1. {V. 7} Scripture: "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven [at His Second Coming] with His mighty angels,

2. {V. 8} In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

3. {V. 9} Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

4. {V. 10} When He shall have come to be glorified in His Saints [Holy ones], and to be admired in all them that believe, (Because our testimony among you was believed) in that day, {2- Thessalonians 1:7-10}." [The above 4 verses paraphrased:

5. [7]: "And to recompense you who are so distressed and afflicted by granting you relief and rest along with us ... your fellow sufferers ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire;

6. [8]: To deal out retribution in judgment with vengeance upon those who do not know or perceive or become acquainted with God, and upon those who ignore and refuse to obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. [9]: Such people will pay the penalty and suffer the punishment of everlasting ruin [destruction and perdition] and [eternal exclusion and banishment ] from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

8. [10]: When He shall have come to be glorified in His Saints. [that is, on the day He will be made more glorious in His consecrated people] and [He will] be marveled at and admired [in His glory reflected ] in all who believed ... who have adhered to, trusted in and relied on Him ... because our witnessing among you was confidently accepted and believed [and confirmed in your lives]."

9. Commentary: "Again, note the words "SHALL HAVE COME." Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming to call His Saints up into the glorious Paradise of the third Heaven. And, then He will return to execute judgment upon the people and nations who failed to obey the Kingdom Gospel that was preached during the Tribulation Period. {See Matthew 25:31-46}. {V. 7} This refers to the positive side of the Second Coming and that the Lord will bring comfort and reward to His Saints. The reward of those who are troubled by Satan's followers is to be rest [Greek, "thlibo" is the common N.T. word for tribulation]. The word rest, [Greek, "anesis"] means primarily "release" or "relaxation." This is the word from which we get our common trademark, "Anacin." Real comfort and relaxation in the future, in spite of temporary affliction here, are the rewards of all those who serve the living and true God.

10. According to this verse, Christ returns with His mighty Angels, which may parallel the meaning of the original in {1- Thessalonians 3: 13}, where the Angels are called His "Holy Ones." Notice that the same expression in the original recurs in this chapter {1:10}. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed" could be more literally translated "in the revelation of the Lord Jesus." This is a new word for the Second Coming of Christ which emphasizes the manifestation of the person of Jesus Christ as a powerful Judge. {V. 8} "In flaming fire," should probably be taken as apart of {V. 7}; almost the same apocalyptic imagery is found in {Revelation 1:13-14}, as well as in {Daniel 7:13}. The emphasis seems to be upon the Lord's manifestation as the Son of Man. He returns with the sword of God's vengeance to destroy those who do not know God.

11. Not "knowing" God may be an extension of the Old Testament "idiom [a form of expression peculiar to a language"] of not loving God or serving Him rather than a simple lack of knowledge. Another important concept in O.T. Theology was obedience as we see, for example, in {Isaiah 66:4}, the Lord said ... Scripture: "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." In Thessalonians, their disobedience is to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and is strictly objective.

12. The words "Who shall be punished" in {Vs. 9-10} The literal interpretation here would be, "who shall pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the face of the Lord." Again, this is the uniform theme of apocalyptic literature in general, see {Isaiah 2:11; and Revelation 9:6}. "In that day" of {V. 10}, alludes again to the O.T. day of Jehovah which has now been identified with the revelation of Jesus Christ. Here Paul mentions once more the positive purpose for the Second Coming, namely that the Lord should receive glory from those who believe because of the apostolic witness.

13. Scripture: "And then shall that Wicked [the lawless one, son of perdition, antichrist, who is the man of sin, he will ]: be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, {2- Thessalonians 2:8}.

14. Commentary: In {Matthew 25:31-46} we learn that the same Christ Who lived on the earth as Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of man, is coming back to the earth to sit on the throne of His glory. All nations shall be gathered before the King for judgment. The time when the Lord Jesus shall thus occupy His earthly throne of glory is called, "the regeneration." {Matthew 19:28}. In that verse we learn that the twelve apostles shall sit upon 12 Thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. All of God's holy prophets since the world began spoke of this earthly throne. Daniel himself prophesied of this future reign of the Son of man. But before the world began God predestinated that members of the Body of Christ should be called, justified, and be conformed to the image of His Son and themselves be glorified.

15. Read the first part of Paul's Mystery in {Romans 8:28 - 30}. These predestinated Body of Christ members are the called according to God's purpose, {Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11, and 3:11}. In {2- Timothy 1:9} we learn that this grace and purpose was given them in Jesus Christ before the world began. This is told also in {Ephesians 1:4-5}. Therefore it is called, "God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus, {Ephesians 3:11}. What is your denomination? Are you a member of the Body of Christ? Is your denomination one that was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world? If so you are headed for glory, but, not to sit on 12 thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel! As for you and I: ...

16. Scripture: "And [the Lord] has raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus, {Ephesians 2:6-7}. [Above verses paraphrased:

17. [6]: "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together ... giving us joint seating with Him ... in the heavenly sphere by virtue of our being in Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One.

18. [7]: He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable [limitless, surpassing] riches of His grace [His unmerited favor] in kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus."

19. Commentary: "Believers will be an eternal display of the grace of God. Christ was raised in a physical resurrection and we Christians in a spiritual resurrection. On the basis of that, a future physical resurrection or transformation will occur for all living Believers at the time of the Rapture. And the Lord, spiritually speaking: "Made us sit together." That is, The Trinitarian God has set us down alongside of Christ in the Heavenly realms and relations. God has already accomplished this. dealt with us in Christ and sees us in Christ. "That in the ages to come," the end in view of God's gracious salvation in Christ. He delights to show His marvelous and great grace to folks who had been great sinners in the past but are now saved Saints. He will display the trophies of His grace throughout the endless ages of eternity. Saints will be concrete demonstrations of the overflowing wealth of His grace. So we can truthfully say: ...

20. {V. 20} Scripture: "For our conversation [Greek, "politeuma," which means = "citizenship" in the Body of Christ], is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21. {V. 21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His [Christ's] glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue [restore] all things unto Himself, {Philippians 3:20-21}."

22. {See 1- Corinthians 15:28, 43, 51-52; 1- Thessalonians 4:16-18; Titus 2:13; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:19}.

23. Commentary: [The word "citizenship" in {V. 20} would have been particularly appreciated by the Philippians in view of their city's status as a Roman colony, whose inhabitants were Roman citizens. The words "vile body," literally means "body of humiliation." Our present state of mortality is a lowly one.] Heaven is the home for every person in the Body of Christ, we are only temporarily placed in this world. We are really a colony of Heaven: our names are enrolled in Heaven; we are under Heaven's government; we share Heavens glory; and we enjoy Heaven's honor. Heavenly conduct should mark the Christian. Our allegiance is to Jesus Christ. We wait with eager expectation to be Raptured. This should be the normal attitude of a citizen of Heaven. This expectancy of Jesus' appearing should spur us on to higher and holier giving of ourselves, and holier living in our every day lives.

24. The greatest event in a colony was the visit of the emperor. Our blessed hope is in the coming of Christ Jesus our Greater Head: this blessed hope for us motivates Heavenly living, see {1- John 3:1-3}. Who shall fashion anew our body of humiliation, the body suited for this world, but not for the next.. These earthly bodies are subject to disease, heart trouble, diabetes, strokes, death, and decay. This writer surely is well aware of all these things! But, we thank God, we will some day receive a glorious body that will be conformed to the body of His glory, the body in which Christ Himself appears in His present glorified state. Therefore, everybody and all things will be in subjection to His glorious Heavenly Administration].

25. Scripture: "When Christ Who is our life shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory, {Colossians 3:4}."

26. Commentary: "This is God's eternal purpose, Divine truth that was God's own secret until the risen Jesus revealed it to the Apostle Paul. It is part of Paul's Gospel of the Mystery of the grace of God. The Rapture will produce a great union with all those who are in Heaven right now, and will take place before the Lord Jesus returns to the earth to be crowned King of Kings. Messiah's return at His Second Coming will be in fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic prognostication. On the other hand, neither Daniel or any of the other prophets of old, were ever directed by the Lord to prophecy any Divine truth concerning the program for the Body of Christ that was to be revealed by revelation to the Apostle Paul. Christians do greatly err, not knowing the Scriptures when they try to make Daniel's Secret or the other Old Testament prophets predictions fit into Paul's Mystery program."

28. {V. 25} Scripture: "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation [divine stewardship which was intrusted from and] of God which is given to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to fulfill [and make] the Word of God [fully known among you];

29. {V. 26} Even the MYSTERY which has been hid from ages and from generations [from angels and men], but now is made manifest to [God's Holy people who are] His [glorified] Saints, {Colossians 1:25 -26}." {See Ephesians 3:5, 9; and Romans 16:25}.

30. Commentary: [This word "Mystery" Is in the Greek is "Musterion." The Greek "muo" means "to close the mouth." The O.T. Books were written by Israelites, from Moses to Malachi. The mouth of every one of them was closed, so far as the Divine truth of Colossians and Ephesians concerning the heavenly position and possessions of the members of the Body of Christ were concerned. That truth was hid from all previous ages and generations. The teachers in their day could say nothing about "the unsearchable riches of Christ," because they knew nothing of this truth. Otherwise this messages and program would not have been called "unsearchable."

31. One Greek word in the word "unsearchable," in {Ephesians 3:8} is "ichnos," which means "step" or "track." The word also means "untraceable." The meaning is, "not prophesied." This distinctive Pauline message and program was given by revelation from Christ to complete the Word of God. The "MYSTERY," which completed the Word of God. was not revealed to any one of the former 12 Apostles. As we have stated many times, It was only revealed to the Apostle Paul exclusively at a later time. Paul preached many truths that were in fulfillment of prophecies, but nothing of that message would be called "the unsearchable riches of Christ" or the MYSTERY" Gospel. Evan though we have already written down these verses, Let us read again the following]:

32. {V. 8} Scripture: "Unto me [ Paul ], who am less than the least of all Saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

33. {V. 9} And to make all men see what is the fellowship [economy, dispensation, time period, Greek: "Oikonomia"] of the MYSTERY which from the beginning of the world has been hid in [ the Trinitarian] God, {Ephesians 3:8-9}."

34. Commentary: "This truth was called "God's Mystery" because it was unknown to all except God from the beginning of the world. It was called "the unsearchable riches of Christ" It was Paul's Mystery. Nothing of Paul's Mystery was in fulfillment of O.T. prophecy. Daniel's prophecy will be fulfilled after God has brought to an end this present economy of grace. But why is it that so many Christians fail to refer to Paul's Mystery for this age of grace?

35. Scripture: "Having made known unto us the Mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself, {Ephesians 1:9}."

36. Commentary: "No one understands this doctrine who associates Daniel's prophecy with this present Mystery Dispensation. All Believers must realize that we are living in a parenthetical period during which time the clock of prophecy has stopped, and the kingdom prophecies have been suspended or interrupted until God has completed the Body of Christ. We ought to know the truth of {Ephesians and Colossians}, when we do we will know that completing the Body of Christ depends upon the Lord's will and power, and not upon any thing that any Gentile ruler is doing in on this earth. We will also know that Gentile rulers will not fulfill Daniel's or any other O.T. prophecies until the present dispensation of grace culminates according to Paul's epistles:

37. Read again {Ephesians 4:13}, one reason so many Christian preachers err in bringing Daniel's and other O.T. prophecies into this present Mystery dispensation is because of another error. They teach that the dispensation of the Mystery began with Peter and the other 11 Apostles of the Matthew and early Acts period, instead of with the Apostle Paul. In this connection we should remember that after the Apostle Paul received his commission in {Acts 13:2}, there is no further record of the activities of Peter and the other 11 Apostles in the Book of Acts except as they had dealings with the Apostle Paul. The last 15 chapters of Acts record only the activities of one person, Paul and only such other persons as had dealings with him. Paul afterwards is then mentioned in the first person pronoun many times throughout the rest of the N.T.

38. Please pay attention now to the following: The six words below is really the correct rendering of the Book of Revelation:

39. Scripture: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants thing which must shortly come to pass [in rapid succession]; and He sent and signified [showed, pointed out or explained] it by His angel unto His servant [the Apostle] John, {Revelation 1:1}." {See Revelation 22:8}.

40. Commentary: " Again for your attention we have repeated this above verse. [The words "of Jesus Christ" = or rather "from Jesus Christ."] The Lord Jesus gave this revelation from the Trinitarian God Head, by means of an angel, to the Apostle John. Concerning the word "shortly," this word does not indicate that the events described in this Book would necessarily occur soon, but when they begin to be fulfilled in the future, they will be fulfilled very swiftly, [notice the same Greek word is translated, "speedily" in {Luke 18:8}. There is another word for Revelation "Apocalypse," or "apokalupsis" and it comes from the identical Greek which is [APO], "From" and [ kaplipsis], "That which is hidden." Hence it means "Revelation!" The verb is the word "apokalupto," and also means "to uncover," "to take off the veil or the cover." It is the same word used by Paul when he wrote that he want to Jerusalem by revelation, {Galatians 2:2}.

41. Paul received his Gospel by revelation, {Galatians 1:12}. He received an abundance of revelations, {2- Corinthians 12:7}. The Mystery of Ephesians was made known to Paul by Revelation, {Ephesians 3:3}. It requires the spirit of wisdom and revelation from God to understand the revelation of Paul's Mystery, {Ephesians 1:17}. However that Mystery has now been revealed, Ephesians 3:5; and Colossians 1:26}. Until Paul received from Christ the revelation of the Mystery, it was hid in God, {Ephesians 3:9}; it was hid from ages and from generations, {Colossians 1:26}. [Note the words of the Holy Spirit, by the pen of Paul:

42. Scripture: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, even the Hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory, {1- Corinthians 2:7}." [Verse 7 here paraphrased:

43. [7]: "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God in mystery form that has been hidden from human understanding and now revealed to us by God; [that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification, [that is, to lift us into the glory of His presence]."

44. Commentary: "The Greek hid, hidden, is "apokrupto" "to cover up," to conceal." That which God ordained to the glory of members of the Body of Christ before the world, was truly God's Mystery. And He wants every member of the Body of Christ to open his or her mouth boldly and proclaim it to others, {Ephesians 3:9-10; 6:19 - 21; and Colossians 4:3-4}." After reading the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians we feel that we have Scriptural right to call the Body of Christ described, as the fulness of Christ in {Ephesians 1:23}, as the Joint Body in {Ephesians 3:6}, "the Mystery Body," for the word Mystery is used several times in the third chapter where the Body is called the "Joint Body" [same body]. Then follows the Holy Spirit's instructions concerning "the dispensation [or economy] of the Mystery, {Ephesians 3:9}."

45. Now the question; "do we have in the opening chapter of Revelation the history of The Body of Christ in Mystery form?" Some Christians declare the answer to be in the affirmative, others are in the opposite corner and state with a positive 'no.' Most of them declare one way or the other because they are taking some Bible teachers own belief for the answer, and not researching the truth for themselves. If such truth is to be known and be realized, then the student must study it out for himself. If he accomplishes this feat, then he can be classified as a true Berean, {Acts 17:10-11}. In diligently researching the various Bible texts concerning any matter, one must rely on God the Holy Spirit to teach him.

46. The student should research {1- John 2:26-27} which clearly points out the fact that each and every member in Christ's Body are anointed as ministers one way or the other, also research {2- Corinthians 5:19-21}. Please read and pay strict attention to all the verses we have given. Concerning the Lord's return, there are many verses of Scripture that teach positively and definitely that Jesus Christ shall surely return the second time.

47. Scripture: "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation, {Hebrews 9:28}."

49. Commentary: "There are many godly men who believe that the Body of Christ will go right on into the Tribulation Period and will be in that period at the time of Messiah's return. There are others that teach that Jesus will come for the Body of Christ, secretly at the Rapture, and then will again return with them openly so that all humanity can behold them returning to the earth.

50. Practically all outstanding Pre-millennialist teach that in the { 2nd- and- 3rd - Ch. of Revelation} is found the history of "the Mystery Body" from Pentecost to the Rapture of the Body. Then in the {4th - and 5th - Ch} = the Body has been Raptured. Then in {Ch. 6} the Tribulation has set in. Thus, in agreement with {Revelation 3:10} the Body of Christ is kept from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.. These are the principal verses used by most Christians to prove that the Body of Christ will not go through the Tribulation or even into any part of it.

51. Of course this teaching is on the assumption, or the presumption, that "the dispensation of the Mystery," of "the Body of Christ," began on the day of Pentecost with Peter and the other eleven Apostles. But, the fact is, on that day they preached concerning Joel's prophecy and David's prophecy. In {Acts 3:19-26} they preached concerning Israel's prophesied kingdom which all of Israel's prophets foretold, {Acts 3:21-24}. But, none of this had anything to do with "the Mystery Body" concerning which Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel and Joel were all silent, and the reason they were silent they had not been informed of that which concerned the Body of Christ by the Lord.

52. Perhaps you have heard the teaching that the twenty-four elders of Revelation, chapters four and five, represent the O.T. Church [the twelve tribes] and the N.T. Church: [the twelve Apostles]. But that is a fanciful interpretation, and really a travesty on sound Bible exegesis. The true facts are that, the twelve Apostles are going to sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel when the Son of man shall come to sit on the throne of His glory, {Matthew 19:28 and 25:31-34}. The Saints of God from Abel to Abraham did not belong to the twelve tribes of Israel. None of them were Hebrew because Abraham had not as yet become a Hebrew! There were many Hebrews who were descendants of Abraham, but there was no Israel until Jacob's name was changed to Israel around 1700 B. C. and, even then the nation of Israel would not be formed until after Moses came on the scene.

53. There was no Old Testament until after Moses was born, and then at the age of eighty, he received the ten commandments at Mount Sinai. Therefore, Adam, Able, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shim, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's twelve sons, including Judah, and Joseph were not included in the program displayed under the ten commandments.. All these men and their personal family's lived and died long before Jehovah God took the Israelites by the hand and led her out of Egypt, {Jeremiah 31:31-35}.

55. At Christ's death in A.D. 30, the Law and its ordinances were fulfilled on Christ's cross, but in the future a new covenant will be issued as has been promised. The principal O.T. passage concerning the new covenant can be found in {Isaiah 59:20-21; Jeremiah 32:37-40; Ezekiel 16:60-63; and 37:21-28}. This new covenant will be much different from the old Mosaic covenant in that it will be unconditional, {Jeremiah 31:31-32}; its provisions will include [1] a change of heart, [2] fellowship with God, [3] knowledge of the Lord, and [4] forgiveness of sins. All of this will be fulfilled for Israel when the Messiah returns, {Romans 11:26-27}. When one reads {Jeremiah 31:35-37} we find that the permanence of the cycle of nature {Vs. 35-36} and the immeasurableness of Heaven and Earth {V. 37} guarantee the survival of the Hebrew people.

56. Scripture: "But now has He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises, {Hebrews 8:6}."

58. Commentary: "The new covenant Christ promises to Israel is to be a much better covenant, since it will be enacted on better promises. In {Hebrews 8:6-13} the new covenant is contrasted with that first covenant {V. 7}; i.e., the Mosaic Law {Exodus 19:5-6}. Christ's blood is the basis of the new covenant {Matthew 26:28}; and the Saints of God will be the Ministers of it {2- Corinthians 3:6}; plus .... it will yet have an aspect of its fulfillment in relation to Israel and Judah in the Millennium as predicted in Jeremiah.

59. As we study in the Book of Revelation we must keep in mind that the Second return of Christ is primarily to redeem Israel and to establish His Messianic Kingdom. With this in mind let us carefully consider various texts which should help us understand the dispensational place of this great revelation portrayed to the Apostle John. The fact is = we must study as true Bereans, and receive the Word of God with all readiness of mind and then search the Scriptures to see whether these things are true. Now carefully pay attention to the following text that we again quote:

60. {V. 7} Scripture: "Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail [cry in sadness, mourn] because of Him. Even so, Amen, {Revelation 1:7}." {See Matthew 24:29-30}.

61. {V. 13} And again we write these 3 verses, Scripture: "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt [belted ] about the paps [chest ] with a golden girdle [belt or sash].

62. {V. 14} His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire, [shot out fire 'Greek "];

63. {V. 15} And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters, [depicting judgment], {Revelation 1:13-15}."

64. Commentary: "The Lord's clothing designates Him as priest and judge. Notice the description of the Ancient of Days in {Daniel 7:9}. His eyes were as a flame of fire {V. 14} above. Compare the figure used in {1- Corinthians 3:13} in relation to judgment. This picture in {V. 14} stands in contrast to the tipid representations of "Jesus" which have become so popular in our time, the idea of "a gentle Jesus, meek and mild" in the future is simply inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture and stands in poignant contrast to the only picture which we have in our Bible of the appearance of God the Father's Son.. The Christ that the world will one day see is one Who is so overwhelming of presence that from His radiant countenance the Heavens and Earth flee away.

65. Many an arrogant ego of our time will shrivel into nothing when, after an insolent life of rejection of the Son of God, when they appear in the presents of the one Whose eyes were as a flame of fire.. The words "Son of man" in {Revelation 1:13} shows relationship to mankind. "Son of God" shows relationship to God the Father, see {Revelation 2:18}. The "Seven candlesticks" in {V. 13} refers to the Hebrew "Menorah." The middle candlestick refers to Christ Himself. The words "Son of Man" also means "Genuine Man." Again {V. 13} gives us a picture of Christ as our High Priest making intercession for His Saints, see {Hebrews 7:25 and 4:14}. As for the Antichrist:

66. {V. 8} And again we quote ... Scripture: "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming; {see Job 12:10}.

67. {V. 9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {2- Thessalonians 2:8-9}."

68. {V. 51} Scripture: "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you. [You notice that the speaker is talking to the Jews only, and not to Gentiles].

69. Above verse paraphrased: "You stubborn and stiff-necked people, still heathenish and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers (were) so you [are and so you do]! See {Exodus 33:3, 5; Jeremiah 9:26; 6:10; Numbers 27:14; and Isaiah 63:10}."

70. {V. 52} Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed [foretold ] before of the coming of the Just One [Jesus]; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers;

71. {V. 53} [You] Who have received the law [as it was ordained and set in order and delivered ] by the disposition of angels, and [yet you ] have not kept [obeyed ] it.

72. {V. 54} When they heard these things, they [ the Jews] were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth [became infuriated against Stephen].

73. {V. 55} But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit [and controlled by Him], looked up stedfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory [the splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing on [ at ] the right hand of God,

74. {V. 56} And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man [which emphasizes Christ's humanity] standing on [at ] the right hand of God.

75. {V. 57} Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

76. {V. 58} And cast [dragged ] him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

77. {V. 59} And they stoned Stephen, [who was] calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

78. {V. 60} And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep = [the sleep of death.) {Acts 7:51-59}."

79. Commentary: "In making his conclusion Stephen appeals to a descriptive term which had been used many times of the Jews. God Himself complained that His people were "stiff-necked" {see Exodus 33:5}. That they were "uncircumcised in heart [mind ] and ears," this meant that while they were circumcised in the physical sense, nevertheless their disobedience in not receiving the message of the prophets caused them to be ungodly in their minds and lives. The resistance of the present generation of Jews to the work of the Holy Spirit is something that their forefathers also exhibited. Concerning the coming of the Just One "the Lord Jesus," Stephen now addresses himself to the present hardness of this stiff-necked people. Characteristic of being a prophet of God in the nation, Israel was undergoing extreme persecution and, more often than not, martyrdom.

80. Stephen depicts the Lord Jesus as one in a long line of such prophets whom the Jews betrayed and murdered. Again the tie with Christianity is made in the history of Judaism. Their forefathers had killed the prophet messengers who foretold of the coming of the Just One; but they themselves had gone even further in bringing the Just One Himself to a violent death. When the Jews heard the things Stephen was proclaiming, they were cut to the heart. The testimony of Stephen in his application to the council did more to increase their anger than anything imaginable. The verb used here, and in {Acts 5:33 Greek "diaprio"} expresses the cutting done by a saw. It is designed to show how deep their feelings were, and the similar expression, "They gnashed on him with their teeth," although not literally done, this was always an expression of rage.

81. Stephen makes no retaliation to the irritated council. Instead he fastens his attention on the heavens, which during the transition period of Acts, are said to have opened so that Stephen could see the glory of God, and [or "even"] Jesus standing at the right hand of the heavenly Father. Although the glory of God usually represents the Shekinah glory of the Old Testament, Jesus is nevertheless the glory of God. Now ascended into Heaven, Jesus has again received the glory which He had with the Father before the world began, {John 17:5}. It is that glory that all men have come short of and in essence, it is that glory that shows each of us to be sinners in the flesh, See {Romans 3:23; and 1-John 1:8}. Stephen was given the unique opportunity to view Jesus as the glory of God in Heaven.

82. Again incensed by the calm, quiet attitude of Stephen, the crowd rushed upon him, crying for his death. Dragging him out of the city, they stoned him. Since this was the Jewish form of death, it would indicate that the Sanhedrin and the members of the council provided the supervision for the murder of Stephen. Although this was not legal, and apparently Pilate either turned a deaf ear to the situation or it was not mentioned to him, nevertheless the action was carried out in the rage of the Jews. As was customary, the witnesses cast the first stones. This duty was prescribed both in the Mishnah which was the collection of oral laws made by Judah ha-Nasi which forms the basis of the Talmud, and also in the Mosaic Law itself, see {Leviticus 24:23; and Deuteronomy 17:7}.

84. The utterance of Stephen, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," and his words that followed, echoed the Lord's utterances from the cross. On his knees and being constantly bombarded with stones, Stephen's one concern was not for himself but for those who were his persecutors. As the Lord cried to the Father, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do, {Luke 23:34}," so too, Stephen cries to the Lord in a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." When the men of Israel were at their worst, the man Stephen was at his best. He interceded to the Lord God of Heaven for those who persecuted him. Even in death his concern was for their eternal life.

85. {V. 34} Jesus Himself said ... Scripture: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [you] which [continually] kill the prophets, and stones them that are sent to you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not!

86. {V. 35} "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate [forsaken and abandoned of God's help]: and verily I say to you, you shall not see Me [again], until the time comes when you shall say, Blessed [to be celebrated with praises] is He that comes in the name of the Lord, {Luke 13:35}." See {Jeremiah 22:5; and Psalm 118:26}.

87. Commentary: "Christ knew that those in Jerusalem, not Herod, was the real threat to His life. The lament for Jerusalem realizes its bloody history, but also recognizes its blessed future, which will not occur until after the end of the great Tribulation."

88. {V. 29} Scripture: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from [ the second ] Heaven, and the powers of the Heavens shall be shaken. {See Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 2:10-11; 2:30-32; 3:15; Isaiah 13:9-10; 24:4-6, 20; 34:4; and Zephaniah 1:15}.

89. {V. 30} And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven [earth's atmosphere]: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn [and beat their breasts and lament in anguish], and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. See {Daniel 7:13}. [And, the 12 tribes of Israel will mourn for Messiah their Bride Groom], {Zechariah 12:10; and Matthew 12:30}.

90. {V. 31} And He shall send His Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds [and from the nations, and even], from one end of Heaven to the other, {Matthew 24:29-31}." ["His elect" literal Hebrew Believers, the saved remnant, see {Isaiah 45:4}.

91. Commentary: "[The sun darkened {V. 29}. . . .. These astral phenomena which will accompany the return of the Son of man and are foretold in {Isaiah 13:9-10; Joel 2:31; and 3:15}. Concerning the sign [Greek "semeion"] mentioned in {V. 30}, it is not explained here, perhaps it will be the sign of the cross in the sky immediately following the Tribulation Period, other folks believe that this is the lightning mentioned in {V. 27}; others believe that it is the Shekinah, or glory of Christ; some believe that it will be the same star that led the wise men to Him at His birth, still others leave it unspecified.

92. At any rate, the Son of man Himself will come visibly {Revelation 1:7}, it will be a visible manifestation that will fulfill {Acts 1:11 and Zechariah 14:4}, at His Second Coming in judgment. This will have nothing to do whatsoever with the Rapture of the Body of Christ that had already taken place seven years previously. Since Jesus is the God man, there "is no excuse for any person to refuse" to take the Lord's Words in the above verses seriously, and believe them dogmatically.

93. The signs of the coming of the Son of man mentioned above, are references to the events such as the stars falling, etc., ... All this refers to the cataclysmic events that will accompany the Lord's return to establish His Millennial Kingdom reign on this earth. His return will identify His return to the tribes of the earth. As the earth revolves, the various nations and tribes will be able to see the sign. Instead of repenting, though, they shall mourn. This indicates a severe, ritualistic mourning {see Zechariah 12:10-12}. The clouds above the earth mentioned indicate that Jesus will come from Heaven to the earth, {see also Daniel 7:13-14; and 2- Thessalonians 1:7-9}.

94. The "angels" of {V. 31} above are the same agents of judgment which is referred to as servants in {Matthew 13:28, 39-42, 49-50}. The "elect" are the Saints who have received Christ by faith and by His grace, these are gladly anticipating their Lord's return. One should remember that although saved Israelites are the Lord's elect people, so also shall the saved Gentiles from the nations be His elect, but a different class of Saints. And we repeat:

95. Scripture: "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory, {Matthew 25:31}." See {Hebrews 2:10; Isaiah 9:6-7; Joel 3:2, 12; Jeremiah 25:31-33; and Ezekiel 36:5}.

96. Commentary: "In the {1st. Ch. of Revelation} we see that Jesus Christ comes in the clouds. Every eye shall see Him. Israel shall see Him. All nations shall wail because of Him. We see immediately that this is not the blessed hope of {Titus 2:13}, the glorious appearing Of Jesus Christ to receive the Body Of Christ. When the Lord Jesus calls His Body of Believers up into glory, afterward, every eye in the Body of Christ will behold Him. But, all those who will be left behind of every nation, and were not a part of the Body of Christ will not see Him or even realize what has taken place..

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