Thanksgiving Bulletin Insert, 2020

 

Thanksgiving Notes

(Pastor Terry Reese, Valley GBC of Armagh; 11/22/20)

 

The Pilgrim Fathers

The Pilgrims were a local congregation of Separatists (i.e., Believers who separated themselves from the state-Church to form independent churches) who met at Scrooby Manor in England under the pastorate of John Robinson. Persecuted by King James I, they fled to Leyden, Holland, in 1609. Finding conditions in Holland to be both unfavorable to the advancement of the Gospel and destructive to family life, a portion of these émigrés crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower, landing at Plymouth, Mass. on Nov. 11, 1620 after a turbulent 65-day journey. In America, their pastor was William Brewster, whose sermons occupied 90 minutes of the four hour worship time. The first great winter (1620-21) saw half of their numbers depleted, with death visiting almost every home. Yet, Gov. Bradford declared a day of Praise & Thanksgiving in Oct., 1621, inviting Chief Massasoit & his braves to share in the first Thanksgiving.

 

The Miracle of Squanto

God’s wondrous care for His people was seen in His preparation of the man Squanto for his ministry of aid to the Pilgrims in regard to those temporal needs that were essential to their basic survival (agriculture, fishing, trapping, etc.). But Squanto was no ordinary Indian! Speaking perfect English and familiar with the basics of the Faith even before he met the Pilgrims, Squanto was of the fierce Patuxet tribe, whose lands had once been where the Pilgrims would established their own colony. Captured by sailors and taken to England in 1605, he came back to America after nine years with Capt. Smith of Virginia—only to be re-captured by a slaver, Capt. Hunt, who took him to a trading post in Spain. There, he was rescued from slavery by friars, who introduced him to Christianity. Ending up attached to a wealthy Englishman, he returned to Plymouth in 1619—only to find that his entire tribe had been wiped-out by a mysterious disease! Devastated, his ministry unto the Pilgrims, whom he “adopted,” gave him renewed purpose in life. Consider: four years prior to the Pilgrims coming, God had removed this fierce tribe, whose land was prepared for the Pilgrims, and He had further designed all of the strange twists & turns of Sqanto’s life, that this man might be a specially designed instrument of service unto God’s People!

  

But WHY did they come?

These words from the Mayflower Compact (1620) state the Pilgrim Fathers’ intentions and purpose in coming to America:

“…for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith…”

                   Lincoln’s Lessons in Theology

It was Abraham Lincoln who began the tradition of the modern November observance, which has ever since been defined by an official annual White House Proclamation. In his Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863, Lincoln called upon the Nation to engage in “…humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience…” This language is highly reminiscent of his earlier proclamation of that same year calling for a day of “National prayer and humiliation.” In that document, he states:

 

“And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

 

                                                                                      A. Lincoln, 1863

 

Note: If this was Mr. Lincoln’s message unto the generation, one can only wonder…what would he say unto us—the “entitlement” generation?

 

Small Beginnings: “One Small Candle…”

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many...” 

                                                       ―Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth

Studies in Daniel: Feet of Clay (Dan. 2:33b, 41-43)

 

v. The FEET of IRON and CLAY (vv. 33b, 41-43): The Final Expression of the Roman power; Antichrist.

v. 33b: “…its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.’’

v. 41-43: “⁴¹In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. ⁴²As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. ⁴³And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.”

 

a. The Progressive Principle refuted: devolution, as opposed to evolution…

Rather than progressively evolving upwards unto a utopian golden age, the apostate Kingdom of Man progressively devolves downward, ultimately resting upon unstable feet of clay…

 

b. The Fourth Kingdom involves an expansive parenthetical time frame.

o   The final phase is not described as a distinct “fifth” kingdom.

o   Such a “ten toes” phase has not yet appeared in world history.

o   An period of time passes or extends between v. 33 a & b and vv. 40 & 41. The vision of vv. 37-40 is within the realm of history (from our present perspective); v. 41-45 are future prophecy.

 

c. Roman revival & One World Government: Too incredible?

Note from Nebuchadnezzar’s time-perspective, ALL of the prophesized events must have seemed incredible!

o   Babylon’s future subjection by a humble Iranian war-chief?

o   The rise of barbaric Macedonia unto cultural & international domination?

o   A little Italian village along the Tiber rises to conquer the western world?

Incredible or not, it WILL happen!

Rev. 13:7-9: It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

 

                                                       The final dark phase of Roman power awaits… the last Emperor, Antichrist!

d.  Iron and clay…

Iron points to elements of destructive power, strength, ruthlessness, and stability.

 

Clay points to aspects of instability, inherent weakness and fragility, internal lack of cohesion…

 

Clay may speak of modern day “people movements” of broader and debased popular mass sovereignty (e.g., democracy, socialism, etc.).

o   Mankind (Heb., adamah; lit. “ground” or “earth”) is made of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7).

o   The Antichrist Beast of Rev. 13:1 arises out of the chaotic turbulence of the sea—perhaps a reference to the agitated realm of unregenerate humanity.

 

e. The Ten Toes: their identity.

Compare with the Fourth Beast of Daniel 7, and with the Scarlet Beast of Rev. 17.

 

Dan. 7:7-8, 19-20, 23-25:

"⁷After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. ⁸While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.”

 

¹⁹"Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, ²⁰and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates.”

 

²³"Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. ²⁴As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. ²⁵He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.’”

 

Rev. 17:3, 12-13:

³And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

 

¹²"The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. ¹³These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.”

 

The Ten Toes are thus a confederacy of ten kings, or power structures, that will flourish in the end-times (Dan. 2:44) in association with the Antichrist during the 70^th Week of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27)—representing the Roman Empire in its revived form and the final expression of Gentile world power.

 

f. The iron-and-mud/ten toes form of latter day Roman power summarized.

      i.        It will involve a 10-element federation (Dan. 7:24).

    ii.        It will combine strong & weak, stable & unstable elements (Dan. 2:42).

   iii.        It will involve internal difficulties—especially prior to the ultimate rise of Antichrist (2:43, 7:24-25).

   iv.        It will flourish just prior to our Lord’s glorious Second Advent (2:45).

    v.        It will be suddenly and dramatically destroyed by Him; its passing will mark the end of the Times of the Gentiles; there will be no successor kingdoms!

Dan. 2:44: "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.”

Studies in Daniel: Legs of IRON

 

iv. The LEGS of IRON (vv. 33a, 40): The Initial Phase of the ROMAN EMPIRE.

 

      v. 33a: “…its legs of iron…”

v. 40: “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.”

 

Synonymous with the Fourth Beast of Daniel 7.

v.7: "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”

 

Unlike the three previous Kingdoms, the Fourth Kingdom is not specifically named elsewhere in Daniel—but it is the most discussed within the Book, and there can be no doubt as to its historic identity!

 

a. ROME in its various forms receives the largest amount of discussion (vv. 40-43); an indication of its uniquely unparalleled importance to the history of Western Civilization, as well as its eschatological importance.

 

o   Consider its vast longevity…

 

>In the West, Rome existed as a distinguishable and identifiable entity from approx. 750 BC unto approx. AD 500—over a millennium!

>In the East, Rome existed an additional millennium as an identifiable government throughout the length of the Middle Ages! (approx. AD 1500; the Byzantine Empire).

 

o   Consider its cultural influence…

>Its influence upon legal & political institutions…

>Its influence upon art, language, the military & technical sciences, religion…

>The continuing persistence of its institutions and ideals, long after the decline

of the nominal Empire…

>Subsequent emerging medieval civilizations (Western European, Greek

Byzantine, and Islamic) can be counted as the political and cultural heirs of ancient Roman civilization…

 

o   Though outwardly gone, the Fourth Kingdom thus survives, in a sense, through its lingering influences, ideals, and institutions.

>The World System introduced by Rome has prevailed, and will prevail until

Jesus comes a second time.

>The western world has had an undeniable dominating influence throughout

the globe throughout the past several centuries.

 

 

b. A Fierce and Militant Kingdom of IRON!

1.The Fourth Kingdom chiefly characterized by its astonishing military prowess and strength (2:40; 7:7).

When Nebuchadnezzar dreamed his dream, the small Roman state was essentially a village based around Palatine Hill along the Tiber River. Through its martial spirit and military expertise, Rome first came to dominate the entire Italian peninsula, and then defeat its chief Mediterranean rival, Carthage. Ultimately, its iron legions and finely-tuned diplomatic tactics allowed it to dominate and absorb the entire Hellenistic world! Consider its power at the time of our Lord’s first advent:

 Luke 2:1: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Rome was noted for its stern brutality, smashing all opposition to its iron-fisted rule; the Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was enforced by an iron-fisted inhumanity and the harsh threat of violence.

2. Iron is also an appropriate symbol for Rome, as it also noted for making great use of this metal in its weaponry. Dan. 7:7: “and it had large iron teeth.”

                                              --------------------------------

 

Epochs of Roman History

 

I. The Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC)

 

II. The Roman Republic (509–27 BC)

 

III. The unified Roman Empire (27 BC – AD 395)

 

IV. The Divided Empire:

i. The Western Empire (AD 395–476)

II. The Eastern, or Byzantine, Empire (AD 395–1453) 

--------------------------------

 

3. Iron also continues the theme of deterioration of sovereign authority.

With end of the Kingdom period and the rise of the Republic, the Romans came to despise the despotism of oriental Kingship and the trappings of hereditary royalty.

 

Roman values: the Romans valued a sense of duty & piety, gravity and seriousness of purpose, and the maintenance of personal dignity. All of these were conducive to prizing a spirit of Republican virtue and self-worth.

 

Despite the demise of the Republic and the rise of the Empire with Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor, Republican forms and institutions were still highly valued and outwardly maintained.

 

c. The two legs may speak as to the division of the Empire after the death of

Theodosius the Great (AD 395) into Eastern and Western Empires.

 

 

                                           The Empire divided in half in AD 395.                    

                    Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor, in the garb of Pontifex Maximus (High Priest).

 

 d. Unlike the other Kingdom’s, this one has two distinct expressions.

i. Initial phase: Legs of Iron.

ii. Latter phase: Feet partially of Iron, partially of Clay.

Bulletin Insert: God is PERFECT! (11/01/20)

 

GOD is PERFECT

(Pastor Terry L. Reese; Valley GBC; 11/01/20)

 

None of us are perfect, or capable of perfection in this life (Matt. 19:16-26)—but God (Matt. 5:48, 19:17) & Christ (8:46) are perfect!

 

I. Biblical Affirmation of the Concept.

a. God’s work is perfect (Deut. 32:3-4).

b. God’s knowledge is perfect (Job 37:16)

c. God’s way is perfect (Ps. 18:30).

d. God’s law is perfect (Ps. 19:7).

e. God’s will is perfect (Rom. 12:2).

f. God’s gifts are perfect (James 1:17).

g. God is perfect (Matt. 5:48)!

 

2. The Meaning of Divine Perfection.

Both the Greek (teleios) & Hebrew (tamiym) terms have the same sense: namely, that which has full integrity to it; that which is complete, sound; that which is perfect, whole, entire, wanting nothing; that which is without spot or blemish, undefiled.

 

“To say that God is perfect means He is complete—nothing lacking. He is all that God ought to be—falls short in nothing.”—Alva J. McClain

 

James 1:4: “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

 

3. Perfection is a qualifying attribute.

This attribute serves as a qualifier to God’s other attributes. Everything God does, knows, etc., He does perfectly.

 

4. Practical values associated with the Doctrine.

a. Because God is perfect, His works are perfect (Gen. 1:31).

b. Because God is perfect, all we need is found in Him (Col. 2:10).

c. God’s perfection is the basis of our security and assurance.

What if His power, knowledge, grace, and goodness were lacking or defective? Could we then trust in Him for salvation?

 

5. Our life’s charge and goal…

Matt. 5:48: "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

Perfection is our hope and our goal; we are not to be satisfied with less—even though sinless perfection is not attainable within this earthly life. But we continue the pursuit…

Bulletin Insert, 10/24/2020: Omnipotent God

 

EL SHADDAI: God is Omnipotent

(Pastor Terry Reese; Valley GBC; 10/24/2020)

 

I. The Statement of the Doctrine.

God is all-powerful. He is able to do whatever He wills, in accordance with His Nature and good pleasure. He can do anything that is in harmony with His other perfections. Further, He has full mastery over His creation.

 

II. God is called the “Almighty;” Hebrew: El Shaddai.

“Almighty:” a term unique to Deity, used 58X’s in the KJV. El Shaddai: 48X’s in the OT; the Name by which he primarily appeared unto the Patriarchs (Ex. 6:3). NT term: “pantokratōr.”

 

III. Various Scriptures.

A. Nothing is too difficult or impossible with God! 

  (Gen 18:14, Job 42:1-2, Jer. 32:17, Luke 1:37, Matt 19:25-26)

B. God is a power source that can never be exhausted! (Isa. 40:28).

 

IV. Various Demonstrations of Divine Omnipotence.

A. Creation ex nihlo (out of nothing!): Heb. 11:3.

B. In the realm of nature (Jer. 10:13, Isa. 44:27).

C. In the realm of human history, politics & international affairs

(Ezek. 38:2-4, Dan. 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21; Amos 3:6, Prov. 21:1).

D. In the realm of the miraculous: John 11:20-45.

E. In the Resurrection of Christ (2 Cor. 13:, Eph. 1:19-20

F. In the various aspects of Human Redemption 

  (Eph. 1:18-22, Rom. 9:22, Rom. 1:16, 1 Cor. 1:18, 1 Pet. 1:3-5, Col. 1:29, 1 Cor. 6:14).

 

V. Practical benefits associated with the doctrine:

a. God’s omnipotence of aid to the discouraged (Isa. 40:28-31)

b. Seemingly impossible promises can be met! (Gen. 18:14)

c. The “impossibility” of salvation can be a reality! (Matt. 19:23-26)

d. The fulfillment of Eschatological expectations (Rev. 11:15-17, 19:6).

 

VI. Limitations or qualifications upon the Doctrine.

Omnipotence is limited by both natural & Self-imposed limitations.

 

A. Natural limitations. God cannot do things contrary to His Holy

Nature, or anything un-Godlike (Titus 1:2, James 1:13, 2 Tim. 2:13).

 

B. Self-imposed limitations. 

God chooses not to do certain things that are not in accordance with His eternal plan and    program (e.g., in the matter of Election; not all nations or persons are treated similarly; Deut. 7:6-8, Rom 9:13, Rom 9:18).