The Bible Is True

God wanted to give much more than Israel and redeemed Gentiles to His Son Jesus Christ; He wanted to give Him a Church as His body. This Church encompasses the period from the commission of the Apostle Paul and the message given to him and the other Apostles, all the way up to the Rapture of the Church. Then God will again resume redemptive history with Israel.

“And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isa 49:6). Of all verses, this is the one cited at the start of Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:47). The Apostles’ letters now speak to Israel’s time of deferment. In this phase—which has already lasted 2,000 years—countless redeemed people came into being, who form the body of Jesus.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9).

The promise hasn’t at all been distorted—even if it seems that way to us—because we don’t know the features of God’s road map. Everything will take place precisely according to God’s purpose and sublime thoughts. The reason behind it is salvation for the whole world. Where would I be if the Lord had returned before my own conversion?

In the meantime, Paul proclaims the Gospel of grace until midnight in redemptive history. Then it will be time for the Rapture and the Great Tribulation, after which the Lord will return as the bridegroom. Midnight in redemptive history isn’t just a point in time but a time span. To the best of our knowledge, the following events will occur within a few years:

1. First, the Rapture.
2. Next, the events of Revelation.
3. There is a call in those days: “…Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
4. Then, at the time of the morning star, we see Him appearing as the bridegroom (Rev 19; 22:16).
 
Since all of Scripture is inspired by God the Holy Spirit, all of it conforms to God’s plan of salvation. There are no coincidences in the Bible. This may be the reason that Paul’s preaching can also be understood symbolically: “Paul preached unto them … and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7b). Or in the ESV, “…he prolonged his speech until midnight.”

Doesn’t that symbolize the apostolic commission? The apostolic writings on the Gospel of perfect grace, cover the New Testament period up until midnight. Then, grace expires, and the dramatic events of Revelation take place. Grace will still be present, but in different proportions.

No More Delays
It’s a true saying that the middle of the night is also the start of a new day.

A great deal has happened, and a lot of time has passed in 2,000 years. Just a few examples are the fall of the Roman Empire, the great persecution of Christianity, Islamization, the Crusades, the Dark Ages, two World Wars, and the rebirth of the State of Israel. Throughout these many centuries, Christians of all generations and walks of life have held fast to the promise that Jesus will return.

Israel once again has a platform on the world stage. And this platform has eschatological significance, since Jesus’ return and the future of the Church are closely linked to Israel’s history. The Church arose when there was a vibrant Jewish nation, and the Church will disappear when the end-time events unfold over the new Jewish State: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Rev 1:7; cf. Matt 24:30).

We can see that we’re within reach of apocalyptic events. The Age of Grace seems to be drawing to a close. “Things will never be the same again,” secular observers have said of our time. The world is like a raft caught in the unstoppable current of a waterfall. Our society is spiritually sick; the order of Creation is being overturned; what is normal is being perverted into what is abnormal.

More and more people are waking up to the gathering storm, realizing it is taking on increasingly sinister proportions. It’s no longer rustling but crashing. Global political tensions are growing; the economy is becoming more unstable; moral relativism exists in all areas… The system’s anchors are no longer holding… Terrible diseases threaten; there are natural disasters; fear of nuclear war is rising; rearmament is taking place; freedom-limiting measures are increasing… The Western world is moving away from its Christian roots, and biblical concepts of ethics, morality, and social norms are being rejected. 

Aren’t the words of Psalm 2 very timely today?

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” (Ps 2:2-5).

Any ties to God are abandoned … all spiritual principles are being cast aside, to usher in things that are hostile to God. In His Discourse on the end times, Jesus announced, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt 24:12).

The Psalmist says, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:3). And, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted” (Ps 12:8). This is precisely what is increasingly becoming reality today. Lawlessness abounds; the cornerstones of divine truth are being torn down, and baseness is elevated. Where is this leading? Into the time of divine wrath—the apocalypse.

Al Mohler observed that truth is dead when “what was condemned is now celebrated, what was celebrated is now condemned, and those who refuse to celebrate are condemned.”

But there’s good news: Jesus Christ will come again to take His Church with Him. Then He will appear as King and ascend to His throne in Jerusalem. His scepter of justice will reign. As we see the world becoming darker and more distorted, the promise of His return shines bigger and brighter.

Arno C. Gaebelein writes: “We look at the approaching storm precipitating all into an abyss of hopelessness. We look again and see a marvelous sunrise. The Morningstar appears, the herald of the Day and the Sun in all His glory. Even so Come, Thou Hope of the hopeless, Thou Hope of Israel, Thou Hope of the World, all Nations, and Creation. Even so, Come Lord Jesus.”

That’s why we don’t want to stop heeding the prophetic Word, praying for Jesus’ return, and encouraging one another. I’d like to share eight encouraging thoughts from the following two Bible passages:

In Habakkuk 2:2-4, we read, “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

We can find seven applications for us today in this Old Testament prophecy. First, Habakkuk had to write down his vision. Scriptural ministry has value. We spread the Bible’s solid, prophetic Word, because that is our mission. Second, God has His appointed time; namely, that “which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7), and “at the end it shall speak.” Third, Scripture does not lie, for God’s Word is truth. Fourth, when we see delay of a promise’s fulfillment, it challenges our faith. Yet we’re called to wait no matter what. Fifth, the promise’s reliability is not in doubt. “Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Sixth, there will be those whose “soul … is lifted up”; who walk “after their own lusts” like scoffers in the last days, “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet 3:3-4); who are proud and puffed up, “his soul is not upright in him.” Seventh, “the just shall live by his faith.” The Gospel of our coming Lord is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom 1:16).

We read in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Eighth, those who love something focus fully on it, be it marriage, hobbies, work, children… Those who love Jesus’ appearance are intent on fighting the fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith. Such people will want to lead a life like Jesus.

Augustine is said to have remarked, “He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off, nor is it he who says it is near. It is he who, whether it be far or near, awaits it with sincere faith, stead-fast hope and fervent love.”

That is how we want to live: expect Him, and not forsake our hope. Maranatha—our Lord, come!

Midnight Call - 01/2024