JOEL 3:12-21 and JOEL 2:12-26

Joel 4:12-21 (3:12-21 KJV)  > Let all the nations rouse themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I shall sit to judge all the nations round about. Bring out the sickles, for the harvest is ripe.  Come in and tread the grapes, for the winepress is full, the wine vats overflow; for their wickedness is multiplied.  The news resounded in the valley of judgment, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley judgment.  The sun and moon shall become dark, and the stars shall withdraw their light.  And the Lord shall cry out from Zion, and He shall utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and earth will quake, but the Lord shall keep His people safe and shall strengthen the sons of Israel.  So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, the one dwelling in Zion on My holy mountain.  Then Jerusalem shall be a holy city, and no more will strangers pass through her.  And it will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip sweetness, and milk shall flow from the hills, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with water.  And a fountain shall flow out from the house of the Lord, and it will supply water to the valley of Acacias.  Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a wilderness because of the wrongdoings against the people of Judah, because of the innocent blood shed in their land.  But Judah shall be inhabited forever and Jerusalem unto generations of generations.  And I shall avenge their blood and shall not let it go unpunished.  The Lord shall dwell in Zion. 

Joel 2:12-26 > Now says the Lord your God, “Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting and wailing and with mourning; rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate.  He is longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and repents of evils.  Who knows if he will return and change His mind—if He will leave a blessing behind Him, even an offering and drink-offering to the Lord our God?”  Sound the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, call out the elders, and gather the nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom go out from His bedchamber and the bride out of her bridal chamber.  Between the porch and the altar, the priest of the altar, ministering to the Lord, will each be weeping and will say, “O Lord, spare Your people; do not give your inheritance to reproach, that the gentiles should rule over them, lest they should say among the gentiles, ‘where is their God?’”  But the Lord was zealous for His land and spared His people.  And the Lord answered His people and said, “Behold, I send you wheat, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them.  I will no longer a reproach among the nations, and I will drive the army from the north away from you, and I shall force him into a dry land.  I will drown his face in the eastern sea and his back in the western sea; its stench and foul smell will rise up, because he has done powerful works.” O land, be of good courage; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things.  Take courage, you beast of the field, for the planes of the wilderness have budded, and the trees bear their fruit.  And again the vine and the fig tree yield their full potency.  And you children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God, for He gives food that is right for you, and He will shower you as before with the early and the late rain.  The threshing floors shall be full of wheat and the presses of wine and olive oil will overflow.  And I will restore to you the years the grasshopper and the locust have eaten, and for the blight, and the caterpillar, even for My great army, which I sent against you.  You will eat abundantly and be satisfied and will praise the name of the Lord your God for what He has so wondrously done unto you.  And My people will not be put to shame forever. 

Introduction

Today’s readings, Joel 4:12-21* and Joel 2:12-26, speak to us of the Day of the Lord, that is, the “Last Judgment” which occurs at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and how we may prepare ourselves, through repentance and fasting to stand before Christ at this judgment. Juxtaposed against this “Day of Judgment” and our repentance is the revelation of God’s mercy and grace, and how it is our enemies (Luke 10:17-20) that will be judged and destroyed, and not us who have repented and received God’s mercy. We who have repented and received God’s mercy will be cleansed, and will not be put to shame forever, (Joel 2:26).

Four Truths to Live By

Truth #1 We must prepare for the coming day of judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) by taking heed to the words of the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting and wailing and mourning…” (Joel 2:12). St Gregory the Great (c. 540-604), the Dialogist, writes that ‘when it is said by the Prophet, ‘Sanctify a fast [Joel 1:14],’ sanctifying a fast means showing bodily fasting to God as an alms, by adding every other good deed. Cease to be angry, put aside quarrels. You weaken your body in vain if you do not restrain your heart from all its pleasures.” St Athanasios the Great (c. 296-373) says, “Listen, as in a figure, to the Prophet blowing the trumpet; and further, having turned to the truth, be ready for the announcement of the trumpet, for he saith, ‘Blow ye the trumpet in Sion: sanctify a fast [Joel 2:15].’ This is a warning trumpet, and commands with great earnestness, that when we fast, we should hallow the fast.” The trumpet is blowing, the Church is calling us to the “Great Fast”. And when we enter the “Great Fast” (Lent), may we understand the sacredness of what we are embarking on. We are setting out on a highway to holiness (Isaiah 35:8). We are striving to purify ourselves, even as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). St James says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:6-10)

Truth #2 We must know that God is “merciful and compassionate. He is longsuffering and plenteous in mercy…” (Joel 2:13). The Lord is zealous (jealous in the KJV) for His people (Joel 2:18). He desires that we repent so that we may experience His grace and mercy, and have all things restored unto us that the enemy of our souls has stolen or destroyed. It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). As we fast, let us pray, pray for hearts to be softened, for hearts to be turned to the Lord in a new way. Let us pray as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 50 [51  KJV])

Truth #3 We must “be of good courage” and “be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things” (Joel 2:21). In the midst of our tears of repentance we will find our mourning turned to joy. But soon we will sense the need to search our hearts and repent even deeper (1 John 1:9). So we live a life of “joyful sorrow”. A life that knows the “joy of salvation”, but feels the sinfulness of this present age weighing upon our souls (Psalm 50 [51 KJV]). So we are sorrowful for our sins, yet we rejoice in Christ. As Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Truth #4 We must look forward to the final restoration of all Creation. When Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead (1 Timothy 4:2), the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44), and the heavens being on fire will be dissolved and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10, 12), our enemies will be judged and destroyed, that is, the demon hordes that assailed us in this life, and the years that these demons (grasshoppers and locusts) have eaten will be restored to us. These enemies (Ephesians 6:12), which were sent against us in our times of rebellion, wreaking destruction and stealing precious time from us, will be judged and destroyed by our God (Matthew 25:41/Hell). And the shame we incurred through our rebellious times will be cleansed away by God’s mercy according to our repentance, our tears, our fasting, and our deeds of justice (Isaiah 58:6-8; Micah 6:8).

Questions to Ponder

1)    What are some ways we can “hallow” the fast?

2)    What scripture verses that speak of God’s love and mercy could I memorize for Lent?

3)    In what ways can we demonstrate true fasting? Consider Joel 2:12, 13; James 4:6-10; Matthew 25:31-46; and Isaiah 58:6-8?

4)    What is the significance of “Forgiveness Sunday” (next Sunday) as it relates to the “Great Fast”?

Announcement!!!

I have been blessed to prepare this weekly Bible Study for the past six weeks. I hope that you were fed spiritually, and were challenged in your faith to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Starting next week Fr. Stephen De Young will be preparing the weekly Wednesday Bible Study based on the daily Scripture readings. May the Lord who loves mankind illumine your hearts with the pure light of His divine knowledge.

Always in Christ,
Michael Simmons

P.S. This blog, Ancient Faith Bible Study, is one of my teaching blogs, and I will continue from time to time to add new Bible studies to it. You may visit my other Bible study blog at: www.mikesbiblenotes.blogspot.com

* Why does today's reading say Joel 4:12-21 rather than Joel 3:12-21? In the Masoretic Text (Hebrew Old Testament), and the "original" Septuagint (LXX - Greek Old Testament) there are 4 chapters in the book of Joel. The numberings are what we are seeing in today's Bible Study. The King James Bible has 3 chapters instead of 4. The difference is that the last 5 verses of Joel 3 in the Septuagint are added to the ending of chapter 2 in the King James Bible. And then chapter 4 becomes chapter 3. Any Questions?

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HEBREWS 4:14-5:6 and Matthew 10:1, 5-8

Hebrews 4:14-5:6 > 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in thingspertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”

6 As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek”.

Matthew 10:1, 5-8 > And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[a] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Introduction

Today’s readings, Hebrews 4:14-5:6 and Matthew 10:1, 5-8, give us a dynamic vision of our relationship with the incarnate Son of God, Jesus, who is, at this present moment, our High Priest, and more specifically, the High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1, 4:14). We “see” the person and work of Jesus Christ displayed for us. First, as “the only begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages” (Creed), when the Father says, “Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee” (Hebrews 5:5; Psalm 2:7); secondly as the “One” who fulfills the Aaronic priesthood (Hebrews 5:1-4; Exodus 28:1); and thirdly as the “One” who assumes and fulfills the Old Testament priesthood of Melchizedek, being both a Priest and a King (Hebrews 7:1-21; Genesis 14:18-20). Jesus is also known to us as “the Apostle…” (Hebrews 3:1). Apostle means “sent one”. Jesus was sent by the Father (John 6:44; 1 John 4:14), and in turn, He sent the Twelve Apostles. And for what purpose did Jesus send the Twelve Apostles into the world? To carry on His ministry of preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, and healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and casting out devils (Matthew 10:7, 8). Let us consider “four truths to live by” that I have drawn from today’s readings.

Four Truths to Live By

Truth #1) We must “see” Jesus. We must envision, that is, see with our mind’s eye, the person and work of Jesus ever on-folding. “Seeing Jesus”, as St Basil’s Divine Liturgy enumerates, “having in remembrance his saving Passion and life-giving Cross, his three days’ burial, and Resurrection from the dead, his Ascension into heaven and Session at thy right hand, his Father and God, and his glorious and terrible Second Advent”. The person and work of Jesus Christ must ever be flooding our consciousness. The “prayer before the Gospel” in the Divine Liturgy reads, “Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy gospel teachings”. As we receive with meekness, the implanted word of God which is able to save our souls (James 1:18), let us pray that the Holy Spirit helps us to “see” Jesus. As the writer of Hebrews instructs us, “Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…consider him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:1-3). It is by “looking unto Jesus”, and as we “consider Him”, that our minds stay strong in the Lord. So, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).
 

Truth #2 We must hold fast to our confession of faith in the face of every temptation. Because Jesus is  our high priest, and not a sinful fellow human being as in Aaron and his sons, we have a high priest who can not only sympathize with our weaknesses, but because he never sinned, is able to help us by granting to us power over sin (Hebrews 2:16-18). In this life we will face temptations, tests, and trials from dark forces that are designed to defeat us in the spiritual warfare that we are moment-by-moment engaged in (2 Timothy 2:3, 4; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8-10). These dark forces, demons and wicked spirits, desire to wrest our grip away from the faith that we are faithfully holding on to. St Paul exhorts, “Stand fast, and hold the traditions* which you have been taught, whether by word (oral transmission), or our epistle (written text) (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 11:2). The Apostolic Faith that has been handed down to the faithful must be tightly held in our spiritual hands. Jesus gave to the Twelve Apostles His word, His truth, his gospel teachings, and His healing ministry (Matthew 10:1-42; John 17:1-26). This Faith was then delivered to the saints that followed the Twelve Apostles (Jude 3), and the Orthodox Church has preserved this Faith through the centuries by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:15; John 16:12-16).
 

Truth #3) We must come boldly to the throne of grace every time we are tempted. Every step of the way, that is, every step in our journey here and now in the midst of a twisted generation we must cry out to the Lord as we are reminded in Great Vespers, “O Lord, I have cried out unto Thee, hear Thou me. Give ear to the voice of my supplication, when I cry out unto Thee (Psalm 140[141]. “What “throne of grace” is he speaking of? That royal throne concerning which it is said, “The Lord said unto my Lord, “Sit on my right hand” (Psalm 110:1*). What is “let us come boldly”? Because “we have a sinless High Priest” contending with the world. For, says he, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33); for, this is to suffer all things, and yet to be pure from sins. Although we (he means) are under sin, yet He is sinless. How is it that we should “approach boldly”? Because now it is a throne of Grace, not a throne of Judgment. Therefore boldly, “that we may obtain mercy,” even such as we are seeking.” (St John Chrysostom, Hebrews, Homilies 7) This boldness we have been given is a liberty, a freedom, that comes to us who are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, whose sins are washed away. We can come boldly to God, to the throne of His Grace, as it is written, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast our confession…” (Hebrews 10:19-23). Take note, that during the Divine Liturgy we pray, “And vouchsafe, O Master, that with boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon thee, the heavenly God, as Father, and to say: Our Father, who art in heaven…”. This should be our mindset as we travel the inner path, battling the thieves hiding in the bushes of our thoughts; God loves us, accepts us in His Son, and hears our cries. “There is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). We can rest assured that God loves us, and accepts us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), and that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:16-19).
 

Truth #4) We must obtain mercy and acquire grace to help us every time we are tempted.  Our text is teaching us that with every temptation we are in need of help. And help is available to us through the high priestly ministry of Jesus. If we will take God at His word (Matthew 11:28-30), and come to Him boldly, to the throne of grace, in our moment of need, we will receive two blessed realities. First we will obtain mercy. Mercy is the critical thing, and mercy is the most urgent need of the disciple of Christ. Because we are sinners, who are wounded in our souls, diseased, and brokenhearted, we must continuously be repenting, and crying out like the Publican, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Especially at the moment of temptation, when we are likely in a weakened state, we are need of mercy. Mercy is not understood in a judicial sense, that is, that you are not receiving judgment as you deserve. Mercy is to be understood in a medicinal sense, that is, you are on the receiving end of God’s steadfast love. Mercy (eleos in Greek which has the same root as the old Greek word for olive oil) is the healing oil poured into the diseased wounds of our souls (Luke 10:25-37). By obtaining mercy, that is, by receiving the healing balm (Jeremiah 8:22) for our souls, we can overcome the temptations that our weaknesses make us susceptible too (James 1:12-15). This is why we pray “Lord have mercy” with such frequency in the Divine Liturgy. And why we are encouraged to often repeat the Jesus Prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”. Secondly, we can acquire grace, that is, the divine energies of God Himself. This uncreated grace, will cause us to be supernaturally strengthened in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). God imparts that part of Himself, that is, not His essence (nature), but His energies, to the child of God who calls upon Him in his time of need. God has elected to communicate his divine energies with His creatures that are in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:2-4).

Conclusion

My brothers and sisters, let us see Jesus in all His many and glorious offices; as our teacher; as our healer; as our one and only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6); as our intercessor (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34) and advocate (1 John 2:1); as our High Priest and Chief Minister/Liturgist (Hebrews 8:1-6); as our Chief, and Good, and Great Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4; John 10:14; Hebrews 13:20); as the Bishop of our souls (1 Peter 2:25); as the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10), and as our Great God and our Savior (Titus 2:13); Jesus is our Lord!!! By keeping our eyes upon Jesus through prayer and meditation on His word He will help us to hold fast to our confession of faith regardless of the severity of the enemies attacks. The more we grow in the knowledge of Jesus, the more we will increase in confidence and faith, and the more boldly we will trust our souls to the throne of Grace. In the Divine Liturgy six times we pray, “Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace”. This little prayer sums up all that I am attempting to explain. Let us attend, let us pay attention to what we are praying as we stand in church. May the Scriptures come alive to us as we pray the Divine Liturgy. And may the Divine Liturgy come alive as we grow in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
 

*Tradition – Scripture speaks of two types of tradition: human tradition and apostolic tradition. On the one hand, Christians are warned not to be deceived by the “traditions of men” (Colossians 2:9; Matthew 15:2, 3; Mark 7:9). On the other hand, Christians are commanded to “keep the traditions as I delivered them to you” (1 Corinthians 11:2; Philippians 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Timothy 2:2; John 16:13; Galatians 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:20; Jude 3). (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, pg. 646)
 

**Psalm 110:1 is the most quoted Old Testament verse of Scripture found in the New Testament; Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:13. Also Romans 8:34, 1 Peter 3:22, and Ephesians 1:20 make reference to Christ at the right hand of God.
 

Please send questions to:
Fr. Bogdan Bucur Frbogdan@orthodoxbutler.org 
Fr Stephen De Young stevedeyoung@yahoo.com
Michael Simmons CyclingSimmons@gmail.com
 
 

Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

2 PETER 3:1-18 / MARK 13:24-31

2 Peter 3:1 – 18 > Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first; that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willingly forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now are preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Mark 13:24 – 31 > But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near – at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Introduction

Today’s Scripture readings, 2 Peter 3:1-18 and Mark 13:24-31, point us to the Great Day of God, that is, the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: a)when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15); b)when all that are in the graves will hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:24-29); c)when the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21); d)when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when he will come to be glorified in His saints (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10); e)when, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead (in Christ) will be raised incorruptible, and we (who are alive) will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) f) when the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up…nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10,13; Revelation 21:1). Peter, in his epistle, reminds us of those things we must remind ourselves of.  And he warns us to beware of the scoffers who will twist the Holy Scriptures to lead us into the error of the wicked causing us to fall away. Christ had warned that, in the time of the end, even the very elect could be deceived (Matthew 24:24). And St Paul warned that there would be a great falling away before the second coming of Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3). May these sobering realities lead us to a life of repentance and perpetual conversion. I have zeroed in on four truths that will help us to live this life in the light of the Great Day of God Almighty, which is the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven, to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1) and create the new heavens and the new earth.

Four Truths to Live By

Truth #1) We need to be reminded often of the truths of which we should be most attentive. Peter “stirs up” their pure minds. Why? It is because the tendency is to become a forgetful hearer, to lose sight of the vision of God that has been set before us (James 1:22-25). Peter, in this reading, declares what we are “seeing”. In verse 11, “Seeing then that all these things will be dissolved…”; in verse 14, “…seeing that you look for such things…”; and in verse 17, “…seeing you know these things…”. We are being challenged, commanded, to not lose sight of these eternal realities. We are to ever be “mindful of the words which were spoken by the holy Prophets, and of the commandments of the Apostles…” (2 Peter 3:2). This is why the Church is constantly pointing us to the Eschaton, that is, to the second coming of Jesus Christ and all that His second coming portends. We pray in the Divine Liturgy, for “a Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of Christ.” We confess in the Creed, “And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end…I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” The Scriptures are replete with references to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the final judgment (over 300 times in the 258 chapters of the N.T.). Jesus, Himself, when teaching, included His second coming as a constant point of focus. Today’s gospel reading is an example of this. But, in spite of the scriptures flood of eschatological passages, and in spite of the constant references in the Church’s Divine Services to the future promises of our hope in Christ, we must still actively remind ourselves of these truths. We must be mindful (purposefully paying attention), of what has been given to us, and to what we have been shown with the eyes of our hearts.

Truth #2) We are to live this life in light of the eschaton.  This life is but a vapour, that appears for a little time, then vanishes away (James 4:14). Jesus taught, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His holy angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:26,27) The knowledge of these truths, that is, the truths of the last things (Eschatology), is to inspire diligence in our souls. Our aim in this life is to live holy lives, and be found “in peace, without spot, and blameless” at Christ’s second coming. The blessed hope leads to a life of holiness (Titus 2:11-13). We are to live this life in the light of eternal consequences. Twice in the Divine Liturgy we pray, “That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless”. This prayer is a radical request. But it is a request that is a response to the commandment of the holy Apostle Peter (2 Peter 3:14; 2 Peter 1:5-12)

Truth #3) We are to live a life of repentance. Repentance (metanoia in Greek) is defined as “a change of mind”, “a change in the inner man”. God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3, 4). The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The reason that God delays the “day of the Lord” is because he is longsuffering, not willing that anyone should perish, but that all would come to repentance. Please understand, repentance is not “just” a one-time event, when you are first converted to Christ Jesus. Repentance is to be a moment-by-moment experience, causing us, by God’s grace, to experience perpetual conversion. But we all must begin with that initial conversion experience, that rebirth that Jesus taught to Nicodemus when He said, “You must be born again.” Let us repent.

Truth #4) We must beware of false teachers who twist the Holy Scriptures to lead us into error. We especially are to be wary of false teaching concerning the last days and the time of the end.  We live in a day and time when the land we live in is flooded with false teaching concerning the coming again of our Lord Jesus. These teachers proclaim boldly that there is a “secret rapture” seven years before the second coming of Jesus Christ which will evacuate Christians from this world just in the nick of time to miss the Great Tribulation. Almost every radio and television preacher, and most Evangelical pastors believe these false doctrines and proclaim them with regularity.  These false teachings have been popularized in the “Left Behind” book series and just recently with a motion picture entitled, “Left Behind”. The “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” of the “Left Behind” theology/theory is a denial that Christians in these last days will have to suffer for their faith. The “Rapture” is a way that Christians can bypass God’s judgment. We must pay particular attention to the teaching of the Church concerning eschatology. The Church has distilled the teaching of the Holy Prophets and Apostles, as well as the Church fathers in the Divine Services of the Church. Paying attention to these things will prevent the faithful from being led astray. Peter warned that false teachers would twist scripture that could result in the faithful being led into error. The system of eschatology developed by those who teach the “secret rapture” theory is called “dispensationalism”. And it was made possible by the Protestant doctrine of “sola scriptura” (the Bible alone). By “sola scriptura” they mean that the Bible is the “final authority” for doctrine, not the Church. This opens the doors for teachers to interpret the Bible, with no checks and balances, and create their own novel systems of belief. I call this twisting of scripture “sola scriptorture”. Truly, these false teachers must torture the scriptures to “make the Bible say what they believe it must say”.

Conclusion

Let us realize that though we are responsible as individuals to be mindful of the things Peter and the other Apostles are teaching, we are not left to our own devices to make this happen. In the Church, the Holy Spirit has inspired the Divine Services with; psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, prayers, applicable Scripture readings, and divine teaching commentary, so that we will be mindful in a way that is acceptable to our God (Romans 12:1, 2; Psalm 19(18):14). Let us attend the services of the Church on every opportunity, and acquire our own copies of the Divine Service books for personal devotions. And let us be committed to daily Scripture reading as guided by the Church calendar so that we may be mindful of the truths of Christ, including those concerning His second coming. All these things are in place for our spiritual growth and salvation, and to protect us from the influence of false teachers. As we begin to let the reality of the Eschaton descend from our minds down into our hearts, may we find ourselves ever more repenting, that is, turning away from this world with its passions, and turning toward Jesus and His Kingdom.

Questions to Ponder

1)      What are the distractions in your life that hinder your spiritual mindfulness? (Mark 4:14–20; Luke 21:34–36)

2)      How should you respond when someone you are speaking with espouses false teaching about Jesus? (Colossians 4:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:14-16)

3)      Why is the “secret rapture” doctrine a danger to the spiritual lives of the faithful?

4)      What are some things that you can do to grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18)? Ask yourself, “Is growing up in Christ something I truly desire? (Ephesians 4:14, 15)

PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS and COMMENTS TO:
Fr Bogdan Bucur at frBogdan@orthodoxbutler.org
Fr Stephen De Young at stevedeyoung@yahoo.com
Michael Simmons at cyclingsimmons@gmail.com