In the last installment, we ended by looking at some words in 2nd Peter. Today I want to begin by looking more closely to a Q & A which Peter developed. "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." (2 Peter 3:11-12) Some years ago, theologian Francis Schaeffer put together an outstanding video series base on the similar question, "How Should We then Live?" That is the topic we will cover in this, and perhaps one or two additional installments, as we bring this series to a close. And just in case I have failed to make a compelling case for the church entering the 70th week of Daniel, and having to face times of unprecedented testing, I will just come out and state it plainly: I BELIEVE THAT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, DANIEL, PETER, PAUL AND JOHN ALL HARMONIZE AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE CHURCH WILL ENTER THE 70TH WEEK OF DANIEL (AKA "THE TRIBULATION") AND FACE PERSECUTION AND TESTING UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE IN HUMAN HISTORY. IN THIS THE CHURCH WILL BE PURIFIED AS SHE AWAITS THE RAPTURE (THE BLESSED HOPE) WHICH WILL OCCUR WHEN CHRIST APPEARS A SECOND TIME, NOT TO DEAL WITH SIN BUT TO SAVE THOSE WHO WAIT IN EXPECTANT PERSEVERANCE, AND JUDGMENT UPON ALL THE REST. (TITUS 2:12-13; HEBREWS 9:28)
So now to the question: "How should we then live?" I think the short answer to that question is found right here: "They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47) If you continue reading in Acts, this activity was still going on in Acts 6, where the distribution of the goods held in common for those who had need was becoming a logistical problem. But what had happened in the interim?
The new church was growing by leaps and bounds (120 [Acts 1:15] to 3,120 [Acts 2:41] to 5,000 men [Acts 4:4]). Miracles in the public arena were drawing people's attention (Acts 3:1-4:21). Persecution was beginning (Acts 4:3) and then increased (Acts 5:17 - 40). The preaching was becoming bold and to the point (Acts 3:11-26; 4:8-12, 19-20; 5:29 - 32). It became absolutely clear that people who just wanted to play church were not welcome (Acts 4:32 - 5:13). When I read these passages from Acts in light of biblical truth concerning the Second Coming of Christ, I see a clear picture of the church that is being perfected, with every spot and wrinkle being removed (Ephesians 5:27), all taking place under the pressure that comes from the earth groaning, the organized church drifting towards apostasy, lawlessness increasing (1 Peter 1:6-9). It becomes clear how apostasy and revival can happen at the same time.
Please allow me to give you an example of this as we bring this installment to a close. Suppose that world-wide there are 1.5 billion people who call themselves "Christian." Then a revival of righteousness and holiness begins to occur at the same time which persecution against Christians is increasing and concurrently a huge portion of the 1.5 billion in the visible church begin to embrace all sorts of ungodly mixture so as to get along, enjoying both governmental favor and protection from persecution. (For an historical example, look at the church in Germany between 1930 and 1940). In such a scenario, some will be drawn to the true Gospel and be saved. Some of the carnal Christians in the church will become truly converted. The number of true Christians will increase. At the same time, many will fall from the faith, accepting a government-sanctioned form of eccumenicalism.
That's enough for today. To leave you with some words of encouragement: "...brothers (and sisters), since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:19-23)
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