Sharing programs on the Truth of the Bible with "RIGHTLY DIVIDING" and encouraging everyone to study the scriptures, the message God gave us to learn who he is and how much he loves us!

Rome Gray

Hebrews 1:2a 
 
"Hath in these last days (that is the period of Christ's first advent. Those were the last days according to all the Old Testament prophecies) spoken unto us by his Son, (remember there is no "his" in the original as we spoke of in the previous lesson. So it should read, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by) Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,..." 
 
 
Now just stop for a moment. I think we're all guilty of just reading so fast, that we don't read. What does it mean to be appointed heir? Well, they get everything. You know we like to read of the heir of some wealthy corporation, or the Vanderbilt family, or the Rockefeller's and we'll read of their great wealth, and it always says, "They're the heir of so and so fortune." So we're well acquainted to what it is to be an heir, but you see the Triune God again, the Father, Son, and the Spirit, have in unison made the Son the Heir of everything. Now let's go back to the Book of Philippians chapter 2, and this again says it all in a different light than even Hebrews. 
 
 
I'm going to keep stressing that Hebrews is written with the idea of showing the Jewish people that Jesus of Nazareth was not just a martyr. He was not just a prophet, but rather He was God the Son! He was the Creator of everything. So here in Philippians chapter 2, Paul, I think covers the whole realm of Christ's coming and what He accomplished. Verse 5: 
 
 
Philippians 2:5 
 
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in the form of God,..." Remember what the Scripture says in John 1:1? 
 
 
John 1:1 
 
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." So this same Jesus, the Word in John 1:2, the Christ: 
 
 
Philippians 2:6-7 
 
"Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery (or it wasn't anything that He was doing that wasn't appropriate) to be equal with God: 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, (or a bond slave is a better term) and was made in the likeness of men:" He was made in the likeness of men as he was born of the virgin Mary, but always remember He was still God. We're going to be showing that as we go further in Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:2a

"Hath in these last days (that is the period of Christ's first advent. Those were the last days according to all the Old Testament prophecies) spoken unto us by his Son, (remember there is no "his" in the original as we spoke of in the previous lesson. So it should read, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by) Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,..."


Now just stop for a moment. I think we're all guilty of just reading so fast, that we don't read. What does it mean to be appointed heir? Well, they get everything. You know we like to read of the heir of some wealthy corporation, or the Vanderbilt family, or the Rockefeller's and we'll read of their great wealth, and it always says, "They're the heir of so and so fortune." So we're well acquainted to what it is to be an heir, but you see the Triune God again, the Father, Son, and the Spirit, have in unison made the Son the Heir of everything. Now let's go back to the Book of Philippians chapter 2, and this ag

46 1 3 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Why Hebrews Was Written: Hebrews 1:1-10

Hebrews 1:1 
 
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets." 
 
 
Now what's he referring to? The Old Testament! And before we go back for a moment to the Old Testament I want you to stop in Romans chapter 15, where I'm going to use a verse for the basis of teaching the Old Testament. Because like I've already said with regard to Hebrews, there's no plan of Salvation as such in the Old Testament. There's also no Church doctrine found in the Old Testament. It was a secret that God had not yet revealed. But that doesn't mean we throw the Old Testament away or ignore it. No, we study it and rest on it for this reason. 
 
 
Romans 15:4 
 
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime (back in the Old Testament) were written for our learning,..." 
 
 
Remember in our last program, I said, "How in the world could you take a kid that had never had grade school arithmetic, nor high school math, and then all of a sudden have him attend a university level calculus class? Why he'd be lost immediately." Well it's not that much different with the Word of God. If you haven't got an understanding of how all of this came about, it's pretty hard to just step in and say, "Yeah, I can believe that." But I don't think God expects that, so we use the Old Testament over and over as a background for our New Testament teachings. Now we're going to look at how the prophets spoke of these things.

Hebrews 1:1 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets." Now what's he ...

46 1 2 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Why Hebrews Was Written: Hebrews 1:1-10

Today we're going to start in the Book of Hebrews. It was 6 years ago that we started teaching Paul's letters? We've been totally in Paul's epistles now for a long time, and in the last lesson we finished up with Timothy and Titus. Now I think Hebrews also is an epistle of Paul, although it is not directed to the Gentiles or the Church, but rather it's directed to Jewish believers. There has always been a lot of controversy over this letter as to its authorship, and as to its time of writing and so forth. And again I'm not a theologian, so I don't have to get hung up on any of these big heavyweight arguments. I just tell you what I think it is, and I believe the Apostle Paul is definitely the author of the Book of Hebrews, and I'll show you in a few moments why I'm quite adamant about that. 
 
 
Secondly, I've always felt that it was one of his earlier letters, if not the earliest. I read something this past week confirming that, and that is in some of the earliest or ancient manuscripts of our New Testament, the Book of Hebrews followed I and II Thessalonians. Now everyone is pretty much agreed that the Thessalonian letters were the first of Paul's writings, and so if Hebrews in the ancient manuscripts followed Thessalonians, then that falls right in line with what I've always thought, that it is one of his earliest letters. 
 
 
Another thing I think we have to realize now as we get into Hebrews, is that there is absolutely nothing of Church language. In other words, you won't find a Roman road to Salvation in Hebrews. There is not a Hebrews road to Salvation, so, "What's the theme of the Book?" The theme of the Book of Hebrews is two fold. 
 
 
1. We're showing a constant comparison of how this economy now under Grace is so much better than anything that went before. And we'll be looking for that over and over throughout this Book. We'll see this is better! Yes, the law was good, but this is so much better. 
 
 
2. More preeminent in importance is that Hebrews is going to point out Who Jesus Christ really is. He is God the Son, and we'll emphasize that as well as we go through this letter. 
 
 
So those are some of the things that we want to use as an introduction to this tremendous letter to the Hebrews, that it is not a book of Church doctrine, as you won't find a single word in here about Salvation based on Christ's death, burial and resurrection, or any reference to the Body of Christ, or any reference to faith + nothing as we see so often in Romans. Nor is it a Book of corrections and admonitions like the Book of Galatians is. So it's just totally different. In fact, I'm going to compare this letter to the Hebrews with the Old Testament, and that's the way I'm going to treat it.

Today we're going to start in the Book of Hebrews. It was 6 years ago that we started teaching Paul's letters? We've been totally in Paul's epistles now for a long time, and in the last lesson we finished up with Timothy and Titus. Now I think Hebrews also is an epistle of Paul, although it is not directed to the Gentiles or the Church, but rather it's directed to Jewish believers. There has always been a lot of controversy over this letter as to its authorship, and as to its time of writing and so forth. And again I'm not a theologian, so I don't have to get hung up on any of these big heavyweight arguments. I just tell you what I think it is, and I believe the Apostle Paul is definitely the author of the Book of Hebrews, and I'll show you in a few moments why I'm quite adamant about that.


Secondly, I've always felt that it was one of his earlier letters, if not the earliest. I read something this past week confirming that, and that is in some of the earliest or ancient manuscripts 

46 1 1 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Why Hebrews Was Written: Hebrews 1:1-10

I Timothy 6:1a 
 
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour,..." 
 
 
Here again, this is something that we have nothing to do with because slavery was part and parcel of the ancient world. As hard as it is to believe, Christianity did not abolish it as quickly as we think they should have. So, slavery was still part and parcel of their economy. But, again Paul admonishes masters as well as the servants to adhere to their Christian principles. So, he wrote, servants if you are under the yoke count your masters worthy of all honour: 
 
 
I Timothy 6:1b-6:2a 
 
"...that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are (what?) brethren;..." 
 
 
Now, the perfect example is, of course, the little letter to Philemon. Because Philemon was a slave master and Onesimus was one of the slaves that had run away. We will probably touch on that in our next few lessons, but all of these various levels of society were still one in Christ. Now reading on in verse 2. 
 
 
I Timothy 6:2b 
 
"...but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort." 
 
 
I have made comment about this before. Why did God sanction slavery in the first place? You want to remember, we are so programmed to our Western culture, that unless you are a student of history you are prone to not realize that all the way up through antiquity, the masses had no education. They had no technical prowess, or anything like that. So the only place they could function would be under the control of peers that were craftsmen and so forth. They couldn't handle it on their own. 
 
 
But, in everything that God ever introduced even though it was good, as He intended it, what did sinful men do with it? Well, they adulterated it. And, instead of masters being benevolent and taking care of their servants, what did they do? They took advantage of them and they abused them and they tortured them, and all these things. That is not God's fault. That's sinful men.

I Timothy 6:1a

"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour,..."


Here again, this is something that we have nothing to do with because slavery was part and parcel of the ancient world. As hard as it is to believe, Christianity did not abolish it as quickly as we think they should have. So, slavery was still part and parcel of their economy. But, again Paul admonishes masters as well as the servants to adhere to their Christian principles. So, he wrote, servants if you are under the yoke count your masters worthy of all honour:


I Timothy 6:1b-6:2a

"...that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are (what?) brethren;..."


Now, the perfect example is, of course, the little letter to Philemon. Because Philemon was a slave master and Onesimus was one of the slaves that had run away. We will probably touch on that in our next few lessons, but all of th

45 2 4 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Order in the Local Church: I Timothy 2:8 - 6:20

I Timothy 4:1a 
 
"Now the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) speaketh expressly, (no doubt about it) that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,..." 
 
 
We call this apostasy. If ever there has been a time in Church history when we have seen rampant apostasy, it's today. Where huge blocks of people, denominations and so forth, are rejecting the basic fundamentals, that's apostasy. So Paul was already warning of it even before he left the scene. So the Spirit expressly says: 
 
 
I Timothy 4:1b 
 
"...in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (demons)" 
 
That is quite a statement isn't it? Now, I'm going to take you back to II Corinthians chapter 11 verse 13. Remember that the Corinthian letters were written a few years previous to the letters to Timothy and Titus. But, he says much the same thing, only here he is writing to the individual believer, not just to the Church leadership. 
 
 
II Corinthians 11:13 
 
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." Men who would usurp even Apostolic authority - they were harbingers of evil. They were false. 
 
 
II Corinthians 11:14

I Timothy 4:1a

"Now the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) speaketh expressly, (no doubt about it) that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,..."


We call this apostasy. If ever there has been a time in Church history when we have seen rampant apostasy, it's today. Where huge blocks of people, denominations and so forth, are rejecting the basic fundamentals, that's apostasy. So Paul was already warning of it even before he left the scene. So the Spirit expressly says:


I Timothy 4:1b

"...in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (demons)"

That is quite a statement isn't it? Now, I'm going to take you back to II Corinthians chapter 11 verse 13. Remember that the Corinthian letters were written a few years previous to the letters to Timothy and Titus. But, he says much the same thing, only here he is writing to the individual believer, not just to the Church leadership.


II Corinthians 11:13

"For such are f

45 2 3 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Order in the Local Church: I Timothy 2:8 - 6:20

I Timothy 3:7 
 
"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." 
 
 
I want you to remember that all the Old Testament was written primarily to the nation of Israel, and Israel was under the Law. Even when you come into Christ's earthly ministry, it's really just an extension of the Old Testament program, as Christ came to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, the promises He had made to Abraham. 
 
 
So when Jesus came on the scene in the New Testament, Israel was still under the Law, and the temple was still in operation, so everything that Jesus said in His earthly ministry was under the Law of Moses. There was not one word uttered to give us any idea that the Age of Grace would be coming to the Gentiles. (non-Jews) 
 
 
But when Israel continued to reject everything back there in the first 7 chapters of Acts, God finally made a fork in the road, and Israel went into a dispersion that has lasted even to this very day, although she has been coming back to the land for several years now. And then in chapter 9 the Apostle Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, and he was immediately told "that he would be sent far hence to the Gentiles." 
 
 
So ever since we began our study in Romans, we have come all the way through most of these epistles of Paul, and this is really where we have to be as Gentile believers in this Age of Grace to understand what God is saying to us.

I Timothy 3:7

"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."


I want you to remember that all the Old Testament was written primarily to the nation of Israel, and Israel was under the Law. Even when you come into Christ's earthly ministry, it's really just an extension of the Old Testament program, as Christ came to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, the promises He had made to Abraham. 


So when Jesus came on the scene in the New Testament, Israel was still under the Law, and the temple was still in operation, so everything that Jesus said in His earthly ministry was under the Law of Moses. There was not one word uttered to give us any idea that the Age of Grace would be coming to the Gentiles. (non-Jews) 


But when Israel continued to reject everything back there in the first 7 chapters of Acts, God finally made a fork in the road, and Israel went into a dispersion that has lasted even 

45 2 1 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Order in the Local Church: I Timothy 2:8 - 6:20

I Timothy 2:3 
 
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;" So never neglect to pray daily for our men in high places, that indeed we might continue to enjoy liberty like no other nation on earth has ever before enjoyed. I'm afraid that too often we take it for granted, even as believers, that this is just common place. No, it is not! We are so blessed! The Grace of God has been showered on this nation like no other people on earth, and we should never take it for granted. 
 
 
Let's go to verse 4. The same God who is pleased when we pray for men in high places and for our government, the same God: 
 
 
I Timothy 2:4 
 
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Now that's quite a statement! Isn't it? Because those of us who are realists, know that only a small percentage of the world's population has ever come to know salvation. All the way from Adam on up, it's always been just a small remnant that have maintained a faith fit for salvation. Israel, even in spite of the fact that they had so much going for them, as Paul says in Romans chapter 3: 
 
 
Romans 3:1-2

I Timothy 2:3

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;" So never neglect to pray daily for our men in high places, that indeed we might continue to enjoy liberty like no other nation on earth has ever before enjoyed. I'm afraid that too often we take it for granted, even as believers, that this is just common place. No, it is not! We are so blessed! The Grace of God has been showered on this nation like no other people on earth, and we should never take it for granted. 


Let's go to verse 4. The same God who is pleased when we pray for men in high places and for our government, the same God:


I Timothy 2:4

"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Now that's quite a statement! Isn't it? Because those of us who are realists, know that only a small percentage of the world's population has ever come to know salvation. All the way from Adam on up, it's always been just a small remnant that have maintained a faith fit for 

45 1 1 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  The Mediator Between God and Man: I Timothy 2:3-7

I Timothy 2:1a 
 
"I exhort therefore,..." And whenever Paul uses the word therefore, what do you do? Well, you go back and remember what he'd been talking about. I think the main thing that he has in this therefore is the faith that we've been talking about in the last two verses of chapter 1. So because of our faith, because we are people who believe what God says, we are now in a position to make: 
 
I Timothy 2:1b 
 
"...supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, (Not just for ourselves, but for whom?) be made for all men;" In other words, we have a prayer responsibility way beyond our immediate circle of friends and family and so forth. 
 
Now whenever I speak on prayer, I always like to remind people and we do. Whenever someone says, "Well, I just don't know how to pray." I want to bring you back a moment to Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 and 7, which are my two favorite verses when it comes to prayer. Whether it's for all men as he says here in verse 1, or whether it's for the kings and our men in high places, or our friends and loved ones, that is beside the point. When we pray, this should be our approach to the Almighty. 
 
Philippians 4:6a 
 
"Be careful (or concerned, or you might even say worry) for nothing; but in every thing (See, now that's not qualifying. That means what it says. Everything -- whether it's physical, material, or spiritual.) by prayer and supplication (But here's the secret.) with (What?) thanksgiving..." I still think that that is the secret to a successful Christian life. It is to be a man or woman or a boy or a girl that's full of praise and thanksgiving to God. I think God revels in our response in thanksgiving. 
 
Philippians 4:6b 
 
"...in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Now I imagine that if there's anything that throws a curve at a lot of us, and I'll include myself as well—if God is Sovereign and He's all knowing, and He knows the end from the beginning, why should we pray?

I Timothy 2:1a

"I exhort therefore,..." And whenever Paul uses the word therefore, what do you do?  Well, you go back and remember what he'd been talking about.  I think the main thing that he has in this therefore is the faith that we've been talking about in the last two verses of chapter 1.  So because of our faith, because we are people who believe what God says, we are now in a position to make:

I Timothy 2:1b

"...supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, (Not just for ourselves, but for whom?) be made for all men;"  In other words, we have a prayer responsibility way beyond our immediate circle of friends and family and so forth.

Now whenever I speak on prayer, I always like to remind people and we do.  Whenever someone says, "Well, I just don't know how to pray."  I want to bring you back a moment to Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 and 7, which are my two favorite verses when it comes to prayer.  Whether it's for all men as he says here in verse 1, or wheth

44 3 4 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Being Shipwrecked Spiritually: I Timothy 1:17

II Thessalonians 2:13 
 
"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." And we showed in the closing statements of the last lesson, their belief of Paul's Gospel, and in verse 14, he calls it exactly that. 
 
 
II Thessalonians 2:14a 
 
"Whereunto he called you by our (or as many other places he would say, my) gospel,...." 
 
 
You see that? How that Paul takes full credit for this Gospel of truth. Let's go back and chase down a few other references that confirm that this is not just a misprint. This is not a misinterpretation by the translators, because, he does constantly refer to it as my gospel. 
 
 
Go all the way back to Romans Chapter 2 verse 16. A verse that I dare say most people don't know is in their Bible. 
 
 
Romans 2:16 
 
"In the day when God shall (now I am sure this is a reference to the Great White Throne of Revelation 20) judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ (who will be the judge at he Great White Throne, remember. And so, Jesus Christ will judge the secrets of men according to what benchmark?) according to my gospel"

II Thessalonians 2:13

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." And we showed in the closing statements of the last lesson, their belief of Paul's Gospel, and in verse 14, he calls it exactly that.


II Thessalonians 2:14a

"Whereunto he called you by our (or as many other places he would say, my) gospel,...."


You see that? How that Paul takes full credit for this Gospel of truth. Let's go back and chase down a few other references that confirm that this is not just a misprint. This is not a misinterpretation by the translators, because, he does constantly refer to it as my gospel.


Go all the way back to Romans Chapter 2 verse 16. A verse that I dare say most people don't know is in their Bible.


Romans 2:16

"In the day when God shall (now I am sure this is a reference to the Great White Throne of Revelation 20) judg

43 3 4 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  They Will Believe the Lie!: II Thessalonians 2:9-14

But don't give up. I'll never forget years back I had a dear old gentleman and we were talking about this very thing. And I could see the tears running down his cheek at the back of the room. He came up afterward and I asked him, "What's the matter?" And he said, "Les, I've got two grown sons who grew up in our local Sunday School class, but they never heard the Gospel. And they are out there in the world and are making big money and they are lost. If the Lord should come tonight, they'll be left behind." And I said, "Well, at least you can take comfort in the fact they haven't heard the Gospel. They're not in that category." He said, "No, but they'll be left behind." Well, he doesn't know, but here just a week or two ago, we got an e-mail from one of those boys and he had come to know the Lord and was studying our material. Oh, how I wish I could have let that weeping father know. So, one of the two have come in and maybe the second one will come too. So never give up. If you're parents out there and your kids are out in the world, don't ever give up. You just keep praying and praying and praying that the Lord will somehow open their hearts. 
 
Let's first qualify, if I was misunderstood. I didn't say that but I might have been misunderstood. Come back with me quickly to Revelation chapter 7. We've always got to clarify first if there's a need. And we'll just start at verse 3. 
 
 
Revelation 7:3 
 
"Saying (the angels) Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till (time word. They need a segment of time. What are they going to do?) we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

But don't give up. I'll never forget years back I had a dear old gentleman and we were talking about this very thing. And I could see the tears running down his cheek at the back of the room. He came up afterward and I asked him, "What's the matter?" And he said, "Les, I've got two grown sons who grew up in our local Sunday School class, but they never heard the Gospel. And they are out there in the world and are making big money and they are lost. If the Lord should come tonight, they'll be left behind." And I said, "Well, at least you can take comfort in the fact they haven't heard the Gospel. They're not in that category." He said, "No, but they'll be left behind." Well, he doesn't know, but here just a week or two ago, we got an e-mail from one of those boys and he had come to know the Lord and was studying our material. Oh, how I wish I could have let that weeping father know. So, one of the two have come in and maybe the second one will come too. So never give up. If you're paren

43 3 2 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  They Will Believe the Lie!: II Thessalonians 2:9-14

Now back to II Thessalonians chapter 1, where we left off at verse 8. We discussed at the close of the last lesson how Paul comes the closest to bringing in a little bit of the Old Testament prophecy concerning the wrath and the vexation, or the Day of the Lord as we pointed out several programs back. Remember we went back all the way from Isaiah up through the Old Testament, and all those references using the "Day of the Lord." And the Day of the Lord is awful, the Day of the Lord is the wrath, and the judgment of God upon Christ-rejecting mankind. Upon empires and governments and kings, and presidents and so forth, who have been flaunting the things of God. So here in verse 8 Paul is alluding to that Old Testament format of the Day of the Lord, when He will come and take vengeance on them that don't know God. 
 
 
II Thessalonians 1:8-9 
 
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" 
 
 
That's their eternal doom. Now someone just called early this morning before we left home, and their question on the phone was, "Does Paul ever teach Hell fire, or the lake of fire as we see it in Revelation?" No. Paul doesn't use the term explicitly, but he certainly warns people over and over of their lost estate and the doom that's awaiting them. Just because he doesn't use the language, the lake of fire, doesn't mean that he has now superceded it somehow or other, and here's a good example of that. 
 
II Thessalonians 1:9a 
 
"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,...

Now back to II Thessalonians chapter 1, where we left off at verse 8. We discussed at the close of the last lesson how Paul comes ...

43 1 2 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Paul's Glimpse Of Prophecy: II Thessalonians 1:1 - 2:4

II Thessalonians 1:1-3 
 
"Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: 2. Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (appropriate) because that your faith (not their works so much as their faith) growth exceedingly, and the charity (love) of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;" 
 
Now you see this is the first mark of a salvation experience. People who were unable to love or suddenly able to love. I'll never forget the testimony of one old fellow that had come out of a rather rough non-spiritual background. He said, "You know Les, since I've been saved, people that I could have almost shot between the eyes, I no longer feel that way about them. Oh, they're not the kind of people that I could go up to and hug, but now instead of hating them, I love them and feel so sorry for them." And isn't that about it? We are probably not prone to just love these kinds of people, as probably the Lord could love them, because we're human, but at least we have changed our attitude so that now we do feel so sorry that they are still out in such abject spiritual darkness. So Paul says, "we realize the love you're showing toward each other." Verse 4. 
 
 
II Thessalonians 1:4 
 
"So that we ourselves glory in you (Paul was thrilled to hear back from these little Gentile congregations and how they were standing firm in the faith) in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:"

II Thessalonians 1:1-3

"Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: 2. Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (appropriate) because that your faith (not their works so much as their faith) growth exceedingly, and the charity (love) of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;"

Now you see this is the first mark of a salvation experience. People who were unable to love or suddenly able to love. I'll never forget the testimony of one old fellow that had come out of a rather rough non-spiritual background. He said, "You know Les, since I've been saved, people that I could have almost shot between the eyes, I no longer feel that way about them. Oh, they're not the kind of people that I could go up to and hug, but now instead of hating them, I love them and feel so sorry for them." And isn't that

43 1 1 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  Paul's Glimpse Of Prophecy: II Thessalonians 1:1 - 2:4

I Thessalonians 5:7-8 
 
"For they that sleep (spiritually) sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (now he comes back to us believers) 8. But let us, who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." These are the same things that he listed in Ephesians chapter 6. Now verse 9, and oh what a tremendous lesson for believers. 
 
 
I Thessalonians 5:9a 
 
"For God hath not appointed us (as believers ) to wrath. but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," 
 
 
Now isn't that plain? Now these people that are insisting that the Church is going to go into or through the Tribulation, they just have to blink and miss this verse. But here it is, as believers we are not appointed to the day of the Lord, the day of judgment, the day of wrath. I don't care whether they want to call it the Tribulation or the eternal destiny to come, it's still the same premise, that those of us who are part and parcel of this day of Christ are out of here before the day of judgment falls on this planet, and over and over Paul makes that so plain. But on the other hand, what I've learned from our mail, from talking to people that call, when everyone who says they can't agree with my stand on the Rapture, they hardly ever look at Paul's epistles. All the verses they give me to back up their theory is Old Testament, the four gospels, and Revelation, which of course are all attendant with the Tribulation and the day of the Lord.

I Thessalonians 5:7-8

"For they that sleep (spiritually) sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (now he comes back to us believers) 8. But let us, who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." These are the same things that he listed in Ephesians chapter 6. Now verse 9, and oh what a tremendous lesson for believers. 


I Thessalonians 5:9a

"For God hath not appointed us (as believers ) to wrath. but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"


Now isn't that plain? Now these people that are insisting that the Church is going to go into or through the Tribulation, they just have to blink and miss this verse. But here it is, as believers we are not appointed to the day of the Lord, the day of judgment, the day of wrath. I don't care whether they want to call it the Tribulation or the eternal destiny to come, it's still the same premise, that those of us who are part and parcel of

42 3 4Through the Bible with Les Feldick  The Day Of Christ vs. The Day Of the Lord: I Thes. 5:1-12

Now isn't it amazing that the Day of the Lord starts all the way back at Isaiah chapter 2 and comes all the way up through the Old Testament comes through the four gospels to a certain extent, skips over Paul's epistles and picks up again in Peter and Revelation. Now on the other hand every reference we have for the "Day of Christ" will come only from the pen of the apostle Paul. You can find no reference to the "Day of Christ" anywhere else in Scripture. Now that should be enlightening shouldn't it? You'd think that would just blow away all the argument wouldn't you? But no, most continue to try to mix it all up by throwing it all in the blender, turning it up on high, and start to ladle it out, and then they wonder why people get sick to their stomach. Well it's enough to confuse anybody. 
 
 
But if you'll just separate the Scriptures by keeping Paul's epistle, the Body of Christ, where it belongs and everything else that fits on the front end and on the back end, then there's no problem. 
 
 
Now come back to I Thessalonians chapter 5, and verse 3, and let's compare the believer in chapter 4, and the unbeliever in chapter 5. Just look at the pronouns in each chapter, "we, us, and you vs. they and them" 
 
 
I Thessalonians 5:3 
 
"For when they..."

Now isn't it amazing that the Day of the Lord starts all the way back at Isaiah chapter 2 and comes all the way up through the Old Testament comes through the four gospels to a certain extent, skips over Paul's epistles and picks up again in Peter and Revelation. Now on the other hand every reference we have for the "Day of Christ" will come only from the pen of the apostle Paul. You can find no reference to the "Day of Christ" anywhere else in Scripture. Now that should be enlightening shouldn't it? You'd think that would just blow away all the argument wouldn't you? But no, most continue to try to mix it all up by throwing it all in the blender, turning it up on high, and start to ladle it out, and then they wonder why people get sick to their stomach. Well it's enough to confuse anybody.


But if you'll just separate the Scriptures by keeping Paul's epistle, the Body of Christ, where it belongs and everything else that fits on the front end and on the back end, then there's no probl

42 3 3Through the Bible with Les Feldick  The Day Of Christ vs. The Day Of the Lord: I Thes. 5:1-12

I Thessalonians 5:2 
 
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 
 
 
Now if you remember and reflect back on that last program, none of the verses that we looked up concerning the "The day of the Lord" came from Paul. Not one. They were all Old Testament, and as we come into the New Testament with regard to this coming day of judgment, I'm not quite ready to drop the day of the Lord just yet, so I'm going to wind it up in the first part of this half hour. I think I can cover the references for "The Day of Christ" in far less time. In Zechariah chapter 14 we have a reference that I wanted to use in regard of the coming judgment on the earth, the coming day of the wrath of God, when the Grace of God will have been lifted, and His wrath and vexation will come in, not just on the Nation of Israel, but upon the whole human race, from one end of the world to other. 
 
 
Zechariah 14:1-3 
 
"Behold the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; (this will be the battle of Armageddon) and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle." 
 
 
Then that great 7-year period of the wrath and vexation and the vengeance of God will end with the event of verse 4

I Thessalonians 5:2 "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Now if you remember ...

42 3 2Through the Bible with Les Feldick  The Day Of Christ vs. The Day Of the Lord: I Thes. 5:1-12

I Thessalonians 4:17-18 
 
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (believers who have died) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." So this is a comforting factor for those who have lost loved ones. We will see them again! We will know them and they'll know us. So these verses from verse 13 down through 18 are that precious moment that as believers we're all looking for. Now to chapter 5. 
 
 
I Thessalonians 5:1 
 
"But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." (because we won't be here.) I think what Paul is referring to is that the Lord Himself had given enough indications, as well as the Old Testament prophecies, and we can see from all those things in our present time that the time is approaching. So he writes -- 
 
 
I Thessalonians 5:1-2 
 
"But of the times and season, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2. For yourselves know perfectly (completely) that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."

I Thessalonians 4:17-18 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (believers who have died) in ...

42 3 1Through the Bible with Les Feldick  The Day Of Christ vs. The Day Of the Lord: I Thes. 5:1-12

I Thessalonians 3:6 
 
"But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:" 
 
 
My, can't you just feel the exuberance of the apostle's reaction, how probably almost depressed with concern about these believers that he had to leave behind, and knowing that they were under a lot of pressure and then to get the good word from Timothy that they were holding fast. Now verse 7. 
 
 
I Thessalonians 3:7 
 
"Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress (that was his mental attitude) by your faith:" 
 
 
Now they probably hadn't gotten to the place yet where they were just exploding with a lot of good works and missionary efforts, and all the good things that certainly follow. But the number one purpose in bringing someone fresh out of a lost environment is to see their faith. To realize that they are taking to heart the things that God had spoken either through the Old Testament or through the letters of Paul. And again I always have to remind folks that at the time that Paul wrote these letters there was no New Testament. Now maybe the Book of James had been written, but even that certainly didn't have a lot of doctrinal truth in it for Paul's converts. See, these people had no New Testament to draw on, and I imagine the pagan world had no access to the Old Testament either. The Jewish believers naturally would have, but not these pagan Gentiles. So to start with the fundamentals of their faith was all that Paul really counted necessary at this point in time.

I Thessalonians 3:6

"But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:"


My, can't you just feel the exuberance of the apostle's reaction, how probably almost depressed with concern about these believers that he had to leave behind, and knowing that they were under a lot of pressure and then to get the good word from Timothy that they were holding fast. Now verse 7.


I Thessalonians 3:7

"Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress (that was his mental attitude) by your faith:"


Now they probably hadn't gotten to the place yet where they were just exploding with a lot of good works and missionary efforts, and all the good things that certainly follow. But the number one purpose in bringing someone fresh out of a lost environment is to see their faith. To realize that they are taking to heart the 

42 2 2 Through the Bible with Les Feldick  The Body Of Christ Removed From the Earth: I Thes 2:15

Romans 1:16a 
 
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;..." 
 
 
I Corinthians 1:18 
 
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved (by believing) it is the power of God." (unto salvation) 
 
 
Romans 10:9-10a 
 
"That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness...." (becomes right with God) 
 
 
The world is constantly trying to say just like they did in Paul's day. "That's not enough. You've also got to do this or that." Paul's Gospel says, "Christ did it all!" It's done, it's complete, and we dare not try to add to it. Remember Galatians tells us that if you add to it, then you cancel it! But that's what so many do. Ok, back to Colossians 2 verses 11 and 13, which now make a little more sense.

Romans 1:16a

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;..."


I Corinthians 1:18

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved (by believing) it is the power of God." (unto salvation) 


Romans 10:9-10a

"That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness...." (becomes right with God) 


The world is constantly trying to say just like they did in Paul's day. "That's not enough. You've also got to do this or that." Paul's Gospel says, "Christ did it all!" It's done, it's complete, and we dare not try to add to it. Remember Galatians tells us that if you add to it, then you cancel it! But that's what so many do. Ok, back to Colossians 2 verses 11 and 13, which now make a little more sense.

41 2 4 Through the Bible with Les Feldick   Paul Warns the Church: Colossians 2:1-13

Colossians 1:15 
 
"Who (speaking of God the Son in verse 13) is the image of the invisible God,..." (the Godhead) 
 
 
Then to show who He really was you go on into verse 16 and it shows us that He was the Creator of everything. He's the God of Genesis 1:1. 
 
 
Colossians 1:16 
 
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" Now coming back to Colossians chapter 2, and let's read verse 9 again. 
 
Colossians 2:9 
 
"For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." 
 
 
Now I know this is hard for us to comprehend, I know it is. Let's take the time to look at John's gospel chapter 14 to follow up on this. This is a passage of Scripture I think we used a couple of weeks ago, but it just says it all. But you know I don't mind when people have a little trouble comprehending this because the twelve disciples couldn't either. It's epitomized here when Philip says, "show us the Father" Now let's start with verse 7.

Colossians 1:15

"Who (speaking of God the Son in verse 13) is the image of the invisible God,..." (the Godhead) 


Then to show who He really was you go on into verse 16 and it shows us that He was the Creator of everything. He's the God of Genesis 1:1.


Colossians 1:16

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" Now coming back to Colossians chapter 2, and let's read verse 9 again. 

Colossians 2:9

"For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."


Now I know this is hard for us to comprehend, I know it is. Let's take the time to look at John's gospel chapter 14 to follow up on this. This is a passage of Scripture I think we used a couple of weeks ago, but it just says it all. But you know I don't mind when people have a little trouble comprehending this because the twelve disciples couldn't eithe

41 2 3 Through the Bible with Les Feldick   Paul Warns the Church: Colossians 2:1-13

Colossians 1:26a 
 
"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations..." 
 
 
Now some of you are going to say, "Oh no not again." But let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 29 and look at it. Now this is for the benefit of new listeners who are probably just catching us in the last few days for the first time. This is Moses writing to the nation of Israel, but like I showed you in the closing moments of the last half hour, God has always been the God of the whole human race, not just Israel and not just Gentiles, but each in their own segmented period of time. First He dealt with Israel, and now He's been dealing primarily with the Gentiles. And this portion of Scripture just falls right in with what Paul says. 
 
 
Deuteronomy 29:29a 
 
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:..." 
 
Why? Because He's Sovereign. Now listen, most of you that I can see here in the class room have been parents, and when those kids were little were there things that you didn't want your kids to know? Well of course there were, you were the parent. I can remember when I was little my folks, if they didn't want us to know what they were talking about, would talk in German. You'd sit there and cock your ear and thought you had lost your hearing, but they were keeping some things secret from us kids. Well God can and has done the same thing, He's Sovereign, He doesn't have to tell everything, and He didn't. Now for the next part of the verse.

Colossians 1:26a

"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations..."


Now some of you are going to say, "Oh no not again." But let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 29 and look at it. Now this is for the benefit of new listeners who are probably just catching us in the last few days for the first time. This is Moses writing to the nation of Israel, but like I showed you in the closing moments of the last half hour, God has always been the God of the whole human race, not just Israel and not just Gentiles, but each in their own segmented period of time. First He dealt with Israel, and now He's been dealing primarily with the Gentiles. And this portion of Scripture just falls right in with what Paul says. 


Deuteronomy 29:29a

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:..."

Why? Because He's Sovereign. Now listen, most of you that I can see here in the class room have been parents, and when those kids were little were there things that you didn't want your kids to

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