>>Bill: On today's "It
Is Written" program we have
00:00:01.70\00:00:02.70
the fourth and last
part of our study of 1st and
00:00:02.70\00:00:05.96
2Thessalonians. So,
you know the drill. Go get
00:00:05.96\00:00:11.36
your Bible, your pen and
a pad of paper because "It
00:00:11.36\00:00:12.40
Is Written" begins right now.
00:00:12.40\00:00:18.10
(Music)
00:00:19.30\00:00:30.23
Announcer: It has
stood the test of time..
00:00:30.66\00:00:33.16
God's book, The Bible.
00:00:33.40\00:00:36.56
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:36.80\00:00:41.00
It Is Written.
00:00:41.23\00:00:43.56
Sharing messages of
hope around the world.
00:00:43.80\00:00:48.10
(Music)
00:00:49.93\00:00:57.53
Let me welcome all of
our viewers to this weeks "It
00:00:58.10\00:00:59.13
Is Written"
program. I want to welcome
00:00:59.13\00:01:02.20
our returning guest, Dr.
00:01:02.20\00:01:02.66
George Knight. Dr. Knight,
welcome back again. >>Dr.
00:01:02.66\00:01:05.60
Knight: Thank you Bill.
00:01:05.60\00:01:06.10
>>Bill: Well, we've
come to the fourth and last
00:01:06.10\00:01:08.56
installment in this
four part series on exploring
00:01:08.56\00:01:12.03
Thessalonians and
you've lead us through that
00:01:12.03\00:01:12.96
That's also the name of
your book and at the end
00:01:12.96\00:01:17.60
we're going to give
folks a chance to get a website
00:01:17.60\00:01:21.26
where they can
acquire your book. You are
00:01:21.26\00:01:22.16
retired now? >>Dr.
Knight: Supposedly. >>Bill:
00:01:22.16\00:01:27.50
Although - supposedly
(laughter).>>Dr. Knight:
00:01:27.50\00:01:29.86
My wife doesn't think
so. >>Bill: That's right.
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Working more now. >>Dr.
00:01:30.86\00:01:32.10
Knight: My employer does.
00:01:32.10\00:01:32.63
I only half as much money.
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>>Bill: And you have
been a church pastor; you
00:01:33.16\00:01:34.90
have been a seminary
professor.>>Dr. Knight:
00:01:34.90\00:01:40.66
That's right.
00:01:40.66\00:01:41.03
>>Bill:.author, travelled
around the world and you
00:01:41.03\00:01:44.13
have always been very
gracious with your time
00:01:44.13\00:01:45.13
with "It Is Written" and
we thank you for that. So,
00:01:45.13\00:01:47.50
over the last three
weeks you have taken us through
00:01:47.50\00:01:51.56
Thessalonians, you've
given us some powerful
00:01:51.56\00:01:52.53
insights, once again as
we do each week we always
00:01:52.53\00:01:56.30
have some folks that
are joining us for the very
00:01:56.30\00:02:00.33
first time. Let's take,
just bring us quickly up
00:02:00.33\00:02:01.43
to speed as to where we
are and then we're going
00:02:01.43\00:02:03.86
to go right into, I guess,
it's 2Thessalonians. >>Dr.
00:02:03.86\00:02:09.30
Knight: 2Thessalonians.
00:02:09.30\00:02:09.83
Yeah. We've spent
three weeks on 1Thessalonians
00:02:09.83\00:02:12.23
recognizing that these
are the oldest Christian
00:02:12.23\00:02:13.20
documents that we have.
00:02:13.20\00:02:19.80
Nothing is older. Less
than 20 years after the
00:02:19.80\00:02:20.80
crucifixion of Jesus.
So, in Thessalonians we have
00:02:20.80\00:02:23.80
a pretty good view of
the earliest Christianity,
00:02:23.80\00:02:28.13
written 20 - 40 years
before the Gospels were
00:02:28.13\00:02:29.13
put into writing. >>Bill:
Wow. >>Dr. Knight: And, as
00:02:29.13\00:02:37.66
I've noted the last
three weeks, the very focal
00:02:37.66\00:02:41.26
point of these two
books is the Second Coming of
00:02:41.26\00:02:42.26
Jesus. They had a little
bit of a problem and they
00:02:42.26\00:02:50.43
had a question. They had
several questions. What's
00:02:50.43\00:02:56.06
going to happen to our
friends who've died? Are
00:02:56.06\00:02:57.03
they going to miss out?
00:02:57.03\00:02:58.30
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:02:58.30\00:02:58.76
Knight: We thought
Jesus was going to come and he
00:02:58.76\00:03:00.96
hasn't come. What, you
know.Paul says, no, don't
00:03:00.96\00:03:01.96
worry about it. Don't
worry about it. When Jesus
00:03:01.96\00:03:06.50
comes, he'll call
them forth from the graves.
00:03:06.50\00:03:11.43
They're sleeping in the
graves now. That's where
00:03:11.43\00:03:12.43
they are. They don't
know anything. They're just
00:03:12.43\00:03:15.80
sleeping. And when He
comes again; they'll be
00:03:15.80\00:03:21.10
resurrected; taken up
into the atmospheric heavens;
00:03:21.10\00:03:22.13
they'll meet Jesus there
and then those people who
00:03:22.13\00:03:28.26
are still alive will be
raptured or caught up to
00:03:28.26\00:03:32.66
meet them in the air.
00:03:32.66\00:03:33.16
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:03:33.16\00:03:33.60
Knight: Hey, nothing
secret about that. Open
00:03:33.60\00:03:36.30
graves; people being
caught up; thunder and
00:03:36.30\00:03:38.26
lightning and
trumpets; the voice of the
00:03:38.26\00:03:39.16
Archangel. But they've
got another question. When?
00:03:39.16\00:03:44.66
When will this happen?
We are anxious. We want to
00:03:44.66\00:03:50.80
know. And Paul basically
told them the same thing
00:03:50.80\00:03:51.76
that Jesus did, none
of your business. Your
00:03:51.76\00:03:56.40
business is to live
like child, children of the
00:03:56.40\00:04:00.33
light. >>Bill: Right.
00:04:00.33\00:04:00.83
>>Dr. Knight: Don't,
not, no, stay away from the
00:04:00.83\00:04:05.96
darkness, man.
>>Bill: Right. Right. >>Dr.
00:04:05.96\00:04:06.90
Knight: But walk
with Jesus. And we closed
00:04:06.90\00:04:09.10
last week with their
sanctification. That is,
00:04:09.10\00:04:15.16
they're not only being
set apart for holy use but
00:04:15.16\00:04:16.30
actually through the
Holy Spirit being sanctified
00:04:16.30\00:04:20.16
that is growing more
and more to be like Jesus.
00:04:20.16\00:04:25.03
Mentally, physically,
spiritually, the whole
00:04:25.03\00:04:26.00
person. >>Bill: The
whole package. >>Dr. Knight:
00:04:26.00\00:04:29.86
That's right. Well, all
of us belong to Jesus. Not
00:04:29.86\00:04:32.66
just our spiritual
nature but our bodies and our
00:04:32.66\00:04:33.66
minds and so all of
that is for holiness. >>Bill:
00:04:33.66\00:04:37.90
It's interesting.
Some folks will teach that
00:04:37.90\00:04:42.26
Jesus isn't concerned
about the physical and
00:04:42.26\00:04:43.23
here Paul seems to
suggest that, yeah, He is. >>Dr.
00:04:43.23\00:04:47.06
Knight: Yeah. Yeah,
I'm going to tell you the
00:04:47.06\00:04:50.06
truth. If your
bodies messed up, your mind
00:04:50.06\00:04:51.00
doesn't think well.
00:04:51.00\00:04:53.80
>>Bill: Yes. You're right.
00:04:53.80\00:04:54.36
>>Dr. Knight: And if
your mind doesn't think well
00:04:54.36\00:04:56.83
you don't make
good spiritual decisions
00:04:56.83\00:04:57.73
>>Bill: That's right.
00:04:57.73\00:04:58.80
>>Dr. Knight: Exercise
and proper diet are all part
00:04:58.80\00:04:59.83
of what it means to grow
more and more like Jesus.
00:04:59.83\00:05:02.30
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: Because the healthier I
00:05:02.30\00:05:05.86
am, the better I
can think; the better I
00:05:05.86\00:05:06.76
can think, the better
decisions I can make for
00:05:06.76\00:05:10.16
Jesus and how to love
my neighbor every day. Well
00:05:10.16\00:05:13.16
let's turn now to
2Thessalonians. >>Bill:
00:05:13.16\00:05:14.16
Okay. >>Dr. Knight: And
we really want to spend most
00:05:14.16\00:05:20.46
of our time on chapter
two. >>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:05:20.46\00:05:23.30
Knight: But there's,
there's an important part
00:05:23.30\00:05:24.26
down here in chapter one.
00:05:24.26\00:05:28.00
Remember, these
people are suffering under
00:05:28.00\00:05:28.93
persecution.>>Bill: Right.
00:05:28.93\00:05:33.36
>>Dr. Knight:.and Paul
himself was being kicked
00:05:33.36\00:05:34.33
from town to town. Now,
I think this is important
00:05:34.33\00:05:37.40
because in these two
books we have what we call a,
00:05:37.40\00:05:39.96
what we might call a
theology of suffering. And
00:05:39.96\00:05:40.96
part of that theology of
suffering and Jesus taught
00:05:40.96\00:05:47.53
in the Sermon on the
Mount. He said, "Blessed
00:05:47.53\00:05:51.13
are those who are
persecuted". >>Bill:
00:05:51.13\00:05:51.96
Right. >>Dr. Knight:
You consider yourselves,
00:05:51.96\00:05:55.26
yourself blessed?
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr. Knight: In
00:05:55.26\00:05:59.10
fact, in Luke he
says, 'jump for joy when
00:05:59.10\00:06:00.06
everything goes wrong'.
00:06:00.06\00:06:01.70
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight:
Hey, go and practice that
00:06:01.70\00:06:02.76
one. I'm preaching
that sermon, that verse some
00:06:02.76\00:06:04.63
weeks ago and the homework
assignment is, when things
00:06:04.63\00:06:09.53
go wrong I want you to
start jumping. >>Bill: To
00:06:09.53\00:06:10.53
rejoice. >>Dr. Knight: I
mean rejoice and jump for
00:06:10.53\00:06:14.66
joy. Why? Because God is
developing your character.
00:06:14.66\00:06:22.00
And Paul went
through his own over there in
00:06:22.00\00:06:22.96
2Corinthians, about
the 11th chapter and
00:06:22.96\00:06:26.26
he's talking about all
his religious persecutions and
00:06:26.26\00:06:28.90
he says, 'when I awake
that is when I am strong'
00:06:28.90\00:06:30.03
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:06:30.03\00:06:37.60
Knight: And in
Romans 5, tribulation is how
00:06:37.60\00:06:38.56
God uses to build our
character. >>Bill: Is it
00:06:38.56\00:06:47.36
in Philippians,
chapter three where he talks
00:06:47.36\00:06:50.26
about, you know,
having thrown everything out.
00:06:50.26\00:06:51.26
I took Christ and the
knowledge of Christ and he
00:06:51.26\00:06:54.80
talks about all the
things he gained when he took
00:06:54.80\00:06:56.63
Christ including
a companion in his
00:06:56.63\00:06:57.40
suffering. >>Dr.
Knight: That's right. That's
00:06:57.40\00:07:02.76
right. And I think this
is important because we have
00:07:02.76\00:07:07.86
so many people, even TV
preachers who are saying,
00:07:07.86\00:07:08.90
if you accept Jesus,
you've got faith nothing's
00:07:08.90\00:07:11.70
going to go wrong. Hey,
that's not the way Jesus'
00:07:11.70\00:07:15.00
life was. That's not
the way Paul's life was and
00:07:15.00\00:07:16.00
to be frank with you
mine hasn't shown up much
00:07:16.00\00:07:19.36
better. >>Bill: Yeah. How
was that old song 'I never
00:07:19.36\00:07:22.10
promised you a rose
garden'. Was there a song
00:07:22.10\00:07:23.06
like that? >>Dr.
Knight: That's right. But, you
00:07:23.06\00:07:24.80
know, he did promise us
something besides a thorn
00:07:24.80\00:07:28.00
too. >>Bill: That's
right. >>Dr. Knight: And
00:07:28.00\00:07:29.03
so, we'll pick up on
that right now. >>Bill: Okay.
00:07:29.03\00:07:31.63
>>Dr. Knight: Because
there will come a time.
00:07:31.63\00:07:33.83
Part of the theology
of suffering is there will
00:07:33.83\00:07:34.86
come a time when God
will make everything right.
00:07:34.86\00:07:39.00
And we find that in
1Thessalonians, the 1st
00:07:39.00\00:07:42.26
chapter.>>Bill:
2Thessalonians. >>Dr.
00:07:42.26\00:07:43.13
Knight: 2Thessalonians,
first chapter beginning in
00:07:43.13\00:07:50.30
verse five.>>Bill: Okay.
00:07:50.30\00:07:50.76
>>Dr. Knight: "This
is evidence that the
00:07:50.76\00:07:52.66
righteous judgment of
God that you may be made
00:07:52.66\00:07:54.90
worthy of the
kingdom of God for which you
00:07:54.90\00:07:55.93
are suffering".
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr. Knight:
00:07:55.93\00:07:59.70
So there's that theology
of suffering again. He's
00:07:59.70\00:08:01.70
using it to make us
worthy.>>Bill: Right.
00:08:01.70\00:08:02.63
>>Dr. Knight:.of God.
00:08:02.63\00:08:06.00
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:08:06.00\00:08:06.46
Knight: Developing our
character. And in verse
00:08:06.46\00:08:08.66
six, "Since indeed
God deems it just to repay
00:08:08.66\00:08:09.63
with affliction those
that afflict you" Oh, there's
00:08:09.63\00:08:11.93
two sides to this.
When God comes again, He's
00:08:11.93\00:08:16.40
going to reward the
righteous. We've already
00:08:16.40\00:08:17.33
studied about the
Second Coming but here's the
00:08:17.33\00:08:20.20
downside. 'Since indeed
God deems it just to repay
00:08:20.20\00:08:24.86
those will affliction
those that afflict you and
00:08:24.86\00:08:25.90
to grant rest with us to
you who are afflicted. And
00:08:25.90\00:08:29.73
the more Jesus is
revealed from heaven with His
00:08:29.73\00:08:33.80
mighty angels and flaming
fire, inflicting vengeance
00:08:33.80\00:08:34.86
upon those who do not
know God and upon those that
00:08:34.86\00:08:39.96
do not obey the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ".
00:08:39.96\00:08:44.83
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
Knight: Hey, that's important.
00:08:44.83\00:08:45.96
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: You don't just accept
00:08:45.96\00:08:48.16
the Gospel, you obey
the Gospel. >>Bill: Yeah.
00:08:48.16\00:08:49.73
That's very important.
00:08:49.73\00:08:50.23
That's right. >>Dr.
00:08:50.23\00:08:50.66
Knight: Yeah.
>>Bill: That's right. >>Dr.
00:08:50.66\00:08:52.50
Knight: "They shall
suffer the punishment of eternal
00:08:52.50\00:08:54.73
destruction and exclusion
from the presence of the
00:08:54.73\00:08:55.73
Lord". Verse 10, "When
He comes on that day to be
00:08:55.73\00:09:01.43
glorified in saints".
Hey, this is important, verse
00:09:01.43\00:09:05.33
nine, "They shall suffer
the punishment of eternal
00:09:05.33\00:09:06.33
destruction".
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr. Knight:
00:09:06.33\00:09:14.20
That is not perpetually
being destroyed. Book of
00:09:14.20\00:09:18.96
Revelation, the 21st
chapter calls this the
00:09:18.96\00:09:20.03
second death.
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr. Knight:
00:09:20.03\00:09:21.56
God is not some kind
of an infinite Hitler who
00:09:21.56\00:09:24.53
tortures people
forever and ever. >>Bill:
00:09:24.53\00:09:25.43
Throughout the ceaseless
ages of eternity. Yeah.
00:09:25.43\00:09:26.90
>>Dr. Knight: That's
right. The Bible says,
00:09:26.90\00:09:28.60
"They are burned
up". >>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:09:28.60\00:09:29.46
Knight: "Left neither
root nor branch." >>Bill:
00:09:29.46\00:09:31.83
Right. >>Dr. Knight: And
I think that that's just as
00:09:31.83\00:09:35.10
important when we're
talking about eternal
00:09:35.10\00:09:36.03
destruction. >>Bill: So,
it's the.>>Dr. Knight:.not
00:09:36.03\00:09:38.26
eternal destructing
>>Bill: Right. It's the
00:09:38.26\00:09:40.56
consequences are eternal.
00:09:40.56\00:09:41.10
>>Dr. Knight: That's
right. The results are
00:09:41.10\00:09:43.20
eternal. >>Bill: The
results are eternal. >>Dr.
00:09:43.20\00:09:44.20
Knight: That's right.
00:09:44.20\00:09:45.83
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:09:45.83\00:09:46.30
Knight: At least Adolf
Hitler had fine-tuned the
00:09:46.30\00:09:49.36
process of torture
but his victims eventually
00:09:49.36\00:09:50.33
died >>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:09:50.33\00:09:57.16
Knight: St.
Augustine helped the church
00:09:57.16\00:09:58.03
understand wrongly when
he said, well, God will just
00:09:58.03\00:10:00.30
perform a miracle.
He'll keep them alive so they
00:10:00.30\00:10:02.93
can be tortured forever
and ever. And, of course,
00:10:02.93\00:10:03.96
that's the best argument
against Christianity, is
00:10:03.96\00:10:07.43
eternal hell fire. >>Bill:
Probably the most powerful
00:10:07.43\00:10:11.10
one. That's right. >>Dr.
00:10:11.10\00:10:11.60
Knight: Oh yes. Yeah. You
cannot reconcile that with
00:10:11.60\00:10:13.43
a loving God. >>Bill:
Loving God. That's right.
00:10:13.43\00:10:14.43
>>Dr. Knight: No.
They will be as if they had
00:10:14.43\00:10:18.46
never been. >>Bill: And,
also, then that means that
00:10:18.46\00:10:20.20
the wicked would get
immortality also. >>Dr.
00:10:20.20\00:10:21.16
Knight: Not a very good
to have immortality who can't
00:10:21.16\00:10:23.70
live forever and ever
We've already studied that
00:10:23.70\00:10:26.66
in 1Corinthians:15
that, "It's only those who
00:10:26.66\00:10:27.60
believe in Jesus that
get immortality and not until
00:10:27.60\00:10:33.16
He comes again". You
don't believe in Jesus, you
00:10:33.16\00:10:36.30
don't get immortality.
00:10:36.30\00:10:36.80
Therefore, you can be
destroyed but you can't
00:10:36.80\00:10:39.50
live.>>Bill: Forever.
00:10:39.50\00:10:40.00
>>Dr. Knight:.immortal
life. >>Bill: That's
00:10:40.00\00:10:43.23
right. >>Dr. Knight:
Well, what we really want
00:10:43.23\00:10:44.30
to talk about here is
chapter. "Now concerning",
00:10:44.30\00:10:47.10
remember those words?
00:10:47.10\00:10:56.26
>>Bill: Yeah. That
means they had a question,
00:10:56.26\00:10:57.30
right? >>Dr. Knight:
Oh, they've got a question.
00:10:57.30\00:11:00.83
>>Bill: They've come
up with a question, right.
00:11:00.83\00:11:02.76
>>Dr. Knight: It's
going to show up right up
00:11:02.76\00:11:03.70
front "Now concerning
the Coming of our Lord, Jesus
00:11:03.70\00:11:07.10
Christ and our assembling
to meet Him, we beg you,
00:11:07.10\00:11:08.73
brethren, not to be
quickly shaken in mind or
00:11:08.73\00:11:09.80
excited, either by
Spirit or by word or by letter
00:11:09.80\00:11:12.73
purporting to be from us
to the effect that the day
00:11:12.73\00:11:17.96
of the Lord has come."
00:11:17.96\00:11:18.46
Now, the day of the
Lord is the Second Coming.
00:11:18.46\00:11:24.10
>>Bill: Second Coming.
00:11:24.10\00:11:24.60
>>Dr. Knight:.of Jesus.
00:11:24.60\00:11:25.10
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:11:25.10\00:11:27.63
Knight: So somehow.>>Bill:
So, is he saying that
00:11:27.63\00:11:28.66
someone had told them
the Lord had already come?
00:11:28.66\00:11:30.86
>>Dr. Knight: Yes.
Somehow the belief got loose in
00:11:30.86\00:11:34.63
this congregation,
Jesus had already come. But
00:11:34.63\00:11:35.73
how it got loose we
don't know. Paul says it might
00:11:35.73\00:11:42.73
have been by a
Spirit We'd probably mean
00:11:42.73\00:11:45.60
spiritual gifts.
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr. Knight: And
00:11:45.60\00:11:46.56
he had dealt with that
over in 1Thessalonians,
00:11:46.56\00:11:49.93
the fifth chapter
which we'll quickly look at.
00:11:49.93\00:11:55.70
1Thessalonians,
chapter five, verse 19, "Do not
00:11:55.70\00:11:56.86
quench the Spirit, do
not despise prophesying
00:11:56.86\00:12:01.23
but test everything.
Hold fast that which is good."
00:12:01.23\00:12:05.83
>>Bill: Oh, yes. Okay,
yes. Yeah. >>Dr. Knight:
00:12:05.83\00:12:06.80
So spiritual gifts,
especially the gift of
00:12:06.80\00:12:08.26
prophecy must have
been a controversial issue.
00:12:08.26\00:12:10.60
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:12:10.60\00:12:11.06
Knight: Some people
say, well, prophecy stopped
00:12:11.06\00:12:13.46
with the last apostle.
00:12:13.46\00:12:13.96
No, never, the Bible
never teaches that. But it does
00:12:13.96\00:12:18.33
teach us, don't despise
spiritual gifts including
00:12:18.33\00:12:19.36
prophecy but test them.
00:12:19.36\00:12:23.83
And Jesus offered a
test, just try their fruits
00:12:23.83\00:12:24.93
>>Bill: Right. >>Dr.
00:12:24.93\00:12:28.80
Knight: What kind of life?
00:12:28.80\00:12:29.36
What's the fruit of their
teaching? Test everything.
00:12:29.36\00:12:31.76
Hold fast which is good.
00:12:31.76\00:12:32.26
So, that's probably
what he meant by, well, they
00:12:32.26\00:12:37.56
might have got it by
a spirit. >>Bill: Okay.
00:12:37.56\00:12:38.50
>>Dr. Knight: And he
said, they might have got it by
00:12:38.50\00:12:41.73
a letter. Well, what
kind of letter might that be,
00:12:41.73\00:12:43.33
Paul? Uh, you're not
Paul are you? You're Bill.
00:12:43.33\00:12:44.33
>>Bill: Claiming to have
been from me, right? >>Dr.
00:12:44.33\00:12:46.26
Knight: Yeah. Yeah. >>Dr.
00:12:46.26\00:12:46.76
Knight: From Paul. That
somebody.>>Dr. Knight: But
00:12:46.76\00:12:49.10
Paul wants to straighten
them out. >>Bill:.wants to
00:12:49.10\00:12:51.43
sign my name to it. >>Dr.
00:12:51.43\00:12:51.96
Knight: So he's not
going to let them get away with
00:12:51.96\00:12:54.46
it twice. So, at the
end of 2Thessalonians he
00:12:54.46\00:12:55.50
writes his own signature,
in verse 17, "I, Paul,
00:12:55.50\00:12:58.66
write this greeting
with my own hand. This is the
00:12:58.66\00:13:05.00
mark and every letter
of mine. It is the way
00:13:05.00\00:13:05.96
I write". He signs it
so that nobody.>>Bill:
00:13:05.96\00:13:10.16
No counterfeits. >>Dr.
00:13:10.16\00:13:10.63
Knight: That's right. No
counterfeits. But somebody
00:13:10.63\00:13:13.56
told them that Jesus had
come again and either they
00:13:13.56\00:13:17.73
said they had a
vision about it or that Paul
00:13:17.73\00:13:18.70
had.>>Bill: Written
about it. >>Dr. Knight: Yeah.
00:13:18.70\00:13:24.56
>>Bill: May have
actually used his own writings.
00:13:24.56\00:13:26.23
>>Dr. Knight: And
then Paul responds to this
00:13:26.23\00:13:27.20
Verse 3, "Let no one
deceive you in any way".
00:13:27.20\00:13:29.20
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
Knight: Two things must happen.
00:13:29.20\00:13:38.06
"For that day will not
come until the rebellion
00:13:38.06\00:13:39.03
comes first and the man
of lawlessness is revealed.
00:13:39.03\00:13:46.06
The son of perdition who
opposes and exalts himself
00:13:46.06\00:13:51.80
against every so called
God or object of worship
00:13:51.80\00:13:52.80
so that he takes his
seat in the temple of God
00:13:52.80\00:13:57.60
proclaiming Himself to
be God." Wow. >>Bill: So he
00:13:57.60\00:14:05.03
can't come. He can't
have come yet. >>Dr. Knight:
00:14:05.03\00:14:06.06
No, he can't come yet.
00:14:06.06\00:14:07.36
>>Bill: Things
haven't happened. >>Dr.
00:14:07.36\00:14:08.23
Knight:.because the
great apostasy hasn't taken
00:14:08.23\00:14:12.83
place. Two things;
theapostasy has to come
00:14:12.83\00:14:15.13
and the man of lawlessness
has to arise. And you go
00:14:15.13\00:14:16.16
on to verse five, "Do
you not remember, that when I
00:14:16.16\00:14:21.70
was still with you, I
told you this?" So, once again
00:14:21.70\00:14:27.00
they're forgetting
what the great apostle had
00:14:27.00\00:14:28.10
taught them. But his
man of lawlessness. >>
00:14:28.10\00:14:33.63
Bill: Yes. That's what
my translation has actually.
00:14:33.63\00:14:39.30
The man of lawlessness.
00:14:39.30\00:14:39.83
>>Dr. Knight: That's
actually what the Greek
00:14:39.83\00:14:41.73
says, the man of
lawlessness. I think the
00:14:41.73\00:14:42.70
King James Version
says 'man of sin'. It's all
00:14:42.70\00:14:44.90
the same thing. This
is a character who's got a
00:14:44.90\00:14:50.20
profile that runs all the
way through scripture. The
00:14:50.20\00:14:51.26
only person to call
him "anti-Christ" is John.
00:14:51.26\00:14:55.90
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:14:55.90\00:14:56.33
Knight: In his
three letters he mentions
00:14:56.33\00:15:00.96
four or five times, the
anti-Christ is coming and
00:15:00.96\00:15:04.96
is at already at
work.same thing as Paul is going
00:15:04.96\00:15:06.00
to say here and he
says there's more than
00:15:06.00\00:15:09.90
one anti-Christ. Now,
anti-Christ can mean one
00:15:09.90\00:15:14.90
of two things. It
means against Christ or it
00:15:14.90\00:15:15.83
means to take the place
of Christ. >>Bill: I see.
00:15:15.83\00:15:20.43
>>Dr. Knight: And what
we have here is normally one
00:15:20.43\00:15:22.70
who's against Christ but
one who is claiming to be
00:15:22.70\00:15:23.80
like Him. And, of
course, the ultimate anti-Christ
00:15:23.80\00:15:28.76
is nothing less than
Satan. >>Bill: Satan,
00:15:28.76\00:15:32.96
sure. >>Dr. Knight:
What's it say over there in
00:15:32.96\00:15:33.96
Isaiah? Isaiah, the
14th chapter - I wish
00:15:33.96\00:15:35.53
we had more time for
this particular study but here
00:15:35.53\00:15:40.13
we have words about Satan.
00:15:40.13\00:15:40.70
Isaiah 14, verses 13
and 14, "You said in your
00:15:40.70\00:15:49.16
heart I will ascend to
heaven above the stars of
00:15:49.16\00:15:50.30
God; I will set my
throne on high; I will sit on
00:15:50.30\00:15:54.66
the Mount of Assembly in
the far north; I will sit
00:15:54.66\00:15:59.03
above the heights of the
clouds; I will make myself
00:15:59.03\00:16:00.13
like the Most High." Wow.
00:16:00.13\00:16:04.83
And verse 15 says
you'll be brought down to the
00:16:04.83\00:16:05.80
pit of hell. >>Bill: Yeah.
00:16:05.80\00:16:10.23
That's not going to
happen. >>Dr. Knight:
00:16:10.23\00:16:11.16
Yeah. Yeah. So, we
have starting here, talking
00:16:11.16\00:16:14.06
about Satan, not
starting here but certainly
00:16:14.06\00:16:20.16
continuing on, the
same thing in Revelation,
00:16:20.16\00:16:21.20
excuse me Ezekiel the
28th chapter, "But we have
00:16:21.20\00:16:24.16
certain impersonations
of the Satan as he goes down
00:16:24.16\00:16:29.50
through history". In
other words there are many
00:16:29.50\00:16:30.63
anti-Christs. Satan is
the primary anti-Christ but he
00:16:30.63\00:16:34.13
has agents.>>Bill: He
has to work through agents,
00:16:34.13\00:16:41.43
right? >>Dr. Knight:
Yeah. That's right. Just
00:16:41.43\00:16:42.46
like Jesus works through
people. >>Bill: Yes. Satan
00:16:42.46\00:16:45.53
does also. >>Dr.
Knight: The Devil works also.
00:16:45.53\00:16:47.73
Watch these words here.
We find the descriptury here
00:16:47.73\00:16:48.90
in 2Thessalonians,
verse 3 and 4, "The man of
00:16:48.90\00:17:00.73
lawlessness is revealed;
the son of perdition or
00:17:00.73\00:17:07.50
destruction who opposes
and exalts Himself above
00:17:07.50\00:17:08.50
every so called God
or object of worship, so
00:17:08.50\00:17:14.43
he takes His seat in the
temple of God proclaiming
00:17:14.43\00:17:18.93
Himself to be God".
00:17:18.93\00:17:19.50
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
Knight: Great claims, taking the
00:17:19.50\00:17:23.60
place of God, desecrating
the temple of God. You'll
00:17:23.60\00:17:24.76
find the same
character back in Daniel the 7th
00:17:24.76\00:17:31.56
chapter. >>Bill: Okay.
00:17:31.56\00:17:32.16
>>Dr. Knight: Daniel 7,
verse 25, "He shall speak
00:17:32.16\00:17:34.90
great words against the
Most High; shall wear out
00:17:34.90\00:17:51.43
the saints of the
Most High," that's the
00:17:51.43\00:17:52.43
persecution of God's
people, "and shall think
00:17:52.43\00:17:58.26
to change the times and
the law". He's lawless. He
00:17:58.26\00:18:05.00
puts himself above
the law. >>Bill: Above the
00:18:05.00\00:18:05.96
law. Right. >>Dr.
Knight: And, of course, this
00:18:05.96\00:18:09.60
is an historical personage
back here in time but once
00:18:09.60\00:18:12.40
again, verse 26, "But the
judgment shall sit and the
00:18:12.40\00:18:13.46
minion will be taken
away from Him." We find
00:18:13.46\00:18:17.16
the same character in
Revelation 13. Revelation
00:18:17.16\00:18:21.30
13, verses 5 and 6,
verses 5 and 6, "And the beast
00:18:21.30\00:18:22.46
was given a mouth
uttering hottie and blasphemous
00:18:22.46\00:18:32.83
words and was allowed to
exercise authority for 42
00:18:32.83\00:18:39.30
months and open his
mouth to utter blasphemies
00:18:39.30\00:18:40.43
against God, blasphemy
His name and his dwelling that
00:18:40.43\00:18:43.76
is his temple, and those
who dwell in heaven." And
00:18:43.76\00:18:49.53
the lawlessness part
here is in verse 17 at the end
00:18:49.53\00:18:50.56
of earthly history then
the dragon was angry with
00:18:50.56\00:18:55.63
the woman that is the
church and went off to
00:18:55.63\00:19:01.13
make war on the rest
of her offspring and those
00:19:01.13\00:19:02.16
who keep the Commandments
of God. This lawless
00:19:02.16\00:19:06.50
person is reflected on,
both in the Old Testament
00:19:06.50\00:19:10.90
and several places
in the New. Jesus calls
00:19:10.90\00:19:11.83
it in Matthew 24, "the
abomination that causes
00:19:11.83\00:19:16.00
desolation". So, we
need to begin to think about
00:19:16.00\00:19:22.03
who could this power be?
00:19:22.03\00:19:22.53
And the first thing
that we must never forget is
00:19:22.53\00:19:31.70
the basic power is Satan
himself. But Paul goes on
00:19:31.70\00:19:32.70
it's not merely Satan he
uses earthly agents. Verse
00:19:32.70\00:19:40.53
5, "Do you not
remember this, when I was still
00:19:40.53\00:19:46.73
with you, I told you
this". Verse six, "You
00:19:46.73\00:19:47.66
know what is restraining
him now so that he may be
00:19:47.66\00:19:52.16
revealed in his time. For
the mystery of lawlessness
00:19:52.16\00:19:55.96
is already at work, only
who, he who now restrains
00:19:55.96\00:19:56.96
it will do so until
he's out of the way". Well,
00:19:56.96\00:20:02.90
the closest parallel is
that God's restraining the
00:20:02.90\00:20:06.60
Devil. I think it's
Revelation 7, verse 1,
00:20:06.60\00:20:07.53
"The angels hold back
the four winds of strife
00:20:07.53\00:20:11.70
right before Jesus comes".
00:20:11.70\00:20:12.23
Verse 8, "And then
the lawlessness will be
00:20:12.23\00:20:18.06
revealed and the Lord,
Jesus will slay him with
00:20:18.06\00:20:20.83
the breath of his
mouth and destroy him by His
00:20:20.83\00:20:21.96
appearing and His coming.
00:20:21.96\00:20:25.36
The coming of the
lawless one, lawless one by the
00:20:25.36\00:20:26.40
activity of Satan will
be of all power and with
00:20:26.40\00:20:32.16
pretended signs and
wonders". This is an
00:20:32.16\00:20:36.76
interesting verse. In
Matthew 24, Jesus uses
00:20:36.76\00:20:37.73
practically the same
words. That somebody would
00:20:37.73\00:20:43.96
impersonate Him, a false
coming of Christ. And the
00:20:43.96\00:20:46.66
word 'coming' here is
the same word 'parasea'. The
00:20:46.66\00:20:47.66
lawless one, Satan will
do an impersonation.>>Bill:
00:20:47.66\00:20:53.76
Of the Second Coming.
00:20:53.76\00:20:54.23
>>Dr. Knight: That's
right. That's right. But
00:20:54.23\00:20:58.03
meanwhile, who are some
of his agents working now?
00:20:58.03\00:21:01.23
And this has been a
focal point of discussion
00:21:01.23\00:21:02.20
of those concerned
with prophecy down through
00:21:02.20\00:21:07.96
history. Even before the
Protestant Reformation of
00:21:07.96\00:21:13.30
the 1500's, Roman
Catholic theologians and thing,
00:21:13.30\00:21:14.33
you know, the Pope
himself who's making awful large
00:21:14.33\00:21:21.10
claims. You know, about
being able to forgive sins
00:21:21.10\00:21:25.83
and who he is. And some
Roman Catholic's began to
00:21:25.83\00:21:26.86
think, well, maybe
this is the Papal power.
00:21:26.86\00:21:29.90
No surprise that Martin
Luther joined that group.
00:21:29.90\00:21:34.70
As the beginning of
the Protestant Reformation
00:21:34.70\00:21:35.80
I read from
Luther, "The Pope, the real
00:21:35.80\00:21:41.00
anti-Christ, who is
raised himself over and set
00:21:41.00\00:21:44.70
himself against Christ.
00:21:44.70\00:21:45.36
For the Pope will not
permit Christians to be
00:21:45.36\00:21:48.56
saved except by his
own power". For Luther this
00:21:48.56\00:21:49.70
was not an issue. The
same thing with John Calvin,
00:21:49.70\00:21:53.50
the founder of so many
of the Protestant churches
00:21:53.50\00:21:59.03
today, he writes
in his Thessalonians,
00:21:59.03\00:21:59.90
in his commentary
on Thessalonians, "Paul
00:21:59.90\00:22:05.26
does not speak of
one individual but of a
00:22:05.26\00:22:07.80
kingdom that is to be
taken possession by Satan
00:22:07.80\00:22:08.80
We see this accomplished
in Popary." Again he goes
00:22:08.80\00:22:12.83
on and makes a similar
statement in other places.
00:22:12.83\00:22:17.76
The Westminster
Confession, the foundation
00:22:17.76\00:22:18.70
of Presbyterian
theology makes the same kind of
00:22:18.70\00:22:23.23
claims. Well, that's
one opinion. But certainly,
00:22:23.23\00:22:29.90
down through
history, people have not only
00:22:29.90\00:22:30.83
been concerned but as
the apostle John points
00:22:30.83\00:22:36.80
out, there's not one
anti-Christ, there are
00:22:36.80\00:22:42.23
many. Anybody who
makes these kinds of claims,
00:22:42.23\00:22:43.23
whether it be the
leader of a church, and I would
00:22:43.23\00:22:49.33
say that it could be
a leader of any kind of
00:22:49.33\00:22:52.36
church. >>Bill: Right.
00:22:52.36\00:22:52.86
>>Dr. Knight:
Certainly there are historic
00:22:52.86\00:22:55.13
anti-Christ's;
certainly Satan has been behind
00:22:55.13\00:22:56.10
every anti-Christ but
anybody who seeks to take
00:22:56.10\00:22:58.63
the place of Christ. You
know, some preachers even
00:22:58.63\00:23:03.26
have that problem.
>>Bill: Yeah. >>Dr. Knight:
00:23:03.26\00:23:04.36
Anybody who tries to
take the place of Christ
00:23:04.36\00:23:06.53
or is against Christ
is anti-Christ. That's the
00:23:06.53\00:23:14.46
meaning of anti-Christ.
To take the place of or to be
00:23:14.46\00:23:15.56
against. So, as we look
at history, as we look at
00:23:15.56\00:23:21.33
religious bodies
today, anybody, any person
00:23:21.33\00:23:27.00
claiming the prerogatives
of God, claiming the
00:23:27.00\00:23:28.06
authority that only
God and Jesus have reserved
00:23:28.06\00:23:34.43
to themselves that is
always one function of
00:23:34.43\00:23:40.56
anti-Christ. >>Bill:
The pharoses' at one point
00:23:40.56\00:23:41.70
thought Jesus was speaking
blasphemy. >>Dr. Knight:
00:23:41.70\00:23:47.60
That's right. >>Bill:
When he offered to forgive
00:23:47.60\00:23:50.53
someone sins. >>Dr.
00:23:50.53\00:23:51.13
Knight: That's right.
He said, "Who can forgive
00:23:51.13\00:23:54.76
sins but God alone". He
had a point. Jesus knew He
00:23:54.76\00:23:55.83
had a point. So he
said, hey, which is easier
00:23:55.83\00:24:00.50
to forgive sin or
heal a body. In order to
00:24:00.50\00:24:05.43
demonstrate it, that I'm
not a fake-o, I will heal
00:24:05.43\00:24:06.43
the body and forgive
the sin. >>Bill: So, if he
00:24:06.43\00:24:10.83
hadn't been God He
would have been guilty of
00:24:10.83\00:24:15.06
blasphemy, and thus, an
anti-Christ. >>Dr. Knight:
00:24:15.06\00:24:16.23
That's right. Yeah.
00:24:16.23\00:24:18.86
Anybody who claims to
be able to forgive sin has
00:24:18.86\00:24:19.86
just fallen into the
same pit. >>Bill: That is
00:24:19.86\00:24:24.73
an attribute exclusive
to God. >>Dr. Knight: That's
00:24:24.73\00:24:28.20
right. That's right. And
so, it's, we have this guy
00:24:28.20\00:24:29.23
sitting in the temple
of God thinking he's like
00:24:29.23\00:24:33.83
God, and this is Satan
all the way through, but down
00:24:33.83\00:24:38.30
through history
Satan has used different
00:24:38.30\00:24:39.20
individuals. And to
put it, to be very bluntly
00:24:39.20\00:24:45.96
with you, you and
I.>>Bill: We're all
00:24:45.96\00:24:49.76
susceptible. >>Dr. Knight:
We could be against Christ
00:24:49.76\00:24:50.86
or take the place of
Christ in our ministries.
00:24:50.86\00:24:56.20
>>Bill: That's right.
00:24:56.20\00:24:56.66
>>Dr. Knight: Satan is
out there to pervert every
00:24:56.66\00:24:59.63
human person. That's
how come, Bill, I always say
00:24:59.63\00:25:02.93
the 11th Commandment
is 'thou shall never trust
00:25:02.93\00:25:04.06
a theologian, thou
shall never trust a preacher'.
00:25:04.06\00:25:06.76
You test preachers. And
what do you test them by?
00:25:06.76\00:25:11.03
The word of God. >>Bill:
God's word. >>Dr. Knight:
00:25:11.03\00:25:12.03
Oh boys, any church,
any preacher, anybody who
00:25:12.03\00:25:15.36
claims to have authority
from God must be tested by
00:25:15.36\00:25:21.03
this word. And by the
way that's another sub-theme
00:25:21.03\00:25:22.03
that runs throughout
these letters. Test everything
00:25:22.03\00:25:27.20
by the word of God. Then
you're safe. >>Bill: Thank
00:25:27.20\00:25:32.86
you Dr. Knight. Wow,
that was powerful. Thank you.
00:25:32.86\00:25:33.86
Let us pray. Gracious
and loving, heavenly Father,
00:25:33.86\00:25:40.20
we thank you for
your kindness, mercy, your
00:25:40.20\00:25:43.96
grace towards each and
every one of us. Father, I
00:25:43.96\00:25:45.00
pray that you may
dispatch your holy spirit to the
00:25:45.00\00:25:49.83
lives of each and every
one of us, Father. May we
00:25:49.83\00:25:54.70
be those that
reflect Jesus Christ, Father
00:25:54.70\00:25:55.63
Banish the evil one from
our lives. That those that
00:25:55.63\00:26:00.56
we come in contact
with may know that we, too,
00:26:00.56\00:26:06.86
have been with Jesus.
00:26:06.86\00:26:07.36
In his name we pray,
Amen >>Dr. Knight: Amen.
00:26:07.36\00:26:11.50
(Music)
00:26:11.86\00:26:26.93
>>Bill: You know, we
want to encourage all
00:26:28.53\00:26:29.40
of our viewers to ground
themselves in God's word.
00:26:29.40\00:26:31.50
And every week we try
to make resources available
00:26:31.50\00:26:35.13
to help you and
here's one, it's a special
00:26:35.13\00:26:36.06
edition of the Signs
of the Times magazine.
00:26:36.06\00:26:39.83
This edition is called
"History's Greatest Hoax".
00:26:39.83\00:26:44.16
It is our gift to you.
00:26:44.16\00:26:44.66
Here is the information
you need in order to get
00:26:44.66\00:26:49.00
your copy.
00:26:49.00\00:26:50.56
>>Bill: Well Dr. Knight
we've come to the end of
00:27:48.70\00:27:49.70
our series. Thank you so
much for leading us out in
00:27:49.70\00:27:52.46
this. There was probably
so much more we could talk
00:27:52.46\00:27:55.93
about. Dr. Knight has
put together a commentary
00:27:55.93\00:27:56.93
on Thessalonians called
"Exploring Thessalonians".
00:27:56.93\00:28:03.20
If you visit our
website itiswrittencanada.ca,
00:28:03.20\00:28:07.00
there you will find a
link that will take you
00:28:07.00\00:28:08.00
to a site where you
can purchase this book and
00:28:08.00\00:28:12.06
all of Dr. Knight's other
books. They are tremendous
00:28:12.06\00:28:15.53
resources. We hope and
pray that we will be back
00:28:15.53\00:28:16.53
together again next week.
00:28:16.53\00:28:20.43
Until then, remember,
man shall not live by bread
00:28:20.43\00:28:21.46
alone but by every
word that proceeds from
00:28:21.46\00:28:25.80
the mouth of God.
00:28:25.80\00:28:32.00
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
00:28:32.90\00:28:33.86