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What Can We Know About God Without Using the Bible?
AUTHOR
Greg Koukl
PUBLISHED ON
12/11/2023
PHILOSOPHY
What Can We Know about God without Using the Bible?
Greg and Amy discuss how, even apart from the Bible, we can know some of God’s attributes by observing his creation.
Transcript
Question: How do you show what attributes God has without using the Bible?
Greg: The way Paul puts it in Romans 1:19–20 is, “That which is known about God is evident within them.” That’s interesting because he’s talking about an internal witness in that phrase—“for God made it evident to them.” He’s talking about the fact that the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
If you think about the origin of the universe, it has to be from an unmoved mover—to use the Aristotelian characterization—one that himself was not created, or else you fall into an infinite regress. Who created him? Who created him? Who created him? Sooner or later, you have to have a starting point of a being with aseity that is self-existent and eternal by nature. That’s the only place you can go when you think about it. The universe is contingent. There has to be some non-contingent being who is the best explanation for the universe. That’s another form of the cosmological argument—Leibniz’s contingency argument.
You could be an ancient and still reason that way. An eternal being that is really powerful has to be responsible for the universe that we see. That’s one thing. This being is not just powerful, but smart. Look at the nature of the universe. Look at the intricacy. Look at the design features. And he has to be creative, and I don’t mean creative just in the sense of causing something to come from nothing—that would be the classic sense of creating something—but creative in the aesthetic sense. Just look at any critter. Stand in your front yard and look around. My wife and I were sitting at the bench in our front yard the other evening, and there were little brown bats flying around in front. Wow! They’re great. These are mammals that fly. Not birds that fly. Mammals that fly, catching insects that fly. Flight is not easy to accomplish, and all of these fly through different means. Basic aerodynamics are in place, but they have different ways of being mechanized to accomplish that. And what are the bats doing? They’re eating these flying insects. Like what? Like mosquitoes. Did you ever try to catch a mosquito? That’s not easy. They’re flying around midair, catching them in their mouth and zooming here and there. How do they do that? Echolocation. Amazing! Unbelievable! That’s creative.
I was looking at our milkweed pants in our front yard, and there’s the monarch butterfly caterpillars eating, eating, eating. They can’t see anything. They don’t have eyes, but they eat the plant that they were laid on. When the plant is gone, they go find another. And how do they do that? Then they find a bush or a tree to pupate in. How do they do that? They know how to do it without eyes. And then they pupate, which means they turn to mush and then come out a flying thing. Go figure. That is pretty cool.
So, these are design qualities that we can observe in nature, and, from that, we properly infer the intelligence and creativity, now, in the aesthetic sense, of a creative—and powerful—being. There are lots of things that one can infer in what might be called natural theology about the character of God. By the way, Paul, in Romans 1, says people are held responsible for that. What about those who have never heard about Jesus? Well, maybe they’ve never heard about Jesus, but they’ve all heard about the Father. That’s his point. And if they hear about the Father and reject the Father by suppressing the truth in unrighteousness, why does the Father have any obligation to give them more information about his Son? Because, as Jesus said, “If you reject the Son, you reject the Father who sent me.” If they’re already rejecting the Father, they’re not going to accept the Son whom he sent.
Amy: Just to add a couple more things to your list, there, Greg, we know he cares about beauty. We know that he’s rational because everything is orderly. So, even beyond being creative, you know, he’s beautiful. He’s rational. And, also, I think it also indicates that he is a person—that he’s an agent, because if he were just a force of some kind, there would be no explanation for a beginning of creation. He has to initiate the beginning of creation.
Greg: That’s a real important point. There are two types of causes. I’m going to get a little philosophical here, but it’s not difficult. They’re called agent causation and event causation. Now, event causation, we know about. It’s like dominoes falling, and that’s why science works. Because, if you set the dominoes up the same way every time, they will always fall the same way according to natural law. It’s entailed in the concept of experimental repeatability and the scientific method. That’s event causation. But, notice, somebody has to set the dominoes up and has to flick the first domino so that they all fall in this orderly succession. Well, the one that flicks the first domino and initiates the causal chain is called an agent. It’s someone who is a person who is capable of starting something happening.
If there is no starter, and things are happening, that means the happenings fade back into eternity, which turns out to be impossible because you can’t accomplish an actual Infinity of events by adding one to another. You can’t count to infinity. You keep counting, and you’re always going to have a number. Therefore, there had to be an initiation, and our uniform experience is that agents are initiators, not events. They’re prime movers. You could have a couple of events being influenced. Say, for example, an earthquake happened, and then that shook the first domino, and then the domino started falling. If you’re using that as an illustration, well, that is a physical event that caused the next physical event, but eventually, you’re going to have to go back to some event that caused motion to begin with. This is one of Aquinas’s arguments for God. Who starts the motion? So, that God needs to be a personal agent is obvious from the nature of cause and effect in the universe.
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We Must Learn to Love
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“YOU MUST LEARN LOVE” NITA JOHNSON
July 5, 2020
by Nita Johnson
“YOU MUST LEARN LOVE”
By
Nita Johnson
Seattle
February 2017
I would like to talk with you about a very important subject: Love. This is what He is after. There is no higher blessing, no higher calling, and no higher gift appropriated than to become a true Christian. Someone might say, “Wait a minute. What do you mean by a true Christian?” There are those who get saved, and they never let their carnality go. That is not what it means to be a true Christian. God is looking for integrity. O God. I just saw a vision. He is looking for a heart that is aglow with the Spirit of God.
May I tell you what I think one of the greatest sins is in people who walk the face of the earth in Christ? It is one word: self. The life of self. How in the world do you get away from that sin? Paul saw it so deeply. He was in such a fettered state, he did not know what to do with himself. He realized that at the core of it all was the most ugly thing he had ever seen; self. But one of the most beautiful things that God looks upon is a heart aglow with His Spirit.
1 Cor 13:1-3 Amp. If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.
Aren’t those words strong? They are so powerful. It is the conviction of the wrong, and a tremendous invitation for the right. So many in the Church lust after prophetic powers, and I do not think that is wrong. It has its place, but the highest is love.
1 Cor 13:4-8 Amp. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
Isn’t the phrase “superseded by truth” wonderful? I like that.
1 Cor 13:9-13 Amp. For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 14:1 Amp. Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).
Eagerly pursue love. It is not a sin to desire to be used in the gifts. God has given them to us for our use to minister to and to bless others. He wants us to desire the gifts. Most of all, desire prophecy because prophecy opens up the things of the kingdom. But above prophecy is love.
All week, the Lord has been speaking to me about love. We are coming into a time in our nation when our nation needs to see love from the Church. Do you know that every human being has been given a measure of faith? The Bible tells us that, doesn’t it, in Romans 12:3. Every human being has also been given a measure of love. Everyone. When someone says, “I can’t love you,” they are making a choice to give the devil something that God already gave them. They are making a choice to give up love—the very gift that God gave them—and to place it into the hands of the devil.
We have to come to a place where our zealous desire is love. We have to recognize it, see it, and chase after it. Do you know that you cannot have the deep things of God without love? It is the one thing that will prohibit your ascension in God if you do not have it. So this Christian walk must be exercised to seek after and pursue the greatest gift of all, and that is love. We must pursue love for God, and love for our fellow man. John said:
1 John 4:20 Amp. If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detest, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.
So here we are standing at this edifice that we have created in our hearts, and we are called to make a decision every day: will we learn love? God has put someone in your life to teach you love. Who is that person? He has put someone in your life to teach you how to overcome self. Who is that person whom we really do not want to love? It amazes me as a minister to talk to someone who wants to be in the ministry. I say to them, “You need to learn how to love this person.” They say, “No,” and they walk away believing that they can fulfill their call with stubbornness in their heart. They will not learn love if it is inconvenient, but they want to be a servant of God. This is amazing to me. How can someone want to be a minister and not want to exercise the gift that made Christ so great? Love must be supreme.
Can I tell you why people do not want to love? It is going to shock you, I think. If I do not want to love, it is because I love gold more than God. If I refuse to humble myself that His love may be released through me, it is because I have chosen the things of this earth over God.
May I tell you that passions have colors in the Spirit realm. They also have a smell or a fragrance in the realm of the Spirit. If you choose a virtue, then the colors and the smells are fragrant. Those colors are similar to the pastels of the rainbow. If you choose negative passions such as jealousy, anger, resentment, or to be critical of someone rather than love, the colors you emit are not brilliant, but they are colors with gray or a soot-like color mixed in with them. Instead of a pure, luminous green, the green appears more like a grayish green. It is very unattractive. Do you know who sees these colors? The Spirit realm. So if you are saying nothing, but you are fuming inside, what color are you emitting? You are emitting colors from darkness. The Spirit world sees those colors, and they are drawn to them.
You also emit smells into the Spirit realm. For instance, fear has its own smell. Anger has its own smell. Lust and covetousness each have smells. They are smells from hell. May I just be blunt? The Spirit realm smells those odors. They see the color, they smell the odor, and the evil spirits are drawn. That is why sometimes you can get in an argument with someone, and you are just a little angry, but within minutes you feel like you are going to explode with rage. It is because you have been visited by many evil spirits that have been drawn to you through these colors and these smells.
There are also spirits that watch you, called watchers. They watch your every move. They watch your eyes. The eyes are the windows of the soul. If the spirits, for example, are trying to get you to commit adultery, they will stage things in your life to get you into a rebellious state. Then they watch to see what you will do with it. If you are a man, and you and your wife have a fight, they will send thoughts through your mind and watch to see how you respond. They look to see if there is a time when you will seriously, even for a moment, think about adultery. The minute they see that glimmer—even if it only lasts for thirty seconds—they know where your weakness is. They will begin to take advantage of it until they finally get you to fall for adultery. This is true for male or female. If you have a weakness in the area of money, and you take money that does not belong to you—maybe twenty cents here, thirty cents there, a dollar, or ten dollars—they watch. They observe what makes you do it, when do you do it, and how do you do it. They look at how long you might contemplate doing it before you do it. Then they begin to set up circumstances until they have you stealing more and more. They are called watchers.
Why am I telling you this? Because the evil kingdom does not want you loving. If you love, you overcome. If you do not love, you are overcome. They do not want a Church who will fight to overcome in love. They will try to stop you from loving with all they have because they get in big trouble if they do not prevail.
Everything that comes into your life—both good and bad—is put there as a brick of decision. Will I choose Christ, or will I choose self? If you choose Christ, you will fight for love. If you choose self, then you will fight for self.
Now we are coming into a time and a season in the body of Christ and in America where you really want to walk in love because in love is the strength of grace. In grace is the power to overcome all things. Choosing to love will give you grace, strength, and spiritual virtue. Virtue, in turn, will give you spiritual stamina. God will let you endure many trials in life if you have the noble hunger to know Christ. Why? Because in the trials, He develops love if you will let Him. If you will not, you will not know the deep things of God because love is the only thing that is strong enough to carry them.
In the bosom of love you will find the seed of humility. This is a very high and noble thing in the eyes of God. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) How can you walk with Christ unless you agree with Him? If you do not love with the love of Christ, you are not agreeing with Him. His formative and powerful love will lead you into places you cannot go by yourself. Without love, you will not even recognize them as God’s paths.
Love is a force. Do you want to know how to change a man’s heart? Love him. Do you want to know how to change a sister’s heart? Love her. Do not preach at them. Let your actions of virtue do the talking. Let your actions of humility do the walking, and the message will come home.
About thirty years ago, I went to a service, and the person who was preaching called me out of the audience. He said to me, “I see a clock, and I see a pair of hands that are tearing the clock apart until they have all the parts laid out on the table. Then the hands pick up the clock and start looking at every part.” He exclaimed, “That’s what you do with God! You seem to need to understand every part of Him.” I started crying because it was so true. Then he said, “I see another thing about you. You have determined in your heart, for whatever reason, that you are going to learn the love of Christ before you go home to heaven. You are going to learn how to walk in the love of Christ. Because of that, the enemy has asked to sift you to try to stop your ascent in love.” He paused for a moment, and then he said, “But you’re going to win. It is because you have really determined to do that.”
So the enemy knows who is really willing to make the choice. But God limits the enemy’s intrusion to that for which He has given you the grace to overcome. Nothing can enter into your life that Jesus has not approved. He has to approve it before He will allow it. Most will never make it even halfway up the mountain because they will not take responsibility for their behavior. They always want to blame it on someone else. I hurt when people make those kinds of decisions because no one wins. Most of all, the Lord cannot win.
He says that the most important thing is what—praying in tongues? Being a martyr? He says the most important thing of all is love. Every time that you are challenged by the person or the situation that God has placed in your life, He has done it. Jesus has done it. Is there someone that you do not like in your life? I want you to know that Jesus has placed them there. Is there a circumstance that you do not like in your life? Jesus allowed that to come to you because He wants to build in you the integrity of love. He wants to do that to make you a shining example of Christ in the earth. He wants you to become the glory and the representative beauty of His grace. Isn’t that exciting?
Many years ago, my brother went home to be with the Lord at about sixteen years of age. He was in a terrible car accident and was killed instantly. Before he went home to be with the Lord, he had a tumor on the pituitary gland and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. This was many years ago, and at that time, that type of surgery left the patient with many afflictions as side effects of the surgery. The tumor would have to cause so many problems that it would warrant what you would end up with to remove it. So my brother suffered with many maladies as a result of that surgery. For example, in Michigan, where we grew up, it is very hot and humid in the summer. It can be miserable. My brother had no sweat glands, and if the temperature rose above seventy-five degrees, he had to sit in a tub of water. I could go on and on because the effects of this surgery left him in complete physical misery. But Kenny was so kind to everyone. The tumor had caused him to stay very small and also very temperamental. To correct this, he was given hormones so that he would grow. The hormones caused more problems, one of which was obesity. He became obese and tall. People made fun of him all of the time because of his weight. But his kindness would always win them over. When he died, his funeral was the largest funeral in the history of the city of Pontiac. Kenny had loved so completely with such kindness that he had learned Christ.
After he was taken in the automobile accident, I asked the Lord, “Why did You take him so young? We hardly got to know him.” His answer was very simple: “He learned Christ at a very young age.” All of his sufferings had created the image of Christ. Everyone knew it, and everyone loved it.
Our trials are allowed or given for the purpose of creating Christ within. If we cooperate, Christ will be created within. If we feel sorry for ourselves and do not cooperate, we will become ugly, cantankerous, and constantly challenging. You just become someone that no one likes. But moreover, you will become something that Jesus does not like, and that is the worst of all. Jesus wants to love you; He wants to teach you how to love. May I be very honest with you? We are going through a time when every fiber in you is going to be touched and stretched. You do not have to look to money to survive it because that is not the answer. The Lord spoke to me many years ago. He said that the ones to whom He will look to save and uphold in this difficult time will be those who have developed the virtues of Christ. The reason for this is because if you have not learned the virtues, you need to learn them. He will let you struggle until you pull away from all of the negative forces in your character and in your personality that have held you back from Jesus. Amen?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how we love You. We love the way You are. We do not want to be a clanging gong or a worthless nobody in the Church. We look to certain things that we do, or certain things that we give, and somehow we think we are going to buy your favor, but our character is in a serious condition. We see a little bunny, and our heart is pulled within us to touch, to pet, to cuddle, and to love it. Yet there are people in our world whom we do not want to love. We stubbornly cling to our pride and will not learn the way of Christ. How many there are in Your body, Lord, that love animals but do not like people. When we arrive home, You will congratulate us for our love for animals, but the crown which we would have received for loving people will be withheld.
When we look at what You have done for us, Lord, it calls out of us the most noble sacrifice of loving the unlovable. We stand at the foot of the cross, and we see how You suffered for us when we were estranged from You. We did not love or desire You. It calls out of us nobility, greatness, and excellence in Christian virtue. Lord Jesus, when someone hurts us, we are called to think about their need more than our own and to love and pray that You will do what is needed for them. Hate is a force; love is a force. A critical spirit is a force; a generous spirit is a force. Teach us to walk in those things that speak most about Christ.
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord, I come to You. Teach me how to love, Lord. Teach me to walk with You. Nothing I have is mine; all things are Yours. Call me to come and love. Call me to be one with You.
Lord, let Your Spirit touch our hearts and deal with them. Help us not to hold on. Help us not to let pride harden our hearts, Lord. Help us to look at ourselves squarely. Am I like Him? If I am not like Him, where do I lack? What is it I need? What must be changed? What must I repent of, Lord? Show me those things that weaken me in Christian virtues.
Open your heart before God. Let’s be really honest. Help us to be broken before You, Lord, for there is nothing more beautiful than a heart that is broken and contrite over sin. Lord, there are some that have been deeply hurt, and they need Your grace to forgive. Help them, Jesus, to lay that person on the altar and to choose love. Let Your conviction flow, Lord, like honey upon our hearts. Give us faith, hope, and love so that we can overcome. We want to be strong in the days ahead, Lord. Let love become the foundation of our ways. Help us to repent of pride, jealousy, bitterness, a critical spirit, stubbornness, resentfulness, and unforgiveness. Help us to repent of this thing that says, “I will not love my sister or my brother.” Help us to let go of this thing that refuses to reconcile and to instead choose forgiveness. We will be healed when we quit judging, Lord, and we take responsibility for our behavior.
You are the very essence of love, Lord, the very beauty of love personified. You are our example of love. It is possible because in You, all things are possible. Give us strength to do what is right. Lord, we need grace and humility. We need that part in You that enables us to stand with the nobility of love in the face of the one who challenges us. Help us to see, Lord, that at times we can be so self-centered that we cannot see the forest for the trees. We need the grace of love for the sake of compassion and mercy. Help us to overcome this mountain of self and to choose the beauty and the humility of Christ. Help us to choose love.
I will never forget the day that Jacob met Esau, his archenemy. He said to him, “My brother, to see your face is as if I had seen the face of God.” (Gen 33:10) Jacob had come full circle, Lord. He went through years of much suffering, being cheated and swindled. Everything he had done to Esau was done to him until he could come to a place of saying to his brother and his worst enemy, “Seeing you is like seeing the face of God.” Help us, Lord. Help us to understand Christ. Help us to embrace You and Your beauty. Help us to forgive. In His precious name. Amen.
God is love. Will we be love? What makes Jesus so beautiful? Is it not His love? To be loved by Him—isn’t that what we desire in Him more than anything? What He desires more than anything is to let you know experientially His love. He wants you to know the way He sees and the way He feels.
Jesus, You are love. I see a vision of a red rose. It started out as a rose bud, and then its petals began to unfold. As the petals opened and curled back, it became gold. The Bible says that the words of the Lord are tried and purified seven times over. (Ps 12:6) I think His love is also tried. He is looking to bring you forth as pure gold. There is a beautiful passage in Job:
Job 23:10 Amp. But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].
He is looking for the roses that He can bring forth pure and luminous. Praise the Lord.
Father, I release each one who is reading this into Your care. I pray that You will give them victory in all areas concerning their soul and that they may in this lifetime walk as Christ walked. In Your precious name, heal them. Let them feel the joy of their salvation. We love You, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.
In His Love,
Nita Johnson
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“YOU MUST LEARN LOVE” NITA JOHNSON
July 5, 2020
by Nita Johnson
“YOU MUST LEARN LOVE”
By
Nita Johnson
Seattle
February 2017
I would like to talk with you about a very important subject: Love. This is what He is after. There is no higher blessing, no higher calling, and no higher gift appropriated than to become a true Christian. Someone might say, “Wait a minute. What do you mean by a true Christian?” There are those who get saved, and they never let their carnality go. That is not what it means to be a true Christian. God is looking for integrity. O God. I just saw a vision. He is looking for a heart that is aglow with the Spirit of God.
May I tell you what I think one of the greatest sins is in people who walk the face of the earth in Christ? It is one word: self. The life of self. How in the world do you get away from that sin? Paul saw it so deeply. He was in such a fettered state, he did not know what to do with himself. He realized that at the core of it all was the most ugly thing he had ever seen; self. But one of the most beautiful things that God looks upon is a heart aglow with His Spirit.
1 Cor 13:1-3 Amp. If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.
Aren’t those words strong? They are so powerful. It is the conviction of the wrong, and a tremendous invitation for the right. So many in the Church lust after prophetic powers, and I do not think that is wrong. It has its place, but the highest is love.
1 Cor 13:4-8 Amp. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
Isn’t the phrase “superseded by truth” wonderful? I like that.
1 Cor 13:9-13 Amp. For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 14:1 Amp. Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).
Eagerly pursue love. It is not a sin to desire to be used in the gifts. God has given them to us for our use to minister to and to bless others. He wants us to desire the gifts. Most of all, desire prophecy because prophecy opens up the things of the kingdom. But above prophecy is love.
All week, the Lord has been speaking to me about love. We are coming into a time in our nation when our nation needs to see love from the Church. Do you know that every human being has been given a measure of faith? The Bible tells us that, doesn’t it, in Romans 12:3. Every human being has also been given a measure of love. Everyone. When someone says, “I can’t love you,” they are making a choice to give the devil something that God already gave them. They are making a choice to give up love—the very gift that God gave them—and to place it into the hands of the devil.
We have to come to a place where our zealous desire is love. We have to recognize it, see it, and chase after it. Do you know that you cannot have the deep things of God without love? It is the one thing that will prohibit your ascension in God if you do not have it. So this Christian walk must be exercised to seek after and pursue the greatest gift of all, and that is love. We must pursue love for God, and love for our fellow man. John said:
1 John 4:20 Amp. If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detest, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.
So here we are standing at this edifice that we have created in our hearts, and we are called to make a decision every day: will we learn love? God has put someone in your life to teach you love. Who is that person? He has put someone in your life to teach you how to overcome self. Who is that person whom we really do not want to love? It amazes me as a minister to talk to someone who wants to be in the ministry. I say to them, “You need to learn how to love this person.” They say, “No,” and they walk away believing that they can fulfill their call with stubbornness in their heart. They will not learn love if it is inconvenient, but they want to be a servant of God. This is amazing to me. How can someone want to be a minister and not want to exercise the gift that made Christ so great? Love must be supreme.
Can I tell you why people do not want to love? It is going to shock you, I think. If I do not want to love, it is because I love gold more than God. If I refuse to humble myself that His love may be released through me, it is because I have chosen the things of this earth over God.
May I tell you that passions have colors in the Spirit realm. They also have a smell or a fragrance in the realm of the Spirit. If you choose a virtue, then the colors and the smells are fragrant. Those colors are similar to the pastels of the rainbow. If you choose negative passions such as jealousy, anger, resentment, or to be critical of someone rather than love, the colors you emit are not brilliant, but they are colors with gray or a soot-like color mixed in with them. Instead of a pure, luminous green, the green appears more like a grayish green. It is very unattractive. Do you know who sees these colors? The Spirit realm. So if you are saying nothing, but you are fuming inside, what color are you emitting? You are emitting colors from darkness. The Spirit world sees those colors, and they are drawn to them.
You also emit smells into the Spirit realm. For instance, fear has its own smell. Anger has its own smell. Lust and covetousness each have smells. They are smells from hell. May I just be blunt? The Spirit realm smells those odors. They see the color, they smell the odor, and the evil spirits are drawn. That is why sometimes you can get in an argument with someone, and you are just a little angry, but within minutes you feel like you are going to explode with rage. It is because you have been visited by many evil spirits that have been drawn to you through these colors and these smells.
There are also spirits that watch you, called watchers. They watch your every move. They watch your eyes. The eyes are the windows of the soul. If the spirits, for example, are trying to get you to commit adultery, they will stage things in your life to get you into a rebellious state. Then they watch to see what you will do with it. If you are a man, and you and your wife have a fight, they will send thoughts through your mind and watch to see how you respond. They look to see if there is a time when you will seriously, even for a moment, think about adultery. The minute they see that glimmer—even if it only lasts for thirty seconds—they know where your weakness is. They will begin to take advantage of it until they finally get you to fall for adultery. This is true for male or female. If you have a weakness in the area of money, and you take money that does not belong to you—maybe twenty cents here, thirty cents there, a dollar, or ten dollars—they watch. They observe what makes you do it, when do you do it, and how do you do it. They look at how long you might contemplate doing it before you do it. Then they begin to set up circumstances until they have you stealing more and more. They are called watchers.
Why am I telling you this? Because the evil kingdom does not want you loving. If you love, you overcome. If you do not love, you are overcome. They do not want a Church who will fight to overcome in love. They will try to stop you from loving with all they have because they get in big trouble if they do not prevail.
Everything that comes into your life—both good and bad—is put there as a brick of decision. Will I choose Christ, or will I choose self? If you choose Christ, you will fight for love. If you choose self, then you will fight for self.
Now we are coming into a time and a season in the body of Christ and in America where you really want to walk in love because in love is the strength of grace. In grace is the power to overcome all things. Choosing to love will give you grace, strength, and spiritual virtue. Virtue, in turn, will give you spiritual stamina. God will let you endure many trials in life if you have the noble hunger to know Christ. Why? Because in the trials, He develops love if you will let Him. If you will not, you will not know the deep things of God because love is the only thing that is strong enough to carry them.
In the bosom of love you will find the seed of humility. This is a very high and noble thing in the eyes of God. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) How can you walk with Christ unless you agree with Him? If you do not love with the love of Christ, you are not agreeing with Him. His formative and powerful love will lead you into places you cannot go by yourself. Without love, you will not even recognize them as God’s paths.
Love is a force. Do you want to know how to change a man’s heart? Love him. Do you want to know how to change a sister’s heart? Love her. Do not preach at them. Let your actions of virtue do the talking. Let your actions of humility do the walking, and the message will come home.
About thirty years ago, I went to a service, and the person who was preaching called me out of the audience. He said to me, “I see a clock, and I see a pair of hands that are tearing the clock apart until they have all the parts laid out on the table. Then the hands pick up the clock and start looking at every part.” He exclaimed, “That’s what you do with God! You seem to need to understand every part of Him.” I started crying because it was so true. Then he said, “I see another thing about you. You have determined in your heart, for whatever reason, that you are going to learn the love of Christ before you go home to heaven. You are going to learn how to walk in the love of Christ. Because of that, the enemy has asked to sift you to try to stop your ascent in love.” He paused for a moment, and then he said, “But you’re going to win. It is because you have really determined to do that.”
So the enemy knows who is really willing to make the choice. But God limits the enemy’s intrusion to that for which He has given you the grace to overcome. Nothing can enter into your life that Jesus has not approved. He has to approve it before He will allow it. Most will never make it even halfway up the mountain because they will not take responsibility for their behavior. They always want to blame it on someone else. I hurt when people make those kinds of decisions because no one wins. Most of all, the Lord cannot win.
He says that the most important thing is what—praying in tongues? Being a martyr? He says the most important thing of all is love. Every time that you are challenged by the person or the situation that God has placed in your life, He has done it. Jesus has done it. Is there someone that you do not like in your life? I want you to know that Jesus has placed them there. Is there a circumstance that you do not like in your life? Jesus allowed that to come to you because He wants to build in you the integrity of love. He wants to do that to make you a shining example of Christ in the earth. He wants you to become the glory and the representative beauty of His grace. Isn’t that exciting?
Many years ago, my brother went home to be with the Lord at about sixteen years of age. He was in a terrible car accident and was killed instantly. Before he went home to be with the Lord, he had a tumor on the pituitary gland and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. This was many years ago, and at that time, that type of surgery left the patient with many afflictions as side effects of the surgery. The tumor would have to cause so many problems that it would warrant what you would end up with to remove it. So my brother suffered with many maladies as a result of that surgery. For example, in Michigan, where we grew up, it is very hot and humid in the summer. It can be miserable. My brother had no sweat glands, and if the temperature rose above seventy-five degrees, he had to sit in a tub of water. I could go on and on because the effects of this surgery left him in complete physical misery. But Kenny was so kind to everyone. The tumor had caused him to stay very small and also very temperamental. To correct this, he was given hormones so that he would grow. The hormones caused more problems, one of which was obesity. He became obese and tall. People made fun of him all of the time because of his weight. But his kindness would always win them over. When he died, his funeral was the largest funeral in the history of the city of Pontiac. Kenny had loved so completely with such kindness that he had learned Christ.
After he was taken in the automobile accident, I asked the Lord, “Why did You take him so young? We hardly got to know him.” His answer was very simple: “He learned Christ at a very young age.” All of his sufferings had created the image of Christ. Everyone knew it, and everyone loved it.
Our trials are allowed or given for the purpose of creating Christ within. If we cooperate, Christ will be created within. If we feel sorry for ourselves and do not cooperate, we will become ugly, cantankerous, and constantly challenging. You just become someone that no one likes. But moreover, you will become something that Jesus does not like, and that is the worst of all. Jesus wants to love you; He wants to teach you how to love. May I be very honest with you? We are going through a time when every fiber in you is going to be touched and stretched. You do not have to look to money to survive it because that is not the answer. The Lord spoke to me many years ago. He said that the ones to whom He will look to save and uphold in this difficult time will be those who have developed the virtues of Christ. The reason for this is because if you have not learned the virtues, you need to learn them. He will let you struggle until you pull away from all of the negative forces in your character and in your personality that have held you back from Jesus. Amen?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how we love You. We love the way You are. We do not want to be a clanging gong or a worthless nobody in the Church. We look to certain things that we do, or certain things that we give, and somehow we think we are going to buy your favor, but our character is in a serious condition. We see a little bunny, and our heart is pulled within us to touch, to pet, to cuddle, and to love it. Yet there are people in our world whom we do not want to love. We stubbornly cling to our pride and will not learn the way of Christ. How many there are in Your body, Lord, that love animals but do not like people. When we arrive home, You will congratulate us for our love for animals, but the crown which we would have received for loving people will be withheld.
When we look at what You have done for us, Lord, it calls out of us the most noble sacrifice of loving the unlovable. We stand at the foot of the cross, and we see how You suffered for us when we were estranged from You. We did not love or desire You. It calls out of us nobility, greatness, and excellence in Christian virtue. Lord Jesus, when someone hurts us, we are called to think about their need more than our own and to love and pray that You will do what is needed for them. Hate is a force; love is a force. A critical spirit is a force; a generous spirit is a force. Teach us to walk in those things that speak most about Christ.
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord, I come to You. Teach me how to love, Lord. Teach me to walk with You. Nothing I have is mine; all things are Yours. Call me to come and love. Call me to be one with You.
Lord, let Your Spirit touch our hearts and deal with them. Help us not to hold on. Help us not to let pride harden our hearts, Lord. Help us to look at ourselves squarely. Am I like Him? If I am not like Him, where do I lack? What is it I need? What must be changed? What must I repent of, Lord? Show me those things that weaken me in Christian virtues.
Open your heart before God. Let’s be really honest. Help us to be broken before You, Lord, for there is nothing more beautiful than a heart that is broken and contrite over sin. Lord, there are some that have been deeply hurt, and they need Your grace to forgive. Help them, Jesus, to lay that person on the altar and to choose love. Let Your conviction flow, Lord, like honey upon our hearts. Give us faith, hope, and love so that we can overcome. We want to be strong in the days ahead, Lord. Let love become the foundation of our ways. Help us to repent of pride, jealousy, bitterness, a critical spirit, stubbornness, resentfulness, and unforgiveness. Help us to repent of this thing that says, “I will not love my sister or my brother.” Help us to let go of this thing that refuses to reconcile and to instead choose forgiveness. We will be healed when we quit judging, Lord, and we take responsibility for our behavior.
You are the very essence of love, Lord, the very beauty of love personified. You are our example of love. It is possible because in You, all things are possible. Give us strength to do what is right. Lord, we need grace and humility. We need that part in You that enables us to stand with the nobility of love in the face of the one who challenges us. Help us to see, Lord, that at times we can be so self-centered that we cannot see the forest for the trees. We need the grace of love for the sake of compassion and mercy. Help us to overcome this mountain of self and to choose the beauty and the humility of Christ. Help us to choose love.
I will never forget the day that Jacob met Esau, his archenemy. He said to him, “My brother, to see your face is as if I had seen the face of God.” (Gen 33:10) Jacob had come full circle, Lord. He went through years of much suffering, being cheated and swindled. Everything he had done to Esau was done to him until he could come to a place of saying to his brother and his worst enemy, “Seeing you is like seeing the face of God.” Help us, Lord. Help us to understand Christ. Help us to embrace You and Your beauty. Help us to forgive. In His precious name. Amen.
God is love. Will we be love? What makes Jesus so beautiful? Is it not His love? To be loved by Him—isn’t that what we desire in Him more than anything? What He desires more than anything is to let you know experientially His love. He wants you to know the way He sees and the way He feels.
Jesus, You are love. I see a vision of a red rose. It started out as a rose bud, and then its petals began to unfold. As the petals opened and curled back, it became gold. The Bible says that the words of the Lord are tried and purified seven times over. (Ps 12:6) I think His love is also tried. He is looking to bring you forth as pure gold. There is a beautiful passage in Job:
Job 23:10 Amp. But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].
He is looking for the roses that He can bring forth pure and luminous. Praise the Lord.
Father, I release each one who is reading this into Your care. I pray that You will give them victory in all areas concerning their soul and that they may in this lifetime walk as Christ walked. In Your precious name, heal them. Let them feel the joy of their salvation. We love You, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.
In His Love,
Nita Johnson
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Ezequiel 38 & 39 - Parte 3
Dennis Edwards
Para voltar para Parte 1 ou Parte 2.
Como será depois da guerra do Armagedom?
Ezequiel 39:7-16. ⁷ E farei conhecido o meu santo nome no meio do meu povo Israel, e nunca mais deixarei profanar o meu santo nome; e os gentios saberão que eu sou o Senhor, o Santo em Israel.⁸ Eis que vem, e se cumprirá, diz o Senhor DEUS; este é o dia de que tenho falado.⁹ E os habitantes das cidades de Israel sairão, e acenderão o fogo, e queimarão as armas, e os escudos e as rodelas, com os arcos, e com as flechas, e com os bastões de mão, e com as lanças; e acenderão fogo com elas por sete anos.¹⁰ E não trarão lenha do campo, nem a cortarão dos bosques, mas com as armas acenderão fogo; e roubarão aos que os roubaram, e despojarão aos que os despojaram, diz o Senhor DEUS.
¹¹ E sucederá que, naquele dia, darei ali a Gogue um lugar de sepultura em Israel, o vale dos que passam ao oriente do mar; e pararão os que por ele passarem; e ali sepultarão a Gogue, e a toda a sua multidão, e lhe chamarão o vale da multidão de Gogue.¹² E a casa de Israel os enterrará durante sete meses, para purificar a terra.¹³ Sim, todo o povo da terra os enterrará, e será para eles memo-rável dia em que eu for glorificado, diz o Senhor Deus.¹⁴ E separarão homens que incessantemente percorrerão a terra, para que eles, juntamente com os que passam, sepultem os que tiverem ficado sobre a face da terra, para a purificarem; durante sete meses farão esta busca.¹⁵ E os que percorrerem a terra, a qual atravessarão, vendo algum osso de homem, porão ao lado um sinal; até que os enterradores o tenham enterrado no vale da multidão de Gogue.¹⁶ E também o nome da cidade será Hamona; assim purificarão a terra.Nestes versículos vemos que serão necessários mais de sete meses de trabalho de limpeza para enterrar os cadáveres daqueles que caíram naquela tremenda batalha.
Ezequiel 39:17-20. ¹⁷ Tu, pois, ó filho do homem, assim diz o Senhor DEUS, dize às aves de toda espécie, e a todos os animais do campo: Ajuntai-vos e vinde, congregai-vos de toda parte para o meu sacrifício, que eu ofereci por vós, um sacrifício grande, nos montes de Israel, e comei carne e bebei sangue.¹⁸ Comereis a carne dos poderosos e bebereis o sangue dos príncipes da terra; dos carneiros, dos cordeiros, e dos bodes, e dos bezerros, todos cevados de Basã.¹⁹ E comereis a gordura até vos fartardes e bebereis o sangue até vos embebedardes, do meu sacrifício que ofereci por vós.²⁰ E, à minha mesa, fartar-vos-ei de cavalos, de carros, de poderosos, e de todos os homens de guerra, diz o Senhor DEUS.
Vemos imagens de pássaros comendo a carne de um exército derrotado em algum outro lugar?
Onde mais nas Escrituras vemos imagens semelhantes? Isso mesmo, no livro de Apocalipse, capítulo dezenove, após a destruição de Babilônia, a Prostituta. Vemos Jesus voltando para “julgar e fazer guerra”. [Apocalipse 19:11b] “E os exércitos que estavam no céu o seguiram.” [Apocalipse 19:14a] Leiamos os escritos do apóstolo João.Apocalipse 19:15-21.
¹⁵ E da sua boca saía uma aguda espada, para ferir com ela as nações; e ele as regerá com vara de ferro; e ele mesmo é o que pisa o lagar do vinho do furor e da ira do Deus Todo-Poderoso.¹⁶ E no manto e na sua coxa tem escrito este nome: Rei dos reis, e Senhor dos senhores.¹⁷ E vi um anjo que estava no sol, e clamou com grande voz, dizendo a todas as aves que voavam pelo meio do céu: Vinde, e ajuntai-vos à ceia do grande Deus;¹⁸ Para que comais a carne dos reis, e a carne dos tribunos, e a carne dos fortes, e a carne dos cavalos e dos que sobre eles se assentam; e a carne de todos os homens, livres e servos, pequenos e grandes.
¹⁹ E vi a besta, e os reis da terra, e os seus exércitos reunidos, para fazerem guerra àquele que estava assentado sobre o cavalo, e ao seu exército.²⁰ E a besta foi presa, e com ela o falso profeta, que diante dela fizera os sinais, com que enganou os que receberam o sinal da besta, e adoraram a sua imagem. Estes dois foram lançados vivos no lago de fogo que arde com enxofre.²¹ E os demais foram mortos com a espada que saía da boca do que estava assentado sobre o cavalo, e todas as aves se fartaram das suas carnes.
As imagens são as mesmas, portanto, temos boas razões para que descrevam o mesmo evento.
Voltando à profecia de Ezequiel:
Por que Deus permite que seus julgamentos caiam?
Ezequiel 39:21-24. ²¹ E eu porei a minha glória entre os gentios e todos os gentios verão o meu juízo, que eu tiver executado, e a minha mão, que sobre elas tiver descarregado.²² E saberão os da casa de Israel que eu sou o Senhor seu Deus, desde aquele dia em diante.²³ E os gentios saberão que os da casa de Israel, por causa da sua iniqüidade, foram levados em cativeiro, porque se rebelaram contra mim, e eu escondi deles a minha face, e os entreguei nas mãos de seus adversários, e todos caíram à espada.²⁴ Conforme a sua imundícia e conforme as suas transgressões me houve com eles, e escondi deles a minha face.
Aqui Deus está explicando por que isso aconteceu. Aconteceu porque o povo de Deus, tanto os judeus como os cristãos, falharam na mensagem que deveriam levar às nações. Eles falharam em ser luzes que brilham nas trevas e usaram a bênção de Deus em seu próprio benefício e falharam na sua missão como emissários de Deus, como embaixadores do amor e da paz de Deus. Deus, em justiça, teve que julgá-los por sua desobediência intencional. Tudo que você precisa fazer para ver que isso é verdade é ler a Bíblia. É a maior condenação do povo judeu e da sua rebelião e desobediência a Deus. Se existe algum livro anti-semita no mundo, são as suas próprias Escrituras, o Antigo Testamento.
Existe algum outro lugar nas Escrituras onde vemos o julgamento preditivo de Deus?
Vemos em muitos dos salmos vislumbres proféticos do futuro, quando Deus julgará o mundo. O Salmo 2 é um salmo notável que fala dessas coisas, assim como o Salmo 46 e muitos outros falam em parte do dia do julgamento para os ímpios. Vamos dar uma olhada nesses dois salmos.
Salmos 2: O julgamento de Deus e a vitória sobre os
Salmo 2:1-3. ¹ Por que se amotinam os gentios, e os povos imaginam coisas vàs?² Os reis da terra se levantam e os governos consultam juntamente contra o Senhor e contra o seu ungido, dizendo:³ Rompamos as suas ataduras, e sacudamos de nós as suas cordas.
[A imagem poderia ser do anticristo e suas forças perseguindo o povo de Deus durante os três anos e meio da grande tribulação. É claro que, ao longo da história, os inimigos de Deus lutaram constantemente contra Deus e contra o que é verdadeiro e justo.]
Salmo 2:4-5. Aquele que habita nos céus se rirá; o Senhor zombará deles.⁵ Então lhes falará na sua ira, e no seu furor os turbará.
[Deus fica irado com os ímpios todos os dias, mas não tem prazer na morte deles. Ele acabará por julgar os ímpios durante o período da grande tribulação, e mais severamente durante os curtos 45-75 dias de ira após o arrebatamento dos santos. O arrebatamento dos santos acontece na sétima trombeta da tribulação, a última trombeta. É nesse ponto também que começam os 45-75 dias de ira.]
Salmo 2:6-8. Eu, porém, ungi o meu Rei sobre o meu santo monte de Sião.⁷ Proclamarei o decreto: o Senhor me disse: Tu (Jesus) és meu Filho, eu hoje te gerei.⁸ Pede-me, e eu te darei os gentios por herança, e os fins da terra por tua possessão.
[Deus cumprirá a profecia encontrada em Daniel. Jesus herdará o que lhe foi prometido desde a fundação do mundo. Daniel 7:13-14. ¹³ Eu estava olhando nas minhas visões da noite, e eis que vinha nas nuvens do céu um como o filho do homem; e dirigiu-se ao ancião de dias, e o fizeram chegar até ele. ¹⁴ E foi-lhe dado o domínio, e a honra, e o reino, para que todos os povos, nações e línguas o servissem; o seu domínio é um domínio eterno, que não passará, e o seu reino tal, que não será destruído.]
Salmo 2:9. Tu os esmigalharás com uma vara de ferro; tu os despedaçarás como a um vaso de oleiro.
[Aqui vemos a mesma imagem encontrada em Daniel 2:44. ⁴⁴ Mas, nos dias desses reis, o Deus do céu levantará um reino que não será jamais destruído; e este reino não passará a outro povo; esmiuçará e consumirá todos esses reinos, mas ele mesmo subsistirá para sempre,.]
Salmo 2:10-12. Agora, pois, ó reis, sede prudentes; deixai-vos instruir, juízes da terra.¹¹ Servi ao Senhor com temor, e alegrai-vos com tremor.¹² Beijai o Filho (Jesus), para que se não ire, e pereçais no caminho, quando em breve se acender a sua ira; bem-aventurados todos aqueles que nele confiam.
[No salmo, o Senhor está lembrando aos líderes de elite do mundo, sejam eles presidentes, reis ou juízes, que andem no temor de Deus. "O temor do Senhor é o princípio do conhecimento." Provérbios 1:7a "Teme a Deus e guarda os Seus mandamentos, pois este é todo o dever do homem. Porque Deus trará a julgamento toda obra, até mesmo tudo que está encoberto, seja bom, seja mau." Eclesiastes 12:13-14.
Em última análise, o mundo está se rebelando contra Deus e será julgado de acordo. Todos nós precisamos aceitar Jesus e seguir Seus mandamentos de amar uns aos outros, até mesmo aos nossos inimigos.]
Salmo 46: Os julgamentos de Deus fazem com que as nações O reconheçam.
Salmos 46:1-3. ¹ Deus é o nosso refúgio e fortaleza, socorro bem presente na angústia.² Portanto não temeremos, ainda que a terra se mude, e ainda que os montes se transportem para o meio dos mares.³ Ainda que as águas rujam e se perturbem, ainda que os montes se abalem pela sua braveza. (Selá.)
[As primeiras linhas do Salmo poderiam muito bem descrever a destruição que ocorre durante o período da grande tribulação e/ou a ira de Deus. No livro do Apocalipse, os filhos de Deus são selados antes que caiam as destruições e são protegidos sobrenaturalmente por Ele. Apocalipse 7:3. ³ Não danifiqueis a terra, nem o mar, nem as árvores, até que hajamos selado nas suas testas os servos do nosso Deus.]
Salmos 46:4-5. Há um rio cujas correntes alegram a cidade de Deus, o santuário das moradas do Altíssimo.⁵ Deus está no meio dela; não se abalará. Deus a ajudará, já ao romper da manhã.
[Vemos o mesmo rio no Céu em Apocalipse 22:1-2. ¹ E mostrou-me o rio puro da água da vida, claro como cristal, que procedia do trono de Deus e do Cordeiro. ² No meio da sua praça, e de um e de outro lado do rio, estava a árvore da vida, que produz doze frutos, dando seu fruto de mês em mês; e as folhas da árvore são para a saúde das nações.
No Salmo 23:1-4 temos a mesma imagem reconfortante de águas tranquilas e da presença de Deus esmagando todo o mal.¹ O SENHOR é o meu pastor, nada me faltará. ² Deitar-me faz em verdes pastos, guia-me mansamente a águas tranqüilas. ³ Refrigera a minha alma; guia-me pelas veredas da justiça, por amor do seu nome. ⁴ Ainda que eu andasse pelo vale da sombra da morte, não temeria mal algum, porque tu estás comigo.]
Salmos 46:6-7. Os gentios se embraveceram; os reinos se moveram; ele levantou a sua voz e a terra se derreteu.⁷ O Senhor dos Exércitos está conosco; o Deus de Jacó é o nosso refúgio. (Selá.)
[A fúria pagã também é vista no início da ira de Deus, após o arrebatamento ter ocorrido. Os filhos de Deus serão removidos da terra em segurança antes que ocorram os terríveis 45-75 dias de ira. Durante a ira, os pagãos ou incrédulos são julgados junto com os seguidores do Anticristo. No final da ira, Jesus retorna para deter fisicamente a guerra que ocorre em torno de Jerusalém. Ele impede a humanidade de destruir toda a terra. Ele interrompe a guerra e salva vivos alguns da humanidade incrédula para viverem até o período do Milênio, os 1000 anos do governo literal de Cristo na terra.
Apocalipse 11:18. ¹⁸ E iraram-se as nações, e veio a tua ira, e o tempo dos mortos, para que sejam julgados, e o tempo de dares o galardão aos profetas, teus servos, e aos santos, e aos que temem o teu nome, a pequenos e a grandes, e o tempo de destruíres os que destroem a terra.
Em Apocalipse 19:11-15 temos a imagem de Jesus retornando na Batalha do Armagedom. ¹¹ E vi o céu aberto, e eis um cavalo branco; e o que estava assentado sobre ele chama-se Fiel e Verdadeiro; e julga e peleja com justiça. ¹² E os seus olhos eram como chama de fogo; e sobre a sua cabeça havia muitos diademas; e tinha um nome escrito, que ninguém sabia senão ele mesmo. ¹³ E estava vestido de veste tingida em sangue; e o nome pelo qual se chama é A Palavra de Deus. ¹⁴ E seguiam-no os exércitos no céu em cavalos brancos, e vestidos de linho fino, branco e puro. ¹⁵ E da sua boca saía uma aguda espada, para ferir com ela as nações; e ele as regerá com vara de ferro; e ele mesmo é o que pisa o lagar do vinho do furor e da ira do Deus Todo-Poderoso.]
Salmos 46:8-11. Vinde, contemplai as obras do Senhor; que desolações tem feito na terra!⁹ Ele faz cessar as guerras até ao fim da terra; quebra o arco e corta a lança; queima os carros no fogo.¹⁰ Aquietai-vos, e sabei que eu sou Deus; serei exaltado entre os gentios; serei exaltado sobre a terra.¹¹ O Senhor dos Exércitos está conosco; o Deus de Jacó é o nosso refúgio. (Selá.)
[A última seção do salmo parece falar da iniciação do Milênio. O salmista apresenta uma imagem do mundo após a destruição dos últimos dias, quando Cristo reinará na terra durante mil anos. Deus realmente será exaltado e a justiça cobrirá a terra como as águas cobrem os mares. Em Isaías lemos sobre o período do milénio que começa imediatamente após a grande destruição, na época do “dia do Senhor”.]
Como será o Milénio?
Isaías 11:6-9.
⁶ E morará o lobo com o cordeiro, e o leopardo com o cabrito se deitará, e o bezerro, e o filho de leão e o animal cevado andarão juntos, e um menino pequeno os guiará.⁷ A vaca e a ursa pastarão juntas, seus filhos se deitarão juntos, e o leão comerá palha como o boi.⁸ E brincará a criança de peito sobre a toca da áspide, e a desmamada colocará a sua mão na cova do basilisco.⁹ Não se fará mal nem dano algum em todo o meu santo monte, porque a terra se encherá do conhecimento do Senhor, como as águas cobrem o mar.
No livro do Apocalipse também lemos sobre o período milenar após a Batalha do Armagedom.
Apocalipse 20:1-6. ¹ E vi descer do céu um anjo, que tinha a chave do abismo, e uma grande cadeia na sua mão.² Ele prendeu o dragão, a antiga serpente, que é o Diabo e Satanás, e amarrou-o por mil anos.³ E lançou-o no abismo, e ali o encerrou, e pôs selo sobre ele, para que não mais engane as nações, até que os mil anos se acabem. E depois importa que seja solto por um pouco de tempo.⁴ E vi tronos; e assentaram-se sobre eles, e foi-lhes dado o poder de julgar; e vi as almas daqueles que foram degolados pelo testemunho de Jesus, e pela palavra de Deus, e que não adoraram a besta, nem a sua imagem, e não receberam o sinal em suas testas nem em suas mãos; e viveram, e reinaram com Cristo durante mil anos.⁵ Mas os outros mortos não reviveram, até que os mil anos se acabaram. Esta é a primeira ressurreição.⁶ Bem-aventurado e santo aquele que tem parte na primeira ressurreição; sobre estes não tem poder a segunda morte; mas serão sacerdotes de Deus e de Cristo, e reinarão com ele mil anos.
Quando o remanescente dos judeus será salvo?
Jesus reinará na terra por mil anos. Durante o início do milênio, ou no fim da tribulação, ou durante a ira de Deus, muitos judeus virão a Cristo. Em Zacarias lemos:
Zacarias 12:9-10. ⁹ E acontecerá naquele dia, que procurarei destruir todas as nações que vierem contra Jerusalém;¹⁰ Mas sobre a casa de Davi, e sobre os habitantes de Jerusalém, derramarei o Espírito de graça e de súplicas; e olharão para mim, a quem traspassaram; e prantearão sobre ele, como quem pranteia pelo filho unigênito; e chorarão amargamente por ele, como se chora amargamente pelo primogênito.
Em Apocalipse 1:7 lemos: ⁷ Eis que vem com as nuvens, e todo o olho o verá, até os mesmos que o traspassaram; e todas as tribos da terra se lamentarão sobre ele. Sim. Amém.
Assim parece, e muitos estudiosos da Bíblia acreditam que muitos do povo judeu encontrarão arrependimento durante o período horrível dos últimos dias. Será neste momento, sob a mão poderosa dos julgamentos de Deus, que tanto os judeus como os gentios incrédulos se voltarão para Cristo. Alguns estudiosos da Bíblia acreditam que a frase “também aqueles que O traspassaram” se aplica à nação judaica que rejeitou a Cristo quando Ele veio há 2.000 anos. Será que na segunda vinda de Cristo para reunir Seus filhos a Ele no arrebatamento, a escuridão sobre os olhos do povo judeu será finalmente dissipada e eles começarão a acreditar "Aquele a quem traspassaram?"
Então as palavras do apóstolo Paulo serão cumpridas,
Romanos 11:25-26. ²⁵ Porque não quero, irmãos, que ignoreis este segredo (para que não presumais de vós mesmos): que o endurecimento veio em parte sobre Israel, até que a plenitude dos gentios haja entrado.²⁶ E assim todo o Israel será salvo, como está escrito: De Sião virá o Libertador, E desviará de Jacó as impiedades.
Voltamos à profecia de Ezequiel que fala do mesmo acontecimento.
Por que Deus deixa tudo acontecer?
Ezequiel 39:25-29. ²⁵ Portanto assim diz o Senhor DEUS: Agora tornarei a trazer os cativos de Jacó, e me compadecerei de toda a casa de Israel; zelarei pelo meu santo nome.²⁶ E levarão sobre si a sua vergonha, e toda a sua rebeldia, com que se rebelaram contra mim, quando eles habitarem seguros na sua terra, sem haver quem os espante.²⁷ Quando eu os tornar a trazer de entre os povos, e os houver ajuntado das terras de seus inimigos, e eu for santificado neles aos olhos de muitas nações,²⁸ Então saberão que eu sou o Senhor seu Deus, vendo que eu os fiz ir em cativeiro entre os gentios, e os ajuntarei para voltarem a sua terra, e não mais deixarei lá nenhum deles.²⁹ Nem lhes esconderei mais a minha face, pois derramarei o meu Espírito sobre a casa de Israel, diz o Senhor DEUS.
Israel, a desobediente Igreja Cristã e o mundo saberão que Deus quer reinar nos corações dos homens. Todos verão que Deus é justo em Seus julgamentos, que Ele não aflige voluntariamente os filhos dos homens e não tem prazer na sua morte.
Resumo sem versos.
Certamente parece, pelos acontecimentos atuais, que estamos nos aproximando cada vez mais do “dia do Senhor”. Deus quer que O reconheçamos em nossas vidas. Ele enviou Seu Filho unigênito ao mundo para que pudéssemos acreditar em Sua mensagem que Seus filhos, o povo judeu, não conseguiram propagar. Deus é amor e Nele não há sombra de escuridão. Ele criou cada um de nós com um vazio espiritual em nosso ser, para que nada nesta vida pudesse satisfazer nosso coração, exceto somente Ele. Ele deseja nos amar intimamente. Ele deseja ser nosso amigo, nosso irmão, nosso pai, nossa mãe, nosso amante. Ele deseja ser a âncora da nossa alma, uma torre forte em dias de dificuldade, um ombro para descansar, braços fortes nos quais confiar. Você não vai aceitá-Lo em sua vida, tomar sua cruz e segui-Lo?
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Friday, November 17, 2023
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Compilação sobre os Padres da Igreja e seu Conceito do Anticristo - Parte 1
Dennis Edwards
Justino
Mártir, 100-165 d.C.
Justino nasceu em
Samaria em uma família gentia – pagã. Ele procurou a verdade nos filósofos
gregos e romanos. Um dia ele encontrou um cristão que compartilhou com ele a
sabedoria dos profetas de Deus e suas profecias sobre Cristo. Justin havia
estudado muito filosofia e ainda estava insatisfeito com suas conclusões. Ele
se convenceu de que o testemunho dos profetas era mais certo do que o
raciocínio dos filósofos. Como resultado, ele decidiu por Cristo e se dedicou a
viajar por todo o país divulgando o conhecimento do Cristianismo como a
verdadeira filosofia. Ele formou uma escola em Roma e escreveu cartas ao Senado
e ao imperador romano, Antonino, para abandonar a perseguição aos primeiros
cristãos. Ele foi denunciado pelo cínico filósofo Crescens e, como resultado,
julgado em um tribunal romano e considerado culpado de se recusar a adorar os
deuses romanos e de desobediência ao imperador. Ele e seis de seus
alunos foram decapitados.[1]
A respeito do
Anticristo, ele escreveu:
“Aquele que está
prestes a falar coisas blasfemas e audaciosas, contra o Altíssimo, já estando
às portas – cuja continuação Daniel indica como prestes a existir por um tempo,
tempos e metade de um tempo.”[2]
Aqui vemos
Justino citando o livro de Daniel encontrado no Antigo Testamento. Ele descreve
alguns dos atributos do Anticristo encontrados em Daniel 7:25 e mais tarde em
Daniel 11:36. Daniel 7:25 diz:
"E ele (o
Anticristo) falará palavras grandiosas contra o Altíssimo, e desgastará os
santos do Altíssimo, e cuidará em mudar os tempos e as leis: e eles serão
entregues em suas mãos por um tempo, e tempos e a divisão do tempo."
Daniel 11:36 é
semelhante a Daniel 7:25 e também fala dos atributos do Anticristo.
“E o rei fará
segundo a sua vontade; e ele se exaltará e se engrandecerá acima de todo deus,
e falará coisas maravilhosas contra o Deus dos deuses, e prosperará até que a
indignação se cumpra; pois aquilo que for determinado será ser feito."
Justino também
menciona a duração de seu governo como sendo “um tempo, tempos e metade de um
tempo”, o que significa 3 anos e meio, conforme declarado em vários outros
lugares nas Escrituras, como em Daniel 7:25 acima e Daniel 12:7. Justino
continua,
“Tolos são
aqueles que não entendem o que de fato foi apontado por todos os testemunhos
dos Profetas, de que se fala de duas vindas de Cristo; aquele em que Ele é
pregado como o sofredor inglório - desonrado e crucificado - o segundo, aquele
em que Ele virá com glória do céu, no momento em que o Homem da Apostasia, que
fala grandes coisas contra o Altíssimo, estiver no terra, e ousar coisas
perversas contra nós, cristãos.”[3]
Novamente, Justino fala das duas vindas do Messias. Primeiro a ser crucificado como uma ovelha diante de seus tosquiadores, como um cordeiro para o matadouro, como visto em Isaías 53 e nos Salmos e cumprido por Jesus de Nazaré em 30 d.C. Sua segunda vinda ocorre logo após o reinado do Anticristo, que Justino cita. de Daniel capítulo sete e ou 2 Tessalonicenses como algo ainda por vir.
Irineu,
130-202 d.C.
Irineu nasceu em
uma família cristã e tornou-se discípulo de Policarpo, que era discípulo do
apóstolo João. Ele foi o bispo grego de Lyon, França, e escreveu mais sobre o
assunto da profecia bíblica do que qualquer um de seus antecessores.[4]
“Na metade do
hebdomad (período de semana ou sete anos), diz Daniel, o sacrifício e a libação
serão retirados, e no Templo estará a Abominação da desolação – e até a
consumação do tempo, uma consumação será designado para a desolação, – mas a
metade do hebdomad (semana ou período de sete anos) é de três anos e seis
meses.”[6]
Na citação acima,
Irineu está citando Daniel 9:27 que diz:
“E ele confirmará
a aliança com muitos por uma semana: e no meio da semana ele fará cessar o
sacrifício e a oblação, e para a propagação de abominações ele a tornará
desolada, até a consumação, e que será derramado sobre os desolados.”
Sem passar por
todos os detalhes do versículo, podemos ver que Irineu está se referindo a este
versículo ao tempo do Anticristo no futuro e não a um evento passado. A palavra
“semana” ou “hebdomad” em grego ou “shabua” em hebraico refere-se a um período de
sete anos, não a uma semana de sete dias. Daniel 9:27 menciona o “meio da
semana” que Irineu entende corretamente como 3 anos e meio.
“Mas quando o
Anticristo tiver devastado todas as coisas neste mundo, reinando três anos e
seis meses, e se sentar no Templo de Jerusalém, então o Senhor virá do Céu em
nuvens na glória do Pai, para expulsá-lo e aqueles que lhe obedecem, no lago de
fogo. Mas Ele trará para os justos os tempos do reino, isto é - descanso: - o
sétimo dia santificado; e restaurará a Abraão a promessa da herança, em cujo
reino, diz o Senhor, muitos virão do Oriente e do Ocidente, e se assentarão com
Abraão, Isaque e Jacó.”[7]
“Irineu cita a
maior parte de 2 Tessalonicenses 2 a respeito do Homem do Pecado, e aplica-o ao
Anticristo – dizendo que o Templo no qual ele se sentará, é o Templo em
Jerusalém – citando Mateus 24 quanto à abominação e época inigualável de
tribulação, e aplica-a ao tempo da blasfêmia do Anticristo em Jerusalém –
falando de seu surgimento como o chifre pequeno após os dez últimos reis do
Império Romano – e citando as palavras de Daniel – “o tempo, os tempos e a
divisão do tempo, ” explicando-os como os três anos e meio do reinado do
Anticristo.”[5]
Na citação acima,
o apologista cristão Benjamin Wills Newton, de 1800, explica que Irineu coloca
diretamente a “abominação da desolação” como um evento futuro durante o reinado
do Anticristo em Jerusalém.
Irineu conclui que o Anticristo reinará por 3 anos e meio, o que pode ser encontrado tanto em Daniel quanto no livro de Apocalipse. Da Epístola de Paulo às Tessalonicenses temos a ideia do Anticristo sentado no Templo. Do Evangelho de Mateus e do livro do Apocalipse, Irineu obtém a imagem de Jesus retornando nas nuvens do céu [Mateus 24:29-31] para lançar os ímpios no lago de fogo [Apocalipse 19:20], após o que começa o milhar. ano de reinado de paz na terra, ou Milênio. [Apocalipse 20:3 e 5] A escatologia de Irineu é o que se encontra escrito na Bíblia.
A Epístola de
Barnabé
Incluí a Epístola
de Barnabé, embora hoje não tenhamos certeza de quem foi o Barnabé que a
escreveu. A Epístola de Barnabé é considerada um dos livros apócrifos do Novo
Testamento. Os livros apócrifos eram considerados de boa leitura, mas não se
equiparavam aos escritos considerados Escrituras. Às vezes eram encontrados no
final dos primeiros manuscritos do Novo Testamento. Os livros apócrifos do
Antigo Testamento são encontrados entre as Escrituras reconhecidas do Antigo
Testamento e o Novo Testamento na Bíblia Católica. A Epístola de Barnabé fazia
parte dos Apócrifos do Novo Testamento. Alguns dos primeiros crentes
considerados o autor da epístola foi Barnabé, que foi o primeiro companheiro do
apóstolo Paulo [Atos 9:27, 13:2] e, portanto, também considerado um apóstolo.
Estes situam a escrita da epístola já em 70-80 d.C.. Outros, no entanto, dizem
que a epístola foi escrita por outro Barnabé já em 132 d.C.
Eusébio, bispo de
Cesária em 314 d.C., menciona a epístola em seus escritos, dizendo que ela não
foi incluída nos escritos aceitos dos apóstolos. Foi considerado apócrifo do
Novo Testamento, ou seja, bom, mas não bíblico. Clemente de Alexandria e
Orígenes também mencionam a Epístola de Barnabé e parecem pensar que ela era
autêntica, ou seja, escrita pelo companheiro de viagem de Paulo.[8] Incluí a
epístola porque ela era conhecida pelos primeiros Padres da Igreja e às vezes
foi encontrada incluída depois dos livros aceitos do Novo Testamento em alguns
dos primeiros manuscritos originais. Portanto, é autêntico, mas não sabemos se
é do antigo Barnabé ou não.
“O período final
de provação (a grande tribulação), conforme foi escrito e como diz Daniel, se
aproxima; porque o Senhor abreviou os tempos e os dias [Mateus 24:22], para que
o seu amado se apresse à sua herança. Assim diz o profeta: Dez reinos reinarão sobre
a terra, e depois deles surgirá um pequenino que subjugará três de uma vez….
Deste, Daniel diz novamente: E eu vi a quarta besta que veio do mar; e sobre
ele apareceram dez chifres, e surgiu outro chifre pequeno no meio deles, e
derrubou três dos chifres grandes. Portanto, devemos compreender.”[9]
Aqui vemos
Barnabé citando com precisão Daniel 7:24-25 e identificando os versículos como
pertencentes ao Anticristo que ainda está por vir.
“Nos seis mil
anos todas as coisas estarão consumadas. E descansou no sétimo dia; isto
significa que quando Seu Filho vier e abolir o tempo do Maligno e julgar os
ímpios e mudar o sol, a lua e as estrelas; então Ele descansará gloriosamente
no sétimo dia.”[10]
De acordo com a escatologia judaica, o mundo cobriria um período de 7.000 anos. Seis mil anos sob o governo do homem e mil anos sob o governo do Messias. Não temos versículos bíblicos que confirmem essa ideia, embora a Bíblia diga que o Senhor faria uma breve obra na terra. [Romanos 9:28] O apóstolo Pedro também diz “um dia é para o Senhor como mil anos, e mil anos como um dia.”[2 Pedro 3:8] No Salmo de Moisés lemos: “Mil anos aos teus olhos são como um dia que acaba de passar.”[Salmo 90:4] Desde que Deus fez o mundo e tudo que nele há em seis dias e depois descansou no sétimo,[Êxodo 20:11] podemos ver de onde veio a ideia judaica da vinda do Messias no último período de mil anos. Mas devemos dizer que parece ser especulação bíblica.
Tertuliano, 155
- 225 d.C.
Tertiliano foi um
prolífico escritor cristão primitivo de Cartago, na África, de ascendência
berbere e possivelmente filho de um centurião romano. Ele é chamado de Pai da
teologia ocidental, pois foi o primeiro teólogo a escrever em latim. Ele também
foi o primeiro a usar o termo “trindade”. Ele se converteu por volta dos 40
anos e disse: “Os cristãos são feitos, não nascem”. Ele era casado com uma
mulher cristã. Ele defendeu o princípio da suficiência das Escrituras e que a
teologia cristã não deveria depender de nenhuma filosofia acadêmica.[11] A
respeito do Anticristo, ele escreveu:
“Também no
Apocalipse de João está estabelecido o curso dos tempos, durante os quais as
almas dos mártires sob o altar, exigindo vingança e julgamento, são instruídas
a esperar. Primeiro, a terra deve beber das pragas das taças dos anjos; e a
cidade prostituta deverá sofrer destruição pelos dez Reis, e a Besta Anticristo
com seu falso profeta, fazer guerra à Igreja de Deus; e então o Diabo sendo
banido por um período para o abismo, o privilégio da primeira ressurreição será
julgado, a sentença pertencente à ressurreição universal será pronunciada nos
livros.”
Na citação acima, Tertuliano cita pela primeira vez Apocalipse 6:9-11 sobre os mártires da fé tendo que esperar pela vingança contra seus inimigos. Em seguida, ele menciona as “pragas das taças dos anjos”, que são especificamente da Ira de Deus encontrada em Apocalipse 16. Ele pula as trombetas da tribulação dos capítulos 8-10, que mostram apenas 1/3 da destruição, e menciona as Taças de Ira que mostra destruição completa. Em Apocalipse 17 e 18 ele fala da destruição do “sistema” da cidade prostituta. Ele também menciona a Besta Anticristo e o falso profeta de Apocalipse 13 e 19. Ele termina com sua compreensão dos eventos em Apocalipse 20. Tudo apresentado biblicamente, embora sem muitos detalhes.
A respeito das
duas testemunhas de Apocalipse 11, ele disse o seguinte:
“Enoque e Elias
são trasladados; sua morte não é encontrada, sendo adiada. No entanto, eles
estão reservados para morrer, para que com seu sangue possam extinguir o
Anticristo.”[12]
Como nem Enoque [Gênesis 5:24 (bisavô de Noé), Hebreus 11:5] nem Elias [2 Reis 2:1-17] no Antigo Testamento morreram, mas foram ambos transportados para o céu, os primeiros cristãos passaram a acreditar as duas testemunhas de Apocalipse capítulo 11 que testemunham contra o sistema do Anticristo em Jerusalém por quase 3 anos e meio serão ungidas com os espíritos de Enoque e Elias. Muitos estudiosos da Bíblia hoje acreditam que esta poderia ser uma interpretação correta.
Hipólito, 170-235 d.C.
Hipólito foi um
importante teólogo cristão dos séculos II e III, mas não sabemos muito sobre
onde ele estava localizado, onde serviu. Alguns sugerem que ele pode ter se
oposto à igreja de Roma que crescia naquela época. Eusébio e Jerônimo confessam
que não conseguem nomear onde Hipólito serviu na liderança da igreja. Alguns
sugerem que ele pode ter estado envolvido em igrejas domésticas romanas em
conflito com o bispo de Roma. Durante a perseguição do imperador Maximino
Trácio, ele foi exilado na Sardenha para trabalhar nas minas de lá e, como
resultado, morreu. O Papa Fabian (236-250 DC) trouxe seus restos mortais de
volta a Roma para um enterro na igreja alguns anos depois.[13]
Falando sobre a
imagem de Daniel 2, ele escreveu:
“Depois destes
vêm os romanos, sendo as pernas de ferro da Imagem - fortes como ferro: para
que as democracias que estão prestes a surgir possam ser apontadas, respondendo
respectivamente aos dez dedos da imagem, nas quais haverá ferro misturado com
barro.”[14]
Novamente vemos que Hipólito coloca os dez dedos da imagem em Daniel 2 no futuro e prediz a ascensão das democracias representadas como argila na imagem.
Orígenes de
Alexandria, 184 - 254 d.C.
Orígenes foi um
dos primeiros apologistas mais importantes da fé cristã, especialmente do
cristianismo oriental, e escreveu em grego. Ele foi o pioneiro na ideia da
tripla interpretação das Escrituras: a literal, a ética e a espiritual. Sua
visão de que o Pai era mais Deus do que o Filho foi percebida como a raiz da
heresia do Arianismo e ele foi condenado como herege. A heresia ariana
considerava Jesus o primeiro ser criado e, portanto, de menor autoridade que
Deus e não co-igual a Deus.[15] Tanto os Mórmons como as Testemunhas de Jeová
seguem essa teologia.
Em referência a 2
Tessalonicenses 2 ele escreveu:
“Explicar tudo isso não é nosso negócio atual. Mas há em Daniel uma profecia sobre este mesmo Anticristo, que não pode deixar de suscitar a admiração de qualquer um que a leia com bom senso e franqueza. Pois ali, em palavras verdadeiramente divinas e proféticas, estão descritos os reinos que viriam, começando desde o tempo de Daniel até a destruição do mundo. E esta profecia pode ser lida por todos os homens. Agora veja se o Anticristo não é mencionado lá também com estas palavras:
‘No final de seus
reinos, quando suas transgressões forem preenchidas, surgirá um rei insolente
de rosto e compreensão de problemas, e etc.’ [Daniel 8:23]”
“E o que já citei
das palavras de Paulo, que ele se sentará no Templo de Deus, mostrando-se que
ele é Deus [2 Tessalonicenses 2:4] - mesmo isso também é dito por Daniel, e
desta maneira , 'No Templo haverá a abominação da desolação; e até o fim dos
tempos será dada uma consumação contra a desolação.’[Daniel 9:27]”[16]
Orígenes está citando muito claramente Daniel 8 e 2 Tessalonicenses 2 e Daniel 9:27, todos em referência ao tempo do Anticristo como algum evento futuro. Ele está, portanto, colocando o cumprimento das palavras de Jesus em Mateus 24 no futuro sob o Anticristo.
Vitorino de
Pettau 240(aprox) - 304 d.C.
Victorinus
provavelmente nasceu na Grécia e falava grego, mas escrevia em latim. Ele foi
muito falado por Jerônimo e foi o bispo de Pettau, localizado na atual
Eslovênia. Ele viu a breve vinda de Cristo como um fio contínuo ao longo do
livro do Apocalipse. Antes de chegar o fim, ele escreveu que haveria guerras,
fomes, pestilências e perseguição aos cristãos. Victorino foi martirizado
durante as perseguições do imperador Diocleciano.[17] Falando sobre o falso
profeta em Apocalipse 13, ele disse:
“Ele fará com que
uma imagem dourada do Anticristo seja colocada no Templo de Jerusalém; e que um
anjo apóstata entraria ali; daí para proferir vozes e oráculos. Ele também fará
com que os escravos e os homens livres recebam como marca na testa ou na mão
direita o número do seu nome, para que de outra forma ninguém possa comprar ou
vender.”
Na seção acima, Victorinus especula sobre como a imagem de Apocalipse 13:15 falará e credita isso a um anjo demoníaco apóstata. Ele cita com precisão Apocalipse 13:16-17 sobre a marca da besta.
Lactâncio, 240
– 320/325 d.C.
Lactâncio foi um
dos primeiros autores cristãos que se tornou conselheiro do primeiro imperador
romano cristão, Constantino I, e foi tutor de seu filho Crispo, que tinha entre
10 e 15 anos na época. Sua obra mais importante foi “As Institutas Divinas”, uma
apologética destinada a estabelecer a verdade e a razoabilidade do Cristianismo
aos seus críticos pagãos. Lactantius era um norte-africano de língua latina de
origem berbere e não nasceu em uma família cristã. Ele não demonstra muito
conhecimento das Escrituras em seus escritos, mas era bom em retórica.[18]
Falando do Anticristo, ele escreveu:
“Ele ordenará que
o fogo desça do céu, e que o sol pare em seu curso, e que uma imagem fale; e
estas coisas serão feitas por sua ordem. Por esses prodígios, o maior número
até mesmo de homens sábios será seduzido por ele. Então ele tentará derrubar o
Templo de Deus e perseguirá os justos; e haverá pressão e provações, como nunca
houve desde o início do mundo.”
Em Apocalipse
13:13 encontramos a citação de Lactâncio sobre “fogo que descerá do céu”, no
entanto, está se referindo ao falso profeta e não ao Anticristo. Não há nenhuma
referência do Anticristo ou falso profeta de ser capaz de parar o curso do sol.
Novamente é o falso profeta que tem o poder de fazer falar a imagem da besta.
Sua referência ao “maior número de homens sábios” sendo seduzidos refere-se a
Daniel 11:35 que diz:
“E alguns deles
entendidos cairão, para experimentá-los, e purificá-los, e embranquecê-los.”
Ou à advertência
de Jesus no Evangelho de Mateus, capítulo 24, que diz:
“Porque surgirão
falsos cristos e falsos profetas e farão grandes sinais e prodígios; de modo
que, se fosse possível, enganariam até os escolhidos.”[Mateus 24:24]
Lactantinus
continua,
“Todos os que
crerem nele e o receberem serão marcados por ele, como ovelhas; mas aqueles que
rejeitarem a sua marca fugirão para as montanhas ou serão presos e mortos... E
será deu-lhe para desolar o mundo por quarenta e dois meses (3 anos e meio).
Este é o período em que a justiça será expulsa e a inocência detestada. Este é
aquele que é chamado de Anticristo – mas ele fingirá ser Cristo e lutará contra
o verdadeiro Cristo.”[19]
A primeira seção
sobre receber a marca está em Apocalipse 13.
“E ele fará com
que todos, pequenos e grandes, ricos e pobres, livres e servos, recebam uma
marca na mão direita ou na testa; e para que ninguém possa comprar ou vender,
exceto aquele que tiver a marca, ou o nome da besta, ou o número do seu nome… e
o seu número é seiscentos e sessenta e seis (666).”[Apocalipse 13:16-18]
“Voem para as
montanhas” parece referir-se a Apocalipse 12, onde a Igreja, ou os cristãos
crentes, fogem do Anticristo durante o período da Grande Tribulação. Vamos ler
na Bíblia:
“E à mulher (a
Igreja dos crentes cristãos) foram dadas duas asas de grande águia, para que
voasse para o deserto, para o seu lugar, onde é sustentada por um tempo, e
tempos, e metade de um tempo, desde a face da serpente.”[Apocalipse 12:14]
Ou outra
possibilidade é que Lactânio esteja se referindo às palavras de Jesus no
Evangelho de Mateus,
“Então os que
estiverem na Judéia fujam para os montes.”[Mateus 24:16]
Os quarenta e
dois meses de Lactâncio vêm de Apocalipse 13, que fala sobre a perseguição do
Anticristo aos santos e a todos aqueles que se recusam a submeter-se ao seu
sistema económico mundial. Nós lemos,
“E foi-lhe dada
uma boca para proferir grandes coisas e blasfêmias; e foi-lhe dado poder para
continuar por quarenta e dois meses... E foi-lhe permitido fazer guerra aos
santos e vencê-los; e foi-lhe dado poder sobre toda tribo, e língua, e
nação.”[Apocalipse 13:5 & 7]
Os Padres da
Igreja sabiam e ensinaram que a Segunda Vinda de Cristo seria precedida pelo
período de perseguição sob o Anticristo. Eles citaram extensivamente Daniel,
Mateus 24, 2 Tessalonicenses 2 e Apocalipse para defender seu ponto de vista.
Notas
[1] Wikipédia Justino Mártir
[2] Justino Mártir, Carta
a Trifão, o Judeu, p.159, conforme citado por B.W. Newton, “As Perspectivas dos
Dez Reinos”, p.373.
[3a] Daniel 7:25, 12:7
[3] Justin Martyr,
conforme citado por B.W. Newton, “As Perspectivas dos Dez Reinos”, p.373-374.
[4] Wikipédia Irineu
[5] Newton, B.W.,
“Perspectivas dos Dez Reinos” p.374
[6] Irineu adver. Dela.
Capítulo. 25, conforme citado por B.W. Newton em “Perspectivas dos Dez Reinos”,
p.375.
[7] Ibidem, Capítulo 30
[8] Epístola de Barnabé
da Wikipedia
[9] Epístolo de Barnabé,
versão latina do nº 4, original grego sendo perdido, conforme citado por B.W.
Newton em “Perspectivas dos Dez Reinos”, p.372
[10] Ibidem, nº 15
[11] Wikipédia Tertuliano
[12] Tertuliano conforme
citado por Maitland em sua “Escola de Interpretação dos Apóstolos”, p. 165, e
citado por B.W. Newton em “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms”, p. 376.
[13] Wikipédia Hipólito
[14] Hipólito, citado por
Maitland; Chain on Daniel, conforme citado por B.W. Newton em “Perspectivas dos
Dez Reinos”, p.377.
[15] Wikipedia Orígenes
de Alexandria
[16] Origem, conforme
citado por Maitland, p. 171, conforme citado por B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of
the Ten Kingdoms”, p. 377-378.
[17] Wikipédia Vitorino
de Pettau
[18] Wikipédia Lactâncio
[19] Lactantius
Institutes VII, conforme citado por B.W. Newton, “As Perspectivas dos Dez
Reinos”, p.379.
