Three Questions

Rev Gideon Lee

All of us go through life with questions. Like our children who grows to a stage where they start to ask lots of questions. I think it's important we learn to ask the right questions. Today we are going to look at the first three questions in the Bible. These questions did not come in a good way because they were asked to deceive man. We want to see how we can learn from this.

Genesis 3:1-11

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

The serpent asked the first question and notice how it was phrased. Eve wasn't really sure when you see how she replied the serpent. And it was not with conviction.

The Second question. God asked them "where are you?". God is still asking this same question today. Maybe to the lost or to some of you who have strayed from God.

And the third question was God asking them who told them this. When God asked the question where are you, God knew exactly where Adam was. He is God.

The serpent was very crafty when he asked Eve the first question. He is a master deceiver. He is real even though I'm not glorifying him we need to be careful. As children of God we are assured of victory.

The serpent asked Eve in a very sly and non threatening way. When God gave Adam the instructions, Eve heard it secondhand. Often when we hear certain things our brain processes it first. God gave us a brain and to rationalise things out. But after that it moves from our mind to our heart. That's when the conviction comes.

Like you have head knowledge of how you are saved. And if I ask you how do you know that you are saved it has to move from head knowledge to heart knowledge and the best answer is that you know that you know.

When God says you will surely die, yet the serpent told Eve you will not surely die. If the conviction was in Eve's heart would she have eaten from the tree? She heard it secondhand so the conviction was not there. If you ever have this thought, did God really say that? It is not from God. The enemy comes with this questioning quote. The devil has only one agenda. To come to steal, kill and destroy.

God's promises come with no strings attached even if there are conditions. Jesus came to give life and life abundantly.

The serpent knows about God's word.

James 2:19

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

The enemy knows the word of God. He wants us to answer him "I think". The best way to response to him is through the word of God. The serpent presents you with something that sounds like the word of God but is not the word of God. "Did God really say you cannot eat any fruit…" He did not say from this tree.

During the temptation of Jesus after fasting 40 days.  He was hungry and he asked Jesus to turn atone into bread. He knew Jesus was God and is easy for him to do that. But Jesus answered him with "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out from the mouth of God." He was quoting scriptures. We need to know the word of God accurately. It cannot be I think this is what God say. Then no conviction already. It has to be I know God says this.

What was the second temptation? To throw himself off the cliff. The devil quoted scriptures too. He knows the Bible. Don't read the Bible from just the mind but to meditate on the word so that it is a conviction that we can live by faith.

But Jesus says do not test the Lord your God. The devil was trying to get Jesus  to work outside his authority. Jesus  never used his power for himself but for the needy.

The third temptation the devil showed him the kingdoms of the world.

The devil presents himself like the angel of light. But he is a counterfeit. He showed Jesus  an alternative, bow before him and he'll give to Jesus  the world. No need to go to the cross and suffer all that pain. Just kneel before him.

Jesus replied, worship the Lord your God and serve only him. Jesus spoke with conviction. In what area has the enemy come to you and asked you this question: did God really say so?

Did God really say that there's no other God but him? Did God really say that Jesus was born of a virgin? Did God really say that he came back to life? Did God really say that Jesus is the only way to find eternal life? Did God really say that you have come to church? Did the enemy ask you these questions? He's trying to get you to think. You have to know that you know.

When we can answer these questions with full of faith and conviction, his lies becomes powerless. You cannot rely on secondhand knowledge. You cannot come to God based on your parent's faith. Your walk with God has to be your walk with God. Someone said to me, you cannot subcontract your faith to God.

The second question God asked where are you? God asked to reconcile Adam back to him. As parents we can relate to this. Sometimes my children drink their Milo and then leave their cups on the table. They are supposed to go and wash the cups. But sometimes they forget. I know whose Milo by the colour of their cups. So what do I do? I ask "whose cup is this?" I know whose cup this is but I asked. Why? Because I want them to own up.

But they try to get away. They use somebody or nobody. Then there's that not me. When God asked where are you Adam, God knew exactly where Adam is. He wanted Adam to own up to what he's done. Sometimes we blame Eve or Adam, that we are interested his state.

The first act of redemption was the sacrifice of an animal.to cover their nakedness. God is asking some of you here. Where are you? Have you walked away from him and God is wanting your fellowship. Where are you? I pray when God ask where are you, you'll know this is a question to bring you back to him. A reconciliation question and not to punish you.

Adam answered he was naked and afraid. And God said who told you you were naked? Adam did not get it. He hid with shame. That's what sin does to us. We hide away from him. God ask you told you so. God when he look at us sees Jesus' righteousness in us.

Sometimes we do that with ourselves. We say we are not talented. Who told you? I pray we will not hide when God ask us where are you.

We sometimes wallow in our sin instead of coming to God immediately. Our relationship is restored only when we come back to God but we want to wait or hide. I encourage you to come back and be reconciled back to God quickly.

Three ways we need to avoid deceit.

1. Stay away from temptation. When Joseph was being tempted, he ran. When you like something the enemy will come and tell you it's okay.
2.  Know what God says. Not just hear but be gut sure. You have to double confirm, if there's such a word.
3. Don't hide your sin or yourself from God. When we try to hide from God we are making excuses and hiding in the bushes. He wants to reconcile with you.

There was once a famous lawyer who was dying. He was one of the best Lawyers in the country and he won almost all his cases. At his deathbed, he called for his doctor. He knew he had no time left. He called for a Christian doctor. The lawyer asked for a bible. The doctor asked why you want a bible when you're not a Christian? He said he is sitting for his final exam so he want to try his best to see if there's any loophole in the Bible. I hope you're not like this lawyer.

There are no loopholes in the Bible. There's no back door. There's only one way. God's way. Know it in your heart.

God is Still In Control

Rev Gideon Lee

This morning I want to talk to some of you and I think you need to hear this message. That God is still in control.

Haggai 2:21-23

21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

‘I will shake heaven and earth.

22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;

I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.

I will overthrow the chariots

And those who ride in them;

The horses and their riders shall come down,

Every one by the sword of his brother.

23 ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Note that the word used here is the Lord Almighty.

There are many things in this world where we have no control over. Like the stock market. Whether it goes up or down. 

We have no control over the rising cost of living or wages that are stagnant. We have no control over what's happening around us even our own security. Like hand grenades being tossed into a new eating outlet. Or the shootings that's happening right, left and centre. Or the recent news that ISIS is coming here.

Many things happen where we have no control over.  A world in turmoil and uncertainty. Maybe some of you are dealing with some personal issues. Like bills you can't pay or issues at work. Or health issues.

But matter what you are going through I want you to know there is one who is totally in control and his name is Jesus. When we see what's happening fear creeps in. And we forget who is in control.

My outline is like this.

1. He has a sovereign plan for you and me.
2. He possesses supreme power.
3. He has selected you and me for this special plan.

He is omniscient. He is all knowing. He knows all things. He is omnipotent. He is all powerful. And he is omnipresent. Always present, everywhere all the time. This is the God that we serve. This is the same God that we call Abba father.

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

The sparrows are one of the most common bird. They are not really pretty. They don't sell sparrows into he bird shop. God says even if one of them falls to the ground God knows. Are you not more valuable than sparrows. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. We don't tak count of our hair but God knows. Some this unimportant as this God knows. Are you not more valuable than sparrows?

It also tells me that God is control because he knows how many sparrows died yesterday. What a comforting knowledge to know that he is concerned for us. He has a sovereign plan.

Our government is not in control. Our prime minister is not in control.

God has a sovereign plan.

He has a sovereign plan for your life. The word of the Lord came to Zerubbabel not one but twice. God spoke to Haggai that God has commissioned him to build the temple. God is in control because he has a plan. If God has a sovereign plan for us, then what is our response.

We need to be a willing vessel so that God can use us. God want to do that in our church. For each and everyone of us. All he ask is that we avail ourselves. Here am I, use me.

This morning when I went to the Hokkien service I was pleased to see a new worship leader. This morning I am also quite please to see Ephraim Song leading with Alvin. We need to avail ourselves.

God's plan is good but our response has to be here am I Lord, send me. We need more people to serve here. Church do you here me?

The plane and nothing if God has no power to accomplish it.

He possesses supreme power.

Haggai 2:21-23

21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

‘I will shake heaven and earth.

22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;

I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.

I will overthrow the chariots

And those who ride in them;

The horses and their riders shall come down,

Every one by the sword of his brother.

There is great debate when is that day but it doesn't matter because it will come to pass. God has the power to shake the heavens and the earth. Who can do that? Only God can do that. The same God that says to the storm be still. Only God has power over nature according to the Jews.

He will overthrow rulers and government according to the scripture. How many of you are praying for your country. I want you to know God can turn things around. He possesses a sovereign plan for us and only him can dictate it. He has supreme power.

Pray for our chief minister Lim Guan Eng but understand that God is in control regardless of the outcome.

Romans 8:31

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

He is in control of our situation. We may not see his hand on it but let's trust his heart. That he is in control.

Because we have no need to fear because God is powerful. We need not fear those that may come and persecute us because he is powerful. We can be comforted by his power. He will work all thing out for good to all those that love him and is called according to his purpose.

He has selected you and me for this special plan.

v23 ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

A signet ring is use to authentic an instruction by using the ring to seal the letter. So that you know it comes from the emperor or king. It shows the authority given by the bearer. He has given us the authority. God has called each and everyone of us. We are to make disciples and he has given us the authority to do it. What has God called you personally to do? He did not save us to just come to church and look pretty.

Be brave enough to say here am I, use me. God gave us instructions through the word. Your instructions are found in the he word of God. He is telling you there is something he wants you to do.

God's calling contains a purpose and privilege. All of us will be rewarded with some crown that we can lay before the Lord and I hope all of us will have something for him.

We may all not start well but we should all end well. That's what's important.

SaveSave

The Christian Mind

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Today I'm going to talk about an interesting topic called The Christian Mind. I've actually planned this topic some time back because it was actually for another preaching engagement but I changed topic so I'm talking about this today.

It is going to be more teaching than preaching. As a charismatic church we are often talking more about the move of the Holy Spirit than about the Christian who thinks.

Today, there are few what I called Christians thinkers. Men like Martin Luther King, St Augustine, John Wesley, John Calvin to whom we owe a lot of what we learn today.

Many think that Christianity begins when we accepted the Lord. But there is a treasure of biblical insights and experience that we can receive from men in the past that have been imparted to us. Today there are few Christian thinkers. But all of us are called to be thinking Christians.

I speak today not because we are in an age of critical thinking but it has all the time been through the age of history that people think. Not because the young are asking questions or the world is challenging our Christian thinkers.

My dad said "Ah Hin, I bless you because your faith is such that you are destined to follow Christ." He believed in destiny but for us it's like predestination. But it's his second statement that caught me. He said belief is good but don't be fanatical. Don't have a blind faith. It struck me. At that time I didn't really appreciate what he said. But along the way I think back about what my dad told me, I do believe there is such a thing called blind faith. It is blind faith that creates cult and also perverted gospels.

So today I'm gong to be talking about the Christian Mind. To be a thinking Christian.

I want to ask, every morning when you wake up what do you think of? Some people wake up thinking of your wife. Or their children. Some think about how they will enjoy themselves that morning. For most people, I would say a lot will be thinking about more dollars than devotion. More on investment than insights. More money than maturity.

Prosperity rather than the presence of God is your focus. Probably thinking of your investment which God blesses you with and you may thank God but you'll be thinking of your investment.

What is the meaning of Christian maturity? If you ask people most may have a vague idea. I would say most people think of it chronologically. Like I've been a Christian 40 years so I'm mature. Or I serve the Lord many years, 20 to 30 years so I've done more than others so that's maturity. Or you're the church secretary so you think position is Christian maturity. But how does the Bible look at Christian maturity?

Ephesians 4:11-15

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

We need to see the context of Ephesians. What was on Paul's mind? The Spirit of God comes upon the church and the focus was on unity. The Bible teaches not uniformity but unity. But there is potential in diversity in that unity. Unity was one heart, one soul one mind for the glory of Christ. Uniformity is like when everybody sounds and looks like one another. We are not called to uniformity.

In that diversity of apostles, teachers and Pastor's etc all is called to be in unity with one purpose to prepare God's people for the work of ministry.

This is the context of what Paul was working on. But the crux of my message is the word mature. In our Christian life, this is not for those who is involved in ministry alone but for all of us. We are to become mature.

What is maturity? It is the fullness of the measure of Christ. But what is the fullness of Christ? Run down 10 verses.

Ephesians 4:21-24

21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

One important measure of the fullness of Christ is like God in true righteousness and holiness. That's what maturity has got to do it the fullness of Christ. For a person to be like God, he needs to have his kind renewed. And Paul actually repeats this in Romans 12.

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

To offer your life and be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Christian maturity is true righteousness and holiness. But it's not what we will focus on. I want to flash back thousands of years. Some people asked me when was Adam created? Some say a few thousand years. Some said 100,000 years based on evolutionists. We did not come from ape and that we are created by God in his image.

When the serpent came and when he tempted Eve the serpent ask Eve a question. If God really commanded Eve not to partake of the fruit, Eve had to think and the serpent told half truths and she got confused. In that disorientation of Eve, the devil struck. It was what the devil told Eve, you will be like God. It was too good to miss.

It was true in a way. Paul says here you will be like God. But in true righteousness and holiness was what God said. And one of it to true righteousness and holiness is to have perfect obedience to him. To obey his commandments in its fullness. And the devil said you will know what is good and evil. You don't need God to tell you what is right and wrong. Instead of obeying God you can set your own standard. That was what the devil offered Eve and she fell.

The spiritual battlefield was the mind. And the serpent's modus operandi was to confuse Eve. The rattlesnake rattles not to warn the prey but to confuse the prey.

This week I received two calls. First, a friend of mine called me because he woke up in the morning and felt dizzy. He said he was scared to move because he was dizzy. He was afraid he gets dizzy, and can black out and then gets a stroke. It's in the mind. The half truth is he is dizzy but the half lie is that dizzy doesn't mean he will black out and black out does not mean he will get a stroke. It is fear. That is how people can get into a depression.

Second call was about a friend getting treatment. The person don't know whether to get chemo or not. It is all in the mind where the battlefield is.

Paul says you have to transform yourself through the renewing of your mind. What does Paul say?

Ephesians 4:13-14

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

We need teaching for our mind to be renewed. You can look at Colossians 1:28. When you say teaching it is in the word of God. And it is the role of the pastor and teacher to teach as mentioned by Paul.

Knowledge alone is not enough. There are people who has been reading the Bible like a literature. In school we have Bible knowledge class. I realised I have to teach the Bible like a literature book in order for the students to get A. Then thinking of it, I thought the Bible should never be taught like a literature book so I stopped.

Some people treat the Bible like a literature book. They know in detail all the facts. And us Christians may not know as much. The Bible is also not a philosophical book. So I want to put to you that teaching the Bible is to know it's a spiritual book. It cannot be about the facts without the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:13

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

It's about spiritual truth. Not human wisdom but spiritual insights. The Bible is supposed to be read prayerfully, submissively and humbly.

Immerse yourself in the word and you'll be able to see things like God sees.

The other aspect is this.

2 Peter 1:21

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

You must understand we believe in the inspiration of the Bible but how many of you understand what that inspiration of the Holy Spirit means?

Some say possibly Paul went into a trance and wrote the Bible. That's not it. Another is Paul look up and God gave him the words. That dictation. Ours is that while Paul wrote he was inspired with a spiritual insight that came from the Holy Spirit. Our believe and it's the position of the church is that the Holy Spirit was hovering over Paul as he wrote. The Holy Spirit was guiding every thought and every word of Paul but it was Paul that wrote. That's why the way Paul wrote and Peter is different. They were guided but it is them that wrote.

Someone put it very well. If you studied the Bible philosophically, you will have an objective view of the word. It is the word without the spirit and you will become judgemental. On the other hand if you say no need of the Bible and that God can speak to you, you become fanatical. That's what my father said to me, don't have blind faith.

The Christian Mind is a mind that needs to be taught and you need to study. But at the same time you need the Holy Spirit to give you the insight. So that the word of God in your head becomes the word of God in your experience.

John Wesley said the word of God can only be understood if you put on the spectacles of faith. That happened to me. My spiritual eyes were opened.

Another one is Jonathan Edwards. He was considered one of America's leading philosophers. He was the seed to the great awakening in America and he recorded this in his journal. He saw thousands and thousands came to the Lord. He was one of the few that had the balance of the word of God and the spirit of God. He preached one of the greatest sermon - sinners in the hands of an angry God. It takes someone like Jonathan Edwards to preach something like that. It was neither judgemental yet it carried so much spiritual truth.

What exactly is true righteousness and holiness? In the OT it's how you conform to the word of God.

Romans 13:9-10

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

But Paul is saying on true righteousness and holiness is not about what you do. It cannot be discerned from your conduct but by your motivation.

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

For the Pharisees it was about keeping the letter of the law but Jesus broke that understanding. Jesus says true righteousness and holiness is expressed or sourced from loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. To love God with all his mind. Only then can he love his neighbour like himself.

Spiritual maturity is that agape love of God, so do you agape God and do you love your neighbour as yourself? When you study the word of God, it must produce in you a greater love for your neighbour or there is something wrong with your Bible study. A spiritually mature mind will love not just himself but others as himself.

When we talk about love we think of husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend. But love is a many splendored thing because it is love of the mind and heart. The agape love of God begins in the mind and not the heart. Go and think about it. Agape love is a love by choice. It does not flow from the heart. It starts from the mind. My feelings and the choice to love are different things.

The Christian Mind can only be renewed by the teaching of God's word and must not just be words in the head and the word of God experienced in your life. Only Christians can do what the world says is impossible because with God all things are possible. Only the children of God can say even though I don't like you I can love.

I encourage all of you to be thinking Christians and grow in maturity.

Module 7 Lesson 7 - The Visible Kingdom of Christ

by Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Lesson 7 - The Visible Kingdom of Christ

Note: These are the physical notes that were given for the bible study. I was absent and did not transcribe the lesson itself.

The surviving believers from the period of the Great Tribulation finally enter into the millennium period. This period lasting a thousand years will see Christ reigning over a kingdom encompassing the whole earth. The establishment of this millennial kingdom is the answer to the question posed by the disciples to Jesus in Acts 1:6. The restoration of the kingdom to Israel is the promise of the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:16) where God has decreed  that a descendant of David will reign over a kingdom that will endure forever. It is also related to the promise of the covenant made by God with Abraham that his descendants namely the nation of Israel will inherit the promised land . As Jesus Christ, a descendant of David through the lineage of his earthly father Joseph (Mat 1:1-17) establishes his throne in Jerusalem , the center of the promised land, both these covenant promises are finally fulfilled. The governance of the visible kingdom of Christ will be a theocracy with Christ as the divine King and the glorified saints reigning with him (Rev 5:10 , 20:4). Conditions in the millennial kingdom will be near perfect. Christ will reign in righteousness. (Isaiah 32:1) He will be a benevolent despot(Rev 19:15). As a result, there will be perfect and complete justice for all, and sin will be immediately punished (Isaiah 11:4). The millennium will be an era of worldwide peace. The earth will be increasingly productive as the curse to which the earth was subjected when Adam sinned will be reversed. However, even though the lifespan of the millennial people will be much longer than our present lifespan, there will still be death (Isaiah 65:20). In the beginning the millennial kingdom will only be populated by believers. As time goes on, these believers will have children. The population of the kingdom will increase. Outwardly everyone will give allegiance to Christ the King but inwardly there will be rebels. This inward rebellion in the hearts of a great portion of the people will not be outwardly manifested during the millennial period, partly because Satan, the incorrigible head of rebellion is then still locked and sealed in the Abyss (Rev 20:1-3). At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released from his prison. He immediately goes out to do what he has been doing for millennia after millennia. Once again he finds among the people a multitude whom he can deceive. He gathers them for a final assault against Jerusalem. But fire comes down from heaven and devours the armies of Satan. He is then thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and false prophet had been thrown (Rev 20:7-10). Their torment will be continuous ,without respite and will last forever.  This is followed by the Great White throne judgement of unbelievers of all time who will raised and judged. They will finally be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15).

 Rev 20:4

I saw thrones on which were seated those who were given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Questions

1. Relate Mat 3:2 with the millennial kingdom.
2. Why will God release Satan from his prison in the Abyss at the end of the Millennium?

Module 7 Lesson 6 - The Judgment upon the Antichrist

by Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Lesson 6 - The Judgment upon the Antichrist

Note: These are the physical notes that were given for the bible study. I was absent and did not transcribe the lesson itself.

The Great Tribulation is a time of unparalleled distress and suffering in human history. This 7- year period is a time when the wrath of God being poured out upon the whole earth (Rev 6:17) and the permission of God for the ripening of evil results in unprecedented persecution of Christians and upheavals in nature with intense human suffering. At the end of this period ,as the armies of the Antichrist and the nations gather at Armageddon, Christ Jesus descends from heaven with the armies of heaven (Rev 19:14) to engage the armies of the earth in the great battle of Armageddon. The battle will be swift and the total  victory of the heavenly armies is a foregone conclusion. The death toll from the battle is unprecedented (Rev 19:21) as the judgment of God falls upon the armies of the earth. The beast and the false prophet are both captured and thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev 19:20). However ,another fate awaits the Devil. He is seized by an angel and bound for a thousand years. He is thrown into the Abyss , locked and sealed to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years was ended (Rev 20:1-3). Then follows the Judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Valley of Decision)(Joel 3:12). Those survivors of the earth after the great battle of Armageddon are then judged. The separation between the sheep and the goats is effected (Mat 25:31,32). The surviving believers enter into the millennial kingdom of God (Mat 25:34,46) while the surviving unbelievers are judged and sent into eternal punishment (Mat 25:46). The visible kingdom of God is established with Jesus and the glorified saints ruling for a thousand years(Rev 20:4).

Rev 19:20

But the beast was captured, and with him the false who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Rev 20:2-3

He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years are ended. After that he must be set free for a short time.

Questions

1. Who is the great harlot of Rev 17:1 ?
2. Compare and contrast The First Coming with the Second Coming of Christ.

Module 7 Lesson 5 - The Great Tribulation

by Bro Koay Kheng Hin

Lesson 5 - The Great Tribulation

Note: Text in Blue are transcribed from the Bible Study proper. Text in black are the physical notes given.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

​1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Here it talks about the tribulation. When it begins, the world has a time.of peace and safety. The beginning is not marked by war. After a while only you'll realise you're into it.

Daniel 9:27

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.’”

This one week is the 7 year tribulation. It mentions that at the 3½ year period the antichrist will be in the temple.

2 Thessalonians 2:4

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Here is where there will be a new temple in Jerusalem.

Revelation 16:12-16

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Here is the gathering of earthly armies at Armageddon.

These 2 verses forms the backdrop.

Matthew 24:21

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

This is the great tribulation.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

This is the tribulation.

I was wondering how to start  this lesson. So I'll tell you a story.

Yesterday I just watched a movie called the Maze Runner. I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was a teenage movie so I brought my daughter but I enjoyed it.

The Bible tells us that after Jesus died, after the first coming, a time will come:

1. Christians will go through persecution and go through the tribulation. Jesus said that we are in the world but not in the world and we will go through sufferings.  The flip side is that God heals and God provides. This is the tribulation that have been going on throughout the history of the church.
2. A time will come for the great tribulation. That will come with the opening of the first seal. It depicts someone on the white Horse. It depicts a spirit of conquest and this person is the antichrist. Who is he? We spent a whole lesson on him. He will come from Europe and you will realise the war starts with the opening of the second seal. One way to conquer a nation is by war or by deception and persuasion. To conquer without having to go to war. The military behind him will be strong. A military, political and economic power. He will subdue the world. Rev 6:1,2. He will sign a treaty with Israel. In that covenant he will promise security.  Then you will have the new temple on which the antichrist will seat on.

After this the seal will start to be reopened. Look at the seal chart I gave you. These are all of the seven seals and all these will happen after the antichrist sits at the temple.

After that the trumpets happens. You can again looks at the list. It's a terrible time and it occurs somewhere between the 5th and 7th trumpet. This is when he will break the covenant and take over Jerusalem. That is the 3½ year period. That is when the mark comes in for you to buy and sell. It will be chaotic.

After the 7th trumpet, it's specifically mentions the wrath of God. That's the 7 bowls. Refer to the chart. This is the final year of the 7 year period. It is believed it will be less than 9 months. It is where the armies start to March and he is the instigator.

Revelation 16:12

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

The river dries up so the army of the East could cross. We know Russia will be involved. We know Putin is capable of starting a great War. He has reignited his nuclear arsenal. This is the final battle. We of course don't know when what will happen. The army will cross the Euphrates  and meet at Armageddon. This is were the whole situation blurs. This will be the greatest armies ever assembled.

Some people will ask where's China. We don't know where's their alignment but it does look like the U.S. is pushing China to align with Russia.

Here where they meet, the end nears.

Revelation 6:1-2

Chapter 6

First Seal: The Conqueror

​1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

The tribulation ends with the white horse. It begins and ends with a white horse. Jesus comes in the true white horse.

The tribulation begins from Rev 6 until Rev 19. The tricky part is we gentiles when we read, what does some of the signs means? I gave you the narrative but now I want to give you the outline.

We have the seals, the trumpets and the bowls. From theology, what are we looking at? The first question is are they different or the same? From Rev 6 to 16, is it just the seals as the background of the trumpets and the bowls. In other words they intensify what was described in the he seals. Or are they in chronological order first the seals, then the trumpets and the bowls.

I find them to be in chronological order because sometimes it's good to read and read about it. Your first reading will tell you it's in chronological order. It's only when you try to read more into it that you have the other view.

The second question is whether they are to be taken literally or symbolically?

In the Bible there is a literal and symbolic frame. The Bible is interspersed with literal and symbolic narrative.  When Jesus said he is the gate, it's symbolic. Where else when Jesus said to forgive, it's literal.

So how do you know which is which? Sometimes experience counts. At other times you are guided by the Holy Spirit. As you read the Bible the Holy Spirit does give revelation but systematic theology makes the process of study with proper understanding.

Some theologians say everything is literal. You look at seal number six. Stars fall from the sky. That theologian is probably not a physic teacher. Our sun is an old star. It's on the red shift. A blue shift star is a young star. Our star the sun is dying. But it's still red hot. If it comes a little nearer we're in trouble. The nearest star the alpha centaury is still light years away, so you can imagine this verse is symbolic.

But when you look at seal number three, the famine is probably real and not symbolic. So we just have to use our sense to determine if it's symbolic or literal.

I have found out that the 7 years is an accelerated 7 years in terms of catastrophes. Events happens very fast. If you look at the chart you'll see the 7 years of worldwide turmoil.

In today's perspective when you hear famine you'll find that it may be natural causes. But the most common is by man especially because of war. Food production is replaced by military needs. You will also have a global economic meltdown. Just imagine if there's a war you can forget about your  shares. It will be upheaval in nature.

Everything that has been mentioned has happened before at one time or another in history.

Matthew 24:3-18

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The Great Tribulation

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

This is a summary of the seals. The beginning of the tribulation. It is also an interpretation of false prophets. With the false christ there will be false prophets to lead you into a false perception of Christ.

I believe in the pre-trip so the church would have been raptured. So only the shell of the church remains. So what is this shell? A one world nation will need an organisation system. The Catholic Church is one such organisation and it will need to be reformed or reworked. Please don't say I quoted that the Catholic Church is left behind. The Christians in the Catholic Church would also be raptured.

The shell of the Catholic Church is an organized church that will be subject to the deception of the false christ. They will be open to the antichrist.

He will not come to suppress Christ. He will come to supplant Christ. 

In the pre-trip and post-trip there are two pitfalls. In the post-trip, people will ask you where are you going to find believers to enter the kingdom. In the pre-trip, they will ask if the church is raptured who the antichrist will persecute? The Rapture does not remove the Bible so there will still be new believers after the Rapture.

The great tribulation is a period of unprecedented suffering and catastrophe occurring on earth just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is worldwide in scope and of an intensity that has never been seen before. During this seven-year period of the Great Tribulation, the inhabitants of the earth will have a sense that the world is coming to an end. The great tribulation begins when the Antichrist as the leader of a federated states of Europe signs a peace treaty with lsraeI (Dan 9:27), with the guarantee that it will protect Israel from its enemies and allow Israel a sense of security and the favourable conditions to rebuild the Temple and institute once again the sacrifices, offerings and rites of Judaism in the new temple(2 Thess 2:4). This revealing of the Antichrist is depicted in the opening of the first seal (Rev 6:1-2). At the time that the Antichrist reveals himself, he will come as a man of peace and good will, obtaining the trust of the nations by persuasion and deception. He thereby gains control over nations, 'conquering" them and bringing them under his influence in order to establish a one world system over which he will be the head. However he will be opposed right from the beginning by Christians that have been saved after the Rapture (pre-tribulation view). He persecutes these Christians to the extent of killing them. The series of seven seals(Rev 6:1-17, 8:1-5) that are opened as recorded in the book of Revelationdepicts the first year of the great tribulation. Affairs take a turn for the worst as wars break out, famine occurs and natural disasters increase both in frequency and intensity. The opening of the seventh seal is followed by the sounding of a series of seven trumpets(Rev 8:6-9:21,11:15-19), bringing on a more intense series of catastrophes. Sometime during the sounding of the trumpets (most likely the fifth trumpet), the tribulation enters the three and a half-year point. At this point, the Antichrist reneges on its treaty with Israel and sets himself in the temple(Matt 24:15,2 Thess 2:4), thereby desecrating it, and demands that everyone worship him. The persecution of Christians intensifies. At the same time, the nations began to rebel against the Antichrist. During these last months of the tribulation, the seven bowls of the wrath of God(Rev 15:1 - 16:21) are poured out. The most intense suffering and unimaginable catastrophes in both nature and humankind occur. The nations of the East raise up armies that cross the Euphrates River and meet the armies of the Antichrist at the Plain of Esdraelon, the area around the mountains of Megiddo(Dan 11:44-45, Rev 16:12-16). The seven year great tribulation ends with the Second Coming as Jesus comes down from heaven with his heavenly army to completely defeat the armies of the earth in the battle of Arm aged don (Rev 19:11-16).

Rev 6:1-2

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the living creatures saying with a voice like thunder/'Come and see." 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Questions

1. Who are the 144,000 sealed servants of God mentioned in Rev 7:1-8 ?

2. Are we really living in the "end times"?

The question is how do we know. You may say there's more earthquake more than any other time. That's circumstantial. You may say there are more wars or diseases than ever before but are you sure? Europe had the black death and one third of the population died. Do we have that sort of disease now? False prophets, last time also have. So it's something to think about.

 If you tell your friend there is war and false prophets, it has happened throughout history. If you also me I believe we are living in the end times. There are two things that have not happened in history as mentioned in the Bible.

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The ethnic groups to be reached is still going on. When the last ethnic group is reached, Jesus will come. We are right now in an unprecedented period where every nation have been touched and most ethnic group have been reached. Only God will know when all is reached. It's unprecedented because now there are translations for almost all ethnic groups.

Matthew 24:15

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

That is about the new temple. 1.1 million Jews died during Roman times. The Jews were then scattered. There is no time in history where you can envision a new temple. The Jews were scattered. But in 1948, Israel became and nation and it looks possible. The Jews are now looking at building the new temple. And all these is unprecedented.

These are two clear indication so if you ask me the answer will be yes.