Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Colossians Part 1

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - 7 CHURCHES

 7 CHURCHES

The book of Revelation is very symbolic and rife with numerous prophetic statements. Some of these are in the lessons and stories of the seven churches in the first chapters of this last book of the Bible. Seven, of course, refers to that which is spiritually complete and/or perfect, and so these seven churches, although real physical churches in the time when Revelation was written, are indicative of the whole church age from inception to its ending.

The first church mentioned was the Church of Ephesus. This was the church of the Apostolic Period and was commended for its patience and perseverance.

I know your works, your labor, your patience, 

and that you cannot bear those who are evil… 

Nevertheless…you have left your first love.

(Revelation 2:2,4) 

The church was criticized for losing its love for God and truth, and for not doing the work for which it had been formed. Some people in this gathering were more interested in preeminence than service.

Then there was the Church at Smyrna. This was considered to be the persecuted church because, although the city itself was a wealthy and prosperous area, the church was not. The people of this gathering were often mocked and persecuted for their belief. It was during a period of intense Roman persecution of the church, and this church illustrated the need to endure and not to give up.

I know your works, tribulation, and poverty…

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

(Revelation 2:9,10)

It was a sign to continue in the faith and not to succumb to prevailing social and religious customs or to political persuasions.

This was followed by the Church in Pergamos. It basically held to its beliefs but, because in part it was surrounded by wickedness in the city, some made compromises and continued to hold to their previous traditions, kept their former idols, or indulged in false doctrine.

I know your works…and you hold fast to my name

[but] you have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam,

[and] also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them…

(Revelation 2:13-16)

The warning against compromising the true belief with those of the surrounding pagan culture was clear. 

In time, compromise can lead to corruption and that was what the next church represented. The church in Thyatira was again showing evidence of the love, patience, and endurance exhibited by many of the other churches, but also had allowed a false teacher by the name of Jezebel to…

 

…teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality 

and eat things sacrificed to idols.

I will cast her…and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation,

[and] I will kill her children to death, unless they repent of their deeds.

(Revelation 2:20,22-23)

This church was in a prosperous area, on major trade routes and visited by diverse peoples. The church became materially prosperous but people often joined guilds and organizations, taking part in pagan practices and holidays, perhaps for appearances sake, at the same time attending churches as a professing believer. Do not compromise the truth for appearance or wealth or tribulation may ensue.

When churches become compromising and corrupt, they essentially become dead and that is what happened to the next church, the church at Sardis. It again was a wealthy church and did some good works but had no spirit or relationship with God.

…I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,

for I have not found your works perfect before God.

Remember…how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.

(Revelation 3:1-3)

It is important to remember that works, although important, are not in themselves enough. Although Sardis had the information needed from the gospel, it did little with it and essentially let the truth of what the church should be about die instead of being promoted and proclaimed.

But not all churches become as those above. Even at times of compromise and corruption, some groups continued to be faithful as was the church in Philadelphia. It was not a large or wealthy gathering, but in spite of this, and the need to endure hardship, this church remained faithful to God.

   

I know your works. 

See I have set before you an open door,

and no one can shut it;

for you have a little strength, have kept My word,

and have not denied My name.

(Revalation 3:8) 

This church was commended for holding true to God’s word and, without compromise, continuing to proclaim His truth. Be faithful to the truth and love the brethren is the message given. Because of their faithfulness, and in spite of its small size and lack of resources, God promised to protect such a body.

Because you have kept My command to persevere, 

I also will keep you from the hour of trial 

which shall come upon the whole world, 

to test those who dwell on the earth. 

(Revelation 3:10)

But unfortunately, as we enter the last phase of church history, many bodies have lapsed into what is known as the indifferent or lukewarm phase, as represented by the church of the Laodiceans. This church apparently had an abundance of resources but only an indifferent or cavalier spirit toward the Lord. They had a worldliness about them and were apparently so self satisfied so that felt they needed nothing.

…you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-

and do not know that you are wretched, poor, blind, and naked-

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.

I could wish you were cold or hot. 

So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot,

I will vomit you out of My mouth.

(Revelation 3:17,15-16)

So we have essentially come through the church age from the early church with its enthusiasm to where it began to lose its ardour, to the time when it was persecuted and then started to compromise the principles under which it began. Compromise leads in turn to corruption and then to the point where it no longer really functions and becomes dead. Though some maintain the faith, many have become like the Laodicean church with little enthusiasm for the truth.

Which church is most prominent now and to which do each of us belong is something we all should be thinking about.

Rev. Vincent Hanley June 25, 2023

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 58

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SEVEN

 SEVEN

The question was raised a short time ago about the significance of the number seven in the Bible. It is a number which occurs about 461 times in the NKJV of the Scriptures. Although not all of these uses are in a significant way, in many ways this number plays a prominent part in the overall narrative.

Seven, in the Bible, is considered to be the number representing spiritual perfection and completion. In Hebrew, seven is shevah, from the root shave which means “to be full.”* To swear an oath in Hebrew is “to seven oneself.”*

God rested on the seventh day after creation. 

(Genesis 2:2) 

There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(Isaiah 11:1-2)

When Christ fed the multitude, He had seven loaves and after everyone was fed,

 there were seven large baskets full of fragments. 

(Matthew 15:34-37)

It took Solomon seven years to build the Temple in Jerusalem. 

(1 Kings 6:38) 

There are seven annual holy feast days. 

(Leviticus 23)

Similarly, in the Book of Revelation, there are multiple sevens: 55 sevens, 5 sevenths and 35 (5x7) phrases of sevens. These include: seven churches, seven letters, seven Spirits, seven golden lamp stands, seven stars, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven trumpets, seven thousand people, seven heads, seven crowns, seven plagues, seven golden bowels, seven hills, seven kings and seven last visions.

In Genesis, in the story of Joseph, when Pharaoh had his dream, it was of seven fat cows followed by seven lean ones; and then by seven plump heads of grain followed again by seven lean ones (Genesis 41:2-7).

Noah took, into the ark, clean beasts by seven, fouls of the air by seven, and after seven days the flood came upon the earth (Genesis 7). After the flood, Noah sent forth birds at seven day intervals to test whether the waters had receded or not (Genesis 8). 

At the time of Passover, the Hebrews were told for “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread…on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you…In the first month, on the fourteenth (2x7) day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first (3x7) day of the month at evening.” (Hebrews 12:15-16,18)

There are many other examples of seven bring used in the Scriptures but a case in  which it is not so evident is in the first verse of the Bible. The verse: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” does not at first glance seem to have anything to do with seven. But in the Hebrew, not the English, there is a symmetry which is hard to think of as just coincidence. In Hebrew, every letter also represents a number and as a result, one obtains the following pattern.**

The number of Hebrew words	Seven
The number of letters equals 28 and 28 divided by 4 =	Seven
The first three Hebrew words translated “In the beginning God created” contain 14 letters; 14/2 =	Seven
The last four Hebrew words “the heavens and the earth” have 14 letters and 14/2 =	Seven
The fourth and fifth words have seven letters	Seven
The sixth and seventh words have seven letters	Seven
The three key words: God, heaven and earth have 14 letters and 14/2 =	Seven
The number of letters in the four remaining words also 14; 14/2 =	Seven
The shortest word in the verse is the middle word with 7 letters	Seven
The numeric value of the first, middle and last letters is 133 and 133/19  =	Seven
The numeric value of the first and last letters of all seven words is 1393 and 1393 divided by 199=	Seven

There is a symmetry in the Bible based along numeric values and this is only one of a number of numbers used repetitively in Scripture; but it alone is enough to give one plenty to think about.

*From the Significance of Numbers in Scripture - Agape Bible Study

** The Signature of God  pg. 231 by Grant R. Jeffery

NOTICE - Church Service

 

Next Sunday June 25th at Summer Street at 6 PM

Pastor Vince Hanley and MHM singers.

All Welcome

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 57

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PROGRESS OR PROPHECY - PART TWO

 PROGRESS or PROPHECY - PART TWO

It is said in 2 Timothy that: “…in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves…proud…unloving…despisers of good…” (3:1-3). A few weeks ago, it was mentioned how the progress that mankind seemingly has made has been tempered with an apparent sense of inwardness and self-satisfaction rather than true advancement in life and living. This statement is similar to what Timothy indicated above. So, is it truly progress that society is making or fulfillment of the prophecy as stated? So to continue what was started a few weeks ago in that we have learned to add years to life but not life to years.

As history tells us, we have been able to go to the moon and back but we often have trouble crossing the street to meet neighbours.

In effect, we have conquered outer space, but not inner space.

Indicating that we have done larger things but not better things.

In many ways, we have cleaned up much of the air but have continued to pollute the soul. We have split the atom but intensified our prejudices.

And in addition:

• we write more but learn less.
• we plan more but accomplish less. And
• often exert more effort but meet with less success.
• we have learned to rush but not to wait

And much of this has resulted in us having higher incomes but lower morals; steep profits but shallow relationships.

We have:

• more food available but less appeasement from our diet
• an increased variety of food but with less nutrition
• more acquaintances but fewer friends
• faster food but slower digestion

We have built more computers to hold more information and to produce more copies than ever but we commune with each other less than ever, have more leisure but less faith and often two incomes but more divorce.

We have become taller in stature but shorter in character

We: 

• talk too much but love too seldom and lie too often 
• take quick trips 
• have a throw away mentality
• succumb to one night stands
• have pills that do everything from cheer us up, to quiet us down, to even cause death but we still have overweight bodies.

It is a time when there is much in the show window but nothing in the stockroom.*

All of this really indicates that we have truly become lovers of ourselves, proud of our outward show, and less concerned about our inward character. It is really a fulfillment of what was said in Timothy and in many ways reflects the reality of our world.

Isaiah may also have reflected on our times when he stated: “Woe to those that call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. “(Isaiah 5:20)

Charles Dickens wrote:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

it was the age if wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,

it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness,

it was the spring of hope , it was the winter of despair.**

I wonder if someone, looking back from sometime in the future, would consider the above to be a fit description of our place in the world today.

It does give one something to think about.

*As for Progress or Prophecy One. From an unknown author as reported in the study guide to Romans by Dr. David Jeremiah.

** Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities  

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 56

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WORTHY

 WORTHY

          In Romans 16, Paul indicates that Phoebe should be received “in a manner worthy of the saints” (16:2). In the days when Paul wrote those words, greetings between people and the reception given by one person towards another were often more generous and complete compared to what might be expected today. And even more so when it was between Christians whom Paul often referred to as saints. In Paul’s epistles, if you were a true believer and follower of Christ, you were considered a saint and if this were the case, then one Christian should be greeted and received by another in a manner worthy of such a designation. And what type of behaviour was it that made a person to be considered a saint and true Christian?

There are apparently seven ways in which one would be considered worthy.

Firstly, “…let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27)

Secondly, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord…pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” (Colossians 1:10).

Thirdly, “I…beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love…” (Ephesians 4:1-2).

Fourthly, I commend Phoebe…“that you may receive her…in a manner worthy of the saints..for…she has been a helper of many…” (Romans 16:2).

Fifthly, “…you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and strangers…if you send them forward…in a manner worthy of God…” (3 John 1:5,6).

Sixthly, “You are witnesses…as you know how we exported, and comforted, and charged every one of you…that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Finally, “…we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you…” (2Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Standing fast with one spirit and one mind, increasing in knowledge and being fruitful in works with lowliness, gentleness and long suffering, receiving others in a proper manner as befitting other brothers and sisters in God’s family and then going forward with them with faith and power as witnesses; this all should make us somewhat worthy of the calling God has bestowed upon us as saints.

Just something else to think about.