XII PROPHECY ANDTHE CHURCH

How do End-Times prophecies fit into the daily lives of Christians

XII PROPHECY ANDTHE CHURCH

Yoursquove tapped into the beginning of the second section of a three-part study of biblical End-Times

prophecies

This second section focuses on End-Times prophecies found in the gospels and the epistles

This introductory slide show seeks to help us find the proper place for End-Times prophecy in the day-to-

day life of here-and-now Christians

SlideSharersquos hyperlinks wonrsquot work until Slide 4ndashsomething to do with spam prevention so this is a filler designed to accommodate that

necessity Please click to the next slide to reach that point See ya

EMAIL leonardhoygmailcom

Basic InformationLICENSING I grant a Creative Commons license made of the following elements You may freely share and adapt this work provided you give me creditndash(website info fine) your efforts have no commercial application and you share extractedredacted work with others God bless and have fun

VISIT skOG Workshop Headquarters at wwwlennyhoycom for other items of interest

Prophecy Series 30 Presentation Set

Table of ContentsIMAGES

By Subscription httpwwwinstonebrewercombpg2009frameshtmmembersmember_pagephp

By Permission Creative Commons Licensing as noted

Child in Photo Now 28 and in the Navy Like last sectionrsquos cat-in-sink pretty darn cute

XII PROPHECY ANDTHE CHURCH

Yoursquove tapped into the beginning of the second section of a three-part study of biblical End-Times

prophecies

This second section focuses on End-Times prophecies found in the gospels and the epistles

This introductory slide show seeks to help us find the proper place for End-Times prophecy in the day-to-

day life of here-and-now Christians

SlideSharersquos hyperlinks wonrsquot work until Slide 4ndashsomething to do with spam prevention so this is a filler designed to accommodate that

necessity Please click to the next slide to reach that point See ya

EMAIL leonardhoygmailcom

Basic InformationLICENSING I grant a Creative Commons license made of the following elements You may freely share and adapt this work provided you give me creditndash(website info fine) your efforts have no commercial application and you share extractedredacted work with others God bless and have fun

VISIT skOG Workshop Headquarters at wwwlennyhoycom for other items of interest

Prophecy Series 30 Presentation Set

Table of ContentsIMAGES

By Subscription httpwwwinstonebrewercombpg2009frameshtmmembersmember_pagephp

By Permission Creative Commons Licensing as noted

Child in Photo Now 28 and in the Navy Like last sectionrsquos cat-in-sink pretty darn cute

SlideSharersquos hyperlinks wonrsquot work until Slide 4ndashsomething to do with spam prevention so this is a filler designed to accommodate that

necessity Please click to the next slide to reach that point See ya

EMAIL leonardhoygmailcom

Basic InformationLICENSING I grant a Creative Commons license made of the following elements You may freely share and adapt this work provided you give me creditndash(website info fine) your efforts have no commercial application and you share extractedredacted work with others God bless and have fun

VISIT skOG Workshop Headquarters at wwwlennyhoycom for other items of interest

Prophecy Series 30 Presentation Set

Table of ContentsIMAGES

By Subscription httpwwwinstonebrewercombpg2009frameshtmmembersmember_pagephp

By Permission Creative Commons Licensing as noted

Child in Photo Now 28 and in the Navy Like last sectionrsquos cat-in-sink pretty darn cute

EMAIL leonardhoygmailcom

Basic InformationLICENSING I grant a Creative Commons license made of the following elements You may freely share and adapt this work provided you give me creditndash(website info fine) your efforts have no commercial application and you share extractedredacted work with others God bless and have fun

VISIT skOG Workshop Headquarters at wwwlennyhoycom for other items of interest

Prophecy Series 30 Presentation Set

Table of ContentsIMAGES

By Subscription httpwwwinstonebrewercombpg2009frameshtmmembersmember_pagephp

By Permission Creative Commons Licensing as noted

Child in Photo Now 28 and in the Navy Like last sectionrsquos cat-in-sink pretty darn cute

CENTERED ON CHRIST

10 ldquoThen I fell at his feet to worship him But he said to me ldquoDo not do that I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus worship God For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecyrdquo Rev 1910

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he sawrdquo Rev 11

CENTERED ON CHRIST

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he sawrdquo Rev 11

ldquo10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him But he said to me ldquoDo not do that I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus worship God For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecyrdquo Rev 1910

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

ENDORSED READING

23 ldquoBut take heed behold I have told you everything in advancerdquo Mark 1323

37 ldquoWhat I say to you I say to all lsquoBe on

the alertrsquordquo Mark 13 37

ESPECIALLY BLESSED READING

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heeds the things which are written in it for the time is nearrdquo Revelation 1 1-3

7 ldquoAnd behold I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this bookrdquo Revelation 2220

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

CENTERED ON CHRIST

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he sawrdquo Rev 11

ldquo10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him But he said to me ldquoDo not do that I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus worship God For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecyrdquo Rev 1910

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

ENDORSED READING

23 ldquoBut take heed behold I have told you everything in advancerdquo Mark 1323

37 ldquoWhat I say to you I say to all lsquoBe on

the alertrsquordquo Mark 13 37

ESPECIALLY BLESSED READING

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heeds the things which are written in it for the time is nearrdquo Revelation 1 1-3

7 ldquoAnd behold I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this bookrdquo Revelation 2220

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

ENDORSED READING

23 ldquoBut take heed behold I have told you everything in advancerdquo Mark 1323

37 ldquoWhat I say to you I say to all lsquoBe on

the alertrsquordquo Mark 13 37

ESPECIALLY BLESSED READING

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heeds the things which are written in it for the time is nearrdquo Revelation 1 1-3

7 ldquoAnd behold I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this bookrdquo Revelation 2220

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

BASIC AND ESSENTIAL

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised 14 and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is vain your faith also is vainrdquo I Corinthians 1512-14

1 ldquoTherefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ let us press on to maturity not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgmentrdquo Hebrews 61-2

ENDORSED READING

23 ldquoBut take heed behold I have told you everything in advancerdquo Mark 1323

37 ldquoWhat I say to you I say to all lsquoBe on

the alertrsquordquo Mark 13 37

ESPECIALLY BLESSED READING

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heeds the things which are written in it for the time is nearrdquo Revelation 1 1-3

7 ldquoAnd behold I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this bookrdquo Revelation 2220

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

ENDORSED READING

23 ldquoBut take heed behold I have told you everything in advancerdquo Mark 1323

37 ldquoWhat I say to you I say to all lsquoBe on

the alertrsquordquo Mark 13 37

ESPECIALLY BLESSED READING

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heeds the things which are written in it for the time is nearrdquo Revelation 1 1-3

7 ldquoAnd behold I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this bookrdquo Revelation 2220

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

ESPECIALLY BLESSED READING

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ even to all that he saw 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heeds the things which are written in it for the time is nearrdquo Revelation 1 1-3

7 ldquoAnd behold I am coming quickly Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this bookrdquo Revelation 2220

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 So you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

TIMELY READING

32 ldquoNow learn the parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near 33 so you too when you see all these things recognize that He is near right at the doorrdquo Matthew 24 32+33

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

Significance of Israelrsquos Return

Fulfills OT prophecyStarts the End-Times clock tickingGives urgency to the Big Question

httpnotesofanidealistfileswordpresscom200911wailing_walljpg

Mark of the Beast

Four Horsemen

Mark of the Beast

Four Horsemen

WHERE AM I DURING

THE END TIMES Big Question

When we study Christrsquos returnwe become tightrope walkers

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

Hey-wonrsquot it all pan-out in the

end

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Mark of the Beast

Four Horsemen

WHERE AM I DURING

THE END TIMES Big Question

When we study Christrsquos returnwe become tightrope walkers

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

Hey-wonrsquot it all pan-out in the

end

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

When we study Christrsquos returnwe become tightrope walkers

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

Hey-wonrsquot it all pan-out in the

end

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

Hey-wonrsquot it all pan-out in the

end

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

Hey-wonrsquot it all pan-out in the

end

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

Hey-wonrsquot it all pan-out in the

end

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

This is waaaay too complicated

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

YOU

CHRISTIAN

These Two Pithy Words Generate Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

QUESTION 1Whorsquos ldquoyourdquo in the NT prophecy

CHRISTIANS

JEWISH BELIEVERS

NON CHRISTIANS

THE LEFT BEHIND

SEEKERS

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO

ldquoYOUrdquo IS IN NT PROPHECY

This is waaaay too complicated Canrsquot you just tell me what to

think

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

1Find the basic rules for finding ldquoYOUrdquo as a form of address anywhere else in the NT

2Apply these basic rules to End-Times passages wherever you find the word ldquoYOUrdquo used as a form of address

3Discover to whom the Bible addresses its teachings about the Seventieth Week

APPROACH 1FIND APPLY AND DISCOVER

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

BUT THERE EXISTS A SECONDAPPROACH TO DEFINING WHO ldquoYOUrdquo

IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

1 Assume you KNOW already whether Christians are in the 70th Week or not

2Apply this assumption to End-Times passages using lsquoyoursquo as a form of address

3Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in its End-Times passages

APPROACH 2ASSUME APPLY AND TELL

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about End-Times teaching

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

guess which approach I like

APPROACH 1 Rules Here

Basic NT rules of interpretation

lead us to form conclusions

about end times teachingshould lead us to form conclusions

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Hmmm I wonder if readers know whatrsquos at stake with this

lsquoyoursquo stuff

Believe it or not how you define this one word

determines the relevance and urgency yoursquoll give to

your study of prophecy

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

In prophecy the Bible regularly uses ldquoYOUrdquo to give someone warnings instructions and descriptions

about the 70th Week IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all

Christians (including YOU) the Bible implies that Christians will go through this period Christians therefore need to heed the various warnings instructions descriptions and cautions

IFon the other hand the Bible directs its End-Times statements to non-Christian groups instead then the Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven Christians therefore need not concern themselves with potential involvement in the tribulationrsquos struggles

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

An Example of General NT Interpretation Of lsquoYoursquo Great Commission

18 ldquoAll authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the agerdquo

To whom does Jesus give these instructions Just his immediate hearers Just First Century Christians ALL Christians Rules we use here to interpret lsquoyoursquo (implied before the word ldquoGordquo in vs 19) should direct our interpretations of similar commands in prophetic passages too

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Posit The Great Commission of Matthew 28 Meant For All Christians Because Itrsquos

1 A natural command for all Christians

2 Duplicated elsewhere Mark 1615

3 Not yet fulfilled-still active

4 Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 79-17

5 Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles

6 Jesus tells us all that wersquore meant to listen to Him Matthew 724 Luke 647 especially Mk 1337

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Herersquos a clue to Jesusrsquo audience awareness when discussing End-Times material

Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this wayldquoWhat I say to you I say to all Be on the

alertrdquo Mark 1337

The 3-4 disciples present for Jesus End-Times

teachings on the Mount of Olives

Hmmm maybe Jesus only means the other 8-9

disciples who werenrsquot there Irsquom off the hook

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Herersquos what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus gives commands and teachings

Jesus prays over the disciples in John 1713-21ldquoI do not ask on behalf of these alone but for

those also who believe in Me through their word

The disciples present with Jesus at the Last Supper

Jesus has us all in mind when He teaches or gives

commands

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

If ldquoyourdquo refers to Christians there are still choices

Christians in general me included Only some Christians (backsliders the gifted etc)-but does this passage contain a lesson for me Specific individual Christian in the past-like the person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 161

Some Christian-like group in the Tribulation-Yeah I can work with this one Poor Saints that got left behind you know

If lsquoyourdquo generally addresses all Christians in the NT I still have to be careful about applying it to me

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

You can fall off in eitherof two directions

Date SettingMindless Fear

OOHHhhhh I was really hoping I didnrsquot have to

think this much

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

YOU

CHRISTIAN

TWO WORDSSERVE AS BALANCING

COUNTERWEIGHTS

Now for the second word

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

QUESTION 2ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN

THE TRIBULATION70TH WEEK

A Field Guide for Bible Students

HELPFUL QUESTION How do we know when the NT describes a Christian a Body-of-Christ Christian anywhere else in its narrativesGeneral rules directing how we decide this question should direct our

decisions in prophetic passages too

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES

Brothers (300) bondservants of Christ fellow believers

Christians saints and witnesses the elect

Little children and sons and members of the household of Godfaith

Bride and Body of Christ the Church

A church a convertEXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN NAMES

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS

Obey Godrsquo commands

Have a hunger for righteousness

Praise God in Jesus Christ

Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ

Endure persecution for Christrsquos sake

EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN BEHAVIORS

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES

Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ ( I Peter 123 )

Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 121 Eph 420 )

Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 114 )

Granted eternal life ( I John 511 )EXCLUSIVELY CHRISTIAN

DISTINCTIVES

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT CHRISTIAN SPOTTING

4 I thank my God always making mention of you in my prayers 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christrsquos sake 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother (Philemon 1 4-7)

Is the lsquoyoursquo in question (Philemon) a Body-of-Christ Christian

That label is NOT used but can you identify his spiritual status

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

The lists of exclusively Christian names behaviors and distinctives all reference and connect to one another

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Encounter one exclusively Christian descriptor for a man and the whole list of

Christian names behaviors and distinctives applies to

him as well

Please consider this statement for truth and usefulness

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

All lsquobrothersrsquo in the NT are saints are elect

People called lsquoelectrsquo are all born again

If one is born again one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit one is a Christian whorsquos sealed by the Holy Spirit

Paul calls Philemon his lsquobrotherrdquo and salutes his faith in Jesus Christ

If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit one is part of the Bride and Body of Christ

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

So

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

We embrace Philemon easily and naturally as fully Christian simply

because Paul calls him lsquobrotherrsquo and credits him with faith in Jesus Christ

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoThese are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambrdquo Rev 74

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

What spiritual status do we see declared in this description of the

Tribulation Saints

ldquoSo the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the

commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesusrdquo Rev 1217

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

Wersquove Dealt With Two Essential Questions

1 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk to when they use ldquoYOUrdquo Are any of them Christians 2 How do we determine who prophetic passages talk about when they describe people in the 70th Week Are any of them Christians

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

1 lsquoYoursquo in the NT usually means you oh believer

2 All the New Testament speaks to and about Christians

Even prophecy

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

NEXT

XIII THE ASCENSION

in which we consider how day to day life fits in with an interest in the hereafter

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