>>Bill: Well, Dr.
Knight is back with us for
00:00:01.13\00:00:02.06
a third in a four
part series on 1st and
00:00:02.06\00:00:05.66
2Thessalonians. You know
what that means; it means
00:00:05.66\00:00:09.56
go get your Bible and
a pen and pad of paper
00:00:09.56\00:00:10.53
because you are not
going to want to miss his
00:00:10.53\00:00:16.23
instruction today. "It Is
Written" begins right now.
00:00:16.23\00:00:22.16
(Music)
00:00:22.76\00:00:33.33
Announcer: It has
stood the test of time..
00:00:33.70\00:00:36.13
God's book, The Bible.
00:00:36.36\00:00:39.46
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:39.70\00:00:44.10
It Is Written.
00:00:44.30\00:00:46.50
Sharing messages of
hope around the world.
00:00:46.93\00:00:51.33
(Music)
00:01:00.73\00:01:01.76
>>Bill: Well let me
welcome all of our viewers
00:01:02.20\00:01:03.20
to this weeks "It Is
Written" program and once
00:01:03.20\00:01:05.43
again I'm going to
welcome our guest, our special
00:01:05.43\00:01:08.10
guest, Dr. George Knight.
00:01:08.10\00:01:08.63
Dr. Knight welcome back.
00:01:08.63\00:01:09.10
>>Dr. Knight: As
always, Bill, it's good to be
00:01:09.10\00:01:12.06
here. >>Bill: It's good
to have you here. We're now
00:01:12.06\00:01:13.86
into a third of a four
part series as we explore
00:01:13.86\00:01:14.86
Thessalonians and we
want to get right into our
00:01:14.86\00:01:20.80
study because that's
what folks tune in to hear.
00:01:20.80\00:01:26.50
>>Dr. Knight: That's
right. >>Bill: They hear,
00:01:26.50\00:01:27.46
they tune in to hear the
instruction of God's word.
00:01:27.46\00:01:29.76
But, maybe again, for
the benefit of those who are
00:01:29.76\00:01:33.06
joining us for the
first time, if you could just
00:01:33.06\00:01:34.06
quickly bring us up
to speed as to where we
00:01:34.06\00:01:36.26
are at this point.>>Dr.
00:01:36.26\00:01:36.76
Knight: Okay. >>Bill:.in
the study of our book.
00:01:36.76\00:01:42.53
>>Dr. Knight:
Well, Thessalonians, the
00:01:42.53\00:01:43.93
congregation at
Thessalonica was one of
00:01:43.93\00:01:44.83
Paul's favorite in
many ways. They were a very
00:01:44.83\00:01:47.70
faithful group,
although they were undergoing
00:01:47.70\00:01:50.20
persecution. And as
I noted last week they
00:01:50.20\00:01:51.06
really believed that
Jesus would come right away.
00:01:51.06\00:01:59.36
And they were a little
discouraged when some of
00:01:59.36\00:02:05.63
their members died.
And so, if you want to just
00:02:05.63\00:02:06.66
turn.>>Bill: Sure. >>Dr.
00:02:06.66\00:02:10.96
Knight:.in fact, if
the audience could turn to
00:02:10.96\00:02:11.96
1Thessalonians,
we'll start with the fourth
00:02:11.96\00:02:14.70
chapter.>>Bill: Sure.
00:02:14.70\00:02:15.16
>>Dr. Knight:.and then
we're going to move on to
00:02:15.16\00:02:17.66
chapter five today.>>Bill
Okay. >>Dr. Knight:.but
00:02:17.66\00:02:20.46
I'll give a short
introduction. Verse 13 of
00:02:20.46\00:02:21.36
chapter four, "We
would not have you ignorant,
00:02:21.36\00:02:25.50
brethren, concerning
those who are asleep that you
00:02:25.50\00:02:31.20
may not grieve as
others who have no hope". Now,
00:02:31.20\00:02:32.20
you brought out last
week that people do grieve and
00:02:32.20\00:02:39.40
it's right to grieve but
only with the perspective
00:02:39.40\00:02:44.36
of hope in mind. These
people wondered what was
00:02:44.36\00:02:45.46
going to happen to
their friends, to their
00:02:45.46\00:02:49.00
relatives, fellow
church members who died. Were
00:02:49.00\00:02:52.46
they going to miss
out.>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:02:52.46\00:02:53.36
Knight:.on the great
reward? >>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:02:53.36\00:02:55.16
Knight: Paul said, uh,
uh, that's the last thing;
00:02:55.16\00:02:56.93
they are going to be
first. They are going to
00:02:56.93\00:02:58.00
get resurrected from
the dead where they are
00:02:58.00\00:03:01.03
sleeping in the grave
now, awaiting the resurrection
00:03:01.03\00:03:03.90
morning and when they
are resurrected then they'll
00:03:03.90\00:03:05.03
go meet Jesus in the air
and then we, who are still
00:03:05.03\00:03:10.06
alive, Paul says, will
be caught up or raptured to
00:03:10.06\00:03:14.76
meet the Lord with them.
00:03:14.76\00:03:15.26
And that's the so called
'rapture'. The words there
00:03:15.26\00:03:21.23
in verses 16 and 17
'caught up'. >>Bill:
00:03:21.23\00:03:22.10
Right. >>Dr. Knight: And
it's anything but secret.
00:03:22.10\00:03:26.76
The rapture takes place
when Jesus comes again but
00:03:26.76\00:03:31.70
there's trumpets
blaring, every eye shall see it,
00:03:31.70\00:03:32.73
it will be like
lightning going from the east to
00:03:32.73\00:03:35.70
the west; the least
secret thing in the history of
00:03:35.70\00:03:39.30
the universe is the
Second Coming of Jesus.>>Bill
00:03:39.30\00:03:40.43
Yes. >>Dr. Knight:.and
the rapture. So, Paul is
00:03:40.43\00:03:43.36
busy answering a series
of questions that Timothy
00:03:43.36\00:03:50.96
brought back from a
visit. >>Bill: So, he
00:03:50.96\00:03:51.90
dispatches Timothy to
Thessalonica.>>Dr. Knight:
00:03:51.90\00:03:54.06
That's right. >>Bill:.he
comes back with a report.
00:03:54.06\00:03:56.40
>>Dr. Knight: Paul
wanted to go himself. >>Bill:
00:03:56.40\00:03:57.40
Right. >>Dr.
Knight: Nothing like the
00:03:57.40\00:03:58.66
evangelist showing up to
make sure the congregation
00:03:58.66\00:04:01.56
is all right but he
says, Satan hindered him. We
00:04:01.56\00:04:02.56
don't know exactly how
but Paul could not go back
00:04:02.56\00:04:06.03
so he sends Timothy
back This is at the end of
00:04:06.03\00:04:10.70
chapter two, chapter
three, the first part,
00:04:10.70\00:04:11.63
Timothy arrives and
says, man, they are alright,
00:04:11.63\00:04:15.36
they love you, they do
love the message but I do
00:04:15.36\00:04:19.46
have a few questions. And
then Paul begins to answer
00:04:19.46\00:04:20.66
the questions and every
paragraph, really, in the
00:04:20.66\00:04:29.00
Greek has the same
words 'But concerning this' in
00:04:29.00\00:04:32.70
verse nine; 'concerning
the brethren' and then
00:04:32.70\00:04:33.70
'concerning those who
fall asleep', verse 13 and now
00:04:33.70\00:04:38.90
today, chapter five,
verse one. I'm going to read a
00:04:38.90\00:04:44.83
couple of verses here.
00:04:44.83\00:04:45.33
>>Bill: Sure. >>Dr.
00:04:45.33\00:04:45.76
Knight: "But as to
the times and seasons,
00:04:45.76\00:04:50.36
brethren, you have no
need to have any thing written
00:04:50.36\00:04:57.36
to you. For you,
yourselves, well know that
00:04:57.36\00:04:58.26
the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the
00:04:58.26\00:05:03.33
night, when people say
that there is peace and
00:05:03.33\00:05:07.00
security. Then sudden
destruction will come upon
00:05:07.00\00:05:08.03
them as travail comes
upon a woman with child and
00:05:08.03\00:05:13.66
there will be no escape."
00:05:13.66\00:05:14.16
Well, I think they're
pretty happy with Paul's
00:05:14.16\00:05:19.66
instruction about the
Second Coming. I mean,
00:05:19.66\00:05:25.13
you've got nothing to
worry about, comforting
00:05:25.13\00:05:26.10
words, words of hope.
And, by the way, hope in
00:05:26.10\00:05:29.40
the New Testament is not
wishful thinking. >>Bill:
00:05:29.40\00:05:33.86
Right. >>Dr. Knight:
Hope is certainty. And
00:05:33.86\00:05:34.80
Paul says, in the book
of Romans, "We serve the God
00:05:34.80\00:05:38.63
of hope". >>Bill: Right.
00:05:38.63\00:05:39.10
>>Dr. Knight: And what
does Paul call the Second
00:05:39.10\00:05:43.80
Coming in Titus? I
think it's 2:13.>>Bill: The
00:05:43.80\00:05:48.70
blessed hope. >>Dr.
00:05:48.70\00:05:49.16
Knight:.the blessed
hope All Christian faith
00:05:49.16\00:05:51.50
focuses on the climax of
earth's history when Jesus
00:05:51.50\00:05:52.53
comes again. They,
they understand that. But
00:05:52.53\00:05:57.06
they've got to
question >>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:05:57.06\00:06:03.60
Knight: It's the same
question I've got, Bill
00:06:03.60\00:06:04.60
When? When? You know,
I've often said the only;
00:06:04.60\00:06:06.93
the only problem in the
Christian church today is
00:06:06.93\00:06:10.60
the lay of Second Coming.
00:06:10.60\00:06:11.13
I mean, would we be
arguing about doctrine?
00:06:11.13\00:06:16.16
Would we be worried
about, you know, finances
00:06:16.16\00:06:17.13
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:06:17.13\00:06:20.70
Knight: No. No. The
only problem that you and I
00:06:20.70\00:06:21.66
face as Christians is
that Jesus hasn't come.
00:06:21.66\00:06:27.80
I personally believe
with all my heart that He will
00:06:27.80\00:06:33.93
come. But I'm stuck
right back with those
00:06:33.93\00:06:34.86
Thessalonians.
>>Bill: When? >>Dr. Knight:
00:06:34.86\00:06:41.80
You let me in on a
little secret.>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:06:41.80\00:06:48.10
Knight:.when? That's
the same question that
00:06:48.10\00:06:49.16
actually we find
being asked back in Matthew
00:06:49.16\00:06:50.40
24. >>Bill: That's right.
00:06:50.40\00:06:50.90
The disciples asked that,
didn't they? >>Dr. Knight:
00:06:50.90\00:06:52.46
Yeah. The disciples
asked it and that kicked off a
00:06:52.46\00:06:56.53
two chapter sermon.>>Bill:
Yes. >>Dr. Knight:.on the
00:06:56.53\00:06:57.60
Second Coming. Verse 3
of Chapter 24 of Matthew,
00:06:57.60\00:07:03.46
"As He sat on the Mount
of Olives the disciples came
00:07:04.76\00:07:05.83
to Him privately saying."
00:07:05.83\00:07:10.53
They wanted a
little inside.>>Bill: Yes.
00:07:10.53\00:07:11.43
>>Dr. Knight:.you know.
00:07:11.43\00:07:13.90
Hey.>>Bill: Just
between you and I.>>Dr. Knight
00:07:13.90\00:07:14.86
Yeah, yeah. These other
people, they're alright,
00:07:14.86\00:07:17.03
you know, we deserve a
little something.>>Bill:
00:07:17.03\00:07:18.86
That's right. >>Dr.
00:07:18.86\00:07:19.33
Knight:.special. Tell us.
00:07:19.33\00:07:19.83
Tell us. Oh, man. When
will this be? When's the
00:07:19.83\00:07:21.76
destruction of
temple going to take place?
00:07:21.76\00:07:26.86
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight:
And what will be the sign
00:07:26.86\00:07:27.93
of your coming and
the close of the Age? Now,
00:07:27.93\00:07:30.00
they saw all three
of those as one thing.
00:07:30.00\00:07:33.26
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:07:33.26\00:07:33.73
Knight: I mean, the
temple was the center of their
00:07:33.73\00:07:36.70
life. I mean.>>Bill:
If that's going to be
00:07:36.70\00:07:37.63
destroyed.>>Dr.
Knight: That's got
00:07:37.63\00:07:40.43
to be the Second Coming
>>Bill:.that's got to be.
00:07:40.43\00:07:42.66
That's got to be the end
of the world. Yeah. >>Dr.
00:07:42.66\00:07:43.80
Knight: So Jesus gives
them an answer in Chapter
00:07:43.80\00:07:46.26
24 and 25 and the answer
will be very interesting.
00:07:46.26\00:07:51.03
We'll come back to
it because Paul will
00:07:51.03\00:07:51.90
replicate the same
pattern. >>Bill: The same
00:07:51.90\00:07:57.50
teaching. >>Dr.
Knight: Yeah. Now let's go to
00:07:57.50\00:07:59.80
Acts, the first chapter.
00:07:59.80\00:08:00.36
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:08:00.36\00:08:00.90
Knight: Acts, the
first chapter, now we're at
00:08:00.90\00:08:02.90
the ascension of
Jesus >>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:08:02.90\00:08:12.76
Knight: The cross is
over, He's resurrected, and
00:08:12.76\00:08:13.80
we get down to verse
six, this is the disciples on
00:08:13.80\00:08:18.46
ascension morning. "So,
when they'd come together
00:08:18.46\00:08:24.10
they asked Him, Lord,
will you at this time restore
00:08:24.10\00:08:25.13
the Kingdom of Israel?"
Is this the time? And Jesus
00:08:25.13\00:08:33.20
said to them, it's none
of your business. Now that's
00:08:33.20\00:08:40.63
a paraphrase. >>Bill:
(laughter) I think it's an
00:08:40.63\00:08:41.76
accurate paraphrase. >>Dr.
00:08:41.76\00:08:43.50
Knight: You know we're
all wanting the Kingdom.
00:08:43.50\00:08:44.46
I want the Kingdom
without having to go through
00:08:44.46\00:08:46.40
the trouble of having my
character developed. This
00:08:46.40\00:08:48.76
character development
is kind of tough. >>Bill:
00:08:48.76\00:08:49.83
That's right. That's the
tough part. That's right.
00:08:49.83\00:08:52.80
>>Dr. Knight: God's
been working on my character
00:08:52.80\00:08:54.60
for 70-something years
and I'm afraid that I want
00:08:54.60\00:08:55.73
the Coming.>>Bill:
That's right. >>Dr. Knight:.I
00:08:55.73\00:09:01.60
don't want the
character >>Bill: That's right.
00:09:01.60\00:09:03.20
>>Dr. Knight: Anyway, so
when they'd come together
00:09:03.20\00:09:04.20
they asked Him, Lord,
will you at this time restore
00:09:04.20\00:09:06.70
the Kingdom of Israel?
He said to them, "It is not
00:09:06.70\00:09:10.53
for you to know the
times or the seasons which the
00:09:10.53\00:09:11.53
Father has fixed by
His own authority". Wow!
00:09:11.53\00:09:16.96
That's pretty well
telling them to, you know, just
00:09:16.96\00:09:21.63
get busy. Well, wait
for the Holy Spirit and when
00:09:21.63\00:09:22.60
power comes upon
you, start preaching the
00:09:22.60\00:09:27.43
message. >>Bill: Do
your job. >>Dr. Knight: Yeah.
00:09:27.43\00:09:29.43
And you've got to
preach it to the ends of the
00:09:29.43\00:09:30.40
earth. Well, we know that.
00:09:30.40\00:09:31.86
We're both involved
in that, Bill. >>Bill:
00:09:31.86\00:09:32.93
Yes, that's right. >>Dr.
00:09:32.93\00:09:34.86
Knight: But over and
over and over we find
00:09:34.86\00:09:35.80
the disciples and
others wanting to know, when
00:09:35.80\00:09:41.03
will this take place?
And so here we find Paul's
00:09:41.03\00:09:48.33
answer. Jesus's
answer both times is, nobody
00:09:48.33\00:09:49.30
knows except the Father.
00:09:49.30\00:09:53.43
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:09:53.43\00:09:53.90
Knight: In His
earthly life, apparently, He
00:09:53.90\00:09:56.33
didn't know. >>Bill:
Right. >>Dr. Knight: And,
00:09:56.33\00:09:57.30
you know, I think
that's good. What if Jesus had
00:09:57.30\00:10:00.33
said, let's see, I will
come in the year 2019 on
00:10:00.33\00:10:08.56
December 24th at 1:30 in
the afternoon. What would
00:10:08.56\00:10:09.56
we have done? Well, we
would have waited until
00:10:09.56\00:10:16.86
the day before to start
getting ready. I mean, if
00:10:16.86\00:10:21.23
Jesus had told us
the exact time, forget it
00:10:21.23\00:10:22.13
We're in the relaxed mode.
00:10:22.13\00:10:25.60
We've got 2000 years.
00:10:25.60\00:10:26.10
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight:
You figure those of us who
00:10:26.10\00:10:29.63
used to cram for exams
the night before, right? >>Dr.
00:10:29.63\00:10:30.73
Knight: That's right.
00:10:30.73\00:10:32.23
Jesus knew human nature.
00:10:32.23\00:10:32.73
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: And so he wants us to be
00:10:32.73\00:10:35.96
anticipating this but
He's not going to tell us when
00:10:35.96\00:10:37.03
>>Bill: When, right? >>Dr.
00:10:37.03\00:10:42.66
Knight: Okay, so let's
go back to chapter five
00:10:42.66\00:10:43.66
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:10:43.66\00:10:45.53
Knight: "But as to
the times and seasons,
00:10:45.53\00:10:46.43
brethren, you have
no need to have anything
00:10:46.43\00:10:48.33
written to you. For you,
yourselves, know that the
00:10:48.33\00:10:50.83
day of the Lord will
come like a thief in the
00:10:50.83\00:10:51.86
night." We're going
to come back to that word
00:10:51.86\00:10:58.76
'thief'. >>Bill: Okay.
00:10:58.76\00:10:59.23
>>Dr. Knight: "When
people say that there's peace
00:10:59.23\00:11:01.30
and security, then sudden
destruction will come upon
00:11:01.30\00:11:03.60
them." Well, what do
you think about these words,
00:11:03.60\00:11:04.56
people saying peace and
security. Why would they
00:11:04.56\00:11:08.10
say that? Because it
doesn't look like things
00:11:08.10\00:11:14.96
are getting any worse,
does it? >>Bill: Right.
00:11:14.96\00:11:15.96
>>Dr. Knight: No. Not
from a human perspective. I
00:11:15.96\00:11:18.46
mean, I can look back 50
years and I can see major
00:11:18.46\00:11:22.63
shifts in what
we're willing to accept as
00:11:22.63\00:11:23.53
a culture and call it
normal. >>Bill: Right.
00:11:23.53\00:11:26.70
>>Dr. Knight: I think
the God of Heaven calls it a
00:11:26.70\00:11:29.53
lot of sin and
perversion.>>Bill: Yes.
00:11:29.53\00:11:30.50
>>Dr. Knight:.but,
you know, the soup, I
00:11:30.50\00:11:32.66
shouldn't say the
soup, the water gets just a
00:11:32.66\00:11:37.43
little higher and a little
higher and a little higher
00:11:37.43\00:11:38.53
and we're just, kind
of, coasting along, coasting
00:11:38.53\00:11:42.56
along. >>Bill: Sure. >>Dr.
00:11:42.56\00:11:43.10
Knight: And even some
Christians.>>Bill: Yeah.
00:11:43.10\00:11:45.06
>>Dr. Knight:.will be
caught sleeping. >>Bill:
00:11:45.06\00:11:47.13
That's right. >>Dr.
00:11:47.13\00:11:47.60
Knight:.and not prepared
And there's others.>>Bill:
00:11:47.60\00:11:50.93
Yes, Jesus makes reference
to that quite a few times
00:11:50.93\00:11:52.00
in Matthew 24, where
He says that it will come
00:11:52.00\00:11:54.86
as a surprise. I
believe He's speaking to many
00:11:54.86\00:11:58.33
Christians. It would be
a surprise if He took the
00:11:58.33\00:11:59.36
Christians. >>Dr. Knight:
Oh, yeah. In fact, He has
00:11:59.36\00:12:01.43
a whole parable about
some of them sleeping, all of
00:12:01.43\00:12:03.53
them sleeping and some
of them managing to wake up
00:12:03.53\00:12:04.53
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: Anyway, Peter had to
00:12:04.53\00:12:07.53
deal with the same problem
2Peter, the third chapter,
00:12:07.53\00:12:11.20
verse 3, "First of all,
you must understand this
00:12:11.20\00:12:12.20
The scoffers will
come in the last days with
00:12:12.20\00:12:22.46
scoffing, following
their own passions and saying,
00:12:22.46\00:12:26.83
where is the promise of
His coming? For since the
00:12:26.83\00:12:27.96
fathers all fell
asleep, all things continued
00:12:27.96\00:12:32.23
as they were
from the beginning."
00:12:32.23\00:12:36.40
From a human perspective,
it just looks like time
00:12:37.66\00:12:38.70
will go on forever and
ever and ever. And because
00:12:38.70\00:12:43.33
of that, Paul says back
in 1Thessalonians, the fifth
00:12:43.33\00:12:49.96
chapter and the second
verse, "It will come like
00:12:49.96\00:12:50.96
a thief in the night."
And the interesting thing is,
00:12:50.96\00:12:59.26
he makes, he switches his
metaphor in chapter three.
00:12:59.26\00:13:05.60
There he says it's like
a pregnant woman who knows
00:13:05.60\00:13:06.60
she's going to have to
give birth. >>Bill: Right.
00:13:06.60\00:13:09.46
>>Dr. Knight: But
there's a big difference in the
00:13:09.46\00:13:12.30
metaphors. They say one
thing, nobody is exactly
00:13:12.30\00:13:13.30
sure when it's going
to happen, but a thief in
00:13:13.30\00:13:17.53
the night, you're not
even expecting it to happen.
00:13:17.53\00:13:20.43
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:13:20.43\00:13:20.90
Knight: A woman knows
she's going to have to.she
00:13:20.90\00:13:22.90
doesn't necessarily
know what will happen right
00:13:22.90\00:13:23.86
away but it's going
to happen. >>Bill: Right.
00:13:23.86\00:13:27.66
>>Dr. Knight: So, we
have a difference but there's
00:13:27.66\00:13:30.83
also a similarity.
Now, when people say there's
00:13:30.83\00:13:31.86
peace and security,
then sudden destruction will
00:13:31.86\00:13:36.96
come upon them, Jesus
says somewhere in such an hour
00:13:36.96\00:13:41.56
as you think not. I've
often thought, the hour I
00:13:41.56\00:13:42.66
least expect Jesus to
come is today. I mean, do I
00:13:42.66\00:13:50.53
expect Him to come today
No. I've given my life to
00:13:50.53\00:13:55.66
preaching the Second
Advent of Jesus but I
00:13:55.66\00:13:56.70
don't think He's
going to come today. >>Bill:
00:13:56.70\00:14:02.83
Right. >>Dr. Knight:
Maybe today's the day I better
00:14:02.83\00:14:05.56
be ready. Such an hour
as you think not. You know,
00:14:05.56\00:14:06.56
this teaching keeps
us always looking, always
00:14:06.56\00:14:11.36
watching, always
desiring that we can meet Jesus
00:14:11.36\00:14:18.50
when He comes again.
00:14:18.50\00:14:18.96
>>Bill: Yeah. Get
ready and stay ready, right?
00:14:18.96\00:14:21.60
>>Dr. Knight: That's
right. >>Bill: Absolutely.
00:14:21.60\00:14:22.60
>>Dr. Knight: Doing
His will every day. One
00:14:22.60\00:14:24.53
author tells of a, it's a
fictional thing, about the
00:14:24.53\00:14:32.10
Devil up in Heaven.
He's got three apprentice
00:14:32.10\00:14:33.03
Devils and the first
one says - the Devil says to
00:14:33.03\00:14:35.40
the first apprentice,
what are you going to do to
00:14:35.40\00:14:40.10
tempt people down there?
00:14:40.10\00:14:40.73
I'm going to tell them
there's no God. The Devil
00:14:40.73\00:14:43.83
says, you're not going
to get very many people.
00:14:43.83\00:14:44.93
I mean, people know
that earth is wonderfully
00:14:44.93\00:14:49.50
created, you know,
you're not going to fool many
00:14:49.50\00:14:52.76
people at all. The next
one's going to say, what
00:14:52.76\00:14:53.90
are you going to do? I'm
going to tell them there's
00:14:53.90\00:15:00.20
no hell. You're not
going to get anybody with that.
00:15:00.20\00:15:03.20
I mean, after all,
everybody knows that God
00:15:03.20\00:15:04.10
is just. That there's
got to be some kind of .so he
00:15:04.10\00:15:09.20
goes to third one,
what are you going to tell
00:15:09.20\00:15:13.86
them? I'm going to tell
them there's no hurry. He
00:15:13.86\00:15:14.90
says, that's the
secret man, you've got it.
00:15:14.90\00:15:19.30
You'll catch them by
the millions. >>Bill: You've
00:15:19.30\00:15:24.03
got time. >>Dr. Knight:
No hurry. Just put it off.
00:15:24.03\00:15:25.10
Everything goes like
on and on and on. >>Bill:
00:15:25.10\00:15:28.16
Well then, you know,
you have in some circles,
00:15:28.16\00:15:34.06
those suggesting that
even after Jesus returns you're
00:15:34.06\00:15:35.16
going to get some
are going to get a second
00:15:35.16\00:15:41.33
chance. >>Dr. Knight:
Not according to the Bible,
00:15:41.33\00:15:44.33
"Let those that are
filthy, be filthy still",
00:15:44.33\00:15:45.30
Revelation 223, verses
10 and 11. >>Bill: That's
00:15:45.30\00:15:48.00
right. >>Dr. Knight:
No. There's a close of
00:15:48.00\00:15:51.00
probation. There is
no second chance. >>Bill:
00:15:51.00\00:15:51.96
Second chance,
that's right. >>Dr. Knight:
00:15:51.96\00:15:53.50
fact, we'll talk about
Jesus on that in just a
00:15:53.50\00:15:55.70
second. >>Bill: Okay.
00:15:55.70\00:15:56.20
>>Dr. Knight: Over
there in Matthew 25 but let's
00:15:56.20\00:15:58.26
just read on in 20,
chapter five here of
00:15:58.26\00:15:59.13
Thessalonians. "Then,"
in the middle of chapter
00:15:59.13\00:16:03.90
three, "Then sudden
destruction will come upon
00:16:03.90\00:16:08.60
them as a travail comes
upon a woman with a child
00:16:08.60\00:16:09.63
and there will be no
escape, but you are not
00:16:09.63\00:16:12.36
in darkness, brethren,
for that they to surprise you
00:16:12.36\00:16:19.70
like a thief. For you
are sons of light and sons
00:16:19.70\00:16:20.70
of the day and not of the
night and darkness. So let
00:16:20.70\00:16:24.70
us not sleep as others
do but let us keep awake and
00:16:24.70\00:16:29.96
be sober. For those that
sleep, sleep at night and
00:16:29.96\00:16:30.96
those that get drunk,
get drunk at night. But since
00:16:30.96\00:16:36.10
we belong to the day let
us be sober and put on the
00:16:36.10\00:16:40.56
breast plate of faith
and love, for a helmet the
00:16:40.56\00:16:41.60
hope of salvation." I
like that. That God doesn't, He
00:16:41.60\00:16:46.26
realizes that we want it
to happen right away. But
00:16:46.26\00:16:54.50
He also realizes that
we need to have a quality
00:16:54.50\00:16:55.46
of life. In the Bible,
symbolism of darkness has
00:16:55.46\00:17:01.56
to do with sin; symbolism
of light has to do with
00:17:01.56\00:17:06.06
righteousness. And so,
what is Paul saying here
00:17:06.06\00:17:07.03
Don't worry about the
time. >>Bill: Worry about
00:17:07.03\00:17:11.66
getting ready. >>Dr.
00:17:11.66\00:17:12.10
Knight: Live every
day as if Jesus were
00:17:12.10\00:17:17.96
coming tomorrow. The
great founder of Methodism, John
00:17:17.96\00:17:23.36
Wesley, somebody asked
him one day, what would you do
00:17:23.36\00:17:24.46
if you knew that Jesus
was coming tomorrow? He said,
00:17:24.46\00:17:32.20
I'd do just what I
planned on doing. >>Bill: Wow.
00:17:32.20\00:17:37.13
>>Dr. Knight: I like that.
00:17:37.13\00:17:37.70
Could I say that if I
knew Jesus was coming? I mean,
00:17:37.70\00:17:40.70
that I would be
comfortable doing what I'm
00:17:40.70\00:17:41.63
doing if Jesus came
this day or tomorrow. That's
00:17:41.63\00:17:46.03
pretty cool. >>Bill: Yup.
00:17:46.03\00:17:46.53
Absolutely. >>Dr.
Knight: Anyway, they asked the
00:17:46.53\00:17:51.23
question in Thessalonica,
when? And Paul shifts it
00:17:51.23\00:17:58.56
to live a life for
Jesus every day. And when that
00:17:58.56\00:17:59.53
day comes that He
arrives you won't have to
00:17:59.53\00:18:09.36
worry. Live as Christians.
00:18:09.36\00:18:09.90
>>Bill: So, he's actually,
so, they're saying, tell
00:18:09.90\00:18:13.76
us when. And he's saying,
listen, that's really not
00:18:13.76\00:18:16.26
the question. >>Dr.
00:18:16.26\00:18:16.86
Knight: Yeah. >>Bill:
That's really not what you
00:18:16.86\00:18:18.63
should be worrying about.
00:18:18.63\00:18:19.30
You should be worried
about the way you live
00:18:19.30\00:18:21.16
your life. >>Dr.
Knight: But you know what, how
00:18:21.16\00:18:22.13
many people do you and
I know that they have a
00:18:22.13\00:18:25.16
whole lot of concern
with when. You give them a few
00:18:25.16\00:18:31.96
signs of the times and
they're going out of their
00:18:31.96\00:18:33.00
minds with excitement.
00:18:33.00\00:18:35.00
>>Bill: You're absolutely
right. >>Dr. Knight: But
00:18:35.00\00:18:36.13
they don't have one bit
of desire in serving Christ.
00:18:36.13\00:18:38.56
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: Without that enthusiasm.
00:18:38.56\00:18:42.50
No. In fact, if we go
back now to Matthew 24 and
00:18:42.50\00:18:43.53
25 we'll find that
Paul is really reading off
00:18:43.53\00:18:50.46
the same page as Jesus
>>Bill: That's good news,
00:18:50.46\00:18:55.96
right? >>Dr. Knight: Yeah.
00:18:55.96\00:18:56.53
Yeah. If you take a
look at Chapter 24, we find
00:18:56.53\00:18:59.06
some signs that aren't
signs but that only like,
00:18:59.06\00:19:00.13
hey, keep, every time
you see an earthquake, every
00:19:00.13\00:19:05.50
time you see a bad storm
it's.>>Bill: Be reminded.
00:19:05.50\00:19:09.30
>>Dr. Knight:.that
this earth isn't our home.
00:19:09.30\00:19:10.26
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: Something better is
00:19:10.26\00:19:13.33
coming. And when
Jesus gets finished dealing
00:19:13.33\00:19:18.66
with, because the only
sign He gives is the sign
00:19:18.66\00:19:19.66
of the cloud and
that's not a sign of nearness,
00:19:19.66\00:19:22.10
that's a sign of
coming >>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:19:22.10\00:19:24.56
Knight: But then he
gets off and he kept saying,
00:19:24.56\00:19:25.56
down here in verse 42,
"Watch, therefore, for you
00:19:25.56\00:19:29.60
know not on what day
your Lord is coming". Verse
00:19:29.60\00:19:36.23
44, "Therefore you must
also be ready because the
00:19:36.23\00:19:37.26
son of man is coming at
an hour you do not expect".
00:19:37.26\00:19:42.86
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: And then Jesus goes into
00:19:42.86\00:19:46.56
several parables.
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr. Knight: One
00:19:46.56\00:19:47.56
parable talked about
the time is delayed, this is
00:19:47.56\00:19:52.13
verse 48. The time went
on and on and on and the
00:19:52.13\00:19:57.30
master went away and
people began to treat each
00:19:57.30\00:19:58.30
other wrongly. >>Bill:
Yes and said, oh, my master's
00:19:58.30\00:20:03.53
not coming back for a
long time. >>Dr. Knight: That's
00:20:03.53\00:20:05.70
right. But He will
come, verse 50, on a day when
00:20:05.70\00:20:06.70
they do not expect Him.
00:20:06.70\00:20:12.83
And then chapter
25 continues on about
00:20:12.83\00:20:13.66
watching and waiting
and being prepared. Chapter
00:20:13.66\00:20:20.30
25, the first thirteen
verses, the parable of 10
00:20:20.30\00:20:26.20
virgins. They were waiting
for the bridegroom to come
00:20:26.20\00:20:27.30
but they all fell asleep.
00:20:27.30\00:20:30.70
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:20:30.70\00:20:31.16
Knight: And at the
last minute they woke up and
00:20:31.16\00:20:35.33
five of them weren't
prepared. I mean, now's
00:20:35.33\00:20:36.40
the time to prepare.
00:20:36.40\00:20:38.16
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:20:38.16\00:20:38.63
Knight: Now. They're
not going to get a second
00:20:38.63\00:20:40.53
chance. You talk about
a second chance. According
00:20:40.53\00:20:41.50
to Jesus, there is no
second chance. Only those
00:20:41.50\00:20:44.46
who are ready.Well, what
does it mean to be ready?
00:20:44.46\00:20:50.26
That's the next parable.
00:20:50.26\00:20:50.76
Verses 14 - 30, "Use
your.>>Bill: "Use your
00:20:50.76\00:20:55.93
talents". >>Dr. Knight:.
00:20:55.93\00:20:56.56
'talents". And, you
know, some people got more
00:20:56.56\00:21:01.10
talent than others.
00:21:01.10\00:21:01.56
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: I'm not responsible for
00:21:01.56\00:21:03.56
your talent. You're not
responsible for my talent
00:21:03.56\00:21:04.60
But we're all responsible
for the talent or talents
00:21:04.60\00:21:08.30
that God has given us.
So, what are we supposed to
00:21:08.30\00:21:15.26
do? We're supposed
to get ready and while
00:21:15.26\00:21:16.26
we're getting ready
we're supposed to use our
00:21:16.26\00:21:18.86
talents but what are
we really supposed to be
00:21:18.86\00:21:22.03
doing? That's the
last parable. Verses 41-46.
00:21:22.03\00:21:23.10
Hey, are you really taking
care of your neighbor? Are
00:21:23.10\00:21:30.63
you being Jesus?
>>Bill: Yes. A responsibility to
00:21:30.63\00:21:33.73
our fellow person, our
fellow man. Yeah. >>Dr.
00:21:33.73\00:21:34.73
Knight: Yeah. Yeah.
Loving God with all your heart
00:21:34.73\00:21:37.53
and all your mind and all
your soul is only one half
00:21:37.53\00:21:39.36
of Christianity. Some
people think they can love
00:21:39.36\00:21:40.40
God and be despicable
to their neighbor. >>Bill:
00:21:40.40\00:21:43.26
Right. >>Dr. Knight:
Uh, uh. The two commandments
00:21:43.26\00:21:45.50
are tied to it and out of
those two, of course, come
00:21:45.50\00:21:46.56
all ten. >>Bill: Right.
00:21:46.56\00:21:50.96
>>Dr. Knight: That love
to God is the first four
00:21:50.96\00:21:51.96
commandments; love to
fellow humans is the last
00:21:51.96\00:21:55.83
six. So, while we're
using our talents, what kind of
00:21:55.83\00:22:03.83
work? We're supposed
to be helping other people
00:22:03.83\00:22:04.93
in the same way that
Jesus helps us. >>Bill: Wow.
00:22:04.93\00:22:08.23
>>Dr. Knight: So Paul
and Jesus both give the same
00:22:08.23\00:22:16.33
argument. You're
worried about time. I'm worried
00:22:16.33\00:22:17.33
about your character.
00:22:17.33\00:22:20.66
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr. Knight:
So, getting ready and that
00:22:20.66\00:22:21.76
brings us to the great
passage on sanctification.
00:22:21.76\00:22:24.73
Sanctification is a big
topic in 1Thessalonians.
00:22:24.73\00:22:30.36
Verse 23, of Chapter
five, "May the God of peace,
00:22:30.36\00:22:31.53
himself, sanctify you
holy and may your spirit and
00:22:31.53\00:22:38.46
soul and body be
kept sound and blameless
00:22:38.46\00:22:43.86
acoming of our Lord,
Jesus Christ". Now, we've got
00:22:43.86\00:22:44.93
some big words here.
One of them is sanctify.
00:22:44.93\00:22:50.66
Sanctify means to be set
apart for holy use. But it
00:22:50.66\00:22:56.13
also means to grow, to
be more like Jesus. And this
00:22:56.13\00:22:57.30
is really a part of
the Second Coming concept.
00:22:57.30\00:23:06.13
Every you read
about sanctification in
00:23:06.13\00:23:10.93
1Thessalonians, it's
tied to the Second Coming
00:23:10.93\00:23:11.90
>>Bill: Oh, interesting.
00:23:11.90\00:23:13.96
>>Dr. Knight: Are you
ready? >>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
00:23:13.96\00:23:14.96
Knight: That's pretty
important. Are you ready?
00:23:14.96\00:23:17.43
Now, a lot of
Christians say, wow, I've been
00:23:17.43\00:23:21.63
justified, I've been
saved. You know what the
00:23:21.63\00:23:22.56
word saved means. I've
been saved and once and
00:23:22.56\00:23:25.73
for all I don't have to
worry. Well, I don't know.
00:23:25.73\00:23:28.50
That doesn't seem to
be what the Bible says.
00:23:28.50\00:23:29.43
Jesus says that after
your converted you have a new
00:23:29.43\00:23:33.30
way of life and Paul
picks that up. We're not only
00:23:33.30\00:23:38.53
justified, that is counted
righteous, forgiven but we
00:23:38.53\00:23:39.63
get a new heart and a
new mind so that we learn to
00:23:39.63\00:23:45.46
walk with Jesus.
>>Bill: There has to be some
00:23:45.46\00:23:49.40
growth, right? >>Dr.
00:23:49.40\00:23:49.86
Knight: That's right.
00:23:49.86\00:23:50.33
And it's the same kind
of thing we found out in
00:23:50.33\00:23:52.46
Matthew 25, same thing we
found out the last part of
00:23:52.46\00:23:54.76
chapter, the passage
for today. When you gonna
00:23:54.76\00:23:55.73
come? Well, that's none
of your business but you
00:23:55.73\00:24:03.06
better be ready when I
get here. >>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
00:24:03.06\00:24:08.83
Knight: Living for Jesus.
00:24:08.83\00:24:09.36
That is important. Not
only are we justified but
00:24:09.36\00:24:17.16
God wants us to be ready.
00:24:17.16\00:24:17.70
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: Now, this is a very
00:24:17.70\00:24:22.56
controversial verse in
Christian theology, "May
00:24:22.56\00:24:23.63
the God of peace himself
sanctify you holy and may
00:24:23.63\00:24:28.06
your spirit, soul,
and body be kept sound and
00:24:28.06\00:24:32.46
blameless at the coming
of our Lord, Jesus Christ".
00:24:32.46\00:24:33.63
Big arguments with this
verse. Does human nature
00:24:33.63\00:24:37.23
have two parts?
Spirit, soul, and body. That's
00:24:37.23\00:24:43.06
three parts. Where
does it have two parts? But
00:24:43.06\00:24:44.06
you know what? He's
not talking about that.
00:24:44.06\00:24:49.36
Because we know from
Genesis it says, "God
00:24:49.36\00:24:51.70
breathed into the
nostrils, the breath",
00:24:51.70\00:24:52.70
that is the Spirit.
00:24:52.70\00:24:56.20
"Formed out of the.>>Bill:
"Dust of the ground".
00:24:56.20\00:24:57.23
>>Dr. Knight: "Dust of
the ground", that is the body.
00:24:57.23\00:25:00.26
"And they became a
living soul". I mean, if you
00:25:00.26\00:25:05.60
don't have breath, your
soul ain't alive, brother
00:25:05.60\00:25:06.63
If you don't have a
body.>>Bill: There's
00:25:06.63\00:25:09.10
no soul, yeah. >>Dr.
00:25:09.10\00:25:09.53
Knight:.no. A soul
is a living being, we're
00:25:09.53\00:25:11.30
unities. And God wants us
to take care of all of our
00:25:11.30\00:25:16.36
parts. Our spiritual
being, our physical being,
00:25:16.36\00:25:17.36
our mental being. Hey,
all of them are important in
00:25:17.36\00:25:24.36
God's sight. He wants
to sanctify us holy so that
00:25:24.36\00:25:28.43
we'll be ready when
Jesus comes. >>Bill: Wow. You
00:25:28.43\00:25:29.56
know one of my favorite
verses found in Acts where
00:25:29.56\00:25:33.23
it says that when they
saw the courage of Peter and
00:25:33.23\00:25:37.33
John saw them
preaching and recognizing,
00:25:37.33\00:25:38.20
remembered that they
were ignorant men but
00:25:38.20\00:25:42.66
recognizing them as
having been with Jesus. >>Dr.
00:25:42.66\00:25:48.00
Knight: I love that
passage. Jesus ought to be
00:25:48.00\00:25:49.10
able to recognize
that I, other people have
00:25:49.10\00:25:51.23
recognized that I've
been with Jesus. >>Bill:
00:25:51.23\00:25:54.20
Absolutely. Thank you
Dr. Knight. Let's pray.
00:25:54.20\00:25:55.33
Gracious, loving,
heavenly Father, we thank
00:25:55.33\00:25:59.60
you for your love and
your kindness. Father, may your
00:25:59.60\00:26:03.36
holy spirit work in
the lives of each and every
00:26:03.36\00:26:04.50
person within the
life, within the reach of my
00:26:04.50\00:26:08.20
voice that our lives may
reflect Jesus. In His name
00:26:08.20\00:26:11.90
we pray, Amen.
00:26:11.90\00:26:12.26
>>Dr. Knight: Amen.
00:26:12.26\00:26:15.86
(Music)
00:26:16.40\00:26:29.70
>>Bill: You know, we
know that many times these
00:26:31.66\00:26:32.66
studies prompt all
kinds of questions on the part
00:26:32.66\00:26:34.66
of our viewers and one
of the resources that we'd
00:26:34.66\00:26:36.80
like to make available
to you, to help you, is this
00:26:36.80\00:26:37.83
special edition of
the Signs of the Times
00:26:37.83\00:26:41.46
magazine which features
the end of the world. Many
00:26:41.46\00:26:47.40
of the things that we
talked about today are
00:26:47.40\00:26:48.36
explained in our
great resource for you to
00:26:48.36\00:26:51.36
help you gain more Bible
knowledge. It is a gift to
00:26:51.36\00:26:55.16
you. Here is the
information you need
00:26:55.16\00:26:55.96
to get your copy.
00:26:55.96\00:27:00.93
>>Bill: Well, Dr.
Knight we've come to the end
00:27:59.76\00:28:00.93
again. Thank you for
being here. >>Dr. Knight: Good.
00:28:00.93\00:28:03.93
My privilege. >>Bill:
Thank you for being with
00:28:03.93\00:28:05.50
us also.
Remember, on our website i t
00:28:05.50\00:28:06.33
iswrittencanada.ca,
there you will find a
00:28:06.33\00:28:08.90
link that will get you
to a site where you can
00:28:08.90\00:28:13.66
purchase Dr.
00:28:13.66\00:28:14.00
Knight's book, "Exploring
Thessalonians" and all of
00:28:14.00\00:28:17.63
his books will be
available there. Well,
00:28:17.63\00:28:18.50
while on the website
send us a prayer request
00:28:18.50\00:28:21.96
also. We pray over
those requests every day. Our
00:28:21.96\00:28:25.50
plan and our prayer is
to be back again next week.
00:28:25.50\00:28:26.50
I hope you will join us.
00:28:26.50\00:28:29.83
Until then, remember,
man shall not live by bread
00:28:29.83\00:28:30.86
alone but by every
word that proceeds from
00:28:30.86\00:28:35.50
the mouth of God.
00:28:35.50\00:28:39.60
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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