Faith Lutheran Church, Johnstown Colorado

Revelation: Intro & 1:1-1:8

rev.ena40 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:25:05 +0000

Revelation
Table Talk Study
Faith Lutheran Church (Johnstown, CO)
Epiphanytide, 2012

Introduction
• The Lutheran Study Bible
• Van Gogh

Comments on Prophecy
• Revelation the only NT book to be called a “prophecy” (v. 3).
• Luther: 2 types of prophecy

How to properly read & understand Revelation

Benefits of studying Revelation

Revelation & the Divine Service

The structure & purpose of Revelation

The End times

Revelation 1:1–8: Prologue
v.1: origin, slaves, & visible signs

v.2: a key to understanding Revelation

v. 3: The Location of God’s Blessing–the Divine Service

v. 4: The Holy Trinity

v 5: all about Jesus

v 6: what Jesus accomplished

v 7: The Second Coming

v. 8: “Alpha & Omega”

Formula of Concord: Article II (Free Will)

rev.ena40 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:07:08 +0000

Article II: Free Will

Historical Background:
The Synergistic controversy

Luther’s “Bondage of the Will”

The condition under question (FC II: 2)

2 errors: The Philippists & Enthusiasts

The freedom of the will (FC II: 20, 31–32)

The bondage of the will
Ephesians 4:18; 1 Cor 2:14; Rom 5:10; Gen 8:21; Jer 17:9; Rom 7:18

The elect: who, then, can be saved?
2 Peter 3:9

How Conversion Happens
Titus 3:4–7; 2 Tim 2:25; Eph 2:8; Joh 6:29; Matt 11:27; 1 Cor 12:3; 2 Cor 3:5; Ephesians 2:1–5; Creed, III.

Augustine: God has to make willing people out of the unwilling.

A comforting teaching (FC II: 14b, 47; AC V; Mark 7)

The “devil’s logic”

The regenerate life
Matthew 7:17–19; Mark 9:24

Abuses (FC II: 46)

False teachings (FC II: 74–81)

Heaven & Hell (Reflections on the 2012LayTheologicalConference)

rev.ena40 — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:41:33 +0000

This morning I spent some time with my family at the 2012 Lay Theological Conference, which was hosted at Peace with Christ in Ft. Collins. The speaker, Rev. Jared Melius (pastor of Mt. Zion in Denver), is a good friend and his task this morning was to provide us with a biblical description of Heaven and Hell. I found his presentation very engaging and thought-provoking. For example, I had never really noticed before that Scripture describes hell (a place of darkness, perpetual thirst, and suffering) as the opposite of heaven (a place of light, flowing with living waters, and no more sorrow/pain). Another point of Pastor Melius’ presentation that I found extremely helpful was his discussion of the fifth seal from Revelation 6, which has much to teach us by way of “what heaven is like” (or the “intermediate state,” which we may also call “heaven”; for example, our memory of events that took place during our lifetime and the fact that we will still have unanswered questions).
But it seems that it is impossible to discuss heaven these days without mentioning the book “Heaven is For Real,” and this morning was no exception. While this book is wildly popular even amongst Christians, it is also important to realize that it (perhaps unintentionally) undermines many of the central claims of the Christian faith. One of the main purposes of this book is to describe what heaven is like. But the basis for this description isn’t Scripture, it’s the alleged experience of a young boy, who is said to have died and gone to heaven, and has now returned to tell us what it’s like. While there is no reason to doubt the author’s sincerity, there are several problems with this claim from a biblical perspective.

1. Scripture speaks of a “great chasm” that exists between the realm of the dead and the realm of the living, so that it is impossible to cross back and forth between the two (Luke 16:26).

Luke 16:26

16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

2. While God has indeed spoken directly to his people of old (the dreams of Joseph and Daniel, the visions of St. Stephen, Paul, and John of heaven, etc.), the era of prophecy has ceased. Hebrews 1:1–2a says: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” Jesus, the Son, is the Word of God made flesh. Anything that claims to be from God that is not God’s Word or Sacraments is from the devil (Smalcald Articles, part III, article VIII). Christians cannot accept “new revelations” of any sort, whether it’s from a young boy or from Joseph Smith. Scripture contains the definitive and final revelation from God until the return of Christ (Revelation 22:18–19).

Hebrews 1:1-2

1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Revelation 22:18-19

22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

3. Scripture teaches that on the Last Day, Christ will return and raise up the bodies of those who have died for the final judgment (Matt 25:31–46). When a Christian dies, their soul is with Christ immediately (Luke 23:43; Phil 1:23), but their body remains dead and in the ground until the resurrection of the body on the Last Day.

Matt 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46

25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Luke 23:43

23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Phil 1:23

Philippians 1:23

1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

4. Many who have experiences like what this book describes (and those who read books like this) are led to put their confidence in something other than the Word of God. Scripture contains everything we need for faith and salvation (Luke 16:30–31), and Scripture forbids us from putting our trust elsewhere (Exodus 20:3).

Luke 16:30-31

16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Exodus 20:3

20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

+ Rev. Eric N. Andersen
Saturday of Epiphany 6, 2012

One Year Christmas Day Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:46:14 +0000

Exodus 40:17-21

17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. 18 Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 20 He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:34-38

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. (ESV)

One Year Christmas Dawn Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:43:24 +0000

Micah 5:2-5

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

When the Assyrian comes into our land
and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
and eight princes of men; (ESV)

One Year Christmas Midnight Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:40:59 +0000

Isaiah 9:2-7

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (ESV)

One Year Christmas Eve Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:37:55 +0000

Isaiah 7:10-14

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (ESV)

One Year Advent 4 Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:35:46 +0000

Deuteronomy 18:15-19

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (ESV)

One Year Advent 3 Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:34:10 +0000

Isaiah 40:1-11

40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young. (ESV)

One Year Advent 2 Old Testament

briano — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:32:57 +0000

Malachi 4

4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (ESV)