13
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:6b
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6 And [kai] before [enopion] the throne [thronos] there was a sea [thalassa] of glass [hualinos] like [homoios] unto crystal: [krustallos] and [kai] in [en] the midst [mesos] of the throne, [thronos] and [kai] round about [kuklo] the throne, [thronos] were four [tessares] beasts [zoon] full [gemo] of eyes [ophthalmos] before [emprosthen] and [kai] behind. [opisthen] KJV-Interlinear
6 and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. NASB
The contrast between heaven and earth is one of perfect peace and calm and stability and absence of confrontation, verses the total life on earth which is burdened by constant pressures, unfairness, numerous opinions lacking wisdom, difficulties galore, and certainly confrontations that never end.
And in the center of it all, in heaven, around and about, in front and behind of Gods throne, are four beasts.
So what are these beasts that stand so prominently in heaven.
In order to understand it all, we need to know that many of the things we will read about in Revelation, are symbolic of some principle or truth. This book unlike other books in the Bible, is full of symbolism.
Sometimes the symbolism is defined, such as the lamp stands or torches, or seven spirits, and sometimes the symbolism is not defined. And in the case where definition is lacking we have to go to other parts of the Bible to find the answer and meaning of the symbolism.
This is one of those situations.
Most folks will relate this vision to the visions of Isaiah or Ezekiel, or both. However, those visions contained references to angels, namely cherubim and seraphim respectively. This vision does not have any such reference.
John’s vision has no reference to humanity, to angels, or even to animals. But, you say, what about the next verse? And in that verse even that reference is one of similarity not to identity, which excludes man, angels and animal, even though their appearances are used. But more on that when we get to the next verse.
In ancient times, cherubim were used to symbolize the protectors of Gods treasure, and the seraphim were used to symbolize the power with which God used to maintain such protection.
Cherubim with the flaming sword are placed at the entrance of the garden of Eden, Gen 3:24. Jehovah rode upon a cherub, and did fly, 2 Sam 22:11, Ps 18:10. He communes with his people from between the cherubim, Ex 25:22. He is the Shepherd of Israel, who dwells between the cherubim, Ps 80:1. The temple in Ezek 41:18 is adorned with cherubim, as being the dwelling-place of God; They are the attendants of the glory of God in Ezek 1:22-28; Seraphim fill an analogous position, Isa 6:2.
However, angels are not referenced here, but the symbolism is consistent with that of the Old Testament passages.
The word for four beasts, carries the connotation living, and more than that, the possession of life.
These living beings are not separate and distinct beings, but they exist round about, or in the midst of, which means to exist through and through, intermingled with, occupying the same space as (omnipresence), the throne.
Gods throne, as we have already studied is symbolic of Gods authority and power and exists everywhere. And coming from heaven it is the source, as God is the source, of all life. And, it is the support and provision as God is the provision. And these that are living life, are the sole support and sustainers of life. They are life, itself, and more, much, much more.
Its eyes all around, see everything, omniscience. It, the source of life, sees not only what is and what was, but what could have been, or what could be but will not be. He eyes see all of the actual as well as the possible.
The four creatures are spoken of as one, in the singular, not in the plural. They are the very basis, the very foundation, of life and all that is truth.
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12
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 6:1
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1 Let [eisi] as many [hosos] servants [doulos] as [hosos] are [eisi] under [hupo] the yoke [zugos] count [hegeomai] their own [idios] masters [despotes] worthy [axios] of all [pas] honour, [time] that [hina me] the name [onoma] of God [theos] and [kai] his doctrine [didaskalia] be [blasphemeo] not [hina me] blasphemed. [blasphemeo] KJV-Interlinear
1 Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against. NASB
The work ethic is brought into view in these verses. While believing employers are mentioned in the next verse, unbelieving employers are first considered in this first verse.
The phrase, ‘under the yoke,’ is an expression for work or employment. It does not carry the connotation of abuse or hardship, but merely of one who is employed and working for someone else.
‘As slaves,’ is a broadly defined word for employees, whether actual slaves or independent contractors, all people who are engaged in some form of employment are being referred to here.
We should probably review the concept of slavery in ancient times. Though it is outlawed today, what we consider as slavery, mostly from pre civil-war times, was not in fact what slavery was back in Pauls day.
Slavery was not outlawed or forbidden in the Bible. In fact, the Bible sets out many rules for slavery rights, and what could or could not be done with slaves.
Slaves could be acquired in different ways. Many were prisoners of war, Num 31:7-35, Deut 20:10-14. Slaves could be purchased, Ex 21:7; Lev 25:44-46. Some people sold themselves into slavery, Lev 25:39, Deut 15:12-17, others were sold to pay debts, 2 Kings 4:1; Neh 5:1-8. Slaves could be received as gifts, Gen 29:24, inherited, Lev 25:46, or they may have been were born to slaves and remained in that role.
Slaves could not be held for more than six years, Ex 21:2, unless they voluntarily chose to remain, Ex 21:5-6. Those who came into slavery with a wife and children could take them when they left. Those given a wife by their master, could not take her until her time was up. Slaves who were abused by their masters were to be set free, Ex 21:26-27. Their religious rights, were protected, Ex 20:10. Slaves had civil rights. The murder of a slave brought punishment, Ex 21:20. Foreign slaves seeking asylum in Israel were to be protected, Deut 23:15-16. Slaves had economic rights, including the right to own other slaves, 2 Sam 9:9-10. The nation had state slaves, similar to civil service employees, Josh 16:10; Judg 1:28; Ezra 8:20.
And while in our current day, people seem to pursue their creature comforts and pursuits of happiness, the work ethic seems to have faded into the background as some sort of necessary evil in order to maintain ones social pursuits.
However, Paul points out in these verses, that work is an honorable and necessary function in order to maintain ones spiritual growth and maturity.
While our first and foremost priority in life, is to advance to spiritual maturity, we are still a part of this world and as such must make a living using whatever talent or ability we have, through work, responsibility and accountability.
We are to work as unto the Lord, meaning that we are under constant evaluation before God, and our work and our effort and our motivations are always under review.
Whether you work on an assembly line, design rockets, or are a home parent, you have a responsibility to do your job and to do it well, and to do it to the best of your ability for your employer, no matter who that is.
You do not have an excuse or right for slacking off in your work, just because you are not interested, do not like your boss, or think that you are better than what you are doing.
God placed all people in the positions that they are in. You are no exception. You are there for a reason, and that reason is first to teach you obedience to your job, and responsibility to life and others.
By working well, and by being a Christian, you set an example for Christianity.
Remember that disinterested believers, and certainly unbelievers, have only your example with which to evaluate Christianity. And by setting a good example, you may very well influence others, even if only indirectly, in coming to Christ and/or doctrine.
People are not always saved or influenced by evangelism alone.
During your life, you will be watched by God and angels certainly, and family and friends to some extent, but what you do not know is that during your decades of living, you will be observed by many others whom you do not know, and in following a good work ethic, you may very well set into motion, infinite eternal blessings for others. And that is to your credit.
However the opposite is true as well, you could easily cause many to disregard God and doctrine, just because you are lazy or less than honorable in life. And that too goes to your discredit.
You will get a full accounting from Christ when you get to heaven. Lets hope that your scorecard is a good one.
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11
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:6a
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6 And [kai] before [enopion] the throne [thronos] there was a sea [thalassa] of glass [hualinos] like [homoios] unto crystal: [krustallos] and [kai] in [en] the midst [mesos] of the throne, [thronos] and [kai] round about [kuklo] the throne, [thronos] were four [tessares] beasts [zoon] full [gemo] of eyes [ophthalmos] before [emprosthen] and [kai] behind. [opisthen] KJV-Interlinear
6 and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. NASB
Thus far we have seen the steadfastness of heaven and the power and ultimate authority of God.
Johns vision continues in that concept with what appears to be a sea, stretching throughout the vast expanse of heaven, so as to fill it all.
In the scriptures, the sea has many references. To list them all would take a book. However, the sea is generally used to symbolize the nations of man, and the stormy seas, mans rebellious ways in sin. But even as the seas storm and wash out of their boundaries, they always settle back into the boundaries that God has established for them.
Man can rebel, but man has limitations placed on him and beyond those limitations, he cannot go. The stormy seas are mans restlessness and rebellion against truth and God. They are mans attempt to decide his own destiny, however, mans chosen destiny is destruction, while Gods chosen destiny for man is far better.
In heaven John saw a sea of glsss, like crystal. And, John saw this sea, before the throne, or as it were, the sea was due to the throne, it did not exist because of its own volition. It existed only because God caused it to exist.
God is truth. God is perfect righteousness and perfect justice. God is omniscient and possesses foreknowledge of all that will ever be. God is sovereign and therefore can control and cause perfect peace and happiness.
On earth, mans volition and will, causes only stormy times for everyone. Man cannot see into the future, nor can man seem to learn from the past. Arrogance and self interest seem to blind humanity in that regard.
Life in this world is difficult, disruptive, pressure filled and generally burdensome.
Life in heaven is a vast expanse of perfect peace, perfect clarity, with no counter attitudes (no lies), with no counter politics (selfish interests), with no deceit (ulterior motives), with no inordinate ambitions (arrogance).
Life on this earth is filled with mans sin nature and as such, many opinions, many agendas, many flaws. And when flawed man is in charge, then trouble is not far behind. Therefore the need for controls, checks and balances, and such, over mans corrupt nature. Without these boundaries, then humanity becomes tyrannical, chaotic, and abusive.
In heaven, all sin and all evil and all things that run counter to truth, do not exist, and that is the picture of heaven, a vast sea of calm, clarity, with nothing hidden, because there is but one opinion, which is truth. But truth is supported by several principles, and for that, we will have to wait for tomorrows study.
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10
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:25
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25 Likewise [hosautos] also [kai] the good [kalos] works [ergon] of some are [esti] manifest beforehand; [prodelos] and [kai] they that are [echo] otherwise [allos] cannot [ou] [dunamai] be hid. [krupto] KJV-Interlinear
25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. NASB
And conversely to the previous verse where the bad in people may be obvious for some and hidden in others, but so too, the good in some is obvious and in others the good is not so obvious.
In either situation, proper, objective and thorough investigation, and patience, will generally always result in discovering what the truth is, with regard to someone's personality, attitude, and motivations in life.
They are either playing you for a fool, or they are sincere, honest and above board in their behavior.
Spontaneous decisions usually result in trouble, whereas patient and thoughtful examination will usually result in good decisions.
In life, good decisions yield more opportunities. Bad decisions limit opportunities.
We have covered a lot of ground in 1Timothy. From the role of men and women, to preparation for the Rapture, to the qualifications for good Christian behavior.
But remember one thing, the overall subject of 1Timothy, is ‘maintaining.’
Our purpose in this life is not to settle in, to a life in this world, but to prepare ourselves for the next life. A life which will be far greater than anything that you can imagine.
And while most folks waste their lives away, with trivial matters, hobbies, and pursuits, the world and history is rapidly closing in on the next and ultimate event – the Rapture of the Church.
And though we do not know when that will occur, it is not relevant to your spiritual life, because your primary priority in life, is to grow up in your spiritual life to maturity, so that you will be ready and prepared for whatever happens, no matter when it happens.
And thus Paul in his instructions to Timothy, is speaking to each one of us as well. We are to know doctrine, through study, and then apply it to our daily life. For it is through that process that we prepare ourselves for whatever God has planned for each one of us, as well as for the world and history.
The world is in desperate need of qualified instructors. The world is in desperate need of positive students.
As attitude toward Christ and doctrine goes, so goes history.\
We have already studied the massive apostasy that will grow up at end of our own dispensation, and as to that, none of us will be able to prevent it.
However, that does not mean that we need to be a part of it, and so through a daily study we can prepare and maintain ourselves for better things, while the world slips away into a destiny that God has already fore-ordained, and therefore is inevitable.
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09
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:5
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5 And [kai] out of [ek] the throne [thronos] proceeded [ekporeuomai] lightnings [astrape] and [kai] thunderings [bronte] and [kai] voices: [phone] and [kai] there were seven [hepta] lamps [lampas] of fire [pur] burning [kaio] before [enopion] the throne, [thronos] which [hos] are [eisi] the seven [hepta] Spirits [pneuma] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
5 And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; NASB
And out of the throne, is an expression meaning, from the source of God. The throne is in heaven. Gods seat of government and power emanates from heaven, from the source of His own self.
The throne is the symbol of divine wisdom, and ultimate power, sovereignty, and authority.
And from this source, God, come lightning's and thundering’s and voices. All of these symbolize the full majesty and glory and power and authority of God and of Gods presence, Ex. 19:16, Eze. 1:13.
These things are also associated with Gods judgments, Rev. 8:5, 11:19, 16:18.
And in Johns vision we have the total picture of Gods presence, power and ultimate authority, above which there is none greater.
Voices, typically refers to noise, sounds, sayings, or languages and all in the plural. And in connection with this verse by reference to the seven lamps (outdoor torches this time), and the seven spirits (the process for spiritual growth), then these voices are the collective messages of the Word of God, or Bible doctrine.
And, there were the seven lamps. These lamps are outdoor torches, and not the same as the indoor lamps referred to earlier in chapter one. These lamps burn with bright and powerful fires.
Which, lamps, are the seven spirits. And we have already studied the seven spirits, which is a reference to the spiritual growth process as identified in Isa. 11 and Zech. 4. But this entire picture is in the present tense, making it a permanent fixture and apparatus for all of time.
God made but one thing greater than Himself, and that is Bible doctrine. For without doctrine, we would have no knowledge, nor access to God, to truth, or to a destiny in heaven. Doctrine is the lifeline by which we have life and a future to hope for.
This sevenfold representation speaks of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, reverence, and deity, in Isaiah, and in Zechariah of power, and here in our current verse of judgment.
The torches are also associated with war in Judg 7:16,20 and Nah 2:3-4.
So now what has occurred thus far in this book.
Christ was introduced, the Church was addressed. And note one more thing, the Church is a reference to us, you and me and all believers since the inception of our Church Age, all believers in our current dispensation. We are all Royalty, 1 Pet. 2:9, and we are all Ambassadors, 2 Cor. 5:20.
In ancient times and even in our current day, when a nation is about to declare war on another nation, it first recalls its ambassadors that are in that foreign nation.
And that is the picture that is being painted here. The Rapture is in effect a recall of Gods ambassadors (believers in our Church Age), and now war is being declared against evil.
The stage is being set and in seven years time the invasion (Second Advent) will occur. During those seven interim years, while we are in heaven, God will be executing the most massive judgments (artillery pounding if you will, prior to invasion) against humanity, that history has ever seen. Many will turn to God and will be saved, while many will turn hard against God and attempt to destroy humanity completely.
But in the mean time, war is declared by means of God flexing His muscles (so to speak), and having recalled his ambassadors from earth.
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08
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:24
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24 Some [tis] men's [anthropos] sins [hamartia] are [eisi] open beforehand, [prodelos] going before [proago] to [eis] judgment; [krisis] and [de] [kai] some [tis] men they follow after. [epakoloutheo] KJV-Interlinear
24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. NASB
Our context is the evaluation for possible appointment of elders, teachers of the Word of God. Paul instructs Timothy to not be too hasty in making his selections. To investigate and get to know thoroughly those who would be candidates for the ministry, or any other possible position within the Church.
The judgment here refers to the evaluation of candidates and the decisions reached, for positions in the ministry or other purposes in society.
One does not have to toe the line of asceticism in order to be a pure and noble person. Paul has already told Timothy that he could and should take small portions of wine, to help his stomach ailments, as well as other medicinal treatments to help other ailments. These things do not hinder nor negate ones lifestyle in Christianity.
And in this verse, Paul tells us that when we evaluate people, for whatever purpose we might have, we will find those who are obviously (open beforehand) not fit for the purpose, and in that regard they are easily rejected.
However, there will be those candidates whose disqualifications are not so obvious, and in that regard, investigations and evaluations are to proceed slowly and purposefully in order to discover what truth exists in their personality and attitude.
The church is to perform these evaluations, in order to recruit and promote the best qualified people for the ministry. The success of the Church depends on qualified, objective, and thorough ministers to teach students successfully.
However, this principle of evaluation is not limited to just ministers. It likewise applies to employers when hiring employees, to men and women when dating and considering someone for marriage, to people when meeting others for friendships.
We do not look at everyone with suspicion, but we certainly do not go into a relationship with our eyes closed. Common sense and patience, should dictate, or play a big role in how we approach professional or social relationships in life.
This is not a perfect world, and bad decisions are bound to occur, but with patience and objective knowledge gathered concerning someone, then we discover the best possible candidate for success, and we limit the possibilities for failure.
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07
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library Revelation 4:4
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4 And [kai] round about [kuklothen] the throne [thronos] were four [tessares] and [kai] twenty [eikosi] seats: [thronos] and [kai] upon [epi] the seats [thronos] I saw [eido] four [tessares] and [kai] twenty [eikosi] elders [presbuteros] sitting, [kathemai] clothed [periballo] in [en] white [leukos] raiment; [himation] and [kai] they had [echo] on [epi] their [autos] heads [kephale] crowns [stephanos] of gold. [chruseos] KJV-Interlinear
4 And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. NASB
Now we come to the 24 thrones, the 24 elders that sat on those thrones, their white clothing and their golden crowns.
There is a great deal of speculation as to who these persons are. Man or angel? Old Testament saints, or New Testament saints? Perhaps the twelve tribes of Israel elders and the twelve apostles tying up all of history into the rulership with Christ?
All good guesses, but the Bible leaves nothing to guess work. It clarifies everything if only one is willing to dig for it, and generally one does not have to dig too far. God is not the author of confusion, but of clarity.
First, consider where we are in this book of Revelation. John has introduced the importance of Bible doctrine and spiritual growth - the seven spirits standing before the throne of God, and representing the advancement of the believer toward spiritual maturity.
Second, John covered the historical trends of the Church Age, the various attitudes that believers would have, and the various crowns and rewards that would be available to those who advanced to spiritual maturity.
Third, John is now covering, in our current chapter, (chapter 4 and 5) the appearance of heaven just prior to the judgments, the Church in heaven. John is called up into heaven, the rapture, not to see the current things in heaven, but to see what 'will take place after these things'. The chronology of events after the Church Age, after the Rapture.
Fourth, nowhere in the scriptures are angels ever referred to as elders, never referred to as kings or royalty, nowhere do angels ever sit on thrones of any kind, nowhere is there ever any representation that angels will share power or rulership with Christ. Angels are ministering spirits and their purpose is to serve those (believers) who are saved, Heb. 1:14, Matt. 18:10.
John is in heaven and observes the following. The throne, standing, 'keimai', permanent, standing or appointed, in the process of completed placement. John observed the permanent throne of Christ, as it was just being completed, but not within itself, but with respect to its relative position in its surroundings - the other 24 thrones surrounding it.
Next John saw Jesus Christ in all His perfection and essence, sitting on the throne. God cannot sit for He is omnipresent. Man can sit, but man is not God. Therefore only Jesus Christ can be the one sitting because no other man can enter into heaven and sit on a throne, and God the Father and Spirit did not become man. Only Jesus Christ who is God and who became man, is qualified to possess this throne which sits in the center of the rest of the thrones.
In the Old Testament, when the Levite's were anointed as priests, only 24 of them served at any one time, but there were 24,000 of them. They served on rotations of 24, such that the temple was served constantly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long. These priests were elders or supposedly knowledgeable authorities concerning Gods Word.
But there were other elders as well in the Old Testament such as family leaders, tribe leaders, officers. Generally people of age and wisdom. To these was given the responsibilities of rulership, dispute settling, and priestly activities.
Here we have 24 thrones occupied by elders dressed in white and wearing golden crowns. No angel was ever invited to sit with God, only man. No angel was dressed in white or wore a crown. Angels were never given the title of elder, only man. These are human beings sitting on the 24 thrones. But are they Old Testament or New Testament elders, or both?
Their robes are in white and they are wearing crowns, so that means they have completed their resurrection, they have been cleansed from all wood, hay, and stubble (the white garments), and have received their rewards of crowns. Since no man ever receives his eternal reward until after the resurrection, then the rapture has been completed, and these elders are resurrected people, already glorified and serving Christ.
Since Christ holds the seven seals in His hand, which seals reveal the judgments of the Tribulation, then the judgment of the Tribulation has not yet been conducted, therefore the Old Testament believers have not received their resurrection yet.
Since only mature believers receive the extra crowns and rewards of eternity, then we can conclude that these elders are Church Age mature believers who have advanced to that point of maturity which qualified them for these golden crowns. We can also assume that there are not just 24 people, in all of the 2000 years history of the Church Age who will qualify, but there are perhaps millions, and therefore the 24 number is representative of the rotation of duty pattern used in the Old Testament Levitical priesthood.
Thus mature Church Age believers will share in the rulership and priesthood of Christ. We already know from other passages that we as Church Age believers, are Royal Family, Royal Priests, will participate in the joint rulership and inheritance of the universe with Christ. See the blessings list on the web site special studies library.
We as joint rulers (elders) in heaven, will witness the final judgments of earth as described in subsequent chapters. Being in heaven and seeing first hand for the first time ever in our lives, the activities of Gods will and history as it unfolds before us will cause us to fall to our knees and bowed heads, totally overwhelmed in the awesome power and authority of God.
Here on earth we read the words, trying to imagine or comprehend it all, but really lacking the total picture to really appreciate or even understand the realities of life beyond our senses of sight, smell, feel, hearing, and taste.
We get up each morning, go to work, or do whatever we do on a daily basis, return home and to bed. We get up the next morning and repeat the process throughout our life. We do not see awesome miracles every moment of the day, every day of our lives. We survive in our spiritual lives, through faith in things we do not see. We do not see angels. We do not see the angelic conflict.
Yet one day we will be in heaven and we will see the things that unbelievers reject. We will see and participate in things that most people on earth don't think much of, or have little regard for. That is, until their world crashes down around their ears and they are in a lot of miserable pain.
So these elders are spiritually mature Church Age believers who are in heaven as a result of the rapture, having received their resurrection bodies, having received their evaluations from Christ, having received their cleansing, and having received their rewards for their mature status. They are not older believers, for age is not an ingredient of knowledge and wisdom. They are believers who have advanced to maturity, and thus will occupy places of high honor in heaven.
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06
Mar
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Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library 1 Timothy 5:23
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23 Drink [hudropoteo] no longer [meketi] water, [hudropoteo] but [alla] use [chraomai] a little [oligos] wine [oinos] for [dia] thy [sou] stomach's sake [stomachos] and [kai] thine [sou] often [puknos] infirmities. [astheneia] KJV-Interlinear
23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. NASB
We have a brief peek into the life of Timothy. He apparently went full bore into preserving his lifestyle, so that he would not be a target for gossip or accusation, and as such he tried to keep himself as pure as is possible, even to the point of not drinking alcoholic beverages.
This, asceticism, is not the intent of Bible instruction. You purity is in the soul, not in the body or anything that you do in life. Your life habits will grow out of your beliefs, and out of doctrine as you learn it, but the spiritual life is from what you learn, and does not come out of what you do.
By implication, the water in the ancient world was not the purest. One could catch all kinds of diseases or illnesses from drinking only water.
And so Paul tells Timothy, and you and me, that we need to use some common sense when taking medicinal treatments for our various ailments.
A little wine (medicine or treatment) is not a sin, but is in fact good for you. However, wine here is used in the sense of medicinal treatment, and not for social consumption. Jesus drank wine in social settings, for meals and so forth.
Only when you drink too much, do you cross the line of drunkenness and sin.
Likewise, Timothy does not pray for the cure for his stomach ailments. He takes something that is readily available for his ailment. And so too, we have the principle for seeking medical help when we are in need of it.
Some folks think that they can pray and receive some kind of miracle cure for whatever it is that they have. However, God has already answered those prayers by providing many of the medical solutions that are available today. We have modern medicines, hospitals, doctors galore, professional help, resources for intervention, and more. So do not ignore the many things that are already available.
How does this broader principle apply here? Paul told Timothy to use whatever is necessary for his ‘often infirmities,’ ‘puknos astheneia.’ This is a plural reference to all sorts of human ailments of the mind and body (mental and physical), which includes but is not limited to disease, infirmities, sickness, weakness and so forth. And these apply to both the mental and the physical. Any kind of ailment you can think of, is covered here.
And since we know that wine in small doses is not the cure for most ailments, then we should understand that the wine reference is used only as an example. There were medicines and treatments back then, and so too we are no different except that we just have more options today.
For those who ignore their options for help, then that is a violation of this principle of common sense, and a slap in Gods face, who in effect has provided all of the options that we have.
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