Rajesh

A Key, Overlooked Passage concerning Biblical Marriage

July 9, 2015

None of the many articles that I have read recently concerning biblical marriage has mentioned Genesis 6-9 as a relevant or important passage about the subject. An examination of several facets of the passage shows that Genesis 6-9 is a key passage that provides decisive information that corroborates what Genesis 1-2 teaches about biblical marriage.

A Profound Emphasis on Male and Female in Genesis 1-5 and 6-9

Genesis 1:27 reveals that God created man as male and female and blessed them and instructed them to be fruitful and multiply. Genesis 2:18-25 corroborates that passage and states that God brought Adam and Eve together as the first humans and united them to be husband and wife. Their union was blessed of God, and there was no shame involved in their being united as one flesh.

Genesis 5:2 reiterates that God made man male and female and blessed them. This key statement shows that Genesis 1-2 records factual history concerning biblical marriage.

In Genesis 6, we learn that mankind had so completely corrupted itself that God decreed that He would annihilate all people and animals from the earth (Gen. 6:5-17). By the favor of God (cf. Gen. 6:8), only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives would be spared from that worldwide destruction (Gen. 6:13, 18). God thus spared mankind only as pairs consisting of a male and a female who were married to each other.

In addition, God would spare certain numbers of animals from that destruction. God profoundly emphasized that he would spare these animals only as pairs that were specified to be male and female (Gen. 6:19; 7:3, 9, 16).¹

He even speaks of these pairs of animals as being “a male and his female” (Gen. 7:2 [2x]; emphasis added). After the Flood, God instructed Noah to bring out all the animals “that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth” (Gen. 8:17), making clear that the animals that were spared were male and female animals that were spared as pairs.

Following the Flood, the whole earth was “overspread” by the children (and further descendants) who were born as the fruit of the marriages of each of Noah’s three sons with his own wife (Gen. 9:19). Although not directly stated, the same was the case with all the earth being filled with animals through the unions of each male animal and his female.

Based on all these statements in Genesis 6-9, we learn that God has profoundly emphasized that He had ordained for humans that their marriages were to be between a man and his wife because He only spared four pairs of humans, all of whom were married according to the pattern that He had established at Creation (Gen. 1-2). Furthermore, the profound emphasis in this passage on even the animals being pairs consisting of a male and his female shows that God’s pattern for all these living beings that He created, both humans and animals, was from the beginning to be the uniting of males and females into pairs that were comprised only of humans with humans and animals with animals respectively that were of opposite gender.

Conclusion

For Christians who believe fully that the entire Bible is the perfect Word of God, Genesis 1-2 is not the only key early passage that reveals to them what biblical marriage is. As discussed above, Genesis 6-9 profoundly confirms what Genesis 1-2 teaches such believers about biblical marriage.

¹ Of the clean animals and birds, God instructed Noah to bring in a seventh animal, which was later offered in sacrifice to God (Gen. 7:2; 8:20).

In Discipleship, Exposition, Interpretation, Theology

A Striking Observation about the Book of Revelation

July 3, 2015

Not a few believers today probably regard the book of Revelation as largely an obscure prophetic book filled with apocalyptic symbolism and a book that is not really of much contemporary importance for how we are to live our lives. A striking observation about the book shows that its relevance for our lives could hardly be overstated.

Number of Occurrences of Forms of the Word “Worship”

Through reading through the book of Revelation 11 times in the past four months, I have discovered many truths about the book that I had not seen before. Today, after reading through the book this morning, I examined how many times the word “worship” occurs in its various forms in the book compared to other books of the Bible.

In the OT, the seven books with the most occurrences of forms of the word “worship” are the following: Exodus – 7; Deuteronomy – 7; 2 Kings – 12; Psalms – 16; Isaiah – 10; Jeremiah – 9; and Daniel – 12. In the NT, 23 books have fewer than five occurrences of the forms; four books have 13 or more occurrences: Matthew – 14; John 13; Acts – 13; and Revelation – 24.

These figures show that the book of Revelation has far more occurrences of forms of the word “worship” in it than any other book of the Bible does! Based on this data, we learn that this book stresses the importance of worship in a profound way that is probably little appreciated by many believers today.

Conclusion

The book of Revelation is far more than just an obscure prophetic book filled with apocalyptic symbolism that has little relevance for how we live our lives. At least through its surpassing use of forms of the word “worship,” the book of Revelation challenges us more than any other book of the Bible does that we must worship God aright for who He is and what He has done and will yet do.

In Discipleship, Theology

Learn Guitar for Ministry: Six-Week Beginner’s Class!

June 27, 2015

If you live in the Greenville, SC, area and are interested in learning to play the guitar for use in Christian ministry, I am offering beginning on July 20 two sections of a six-week beginner’s class at a phenomenal price! Each class lasts for 45-minutes and includes thorough instruction in my original method that will help you get off to a great start!

Space in both classes is limited, so please take the class only if you are serious about using the guitar for ministry. Completing this class is required in order to take the intermediate and advanced classes that I plan to offer later this year.

See how much you can learn in just six weeks! For more information, please contact me personally or by sending an e-mail to me at [email protected].

You can learn more about my guitar playing by watching this guitar-cello video.

In Guitar Music, Ministry

Nine Times Through Revelation This Year

June 23, 2015

Because I am teaching an 8-week Sunday school series from the book of Revelation this June and July, I have been repeatedly reading through the book. Since April 16, I have read the book through nine times!

So far, I have made it through the whole book in one day three times (4/16, 4/20, 6/6), including reading the whole book in one sitting on June 6. My goal is to keep reading the book through once a week throughout June and July.

Praise God for giving us this incomparable book!

In Bible reading

Six Truths That the Book of Revelation Teaches Us about Creation

June 17, 2015

1. Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God—He is the “first cause” (Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament) of all that God has created; as the agent of God the Father, Jesus created all things.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

2. God must be worshiped because He is the Creator.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

3. True belief in God as Creator is displayed by worship that glorifies Him as the Creator.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

4. Every created being will one day honor God and the Lamb.

Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

5. An angel will one day swear a key truth by the eternal Creator.

Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.

6. Worshiping God as the Creator is an essential dimension of the everlasting gospel.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

In Theology

On The Matchless Value of the Book of Revelation!

June 10, 2015

The book of Revelation is a book of matchless value to believers for many reasons, including these eight reasons that many believers may not be aware of fully:

1. Revelation uniquely stresses information about its unique origin—a stress that is divinely purposeful—we must consider why God gave us this information about its origin in the way that He did.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: ² Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne

2. Revelation uniquely informs the reader of the unique value of the book by its being the only New Testament book that explicitly says that those who properly receive what the books says will be specially favored by God: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3).

Furthermore, Revelation has six more statements about who will be blessed, including a reiteration of the blessedness of those who heed what the book says:

Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

3. Revelation is unique in the scope of what it reveals: things that John saw that no other man has ever seen; the things that were true in his day, which no other writer of Scripture lived to tell us about; and the things that would take place shortly after these things; it is also the only book in Scripture that provides additional revelation about the tree of life!

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

4. Revelation uniquely states the breadth of its intended recipients: the book is for all those who are the servants of Christ (Rev. 1:1); seven times, Jesus declares, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” which shows that the book is for all churches of all time; and Jesus tells about an action that He will render so that “all the churches shall know” a specific truth about Him (Rev. 2:23).

The book also includes two other statements of its universal applicability: “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev. 13:9); and, “Let him that hath understanding count . . .” (Rev. 13:18). Finally, the book ends with Jesus declaring again the widespread value of the book: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” (Rev. 22:16).

5. Revelation uniquely sets forth the importance of churches—Yes, our lives as individual believers are important (cf. Matt. 5:16), but we must also understand the significance of these churches being spoken of as golden lampstands (Rev. 1:20); Christ walks in their midst (Rev. 2:1); also, the word “churches” occurs more times in the book of Revelation than it does in any other book of the NT.

6. Revelation uniquely emphasizes the importance of Christian pastors: the glorified Christ holds them in His hands in a special way (Rev. 1:16, 20); He says that He scrutinizes their lives in a profound way and warns them to repent or else face His judgment (Rev. 2:5, 16). Obviously, these statements show the special importance of this book for all those who are leaders in Christian churches and for all those of us whom they lead.

7. Revelation uniquely presents that the glorified Jesus emphasized repeatedly that the Father was His God:

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

8. Revelation is unique because of the fearful warnings that it reveals about altering its contents, which highlights its special nature:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ¹⁹ And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Given these many ways in which the book of Revelation is of incomparable value, I urge to you profit fully from the book by reading it often, hearing all that it says, and keeping all that it reveals about what the people of God are to be and do!

In Exposition, Theology

Thoughts about Redemption in Genesis 1-4 and the Book of Revelation

June 5, 2015

In preparation for teaching a Sunday school class in June and July, I have been studying extensively Genesis 1-4 and the Book of Revelation, especially about what both of these key parts of Scripture teach about creation, fall, and redemption. Here are 21 preliminary observations that I have made from my study on teaching about redemption in Genesis 1-4 and Revelation.

Redemption promised (implicit in Gen. 3:15)

Redemption pictured (Gen. 3:21)

Redemption as a vital basis for the Lamb being extolled (Rev. 5)

The work of the Lamb in providing redemption for the saints can only be fully extolled through singing that is instrumentally accompanied (Rev. 5:8).

The extolling of the Lamb stems from His work of redemption, but redemption is not the actual subject of this heavenly new song—the song is about the Lamb’s worthiness to execute the upcoming end-time judgments for God: “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals . . .” (Rev. 5:9).

Redemption of the saints is the central basis for the Lamb’s worthiness to take the Book out of the Father’s hand and to break its seals (Rev. 5:9).

Redemption required that the Lamb be slain (Rev. 5:9).

The Lamb redeemed the saints by purchasing them with His blood (Rev. 5:9).

The Lamb redeemed the saints for God (Rev. 5:9).

Redemption of the saints has as one of its chief goals that the saints would become a kingdom and priests to their God and would reign on the earth (Rev. 5:10)—they will yet participate vitally in fulfilling the dominion mandate that was given originally to Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26-28).

Redemption has as its objects people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9; cf. 7:9).

Redemption is celebrated not just by the saints but also by angelic creatures (Rev. 5:8, 11, 13).

The slaying of the Lamb was not solely for the sake of redeeming humans—He was slain so that He Himself would be worthy of universal exaltation (Rev. 5:11-14).

Redemption is a vital aspect of the eternal glory and worship that the Father and the Lamb will receive from every created being, but it is not the exclusive basis for their being glorified and worshiped eternally. Both the Father and the Lamb will be eternally glorified also for their righteous judging of wicked humans and spirits (cf. Rev. 14:7; 19:1-6).

Revelation 6-22 fills out what Revelation 5 stresses—the Father and the Lamb will be eternally glorified and worshiped through the Lamb’s rendering judgment for God both temporally and eternally and on both humans and on angelic beings (cf. Rev. 14:10-11). The eternal judgment of wicked angelic beings is not subsumable under the rubric of the redemption of human beings because God would have punished these evil spirits even if man had never fallen (cf. Matt. 25:41).

Revelation gloriously presents the ultimate fulfillment of how the Seed of the Woman will crush the Serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15) fully and permanently (Rev. 20:10).

The Lamb’s work of redemption includes His purchasing 144,000 Israelites (Rev. 14:3). For His accomplishing this work, He will again be extolled in heavenly singing that will be accompanied instrumentally (Rev. 14:2-3).

The Israelites whom He redeems will be first fruits to God and to the Lamb (Rev. 14:4), which indicates that there will be many more who will subsequently be redeemed.

Those who are redeemed are of excellent moral character (Rev. 14:4-5), and they unfailingly follow the Lamb (Rev. 14:4c). We who have been redeemed in our day need to be and do the same.

We must worship God as Scripture reveals He is to be worshiped—God is to be worshiped, especially in song, not just as Creator (Rev. 4:9-11) and Redeemer (Rev. 5:9-10; 14:2-3) but also as Judge (Rev. 5;14:7; 15:2-5; 19:1-6).

An overemphasis on the glory of the Lamb as the Redeemer does not give Him the full glory that God demands that He be given (cf. John 5:22-23).

In Sunday School, Theology

Who Needs to Forgive Someone Who Has Sinned As Josh Duggar Has?

May 30, 2015

Many people have written recently about the situation involving the aftermath of the immoral acts that Josh Duggar committed when he was a young teenager. Some have asserted that the only people who need to forgive him for what he has done are his victims. An examination of Pauline teaching in First and Second Corinthians does not support this assertion.

An Initially Mishandled Case of an Immoral Man in the Church at Corinth

Paul sternly challenged the Corinthians about their failure to discipline a man in their church who had committed incest with his father’s wife (1 Cor. 5). Using his apostolic authority, Paul judged this immoral man (1 Cor. 5:3-5) and instructed the Corinthians to judge him as well by removing him from among themselves (1 Cor. 5:7, 12, 13).

The Subsequent Mishandling of This Case

Based on what Paul later wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:1-11), we learn that the Corinthians at some point after receiving Paul’s challenge corrected their initial mishandling of the case involving this immoral man by properly punishing him (“this punishment, which was inflicted of many,” 2 Cor. 2:6). We also learn, however, that they subsequently mishandled this case by not properly forgiving and comforting him (2 Cor. 2:7) after he repented.

Using again his apostolic authority, Paul exhorted the Corinthians to correct their subsequent mishandling of this case by confirming their love toward him (2 Cor. 2:8). Paul explained that their obedience to this directive about their forgiving him was directly tied to his forgiving him for their sakes “in the person of Christ” (2 Cor. 9-10).

Who Needs to Forgive Josh Duggar?

Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about their dealings with this horrible case of incest among themselves shows that it was not true that the only people who needed to forgive this immoral man for what he had done was the one with whom he had committed immorality. According to this divine revelation, the entire church at Corinth needed to forgive this man, as also Paul did.

Applying this teaching to the current situation with Josh Duggar, we understand that other believers besides his victims must also forgive and comfort Josh Duggar. They must also confirm their love toward him.

A failure to do so puts him at risk of being “swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7). It also puts all believers at risk of Satan’s gaining an advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:11).

Conclusion

Certainly, what Josh Duggar did when he was a young teenager was reprehensible, and we must not condone his actions in any way. Applying Pauline teaching about forgiveness in First and Second Corinthians to his case does not lessen the need for proper care of those whom he victimized.

Having said that, based on what I have read being said by some people concerning forgiving Josh Duggar, it is vital that we do heed what Scripture teaches about forgiveness and how that teaching applies to the issue of who should forgive him. It is not true that the only people who need to forgive him are the ones whom he victimized—other believers must also forgive him, comfort him, and confirm their love toward him.

In Discipleship, Exposition, Theology

On the Transmission of Information from Adam to Abraham

May 25, 2015

Genealogical information about our families is something that probably greatly interests most of us. Based on a careful analysis and correlation of the genealogical information provided in Genesis 5 and 11, we learn some vital information through our determining which men were contemporaries among our first forefathers from Adam to Abraham and for how long.

Contemporaries from Adam to Noah

Adam and Methuselah were contemporaries for 243 years (687-930 AA).¹ Adam and Lamech were contemporaries for 56 years (874-930 AA). Both Methuselah and Lamech, therefore, had extensive opportunities to get eyewitness information from Adam about what took place after he was created!

Methuselah and Lamech were contemporaries for 777 years (874-1651 AA). If only one of these men ever actually took the opportunity to visit with Adam and hear as much as they could from him, he would have had a vast amount of time to share it with the other.

Noah and Methuselah were contemporaries for 600 years (1056-1656 AA). Noah and Lamech were contemporaries for 595 years (1056-1651 AA). Noah thus had more than half a millennium to meet with either Methuselah or Lamech or both and get information from them that they had gotten directly from Adam.

Methuselah became the oldest man alive when Jared died in 1422 AA at the age of 962. For the next 234 years (1422-1656 AA), Methuselah was the oldest man alive. When Methuselah died in 1656 AA, which was also the year the Flood took place, Noah became the oldest man alive (600 years of age).

Contemporaries from Noah to Abraham

After the Flood, Noah was the oldest man alive for the last 350 years of his life (1656-2006 AA), and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth were the next oldest men living during their remaining lifetimes.

From 1878-1996 AA, Noah, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, and Terah were all contemporaries. After Peleg died in 1996 AA, Nahor died in 1997 AA.

From 1997 until the death of Noah in 2006 AA, Noah, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, and Terah were contemporaries. After Abraham was born in 2008 AA, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah, and Abraham were contemporaries for 18 years (until Reu died in 2026 AA)!

Eber was still alive when Abraham died in 2183 AA.

Direct Transmission of Eyewitness Information from Adam to Abraham

Based on the preceding analysis, we learn that Noah readily could have gotten information that was received directly from Adam via either Methuselah or Lamech or both. In turn, Noah would have had opportunities to transmit that information personally to at least one of his sons from each of the nine generations after him!

Direct transmission of eyewitness information from Adam to Abraham through Noah and either Methuselah or Lamech or both and then through any one or more of 7 descendants of Noah (Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah) thus was entirely possible!

Given the immense importance of such information, and the great value that we as human beings place on meeting our forefathers at least once while they are living and having them tell us about their lives, we can be almost certain that direct transmission of vital eyewitness information took place from Adam to Methuselah and Lamech to Noah to Terah to Abraham!

¹ AA means “after Adam” and denotes the number of years after the creation of Adam.

In Exposition, Theology

“Beginnings at the End: Creation, Fall, and Redemption in the Book of Revelation”

May 23, 2015

I am eagerly anticipating beginning to teach a new Sunday School series, Beginnings at the End: Creation, Fall, and Redemption in the Book of Revelation. This eight-week study begins on June 7 and builds on our current series, which has been a study of Genesis 1-4.

In preparation for teaching this series, I have been studying Genesis 1-4 and carefully pondering some key questions concerning the Fall of mankind, including the following:

—Was Satan’s tempting Eve a manifestation of his own unbelief in what God had said?

—What would have happened if Eve and Adam had resisted the temptation initially? Would the devil then have continued to tempt them repeatedly, as he did with Jesus for 40 days (Luke 4:2)?

—What would have happened if Eve had succumbed but Adam had rejected Eve’s offer for him to do likewise?

I also have read the book of Revelation through four times in the last two months and hope to read it at least three more times before we start. What a phenomenal book Revelation is!

What’s more, as time allows, I hope to read a couple of books that explain the value of understanding Scripture using the paradigm of Creation, Fall, and Redemption: God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible and Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview. If God would lead you to do so, I would appreciate prayer for my continuing preparations for this tremendous opportunity.

In Sunday School

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A Profound Emphasis on Male and Female in Genesis 1-5 and 6-9

Conclusion

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Number of Occurrences of Forms of the Word “Worship”

Conclusion

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An Initially Mishandled Case of an Immoral Man in the Church at Corinth

The Subsequent Mishandling of This Case

Who Needs to Forgive Josh Duggar?

Conclusion

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Contemporaries from Adam to Noah

Contemporaries from Noah to Abraham

Direct Transmission of Eyewitness Information from Adam to Abraham

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