment of the Irresistible Kingdom of God. On the negative side, we are asking for the end of this present evil age, the subjection of this rebellious generation, and the elimination of everything that fails to give Christ the preeminence, whether they are considered "worldly" things or "religious" things.
This kind of prayer is not a frivolous thing. It is calling for a revolution in the way things are. It is commanding all that is to make room for all that is to come. It is calling for the end of all things pertaining to man, this present world, and the defeated devil: "Your Kingdom come." In this Kingdom, Christ alone has authority and power. Think of the implications. For this to be realized it will mean either the elimination or the subjection of every earthly government to Jesus Christ. It will mean the eradication of every religious institution, denomination, movement, group, cult, false religion, doctrine - anything which fails to give the Son the preeminence, and certainly those things which misrepresent, malign, distort, or bear false witness to the Lord Jesus. It will also mean the abolition of everything pertaining to the kingdom of darkness, every principality, power, and eventually, Satan himself. The souls of men who refuse to submit to Christ must also be judged and dealt with. The Creation which groans and travails in pain must be purified by fire, liberated, and recreated again. We are talking about a major upheaval.
When this Irresistible Kingdom of God comes in its fullness it will mean the consummation of all things - the ultimate goal of all God's dealings with man:
That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together [Greek: re-gather] in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him. (Eph. 1:10)
This has been the goal ever since God initiated the recovery of the Heavenly Order so many thousands of years ago. However, the darkness is greatest just before the sun rises.
Conditions Existing in the Last Days
The consummation of the Irresistible Kingdom will be preceded by certain conditions in both the secular world and the religious world:
1) Conditions in the secular world. We can expect that conditions in the world will only get worse. This reflects a downward trend that was set in motion when Adam made his declaration of independence from God. This not only brought sin and death upon mankind, but it disrupted creation itself: "For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now."[2] World conditions in the last days will continue to deteriorate, both in the natural realm and in the secular realm of governments and nations:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you are not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Mt. 24:6-8)
And there will be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then will they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Lk. 21:25-27)
In addition, we find a hint in the Book of Revelation that God will intervene in order to (among other things) "destroy them which destroy the earth"[3] - presumably to keep the world from being completely ruined by man. Whether this is intended to be literal or figurative we cannot know for sure, but it certainly speaks of a terrible time.[4]
2) Conditions in the religious world. The Bible is very specific about what we can expect in the Church system in the last days: not a great revival, but a great falling away from the truth.
§ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away first... (2 Th. 2:3a)
§ Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Tim. 4:1,2)
§ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine [i.e., teaching]; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim. 4:3,4)
§ Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist will come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (1 Jn. 2:18)
The identification of "the Antichrist" is the subject of much discussion among those who study Bible prophecy. According to Vines:
Antichrist (antichristos) can mean either "against Christ" or "instead of Christ," or perhaps, combining the two, "one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ" (Westcott). The word is found only in John's epistles.[5]
John says there were many antichrists (not just one) who had already appeared. In addition, he says "they went out from us, but they were not of us,"[6] which again refers to the fact that antichrist has its beginning in something that appears to be "Christian" in nature. This supports our understanding that antichrist is not a demon-possessed politician with grandiose schemes of ruling the world, but anyone who assumes the guise of Christ and yet opposes Christ. This is a direct reference to the Church, which for 1700 years has sought to deceive "even the very Elect"[7] by assuming the guise of Christ while it either directly or indirectly opposes and resists anything connected with a genuine expression of Christ in the earth. For that reason the Church and everything connected to its system of religion must be judged...
MORE! Download Chapter One of "The Irresistible Kingdom"http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/books/kingdom.html
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[1] Mt. 6:10
[2] Rom. 8:22
[3] Rev. 11:18b
[4] Jesus does say there will be "great tribulation" (Mt. 24:21) but the context shows that this refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This may also refer to a future period of time; but if so, only in a general way. The idea of a specific seven-year tribulation period was popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible (1909) and accepted as a fact for generations, even though the Bible never mentions a specific time period called "The Great Tribulation." Many versions (ASV, Darby, NASB, NLT, et. al.) compound the error by inserting an extra word into Revelation 7:14 to make it read "the great tribulation." Earlier versions of the Living Bible actually capitalized "The Great Tribulation" in this verse, reflecting an unacceptable doctrinal bias in an otherwise useful paraphrase.
[5] Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
[6] 1 Jn. 2:19a
[7] Mt. 24:24
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PITHY QUOTE
"This new way of life is so narrow that we cannot take ourselves into it, we have to leave ourselves behind."
~ T. Austin-Sparks
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: When is it time to change churches? My heart says change, I don't want to be self centered.
A: It is possible that the rumblings in your heart are there because God desires to take you to a place of spiritual maturity. Dissatisfaction with your present condition is a good indicator of God taking you to a deeper level. However, do not make the mistake of assuming that the solution to your problem lies in finding yet another religious institution to attend. That pattern will keep you going in circles. It is time to break that cycle and learn what it means to actually walk with God without being plugged into Churchianity. I encourage you to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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» Got a question? Reply to this email or write editor@theschoolofchrist.org and we'll consider it for a future publication.
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CHRISTOLOGY JOURNAL is a publication of The School of Christ, PO Box 552, Canandaigua, NY 14424. It is only sent to those who have subscribed or registered through our website:http://www.TheSchoolOfChrist.Org. If you benefit from this email please share it with others!
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The HEART of the issue is truly the issue of the HEART!
John 3:3;Mark 8:34-38;James 1:27
Posts: 3529 | From: Orange, Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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