Would Moses Replace Christ?

The OLD testament was given through Moses;
the NEW testament came through Christ:

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Christ, by the grace of the NEW testament ....
put an end to Moses’ law of the OLD testament:

Rom 10:4-5 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Christ’s testament is with the Spirit, of the heart;
Moses’ testament was with ink, on tables of stone:

2 Cor 3:3-11 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God;
not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;
but our sufficiency is of God;

Paul said WE are equipped servants of Christ’s testament:

6 Who also hath made us able (fit, sufficient, adequate)
ministers (attendants, deacons) of the new testament;
not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The OLD testament of Moses was of death and condemnation; it was done away.
The NEW testament of Christ is of the Spirit and righteousness; it remains:

7 But if the ministration of death,
written and engraven in stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance;
which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

The OLD testament was glorious;
the NEW testament was more glorious:

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory,
much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect,
by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious,
much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Moses was a faithful servant in his house, as a witness of the NEW testament that was coming by Christ, the Son of God, in His house, which is the church of the living God (1Tim 3:15):

Heb 3:1-6 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; (also see Num 12:7)
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

In this next verse, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ rightly teach that the OLD testament law of Moses ‘passed away’ .... however, they are wrong when they will NOT admit that the things that are NEW are the NEW testament .... all in the same verse! They are right about the first issue, and wrong about the second. Wrested, huh?

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.

It does not sound to me like all of humanity would be put back under the OLD testament LAW of Moses with its Levitical priests and animal sacrifices, that was done away .... AGAIN for another 1,000 years .... AFTER the world has been under the NEW testament GRACE with Jesus Christ as the High Priest and the sacrifice of His blood (also Heb 10:19-21) for more than 2,000 years. How about you?

Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Wresting .... or .... Resting?

God gave wonderful promises of blessings to His people:

Isa 32:17-18 And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation,
and in sure dwellings,
and in quiet resting places;

God warned the wicked about destruction of the righteous:

Prov 24:15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
spoil not his resting place:

God (through Paul) said that they treasure up wrath unto themselves, against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom 2:5) .... when God will have His holy vengenance on them for persecuting His saints:

2 Thess 1:6-8 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
The righteous won’t have rest .... until the wicked are destroyed at the Lord’s coming:
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us,
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

God admonished Israel not to pervert justice:

Exo 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Exo 23:6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

God required Israel not to twist the truth:

Deut 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment;
thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift:
for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise,
and pervert the words of the righteous.

As the Philistines took him in Gath, David leaned on the Lord when he felt like his adversaries were ‘eating him alive’. They distorted his words and plotted harm against him .... yet he remained faithful to God:

Psa 56:1-7 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust;
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my words:
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,
they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity?
in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

When Peter wrote about the promise of Christ’s coming (2 Pet 3:4,9), and the new heaven and new earth where righteousness will dwell (2 Pet 3:13), he reminded the beloved (2 Pet 3:1,8) that Paul also taught about these issues in every letter he wrote. People need to be cautious and careful about those who try to force the words of the Bible to say things they don’t say:

2 Peter 3:16-17 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
17 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things;
in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Jesus promised rest to those who come to Him:

Matt 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Believers have always had rest in God .... but tribulation in the world (John 16:33). When the Lord returns from heaven .... His reward for His saints and His judgment for the wicked (Rev 11:18) will be with Him (Rev 22:12):

Psa 37:7-13 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

Those who worship the beast and take his mark will never have rest: (also Isa 57:20)

Rev 14:9-11 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Are YOU waiting for that day?

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

WHICH are YOU doing?

Wresting the words of the scriptures ....
or Resting in the Lord until He comes to give eternal rest?

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Jesus Christ's Ministry .... To Whom?

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ often use Rom 15:8 with Rom 15:16,
to make a contrast between Jesus’ ministry to Israel and
Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles:

Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Rom 15:16 That I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

However, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ do not want to use the context following Rom 15:8. The sentence does not end with verse 8, but it continues by showing several OLD testament scripture references about Gentiles trusting in the Lord, fulfilled by Jesus Christ’s ministry.

Rom 15:8-12 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: (Psa 98:2,3; Mic 7:20)
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy;
as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. (2 Sam 22:50, Psa 18:49)
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. (Deut 32:43)
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. (Psa 117:1)
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. (Isa 49:6)

Jesus Christ came to Israel, just like the prophets said He would ....
but they rejected Him (Mark 8:31) ....
so Gentiles were brought into faith in Him, just like the prophets said they would be!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Who’s To Preach the Gospel of Peace?

Just after PAUL (Rom 10:8) quoted MOSES (Deut 30:14),
and said that word of faith is which WE preach ....

Just after PAUL (Rom 10:11) quoted ISAIAH and the PROPHETS (also Rom 9:33, 1:16; Psa 25:2-3,20, 69:6; Isa 28:16, 45:17, 49:23, 54:4; Jer 17:7; Joel 2:26-27; 1 Pet 2:6),
and said that whoever believed on Christ would not be ashamed ....

Just after PAUL (Rom 10:13) quoted JOEL (Joel 2:32),
and said that whoever called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved ....

PAUL quoted (Rom 10:15) ISAIAH again (Isa 52:7), and Nahum (Nah 1:15)
and showed that the gospel of peace is what WE preach:

Rom 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Just as the prophets (Luke 24:27,44; Acts 3:18) and apostles (Gal 1:17) before PAUL (Acts 26:22-23) were sent to preach the gospel of peace .... PAUL brought the gospel of peace FORWARD from Isaiah to his day.

Just after PAUL (Eph 6:10-12) told the saints which were at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1) .... to be strong in the Lord, and to put on God’s whole armour .... so they could stand against the devil’s wiles .... he instructed them to be prepared with the gospel of peace:

Eph 6:13-15 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day (When do you suppose that is? See Amos 6:3, for the only other time in scripture where you find the phrase ‘the evil day’. Also see Eph 5:14-16 for ‘the days are evil’.), and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

The gospel of peace .... makes beautiful feet!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Made from Scratch or Instant?

I know some ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensational’ preachers who don’t study the Word of God anymore. They don’t get their sermons from a pre-made outline book like some denominational preachers I’ve met. They already know ‘the doctrine’ .... they’ve already been to the conferences .... they have often listened to their favorite ‘pastor’ (who is really a ‘bishop’ but refuses the ‘KJV’ and ‘Pauline’ title of the office) .... they give out ‘the message’ .... they have studied the chart. So they take a few minutes (maybe 10 or 15) on Saturday night before they go to bed to whip up an instant Sunday morning message. It’s not hard to do .... just come up with a topic, grab a few verses that seem to differ, contrast them, and you’re off and running. Don’t worry about the context. No one pays attention to it anyway. You can be done with your instant preparation in about the time it takes to sip a cup of hot bed-time tea.

The apostles of the Lord realized their responsibility in ministry, and delegated the service work to others:

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 6:1-4 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,
and to the ministry of the word.

Paul directed Timothy .... with a reminder of the judgment day when Christ returns with His kingdom .... to herald God’s word .... anytime .... anywhere .... to anyone:

2 Tim 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word;
be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

There is no replacement for good, ‘old-fashioned’ diligence .... exerting one’s self in labour:

2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Peter also said to make preparation .... which requires time ahead of time:

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Message preparation takes time, and lots of it. It requires discipline to study. Throwing something together for a fast, repackaged lecture is no substitute for solitute to read and think and listen to the verses from God.

Many ‘mid-Acts-ers’ I know have a very lax attitude toward service.

Personally, I prefer ‘home-made from scratch’ fresh food anytime to left-overs that you zap with instant heat and serve.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Will Physical Circumcision Be Reinstated by God in the Future?

In time past, physical circumcision used to be beneficial. God began the token for the Jews as a mark in their flesh that they were His covenant people (Gen 17:10-14). They were the ones to whom God spoke and gave His law:

Rom 3:1-2 What advantage then hath the Jew?
or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles (like ‘oral’ .... spoken with the mouth .... utterance .... words) of God.

But now, God has sent His word to the Gentiles, first through Peter (referring about his Acts 10 experience with Cornelius and many Gentiles who had come together to hear him tell them how to be saved - Acts 11:14):

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

God chose Paul to take His word to the Gentiles:

Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said unto him (Saul of Tarsus, whose name was changed to Paul in Acts 13:9), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

In the dispensation of grace (Eph 3:2), under the NEW covenant (John 1:17; Rom 10:4, 6:14; 2 Cor 3:6), things have moved out of the physical into the spiritual (2 Cor 5:16, 4:18; Col 3:2). No more physical sacrifices:

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Physical circumcision no longer has any advantage:　

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Among ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ (and even traditional dispensationalists) .... Ezekiel chapters 40-48, are said to be details about Israel in the promised land during the millennial (1,000 years) reign of Christ on earth. Instructions are given for the ministry in the temple. Sacrifices are to be made by the Levites, the priests. Physical circumcision will be required:

Ezek 44:9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.

But now in Christ Jesus, because of His blood that was shed (Eph 2:13), we, who were "called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands" (Eph 2:11), are made nigh .... and physical Israel is no more the ‘true Jew’:

Rom 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Circumcision is no more outward in the flesh, nor made with hands.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ are notorious for correcting people for water baptizing .... yet they hardly mention physical circumcision. Why circumcise if you don’t baptize (Col 2:11-12)? BOTH ceremonies are SPIRITUAL now, and no longer physical.

Now circumcision is made in the heart:

Col 2:11 In whom (Christ) also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

So if you’re not circumcised .... don’t be!

There is no advantage to it anymore. There is no reason to circumcise baby boys and put the mark of Abraham’s physical children in their flesh:

1 Cor 7:18-20 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised.
Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing,
but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

We don’t rely on the flesh .... but on the Spirit:

Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

In Christ, God has erased all distinction between Israel and the Gentiles:

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:
but Christ is all, and in all.

Jesus Christ brought freedom:

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

After a exhortation (2 Cor 3:6-18) to recognize that the old testament (the ministration of condemnation) is done away, and that the new testament (the ministration of the Spirit) has replaced it and remaineth (2 Cor 3:11), .... we have liberty:

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit:
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The NEW is so much better than the OLD:

Heb 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

In the new covenant, we have a better hope (Heb 7:19) ....
a more excellent ministry, a better covenant, better promises (Heb 8:6) ....
a better and an enduring substance in heaven (Heb 10:34) ....
a better country, a city (Heb 11:16).

With all these ‘better’ spiritual things in Christ ....
why would God go back to the physical, which could never cleanse from sin (Heb 10:4),
nor make the comers perfect (Heb 10:1), because it was weak through the flesh (Rom 8:3)?

A return to circumcision?
Back to Moses, instead of Christ (Heb 3:1-6)?
Not in my ‘book’.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

When is a Literalist Not a Literalist?

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ claim to be ‘literal’ in their reading of the Bible.

Does God possess the cattle on ONLY 1,000 hills ....
or does ‘a thousand’ represent all the hills?

Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine,
and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Does God command His word to ONLY 1,000 generations ....
or does ‘a thousand’ represent all the generations?

Deut 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

1 Chron 16:15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant;
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

When is a literalist not a literalist?

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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A Heavenly Inheritance?

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ have a favorite verse to quote for teaching that who-they-call ‘the body of Christ’ (meaning only those saints who believed the gospel of Jesus Christ from PAUL’s -- and ONLY Paul’s -- writings) has a separate HEAVENLY inheritance .... DIFFERENT from Israel’s EARTHLY promises:

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ get by with that .... because most of them NEGLECT even reading and entirely AVOID considering scriptures that are ‘OUTSIDE’ of Paul’s writings. They say that since Paul was given the dispensation of grace (Eph 3:1-2), they will look ONLY to what Paul wrote .... period! Yet, Peter also wrote -- even PLAINER than Paul -- of a HEAVENLY inheritance .... "for YOU" .... ‘whoever’ his readers were:

1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ also FAIL to accept this promise in Hebrews:

Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that
ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ act like ostriches sticking their heads in the sand. They suffocate and smother the truth by IGNORING about 80% of God's word that is not PAUL's writings:

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:


This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

No Reason to Make ANOTHER ....

Last Sunday evening I heard a ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensational’ preacher make the statement, "The rapture is not back in Matthew through John." But then he said the reason it was not back there was because it was another coming .... another event .... because God has another agency.

Let’s think about that. Another coming? Jesus’ disciples combined His coming with the end of the world:

Matt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Evidently, Paul understood the same truth .... associating the coming of Christ with the end. When Christ comes, then will come the end of the world. There are no verses that teach that Paul was talking about an entirely different coming. He wasn’t:

1 Cor 15:23-24 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Moses taught that the Lord will come with ten thousands of His saints:

Deut 33:1-2 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

Jude showed that when the Lord comes, His saints will come with Him. Enoch also prophesied the same thing:

Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

Paul said the Lord Jesus Christ will come with ALL His saints .... not a separated agency of SOME of them .... not just ‘his’ converts. But 'mid-Acts-ers’ teach that Christ will come with ONLY those who have been saved by PAUL’s writings, who-they-think are SOLELY the body of Christ. There is no reason to think these saints are another agency. They aren’t:

1 Thess 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (ALL His saints does NOT mean PART of His saints .... it means what it says "ALL His saints.")

1 Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (Saints did "sleep in Jesus" BEFORE PAUL .... see Dan 12:2; Stephen in Acts 7:60, David in Acts 13:36; 1 Cor 11:30, 15:51; the fathers in 2 Pet 3:4)

Jude showed that when the Lord comes with His saints .... He will judge all:

Jude 1:14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

The Psalmist knew that the Lord will judge everyone .... when He comes:

Psa 98:8-9 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Paul taught that when the Lord comes .... it will be the time of judgment. There is no verses that indicate this is a different judgment. It isn’t:

1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

When the Lord comes .... He will come in the clouds:

Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

John records the same information about Christ’s coming .... everyone will see Him coming in/with the clouds:

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Paul also shows that, at the coming of the Lord, in the clouds is where we will meet Him. There is no reason to think that His coming in the clouds that the other prophets prophesied .... is a different coming in the clouds that PAUL prophesied. It isn’t:

1 Thess 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The coming of the Lord will be attended by a trumpet’s sound:

Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels (WHOSE angels? HIS angels! Notice the verse does not identify who will blow the trumpet. It is not the devil’s angels. It is not the devil’s trumpet. They are GOD’s angels .... and it is GOD’s trumpet!) with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Paul also showed the sound of a trumpet:

1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, (Notice again, the verse does not identify who will blow the trumpet.) and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Again, Paul wrote of the trumpet sound that will accompany the Lord’s coming. It is GOD’s trump. There is no reason to think the trump PAUL told us about will be a different trump. It won’t:

1 Thess 4:15-16 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: (Yet again, the verse does not identify who will blow the trumpet.) and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

When the Lord Jesus comes .... His saints will be gathered together:

Matt 3:11-12 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner;
but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Paul also taught that when Jesus comes .... He will BOTH .... burn the ungodly with fire, and be glorified in His saints:

2 Thess 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (the SAME day that He comes with fire on His enemies)

Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Paul also taught that God’s saints will be gathered together .... when the Lord comes. There is no reason to think that THIS gathering is another gathering. It isn’t:

2 Thess 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Not only will it be the SAME gathering ....
but ALL the saints EVERYWHERE .... will be gathered together ‘IN ONE’.

Caiaphas, the high priest, prophesied that Jesus would die for Israel .... and not for Israel only --- but He will gather together ALL the children of God in ONE:

John 11:51-52 And this spake he (Caiaphas - John 11:49) not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Are YOU a child of God?

Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Are you ONE ‘with’ the children of God? I am.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Then in the end of the world (1 Cor 10:11), in the dispensation of the fulness of times .... ALL will be gathered together in ONE in Christ (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-13; Eph 2:16, 3:5, 4:4; Col 3:15). Certainly, ALL the saints that were in heaven .... will be JOINED WITH .... ALL the saints that will be on earth. There is no reason to think that this is another union. It isn’t:

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher makes another coming, another agency, another event, another Jesus, another destiny, another inheritance .... another .... another .... another .... He divides into oblivion, and there is no reason to.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Who Preached the Kingdom of God?

Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God:

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel [euaggelion] of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus understood His message and fulfilled His mission:

Luke 4:43-44 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Jesus’ 12 disciples accompanied Him when He spread the gospel to each locality:

Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings [euaggelizo] of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

Then Jesus’ commissioned His 12 disciples to preach the kingdom of God .... as they had witnessed His preaching:

Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

The old testament went up to John the Baptist, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Isa 40:3, Mal 3:1, Matt 3:1-3, Mark 1:1-3, Luke 1:17, 3:1-6). The gospel of Jesus Christ was for the new testament, because He was the mediator of it (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6, 9:15, 12:24), for all people:

Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the gospel [euaggelion] of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger (John the Baptist) before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Jesus showed where to DIVIDE. (also John 1:17)
John the Baptist concluded the old testament.
The beginning of the new testament was with the gospel of Jesus Christ .... an ‘every man’ opportunity:

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom of God is preached
[euaggelizo],
and every man presseth into it.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus knew the urgency of preaching the kingdom of God,
and told a certain man to forsake a funeral to get on with preaching it:

Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me.
But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead:
but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

During 40 days after His death and resurrection, before He went back up to heaven, Jesus taught more about the kingdom of God:

Acts 1:1-3 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus,
of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Philip preached the kingdom of God:

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection (1 Cor 15:3-4), He appeared to Peter, and the 12, and over 500 brethren at once, and James, and all the apostles, and Paul (1 Cor 15:5-8) .... who all preached (1 Cor 15:11) the gospel by which you are saved (1 Cor 15:2).

Paul and Barnabas both preached the kingdom of God all over many places:

Acts 14:19-22 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the gospel [euaggelizo] to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples,
and exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Paul preached the kingdom of God at Ephesus:

Acts 19:8 And he (Paul - Acts 19:6) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Paul spent all day long .... preaching the kingdom of God .... for 2 entire years .... when he was confined to house arrest .... before he was executed for Christ’s sake:

Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging;
to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God,
and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Jesus preached the kingdom of God, the 12 apostles did, Philip did, Paul did, Barnabas did. Paul was thankful for his helpers in the minstry .... as he preached the kingdom of God:

Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

Paul also wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 6:9-10, 15:50) and the Galatians (Gal 5:21) about the kingdom of God. He encouraged the Thessalonians in their patience and faith in all their persecutions and tribulations that they endured (2 Thess 1:4) for the kingdom of God’s sake:

2 Thess 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

What’s it worth .... to preach the kingdom of God?
It will surely bring loss and suffering .... in this life.
But the eternal rewards .... in the next:

Luke 18:29-30 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time,
and in the world to come life everlasting.

Would YOU preach the kingdom of God? ‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ don’t. I didn’t either when I was one of them.
But now, I will charge with Paul:

1 Thess 2:11-12 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Where Are the Showers of Blessing?

A ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensational’ preacher just this past Sunday made a typical division between Israel’s earthly blessings from the sermon on the mount .... and .... blessings in the heavenly places for what-he-calls the body of Christ (meaning only saints that are saved through Paul’s ministry).
He contrasted:

Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Since that’s the paradigm he created and wanted you to see, those are the chosen verses he compared. But there are some other verses you need in order to make an informed decision on whether you buy his wares or not.
Consider this. The promise of earthly inheritance for the meek is an old one. Jesus brought it forward from Psa 37:11.

Psa 37:7-13 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off:
but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth;
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The theme of that passage has to do with the righteous waiting patiently for the Lord to come and bring their inheritance .... as well as get His revenge on the wicked. Notice how similar the situation is in Paul’s day. Those are the very same issues that Paul taught:

2 Thess 1:4-10 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us,
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (not just ‘some’ of the saints .... but ALL who believe) (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

It is as it has always been. The wicked torment the righteous:

2 Tim 3:12-13 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (also James 5:1-9)

There will be a payday someday .... when Jesus appears and sets up His kingdom. (FYI, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach that those are divided events --- that Jesus will appear 7 + ?# years before He comes again to establish His kingdom on earth --- but there is no indication of that in the verse):

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (also Acts 10:42, 17:31, 1 Pet 4:5, Heb 9:27)

Yes, the culmination will come .... when the Lord comes .... at the last trump (1 Cor 15:52). That is when the righteous will get rewarded and the wicked will be destroyed:

Rev 11:15,18 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great;
and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

At the onset of Paul’s commission from the Lord, Jesus told him that he would be used to tell the Gentiles they will share in Israel’s inheritance .... as fellow-heirs (Eph 3:6):

Acts 26:16-18 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 20:32 says "to give you an inheritance among ALL them which are sanctified.")

The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher did not mention Jesus’ instructions .... continuing in the sermon on the mount .... to store up true wealth in heaven’s depository. The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher’s teaching about ‘only Paul’ and ‘only heavenly blessings’ for ‘only the body of Christ’ .... does not match Jesus’ words:

Matt 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Neither did the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher say anything about the heavenly promise in PETER’s epistle .... because it does not fit his paradigm of division -- instead of UNITY -- among God’s saints:

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

The ‘mid-Acts’ preacher makes separate believers and forces different inheritances on earth and in heaven .... but Jesus did not do that, and neither should we:

Matt 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Where are the showers of blessings? This is the promise of love.
They are laid up in heaven until the end of the world. Then Jesus will bring them with Him when He comes with ALL His saints (1 Thess 3:13):

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Set for the Defence of the Chart?

Just this past Sunday, a ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalist’ preacher defended his chart.
He said, "A chart is a map. You better get a chart." Well, I used that chart for years, and I found out it was wrong, so I threw it away.

The authority is in GOD’s word. The scripture alone has perfect validity.
There is where I place my firm support .... not in a man, not in a school, not in a chart:

Phil 1:3-7 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (1 Cor 1:8, 5:5; 2 Cor 1:14; Phil 1:10, 2:16; 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Pet 3:10,12)
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence [apologia] and confirmation of the gospel,
ye all are partakers of my grace.

I’m not in chains like Paul .... but I hope others will be encouraged, exhorted, and convinced (Titus 1:9) from my studies of sound doctrine in the power of the verses:

Phil 1:12-18 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife;
and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that
I am set for the defence [apologia] of the gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

A proper defense is a reasoned statement or argument.
It is a good answer made with a humble, clear head, like Peter said:

1 Peter 3:15-16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer [apologia] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

I’m willing and prepared to talk about what I now believe. Those who think I’m doing evil should be embarrassed .... for insulting the scriptures .... that I am pointing out .... that they have avoided or divided away.

Defend the chart? Not me! Not anymore!
With Paul and Peter, I am set for the defense of the gospel and the hope that is in me!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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The Word of the Lord?

It is frequently taught by a ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalist’
that the phrase "by the word of the Lord" (in 1 Thess 4:15) means that
‘this information is part of Paul’s SPECIAL revelation,
uniquely for (what-he-calls) the mystery program,
only for (what-he-calls) the body of Christ
(which-he-thinks is only people who have been saved by what-he-thinks is Paul’s DISTINCT gospel).’

He said when Paul said, "by the word of the Lord" that meant is was not in (what-he-calls) the "prophecy program" but in (what-he-calls) the "mystery program".

We will briefly examine his ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine:

1 Thess 4:15-17 For this we say unto you
by the word [logos] of the Lord [kurios],
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

A ‘mid-Acts’ preacher makes a mess with that phrase "by the word of the Lord" because of his paradigm (Yeah! Now I spelled it correctly!) that Paul had a ‘secret pre-tribulation rapture’ given only to him by the ‘risen, glorified’ Lord Jesus (Who-he-thinks is ‘another Jesus’ from ‘the earthly Jesus’ based on 2 Cor 11:4, which is another issue where he is wrong).

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Both the phrases "the word" (singular) and "the words" (plural)
are the same Greek word [logos].

When Paul was in Ephesus, he taught freely and confidently for 3 months in the assembly meeting-place of Jews, that eventually allowed Gentile Christians .... reasoning with people and convincing some to believe and preaching about (What?!?) the kingdom of God.

Acts 19:8-10 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing (conversing, arguing, discussing) daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word [logos] of the Lord [kurios] Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Do you think that Jesus gave Paul a ‘special revelation’ just for the Asians?

Let’s try the phrase "the word of the Lord" again in another passage.

Paul told the Ephesian elders not to forget the words of the Lord Jesus:

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words [logos] of the Lord [kurios] Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Do you suppose that Jesus only said those words to Paul?

That is the application of ‘mid-Acts’ teaching on that "the word/words of the Lord" phrase.

Could He possibly have said them during His earthly ministry?
Oh no, that was part of the ‘special revelation’ Jesus gave only to Paul.

According to Peter, the word of the Lord is eternal:

1 Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ think Paul had the corner on the word of the Lord.
But he didn’t.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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What's LOVE Got To Do With It?

According to the scriptures, it all hangs on love.

A scribe was a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred wirtings, an interpreter, a teacher. Scribes examined difficult and subtle questions of the law, and were enrolled in the Sanhedrin, being mentioned in connection with the priests and elders. A scribe questioned the Master about the first commandment. Jesus answered with both the first and second commandments .... both about love .... first for God; second for others:

Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:
for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him,
Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.
And no man after that durst ask him any question.

All the law and the prophets are summed up and suspended upon just two commandments:

Matt 22:34-40 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ don’t like for Paul to mention the law in a ‘working’ manner .... yet he did. 'Mid-Acts-ers' need to look at what Paul said about 'US .... fulfilling the law'. The law hangs on love:

Rom 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another:
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour:
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Being free from the law does not mean that we disregard it. The law hangs on love:

Gal 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

John understood this issue, too. Believers in Christ love each other:

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

This is what Paul said that GOD teaches:

1 Thess 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

We love God, and we love others. That is not a problem for believers:

1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous.

Our heart will not condemn us and we will have confidence toward God (1 John 3:20-21) and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (1 John 2:28).
We will not feel guilty when we live and love like this:

Rom 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

What's LOVE got to do with it? LOVE has everything to do with it!

Read Luke 10:25-37 about a certain Samaritan, who had mercy on a man who fell among the thieves that robbed him, stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and left him half dead.

Love God and love your neighbor. Hang on to love!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Like Us .... Like Him

Jesus the Messiah, the Christ (John 1:41, 4:25) .... came to the earth as flesh, like us .... and lived with us:

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus was partaker of flesh and blood, like us. He was made like us:

Heb 2:14-18 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (to help, to bring aid) them that are tempted.

Jesus understands our weaknesses and temptations .... but when He experienced them (also see 2 Cor 13:4) like us, He never yeilded to them:

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

God designed for His Son to have a body like us, and die for us. By His death, to sanctify us (also see Rom 8:15-16; 1 Cor 6:11; Heb 2:11, 13:12), He dissolved the old testament, and set up the new testament, of which we are able ministers (2 Cor 3:6):

Heb 10:5-10 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.
He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus came into the world through a virgin woman ....
to deliver out from the old covenant and bring in the new covenant:

Gal 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Jesus became like us as a servant to others. He willingly laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16), and endured shameful crucifixion (Heb 12:2):

Phil 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus became like us .... so that when He appears from heaven .... we will be changed (1 Cor 15:51-54) and glorified (Rom 8:17,30; 2 Thess 1:10-12) .... like Him:

Phil 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

John said basically the same thing as Paul said (John 1:12; Rom 8:14, 19; Phil 2:15-16; Gal 4:6):

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ refuse to see the continunity between Paul and John .... but we just read verses where they describe the same event. The saints will receive glorified bodies .... of flesh and bones .... like Jesus had after He was risen from the dead:

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

How gracious! He became like us .... that we may become like Him:

2 Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

"Oh! To be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer!"

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

The Gospel Paul Preached

We are established by the gospel that Paul preached:

Rom 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel,
and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest,
and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

What gospel did Paul preach?

Just in Romans alone, the gospel that Paul was “separated unto” .... is called by 6 different names .... but obviously, he did not preach 6 distinct gospels:

“the gospel of God” (Rom 1:1, 15:16)
“the gospel of His Son” (Rom 1:9)
“the gospel of Christ” (Rom 1:16, 15:19, 29)
“the gospel of peace” (Rom 10:15)
“the gospel” (Rom 1:15, 10:16, 11:28, 15:20)
“my gospel” (Rom 2:16, 16:25).

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different commission .... that he was separated FROM (like, ‘away from’) all God’s other servants and apostles .... but that is NOT what the scripture says. The verses tell us what Paul was appointed UNTO, like being set apart for a purpose .... the gospel of God:

Rom 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God,

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different ‘mystery-message’ .... that none of the other apostles had .... but that is NOT what the Bible says. The scripture tells us that the gospel which Paul was separated unto .... was actually promised already by the prophets before him:

Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore
by his prophets
in the holy scriptures,)

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different calling .... by the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ .... not the ‘earthly Jesus’ (Who they teach was ‘another Jesus’ from 2 Cor 11:4). But that is NOT what the scripture says. The verses tell us that the gospel of God .... that Paul was separated unto .... that was promised before by the prophetic writings .... was about ‘earthly’ Jesus .... Who came in the flesh .... through the lineage of David (Luke 2:4):

Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different gospel .... about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:3-4) as GOOD news .... and that the other apostles ‘preached the cross’ as BAD news. But there are NO VERSES that say that any of the apostles taught the cross as ‘bad news’ .... even though they charged the men of Israel for killing the Prince of Life (Acts 3:12-15). Identifying the guilty parties that were responsible for Christ’s death .... is not the same as preaching the cross as ‘bad news’.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God (also see Matt 3:17, 17:5; 2 Pet 1:17-18) with power,
according to the spirit of holiness,
by the resurrection from the dead: (also see Acts 17:30-32)

The verses tell us that Peter also rejoiced in Christ’s death and resurrection .... knowing the hope it brought .... and he encouraged others to rejoice as well:

1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a ‘special truth’ .... that his apostleship was for all nations .... which, they say, was different from the other apostles, who they say were only for Israel (Matt 10:6). But that is NOT what the scripture says. While it is true that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13) .... Paul was not the only one who went to them. In fact, God chose Peter to actually GO (Acts 15:7-11, Acts 10) before Paul went.

Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship,
for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

The verses tell us that the other apostles were also sent out by the ‘risen Christ’ to go to all nations:

Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that the other apostles, given the power by Christ to bind or loose (Matt 18:18) .... actually loosed themselves from ‘the great commission’ to confine their ministry only to Israel.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different calling .... and that people who were saved under his ministry (2 Thess 2:14) had a different calling and destiny. But that is NOT what the scripture says. Peter also wrote of the believers ‘calling’ (1 Pet 1:15, 2:9, 2:21).

Rom 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different group of saints .... unrelated to any saints ‘before him’ .... or ‘after him’. They say that the saints of Paul’s ministry are divided from all other saints. But that is NOT what the scripture says. We are fellowcitizens with the saints (Eph 2:19).

Rom 1:7-a To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that Paul had a different ministry .... God’s official declaration of "grace and peace" starting ALL his epistles .... but the scripture says that Peter also sent "grace and peace" in ALL of his epistles, too (1 Pet 1:2, 2 Pet 1:2).

Rom 1:7-b Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach a lot of ‘different’ things. They make a lot of things ‘different’. They have books about ‘things that are different.’ But they FAIL to see the UNITY with God’s word, His gospel, and His saints.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

The Preaching of Jesus Christ According to the Revelation of the Mystery

For the last two thoughts we’ve seen Paul’s writings repeat many prophecies that were spoken since the world began (Acts 3:21).
Now let’s think about what was kept secret .... but is now made known:

Rom 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to stablish you
according to my gospel,
and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest,
and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

What is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery?

The mystery had to do with many points, as we will see.

Jesus is the mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).
He is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb 8:6).
He is the mediator of the new testament (Heb 9:15) ....
of which we are able ministers (2 Cor 3:6).
He is the mediator of the new covenant (Heb 12:24) ....

Jesus is the mediator
Who made peace by His death
so that we have peace with God (Rom 5:1) ....
and in order to bring what sin had destroyed, back into a state of harmony and friendship with God:

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,
by him to reconcile all things unto himself;
by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... Jesus, the mediator,
Who made peace between Israel and the Gentiles (Eph 2:11-17):

Col 1:22-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with ....
Paul spreading this good news .... of the gospel of Christ (the gospel of peace) .... to everybody:

Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,
and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Paul .... told the saints and the faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1) to stand, having the gospel of peace (also see Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;) .... just as those preachers before him did .... all along .... even back in the days of Isaiah (Isa 52:7) and Nahum (Nah 1:15) .... according to Paul .... AND .... according to PROPHECY (the prophetic writings):

Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Obedience to the gospel .... is equated to belief of the gospel ....
according to Paul .... AND .... according to PROPHECY (the prophetic writings):

Rom 10:16-17 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This good news of the gospel spread everywhere .... all over the world:

Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Jesus sent His apostles to start in Jerusalem and branch out all over the place preaching His death and resurrection .... according to the scriptures:

Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.

But in ‘due time’ (1 Tim 2:6), Jesus told Paul to get out of Jerusalem, because although Israel had the first opportunity (Rom 1:16, Act 13:26), they didn’t believe (John 1:11, Acts 13:41-42):

Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the church being identified as ‘the body of Christ’:

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the stewardship that God committed to Paul .... to complete the scriptures:

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

The Greek word used is [apokrupto, or apokrypto] (as being buried in a ‘crypt’ or vault), meaning ‘concealed, kept secret, hidden from sight’. ‘Cryptic’ messages are ‘mysterious, puzzling, obscure, vague’.

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid (Greek [apokrypto] from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... God’s hidden wisdom .... of salvation for the world through the death of His Son:

1 Cor 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (also see Eph 1:4, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 1:2, 1 Pet 1:18-21)
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (also see Prov 1:20-33)

Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29), dwelt among men (John 1:14), but they did not even know Him (John 8:19), Who is wisdom (1 Cor 1:30):

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Jesus surprised the woman of Samaria (John 4:9) and His disciples (John 4:27) that He even talked to her .... (John 4:4-39). At first she did not know Him:

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

But after He talked with her awhile, she believed, and when she left Him, she told many of the Samaritians, who also believed on Messias, which is called Christ (John 4:25):

John 4:40-42 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery also had to do with .... the unheard of equality of the Gentiles with the Jews .... that God would also live in them:

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (also see 1 Cor 3:16-19, 2 Cor 6:16)

Paul worked harder than anybody (1 Cor 15:10) to get this message out to the masses:

Col 1:28-29 Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Paul took the gospel (the gospel of Christ) to nations who had no foundation .... no knowledge of Christ. Paul did this .... according to PROPHECY .... that Gentiles who had never heard of Christ, would see and understand:

Rom 15:19-21 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum,
I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel,
not where Christ was named,
lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written,
To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see:
and they that have not heard shall understand.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ avoid Paul’s use of the old testament scriptures and prophecy .... because they isolate Paul from everyone else in the Bible. They constantly refer to the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery .... but they do not understand it.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.