Truth Magazine

By Jarrod Jacobs

“If our name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we are promised an eternity in outer darkness forever punished in fire (Rev. 20:15; 21:8). We all must examine ourselves and make our life right with God in obedience to His word.”

What will happen at the end of time? Will man be here? Are there signs of the second coming? What will happen to the living and the dead?

As long as man has been on the earth, he has tried to predict the end of the world. Today, people are still trying to predict the end of time, and all have failed. There are many theories about the event that will effect all of us for eternity. All kinds of doctrines flood our airwaves, and bookstores. Do we believe the Millennialists who teach Christ will fight Satan in the battle of Armageddon, and rule and reign on the earth for 1000 years? Do we believe the Universalists who claim we will all go to Heaven, regardless of our spiritual condition? What about the Atheists who deny God and say once we die, we cease to exist and there is no hope beyond this life (1 Cor. 15:19)?

The plea in this issue and this article is “For what saith the scripture?” (Rom. 4:3) And because of the seriousness of this matter, only the Bible will be consulted. The Bible addresses this subject in vivid detail. Please open your Bible and study and read the things stated in this article. Let us now let the Bible answer the question at hand.

The Day Will Come

In 2 Peter 3:10, Peter tells us three things that will happen at the end of time. It will be a day. It will not be an era, millennium, or undistinguished length of time, just one day. Not only is it one day, but is promised to come. “But the day of the Lord will come.” We are not left wondering will happen, but when it will happen. Peter goes on to say it will be as “a thief in the night.” No man knows when the Lord will come, make no mistake about it! Christ tells us His second coming will be a mere hour (Jn. 5:28)! This is not the beginning of an “era,” but one day that will determine our eternity.

The Clouds Will Open

As the apostles watched Christ ascend into Heaven, the angel promised He would come back the same way He went (Acts 1:9-11). As He left in the cloud so shall He return in the cloud. Paul affirms this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, when he says the Lord will “descend from Heaven.”

The Shout and the Trumpet

The shout of the archangel, and the trump of God will signal Christ’s return (1 Thess. 4:16). This sound will stretch across the globe. At this great noise, the world will know that the end of the world is here!

Every Eye Shall See Him

John tells us, “Behold He cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth will wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Rev. 1:7). The Lord will be revealed to us that last day (2 Thess. 1:7). All shall see Christ at that time, living or dead. These passages lay to rest the idea of the “rapture.” This false doctrine is never found in the Bible. If “every eye shall see him” as John said, then who will not? The final day will not happen in secret as some would have us to believe.

The Resurrection

Millennialists will vehemently deny these next sentences, but our plea is, “For what saith the scripture”? So they will not deny my words, but God’s words.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we read of the last day and final judgment. Here Paul only deals with one-half of the resurrection, but it is important to notice. Starting in verse sixteen, Paul says, “the dead in Christ shall rise first.” In verse seventeen we read, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” To put 1000 years between verse sixteen and verse seventeen is to wrest this passage. Paul is simply saying that in the resurrection, the dead will rise before the living do. The things mentioned will happen on the same day (2 Pet. 3:10), at the same hour (Jn. 5:28)!

As Paul dealt with only one side of the resurrection, Jesus gives us the “full picture” of what is to take place. In John 5:28-29, Christ says “the hour” is coming. “All in the graves shall hear His voice.” Is that just the good or just the evil? All shall hear His voice and come forth!

In Acts 24:15, Paul says, “. . . there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Will there be many resurrections before the Judgment comes or just one? These three verses prove that there shall be “a resurrection”  only one!

The Judgment

As we ascend to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17), we shall put on new, incorruptible bodies (1 Cor. 15:35-54). These bodies will be eternal in nature to make us suitable for our everlasting rewards. This body is one that pleases God (v. 38). With only this information revealed, we must trust God, and prepare ourselves for the Judgment.

The Judgment will take place with “the dead small and great” (Rev. 20:12) before God. We will be parted to the right and the left as the sheep and goats (Matt. 25:32-33). We will be judged by our works and obedience to the Bible (Eccl. 12:13-14; Jn. 12:48; Rev. 20:12-13; 22:12). If our name is written in the Book of Life, we can enter Heaven (Exod. 32:32; Psa. 69:28; Lk. 10:20). If our name is not there, we will be cast into Hell (Rev. 20:15; 21:27). In the Sacred Selections songbook (#567), a song titled, “Is My Name Written There?” brings meaning to the things we have studied. This song asks the question we must ask ourselves, “Is my name written there?” If our name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, we are promised an eternity in outer darkness forever punished in fire (Rev. 20:15; 21:8). We all must examine ourselves, and make our life right with God in obedience to His word. We have been warned of our Lord’ s coming, and that last day. Now, let us prepare for that day (Amos 4:12).

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 8, p. 21-22
April 21, 1994

By David Eldridge

In staying with this study of “what saith the scriptures” I would like to address the subject of repentance. The scriptures say much on this subject. In this article it is my goal to present some main points on this subject and clear up some misunderstanding about repentance.

What Is Repentance?

Before a person is able to repent, it stands to reason, that he must first know what repentance is. Repentance has been defined as a change in mind or heart brought about by godly sorrow, and therefore resulting in a change of life. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says repentance “signifies to change one’s mind or purpose, always, in the New Testament, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always except in Luke 17:3,4, of repentance from sin.”

These definitions are exemplified in Matthew 21:28-30. Here we see the parable of the two sons who were told to go and work in the vineyard. The first son said that he would not, but then, seeing the error of his ways, repented and went to work. This son showed a change of mind, and acting on this change of mind changed his life.

What Does Repentance Involve?

Repentance first involves a person acknowledging his sins. If someone refuses to admit that he is sick (Mk. 2:7), then he obviously will not see the need to repent.

Once a person acknowledges his sin, then this will then produce godly sorrow if the person’s attitude is right. In 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 we see this idea taught. In v. 10 Paul writes, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance.” We can see that this godly sorrow will work or bring forth repentance.

Once a person has repented then he turns from the sin. If there is no change in the mind that then produces a change in life the person has not truly repented. True repentance always involves a change in the mind followed by a change in the person’s life.

Who Is Required to Repent?

“And at the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Paul, in his sermon at Athens told the Athenians that not just all men, but, “all men everywhere,” were commanded to repent. Repentance is required of every-one.

Why were all men told to repent? The answer is found in Romans 3:23, because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” All have sinned, so all must repent.

The alien sinner must repent. In Acts 2:37 we see these men (erring sinners) cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” In v. 38 Peter told them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” We also see in Acts 3:19, Peter preaching the same thing with almost the same words. Peter tells them to repent and be converted so that their sins could be blotted out. We learn in these passages that for the sinner, repentance is a necessary step for salvation and remission of sins.

The Christian guilty of sin must also repent. In Acts 8 we see this illustrated by Simon the Sorcerer. In v. 1.3 we find that Simon was baptized and became a child of God. Later on, Simon tried to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit (vv. 18-19). Then Simon, a Christian, was told to repent of this sin (v. 22). From this we can see that a Christian, upon committing a sin, must repent of it, and that this true repentance provides what is necessary for forgiveness.

What a Lack of Repentance Brings

As we saw earlier in this article, without repentance it is impossible to receive salvation. So for one who is not a child of God, no repentance equals an eternal torture and punishment in Hell.

For a child of God repentance is also essential. True repentance brings forgiveness of sins, and without forgiveness of our sins, we will receive death, a spiritual death in hell, as wages for those sins (Rom. 6:23). For “all men everywhere” repentance is required.

In conclusion, we have learned that repentance is required for everyone, and that this repentance will bring forth a change in both our minds and our lives. And that repentance must be taught and used in every Christian’s life.

*David Eldridge is 16 years old.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 8, p. 15
April 21, 1994

By Morris Hafley

I just wonder how the bride and groom would feel if the preacher showed up at their wedding wearing cutoffs and a sweatshirt. Would they feel like “Our wedding is going to be ruined,” “All anybody is going to remember of our wedding was how the preacher was dressed,” “Boy, that took a lot of nerve to come dressed like he was washing the car,” or “Somebody ought to say something to him”? Somebody would and they’d have every right, wouldn’t they? Yes! Yes!

How about a bride who comes with an immodest wedding dress. I am embarrassed as the preacher. She should be. Did she not try the dress on until just before she “walked down the aisle”? Probably the father never saw it until then, but the mother surely saw it on her daughter. Couldn’t you make a statement like, “Sweetheart that neck-line is cut too low”? Maybe the daughter doesn’t understand the effects of such a dress, though one would think since she is getting married she should understand. Maybe no one ever talked to her. That is a big problem, perhaps, with the failure of many marriages, no one ever explains to them the “facts of life.”

Come on! Moms and Dads, give your daughters a clue! Usually the bride is not taller than all the men to whom she will talk. They are already looking down at her. Maybe she is in the habit of exposing that much flesh. I hope not! I would think that when she tried the dress on her sense of modesty, which she should have as commanded by her God, would automatically kick into gear. But alas! At the weddings I have been to in the last few years the brides have lost their ability to blush in some cases. I have made an effort to compliment those who did not expose themselves. I appreciated their effort and they appreciated the compliment. I think those young ladies have more respect for themselves and their future husbands.

I don’t have any idea how many future grooms who will read this, or have some input on their bride’s dress. I doubt you can tell by just seeing a dress hanging whether or not it is cut too low. I guarantee people are “thinking something” when she marches out “in front of God and everybody” and displays herself with an immodest wed-ding gown. Here is a dress, whose color represents purity, but is giving a hint of impurity. Just a little (very little) more material would take care of the problem and it wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Our dress expresses a part of us that can’t be seen, our character. What is this expressing about the bride? Not godliness or virtue.

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 1
May 5, 1994

By Randy Blackaby

A perilous propensity to purge paternity from American life is leaving us a fatherless society and a host of long and short-term crises which we will be hard-pressed to fix.

Speculation about why a large cross-section of American children are growing up papa-less is varied. No doubt part of the answer is in the rejection of any morality beyond personal conscience. An over swing of the pendulum in feminism’s rush for independence is another possibility. And, men can’t escape responsibility either. The historic failure of many men to carry their paternal responsibilities beyond fertilization is undeniable.

But whatever the cause, statistics show illegitimacy to be a growing plague in the U.S. Census figures show a dramatic rise in these out-of-wedlock births, from 3 percent in 1950 to 4 percent in 1960 to nearly 16 percent in the early ’80s and now almost 25 percent in the ’90s.

These figures represent an overview of all groups and races in our country. A look at specific groups raises even more alarm and questions about causes. For instance: only don’t discourage illegitimacy but, in fact, facilitate it.

Few people in or out of government seem to want to sanction the adult participants in this moral degeneracy but our sympathy for the plight of the innocent babies born of this fornication has led to lifetime support of the mother and child. Fatherless children know little of a complete home and so they repeat the pattern in the next generation.

It is easily seen that the percentage of fatherless homes is growing in ever increasing leaps.

We are rapidly approaching the point where there will be no political solution. In our system of majority rule, the party of the misbegotten soon will have the votes to insist on the legitimization of illegitimacy. In the Afro-American population that majority already exists and whites quickly are moving toward the same.

 Among blacks, 67 percent of children are born out of wedlock.

The answer, therefore, probably won’t lie in political answers but in a rejuvenation or rebirth of Christian morality. As more and more of our population is made to suffer poverty, educational deprivation, absentee parents and the connected and increasing crime, drugs and unemployment, perhaps we’ll be able to see the truth and reason in God’s design of the home.

 Among Hispanics, the rate is 27 percent.

 And, among whites, the rate of illegitimacy is growing the fastest, from 10 percent in 1982 to 17 percent in 1992.

Unlike many other social problems that often are blamed on poverty, lack of education or other factors, American bastardy is growing in an environment of ever increasing sex education and prophylactic distribution.

It appears to be a conscious choice. It is not just a choice, as in the past, to participate in promiscuous sex, but a choice to produce children without marriage and usually without any plan to involve the male in the child’s rearing.

Without significant thought, American taxpayers underwrite and even encourage the expansion of this phenomenon through liberal welfare rules that not

That design calls for active and involved moms and dads who are faithful to one another and to their children. It defines the father as the primary provider and the mother as the primary keeper of the home.

It is true that there always will be families where this ideal can’t be achieved, whether because of the death of a spouse or because of infidelity. But the critical need today is to acknowledge that the biblical pattern for the family is the ideal and fundamental for a properly functioning society.

Our nation needs its fathers visible, responsible and active. Our children and our future depend upon it.

(Randy Blackaby is a former reporter, columnist, editorial writer and newspaper managing editor who now serves as minister for the Courtland Ave. Church of Christ in Kokomo.)

Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 9, p. 
May 5, 1994