As we started the last day of
our classes, we were ahead of schedule for the week’s studies. So, it was much
easier to finish the material than it has been in other classes when we fell
behind. These students were quick to catch on to the material and that made our
plan of study easier to fully cover. Actually, we went into greater depth than
I thought possible in several areas.
We studied 2 Peter 2 and 3 in
the morning session. We noted from the context that the “false teacher” of
chapter two is identified as such because his teaching is false. We saw that the
term “false teacher” is not reserved for one who has an exceptionally corrupt
character or false motives. The text parallels it with the term “false prophet”
regarding those in the OT. It is not that the term “false prophet” was reserved
for an exceedingly wicked few, since the term “false prophet” is never found in
the OT. So, how are we to recognize a “false prophet” from the OT? The very
simple fact is that we recognize one as a “false prophet” in the OT when he
prophesied falsely. In the same way, we recognize a “false teacher” by seeing
that he teaches falsely. Though the corruption or evil mentioned in the text
may be present or may develop over time, the false teacher is identified in the
first few verses by the destructive nature of his teaching or the destruction
he brings on all who follow his teaching. We noted the parallel to 2 John 9-11
and the need to reject those who teach error from our fellowship. (Our classes
in Manila scheduled for November will examine this point more fully as we study
the Epistles of John and the subject of “Fellowship.”) Rody, Lordy and Jonathan
finished the morning studies with another excellent time of discussion.
The afternoon session
finished the examination of Premillennialism by looking at Psalm 110 and the
use of that psalm in the NT. We surveyed the NT use of this psalm to see at
what point Jesus “sat down at the right hand of God” (picturing the coronation
or beginning of Jesus’ reign as King of His kingdom) and how long that reign
lasted. We saw that it began after His Ascension (Mk. 16:19; Acts 2:33-36; 7:55)
and will end at His coming in the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:24-26). We also considered
what the NT teaches concerning when Christ became the “High Priest after the
order of Melchizedek” per Psalm 110. When properly understood and applied, Psalm
110 and its fulfillment clearly shows the basic errors of both Premillennialism
and the “A.D. 70 Doctrine” (also called “Realized Eschatology”).
Though all of us were
extremely tired from the work of this week, we were also sorry to see this
study come to an end. I want to express my deep thanks to all of you that
helped to make this effort possible and the students in these classes also
asked me to express their thanks for your sacrifices on their behalf.
