Here we see the Word of God urging us to run our life’s race in such a manner as to qualify for the eternal crown.  God has promised His faithful this eternal crown. However, the next chapter warns us take heed from what became of another group of believers who believed they were running the race well.

Warnings From Israel’s History

(1 Corinthians 10. 1-5) ¹For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ²They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

The Israelites were fleeing from Egypt (Egypt represents the kingdom of satan) to the promised land (representing  the kingdom and rule of God). To escape the pursuing Egyptian army the Israelites had to pass through the red sea with its towering water on either side. The Word of God equates this experience with baptism.  verse 2 says, “They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

The manna they fed was a type of Christ - the Bread which came down from heaven.  

Christ is the Rock and the streams that issued  out of the rock typified the Holy Spirit.

They presumed on their great privileges yet they were destroyed. Verse 5 reads, “Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.” Many are baptized and partake of the Lord’s table etc, yet they do not win the race. They will not hear the sound of the Lord that say, “ Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25.34-36)

Why? We often presume on our profession of the Truth hoping these will secure heavenly happiness.  But we need to run our race in a manner that will help us win the race.

The manner of the Race

⁶Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” ⁸We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.  (1 Corinthians 10.6-10)

Israelites did certain evil things that led to their destruction.  Let us see what they are.

1. idolaters: They were idolaters. Do not skip this point thinking, “I am no idolater”. Search your heart diligently. Is Jesus on the throne of your heart at all time?

Jesus said, ‘ where your treasure is there your heart will also be’. What do you treasure the most.? Your looks? Your prestige? Your career/business? Accumulating wealth? Power? Authority? Your spouse/child? Your hobbies etc? Do any of these or anything else keep you on the go, motivated to live another day? Then they are becoming or have become an idol in your life. 

        2.  Sexual immorality is a common enough sin even amoung believers. Some live an immoral  life while others limit their immorality to thoughts, sights and fantasies. All of which are equally sinful in the eyes of God. Matthew 5:27-28 Sexual thoughts as well as acts outside the marriage bed are defined as sin.  

If you are struggling with any kind of sexual sin, do not despair. Surrender this weakness to God and put on His strength. Studying and meditating on the fear of the Lord will help you gain victory rapidly in this area. There is no sin that you cannot overcome with the help of Jesus Christ.

      3. test the Lord

 The Lord is great in compassion and mercy but we must not test Him. We can stake our lives on whatever He has promised in the Bible but the Word of God specifically warns us not to test the Lord our God. Deut 6.16, Mt 4.7

    4. Grumble.

Grumbling about our situations, spouse, job, boss, health, children, pastor, authorities etc. We are all familiar with this. Yet it is rated among the most dangerous evils in the Bible. God does not take lightly to grumbling. Grumbling is rebellion, rebellion against the Lord who is your head. In effect you are saying God is not able to look out for you. You are making Him out to be a liar. In the book of Jeremiah 29.11  God says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

 ¹¹These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. ¹²So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

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great link

read an excerpt

“S” will serve to remind us of syncretism. The mystery religions were syncretistic in that adherents not only worshipped various pagan deities but also frequently embraced aspects of competing mystery religions while continuing to worship within their own cultic constructs. Not so in Christianity. Converts to Christ singularly placed their faith in the One Who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Says J. Gresham Machen, “A man could become initiated into the mysteries of Isis or Mithras without at all giving up his former beliefs; but if he were to be received into the Church, according to the preaching of Paul, he must forsake all other saviors for the Lord Jesus Christ….Amid the prevailing syncretism of the Greco-Roman world, the religion of Paul, with the religion of Israel, stands absolutely alone.” ⁹

Apologetics — the defense of the faith — has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it involves pre-evangelism. We should thus pray that God uses our well-reasoned answers as an opportunity to share the good news that Jesus can become more real to people (like Jennings and the fellows of the Jesus Seminar )than the very flesh upon their bones. On the other hand, apologetics involves post-evangelism. During an age in which Jesus is being demeaned in both private academia and the public arena, knowing how to defend His historicity serves to strengthen our faith

Faithfulness is a divine characteristic. 2 Timothy 2.13 says, if we are faithless (to God), He will remain faithful (with us), for He cannot disown Himself. (powerful, eh?) Faithfulness is a quality high on the list with Yahweh God. It is a quality that we must carefully cultivate in our relationships. God expects us to be faithful and loyal not only with Him but also with our spouses, children, parents, associates, fellow believers and friends.

Faithlessness with God leads to faithlessness in every other area of our dealings. All around us we constantly hear of fathers walking out of their marriages and forsaking their children. More and more mothers bail out of their responsibilities in search of personal happiness. Husbands and wives having affairs behind their spouses back completely destroying the trust of their spouses and children. Fickleness and inconstancy spreads like an epidemic into such abandoned children and into the very fabric of our society.

In the materialistic and self-centered world that we are living in faithfulness is a quality that has become passé. God however is concerned whether we are going to stay true, loyal and faithful to Him as well as to the family and friends he has brought into our lives.

Have you been harboring offenses in your mind? Our mind is a battlefield and all our life battles are either lost or won first in our minds. Jesus taught us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Have you lately caught yourself speaking words of offense, then carefully checklist everything you have allowed to enter your heart.

Nazareth Jesus’ hometown Let’s examine what happened in Jesus’ hometown Nazareth when the people there allowed offense to trap them. (Matthew 13.54-58) Observe that the people of Nazareth were astonished by Jesus’ wisdom and mighty works, yet they dishonored God by rejecting His Son Jesus as the Messiah. They were offended at Jesus for ‘putting on airs’, ‘not knowing his place’. As a result, they put a stop to the mighty works of Jesus in their entire town. Offense laid its trap and the town of Nazareth got caught in it.

John the Baptist  While in prison John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was truly the Messiah(Luke 7. 19). [This is the same John who testified about Jesus (John 1.29-34).  His disciples reported to him all that Jesus was doing (Luke  7.16-18) . Yet his confidence in Jesus was shaken due to certain personal circumstances] After asking John’s disciples to report to John the miracles He was performing, Jesus made a very profound statement – “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” (Luke 7.23)

You can be a born-again, spirit-filled child of God and yet take offense at God. Jesus warns us not to be offended at Him.

Stronghold: Proverbs 18.19 says that ‘offense is like the barred gates of a citadel’. Nothing could go in or out when the citadel gates were barred. (Citadels were built to withstand any attack. Nothing could breach the barred gates of a citadel). Offense acts like the barred gates of a citadel in our life effectively blocking our blessings. Therefore avoid the trap of offense at any cost. Be on guard. Never allow the devil to sow his seeds and block your healing, deliverance or harvest.

Stony ground Mark 4:16-17 talks about seeds sown on stony ground. The stony ground speaks of a heart that is easily offended. Nothing fruitful grows on stony ground. Recognize the trap the devil has set for you and refuse to be offended, and then you will walk in victory and blessings.

Proverbs 14.1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down”. For many years my heart was a stony ground. I was easily offended (especially with God, I was under the mistaken notion that God was withholding my blessings, despite everything I did for Him!!!) and I bore no fruit (no bonus points for guessing why). The day I learned the Truth about offense I decided to make a radical change in my outlook (You see I had nothing to loose. It was an uphill task, but worth every moment) Looking back I can truthfully say that every blessing that my attitude of offense had held back came pouring into my life and that of my family from that day forth.

Common offense traps:

1. People, especially people in authority
2. Health and financial constraints
3. Adverse situations and circumstances
4. God

Offended at God Everytime we harbor offense against people or circumstances we are harboring offense against God. We are effectively telling God that we do not believe He is able or willing to act on our behalf. The Word of God assures us that God is the defender of the defenseless, widows and fatherless (Isaiah 19.20, Psalm 68.5, Proverbs 23.10-11).

Our God is our defender. He will rise up and defend your cause. But you need to let go of your offenses so that God can grab you by His right hand. Offense is like the barred gates of a castle that prevents us from experiencing the abundant life of Jesus. Every time offense rears it ugly head send it back to its father the devil by refusing to keep it in your heart. If allowed to stay in your heart offense will grow like a weed and destroy your harvest. The price you will have to pay for harboring offense is way too high, you cannot afford it.

In the Gospels if there was anyone mentioned who was entitled to be offended it was that Canaanite woman who had a demonized daughter Matthew 15: 21-28. Initially Jesus and His disciples ignored her pleas for help. Finally when He spoke, Jesus called her a dog. But this woman of great faith knew she could not afford to be offended. Her need was too great and she deftly avoided the trap of offense. Jesus commended her for her great faith and her daughter was set free.

As a born-again child of God you have direct access to His throne room and you can be confident that He will not call you a dog. So let us too learn to avoid offenses like the plague and please God with our faith that seasons of refreshing may come upon us.

Interested in some more additional tit-bit? Read on.

• Matthew 15: 1-11 Some Pharisees and teachers of the law argue about the importance of tradition, what is clean and unclean with Jesus.
• Verse 12 Jesus’ disciples inform Him that the Pharisees’ were offended at Him. Jesus replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Verses 13-14 If you are easily offended take care, every plant not planted by the Father will be uprooted.
• The Disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable to them and He explains to them the meaning verses 16-20.( ”Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. ¹⁷“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸But the things that come out of te mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ “)
•  However,  Jesus being the Master Teacher decided to teach them a lesson about offense . That is where the incident with the Canaanite woman became a great teaching tool.  (Read Matthew 15.1-28 and Mark 7.1-30)

The old covenant under Moses was between God and His people (Israel) in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior i.e., their commitment to worship him alone, from them in return. The entire OT testifies to God keeping his part of the covenant while the Israelites time and again violate the terms of the covenant. The need for a new and superior covenant becomes apparent even to the dull minds of man. Thus God promises through his prophet to form a new covenant with them (Jeremiah 31.31- 34).

 The new covenant was cut between God the Father and His son Jesus. In order to keep up his part of the covenantal agreement, Jesus had to remain pure and sinless. Only then could God place the sins of all mankind (past, present and future) on Jesus. Having made sin, Jesus had to die (suffer the punishment for sin). Then and only then could a just and holy God, accept Jesus’ sacrifice as full payment for our sins.

 OT Passover
Exodus 12  - Passover established.

Verse 3: on the tenth day of the month the man is to take a lamb for his family.
Verse 6: take care of them (lambs) till the fourteenth, and slaughter the lamb at twilight.

For four days the lambs had to be observed, taken care of.  The lambs had to be without any blemish and without any physical defects. Only lambs that passed inspection were sacrificed.

Later when temple worship was established in Jerusalem, people would bring in their sacrificial lambs and the priests would examine and declare them without blemish and then the lambs will be sacrificed on Passover day.

NT fulfillment of Passover
Read Luke 19. 28-44 and Matthew 21, 22

Jesus, the Passover Lamb of God too had to go through the observation period for blemishes and defects. We read in Luke 19. 28- 44 that Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion and was examined by a number of people and declared free of blemish!

Luke 19.47 “Everyday Jesus was teaching at the temple…” Here we see that Jesus made himself available for inspection prior to his crucifixion.

A.                 Jesus examined by religious people:

1. Herodians questioned Jesus and were amazed and had nothing further to say (Matthew 22.15-22)
2. Sadducees questioned Jesus and could not prove him wrong (Matthew 22.23-33)
3. Experts of the law (lawyers) tested Jesus and were put to shame. (Matthew 22. 34-40)
4. Pharisees too examined Jesus and dared not question Him further. (Matthew 22. 41-46)

B.                 Jesus examined by civil authorities:

Luke 23 Pilate and Herod examined Jesus and found him blameless.

John 18. 29-30 Pilate asks Jesus’ accusers, “What charges are you bringing against this man (Jesus)?”  Strangely they answer, “If he was not a criminal we would not have handed him over to you”. (Talk about being obtuse!)

John 18. 38; 19.4&6

1. Pilate said, “I find no basis for a charge against him”.
2. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”  
3. But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

Pontus Pilate declared Jesus blameless, 3 times!! Without realizing the significance Pilate declared Jesus worthy to die as God’s Passover Lamb.

The Lamb of God was examined by both religious and civil authorities and none could find fault with Him. Meanwhile, at the temple the priests were examining and declaring the lambs worthy of Passover sacrifice.

Passover historically is the remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt’s bondage but was prophetically fulfilled by Jesus when he died on the cross and delivered mankind free from Sin’s bondage!

Passover for Israelites
Exodus 12.7 “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. Verse 13, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

 (Prophetically:  The blood on the top dripping down formed a vertical line and if you connect the blood on the sides of the doorframes it formed a Cross. This pointed prophetically to the coming messiah who would die on a cross.)

 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that [is] in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.

For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike [you]. (Exodus 12.22-23 nkjv)

Notice the scripture says that when He sees the blood, ‘the LORD will pass over the door…’(verse 23) Passover for Israelites mean ‘God placed Himself over the Israelite home as a covering, protection  from the destroying angel He had send among the Egyptians’. (Note: He did not skip over or bypass the Israelite home; He Himself was their covering, shield and rampart from the destroying plague.)

Significance of Passover for NT believers
Psalms 91 speaks of the protection we have when the blood of the Passover Lamb is applied over our hearts.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you shall take refuge;”

Satan the destroyer (Rev 9.2,11) cannot touch anyone who accepts the shed blood of the Lamb and hides behind the cross of Calvary. For the blood brings in the presence of God and renders the destroyer powerless over the person/house under God’s covering. 1 John 3.8 – For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Hebrews 2.14 reminds us that, “Jesus …rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Christ Jesus, our Passover Lamb, standing over your life shields you from satan’s eyes and renders him powerless over you.

 Experience Your Personal Passover
Just as Passover is celebrated in the first month of Abib, our personal experience of Passover must come at the very beginning of establishing a relationship with God. We must invite Christ to come and place Himself over us. Then Jesus Christ will become our personal covering prepared by our Heavenly Father (shades of Eden), for all who would be right with God. Jesus is the garment of Righteousness that passes over our head as we put on Christ.  

 Having received Christ as our personal Passover Lamb, we are secure for, ‘No curse can touch [us]; no magic has any power against [us]. (Numbers 23.23)

 Passover Privilege Card
Under the Old or Mosaic Covenant, sins could never really be forgotten, because they were never really forgiven. They were only covered, a shadow and anticipation of the forgiveness in Jesus. (For further reading what happens to our souls when we die) For those who belong to His dear Son, whether they believed under the Old Covenant (e.g. Abraham, David etc. Read hall of faith – Hebrews 11) or New Covenant, God forgets every sin!

As foretold by the Lord to Abraham, Israel suffered 400 years of slavery under the satanic rule of the Pharaohs. (The ruling power of Egypt was satan as symbolized by the crown with a cobra at its front worn by the Pharaohs.) At the end of that time, God made specific provision to save his people the Israelites by Passing Over them and being their cover/shield. It was a new beginning for the Israelites.

Sins forgotten and forgiven Under the New Covenant, believers too enter into a new beginning. 2 Cor 5.17 “therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new”. In Christ our sins are forgotten and forgiven. We are part of a new family, with a new genealogy, under a new covenant, and with a better deliverer than Moses – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Moses saved Israelites from slavery and its bondage. Jesus saves us from sin and its penalty.

Household Salvation Another privilege of Passover is household salvation. Exodus 12.3: “ on the tenth day of the month the man is to take a lamb for his family”. Household salvation is a biblical concept. Not only can you enjoy salvation; but by acts of faith and obedience you can bring salvation to your whole household.

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, the tax collector, “this day is salvation come to this house” Luke 19.9  Zacchaeus had just paid restitution for his past sins – an act of faith and obedience vs 8

The Philippian jailer was told by Paul and Silas, “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household… then immediately he and all his family were baptized -Acts 16.31 The jailer’s acts of faith and obedience -  caring for the wounded and hungry apostles of Jesus despite the dangers to himself.

Remember it was a lamb for a house… Jesus the Lamb of God has already been slaughtered. Now it is time to appropriate the salvation of your household through acts of faith and obedience.

Halleluiah, to the Lamb of God!

I believe that it is scriptural to say that the soul of every born-again Christian goes immediately to be with Christ in heaven. Come with me on a short journey through the scriptures.

Souls of OT Saints
Let’s start with what the Israelite Jews believed. They believed that when a person died they went to a holding place. The righteous went to a place of comfort and the wicked to a place of torment.

Obviously the Old Testament saints Moses and Elijah were not asleep awaiting the resurrection for we see these two men with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration Matthew 17:1-3.

Lazarus and the rich man: In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus told a story about Lazarus (beggar) and the rich man. Both Lazarus and the rich man died. While Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s side (a place of comfort and joy) Jesus just said, ‘the rich man was buried’.

Jesus went on to explain that the rich man looked up from torment in hell (vs 23 Greek- hades) and saw Lazarus with the patriarch Abraham. (The rich man begged Lazarus give him a drop of water to lighten his intense thirst. Abraham then informed him that there is a permanently unbridgeable gulf between the two places. )

Jesus on the Cross: Now let’s fast-forward to another time. Jesus is hanging on the cross and on either side are two thieves. One asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came to His Kingdom. Observe closely what Jesus tells the thief, (Luke 23:43) “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Ephesians 4 tells us that when Jesus died he ‘first of all descended into the lower parts of the earth’. (The thief was promised he would be with Jesus in paradise so both of them were in paradise – the lower parts of the earth).

Now in Ephesians 4:7-12 we have a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ quoted (Psalms 68.18) by Paul. “Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also that the Lord God may dwell among them.” Paul continues, “He who has ascended is the same one who first of all descended into the lower parts of the earth. And when He ascended, He led the captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. And to some apostles, and to some prophets, and to some evangelists, and to some pastor teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the building up of the body of Christ. Until we all come into the unity of faith, complete man, the knowledge of the Son of God, the measure, the stature, the fullness, the image of Christ.”

Captives of Death
Prior to the death of Jesus Christ, the Old Testament saints could not enter in to the glory of heaven. It was necessary that their sins be put away, something that the sacrifices of the Old Testament could not do. It was impossible that their sins could be put away by the blood of bulls or goats. All of the Old Testament sacrifices only were pointing to the better way that God would provide when He sent His only begotten Son to be a lamb offering, sin offering, a sacrifice for our sins. “So we are redeemed, not with corruptible things such as silver and gold from our vain empty life, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ who was slain as a lamb without spot or without blemish” (I Peter 1:18-19). So because the blood of bulls and goats could not put away sin but only speak of the better sacrifice which was to come, their sins were covered, and they, when they died, were held by death in the grave or in hades (Gk).

Prior to the death of Christ, those who trusted in the promises of God and in the fulfillment of God’s promise were held in a place of comfort called Abraham’s bosom. Now these Old Testament men of faith all died in faith not having received the promise, but seeing it afar off they held onto it and they claimed that they were just strangers and pilgrims here. They were just looking for a city which hath foundation, whose maker and builder is God.

He led the captivity captive: In the book of Isaiah, chapter 61, the prophecy concerning Christ, says, “He is going to set at liberty those that are bound and open the prison doors to those that are bound” by death, waiting with Abraham for the promise of God. When Jesus died, He descended into the lower parts of the earth and He preached to those souls that were in prison. It was the glorious fulfillment of God’s promise. The redemptive program was complete. The blood had been shed, whereby our sins are now put away once and for all. And now with their sins put away, they can ascend into the heavenly realm. So when He ascended, He led the captives from their captivity. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke sixteen, the quote in Acts chapter 2 ‘thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption’ vs 27 as well as the reference in 1 Peter 3.19 aboutJesus preaching to those souls in prison and Isaiah 61 all ties in together.

gave gifts unto men: And then He gave gifts unto men. That is, within the church, He gave gifted men as apostles, as prophets, as evangelists, as pastor and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints. Paul quotes this in Ephesians 4:7-12.

Souls of NT Saints
Inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul says, (Philippians 1:21-23) “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

Notice that Paul says he would rather die so he could be with Christ. That would make no sense if he had to wait until the resurrection to be with Christ.

When we come to the epistles in the NT we see the apostles using the word paradise in two different instances to refer to Heaven.

2 Corinthians 12.4 Paul tells us “How (that) he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter”. Here it is clear that Paul is talking about his experience in heaven.

Apostle John writes in Revelation 2.7 ‘…..To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God’.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
A pre-tribulation rapture of the church is scriptural. During the rapture the alive in Christ will be changed in a split second and those who have died in Christ will be resurrected and clothed with new glorious bodies and reunited with their souls 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18.

Tribulation Martyrs
It’s different for the martyrs of the tribulation period. Revelation 6:9-11 indicates that they will have to wait until the end of the tribulation and the final resurrection to get their glorified bodies. “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow-servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

The above quote makes it clear that the souls of the martyrs are in heaven. They are not asleep awaiting the final resurrection. Although it does seem that their bodies are awaiting the final resurrection to receive their glorious everlasting bodies.

Heaven is where Jesus is
The point is not where the soul is but with whom. ‘I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day’ 2 Timothy 1. 12 Where Jesus is, that is heaven for you and me.

Christ, in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25.1-13), likened His relationship to the Church as the bridegroom coming for the bride. In answer to the Pharisees’ question, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking”, Christ refers to Himself as the bridegroom saying, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” (Luke 5.33-34)

The Betrothal
Traditional Jewish marriage began with the betrothal. The betrothal occurred when the man took the initiative, left his father’s home and went to the home of the prospective bride to negotiate the purchase price. This price, the “mohar,” had to be paid prior to anything else relating to the marriage. In comparison, Christ left heaven, His Father’s house, and came to earth, the home of His bride, to pay the price for a lost humanity. The “mohar” was His life’s blood. We are redeemed by His blood. Ephesians 1:7 states, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” We also read in 1 Peter 1:18,19 this, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed ….. but with the precious blood of Christ, …”

Christ did not negotiate with the father of this world, satan, for the purchase price of the believers. That price was determined beforehand by God.

The Jewish groom obtained his bride through the establishment of a marriage covenant. In the same manner, Christ came to the earth to establish a covenant. This covenant, foretold in the Old Testament by the prophet Jeremiah, was established the same night He gave the promise to His disciples by the shedding of His blood on the cross.

In the Jewish ceremony a shared cup of wine served as a symbol of the marriage covenant during the betrothal. Today the communion cup is the symbol of the New Covenant established by Christ to obtain His bride. (also read Matthew 26.29)

When the price had been paid the Jewish bride was considered sanctified, set apart exclusively for her husband. The Church, too, has been declared sanctified, set apart exclusively for Christ. In Ephesians Paul teaches, “Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Hebrews 10.10 says, “we are all sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all”.

The Preparation
With the establishment of the marriage covenant and the payment of the “mohar”, the groom would return to his father’s house. Christ, after paying the price, also departed to His Father’s house. Just as the Jewish groom is required to prepare living accommodations for his bride in his father’s house, Christ is preparing accommodations for us in His Father’s house in heaven. (John 14.2)

The Jewish groom remained separated from his bride for a period of time not exceeding twelve months. Christ’s return has been divinely delayed significantly longer and the Church is now living in this period of separation. (2 Peter 3.4-10)

The Jewish bride also busied herself meanwhile with her trousseau and learned about her marital responsibilities. Christ has taken care of this for the Church, for when He comes we will exchange our corruptible for the incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53)

The Return for the Bride
After all necessary preparations had been made, the Jewish groom returned for his bride to take her to be with him in their new home. The taking of the bride occurred at night and the groom would make his presence known by a shout. Christ too will return for His bride in like manner. It will undoubtedly be at night for some and day for others as we are told by Paul it will occur in the twinkling of an eye. Christ’s presence will be made known by a shout also. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul tells us, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel…” (1Thessalonians 4:16)

In the taking of the bride in the Jewish ceremony, the groom was accompanied by a procession of his friends. Christ will also be accompanied by a procession of an angelic escort.

Just as the Jewish bride had no idea when her groom would return for her, the Church today has no idea when Christ will return. 1 Thessalonians 5.2 says, “This day will come as a thief in the night.”

Similar to the Jewish bride returning with her husband to his father’s house, the Church will return with Christ to heaven. In this way we will inhabit the heavenly dwelling place prepared specifically for us by Christ in heaven.

The Consummation
Shortly after their arrival the bridal pair were escorted to the bridal chamber, referred to as the “huppah”. Then they consummated the marriage and thereby completed the marriage covenant. Similarly, when the Church is taken to the Father’s house in heaven we enter into spiritual union with Christ thereby consummating the relationship which Christ covenanted with the Church over 2000 years ago.

This spiritual union will be the fulfillment of the promise when Paul says, “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13.12)

The bride left for her new home veiled and remained so veiled until she was in the the bridal chamber, for it would have been considered improper for her face to have been seen in public.

The Wedding Feast, The Huppah, The Tribulation
In traditional Jewish marriage ceremony the marriage was consummated and the husband made the announcement to the wedding guests. This announcement would signal the beginning of the wedding feast.

Just as the Jewish bride remained hidden in the “huppah” for a period of seven days, so will the Church remain hidden for a period of seven. Both Daniel, in the Old Testament, and Revelation, in the New Testament, give the exact amount of time for this period.

At the close of the wedding feast the groom would proudly escort his bride out of the bridal chamber. She would now be unveiled for all to see. So Christ will bring the Church out of heaven at the end of the Tribulation period in full view of all who are left alive. Paul speaks of this in Colossians 3:3,4, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”.

Conclusion
The analogy between the Jewish marriage customs and the relationship Christ has with the Church is a beautiful one and full of significance to believers and non-believers alike.

To the believer: It shows the believer the sequence of events up to the present time. It gives him hope for the return of Jesus Christ and the personal relationship we will share with Him throughout eternity. It is also significant in what it teaches about our present relationship to the risen Christ. In the absence of her husband it was possible for the Jewish bride to commit adultery. Today it is possible for the believer to commit spiritual adultery. Paul expressed his concern over this issue when He wrote to the Corinthians and said: “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the Serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:23) [In those days ensuring the chastity of the bride was one of the groom’s best man’s primary duties! Paul here refers to himself to this responsible position of the groom’s (Christ’s) best man.]
James 4.4-5 also speaks of how we commit spiritual adultery through our friendship with the world.

So evaluate your relationship to your Betrothed. What is it He would have you to do in is absence? Is He the center of your life and are you anxiously awaiting His return? Ask yourself if He is controlling your every desire and thought, or if your relationship to the world is of more importance. If you have been unfaithful, do not despair, He will forgive you if you confess your unfaithfulness and ask for His forgiveness. 1 John 1.9 affirms his faithfulness toward us despite our actions.

To the non-believer: Just as the proposal of the Jewish bridegroom could be either accepted or rejected, you too, can either reject or accept the offer Christ makes to you each time you hear the gospel. If you continue to reject Him, you can not become a part of His bride, the Church and you will spend eternity separated from God and Christ.

Christ died on the cross for your sins, and by His shed blood on that cross he paid the price for your sins too. You too can enter into a relationship with Him by admitting your need for a Savior and by accepting Him as that Savior. If you accept Christ’s proposal your sins will be forgiven and you will enter into the relationship and be a part of His bride. You will be gathered together with Him when He returns.

Accepting Christ Jesus’ proposal is really quite simple. You simply believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came to earth and died to pay the price for your sins, that He arose from the dead as proof that His sacrifice on your behalf was acceptable to God. (Romans 10.9-10)

Some must read related posts

1. The Bride or The Guest (http://travancoreann.blogspot.com/2009/05/bride-or-guest.html)
2. Make your own wedding gown (http://travancoreann.blogspot.com/2009/05/make-your-own-wedding-gown.html)
3. longest engagement (http://travancoreann.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/longest-engagement/)
4. stickiness in marriage (http://travancoreann.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/stickiness-in-marriage/)

Tragically many are taught at church that they are worms or specks of dust to God and they must grovel on the dirt and beg mercy for after all the Bible says, “humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up” – James 4.10 Did you really read that verse? Yep! it says, …. “He will lift you up”. How conveniently we overlook parts of the same sentences.

Our God is a God who lifts us up because He thinks you are valuable to Him more than other creations. Do not let the media, family, circle of friends or even the church rob you of your self worth. The ultimate judge is God and He considers you absolutely wonderful.

In Luke 5.8 Peter falls down at Jesus feet and cries out, ‘Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man.” Peter is in effect saying, ‘I am ugly, dirty and worthless, go away Lord’. We all have this tendency of pushing God away from us when we realize His Holiness and our lack of the same. But God’s response is very interesting and gives us a clear understanding of how to deal with similar attitudes.

We see Jesus answering Peter thus, “from now on you will fish for me”. To all intents and purposes Jesus was telling Peter, ‘Peter, I see in you a man of definite leadership quality. You have a great future. You are no worm. Get up and stand straight. You are going to do great things for God”.

When a woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, He never condemned her. Instead He restored her dignity and went out of His way to make her feel valuable! John 8.10-11

An object is worth what you are willing to pay for it. Though He is rich in gold, diamonds, lands and all things most precious, God Almighty did not pay for you with any of His untold riches in heaven or earth. He paid for you with the life of His only Son – Jesus. You who were created in His image and likeness, you who were knitted and formed in your mother’s womb and fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139.13-14) He considers you His most priced possession.

So tell yourself – “God says I am valuable. So I am going to believe Him instead of the world. I am worth every drop of blood that Jesus shed for me.”

1. In the Garden of Eden both Adam and Eve enjoyed God’s presence immensely. I think it is reasonable to assume that they had a fairly clear picture of God and His immutable characteristics (Omnipotence, Omnipresence, and Omniscience). Yet we see that after they sinned (satan messed with their minds) they ran to hide behind a tree! Did they think they could hide themselves from this Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient God? Apparently sin had blinded and distorted their perspective about the very God whom they knew intimately till then.
2. Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ twelve chosen disciples. He spent almost three and a half years nurtured, protected and provided for by Jesus the Rabbi. Yet on that fateful hour while partaking off the last supper with Jesus and His disciples, satan entered Judas (Luke 22.3-4) and he betrayed his master for thirty silver coins. Up to that point, Judas was an accepted religious leader who raised the dead, cast out demons and healed the sick. What changed? Judas lent a receptive ear to satan and his lies which distorted his mind and blinded him to the consequences of his actions.
3. Why point the finger at Judas alone? Following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, mighty Peter, John the favorite and few others – seven to be precise- decided to return to their former career – fishing (John 21.2). Remember they were already born-again believers! (John 20.22) Yet following this strange teacher from Nazareth (who allows himself to be killed the most humiliating way known, managed to cheat death finally, and yet refuses to take on the Roman empire and relieve the People from their shameful subordination to the pagan Romans!) had not been as profitable as they had hoped and decided to go their old ways.

Listen to what the Spirit of God has to say about those who backslide. “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” – Hebrews 6.4-6 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! – 1 Corinthians 10.12

What made the disciples to backslide? They allowed disillusion, discouragement and disappointment to enter their mind and change their perspective about Jesus. So ‘above all else, guard your heart (Proverbs 4.23) from all deceptions of the evil one and constantly check for any changes in your perspective about your God.