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PART 8: WHO BUILDS CHRIST'S CHURCH?

Jesus' Own Declaration

Matthew 16:18 - "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."

Critical Observations:

- "I WILL BUILD" - not "you will build"
- It's Jesus' church (possessive)
- Jesus' responsibility
- Jesus' work
- We are the building materials, not the builders

The Drawing and Keeping Power of God

John 6:44 - "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."

Agency:

- The Father draws (initiative is God's)

- The Son raises (completion is God's)

- Where's the human agency? It's RESPONSIVE, not INITIATIVE

John 6:37, 39 - "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out... This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day."

Sovereignty:
- The Father gives to the Son

- ALL will come (not "might come" but WILL come)

- Jesus loses NONE (not "tries not to lose" but LOSES NONE)

- Human cooperation is in the COMING (responding), not the GIVING (initiating)

God Causes the Growth

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 - "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

Paul's Own Assessment:

- We are merely servants

- God gives the opportunity

- God causes the growth (not us)

- We are "fellow workers" (synergoi) - working ALONGSIDE, but God does the actual work

- We plant and water (external actions)

- But we cannot make anything grow (internal transformation)

- We are God's FIELD (not our field)

- We are God's BUILDING (not our building)

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 - "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

The Foundation:

- Foundation is already laid: JESUS CHRIST

- We don't lay the foundation

- We build on what's already established

- Even our building must be done carefully (God's way, not ours)

Apart From Him, We Can Do Nothing

John 15:5 - "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Jesus' Assessment:

- Apart from Him = NOTHING (not "very little" but "NOTHING")

- Fruit-bearing is the result of abiding, not striving

- The life flows from the vine to the branches

- Branches don't produce; they bear what the vine produces

John 15:16 - "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."

Initiative and Result:

- He chose us (not vice versa)

- He appointed us (commissioned us)

- Even the fruit "remaining" is His doing (He preserves His work)

God Completes What He Begins

Philippians 1:6 - "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Divine Perseverance:

- HE began it (not us)

- HE will perfect it (complete it)

- Until the day of Christ Jesus (He finishes what He starts)

Philippians 2:13 - "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Divine Working:
- God works the WILLING (desire)

- God works the WORKING (action)

- For HIS good pleasure (His purposes, not ours)

1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Divine Protection:

- Caused us to be born again (not our doing)

- Inheritance reserved in heaven (secure)

- PROTECTED by the POWER OF GOD (not our power)

- Through faith (which is itself a gift - Ephesians 2:8)

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PART 9: THE ROLE OF ANGELS IN GOD'S KINGDOM

Why Do We Neglect Angels?

Possible Reasons for Neglect:

1. Western Individualism - "You have to do it yourself" mentality

2. Enlightenment Rationalism - Skepticism toward spiritual beings

3. Overreaction to Angel Worship - Swinging from worship to neglect

4. Incomplete Gospel Preaching - Focusing only on personal salvation

5. Lack of Biblical Teaching - Pastors avoiding the topic

6. Materialism - "If I can't see it, it's not real"

The Biblical Reality of Angels

Hebrews 1:14 - "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?"

Angels Are:

- Ministering spirits

- SENT out (by God, on divine mission)

- To SERVE the heirs of salvation

- They work on OUR behalf

Psalm 91:11-12 - "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone."

Divine Delegation:

- GOD gives angels their charge

- Angels guard believers

- Specific assignments to protect

Psalm 103:20-21 - "Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will!"

Angels' Mission:

- MIGHTY in strength (not weak beings)

- PERFORM His word (active agents)

- OBEY His voice (perfect obedience)

- SERVE Him (devoted service)

- DO His will (accomplishing His purposes)

Matthew 18:10 - "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

Angels Have Assignments:

- Believers have angels

- These angels have direct access to the Father

- Constant communication with heaven

Angels Observe the Church

Ephesians 3:10 - "So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."

Angels Learn from the Church:

- The church displays God's wisdom TO angels

- Both holy angels and fallen powers observe

- Church is a cosmic display of grace

- Angels study God's redemptive plan

1 Peter 1:12 - "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look."

Angels Study Redemption:

- Angels LONG to understand the gospel

- They don't experience salvation themselves

- They learn about God's grace by watching us

1 Corinthians 4:9 - "For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men."

Angels Watch:

- Christians are a "spectacle"

- To angels AND men

- Our lives are observed by the heavenly host

1 Corinthians 11:10 - "Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels."

Angels Observe Worship:

- Angels are present in worship gatherings

- Order and propriety matter "because of the angels"

1 Timothy 5:21 - "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias..."

Angels Witness Our Conduct:

- Paul invokes angels as witnesses

- "Chosen angels" (elect angels, holy angels)

- Our behavior is observed

Luke 15:10 - "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Angels Witness Salvation:

- Angels observe human redemption

- Angels rejoice at conversions

- They're invested in God's redemptive plan

Angels in Spiritual Warfare

Daniel 10:12-13, 20-21 - "Then he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia... Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.'"

Angelic Warfare:

- Angels fight territorial demonic princes

- Michael is a "chief prince" (archangel)

- Angels respond to prayers

- Spiritual battles rage while we're unaware

- Angels are assigned to nations/peoples

- Real warfare in heavenly realms

Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The Real Battle:

- Not against humans

- Against spiritual rulers and powers

- Cosmic warfare

Angels in Worship

Revelation 5:11-12 - "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.'"

Angelic Worship:

- MYRIADS of myriads (tens of thousands × tens of thousands)

- Thousands of thousands

- Potentially BILLIONS of angels

- All worshiping the Lamb

- Massive heavenly host

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PART 10: ANGELS IN END-TIMES HARVEST

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The Parable:

- A man sowed good seed (wheat)

- Enemy sowed tares (weeds) among the wheat

- Servants ask: "Do you want us to go and gather them up?"

- Master says: "NO! Let both grow together until the harvest"

Jesus' Explanation:

- The sower of good seed = Son of Man (Jesus)

- The field = the world

- Good seed = sons of the kingdom

- Tares = sons of the evil one

- Enemy = the devil

- Harvest = end of the age

- Reapers = ANGELS

Verses 41-43:

"The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."

CRITICAL ANSWERS TO OUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

- "Do WE have the authority to separate wheat from tares?" JESUS SAYS: "NO"

- "Who does the harvest?" JESUS SAYS: "The reapers are ANGELS"

- Agency in the harvest:

- Son of Man SENDS (Jesus initiates)
- HIS angels gather (angels execute)
- They separate (angels discern and divide)
- They execute judgment (angels carry out sentence)

Angels Gather the Elect at the Rapture

Matthew 24:31 - "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other."

Angels Gather Believers:

- Jesus SENDS them (divine authority)

- They GATHER the elect (active role)

- From the four winds (worldwide)

- From one end of sky to the other (comprehensive collection)

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."

The Rapture Involves:

- The Lord Himself descending

- Voice of the ARCHANGEL (angelic involvement)

- Trumpet of God

- Dead in Christ raised

- Living believers caught up (harpazo)

Angels Accompany Christ's Return

Matthew 25:31 - "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne."

All Angels:

- Every holy angel accompanies Christ

- Massive angelic army

- Visible, glorious return

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 - "And to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."

Angels as Executors:

- MIGHTY angels (powerful beings)

- In flaming fire (glory and judgment)

- Dealing out retribution (executing justice)

Jude 14-15 - "It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.'"

Thousands of Holy Ones:

- Many thousands (vast number)

- To execute judgment

- To convict the ungodly

Revelation 19:14 - "And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses."

Armies of Heaven:
- Could be angels
- Could be raptured saints
- Likely BOTH
- Following Christ in His return

Angels in the Tribulation

Revelation 7:1-3 - "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 'Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.'"

Angels Control Nature:

- Angels HOLD BACK judgment

- Angels have power to harm earth and sea

- Angels SEAL the 144,000

- Angels follow divine timing

- They wait for the sealing to complete

Revelation 8-9 - Seven angels with seven trumpets

- Each trumpet releases judgment

- Angels actively participate in tribulation judgments

- Specific, measured judgments

- Angels execute God's wrath

Revelation 14:6-7 - Angel Preaches the Eternal Gospel:
"And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, 'Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.'"

Angel as Evangelist:

- ANGEL preaches (not human) - THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED

- ETERNAL gospel (the true gospel)

- To EVERY nation, tribe, tongue, people (universal scope)

- Global proclamation

- Flying in midheaven (visible to all earth)

- Final merciful warning before judgment

This is the ONLY place in Scripture where an angel preaches the gospel.

Galatians 1:8 warns about angels preaching "another gospel," but Revelation 14:6 explicitly calls this "an eternal gospel" - showing this is God's authorized proclamation.

Revelation 14:17-20 - Angels Reap the Harvest:
"And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, 'Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.' So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God."

Angels Execute Final Harvest:

- Angels wield sickles (tools of harvest)

- Angels gather (reaping function)

- Angels execute God's wrath (judgment harvest)

- Multiple angels involved (coordinated effort)

Angels' Massive Responsibility

Summary of Angelic Roles:

1. Protecting believers (Psalm 91:11, Hebrews 1:14)

2. Fighting spiritual warfare (Daniel 10, Ephesians 6:12)

3. Executing God's judgments (Revelation 8-9, 15-16)

4. Gathering the elect (Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16)

5. Harvesting at the end (Matthew 13:39-42, Revelation 14:17-20)

6. Proclaiming the gospel (Revelation 14:6-7)

7. Worshiping God (Revelation 5:11-12)

8. Observing the church (1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10)

9. Sealing God's servants (Revelation 7:1-3)

10. Controlling natural forces (Revelation 7:1-3)

11. Accompanying Christ's return (Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)

It would seem that Jesus and His Angels have 100% responsibility, power, and resources to build Jesus' Body, the Church into a Temple.

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PART 11: THE END-TIMES WITNESSES

The 144,000 Jewish Witnesses

Revelation 7:1-8

Textual Identity:

- Explicitly identified as 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel

- Listed tribes: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin

- Described as having God's seal on their foreheads (7:3)

Revelation 14:1-5

Further Description:

- Standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion

- 144,000 having His name and His Father's name on their foreheads

- Called "firstfruits to God and to the Lamb" (14:4)

- Described as virgins (parthenoi) who "have not defiled themselves with women"

- They follow the Lamb wherever He goes

- Purchased/redeemed from among mankind

- "No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless" (14:5)

- They sing a "new song" that only they can learn (14:3)

Mission & Loyalty:

- Their sealing appears protective (7:3 - "Do not harm... until we have sealed...")

- They are uniquely purchased/redeemed from among mankind

- Their loyalty is explicitly to the Lamb and to God

- "Firstfruits" suggests they lead others to salvation

- Their sealing suggests protection for a mission

Interpretive Questions:

- Are they evangelists? The text doesn't explicitly say, but:

- Their designation as "firstfruits" suggests they lead others to salvation

- Their earthly/heavenly position suggests a witnessing role

- Their protection and sealing implies a mission to accomplish

- They're sealed BEFORE further judgments (purpose: to witness during tribulation)

Timing:

- Sealed AFTER the Rapture (church already in heaven - Revelation 4-5)

- Sealed BEFORE the seal judgments intensify (Revelation 6-7)

- Protected DURING the tribulation
- Seen with the Lamb on Mount Zion (Revelation 14) - either heavenly vision or earthly fulfillment

Connection to Israel's Calling:

- Isaiah 49:6 - "I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth"

- Israel's original calling: to be a light to the Gentiles

- During the Church Age, this role was transferred to the Church

- During the Tribulation, Israel's calling is restored

- The 144,000 represent Israel fulfilling its purpose

The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:3-13

Textual Identity:

- Prophesy for 1,260 days (= 42 months = 3½ years)

- Clothed in sackcloth (sign of mourning and repentance)

- Called "the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth" (11:4)

- Echoes Zechariah 4:3, 11-14 (two anointed ones who stand by the Lord)

- Have power to shut the sky from rain (like Elijah - 1 Kings 17:1)

- Have power to turn waters to blood and strike earth with plagues (like Moses - Exodus 7-12)

Mission & Result:

- Prophetic testimony during the first half of the tribulation period (1,260 days = 3½ years)

- After their testimony is complete, they're killed by "the beast that comes up from the abyss" (11:7)

- Their bodies lie in Jerusalem ("the great city... where also their Lord was crucified" - 11:8)

- Bodies lie in the street for 3½ days

- Global audience: "those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies" (11:9)

- Earth-dwellers rejoice over their deaths and exchange gifts (11:10)

- After 3½ days, they're resurrected and ascend to heaven (11:11-12)

- A great earthquake follows, killing 7,000

- Survivors give "glory to the God of heaven" (11:13) - indicating conversions

Loyal to:

- "The Lord of the earth" - clearly representing God's authority

- They stand before the Lord

- Their ministry is divinely appointed

- Their resurrection demonstrates God's power

Possible Identity Interpretations:

1. Moses and Elijah:

- Powers match: Elijah (shut sky), Moses (plagues, water to blood)

- Both appeared at Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8)

- Moses represents the Law, Elijah represents the Prophets

- Both connected to God's covenant with Israel

2. Enoch and Elijah:

- Both were taken to heaven without dying (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11)

- Hebrews 9:27 - "It is appointed for men to die once" - they never died

- Could fulfill this appointment during tribulation

3. Two Future Prophets:

- Symbolizing the continuity of prophetic witness

- Could be literal future individuals empowered like Moses and Elijah

- Representative of Law and Prophets testifying to Christ

Timing:

- Ministry during the first 3½ years of the tribulation (1,260 days)

- Killed at the midpoint of the tribulation

- Resurrected after 3½ days

- Ascend before the second half of tribulation begins

The Angel with the Eternal Gospel

Revelation 14:6-7

Textual Identity:

- Explicitly called "another angel flying in midheaven"

- Has "an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth"

- Message is universal: "to every nation and tribe and language and people"

Mission:

- Proclaims: "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters" (14:7)

- This is a call to worship the Creator before final judgment falls

- Appears to be a final merciful warning

- Global proclamation - visible/audible to all earth

Message Content:

- Fear God (reverence, awe)

- Give Him glory (worship, honor)

- Hour of His judgment has come (urgency)

- Worship the Creator (acknowledge Him as Maker of all)

Significance:

- This is the ONLY place in Scripture where an angel preaches the gospel

- Galatians 1:8 warns about angels preaching "another gospel"

- But this is explicitly called "an eternal gospel" - indicating divine authorization

- Why an angel? Because:

- Human witness may be limited during tribulation

- Demonstrates God's direct intervention

- Ensures universal reach

- Undeniable supernatural proclamation

- Final opportunity before judgment

Timing:

- During the tribulation

- Context: Follows the 144,000 (Revelation 14:1-5)

- Precedes the harvest judgments (Revelation 14:14-20)

- Appears to be near the end of the tribulation period

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Please see “The Gospel of God’s Grace Part 2,” because the BEST IS YET TO COME.