II Timothy Chapter 2 "Charges Connected with the Gospel." This Bible Study is
written by Roger Christopherson, and made available with
written permission by http://www.theseason.org Chapter one continues right into chapter two. II Timothy 2:1 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." It is common for Christians to say they want to be "strong in the Lord", well don't leave out the words "in the grace", for you are going to need it, because even after you are saved, you will mess up from time to time, and that is when each of us needs God's grace that we have through our repentance in Jesus name. You will lose your strength right from the start, if you don't understand what grace is. Grace is # 5485 in Strong's Greek dictionary; "Charis, char'-ece; from 5463, graciousness (as gratifying), a manner of act concerning literal or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart (mind), and its reflection in life; including gratitude: -acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace, joy, liberality, thanks." # 5463; "Chairo, khah'ee-ro; a prime verb; to be "cheer"(ful), i.e. calmly happy or well-off, impersonal especially as salutation on meeting or parting, fairwell, God's speed, greeting, hail joy (-fuuly), rejoice." Grace is the fact that we are not perfect, and when we do sin, in our strength we repent and get back in good standing with our Father. It is apologizing for falling short of God's standards to the Father, and keep fighting the good fight for the Lord. When you have gone as far as you think you can go, get up and go farther. You can do what you set your mind to do, because you draw your strength from Almighty God. II Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." The Word of God must be taught until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to commit it to people that will be teachers that will carry the banner of Christ to others. There is an unending line of God's remnant of believers that from generation to generation pass the Word of God on by mouth, to carry that banner on until Jesus returns at the seventh trumpet. II Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Paul is saying that when you are a good soldier, you are going to take you share of those hard times and insults by non-believers. Then when those insults come your way, endure them as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. You can't set yourself up as a soldier, and stay in the front line duty without having some hardship. Today the thought is that once you are saved, the pressures of life are over, and that just is not so, that is when the battle begins: Especially in this generation. The devil may treat you rough when you are unsaved, but once you become saved, and by faith take Christ into your life, then you have declared war on Satan. Of course Satan is going to step up his battle plan of evil against you. That is why it is important for a new Christian to study and develop discipline in his or her life, so you can make a stand when Satan comes against you. When a bus load of recruits get off the bus at the military base, they are nothing more than mob or disoriented crowd of people. But when the drill sergeant has them for that first week, and runs them, teaches them, marches them, makes them do their ridged exercising, they are still rough and not fit for battle. It take time and a lot of effort before he can lead them into battle to where they can act as a unit, and become soldiers ready for battle. Our battle is against the devil, and the fight that we are in is a spiritual warfare, and if you let the devil mess over you it is your own fault, for God has given you the weapons to fight Satan with. Those weapons are spiritual weapons that are given in his Word. We take our weapons in our mind, and it gives us the ability to avert those spiritual darts that Satan, his Kenites, and any other person may through your way. Our defense is by spirit and by mind, and we are to be wiser than the serpent [Satan], because you are a child of God, and our Heavenly Father has given us powers to be used against Satan. You study the Word of God to put on that armor, and don't think that you are going to follow Christ, and not get a little trouble coming your way occasionally. II Timothy 2:4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." No man is going to let civil affairs so mix him up that it interferes with God's orders. If you are a soldier, and you are under strict orders from your commander, no matter what happens in the society around you, it will not cause you to violate your commanders orders. Our Commander and Chief is God Almighty and His orders are written in His Word. Those orders are given to each of the soldiers that He has chosen for his army, and just as in an army of this world, those orders are expected to be carried out to the letter. God's soldiers are not to entangling himself or herself with the affairs of this life that just don't matter. It is so easy for us to get tangled up in the little things of life to where we let our study time with the Lord go. We allow the ways of the world get us emotionally involved. However we are to protect our home and family from the unseen dangers, and it is also necessary to tend to those things of the society that we life it. We are to vote at election time on the issues and people that do it God's way, and be bold in protecting your own home. II Timothy 2:5 "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." "If a man also strive for masteries", is as a man or woman trains diligently to run a race or take part in an event; he or she trains his mind and exercise his memory to the point in God's Word so that you can be ready for those times when it is necessary to plant a seed, and answer questions that others ask of you. We are to study God's Word daily, and learn the entire plan of God. Though not from memory, at least know the basics of His plan to where you know where you fit into that plan. So if you are going to strive to be the champion for the Lord, you will not be crown as one of His champions, "except he strive lawfully". We are suppose to be intelligent enough to work within the system, yes even controlling the system. God is not going to allow this world to overrun His elect, and even when Satan is here and the world is flocking to him, God's elect will be protected. "We the people" in this great nation control this great nation, and our great Constitution that we are functioning under, was taken from the basics of God's Word. This is why all Christians should be able to live within the lawful instructions of the Constitution, and the laws that are created under that Constitution. Remember our Commander and Chief under that Constitution is the Lord God Almighty. The battle field of the war that we are fighting goes much farther than what is going on here on earth. However, as we strive, we are to strive lawfully in all that we do. We can do everything that God wants us to do, and stay within the law. We are to protect our dignity and our reputation at all times. II Timothy 2:6 "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." Naturally, the "firstfruits" gets a double portion. If you strive and exercise your mind in the ways of the Lord, then as those fruits of your labor are increased and you become stronger. God makes you stronger and as you study you become more knowledgeable and you gifts also increase with your knowledge. When you take charge and Satan's little troops come around with their mischief, you put them down as God's Word instructs you to do, and after a while they just don't want to come around you. Satan and his people just avoid doing spiritual battle with you. The husbandman is the person that has enough faith to plant the seed, he is the farmer. The food that is partaken of, is the fruit, and the farmer has the right to partake of that food first for his field. The analogy is this, if you wisely do your Father's bidding, and fighting your Father's fight, you will begin instantly to taste of the fruits of your efforts in your flesh life. If you expect to be successful in ministering to other from the Word, you must first taste of the Word before you can apply it to others. II Timothy 2:7 "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." When you consider all that Paul as written and comparison his writings to what the other prophets and apostles have written that God has revealed to them, then you will gain understanding in all things. Remember that this book of Second Timothy is a letter from Paul to Timothy, a young pastor going into the ministry, advising Him as to how a church should be set up, and what should be taught in His church body. This also should be our guide as to who we would fellowship with in our worship of Jesus Christ. II Timothy 2:8 "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel:" "My gospel" is the Gospel that Paul was preaching, that was also given by God to the prophets, and all of those great writers of the Scriptures wrote that set of instructions down for us to read and follow. This also includes the "key of David". On the third level, this "key of David" goes to a considerable depth here. It means that the prophets foretold of that birth of the coming Messiah, and the good news was that this birth and the Messiah's coming had happened. II Timothy 2:9 "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound." Paul in preaching the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, suffered beatings, stoning, and even being bound into prison. Though the world can place me (Paul) into captivity, it is impossible to hold the Word of God in captivity. There have been many nations that have tried to bind the Word of God and keep their people form hearing the Word, and all of them have either fallen, or are in sad shape today because of their ignorance to His Word. Most of the time when this happens within a nation, it exists for one generation and then that nation crumbles. In 1917 Russia killed her Christian Czar and his entire family, and dissolved their physical bodies in lime. Yet within seventy years, one generation, the entire empire that once controlled one half of the earth surface lay in ruins, and the Word of God now flows through it like a flood. Our Heavenly Father won't tolerate any men or their systems trying to bind up His Word, and He will cause its fall, and their people will be walking as if they are walking on a slippery slope. That is the way that our Heavenly Father is, and those that teach the Word may be imprisoned, especially back in Paul's day, but the Word will continue in the minds of those that you have taught. II Timothy 2:10 "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Paul is saying that the reason he goes though all of these things, is for the elect's sake. The "elect" are the "chosen ones". The "chosen ones" were chosen in the first earth age for the stand that they took way back then, and they are the ones that God has separated out for a purpose in this earth age. This is not looking at some little overnight thing here, something that may be here today and gone tomorrow. However, the elect are set aside for eternal life and glory that can only come by faith in the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Though they are "the elect", they still must see the light of the Word of God, repent of their sins, just like those of the "free will". Everything within this earth age, all flesh and the things that are desired by men and women of the flesh shall pass away, but our eternal life and the things of God's heavenly kingdom shall not pass away. The Word of God is the only thing that will not change through all times. When God's Word says it, it will happen exactly as stated in His Word. Matthew 24:35; "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." This is why we should get to where we feel comfortable with His Word, for if you do obtain eternal life, it will be with you through all eternity. Learn it's principles, and how to receive God's blessings from it. Christ is our eternal glory, and our inheritance comes to us when we accept the price that Jesus paid for the forgiveness of our sins, and that is why we pray in Jesus name. II Timothy 2:11 "It is a faithful saying: "For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:" A "faithful saying" is something you can count on at all times. In other words, if we become basically dead to the world and the things of the world, as far as the spiritual things of the world, then we become alive with Him in Christ. This is what baptism symbolically represents, being dead to the things of this world and raise anew, refreshed in Christ Jesus. When you are submerged into the water of baptism and it covers you completely, it represents Christ going into the tomb at death and you dying to the things of this world. Publicly you are telling the world that you believe that Christ accomplished this, and in Him you have eternal life. When you rise out of the water from baptism, you become a new creature in Christ. These are faithful Words and you can count on them, because God promised eternal life to you. II Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:" If you suffer for Christ's sake while you are living for him here on earth in the flesh, you can rest assured that you will also reign with Him in Christ's Kingdom. Remember that the ones that Paul is talking about are the "elect". It was for the "elect's sake" that Paul suffered as he did joyfully, and it is for the elect sake that we do what we do in this earth age. The teaching here is to the elect and Paul is touching here on the unforgivable sin, and that sin can only be committed by "the elect". If you are one of God's elect, and when you are brought up before the councils of men when Satan the false christ is here on earth, and you deny the Holy Spirit to witness through you then, there is no forgiveness for you on judgment day. This is a serious thing. Matthew 10:32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before me, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33 "But whosever shall deny Me before me, him will I also deny before My Father Which is in heaven." The foundation of the "mark of the beast" system is pure ignorance. It is people not studying the Word of God and knowing what they do or do not stand for. So what is this unforgivable sin? What is this that would cause Christ would deny of us for, if we denied Him? Jesus Himself spoke of it also in the Gospel of Luke. Luke 12:8 "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:" If you claim Christ, then He will also claim you. Luke 12:9 "But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." Luke 12:10 "And whoseever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost [Spirit] it shall not be forgiven." If any person should say anything against the "Son of man", which is to say Christ in his human body when He was here on the earth; if you say anything of Him as He walked the earth, it shall be forgiven him. "But" However, unto that person that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven. This is the unforgivable sin, and it can only be committed by one of God's elect. To blasphemy the Holy Spirit is encompassing the blasphemy of the Godhead. God will not permit that to happen in His kingdom. It is unforgivable, and it only happens at one period of time. It is important that you understand it. Luke 8:11 "And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what things ye shall say:" Luke 8:12 For the Holy Ghost [Spirit] shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say." The hour spoke of here is the hour of temptation. It will not be tempting for you who are one of God's elect, and you know that the one here on earth claiming to be Christ is the fake, the "son of perdition", who is in fact Satan. He will be the one in this flesh age that sits in Jerusalem claiming to be Jesus Christ the Messiah. We know when this time is for it is outlined in detail in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, in the book of Revelation and throughout all the Prophets of the Old Testament. There will be no surprise to God's elect for they are sealed in their minds with the truth of God's Word, and they will allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them. Our Lord Jesus Christ will not tolerate any one of His elect blaspheming or refusing the Holy Spirit to speak through them, when they know better. If you don't understand what is being spoken of here, don't worry about it, for it is written to the elect of God only. Those that know exactly the difference between the false and spurious messiah from the True Messiah. If they were to knowingly in that hour find Satan tempting, and follow him, there is no forgiveness, not even in the Millennium age. There will be no forgiveness to that person ever, even if he is one of God's election, chosen before the foundation of this earth age, there is still not forgiveness for that person. I do not think this is possible for this to happen, for anyone that know the truth, and knows that Satan is coming first will not find Satan tempting, even with all the supernatural powers that Satan will bring with him. They will see right through those deceptions and lies, and know Satan for the liar that he is. But rather the elect will find Satan with all his words and lying wonders and supernatural acts an abomination to them. Those, however, that are deceived and believe Satan is their messiah, they have been taught through their rapture doctrine to accept the first messiah to come to earth, and they just don't know any better. What they do, they do in ignorance, and when the get down in the mud and wallow with Satan the chief pig, they are only doing what they have been taught in their church houses to do. So in a sense they will be disciplined severely during the Millennium age, the time of Christ's kingdom here on earth that starts at the seventh trumpet. The discipline will be given when they are in their spiritual body, at the seventh trumpet, when all souls will be turned from their flesh bodies into their spiritual bodies to face the thousand year Millennium age. Then man's own thought process will be far sharper, and the understanding of God's Word will be in detail. There will be no misunderstanding, and all those hireling preachers will be gone, and only the complete Word of God will be taught, with discipline. Then at the end of the Millennium those souls will be judged on your works only, whether they will have eternal life, or follow Satan into the pit. For a little side trip, lets go to Revelation 20:11-15, and address this time when the final judgment comes to all souls. Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and Him That sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." The "great white throne" is the judgment seat of God the Father. It takes place after the flesh age is over, and also after the thousand year Millennium age of Jesus Christ's kingdom here on earth. Heaven and earth as it is known today will be gone, and they will never exist in that state ever again. All souls will at this time stand before the judgment seat of God. Some to rewards and many to eternal damnation. Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." There will be no one escaping this judgment seat of God. It is at this time that the "books" are opened. Notice carefully that there are "the books", and also there is the "book of life". The "books" are those books that have recorded every word and deed that is done while you live your life; while the "book of life" is the "Lamb's book of life", and only the name of those saved and washed in the blood of Christ are recorded in this book. The reason that only their name are recorded here, is that all their sins have been eliminated and covered by the blood of Christ, and blotted out completely. This time of judgment will follow the Millennium age, when all souls will be in their soul bodies, with complete understanding, and there will be no earthly matter that can draw their attention to the teaching and discipline of that age. Revelation 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." There will be no soul that ever existed that will escape this judgment, and even the fallen angels, Satan, and all that are held for destruction will be judged fairly according to their works. Remember also that those that were saved by faith in this age of the flesh, when Christ was not here with us in person, but have accepted the Words spoken in His Word, and through repentance accepted Him. Our judgment will be rewards, and those rewards for not worshipping Satan will come at the beginning of the Millennium age, at the seventh trumpet when our Lord returns to earth. In the Millennium age you will not even have to ask your neighbor if he understands God's Word, he will know the Word. As God tells us, at times he call certain things to our remembrance. God's Word is in our memory bank, only in the flesh bodies it just doesn't surface to our memory. Again if you don't understand this, don't worry about it. Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." The first death is the death of your soul body, and this second death is the death of your soul. Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." This judgment is final. You are either saved and under the blood of Christ or you just will not exist, not even in the minds of your loved ones. It will be as if you had never existed, ever. Even the thought of you will be blotted out from all memory and records. God is patient with His children, but discipline is what is lacking in most of them. It is quite obvious even in churches, and it is strange how Christians do not discipline themselves to follow the Word of God, but they would rather follow traditions. II Timothy 2:13 "If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself." The word "believe" should be translated "faithless". Then it would read; "If we be faithless, he abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself." In other words, just as it is written in His Word, so shall it be. God is going to be faithful in doing exactly what He has written about Himself. If you deny and blasphemy the Holy Spirit, you can count on eternal damnation and entering into that lake of fire, and your soul consumed. God is going to do exactly what He has said He would do. God is going to see to it hat every one will have the opportunity to come to the full knowledge of Christ, before they make that jump into the eternal flame of hell. If it isn't in this earth age, then it will be by their works through the Millennium age. Every one will know exactly what they are going to hell fire for, and they have selected to be there on their own accord. According to Revelation 20, many shall fall and select to follow Satan into the fiery death. When you see the biblical illiteracy of people in the world today, you can see where a Millennium age is needed to give each soul the opportunity to chose for themselves. II Timothy 2:14 "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearer." Today there are many that strive in their words but there is no profit in them, because what they are teaching is against God's Word and just a bunch of nonsense. This again is directed at the operation of a church and what is taught there. When subversion takes place it is the enemy that is doing the subverting. If the words that are taught in a church are not in according with the Word of God, then that teaching is subversion. Subversion is the aim of Satan, getting you to believe something different than what God's Word has instructing you to do and know. So keep nonsense or words that have no profit in them, out of your church. Those words are what is called "men's traditions and false doctrines". II Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the world of truth." This is how you become approved unto God. You study His Word and apply those teachings and words to your life. Don't worry about what some man might think of you, for it is God that we are to please. If what pleases God doesn't please man, than who cares what those men and women think. Let the ignorant remain ignorant. Studying the Word is the first step. Then act out what you have studied and applying it to your life. After you have done this you become a workman for the Lord that does not need to be ashamed in what you do, if you rightly divide the Word of God. Get away from those foolish games that many churches play, criticizing one another in the manner of dress, in the manner they do their hair, and the little things that just don't matter. What type of music should be played, what the ladies can say, and all sorts of do's and don'ts that just are not in the Word of God. The body of Christ has become split into denominations and groups over silly things that just don't matter. Paul is asking us, what profit is there in the things that you hold dear in your church, that are not upheld in the Word of God? Absolutely none. Any church that places man's traditions in a higher authority than God's Word will find that there is no profit in their service because God will not bless them. God doesn't bless stupidity, but He does for rightly divide the Word. This is why you should teach by keeping the outline of the chapters in line before you, following the subject of what is being taught in mind, and focusing in on the object of what is being taught. When you study any of the books of the bible, stay focused on who it is written to. For an example; the book of Romans was written to the Romans, and is for Israel and for the Gentile. It is a beautiful book but it is written to them. The Book of James is written to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad. You would have a hard time understanding the book of James if you did not rightly divide it. When you understand who it is written to, then you can understand who the "we" and "they" and "them" are referring to. When you break away from the manuscripts you lose much of the meanings, but a good teacher always goes to the study tools for understanding. These study tools include a numbered concordance, numbered to Greek and Hebrew dictionaries to get to the true meaning of the Word. The Companion Bible allows us to take words back into the Massorah, as well as other helpful references so that we can rightly divide the Word of God. While Greens Interlinear Bible actually has the earliest text side by side with the King James version of the Bible and numbered to the Strongs Greek and Hebrew dictionaries. Smith's Bible dictionary gives us the meaning of the names, as well as many other helpful pieces of information to help our studies. When we rightly divide the Word of God, it flows in the simplicity that it was written in. We are to stay to our Father's business, and keep focused on the instructions given it it. Allow God's Word only to take first place in your congregation, instead of some quarterly or monthly that is stuffed full of nonsense. It is a very poor thing that some men try to place their works above God Word. God's Word is quite sufficient, if you learn to study it. II Timothy 2:16 "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." "Profane and vain babblings" are all those things spoken that are empty from any of the wisdom from God's Word. The word "vain" means "empty". How many times have you gone to a church hopping to be taught, and all that is given you for your attendance is one or two verses, and then babblings by the pastor for the next half hour. You leave with a hunger in your heart and mind for the food from God's Word, only it is emptiness. They stand up there stoking your mind with nonsense to make you feel good, yet the sheep in God's pastor are starving. These are the last days, and Amos warned us that the church houses of our day would be as such. Amos 8:11 "Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." Analyze yourself, do you willingly become a pew potato for an hour or two each week, and in the end you have no more idea of the overall plan of God, than you did the day you were saved? Sure you may feel real good about yourself in your mind, but in fact you are you still biblically ignorant. Remember these verses are written to Timothy instructing him as to how he should set up his congregation, and what he should teach from his pulpit. II Timothy 2:17 "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;" This word for "canker" in the Greek is "gangraina", and in the English we should translate it "gangrene". So lets translate the meanings of these names, instead of just using them as a name. "Hymenaeus" means "belonging to marriage". "Philetus" means "beloved". Just like an old gangrene sore, it starts as something quite innocent, and if it is allowed to continue and spread, it doesn't take long until it spreads through out the entire body, and ending up claiming the life of the victim. Some times it takes an amputation of the part that gangrene has set in to save the life of a person, or the entire body will be contaminated beyond saving. However, this is speaking of a spiritual matter within a congregation, and those doing the teaching and preaching may sound so innocent and even beautiful in what they have to say. Their words become disarming for the spiritual battle that we are in today. Profane and vain words are like gangrene to God's Word and the Gospel of Christ. When the true Word of Paul's teachings is not rightly divided on all three levels, then the pastor becomes nothing more than a Hymenaeus or Philetus, a vain babbler. II Timothy 2:18 "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some." Some weak minded people will listen to these false pastors dribble their babblings over the pulpit, and they will believe everything that is said. They are to lazy to check him out and they just don't want to upset those around them. They babble their pre-trib, post-trib, and mid-trib and never really get down to what the Scripture really says about the matter, and what they say becomes all tangled up in fairy-tales and beddy bye-bye fly-away doctrine that will cause their congregation to error even more than Hymenaeus and Philetus did with their babblings about the resurrection of Christ. Why not stick to God's Word and teach it just as it is written in the Manuscripts. If you can't do that then get out of their teaching and preaching. The subject that Hymenaeus and Philetus were preaching dealt with the resurrection and return of our Lord Jesus Christ and when Christ return would be back. Those two nutty preachers of Paul's day said that it had already happened. While the teaching today is that everybody is going to fly away and miss the very time of testing that our Father's plan is aimed at. If the Word of God was properly divided by their pastor in the first place, then there would be no confusion and fairy-tales that people would be relying on for their very souls. God has laid out the chronological order of events right through the seals, and the trumpets, and He has warned us when and where those events would take place. He even gave is the order and the key sings of each event that would bring us into the season for the end times so that we would not be confused. Yet much of the church world today would rather follow dreams and fairy-tales than God's Holy Word. II Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." No matter what those religious nuts do in and to their congregations, the Word of God is going to be sure and accurate to those that believe. No man can hurt God's Word, but they will cause the destruction to all those that give an ear to the babblings of those false preachers. "..the foundation of God will stand firm with this seal", the "seal" is the knowledge that the Lord knoweth every last soul that belongeth to Himself. He knows the faith, or the doubt an individual at the very moment that they think it. Now go to the third level and think on this for a moment. That seal marks you as whether or not you follow the truth from God's Word, or listen and follow the vain babblings from some preacher that gets off on his tangent. If you are sealed in your mind with the Word of God, you know what is going to happen, because you have studied the Word and by faith you trust what it has to say. If you follow the babblings of things like the rapture theory, then you have marked yourself because you will be taken by the false christ. The seal is what make this such a serious thing in generation for this is the generation that will see the false christ. We are living in the generation that saw the State of Israel, that small Jewish nation established back in Palestine. That even happened back in 1948. We are living in the generation of the fig tree, and Jesus said of our generation. Matthew 24:32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:" Mathew 24:33 "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door." Matthew 24:34 "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these thing be fulfilled." All of the events given in Matthew 24 will come to pass in our generation, before the coming of our Lord at the seventh trumpet. That includes "the Abomination of desolation", which is caused by the desolator Satan, when he sits in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God, and many Christians will believe him. The One world system is in existence, and its ten agencies have already been established and are policing the affairs of the world. Bible prophecy is taking place daily, yet many Christians are waiting anxiously for the false christ to come, for they are being taught that Christ will come and remove them before this time of testing. It is here and they just can't see it. It is spiritual destruction that takes hold of the people of the earth, yet they are looking for physical destruction. Remember God said through Amos [8:11] the prophet; "not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for the hearing the words of the Lord:" Friend, it is time to get back into the Word of God, and study it, rightly divide it, and prepare yourself for the times that you are living in. The "seal" spoken of here, is spoken of in Revelation 9:4. Revelation 9:4 "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." This happens when Satan and his fallen angels are cast from heaven onto the earth, and God is telling Satan that he can go down there and have his way with all the men or people on the face of the earth, but don't you dare touch any of those men and women which have the seal of God in their foreheads. Your mind is in your forehead, and the seal of God is having His Word and the understand of those events that are already starting to take place, stored in your mind. The "sealed of God" are the elect of God and each of them are prepared for Satan's arrival. The sealed of God are not looking for some fly-away fairy-tale to take place. The sealed elect of God will not be deceived, however God has given all the others into the hands of Satan, at the appointed time. Satan couldn't deceive God's elect anyway even if he wanted to, Why? because they know that Satan is coming first at the sixth trumpet, and the true Christ comes at the seventh. When the true Christ comes, all men living in their flesh bodies will be changed instantly into their Spiritual or soul bodies, and all souls will be ushered into the Millennium age. God has already told us that Satan will come with supernatural powers, and lying wonders that if it were possible it would even fool the elect, but it will not be possible. God has even shorten the days of the deception for the elect's sake from three and one half years to five months. Matthew 24:22 "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Revelation 9:5 "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man." Upon Satan's arrival when he is cast out of heaven upon the earth, instantly the people of the earth will be taken by him through Satan's supernatural powers and lies. Satan will present himself to the world exactly as Christians believe Jesus Christ will return, only he will be the false Christ. When a scorpion "stricketh a man", the man is left powerless to protect himself for his central nervous system is paralyzed. All of the digestive processes of the scorpion take place within the body of the person that has been struck. This is as it shall be when Satan arrives, the person comes under the control of Satan because of what that person is thinking in his mind. He is convinced that Satan is the Christ, and God is going to allow him to think so, because that person is not sealed in his mind with the truth. It is for that unsealed person's own protection that God will allow this to happen, for if he had knowingly worshipped Satan as Christ, there would be no forgiveness for him, no Millennium age, but only eternal judgment. So the seal is what is in your mind, and the seal is God's Word that is sure. The foundation of that seal that is in your mind is what prevents you from finding Satan tempting in that hour of temptation. There is no great worry about being here during the hour of temptation, the only sin committed at that time is people worshipping Satan. If you have the seal of God stored in your mind, you will not be stupid enough to worship him in the first place. You will tell Satan where to go, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you when you are called up, as it is written. Neither will you commit the unpardonable sin, because it would go completely against what you would believe. You will find Satan a complete abomination of all that is of God. Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought before-hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost [Spirit]." What an opportunity for those sealed with the truth of God's Word in their minds. The lesson here is stay away for the foolishness of pastors that like to play foolish games with their congregation, and study only where God's Word is taught chapter by chapter and verse by verse. It is better to be popular in jail before the heavenly Father for having spoken the truth of God's Word, than to be popular in a place where God's Word is not being taught. II Timothy 2:20 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour." Paul is telling us what a great church is like. This is speaking spiritually of the vessels or people within the congregation. Some are like pure gold in their worship and understanding of the Word, while others seem and claim to be religious, but inside are not of God at all. On the third level of understanding, Paul is showing us that it is their deeds that are tested by fire, to see what value there is in them. Hebrews 12:29; "God is the consuming fire", spiritually speaking, and He is the one that does the testing. Some are refined into pure gold by their works and deeds, while other will be nothing more than hay and stubble, and we know what happens to stubble when the fire hits, puff and it is gone. There is nothing left of their deeds. So what Paul is telling us, even in a great church, no matter how well you teach, there is still going to be some that just don't get it, and won't make it. II Timothy 2:21 "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work." Paul is telling us to depart from those persons that are not going to make it. When you separate yourself from those who's deeds are not unto God, you become a vessel unto honor, cleansed and fit for the master's use. You are to prepare yourself by studying God's Word, so you are prepared for every good work that He desires for you. Not some pew potato, studying only one verse per week, but we are feast upon God's Word and separate yourselves from those that that would not. Rightly divide the Word and apply it to your life. Let the emotions and love of our Heavenly Father mold you to where it will go forth to those around you. When you "purge yourself of these", it means that you don't listen to those babblers. II Timothy 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." "Youthful lusts" are youthful impulses. Stay away from acting on an impulse, without thinking something through. None of us are perfect, but when we repent, God counts that as perfect. He counts you perfect because He has forgiven those sins and imperfections that flaw your soul. God loves His children and He knows that we are in the flesh, and He knows also the impulses that come upon us. The point here is that we rightly divide the Word, and through repentance we get rid of those impure things in our lives. By following righteousness, having and acting on our faith, and with love and peace in our hearts, we can call on the Lord out of a pure heart. II Timothy 2:23 "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." Paul is saying; avoid speculation concerning God's Word. Speculation will bring quarrels. It is impossible to be a teacher without having speculative questions arising, and when they do, be honest and say; "It is not written about this matter and it would be pure speculation, however I will give you my opinion, but do not ask me to document it." Many times it is not proper to give speculative answers, for many time it causes divisions of opinion, when the Word is not there to support an answer. Many times our minds wonder what it was like in that first earth age, and matters about angels, and heaven, and even the soul, where it is not written in His Word. When you are giving answers to those that are mature in the Word enough to know truth from speculation, be careful for those that have tender ears, that your answer will cause them even more confusion. Speculation is not harmful as long as it is kept out of the teaching place of new believers, however always declare when you are giving your own opinion. II Timothy 2:24 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient," This is written to a teacher of God's Word which Timothy was. The servant or teacher of the Lord's Word must not be guarrelsome, he must teach boldly with authority from God's Word. This word "patient" in the Greek text means to "endure evil", when you are teaching, you can handle it when people talk against you. To be gently is to show love, which includes a requirement of discipline of those you are teaching. II Timothy 2:25 "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" Discipline as will and chastisement is involved here. II Timothy 2:26 "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at His will." Paul now states why discipline and chastisement are necessary when teaching God's Word. It is to prepare themselves to keep themselves out of the snare of the devil. This is a good example of rightly dividing the Word. The Companion Bible points out that the pronouns do not have the same reference. The word "him" near the end of the sentence is the "servant" of God, and the last "His" is "God" Himself. So this is how that particular verse should read. "They have been out of their senses, in a snare of the devil, but are captured unto life by the Lord to do the fulfillment of God's will." We are to be a servant of the Lord, rightly dividing the Word of the Lord, and thus freeing people from the snare of the devil. In other words, making a big deal out of nothing and causing quarrelsome confusion.
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