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Years ago, we used to vacation along the New Jersey shore. The thing we looked forward to most was body surfacing and fighting the relentless pounding of the waves. We would dive under the big ones, and come up just in time to get our lungs full of air before the next big wave would be upon us. Sometimes we would go beyond the ropes that were framing the swimming area. Inevitably, the life guard’s whistle would blow, and he would signal that we were out too far. We hated to turn back, but it was for our own safety.
I have watched the Church enjoy the excitement of Biblical obedience. I have seen it riding the swells of revealed truth. I have seen it explore the depths of reality. I have seen it breathe in the Heavenly air. I have even seen it experience the crashing reality of powers that tend to take its breath away. I have seen it rise above the raging challenges to an atmosphere of security. I have also watched the Church venture beyond its safety zones into areas that are filled with undertows and rip tides. What concerns me so much is that the “lifeguards” (Pastors, Teachers, Evangelist) are not blowing their whistles.
In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of “end time” teaching. More and more Believers are being caught up with discovering the signs for the return of the Lord. Speculation has dwarfed Truth. Emotions have ignited theories. The Bible has been misused to support human conjectures. To take Scripture out of context is as dangerous as denying the inerrancy of the Word. The interest in future events has been at the expense of learning how to live in the here and now.
In studying Scripture, we must learn to read it as it was intended to be read by those in the first century. Today, we read it as if it was meant for us as the primary reader. It is for us today, but its initial intent was to men like Theophilus (Luke 1:3, Acts 1:1) and to the early church scattered throughout Asia Minor. When Jesus warned the crowds of the destruction of Jerusalem and its surrounding geography, all seemed to point to the fall of Jerusalem and dispensational Judaism in AD 70. The Jews had revolted against Rome beginning in AD 66, mainly because of the desecration of the Temple by the Romans. During the Jewish uprising, many Roman soldiers were killed. In AD 70, Titus and the Roman army besieged Jerusalem, cutting off their food and water. Many died of starvation and disease. Finally, a full out attack was waged and Jerusalem fell. The Temple was destroyed. Josephus, a contemporary of those times, recorded in gruesome terms what transpired. Over one million people died, of which the majority were Jews. 97,000 Jews were captured and sold into slavery. (THE JEWISH WARS by Flavius Josephus) Many Christians had scattered well before the destruction of Jerusalem. They had spread out into Asia Minor and other parts of the Mediterranean area.
Jesus’ primary ministry was to the Jews. It is only after they rejected Him that the Gentiles were offered God’s salvation plan. Much of Jesus’ teaching was to those Jews who would come to believe in Him. We must understand this or we will continue to promote an unintended purpose of the Word. Paul’s Epistles were written to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Peter’s letters were written to the converted Jews. Paul presents the Gospel teachings in a manner that those who read them will gain a greater understanding of what Jesus taught and how it would apply to the non-Jews. Let us not jump generations by updating Scripture to fulfill our agendas. Do not misunderstand what I am saying. The Word is for today, but we must understand the original intent and purpose of the Scripture, and then let the Holy Spirit lead us in understanding our generational application.
Let us stop swimming beyond the ropes and listen to the whistle of warning, and come back to the safety of God’s intended Word!
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