Monthly Archives: December 2023

How Tolerant? – Titus 1:10-11

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

A believer new to an assembly had a clear testimony of salvation, embraced the grace message, and was regular in attendance. The elders didn’t give it much thought when he set up a table promoting tapes and literature from other teachers. After a year, the elders realized he had been promoting several devisive errors contrary to sound doctrine and the church constitution. Moreover, he had won several converts within the assembly. When the elders kindly asked him to discontinue promoting these doctrines, he defiantly refused in a publicly, argumentative way. What should the elders have done next?

Paul’s instruction in the pastoral epistles is abundantly clear that when bad doctrine is being promoted, it must not be tolerated. Titus was instructed to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). Why? Because even those who know Christ sometimes deceive others with empty, incorrect doctrines that often “subvert whole houses,” leading entire families into error (Titus 1:10-11). Bad doctrine is like a cancer. It grows, spreads, and overtakes its victims. Paul tells Titus he must not be tolerant of error in major doctrines. Instead, it is appropriate to give “sharp” rebuke when those in error refuse to listen to sound doctrine or follow the leadership God has placed within the church. God will hold the elders of each church accountable at the Bema Seat to assure their church is always “the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15; Revelation 2:14-15, 20). Every assembly should be a safe haven of grace for everyone, where only truth is promoted. When error is introduced into the assembly, elders are to reason from the Scriptures with the one in error (Titus 1:9). Should the errant one defiantly continue to promote bad doctrine, Paul says, “a man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Titus 3:10). To “reject” means “to put out, or not have alongside.” Romans 16:17 says it clearly: “…mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Everyone is to obey this command.

It isn’t wiser to tolerate bad doctrine to maintain numbers in a local church. It isn’t loving to continue to befriend one in error. Both are disobedience that bolsters their defiance. If your church leaders deem it necessary to take strong action against error, come down on the right side of the issue, God’s side, by standing with those who stand against error.

Free Mail Subscription

Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."

Receptivo a toda la verdad – II Timoteo 4:3-4

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

Hemos conocido a algunas personas que afirman representar las doctrinas distintivas de Pablo, pero rechazan las palabras claras de las Escrituras. Uno dijo: “Creo que las instrucciones de Pablo sobre ese tema están desactualizadas. No necesitamos seguirlas”. Otro dijo: “Sé que eso es lo que dicen las Escrituras, pero nunca me convencerán de que mi camino no es mejor”. Un maestro de la Biblia dijo: “Sí, ese es el modelo bíblico, pero eso no es lo que quiere la gente. Tienes que darles a las personas lo que quieren”. Un cuarto individuo empujó la Biblia hacia atrás sobre la mesa y dijo: “No me importa lo que diga la Biblia”. Difícilmente podía creer lo que estaba escuchando, especialmente de los cristianos.

El apóstol Pablo advirtió a Timoteo: “Porque vendrá el tiempo cuando no soportarán la sana doctrina; más bien, teniendo comezón de oír, amontonarán para sí maestros conforme a sus propias pasiones  y, a la vez que apartarán sus oídos de la verdad, se volverán a las fábulas”(II Timoteo 4:3-4). Mientras Pablo escribía específicamente a Timoteo acerca de las condiciones en Éfeso, este escritor cree que nuestro apóstol tenía una visión divina de los últimos días de gracia antes del arrebatamiento. En I Timoteo 4:1, advirtió acerca de las características de “los últimos tiempos”, cuando “… algunos se apartarán de la fe, prestando atención a espíritus engañosos y a doctrinas de demonios”. En II Timoteo 4:3-4, cree que Pablo está cambiando la mentalidad en los últimos días. Él advierte sobre los esfuerzos satánicos para alejar a los creyentes de seguir las doctrinas e instrucciones para la iglesia local presentadas por nuestro apóstol de la gracia bajo la inspiración de Dios. En lugar de seguir las Escrituras, algunos gravitarán hacia las doctrinas hechas por el hombre, aferrándose obstinadamente a ellas. Cuando Pablo advirtió que llegaría el momento en que algunos “no tolerarán la sana doctrina”, se estaba refiriendo a los creyentes que no estaban dispuestos a tolerar o abrazar las instrucciones de Dios. ¿Cómo dijo Pablo que esto se manifestaría? Se resistirán a la verdad, argumentarán en contra de ella, se enojarán cuando se les enseñe, difundirán el descontento en otros creyentes y tratarán de encontrar a alguien que les enseñe lo que quieran escuchar. Pero, esto no tiene por qué ser así. Podemos, y debemos, tomar la decisión de que seguiremos consistentemente las instrucciones en las cartas del apóstol Pablo.

Si el Señor regresara hoy, ¿Te encontraría defendiendo Su verdad o promoviendo el error? Nuestra lectura de las Escrituras de hoy es un recordatorio para pedir sinceramente a Dios que nos ayude a ser leales a seguir Su Palabra en cada área.

Comience cada día con artículos devocionales breves tomados del libro Daily Transformation del pastor John Fredericksen. Como escribe el pastor Fredericksen en la introducción: "Le damos la bienvenida, mientras viaja con nosotros..., no sólo para aprender información, sino también para beneficiarse de ejemplos de fe y fracaso, y tratar de aplicar la Palabra de Dios a la vida diaria. Juntos , pasemos de estudiar únicamente teorías de doctrina a aplicar las verdades de Dios de manera práctica todos los días. Que Dios use estos estudios para ayudarte a encontrar la transformación diaria."

Evidence for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Posted on by Pastor Ken Lawson

The appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ for His own Church is one of the most attested to revelations in all of Paul’s writings. Paul intended for this to be a purifying expectation and a comfort to those who are suffering. However, in recent years this blessed hope has been attacked from all sides as either a misunderstanding emanating from the dispensationalists or as a misguided illusion that has gained an audience among those who refuse to consider church history and tradition.

It has been well said that the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church to heaven was the last truth recovered from the Bible by teachers who championed dispensational truth, and now, after a period of popularity, it is becoming the first recovered truth that is losing support among believers. Whether it is currently popular or supported by church history is immaterial in the end. The issue is this: Is it correct according to the Scriptures rightly divided? In Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church this short article we will review in a concise form some of the most convincing Scriptural reasons why we believe that the Rapture of the Church will happen before the coming Tribulation.

The Rapture of the Church is a Distinctive Pauline Truth

We do not read of the Rapture of the Church outside of Paul’s epistles. Paul taught by revelation that the Church, the Body of Christ, is a mystery (or secret) unknown to men of previous ages (Eph. 3:1-6; Col. 1:25-27). The Rapture is the blessed hope of this Church and the final act of God for our dispensation. Therefore, it cannot be a part of Israel’s program of prophecy outlined by the Old Testament prophets. Since those prophets foretold of the Tribulation (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21), the Body of Christ cannot be there without violating its distinctive character as a new creation separate and distinct from Israel (Eph. 2:14-17). Anyone who puts the Church through any part of the Tribulation must deal with the incongruity of a secret church participating in a prophesied era. Some pre-tribulationists have unwittingly weakened their position by claiming the Rapture was revealed by Christ in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25), which is most assuredly an integral part of Israel’s prophetic program. MidActs dispensationalism greatly strengthens the pre-Tribulation position. Where you begin the Church determines where you end it! It began with God’s revelation to Paul after Israel’s fall in unbelief and will end before God resumes His dealings with them as a nation.

Paul tells us that the Church has been delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rom. 5:9). The wrath of God covers the beginning, middle, and end of the Tribulation, as well as the Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 1:10; 6:16-17; 19:11-21; 2 Thes. 1:7-10; Isa. 63:1-6).

The dispensation of grace ends before the Tribulation begins. It is impossible to execute a program of grace and a program of judgment at the same time. They are mutually exclusive.

  • There are different gospels proclaimed. Grace (Acts 20:24; Rom. 3:24) and Kingdom (Matt. 24:14). If the Church were in the Tribulation, we could not obey Paul’s command to fight against evil principalities and powers in heavenly places since they will have been cast down to earth (Rev. 12:7-9; Eph.6:12).
  • There are different programs involved. Under grace, God is working a program of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-21). He is withholding judgment to administer His grace (Rom. 5:20-21). Compare Psalm 2 with Acts 7.

Daniel’s Seventieth Week Pertains to Israel, Not the Body of Christ

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Dan. 9:24-27).
“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jer. 30:7).

This should be a weighty argument for dispensationalists who make a stark distinction between Israel and the Church. The great object of Satanic attack during the last half of the Tribulation is the remnant of Israel, not the Body of Christ (Rev. 12:9-12). The two witnesses and the 144,000 will be the chief actors for God during this time. These are all Jewish (Rev. 7:1-8; 11:3-12).

Finally, it is the remnant of Israel who will be waiting for Christ’s return after the Tribulation, not the Church (Mal. 3:16-18; Ezek. 20:33-38; 37:11-28; Zech. 13:8-9; 12:10-14). The Gentiles who are saved during the Tribulation come to a knowledge of Christ through Israel’s testimony, not the Body of Christ.

Further Considerations

Paul spoke as though the Rapture was imminent: That is, as far as we know, it could happen at any time. Paul himself expected to be raptured but knew the Tribulation had not begun (1 Thes. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:51).

Members of the Body of Christ are never warned or prepared to go through the Tribulation. This omission is especially telling considering that Christ, in His ministry to the Jews, both warns and prepares them to go through it (see Matthew chapters 10, 24, 25; Mark 13; Luke 21).

None of the Second Coming passages mention the Rapture of believers being caught up in the clouds of the air. We can check out the Old Testament and see many prophecies of Christ’s Second Coming to Israel and the nations to bring in the Davidic Kingdom on earth, but none of them refer to the revelation of 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. This is also true of the Gospels, the Circumcision Epistles, and the Book of Revelation.

The last days of Israel’s prophetic program and the last days of the Body of Christ do not match: Jesus warned the Jews of His day to look for signs that would herald His coming (Luke 21:20-27). “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). They were not to began looking for the coming of the Lord until these signs begin to appear. In contrast, Paul gives no signs, only spiritual and moral trends that could be descriptive of any place in church history (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 4:3-4). As Pastor J.C. O’Hair used to say, “We are not looking for the signs of the times because this is not the time for the signs.”

The relation of church and government: Members of the Body of Christ are told to be subject to governmental authorities and to pray for them (Rom. 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:1-4). This will be out of place in the Tribulation as the government will be under the control of Satan and the Beast (Rev. 13:4).

The necessity of an interval: After the Rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ must take place before believers enter the Kingdom (Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 4:5). This “meeting in the air” is not to determine salvation or damnation but reward or loss of reward for the believers. The interval of at least seven years between the Rapture and the Second Coming seems adequate to accommodate the many millions of saints for the “Bema Seat.” This would require a pre-Tribulation Rapture.

The argument of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: The Thessalonians were well schooled in God’s prophetic program (1 Thes. 5:1-3). If they believed, or if it was Paul’s intent to teach, that the living members of the Body of Christ would go through the tribulation before being “caught up,” they should have rejoiced for their “dead in Christ” rather than mourned. After all, they were with the Lord and had missed the persecution of the Man of Sin and the wrath of Satan. Instead, they were confused about the details of the Rapture (not the day of the Lord) and received instruction to comfort one another that they would all participate in the Rapture together and so miss this terrible time of trouble.

This passage presents three prophetic phrases:

  • The times and seasons (Acts 1:7).
  • The Day of the Lord (Zeph. 1:14-18).
  • A thief in the night (Matt. 24:43; Rev. 3:3).

These three have to do exclusively with Israel’s prophetic program, not the Mystery of the Body of Christ or the dispensation of grace. These are set off from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 by the word “But” (v. 1), which shows the dis-relationship between these three and the Rapture. Paul taught by contrast.

According to the passage, the announcement of “Peace and safety” happens before the day of the Lord. If the day of the Lord refers only to the Second Coming of Christ after the Tribulation (as post-tribulationists say it does), then it will have them saying “Peace and safety” at the end of the Tribulation while in the midst of the Battle of Armageddon. Something is awry here!

Since the Tribulation gets worse in judgment (with the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials of God’s wrath), no one will be able to say peace and safety then. Therefore, the Rapture must come before the Tribulation.

The argument of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7: Paul pleaded with the believers not to be “shaken” or “troubled” by false reports that they were in “the day of the Lord.” Such pleading he made in virtue of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him” (v. 1). Again, Paul’s purpose was one of comfort and encouragement. They would not be subject to the day of God’s wrath because of the expectation of Christ’s coming. At this point, most post-tribulationists again make a sharp distinction between the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. The Tribulation (they say) is the wrath of men, the wrath of the Antichrist, and the wrath of Satan, while the Day of the Lord comes afterward and is the wrath of God.

The trouble with the Thessalonians was that while they were bravely enduring persecutions and tribulations (2 Thes. 1:4), the enemy had confused them with these false reports that they had actually entered the time of the Lord’s vengeance upon the world. Now if the distinction between the time of Tribulation and the Day of the Lord was as stark as post-tribulationists insist that it is, there would have been no better opportunity to clarify the issue than right here.

Here are the facts:

  • The Thessalonian Christians knew they were being persecuted by the unbelievers.
  • They thought this could be the Day of the Lord.
  • This was contrary to what Paul had taught them previously.
  • Paul had not changed his teaching on this.
  • He made no attempt to correct the error by instructing them that they could not be in the Day of the Lord’s wrath since they were being persecuted by men (the wrath of men).
  • Instead, he referred them to his original teaching while among them.

Before the Day of the Lord, there must be:

  1. A falling away (KJV): Greek hee apostasia, literally “the departure.” Not just from Bible doctrine but the departure of the Church to heaven via the Rapture (2 Thes. 2:1; 1 Thes. 4:15-18).
  2. Man of Sin revealed: This revelation will occur when “the prince that shall come” shall make a covenant with Israel for one week of years (Dan. 9:26-27). Since the wise will be able to identify the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, it necessitates a pre-Tribulation Rapture.
  3. The removal of the Restrainer: The expression “what withholdeth” is neuter, but its masculine equivalent is in verse 7, “until he be taken out of the way.” This is undoubtedly the Holy Spirit in the Church at the Rapture.

We have seen that the preTribulation Rapture of the church is well supported by Paul’s teaching in a variety of different ways. This truth is more than just academic or one in which we have been armed to win arguments. It should also make an impact on our faith and life as Christians. If it is really true that Christ could appear for us at any moment, how does that affect your attitude toward the work of Christ in your particular ministry? Does that give you a desire to be about the Master’s business seeing that the time could be short? Do you hold to the teaching of the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church? Wonderful! Now does that truth hold you?

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17).

You can receive More Minutes With the Bible every week in your email inbox. This list features longer articles, including both original content and articles that have appeared in the Berean Searchlight.

La única iglesia verdadera y cómo unirse a ella

Posted on by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Muchas personas han sido salvas y han llegado verdaderamente a conocer a Cristo después de haber sido “miembros de iglesia” religiosos y sinceros durante años. Aunque fieles partidarios de alguna organización eclesiástica terrenal, nunca habían experimentado la verdad de II Cor. 5:17: “Si alguno está en Cristo, nueva creación es”. Es posible ser miembro acreditado de una organización eclesiástica y, sin embargo, estar fuera de la única Iglesia verdadera de la que habla la Biblia.

Esto se debe a que la verdadera Iglesia Bíblica no es una organización, y mucho menos un estado político. Es un organismo vivo, un cuerpo espiritual, con una Cabeza viva y miembros vivos. Una y otra vez San Pablo, por inspiración divina, llama a la Iglesia Cuerpo de Cristo (Rom. 12:5; I Cor. 12:27; Ef. 5:30).

También se debe observar que la verdadera Iglesia Bíblica tiene una Cabeza: no un hombre en la tierra, sino el Cristo glorificado en el cielo (Ef. 1:22; 4:4,5; 5:23; Col. 1:18). . En ninguna parte de las Escrituras leemos que algún hombre deba actuar como Su representante terrenal como Cabeza del Cuerpo.

Entonces, ¿cómo llegamos a ser miembros de esta única y verdadera Iglesia Bíblica, el Cuerpo de Cristo? Primero, debemos reconocernos pecadores ante los ojos de Dios, porque Efesios 2:16 relata cómo Cristo murió por los hombres pecadores “para RECONCILIAR a ambos [judíos y gentiles] con Dios en un solo Cuerpo en la cruz, habiendo matado en ella las enemistades”. .” Por lo tanto, cuando los pecadores creyentes son RECONCILIADOS con Dios por la fe en Cristo, son REGENERADOS, reciben una nueva vida, por el Espíritu, y por el Espíritu son BAUTIZADOS en la Iglesia, el Cuerpo de Cristo.

Tito 3:5: “No por obras de justicia que nosotros hayamos hecho, sino según su misericordia, nos salvó por el lavamiento de la REGENERACIÓN y por la renovación del Espíritu Santo”;

1 Corintios 12:13: “Porque POR UN SOLO ESPÍRITU SOMOS TODOS BAUTIZADOS EN UN SOLO CUERPO”.

Cada uno de nosotros debería preguntarse: “¿He sido bautizado por el Espíritu en el Cuerpo de Cristo?” Quienes no lo tienen, no pertenecen a la única Iglesia que Dios reconoce. Pero la membresía en la Iglesia verdadera todavía está abierta. Sencilla pero sinceramente, confía en Cristo como tu Salvador. Él es la Cabeza de la Iglesia. “Cree en el Señor Jesucristo y serás salvo” (Hechos 16:31). Luego asóciese con alguna asamblea local donde se honre a Cristo y se enseñe la Biblia correctamente dividida. Estaremos encantados de sugerirle un lugar de culto de este tipo.

"Dos Minutos con la Biblia" le permite comenzar el día con artículos de estudio bíblicos breves pero potentes de la Sociedad Bíblica Berea. Regístrate ahora para recibir Dos Minutos con la Biblia todos los días en tu bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico. Nunca compartiremos tu información personal y puedes cancelar tu suscripción en cualquier momento.

Receptive to All Truth – II Timothy 4:3-4

Posted on by Pastor John Fredericksen

We have known some individuals who claim to stand for the distinctive doctrines of Paul but reject the clear words of Scripture. One said, “I think Paul’s instructions on that subject are outdated. We don’t need to follow them.” Another said, “I know that’s what the Scriptures say, but you’ll never convince me my way is not better.” A Bible teacher said, “Yes, that is the biblical pattern, but that’s not what the people want. You have to give people what they want.” A fourth individual shoved the Bible back across the table and said, “I don’t care what the Bible says.” I could hardly believe what I was hearing, especially from Christians.

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Timothy 4:3-4). While Paul was specifically writing to Timothy about the conditions at Ephesus, this writer believes our apostle had divine insight into the last days of grace before the Rapture. In I Timothy 4:1, he warned about characteristics of “the latter times,” when “…some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” In II Timothy 4:3-4, we believe Paul is readdressing the mindset in the last days. He warns of satanic efforts to draw believers away from following the doctrines and instructions for the local church laid out by our apostle of grace under the inspiration of God. Instead of following Scripture, some will gravitate to man-made doctrines, stubbornly clinging to them. When Paul warned the time would come when some “will not endure sound doctrine,” he was referring to believers not willing to put up with, or embrace, God’s instructions. How did Paul say this would manifest itself? They will resist truth, argue against it, become angry when it is taught, spread discontent in other believers, and try to find anyone who will teach what they want to hear. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can, and must, make the decision that we will consistently follow the instructions in the letters of the Apostle Paul.

If the Lord returned today, would He find you standing for His truth, or promoting error? Our Scripture reading today is a reminder to sincerely ask God to help us be loyal to following His Word in every area.

Free Mail Subscription

Start each day with short, devotional articles taken from the book Daily Transformation by Pastor John Fredericksen. As Pastor Fredericksen writes in the introduction:

"We welcome you, as you journey with us..., to not only learn information, but to benefit from examples of faith and failure, and seek to apply God’s Word to every day life. Together, let’s transition from only studying theories of doctrine, to applying God’s truths in a practical way every day. May God use these studies to help you find daily transformation."


Berean Searchlight – December 2023

Posted on by kevin

Free Mail Subscription

For a free subscription to the Berean Searchlight by mail, visit the Berean Searchlight Subscription page.

Subscribe to the Berean Searchlight Monthly Email to receive an email announcement when each issue of the Searchlight is posted online.