Jesus Is Coming Again
Chapter 15

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Israel Is to Be Restored. But, perhaps, you say: "I don't believe the Israelites are to be restored to Canaan, and Jerusalem rebuilt." Dear reader! have you read the declarations of God's word about it? Surely nothing is more plainly stated in the Scriptures. We would that we had space to quote the passages, but we can only give you a portion of the references. We beg of you to read them thoughtfully. Divest yourself of prejudice and preconceived notions, and let the Holy Spirit show you, from His word, the glorious future of God's chosen people, "who are beloved" (Rom. 11 :28), and dear unto Him as "the apple of His eye." Zech. 2 :8. 1st. God calls Abraham. Gen. 12:1.(1)

2nd. God's promise to Abraham. Gen. 12:2-7.

      "       "          "     Gen. 13:14-17.
      "       "          "     Gen. 15:18.
      "       "          "     Gen. 17:8.
      "       "        Isaac.  Gen. 26:1-5.
      "       "        Jacob.  Gen. 28:1-15.
      "       "          "     Gen. 35:10-12.

3rd, The land described. Ex. 23:31; Nu. 34; Deut. 11:24; Deut, 34:1-4; Josh. 1:2-6.
4th. The land partially possessed. 1 Kings 4:21. 5th. Punishment prophesied for disobedience. Lev, 26:14-39; Deut. 4:22; 28:16; 31:16. 6th. Israel's sins. Judges 2:11-19; 1 Sam. 8:6; 2 Kings 21:11; 2 Kings 24:3; Jer. 16:4; and many others, ESPECIALLY Mat. 27:26. 7th, The promises to be remembered and restoration assured: Lev. 26:40-45, especially verses 42, 44, 45, Deut. 4:30-31, 30:1-10, 2 Sam. 7:10-11, Joel 2:18-32. Acts 15:13-16,-very important, as it is the apostle's summary of the prophets. And now, reader, if you have faithfully studied these passages, or if you have even read them, do you wonder that the great mass of Jews, at the present time, have an abiding faith that they are to be returned to Canaan? All the orthodox Jews tenaciously cling to this hope; and shall we, who have accepted so much greater light, refuse this overwhelming testimony of the Word? God forbid. It may be that you say, "These prophesies were fulfilled in the return from Babylon." Not so, that was the FIRST TIME. But there is to be a Second Restoration. "And It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand AGAIN the SECOND TIME to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the Islands of the sea." Isa. 11:11. In the first restoration only those who were MINDED came back from Babylon (Ezra 7:13), while many remained both there, and in Egypt and elsewhere. But in the future, or second restoration, not one will be left. "If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee." Dent. 30:4. "Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the ear and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, give up; and to the south, keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; EVEN far, and ONE that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him," Isa. 43:5-7. "For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 1, even 1, will both search my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day; and I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel." Ezek. 34:11-13. "Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led Into captivity, among the heathen; but I have gathered them unto their own land, and HAVE LEFT NONE OF THEM ANY MOPX THERE." Ezek. 39:28-29. In the first restoration it was only Jews who returned. In the second, or future restoration, it will be both Judah (the two tribes) and Israel (the ten tribes). "In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an Inheritance unto your fathers." Jer. 3:18. "And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, EVEN ALL OF IT, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded." Ezek. 36:10. Ezekiel was directed to take two sticks, representing Judah and Joseph, which should be joined and become one stick in his hand, and when the people enquired what it meant, he was directed to- say unto them: "Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them Into their own land: and I will make them ONE NATION In the land upon the, mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them ALL and they shall be No MORE two nations, neither shall they be divided Into two kingdoms any more at all." Ezek. 37:15-22. At the first restoration they returned to be overthrown and driven out again. But in the second, they shall return to remain, no more to go out. They shall be exalted and dwell safely, and the Gentile nations shall flow unto them. Permanent Restoration "I will plant them upon their land, and they SHALL NO ,MORE BE PULLED UP out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord their God." Amos 9:15. "And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beasts of the land devour them: but they shall DWELL SAFELY, and none shall make them afraid." Ezek. 34:28. "And I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: -yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my, people Israel;-and thou Shalt NO MORE HENCEFORTH BEREAVE THEM OF MEN." Ezek. 36:11-12. "Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that- no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a Joy of many generations. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shall suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob." Isa, 60:15-16. All Nations Shall now unto Israel. "As I Live saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, a bride doeth.. I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall 'bring thy sons In their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet." Isa. 49:18, 22, 23. "But In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow into it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk In His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Mic. 4:1-2. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; it shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the Inhabitants of many cities And the Inhabitants of one city, shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will also go. Yea, MANY PEOPLE and STRONG NATIONS shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that Is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Zech. 8:20-29. "And it shall come to pass, THAT EVERY ONE THAT IS LEFT OF ALL THE NATIONS which came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." Zech. 14:16. In the first Restoration, because of their blindness, and hard, stony hearts, they rejected and killed Jesus. But in the future Restoration they shall REPENT of all this, and have CLEAN HEARTS, and ACCEPT of CHRIST, who will be their King. Look Upon Me "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have PIERCED, AND THEY SHALT MOURN FOR HIM, AS ONE MOURNETH FOR HIS ONLY SON, AND SHALL BE IN BITTERNESS P014 HIM, AS ONE THAT IS IN BITTERNESS FOR HIS FIRST- BORN. In that day there shall be a great mourning In Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon -In the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the 'family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart." Zech. 12:10-14. "They shall Rome with weeping and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a. straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim Is my first-born. Hear the word of the Lord, 0 ye nations, and declare It In the isles afar off, and say, He that scattereth Israel will gather him. and keep him, as a shepherd doth his Bock. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their INWARD I-ARTS, AND WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your Idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you. and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people. and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for the corn, and will increase It, and lay no famine upon you." Ezek. 36:p4-29. "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their Idols nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwellIng places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: . . . and they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they and their children and their children's children, forever: and my servant David shall be their prince, forever, . . . my tabernacle shall also be with them: yea, I will be their God and they shall be ray people." Ezek. 37:23-27 "And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and Increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. Behold, the days ,come, saith the Lord, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute Judgment and Justice In the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this to his name whereby he shall be called, 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. [Jehovah, Tsidkenuj Jer. 23:3-6. "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and 'he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.- Ezek. 34:23-24. Nothing has ever yet been built like the temple which Ezekiel describes in chapters 40 to 48, and this includes a definite description of the location of each tribe, as they shall be settled in this great future restoration. See Ch. 48. Confusing Israel with the Church It would seem that such overwhelming testimony would convince every fair-minded reader, that there is a glorious future restoration in store for Israel. And yet, many say, that we must interpret all this Scripture "spiritually," and they fritter away the point and the force of such explicit declarations, in attempting to apply them to the persecuted Church. This is a very great error, and we believe it has arisen, principally, from a misunderstanding of Paul's arguments in his epistles. He does not confound Israel with the Church when he says, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." Nor does he confound the Church with Israel when he makes us children of Abraham by faith; but he demonstrates that we all stand by faith alone. In I Cor. 10:32,17 he makes a clear distinction between the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church of God. There are special blessings for the Church, and special blessings for Israel He plainly shows that not all the natural seed are true Israelites. He only is a Jew who has circumcision of heart in the spirit." And though multitudes of Israel have passed away in unbelief, still Paul distinctly declares that there is a remnant WHICH SHALL BE SAVED.10 He so loved them that he could sacrifice himself, and even be separated from Christ for their sakes.20 He saw their future glory, as the natural branches yet to be grafted into their own olive tree, which should be nothing less than life from the dead .21 Jesus said, in Luke 21:24, "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." And Paul understood this mystery, that when "the fullness of the Gentiles be come in," "there should come out of Zion the Deliverer, who should turn away ungodliness from Jacob!' Rom. 11:25-26. And this is fully confirmed by the following: In Amos 8 and 9, we read of the awful calamities which should come upon Israel. And not until- they had been SIFTED AMONG ALL NATIONS 'would the Lord gather -and plant them, and raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen. When the apostles and elders were gathered in the first council at Jerusalem, considering this same question about Israelites and the Church, the Holy Spirit directed the mind of James to this very prophecy in Amos, to show that during this sifting of Israel, God was to TAKE OUT of the Gentiles a people to His name, and AFTER THIS to build again the tabernacle of David. Acts 15:13-17. So we see that these restoration prophecies can not be applied to the Church, which is first to be TAKEN OUT before Israel and Jerusalem are to be restored. Again, one of the most specific prophecies of their restoration is addressed, not to the people, but to the MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL, which leaves no possible doubt as to the LITERAL MEANING intended. The Day of Jacob's Trouble Surely Israel SHALL BE RESTORED; but there is an AWFUL TIME OF TROUBLE awaiting her. Their sins are mountain high. Upon them is the guilt of innocent blood, even the precious-blood of Jesus, Christ. Mat. 27:25. The faithful prophet saw it when he wrote: "And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. "For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. "Ask ye now, and see whether 9. man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his -hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness. "Alas! for that day is great, so that none Is like It: It is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of It." Jer. 30:4-7. "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations." Ezek. 36:31. Yes, they shall repent and loathe themselves. They "shall pass through the sea with affliction." Many shall die,, but the third part shall be saved. "And I will bring the THIRD PART through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold Is tried; they shall call on my name and I will hear them; I will say, it is my people; and they shall Say,, the Lord Is my God." Zech. 13:9. All this is intimately connected with the coming of Christ, not at the Rapture, but at the Revelation. For we read, "When the Lord shall build up Zion, Hz SHALL APPEAR IN His GLORY.'' Psa. 102:16. It is when He appears with His saints (the Church) in flaming fire to execute judgment (2 Thes. 1:7-10; Jude 14) upon the nations and upon Israel, who are the third party in Mat. 25:36, and who are not to be reckoned among the nations. Nu. 23:9. It is when He sits as a refiner and purifier. "Behold I will send- my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. "But who may abide the day of His coming? and who, shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering In righteousness. "Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. "And I will come near you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling In his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts." Mal. 3:1-5. "He shall indeed refine Israel in the furnace of affliction. 1125 And they shall arise and shine, for THEIR LIGHT SHALT COME.26 Arise and shine In youth immortal, Thy light is come, thy King appears! Beyond the centuries' swinging portal, Breaks a new dawn-THE THOUSAND YEARS! We might fill a book with comments upon how Israel shall be restored, but all we have desired to do was to show that it is an incontrovertible fact of prophecy, and that it is intimately connected with our Lord's appearing, and this we trust we have satisfactorily 'accomplished. The detail of the manner of their restoration, and of their repentance and acceptance of Christ, is not so important to us. For those who are of the Church are to be taken away first, in the Rapture, and escape all these things through which Israel must pass.27 True, many have found the study of this detail a rich blessing, and we give the result which one has reached on pages 187 to 195, and yet we believe that we cannot now discern the order of these things so clearly as Israel will in the great rush of events, after the Church is taken away, and when the Book is more completely unsealed and opened. Dan. 12:4. It is enough for us to know that it will be in the LATTER DAYS (Isa. 2:2) that Antichrist is to be revealed and destroyed by Jesus the King of the Jews, who is coming (2 Thes. 2:8), and that Israel, His people, "are at hand to come." Ezk. 36:8

Jesus Is Coming Again Practical Doctrine
Chapter 17

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We have asserted that this truth of the coming of the Lord is eminently practical. In proof of this, we here: append the following references, to show how Jesus and the Apostles nsed the prophecies of His coming again as a motive to incite us.

1. To watchfulness,- Mat. 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:32- 37; Lu. 12:35-38; Rev. 16:15.
2. To Sobriety,- 1 Thes. 5 :2-6; 1 Pet. 1 :13; 4:7; 5 :8.
 3. To repentance,- Acts 3:19-21; Rev. 3:3.
4. To fidelity,- Mat. 25:19-21; Lu. 12:42-44; 19:12-13.
 5. Not to be ashamed of Christ,- Mar. 8:38.
6. Against worldliness,- Mat. 16 :26-27
 7. To moderation or mildness,- Phil. 4:5.
8. To patience,- Heb. 10:36-37; James 5:7-8.
9. To mortification of fleshly lusts,- Col. 3 :3-5.
10. To sincerity,- Phil. 1 :9-10.
11. To the practical sanctification of the entire being,- 1 Thes. 5 :23.
 12. To ministerial faithfulness,- 2 Tim. 4 :1-2.
13. To induce obedience to the Apostle's in- junctions,- 1 Tim. 6 :13-14.
14. To pastoral diligence and purity,- 1 Pet. 5 :2-4.
15. To purify ourselves,- 1 John 3 :2-3. 16. To abide in Christ,- 1 John 2 :28.
17. To endure manifold temptations and the severest trial of faith,- 1 Pet. 1 :1.
18. To bear persecution for the sake of our Lord,- 1 Pet. 4 :13. I
19. To holy conversation and godliness,- 2 Pet. 3 :11-13.
20. To brotherly love,- 1 Thes. 3 :12-13.
 21. To keep in mind our heavenly citizenship'- Phll. 3 :20-21.
22. To love the second coming of Christ,- 2 Tim. 4 :1-8.
23. To look for Him,- Heb. 9 :21,28
24. To confidence that Christ will finish the work,- Phil. 1:6.
25. To hold fast the hope firm unto the end,- Rev. 2:25; 3:ll.
26. To separation from worldly lusts and to live Godly,- Titus 2:ll-13.
 27. To watchfulness because of its suddenness,- Lu. 17 :24-30.
28. To guard against hasty judgment,- 1 Cor. 4 :5.
29. To the hope of a rich reward,- Mat. 19 :27-28,
 30. To assure the disciples of a time of rejoicing,- 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thes. 2:19.
31. To comfort the apostles in view of Christ's departure from them,- John 14:3; Acts 1:ll.
32. Practical faith in the second coming, is a crowning grace and assurance of blamelessness in the day of the Lord,- 1 Cor. 1 :4-8.
33. It is the principal event for which the believer waits,- 1 Thes. 1 ;9-10.
34. It is declared to be the time of reckoning with the servants,- Mat. 25 :19.
 35. Of judgment for the living' nations,- Mat. 25 :31-46.
 36. Of the resurrection of the saints,- 1 Cor. 15 :23.
37. Of the manifestation of the saints,- 2 Cor. 5:10; Col. 3:01..-
 38. It is declared to be the source of consolation to those who sorrow over the dead who sleep in Jesus,- 1 Thes. 4:14-18...,

39. It is declared to be the time of Tribulation to unbelievers,- 2 Thes. 1 :7-9.
 40. It is proclaimed every time the Lord's Supper is celebrated,- 1 Cor. 11 :26. Such are some of the uses made of this doctrine in the r; New Testament. It is employed to arm' the appeals, to point the arguments, and to enforce the exhortations. What is there more PRACTICAL in any other doctrine' We would that we had space to give the passages referred to in full. But it will be a greater blessing to you, dear reader, if you will go to the Word and search them out.

We have made no distinction between those passages which refer to the Rapture, and those which refer to the Revelation, both classes being equally used as a motive for the practical purposes mentioned. The following outline and arrangement of Scripture has been taken principally from a little pamphlet published in London. It is a concise view of the pre-millennial coming, with plain proof-texts of the same, conveniently arranged for reference and study. As the texts cited are necessarily brief, it will be found of great profit to read the context of each in the Word. We believe it will enable every prayerful reader to apprehend the order of events that pertain to the coming of Christ, both as THE BRIDEGROOM and as THE KING

properity Gospel pimps Preacher

Was Christ rich?

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Sunday, October 22, 2006) published an article with the title, "Was Jesus Rich?" The subtitle of the article was, "Swanky messiah not far-fetched in Prosperity Gospel." The article says that Christians have sung for many years about Jesus as the poor baby "asleep in a manger with a crib for his bed." According to the article, Creflo Dollar, a popular television evangelist, denies that view of Jesus. He argues that Jesus Christ became wealthy because of the gifts from the kings who came to visit him when he was born. The kings of east brought to him and to his family gold, frankincense and myrrh. In fact, according to Creflo Dollar, Jesus had so much money he had to have an accountant to keep track of his money. He affirms that Jesus wore such expensive clothing that the Roman soldiers who participated in his crucifixion gambled for his robe. Dollar asserts: "He was rich, he was whole, and I use those words interchangeably" (p. MS-1).

 

Incidentally, I might be in imminent danger in discussing and exposing the errors of Creflo Dollar and other prosperity preachers. I heard Dollar say one time that we must not mess with God's anointed. Apparently he considers himself to be God's anointed. The article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Dollar's preaching on television raise a number of great concerns for all sincere Bible students. For example, is there even one reputable Bible scholar in the world—conservative, liberal, radical or otherwise—who believes that Jesus was rich? Creflo Dollar is a very articulate speaker, but he is not a Bible scholar. O I am aware that many Bible scholars are way out in left field, but not all of them are. Not one of the so-called prosperity preachers—not T. D. Jakes, nor Oral Roberts, nor Eddie Long—is a Bible scholar. I am not being hypercritical, but that is a fact.

 

How much gold, frankincense and myrrh would it have taken to make Jesus rich? Did the wise men from the east bring an once or a pound or a wagonload of gold?    Frankincense and myrrh were very expensive items, but no one—not Creflo Dollar and no one else—knows how much of these items the wise men brought to Jesus. The only reason the prosperity preachers maintain that Jesus was rich is to try to justify their own lust for riches. There is not a man on earth who knows how much gold, frankincense and myrrh our Lord and his family received at his birth. There is one thing for sure, however, those gifts did not make Christ rich. How do we know that?

 

The apostle Paul sought to motivate and to comfort the Corinthians and faithful people through the ages by writing: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). Have Creflo Dollar and the other prosperity gospel preachers ever read this verse? If they have read it, they almost certainly will avoid preaching any sermons on it. If they examined the verse carefully, they would know that it contradicts their view that Jesus was rich. The simple and inspiring truth of this verse cannot be harmonized with the so-called "health and wealth gospel." Let us examine every expression in this beautiful passage.

 

What did Paul mean by the clause, "Though he was rich?" The answer to my question is very easy to discover. Jesus Christ owned the entire universe since he was its Creator. These familiar words from the gospel according to John confirm that truth. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:1-3). The apostle Paul informed the Colossian Christians: Christ "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Col. 1:15-17). The author of Hebrews agrees with both John and Paul. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days, spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (Heb. 1:1-2). Would you not agree that the One who made the world and is heir of all things was rich beyond our comprehension?

 

Jesus Christ was rich when he existed with the Father in heaven, but because of his infinite love for fallen humanity, he became poor when he came to this earth. Just how poor was he when he walked this earth that he himself had created and continues to keep operating? Luke the Greek physician recorded these words from Jesus Christ himself: "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head" (Lk. 9:58). I grew up in a community that had its share of poor people—including my own family—but I did not know one person who did not have a place to lay his head. Not one of our neighbors had a $2 million house like the one Joyce Meyers and her husband own, but they did have a place to sleep. There is no evidence that Jesus Christ ever owned one foot of real estate or a camel or a donkey or any furniture or other earthly possessions. If Creflo Dollar, T. D. Jakes, Oral Roberts and Eddie Long do not know that, they certainly are not Bible scholars. In fact, they are not even good Bible students. If they know that and preach the perverted health and wealth message anyway, they are not honest. Is it not obvious that they are searching for ways to justify their inordinate desire to be wealthy and powerful? Some of the television evangelists are rich—very rich. I have not heard one of them apologize for fleecing his flock to become wealthy.

 

I plan to return to 2 Corinthians 8:9 in a very short time, but I must urge all of the prosperity preachers to listen to Ray Stevens' song, "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex on His Television Show?" The song tells of a man who awakened to hear a health and wealth preacher on television who was asking for $20 with $10,000 on his arm. In fact, the man was getting ready to write a check to the television ministry when he asked himself, "Would Jesus wear a pinky ring? Would he drive a fancy car? Would he have a second house in Palm Springs to try to hide his worth?" The song reminds me of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "Elmer Gantry." If you have not read the novel or seen the movie based on it, you would do yourself a favor by doing one or the other. The story is a very realistic description of the antics of many of the television preachers.

 

Before Jim Bakker learned better, he also preached the health and wealth gospel. An article in the Memphis Commercial Appeal quoted Jim as saying that he and Tammy Faye had given virtually all of their worldly possessions to the PTL television ministry. There was a very serious problem with his statement. It was a falsehood and he knew it. Investigative reporters learned that he owned a $400,000 house in California, a Mercedes Benz and other property valued at nearly a million dollars. I am not criticizing Jim Bakker or anyone else for having houses and other properties. But when preachers or others bleed their constituents by promising them great wealth if the constituents support the radio or television ministries of the preachers, they are twisting the scriptures: They are as unscrupulous as Elmer Gantry.

 

             Jesus became poor that through his poverty we might become rich. In other words, he left the glories and riches of heaven to come to earth to die for your sins and mine. Let us examine both words—"poor" and "poverty." W. E. Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words (Westwood, NJ: Barbour and Company, Inc., 1940) defines the verb, "became poor," "to be poor as a beggar, to be destitute." The passage Vine uses to illustrate the definition of the word is the one I am discussing with you (p. 192). The word "poverty" is closely related to the word "poor." Vine defines the word "poverty" to mean "destitution." He says the word "is used of the poverty which Christ voluntarily experienced on our behalf; of the destitute condition of the saints in Judea (2 Cor. 8:2); of the condition of the saints in Smyrna (Rev. 2:9), where the word is used in a general sense" (p. 196). How anyone can analyze this verse and still argue that Jesus was rich staggers the imagination.

 

Paul insists that Jesus became poor like a beggar that his followers might be rich. Is Paul saying that we are to enjoy large bank accounts, have expensive homes and automobiles and other material possessions in abundance? Please understand that I am not teaching that rich men cannot be God's faithful servants. I have no doubt that both Job and Abraham were very wealthy. No serious Bible student denies their devotion to their God. The apostle Paul does not condemn rich people, but does urge Timothy: "Charge them who are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Godly rich people— and rich people can be godly—must use their riches for the glory of God.

 

When Paul affirms that Jesus became poor that we might be rich, what kind of riches did he have in mind? To teach that he became poverty-stricken that we might have millions in the bank is to belittle the enormous sacrifice Christ made for sinful humanity. James severely criticizes some of the early Christians for discriminating against the poor. He asks: "Are you not partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to them who love him" (Jas. 2:4-5)? God desires that all his children be rich in faith—not necessarily rich in material possessions.

 

But did not the apostle John pray that Gaius might prosper? Yes, as a matter of fact, he did (3 John 1-2). Was John speaking of financial prosperity? If the word of God promises financial prosperity to all people who give generously to the cause of Christ, what was wrong with the apostle Paul's behavior? There were times in Paul's life when he did not have enough to wear or to eat. He told the Philippians: "Not that I speak in respect to want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Phil. 4:11-12). Was he hungering and suffering need because he had not given generously to the cause of Christ? Even to hint at such a conclusion shows blatant disrespect for the scriptures and for the life of this great apostle.

 

The Philippians had been generous in supporting the apostle Paul. Paul thanked them for their "fellowship in the gospel from the first day" until the time he wrote his epistle to them (Phil. 1:5). Paul assured his brothers and sisters at Philippi: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Notwithstanding you have done well, that you did communicate with my affliction. Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: having received of Epaphroditus the things that were sent from you, an odor of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ" (Phil. 4:15-19).

 

If God guarantees financial prosperity to faithful Christians, what was wrong with Paul? The author of the article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Creflo Dollar: If Jesus and his disciples were not poor, what does that say about the millions and millions of Christians throughout the world who have been extremely poor? Dollar suggested they did not understand. He says people cannot do better if they do not know better. He was poor and broke until he learned to think differently (p. MS-4). I wonder why the apostle Paul did not have a better grasp of the gospel. Does it not make sense that an apostle would know what to think and how to think in order be rich?

 

One of the members of Dollar's church says he "was homeless and hopeless" until he learned that Jesus preached to the poor so they wouldn't be poor any more. He is now a successful salesman. "He says he believes Jesus was rich because some biblical translations suggest Jesus—as a baby—was visited by a caravan of about 200 kings bearing gold, not three wise men. Jesus also needed wealth to pay travel expenses for his 12 disciples as they took the Gospel from city to city" (p. MS-4). This brief excerpt from the newspaper article raises a number of questions.   Is that salesman successful only because he joined Creflo Dollar's church? Are all the members of that church successful and rich? What translation suggests that a caravan of 200 kings visited the baby Jesus? Would it not help all of us had he given us access to the translation? There is not one reputable translation that provides that kind of information. Besides, the men who visited Jesus were not kings; they were wise men. The Greek word is magoi—not basileos. Our English word "magi" comes from the Greek word translated "wise men." Where did the member of Creflo Dollar's church learn that Jesus preached to the poor so they would not be poor any more? Where is the scripture that teaches that?

 

How much money did Christ and the apostles need to travel from city to city to preach the gospel? They did not travel on a Boeing 747. They walked or rode donkeys. They did need some money to buy food and to pay for lodging. Do Dollar and his followers know that certain women who had money helped to pay the traveling expenses of Christ and of the apostles? Luke explains: "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's servant, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto him of their substance" (Lk. 8:1-3). And do they know that Christ commanded his disciples: "Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip (or bag), neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece" (Lk. 9:3)? Why did Jesus urge them not to take any of the items he listed? The places where they preached would furnish their needs. Jesus told his disciples: "And whatsoever house you enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them" (Lk. 9:4-5).

 

Dr. Eric Myers is professor of archaeology at Duke University. He is also editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia in the Near East. Dr. Myers personally excavated the ancient city of Nazareth. He points out that Jesus was so poor he could not afford his own tomb for burial. "There is no way to speak of wealth in that context," Dr. Myers insists. "This is living at the margins of society, eking out an agricultural existence" (p. MS-5).

 

Is it reasonable for me to use the time on this program to expose the teaching of Creflo Dollar and similar prosperity preachers? I know there are hundreds of other topics that demand our attention. But it is important that we know about the deception of the health and wealth evangelists. Let me give you one example of the damage such false doctrines do. A poor man in West Tennessee heard one of the television evangelists promise a great amount of money in return for his gift to that television ministry. The man sent a substantial amount of money to the preacher. Instead of being rewarded generously for his gift, he lost his job and his child became critically ill. He realized that the preacher had deceived him. The man not only quit listening to the deceiver, he lost faith in all religion. That unquestionably has happened hundreds of times.

 

I have absolutely no doubt God will bless us when we do his will. But does that blessing always involve getting rich? Paul assured the Philippians: "My God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). May God help us to do his will so we may inherit eternal life!

 

Winford Claiborne

Worldlyness short video