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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | The excluded man at the feast was saved | Matt 22:11 | Eagle One | 29573 | ||
Greetings to RTB56 and the Christian brothers that have submitted their spiritual insight, I believe the following about the man that the Lord rebuked. (1) He was a saved man. A born again christian. (2) He was a totally carnal christian. The total number of unselfish good works that he ever did in his entire christian life was probably "very few" to "none". (3) He probably died without repenting of his sins. Please allow me to express my conviction in my own words, after which I will list some solid references. (a) I believe the wedding feast in this scripture represents the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" rather than the "Kingdom of God". This is a parable and in Mt. 22:8 the Lord said, "My wedding reception is ready, but those invited have proved unworthy. (The nation of Israel) Verses 9-10 describe the invitation going out to the gentiles. We can assume that many refused the invitation but many responded to it. (Many refused the invitation of salvation and many accepted it.) Only those who accepted the invitation were there. (b) The man had no wedding garment because the garment represents the total unselfish good works done during his life on earth. [1 Corinthians 3 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.] This man is described in this scripture. "he himself will be saved". (c) Vs. 12 tells us that the Lord called him "Friend". The Lord does not call the unsaved, "Friend". (d) Regarding vs. 13. "Binding hand and foot" and "weeping and gnashing of teeth", please allow me to repeat the words of Joseph Dillow, author of the book, THE REIGN OF THE SERVANT KINGS, Schoettle Publishing Co. Pages 350-352. "Matthew leads us to imagine a great feast of rejoicing. This joyful banquet is portrayed as occurring in the evening in a brightly lit banquet hall. Outside the banquet a relative physical darkness prevails. This darkness is not literal, but is a metaphor for the exclusion of the carnal Christian. It is not the darkness of hell. What is the meaning of "wailing and gnashing of teeth"? Those Christians who are not "sons indeed," who lack wedding garments at the wedding banquet, will not only be excluded from the joy of the banquet but will also experience profound regret, "wailing and gnashing of teeth". This phrase does not refer to the experience of the unsaved in hell in this passage. The phrase "wailing and gnashing of teeth" is found seven times in the New Testament. Even though it is used on three occasions of the experience of the unregenerate in hell, [Mt. 13:42, 50; Lk 13:28], it is also used on four occasions of the regenerate in the kingdom. [Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30. The notions of heaven or hell are simply not part of the semantic value of the words. The fact that the non believer can experience profound regret in hell in no way implies that the true Christian cannot experience profound regret in the kingdom. We are repeatedly told that, when the Lord comes, He will reward us "good and bad" [II Cor. 5:10] and that some may draw back in shame at His coming [I John 2:28]. Some Christians are going to be saved "but only as one escaping through the flames" [I Cor. 3:15] It seems that these verses adequately explain the experience of profound regret for the unfaithful Christian which Matthew calls "wailing and gnashing of teeth." Thank you. I will appreciate your responses. In Him, Eagle One |
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22 | Shamayim - why heavens, not two heavens | Gen 1:1 | Eagle One | 29255 | ||
Dear Short, Regarding Paul's being caught up to the third heaven. It has always been my understanding that there is 3 heavens: (1) The clouds or atmospheric heavens [Gen. 1:8; Ps 77:17-18] (2) The starry space [Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; Dt 1:10; Is. 13:10] (3) God's dwelling place. [Gen. 1:1; Is. 14:12-14; Is. 66:1; Rev. 21:2, 10] I found these scripture references in an old Dake's reference bible. It seems like a very simple explanation, but it also seems logical. Satan was thrown out of the third heaven and we know that he and his minions now dwell in the area immediately above the earth. We read in Daniel 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia." This scripture refers to the principalities in which the demonic forces are organized, and infers that they are organized geographically in specific areas above the earth. My impression has always been that this is the first heaven. (Our own atmosphere) And in a manner of speaking the second heaven is the outer atmosphere. Finally and supremely above all is the third heaven. God's dwelling place that Satan so coveted. I welcome any other comments and scriptural references. Thanks. Eagle One |
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