Resurrection. Matthew 22:23, 28-31; Cf. Job 19:25; 1 Cor. 15:52) and Elias talking with him (Kingodm (N.T.). Matthew 17:1-3; Matthew 19:27-28. Cf. Luke 1:31-33; 1 Cor. 15:28.
Son of man. Cf. Matthew 17:12, 22. See also Matthew 8:20, note
(See Matthew 8:2, note)
Lit. little faith. Matthew 16:8; Matt. 21:21; Luke 17:6
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Matthew 4:21, note
Two persons are called by this name in the N.T.:
(1) James the son of Zebedee, an apostle
(Matt. 10. 2),
and the brother of the Apostle John, apart from whom he is
never mentioned, and with whom, together with Peter, he was admitted to the es-
pecial intimacy of our Lord
(Matt. 17:1; Mark 5:37; Mark 9:2; Mark 14:33).
He was martyred
by Herod
(Acts 12. 2).
(2) A son of Alphseus (or Cleopas) and of Mary the sister
of Mary the mother of Jesus
(see Matt. 1. 16, note), and brother of Joses
(Mk. 15. 40).
He was, therefore, a cousin of the Lord Jesus. He is called James "the less"
(Mark 15. 40;
lit. little, i.e. of shorter stature than James the son of Zebedee). He
was an apostle
(Matt. 10. 3).
It has been conjectured that "Lebbseus, whose surname
was Thaddaeus"
(Matt. 10. 3)
was identical with the Judas of Luke 6. 16,
who is there
called "of [i.e. 'son' or 'brother' as it has been variously translated] James."
A Juda is mentioned with a James and Joses and Simon in
Mark 6. 3
as "brother" of our Lord
(see Matt. 13. 55, marg.).
The Gospels mention no other James who could
be called the brother of the Lord Jesus, but James the less was certainly the son
of Alphseus and Mary the sister of our Lord's mother. The conclusion seems,
therefore, most probable that
Matt. 10. 3; Matt. 13. 55; Mark 3. 18; Mark 6. 3; Luke 6. 15; Acts 1. 13; Acts 12. 17
Acts 15. 13; Acts 21. 18; Gal. 1. 19; Gal. 2. 9, 12; and.Jas. 1. 1
refer to James the less, son
of Alphseus and Mary, and cousin, or, according to Jewish usage, "brother" of the
Lord Jesus. He was the author of the Epistle of James.
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Son Of Man, Matt. 8:20, note
Cf. Ezek. 2:1, Note. Our Lord thus designates Himself about eighty times.
It is his radical name as the representative Man, in the sense of
1 Cor. 15:45-47;
as Son of David is distinctively His Jewish name, and Son of God His divine name.
Our Lord constantly uses this term as implying that His mission (e.g. Mt. 11:19; Luke 19:10).
His death and resurrection (e.g. Matt. 12:40; Matt. 20: 18; Matt. 26:2), and His second coming (e.g. Matt. 24:37-44; Luke 12:40),
transcended in scope and result all merely Jewish limitations.
>[?When Nathanael confesses Him as "King of Israel," our Lord's answer is, "Thou shalt see greater things . . . the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
When His messengers are cast out by the Jews, His thought leaps forward to the time when the Son of man shall come, not then to Israel only but to the race (Matt. 10:5-6, 23). It is in this name, also, that universal judgment is committed to Him (John 5:22, 27).
It is also a name indicating that in Him is fulfilled the Old Testament foreview of blessing through a coming man (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3:15; Gen. 12:3; Psa. 8:4; Psa. 80:17; Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6, 7; Isa. 32:2; Zech. 13:7).
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Matthew 17:2
The transfiguration scene contains, in miniature, all the elements of the future
kingdom in manifestation.
(1) The Lord, not in humiliation, but in glory (Matthew 17:2)
(2) Moses, glorified, representative of the redeemed who have passed through death
into the kingdom (Matthew 13:43; Cf. Luke 9:30, 31).
(3) Elijah, glorified, representative of the redeemed who have entered the kingdom
by translation (1 Corinthians 15:50-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
(4) Peter, James, and John, not glorified, representatives (for the moment) of Israel
in the flesh in the future kingdom (Ezekiel 37:21-27).
(5) The multitude at the foot of the mountain (verse 14), representative of the nations
who are to be brought into the kingdom after it is established over Israel
(Isaiah 11:10-12, etc.).
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Cf. Matthew 11:14; Mark 9:11, i2, 13; Luke 1:17; Malachi 3:1; 4:5, 6; All the passages
must be construed together.
(1) Christ confirms the specific and still unfulfilled prophecy of Malachi 4:5, 6.
"Elias shall truly first come and restore all things." Here, as in Malachi,
the prediction fulfilled in John the Baptist, and that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah,
are kept distinct.
(2) But John the Baptist had come already, and with a ministry so completely in
the spirit and power of Elijah's future ministry (Luke 1:17) that in an adumbrative
and typical sense it could be said. "Elias is come already."
Matthew 10:40 -- here the same thought of identiication, while yet preserving personal
distinction, occurs (cf. John 1:27).
(The two best MSS, omit verse 21)
Lit. anticipated.
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Devils, lit. demons. To the reality and personality of demons the N.T. Scriptures bear
abundant testimony. As to their origin nothing is clearly revealed, but they are not to
be confounded with the angels mentioned in
2 Pet. 2. 4; Jude 6.
Summary:
- Demons are spirits
(Matt. 12:43, 45);
- are Satan's emissaries
(Matt. 12:26, 27; Matt. 25:41);
- and so numerous as to make Satan's power practically ubiquitous
(Mark 5:9).
- They are capable of entering and controlling both men and beasts
(Mark 5:8, 11-13),
- and earnestly seek embodiment, without which, apparently, they
are powerless for evil
(Matt. 12:43, 44; Mark 5:10-12).
- Demon influence and demon possession are discriminated in the N.T.
Instances of the latter are
(Matt. 4:24; Matt. 8:16, 28, 33; Matt. 9:32; Matt. 12:22; Mark 1:32; Mark 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; Acts 8:7; Acts 16:16.
- They are unclean, sullen, violent, and malicious
(Matt. 8:28; Matt. 9:33; Matt. 10:l; Matt. 12:43; Mark 1:23; Mark 5:3-5; Mark 9:17, 20; Luke 6:18; Luke 9:39)
- They know Jesus Christ as Most High God,
- and recognize His supreme authority
(Matt. 8:31, 32; Mark 1:24; Acts 19:15; James. 2:19).
- They know their eternal fate to be one of torment
(Matt. 8:29; Luke 8:31).
- They inflict physical maladies
(Matt. 12:22; Matt. 17:15-18; Luke 13:16),
but mental disease is to be distinguished from the disorder of mind due
to demoniacal control.
- Demon influence may manifest itself in religious asceticism and formalism
(1 Tim. 4:1-3),
degenerating into uncleanness
(2 Peter 2:10-12).
The sign of demon influence in religion is departing from the faith, i.e. the
body of revealed truth in the Scriptures
(1 Tim. 4:1).
- The demons maintain especially a conflict with believers who would be spiritual
(Eph. 6:12; 1 Tim. 4:1-3).
- All unbelievers are open to demon possession
(Eph. 2:2).
The believer's resources are,
If not already here, does it not seem as though they are on the way in 2004?
Turning Hearts in the End Time
Families in the Family of God
Introduction:
In the news was a story of a couple who, with the
passage of time, saw the romance drain out of their marriage. The wife was then diagnosed
with a brain aneurism. Knowing they had very limited time left together, the couple
rekindled the original excitement of their marriage. It took a tragedy to make the couple
focus on what was important. Our study this week is about God focusing our attention on
what is important, especially as we consider the time of His Second Coming.
I. Drought
1. What kind of King is Ahab?
B. Read 1 Kings 17:1.
What claims does Elijah make to King Ahab? (That his God is alive and that He
controls the rain.)
- Why do you think God chose rain to be the point of contention? (Read
Deuteronomy 11:16-17. Here and elsewhere in the Bible God links the blessing of
rain to fidelity to Him. The Bible Knowledge Commentary tells us Baal was claimed to
be the god of rain.)
C. Give me the big picture here.
What is God doing? (He is challenging Baal. He is bringing the attention of the
people to the issue of who is the true God? Who is worthy to be worshiped?)
II. The Contest
What do you think the land was like after three years of no rain or dew?
- If you were Elijah, how would you greet these instructions from God?
Has King Ahab learned his lesson?
1. I thought the lesson was that the Living God was in charge?
Hasn't King Ahab learned that lesson?
What picture do you have in your mind of this event? (They are on a mountain top.
The people of Israel have assembled to watch. On one side is Elijah and on the other
side are 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah along with King Ahab.)
- If you were an outsider and were picking a winner in this contest,
which side would you pick?
What is Elijah asking the people to do? (He is asking them the same question I just
asked you: Which side will you choose to win? Which side will prevail?)
1. Why does Elijah ask this?
- Is this our task today? To present the choices to others? To try to
get a commitment?
2. What rousing response did the people give? (They said nothing.)
- Is this lack of response good or bad?
- Or, is this just typical? Are the people sheep who are ready to be led?
(The good news is that they have been paying attention to the issue of the drought enough
so that they do not cheer for Baal, even though the king and 850 prophets are on Baal's side.
I think it is typical that people want to wait and see.)
We finally get a response from the people. To what do they respond? (They respond
to the offer of clear evidence.)
How about this for clear proof?
How do the people respond to clear proof? (With a clear decision.)
1. Don't you wish that God would act like this today?
2. Review in your mind what we have just studied. What plan of God do
we see in this story? (People turn away from God. God creates a dramatic problem for them
that creates doubt in the strength of the false god. When God has their attention, He
arranges an unbelievable show of power.)
III. John the Baptist
What is in the future for our friend Elijah? (He goes to heaven and then gets to
come back to earth to see Jesus.)
How does the work of John the Baptist compare to the work of Elijah?
(Read Matthew 3:1-3. They were both working to bring the attention of the people
back to God. They were a critical part of bringing the people together to view a
great manifestation of the power of God.)
1. Compare Jesus coming to earth to the fire coming down on Mt.
Carmel?
a. How does it compare in the power department?
b. How does it compare in the miracle department?
c. How does it compare in the attention- getting department?
d. Read 1 Kings 18:38. How does this remind you of Jesus? (Jesus
"burned up" the sacrificial system. This entire system pointed to Him and He fulfilled it.)
IV. The End Time
What time is being written about in these texts?
The time reference in the prior text was not clear to me. What clarity does this
text bring?
1. Read and compare 2 Peter 3:11-13. (There is no doubt in my mind now
that Malachi 4:1-3 is at least talking about the Second Coming of Jesus.)
We had "Elijah" come in the person of John the Baptist before Jesus first coming.
Is it reasonable to expect another "Elijah" before the Second Coming of Jesus? Is this
a repeating prophecy? (I think the answer is "yes.")
1. What is the impact of Elijah on families of faith at the end times?
(He will bring families of faith together.)
- Why will that be true? (Difficult circumstances can bring us closer.)
D. We see God repeating a pattern.
First it was between Elijah and the fire on Mt. Carmel and then John the Baptist and
the power of Jesus. Tell me what you predict will be the first act of the Elijah
experience before the Second Coming?
1. Recall that God went straight for the "power" of Baal? Baal was the
god of rain and there was no rain. What is the god of our age? (It is hard for me to speak
about other countries, but the god of our age in the United States is money and possessions.)
a. What does this logically suggest is God's first step to prepare
us for the Second Coming? (Strike our wealth.)
- If you doubt this, read Revelation 3:17-18 and
Revelation 13:16-17.
Both texts speak of money being a problem. The second text tells us that the penalty for
the faithful will be a loss of the use of money.
E. After the "attention-getter"
The rain drought, money drought -- what will be the next logical step? (The dramatic
display of God's awesome power! In the end time we get the previous two displays repeated.
We get Jesus coming for the second time(Revelation 19), and He ultimately sends fire to
consume the wicked! (Revelation 20)
F. Friend, will you give God your attention and your loyalty?
The Elijah test is coming. Strengthen your faith, strengthen your family so that
you will be prepared!
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