The Church Age
An age (αἰών) is a period in which God shows something about Himself to intelligent beings. Ages are not limited to time, which was created when God made the sun and moon for the purpose of distinguishing days, months, and seasons, Genesis 1:14. There are ten revealed ages; however, the actual number of ages that God has planed are not known, only that there will be ages of ages beyond those currently disclosed, Ephesians 2:7. The known ages are: The Age of the Creation of the Universe, Job 38:7, The Age of the Kingdom of Lucifer, Ezekiel 28:14, The Chaotic Age, Genesis 1:2, The Age of the Creation of Humans, Genesis 1:26, The Age of God’s Faithfulness, Genesis 4:1, The Age of God’s Kindness, Genesis 9:1, The Age of God’s Sovereignty, Exodus 12:41, The Legal Age, Exodus 20:1, The Malignantly Evil Age, Galatians 1:4, The Kingdom Age, Matthew 13:41.
A dispensation (οἰκονομία) is a period in time in which God shows something to humans about themselves. These occurrences are restricted to time and directly relate to humans, not spirit beings. The word “Dispensation” is derived from combining “house” with “law”. This “household law” governs the activities of the people within the house and is administered by a steward. In modern language, we use the term administration, especially when describing government. Since the concept of a dispensation is well defined in Scripture by use, we are able to factually discern there are seven dispensations: Innocence, Genesis 2:25, Conscience, Genesis 4:7, Government, Genesis 9:5, Promise, Genesis 12:2, Law, Exodus 19:8, Grace, Ephesians 3:2, Fullness of Times, Ephesians 1:10.
Since ages and dispensation run consecutively, the dispensation and age we are currently in are the dispensation of grace and the malignantly evil age. The dispensation of grace specifically relates to the Church, not all humans. The malignantly evil age is how Satan is managing the world of unbelievers, and is showing God’s character in contrast to the devil’s.
The “age of the Church” is a theological term applied to the time period of the Church; however, it is inaccurate in representing the purpose of an age. It is not based upon Scripture; rather, it was derived from modifying the notion of a dispensation and causes confusion between the concept and purpose of an age from a dispensation.
Tempt (πειράζω)
Tempt (πειράζω) expresses a trial through examination or a solicitation to do something that is wrong.
When Jesus was led away into the wilderness by the Spirit, the devil solicited Him to go against the desirous will of the Father, Matthew 4:1. Satan knows that God is One, James 2:19, and that Jesus is the second Person of the Godhead, Mark 3:11. By tempting the second Person of the Godhead, Who was now in human form, Satan sought to divide Them so that Their Word concerning his coming judgment would not hold truth.
In one of the trials by the Pharisees and Sadducees, they again sought a sign from Jesus. However, their intent was not to see a sign so they would believe; instead, they sought something by which they could accuse Him of doing wrong. In response, Jesus rebukes them for being hypocrites and a malignantly evil and [spiritually] adulterous generation. They claim to know what is coming by the appearance of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times, Matthew 16:1-4.
Attempting again to gain an advantage over Jesus so they could accuse Him, the Pharisees solicited Him to do wrong with a question, “Is it lawful for man to divorce his wife for any reason”, Matthew 19:3. Through Moses, divorce was permitted. Therefore, rather than going against Moses, which is what the Pharisees sought, Jesus explains to them why divorce was permitted through Moses. It was the hardness of their heart. However, Scripture states that the two will become one flesh and, therefore, if a man divorces his wife for anything other than fornication and marries another, he commits adultery under the Mosaic Law, Matthew 19:3-9.
Desires that solicit us to do wrong are not from God; instead, they come from a person’s own desires. One of the three spiritual enemies of the Christian uses these wants to draw him out and bait him into doing wrong, James 1:13-14. For a Christian, sin is anything that is done that is not out from faith, Romans 14:23. Faith is taking God at His Word and is always based upon a promise, Hebrews 11:1. Therefore, when a Christian knows to do good, but choose to follow the desires to go against what God expects of Him, he is sinning, James 4:17. Failure or lack of knowledge concerning a proper defense against each of the Christian’s enemies results in doing lawlessness, and therefore, sin, 1 John 3:4.
When it comes to our faith, we are to put ourselves on trial and examine that we are in the faith by putting our faith to the test to determine what is good (δοκιμάζω). This is especially concerning how a person is saved, for there are many who are led astray by false gospels that preach another Jesus, 2 Corinthians 11:4. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 states that good news by which we are saved. Christ died on behalf of our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, all according to the Scriptures. Faith in Christ through these facts brings salvation, not remorse of sin, asking for forgiveness of sin, accepting Jesus into your heart, making Jesus the Lord of our life, or becoming friends with Jesus. When these gospels are put to the test, they are shown to be false; therefore, any faith based upon these false gospels and not the facts of 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, when put on trial will fail.
To Ruin (φθείρω)
Ruin (φθείρω) expresses corruption by causing physical harm or financial destruction.
When it comes to our conduct during our time on earth, we need to pay attention to our works. Are they based upon who we are in Christ or seeking the fulfillment of the flesh? We are the Holy of Holies of God. One of the aspects of our salvation is the Trinity indwells us. Therefore, if someone brings to ruin the Holy of Holies of God, which is our bodies, He will bring them to ruin, 1 Corinthians 3:17. Our works matter. We reap what we sow. We are not to be so foolish as to think that we can live like the devil’s children while enjoying the things of eternal life. If your life is in ruin, look at the works you are producing.
What agreement does the Holy of Holies of God have with false gods and idols? What part do unbelievers have with believers? God said, He will walk among us, and we will be His people, 2 Corinthians 6:16. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, 2 Corinthians 6:18. Therefore, having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit that the unsaved run after while we bring holiness to maturity in our lives. Ensuring that our works are causing no one to come to ruin, physically or financially, or fraudulently taking advantage, 2 Corinthians 7:2.
Those who we associate with are important to vet. Bad company brings to ruin useful habits, 1 Corinthians 15:33. We are to awake to righteousness and stop sinning. Those who continue in a sinful lifestyle are ignorant of God, to their shame.
Through the preaching of another Jesus, the receiving of a different spirit, and proclaiming a different gospel, Satan seeks to thoroughly deceive the saints to bring them to ruin from the simplicity that is in Christ, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. We are part of one body, and Christ is our head, Ephesians 1:22-23. Separation of clergy, such as elder boards that rule over the assembly, and the merchandising of the saints (tithing) are brought into the local assemblies by false teachers for the purpose of bringing them to ruin concerning proper doctrine, so they are easily put in bondage.
False teachers creep into the assemblies, speaking blasphemy of things they do not intuitively know while acting like brute animals, only seeking to fulfill their desires, by which they bring themselves to ruin, Jude 10. There are many large assemblies built by false teachers who bring ruin upon themselves when their works are discovered. They follow after the way of Cain and run greedy in the error of Balaam. Cain followed Satan and sought to get others to participate in his attempt to please God through works. Balaam instructed Balak on how to cause the Israelites to bring judgment upon themselves for prestige and money. False teachers bring in law and seek financial gain from those who follow them.
False religions bring ruin. However, there is one coming that will ruin the entire world through her religious practices. Through her, the man of lawlessness will rise, and many who believe in God will be killed. In one day God will destroy her for her works, Revelation 19:2.
Now that we have died with Christ, and are raised to walk in newness of life, our task is to put off the things of the old man that brought ruin into our lives by following after the deceitful strong desire of the flesh, Ephesians 4:22. Instead, let us put on the new man, who we are in the Christ, the one made in true righteousness and piety as we seek to fulfill the desires from the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:24.
The God of the Bible
Three Persons, One Being
The God of the Bible is not a man, nor did He come from humans. Numbers 23:19 states, God is not a man that He should lie, nor is He a son of man that He should rue what He has done. Has He not said and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not carry it out?
There is only one God. No others exist, nor have ever existed, beside Him, Deuteronomy 4:39. When Moses gave Israel the Law, he stated to Israel that God is One God, Deuteronomy 6:4. Through Isaiah, God states that He shares His glory with no one, Isaiah 42:8. The continuation of the nation of Israel shows that the God of Israel is the only One, for there are no others, 1 Kings 8:60.
The concept that God came from man or men become gods is a result of humans rejecting the knowledge of Who God is. Adam, Eve, and their children knew God, Genesis 4:4-5. They walked with Him. Noah and His sons knew God, Genesis 9:1. However, they decided that maintaining a proper understanding of Who God is was not something that was valuable to them, so they changed the glory of God into that of corrupt man, birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things, Romans 1:23. In their lack of appreciation towards God, they become futile in their rational, and their foolish hearts were darkened, Romans 1:20-21. Those who follow after false religions, including Atheism, have exchanged the truth of God for the lie, which is independence from God, and worship the creation instead of the Creator, Romans 1:25.
God is One and is not a human; however, being One, He possesses three persons. They are not three Gods, but One God. They all share in the same essence and, therefore, attributes as One Being. In Isaiah, the prophet is describing a vision in which he sees the seraphim, spirit beings that look like flames of fire, before the throne of God crying out to each other Holy, Holy, Holy, Isaiah 6:3. God does not accept vain repetition as worship, Matthew 6:7; therefore, repeating this phrase has meaning. They are stating that each Person of the Godhead is a separate (holy) Person: three Individuals Who are One Divine Being.
Before God created anything, the Godhead made a plan that involved salvation for humans. Within this plan it was determined that God the Son would wrap Himself in flesh and die on behalf of the sins of men to provide a way of salvation for them. In Hebrew, Israel knows the incarnate One as Yeshua (יְהֹושׁוּעַ); in Greek, the Gentiles came to know God the Son wrapped in flesh by Iesou (Ἰησοῦ), and in English, His name is Jesus. Jesus the Messiah (Christ) is God in the flesh. He is the radiance of the proper opinion and character of the essence of God the Father, for both are One Being, Hebrews 1:3. Jesus is not an angel, nor a created being. Jesus has obtained a name that is better than the angels, for God did not say to any angel, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”, Hebrews 1:5. However when He brought Christ to the world, He stated, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6. God the Son created all things, and was before all things, Colossians 1:16. He is as to character and quality Deity, John 1:1.
God is One Being Who exists in three Persons Who are revealed to us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three are One Divine Being, yet wholly individual in their Persons. God the Father expresses to us that God is the source of all things. God the Son manifests God in the flesh so we can perceive the character of God. God the Holy Spirit emphasizes that the essence of God is Spirit. The Holy Spirit is specifically called God in Acts 5:3-4. Although the focus of the Old Testament was God being the source of all things, there are many instances where all three Persons are recognized as God. For example, the LORD on earth raining down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the LORD in heaven, Genesis 19:24. The Spirit of God brooding over the earth after judgment came upon it because of Lucifer’s sin, Genesis 1:2.
Inner Burning (ἐνθύμησις)
Enthumesis (ἐνθύμησις) comes from a word that means inner burning (thumos – θυμος). By adding the preposition in (ἐν), it describes the burning within a person while not retaining the aspect of anger that thumos expresses.
During Christ’s ministry to Israel, a paralyzed man was brought to him. Seeing the man’s faith, Jesus told him to be of good cheer because He has forgiven his sins, Matthew 9:2. Immediately, some of the scribes said among themselves this was blasphemy. However, Jesus intuitively knew their inner burnings and asked them, “Why do you burn malignant evil in your hearts?” Matthew 9:4. Answering the inner burnings of their hearts Jesus states, “Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven you or to say rise and walk?” Christ stated that this man’s sins were sent away so they would know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sin, Matthew 9:6.
The Pharisees were firmly against Jesus and took every opportunity they could to speak against Him. After Jesus released a man who was possessed by a demon that was causing him to be blind and mute, the multitude was amazed and questioned if Jesus could be the son of David. The Pharisees responded by claiming that Christ cast out this demon by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Jesus, being aware of their inner burnings, calls them out for their sons’ actions, who were casting out demons. If He is doing it by the authority of Beelzebub, by whose authority are their sons casting them out? However, the reality is that a house that stands against itself falls; therefore, since a demon was cast out, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Matthew 12:22-28.
After hearing that his wife-to-be was pregnant and considering how he was going to respond to this revelation, as Jospeh was burning within himself concerning this matter, an angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph is informed that he should not fear to take Mary as his wife, for she is pregnant with a child from the Holy Spirit and will bring forth a son, who they will call Jesus. This one will fulfill the words spoken to the prophet, “Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and his name will be called Immanuel.” Matthew 1:20-23.
The Word of God is able to discern between the inner burning (ἐνθύμησις) and intent (ἔννοια) of the heart, Hebrews 4:12. There is nothing within us, even our formulated plans, that is hidden from God. The intent of the mind is different from the inner burnings of the heart. Although inner burning (ἐνθύμησις) is often translated as thoughts, it is not a term that relates to the mind; instead, it is the burning within the heart. This burning is not bad by nature; however, it can produce malignant evil, Matthew 9:4, or cause a person to think that the Divine Nature is likened to silver and gold or some shape or inner burning of men, Acts 17:29. God’s Word is able to discern between what is burning within us and the intent within our minds. When inner burnings are malignantly evil, they do not work out their intent when we are applying the truth. Our High Priest understands our struggle; therefore, we can enter into His rest and come to the throne of grace with confidence. Entering His rest is when we are in a state of ceasing from working for salvation. God’s attitude towards us is that we have a benefit without consideration of merit and, therefore, can come before Him to find mercy when the inner burnings become the intent because we did not apply a proper defense.
Enthumesis (ἐνθύμησις) is not referring to the thoughts or desires within a person; instead, it expresses an inner burning and, therefore, conveys the driving factor for what a person thinks and does.
Sheol (שְׁאֹ֖ול) – Hades (ᾅδης)
Where the worm does not die
Sheol is the Hebrew word that describes the place in the center of the earth where humans who have died reside. Within its compartments are unbelievers and some of the fallen angels who are bound, waiting for final judgment. Prior to the resurrection of Christ, all those who were saved resided in Paradise, which was in the upper chamber of Sheol. Hades is the Greek word for the same place, which comes across into English as hell. However, the English concept only refers to the lowest part of Sheol, where the unsaved humans reside.
Sheol has three chambers. The lowest part is where the fire burns (Deuteronomy 32:22) and the unsaved reside. This is the place where the worm does not die. Worm refers to the sin nature of a human, not a physical worm (Isaiah 66:24). The abyss is the holding area for fallen angels, and within the abyss is a pit for malignantly evil angels. Paradise is the residence of those who were saved before the resurrection of Christ.
During Christ’s earthly ministry to the Jews, the unbelieving ones kept pressing for a sign even though He had given substantial evidence to them that He was the Messiah. In response, Jesus states that no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights, Matthew 12:39-40. In Peter’s first address to Israel after the resurrection of Christ, he quotes the prophecies concerning Christ and Hades. King David, who was a prophet of God, knowing that God had sworn to him an oath concerning his throne, wrote about the resurrection of the Messiah, stating that His soul would not be left in Hades, nor would His flesh see corruption. This is a quote from Psalm 16:10 in which Sheol is used. “Because You will not leave my soul to Sheol, nor give your pious one to see corruption.” Jonah cried out from Sheol after three days, Jonah 2:2.
In Luke 16, Jesus addresses the Pharisees, who were fond of money, by recounting the events that happened to a rich and a poor man. The rich man enjoyed life and fared well every day. The poor man sat at his gate, seeking the crumbs from the rich man’s table. At the end of the beggar’s life, he was taken to Paradise; however, when the rich man’s time on earth was through, he was taken to the lower part of Hades. From there, the rich man could see Lazarus, the poor man, resting with Abraham. Crying out, he requested for Abraham to send Lazarus to him with a bit of water to cool his tongue, for he was in torment, Luke 16:24, because this is the place where the worm of the unbelievers, their sin nature, does not die, Isaiah 66:24. Abraham points out there is a chasm between them making it impossible to pass over, Luke 16:26. This is not a parable, which are intended to hide the truth from those who do not believe, Matthew 13:10-11. Christ is speaking of actual events and a real place.
The pit of the abyss, or chasm, is where the demons are released from by Satan during the last few months of the Great Tribulation Period, Revelation 9:1-3. It is from the abyss that a demon is permitted to bring back the man of lawlessness’ soul and spirit to resuscitate him when he is assassinated at the midpoint of the tribulation, Revelation 11:7. Within the pit of the abyss, Satan will be bound for a thousand years during the Millennial Kingdom, Revelation 20:3.
After the resurrection of Christ, He led captivity captive, freeing those in Paradise from Hades and moving it to the edge of the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.
Hades will not prevail against the Church because the saints in Christ will never enter Sheol, Matthew 16:18. When we die, we reside in the presence of the Lord in the third heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God on the throne. 2 Corinthians 5:8; Colossians 3:1.
Sheol and Hades describe the place in the center of the earth where unsaved humans and fallen angels await judgment at the Great White throne when the dispensations of men are finished, and God brings all things into subjection to Christ, creating a new heavens and new earth in which righteousness will settle down and feel at ease, Revelation 20:11; 21:2; 2 Peter 3:13.