Pastoral
Letter 08 Sep 2019
My dear readers,
Questions Posed at CPBPC’s Annual Church Camp
(10-15 June 2019) – Part 11
Question:
The New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven (Rev 21:2), but how do we know
the Millennium Temple will descend as well.
Reply:
There is no mention of the millennial Temple coming down from heaven other
than the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven in the time of the New
Heaven and New Earth of Revelation 21 and 22.
The millennial kingdom is not to be confused with the New Heaven and New
Earth of Revelation 21 and 22. Confusing the two is a common mistake
because in Isaiah 65:17-25 the millennial kingdom is called “new heavens and a new earth”. The Isaiah passage is with
reference to this present old earth that will be destroyed during the seven
years of Great Tribulation. It will be recreated by God before the
millennium begins. This recreation is similar to God giving to mankind a
new heaven and new earth
after the global flood. The surface of the earth will be “renovated” and
changed. The New Heaven and New Earth of Revelation 21 and 22 will be brand
new because the renovated heaven and earth will be destroyed. The New
Heaven and New Earth of Revelation will not be tainted by sin. It will be
brand new in terms of age and freshness.
The millennial kingdom will have a Temple whereas there will be no Temple
in the New Heaven and New Earth of Revelation, only a New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:22-23: “
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are
the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
is the light thereof.”
The Bible passage that touches on how the millennial Temple will come to
exist on earth is Zechariah 6:12-15:
[Emphasis added.]
The Person who will build this millennial Temple is Christ Jesus Himself.
The Bible does not describe how it will be done. But the certainty of a
millennial Temple on earth cannot be doubted. Passages like Ezekiel 40 to
48 reveal that such a Temple will exist. The measurements and structure of
the Temple are mentioned clearly. Furthermore the Bible also reveals that
in heaven there is a Temple where the Lord dwells. Revelation 15:5-8: “
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of
the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of
the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen,
and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the
four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the
wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled
with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was
able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven
angels were fulfilled.”
Revelation 15 is a description of what the Apostle John saw in this period
of time before Christ’s return. This means that there is a Temple in heaven
today. Whether this is the Temple that will be on earth during the
millennium, the Bible does not say. But there has not been a time when two
Temples existed on earth.
Question:
What age will we be in heaven? What will we look like?
Reply:
No one knows what the age of believers will be at glorification. One thing
we know is that they will be adults and not children. Some theologians
surmised that it might well be 33 years of age as this was the age of
Christ when He died for the sins of the world. If the believer’s
glorification is to be like Christ and since Christ is called the
believer’s firstfruits, then perhaps the age aspect of Christ’s
glorification might also be included and not just the constitution of the
glorified body. If this is a reasonable logic then the age of glorified
believers could be 33 years. The most important issue is not what age one
will be when one receives the glorified body, but the certainty of one’s
salvation in Christ in this age of apostate Christianity. Making sure of
one’s salvation is very important nowadays because of the false gospels
that are promoted and accepted by millions all over the world. There is
numerous evidence of salvation in the New Testament given by Christ to help
Gentile believers, especially those who live during the final moments of
the last days like today! We need to ask ourselves why there is such a
merciful plethora of revelation of the evidence of salvation. It could be
that the Lord knew that Gentiles would need them due to the preponderance
of deception and false gospels in the last days. There are many who had the
appearance of salvation because they attended church, married in church and
took the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper including water baptism; and yet
in their final years their true spiritual condition would be revealed by
their lives of carnality and turning their backs on the truth of the Word
of God.
Make sure of your salvation with fear and trembling, and wait to be
pleasantly surprised what your age is when you receive the glorified
body from the Lord and meet Him in the air as He accompanies you to the
throne of God.
Question:
Please explain the parable of the fig tree in Mark 13. What does the
fig tree refer to? How long is one generation (Mark 13:30)? Are we that
near to the second coming of Christ? How do we know?
Reply:
In Mark 11, Jesus cursed the fig tree. From this miracle of cursing the
fig tree, and it withered, the Lord shows us that the fig tree refers
to the nation of Israel, the Old Testament people of God. However, this
is not necessarily the case when it comes to other usages of the word “fig.” The basic rule of interpretation is that every context
determines the meaning of the word or phrase. Just like the word “lion” can be used to describe the devil when the Bible warns
believers that he is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour (cf. 1
Pet 5:8). Then in another context Jesus Christ is described as the lion
of the tribe of Judah (cf. Rev 5:5).
In the context of Mark 13 the Lord had just revealed the many signs of
the last days of this generation of humanity after the flood and before
the Lord destroys it at His second coming. Note Mark 13:24-27: “
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of
heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be
shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds
with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and
shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to
the uttermost part of heaven.”
The context of the parable of the fig tree in Mark 13:28-37 is to warn
and to awaken all God's children to look for the signs revealed by
Christ. The moment these signs become a reality then the Lord’s return
will occur, just as man is able to know that when the fig tree begins
to put forth leaves, summer is near. This was a common sight in Israel.
The certainty of Christ’s return is emphasized. Will God's children
believe by ensuring that they live in holiness according to Scriptures
or will they live in carnality and waste their lives away?
Based upon the context it is not a matter of one generation as we
usually understand it but rather the generation of humanity from the
time after the flood to the return of Christ. This is because Christ
spoke clearly here of His second coming. The signs of the second coming
of Christ are fulfilled already today. For example, the gospel preached
throughout the world (among all nations— cf. Mark 13:10) is already
fulfilled. In the time of Christ it appeared to be an impossibility
based upon their state of communication and mode of travel. Yet the
gospel has gone round the world. Also Mark 13:22 and Matthew 24:24
reveal that false Christs and false prophets will arise and shew great
signs and wonders and if it were possible deceive even the elect. This
describes the potency of the deception. The Charismatic movement
describe themselves as the signs and wonders movement. False Christs
are professing Christians who live in carnality and promote a carnal
Christ just as what the prosperity gospel of health and wealth of the
Charismatics have spawned these past one hundred years. They are
projecting an image of a carnal Christ throughout the world. By their
sincerity and apparent show of love for souls (when in reality they
love them for their money), they have made merchandise of these
deceived souls and have done so convincingly; but thank God the elect
will see through them and will not be deceived by them (cf. 2 Pet
2:1-3).
True believers will know because their lives are lived in light of
eternity and not carnality. They know that this world has been reserved
for destruction by fire (cf. 2 Pet 3:1-7). The Holy Spirit who indwells
them will reveal this to them and convict their hearts that this is
true and they will live in holiness for all things spiritual. 1
Thessalonians 5:1-5: “
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I
write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as
a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the
day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”
Question:
When we plan for holidays, we will do our due diligence to look for a
sound church to worship in on Sunday. However, if after searching and
no sound church can be found, is it better
to cancel our holidays?
Reply:
The ability to travel and live in different time zones is a modern
phenomenon not available to people as recent as the turn of the
twentieth century. They travelled in ships for months to distant
destinations unlike today when it takes only a few hours. Therefore to
be found in another country on the Lord’s Day is a common experience
for all who have travelled before. The plan and desire is to attend a
sound, Bible-based church on the Lord’s Day. However, the sad reality
is that Christianity has turned apostate. Finding a sound and biblical
church is extremely hard now. The sad fact is that it is better not to
attend church on the Lord’s Day than to be found inside a corrupt and
compromising one and be poisoned and vexed in spirit, especially when
there are young ones in your group. One option is to use the website of
your home church, and the family can gather together for worship.
Another alternative is that the head of the family gathers the family
together for worship in the hotel room or any location that is
conducive for worship. Remember that the Sabbath Day was made for man
and not man for the Sabbath!
Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service, Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew Advisory Pastor |