Truth Magazine

By Raymond E. Harris

Honest people have always had respect for the property of others. One who would take, or disrespect the property of another has always been held in contempt by the upright of every nation, tribe and tongue. Yet, it seems that some have more concern for that which belongs to their fellow man than they have for that which is the Lord’s.

1. The Lord’s Day. In Revelation 1:10, John wrote, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day.” Through the years many Bible scholars have understood that John was speaking of the first day of the week (Sunday). This is the day the Lord’s faithful have always “kept.” Sunday is remembered as the day Jesus rose from the dead. It is the day upon which Christians assemble to remember the death of Jesus (Acts 20:7). It is the day upon which Christians assemble not only to worship, but also to be edified and to collect funds for good works.

It is indeed sad that many are not satisfied to use the six days of each week that God has provided for man’s use. Rather, many are so ungrateful, they will not pause on the “‘Lord’s Day” long enough to join with others in worship and praise to God. We suggest that such selfish- use of the “Lord’s Day” is a form of thievery. And those that would steal from God will not go unpunished!

2. The Lord’s Name. In the Old Testament God was quite specific, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Ex. 20:7). In this day when Jesus has been declared to be “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” it is no less important to reverence his name.

We suggest the terms “Jesus,” “Christ,” “My Lord” and “God” are not terms to be used indiscriminately. Such terms should rather be used with great care and respect in sincere and humble reference to deity. When man uses such words as “God,” “Jesus Christ,” and “Oh Lord” as slang or worse, can the Lord be pleased?

The word “vain” means “empty,” “void,” without a cause” and “to no purpose.” The Bible teaches that one day, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ: that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he bath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Further, Jesus taught, “. . . every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36).

We suggest that disrespectful use of the Lord’s name will not go unpunished as “by thy words thou shalt be justified. And by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 3, p. 81
February 3, 1983

By Dudley Ross Spears

A Questionnaire On Revelation 20

Please read Revelation 20:1-6 and answer the following questions about each verse.

Verse 1. What does John say he saw? If you answered, “an angel,” then what did John say the angel had in his hand and where was the angel going?

Verse 2. On what does the angel lay hold? Where does this take place and how much time is involved?

Verse 3. What does the angel do to Satan and why?

Verse 4. John saw thrones and those who occupied them. Where were these thrones – on earth or in heaven or does the Bible say? What condition were the “souls” in when John saw them? Who are these souls who live and reign with Christ for a thousand years?

Verse 5. John saw what he called a “first resurrection.” Does John say bodies are raised (re-read verse 4).

Verse 6. Who are the “priests of God and of Christ” in this verse?

Summary: Can one read this and find an earthly kingdom, the throne of David, the city of Jerusalem, human beings with bodies (non-decapitated), the earth itself, or any other essential item in the premillennial theory?

One may not know precisely what such figurative language means, but it does not take a Solomon to know what it does not mean. It does not mean what it does not say – now does it?

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 3, p. 81
February 3, 1983

By John F. Hughbanks

One of my favorite songs is “Here We are but Straying Pilgrims.” This song lends much encouragement and strength as we go on our road in this life, looking for the promised home for the faithful. The New Testament teaches that we are pilgrims and strangers in this land of ours. We are here only a short time and we are to influence as many as we can while living a godly life and while waiting for the promised reward.

Our path is sometimes dim and fearful as we go on our pilgrimage toward heaven. In. our journey, we often become weary and discouraged, but God has promised to defend us and he cheers us by his word. Hope and reassurance awaits the faithful of His number. Soon His number will have a home forever and God’s smile will gladden all our longing eyes, never again to see or feel pain and sorrow. It is a great blessing and privilege to be a pilgrim and sojourner in this life for our Lord.

We need to take heart that we aren’t the only sojourners in this land. The Bible speaks of many pilgrims in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Consider Genesis 12:10, when God told Abram to leave Haran and go to Canaan and sojourn there. In Hebrews 11:9 we see the New Testament record of it. Other examples are numerous in the Old Testament: Gen. 20:1; 21:34; 47:4; Lev. 18:26; 20:2; Lev. 25:40; Num. 15:15; Deut. 26:5; Judges 17:7; Ruth 1:1 ff. We might recall Exodus 6:1-5 when God spoke to Moses and said that He would deliver His people out of bondage and establish His covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, “the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers (v. 4).”

In John chapter 17, Jesus says that He had given His disciples the same words that the Father had given the Son. Jesus said, “. . . and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me (v. 8).” Jesus was a sojourner in a land that was predominantly unfriendly to him.

Since the Bible teaches that we are pilgrims and sojourners, let us consider how our lives ought to be. Some traits have to be in us so that we can be pleasing to God.

In 2 Peter 3:1, Peter said he wrote this epistle to stir up by way of remembrance their pure minds. So we must have a pure mind and not have it filled with ungodly thoughts and trash. You can’t flirt with the world and stay pure. A rather crude example, but one that illustrates the point is: “You run with goats, eventually you’ll smell like them.”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” In the first letter to Timothy, Paul says the goal of their instruction is to love out of a pure heart (mind) (1 Tim. 1:5). Also, in 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul told Timothy to flee youthful lusts with a pure heart. In Titus 1:15, we are told nothing is pure to the undefiled but to pure people all things are pure. How many times have we seen people who only think filthy thoughts and curse God. Nothing to them is pure or honest. (Consider James 1:27; Hebrews 10:22.)

1 Peter 1:22 says, “Love one another with a pure heart.” Even if others hate and misuse you, you’re to love them anyway, because it is commanded of you (Matt. 5:10-12). A lot of problems in the church today wouldn’t be as bad as they are if brethren truly practiced love in the way Jesus describes it.

Another trait of a pilgrim is honesty. Romans 12:17 says to provide things honest in the sight of all men. Brethren, we can’t cheat or steal from our employer or the government and expect to be pleasing in the sight of God. When we are engaged in these sort of things we are cheating God and man, and lying to ourselves. In Philippians 4:8, Paul said, “Whatsoever things are honest; think on these things.” Again, how can you think on honest and pure things when you are involved in loose living, adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, envyings, drunkenness, backbiting, and other sins. As pilgrims, we need to be pure and honest and live for God or our pilgrimage will come to ruin at the judgment (Rev. 22:11-15; Rom. 13:13; 2 Cor. 13:7; 1 Thess. 4:12; Heb. 13:18; Luke 8:15).

Yet another trait of a pilgrim is that he is a working pilgrim. In I Cor. 15:58 we are told to be “steadfast, unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord as you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Also consider 2 Thess. 3:13 which says, “But ye brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

Jesus gives us an example to good works. John 10:32 says that He did many good works. Again in Acts 10:38 we are told that Jesus healed those oppressed of the devil and went about doing good. Paul instructed the young evangelist Timothy to tell others to be rich in good works (1 Tim. 6:17-18). Jesus taught many parables about the importance of activity for pilgrims in this life. Some parables are the Talents and Pounds (Matt. 25:14-29; Luke 19:12-27), Laborers in the Vineyard (Matt. 20:11-15), Parable of two. Sons (Matt. 21:28-31), and the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9).

Notice in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, that work was involved there. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase.” There was a degree of work involved there. God will reward each by the work of each person’s labor. Man will not be rewarded by another man’s work. We as Christian pilgrims need to be active to reach as many souls as possible, it is our responsibility. It is something we can accomplish with God’s help and guidance.

Yet a final point to be considered is that life is a vapor and that life is short. There will be trials and tribulations and we need to face them and expect them. Job 14:1 says, “Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Some people think Christians are above trials because they are children of God. (Read Acts 28 and 2 Cor. 11:24-28.)

Christians are taught to expect hardships! Peter made the statement, “When you do well, and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God.” James said in chapter 1 and verses 2 and 3 that hardships are for our benefit. Also the apostle Paul told Timothy, “You all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” That persecution could come in either the physical or mental realm today. But we must always remember that it’s only temporary and can’t be compared with the eternity of heaven (Rom. 8:17-18; Phil. 1:29).

We surely have fears today as Christians but God has given us His word to strengthen us by the examples of past pilgrims who have gone down the same paths. Since we’re pilgrims, let us keep our lives pure and honest and be a working people who look for that blessed hope (Tit. 2:13).

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 3, pp. 80-81
February 3, 1983

By Larry Ray Hafley

No disciple doubts or denies the necessity of edification. That Christians must be built up by the word of God that they may “grow up into him in all things” is beyond dispute or discussion (Eph. 4:12-16; 1 Pet. 2:2; Jas. 1:21). Much of the New Testament was written to the saved “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15).

This is the process of all the natural realm. After the begettal and birth, there follows the long period of nurture and admonition. After the plowing and planting, there is care and cultivation to insure the harvest. Likewise, after the conviction and conversion of the sinner, there is confirmation and exhortation to evade temptation, endure tribulation and enjoy salvation (Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42; 14:21, 22).

In all arrangements, organizations and institutions, whether human or Divine, there must be constant impartation of information to maintain strength and attain growth. However, when any society or company begins to feed on itself, it becomes a parasite sucking out its own life’s blood. It is as though one began to eat his own body for food and nourishment. He may temporarily feed himself, but the outcome is obvious. “But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Gal. 5:15).

Is this repulsive self cannibalizing occurring in the kingdom of God? A businessman recognizes the need for staff meetings, for internal reorganization and sales motivation, but if he spends his time waxing and polishing the store and his retail force and fails to attend to the consumer, he will die. If the business has too much refinement, too many inter-personnel memos, though all are designed to improve the company, and neglects the customer, the business will fail. Again, is this happening among the Lord’s people?

Not Now, Not Later, Not Ever

This is not the time, if there ever was such a time to turn and feast and focus our eyes upon an institutional body. The Jews did so. They could see a man healed, but they only wanted to debate the sabbath issue. They could connive and conspire and bribe and lie and put an innocent man to death, but they certainly did not want to be in the judgment hall at the wrong time, “lest they should be defiled” (Jn. 18:28). They could twist His words and with unashamed deceit and dishonesty attempt to discredit His mighty deeds, which they acknowledged as such (Jn. 11:47; 12:10, 11; Matt. 12:24; Acts 2:22), but they could not allow their victim to remain on the cross, “(for that sabbath day was an high day)” (Jn. 19:31).

Word studies and technical, critical examination and consideration of the word of truth are good, but we do not need to know how many angels can reside on the head of a pin. A nation needs arms. Let it produce swords, spears and shields. They must be kept in repair. They must be clean and shining, but they are for use on the enemy, not against one another. Who was it that originally said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand”? Hint: It was not Abraham Lincoln.

The United States was nearly destroyed by civil war. The kingdom of God will not be annihilated or exterminated, but if its citizens turn on one another in wrath, pride, envy and evil surmising, they will be cast out, spewed out, broken off and delivered unto Satan. Diotrephes, men, will not do it, but the One who rules “with a rod of iron,” and “with the sword of his mouth,” and Who walks “in the midst” of the churches will consume them.

Conclusion

The world, our friends, neighbors and relatives are perishing in the clutches of atheism, humanism, sensualism and denominationalism. In this land of Bibles and churches, ignorance, superstition and vain worship prevail. Churches of the Lord suffer from the influence of the world, from the evils the holy apostles and prophets warned us of (Acts 20:28-32; 2 Pet. 2:1, 2; Jude 3, 4). All of these errors, departures and sins must be opposed with meekness and fear. However, we cannot afford internal bickering, backbiting and contention in the name of contending for the faith. Wisdom and greatness in the kingdom of God’s dear Son are not determined by envy, strife and division. Jealousy and selfish ambition “descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (Jas. 3:15). “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 19:21).

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 3, p. 79
February 3, 1983