QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (46)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are questions people have asked that really make one wonder:  “Who sits around and thinks of these things?”

1.      Is it wrong for a vegetarian to eat animal crackers?

2.      Can you cry underwater?

3.      How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the mornings?

4.      Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?

5.      Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food?

 

B.      I do not have the answer to these types questions.

 

C.     Fortunately, we are not here to do that.  We are here to answer your questions about Bible and spiritual things.  Yes, tonight is our Q&A Night.

 

D.    In this lesson, we will be answering two questions.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Instrumental Music

 

A.    Stated:  Explain why we don’t use instruments of music.  Will it cause us to be lost if we do?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      The answer to this question involves authority.

a.      We must have divine authority for the things we do in our worship and service to God.

b.      Two verses:

1)      Colossians 3:17

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

a)      The words “in the name of the Lord Jesus” indicate by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

b)      Example:  “Stop in the name of the law,” that is, by the authority of the law.

2)      Matthew 28:20

 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

a)      Jesus commanded His disciples to teach the things He had commanded.

b)      We can do not more or less than the apostles.  We, too, can only teach what is commanded.

c.       The question:  “What has been authorized?”  “What has been commanded?”

2.      The answer to these questions is:  “We have been authorized and commanded to sing.”

a.      Two verses:

1)      Ephesians 5:19

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

 

2)      Colossians 3:16

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

b.      These are just two of several verses that we could bring forth that authorize singing. 

c.       There are no verses in the New Testament that authorize the playing of instrumental music.

3.      There are many objections that people will raise in an attempt to approve of instrumental music. 

a.      One of the main objections is that instruments of music are authorized in places such as Psalm 150:3.

 

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet:  praise him with the psaltery and harp.

 

b.      Answer:  There is a distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

1)      The Old Testament is no longer our authority. 

2)      We are under the authority of the New Testament (Rom. 7:4, 6).

 

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God….But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  Conversion During the Millennium

 

A.    Stated:  Can a person who did not depart with Jesus at the rapture be converted to a believer during the millennium and then go to heaven.

 

B.      Answer #1:

1.      This question is based upon a doctrine that is referred to as “premillennialism.”

a.      Jesus came to establish and earthly kingdom the first time He came to earth.

b.      However, He was rejected by the Jews.

c.       The Church Age was instituted when Jesus left the earth and ascended back to the Father.

d.      Jesus is going to come again to establish His kingdom on earth where He will rule over all kingdoms in the city of Jerusalem for 1000 years.

e.       After this will be the destruction of the earth, final judgment, and man’s eternity in either heaven or hell.

2.      Premillennialism teaches more than one “Second Coming” of Jesus.

a.      Jesus was will come without observation to rapture the saints from the earth.

b.      There will be a period of seven years wherein there will be The Great Tribulation on the earth.  (NOTE:  Some premils believe that the church will have to endure the first 3-1/2 years of the tribulation, then it will be raptured).

c.       At the end of the seven year period, Jesus will come to establish His kingdom.

3.      The one asking the question is wondering if anyone during the seven-year tribulation period can be converted and go to heaven.

a.      The saints are not on the earth.

b.      During the tribulation only the wicked are upon the earth.

4.      Two different answers:

a.      “Millions of people will receive Jesus as their Savior during the 7-year Tribulation period” (“People Will Get Saved During the Tribulation, David J. Stewart, www.soulwinning.info/prophecy/tribulation_converts.htm).

b.      “The only true servants of God ministering to the world during the Tribulation will be the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-12).  There is no indication that they will baptize anyone” (“Can people be saved during the coming Great Tribulation?”, https://rcg.org/questions/p100.a.html).

 

C.     Answer #2:  The Bible does not teach the doctrine of Premillennialism.

1.      Jesus did establish His kingdom when He came the first time.

a.      The Colossians had been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13).

b.      John said that he, too, was in the kingdom (Rev. 1:9).

2.      Jesus is presently reigning and will deliver the kingdom back to the Father when the resurrection occurs (I Cor. 15:22-26).

 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

 

3.      The church is not a temporary expedient in the plan of God.  The church was in the eternal plan of God (Eph. 3:8-11).

4.      The passage that mentions “the tribulation” is Matthew 24:29.  The context of the passage is the fall of the city of Jerusalem, not the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (See Matt. 24:34).

 

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

 

5.      There is only one passage that speaks of any kind of rapture of the saints (I Thess. 4:16-17). 

a.      One thing that is not discussed are the last words of verse 17.  “…and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 

b.      The righteous dead and living would “meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be…”

c.       The word “so” is an adverb of manner.  From thenceforth, we will be with the Lord in the air.  There will be no return to the earth for a thousand years.

6.      The Lord came an accomplished His mission of redemption.

He purchased the church with His blood.

The church and the kingdom are one and the same.

The gospel must be heard and obeyed for men to be saved.

When men are saved, they are added by the Lord to the church.

One day, Jesus will return one time to receive His own unto Himself.

When He returns, all the dead will be raised and the earth will be destroyed.

There will be the final judgment.

All will either depart into heaven or hell.

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We have looked at two doctrines of men in this lesson.

1.      The use of instrumental music in worship

2.      The doctrine of premillennialism

 

B.      We have briefly refuted both doctrines. 

 

C.     It is sad that men seem to want that which is false rather than that which is true.

 

D.    The premil doctrine that some can be save during the tribulation would give some who are lost an unfair advantage. 

1.      They would know the righteous had been raptured.

2.      They would be part of the Great Tribulation.

3.      They would know that the Lord would be returning in exactly seven years.

 

E.      We do not know and will never know when the Lord is going to return. 

1.      We only have right now that is certain when it comes to our salvation.

2.      II Corinthians 6:2b

 

…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.