Introduction

 The Gospel Period - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  The gospels deal with a little before Christ and some after the death of Christ.  The New Testament is a continuation of the Old Testament. 

The Old Testament sets forth:
 1.  An everlasting God, infinite and perfect.  The same Old Testament sets forth that same God in three persons.  The three persons are however unexplained (Elohim) Isaiah 48:16 “The Lord God and his spirit has sent me”.
 2.  This everlasting God has created everything external to his own essence.  This creation includes angels and mankind as well.
 3.  Sin entered and man fell.  Redemption by means of a symbolic sacrifice was provided.  Man is free to accept or reject this sacrifice.
 4.  There is a system of rewards and punishments that begins here and reaches into the future state.
 5.  This sacrifice is to be effected by a daysman Job 9:33.  This daysman is set forth in Gen 3:15.  The New Testament clarifies those concepts and terminates everything in Christ. 

Three aspects of redemption began in Eden and pass on down to Christ and terminate in him.
 1.  The priesthood idea.  Adam acted as his own priest and while he yet lived Cain and Abel acted as their own priests.  Thus at first every male acted for himself.  Noah acted for the tribal family.  After the Israelites left Egypt the spared first born acted as priest.  Then the Aaronic family acted as priests.  Each is now his own priest and acts for himself.
 2.  The altar was first an area of ground and then later they squared the plot.  The next step was a row of stones, then stones stacked on top of one another.  Then a wooden frame.  A localized altar is of no value since Christ’s death. 
 3.  At first only the whole burnt offering was offered.  Only three offerings are registered in the Bible from Eden to the flood, Adam’s, Cain’s, and Abel’s offerings.  Noah offered one.  Abraham offered seven.  Isaac offered one, Jacob offered four.  Then we have the paschal lamb in Egypt.  Then we have five Mosaic offerings:
  A.  The whole burnt offering.
  B.  The meal offering
  C.  The peace offering
  D.  The sin offering also including the offering of ignorance
  E.  The trespass offering
(For more information on these offerings, look in the class notes on Hebrews  www.wnking.com .)

Palestine was divided into different provinces:
 1.  Judaea
 2.  Galilee
 3.  Samaria
 4.  Perea
 5.  Decapolis

There were several religious or political groups:
 1.  The scribes and doctors
 2.  The Pharisees
 3.  The Sadducees
 4.  The Herodians
               5.  The Essenes 
  6.  The Samaritans (1/2 Jews & 1/2 Syrians)
         7.  The Proselytes & God fearing
 8.  The Masses  (publicans & sinners)
 

The synagogues had arisen abroad and the Sanhedrin had arisen at home as the interpreting body of the scriptures.  Idolatry had ceased among the Jews and heathen religions were at a low ebb away from home.  Hence the world was ready for a new religion or a clarification of an old one.  Among the Jews in Palestine the fireside language was Aramaic, but all the people in Palestine spoke Greek.

The coming of Christ had also been set forth in prophecy Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:1-3; Hebrew promise.  Genesis 22:18; especially to Abraham Genesis 49:10; to Judah.  This last is the promise by which Anna and Simeon knew that the Christ would be born before Herod the king died Luke 2:25-32; Psalms 22:10; Zechariah 9:9-10; Isaiah 7:14.
 How he would be born Micah 5:12. When he would be born Psalms 22:1-21;especially vs.1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, prophecies how he would die. The author “Cell” informs us that there are 330 prophecies and quotations from the Old Testament in the New Testament.  (Cell’s book; Bible Study by Periods; pg. 205).
  The birth of Christ was an advent and not a beginning.  His name (physical name) was to be Jesus (Savior) also to be Immanuel (God with us).  He is thus the Savior-God and king of all ages.  He was God as much as the father was God.  “The Word was God” John 1:1.  “My Lord and my God” John 20:28- by Thomas.  “God manifest in the flesh” I Timothy 3:16 - by Paul.  “But unto the son he said thy throne O God is forever and ever” Hebrews 1:1.  “This is the true God” I John 5:20.  He is thus unchangeable and immutable Hebrews 1:1; Hebrews 13:8.  Thus he was unchangeably God throughout all of his experiences and sojourn in human nature.  His physical body was localized but his person or essence was and is present everywhere John 13:13;Matthew 18:20.

From John the Baptist to the beginning of Christ ministry: 
              The four gospels are our authority for the life of Christ and his teachings.
 1.  Matthews or Levi was a disciple.  He was a Hebrew and a tax gatherer before he followed Christ.  He wrote to the Jews and quoted much from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus was their Messiah.  At least sixty-five passages are quoted for this purpose.  He gives the genealogy of Christ through the Jews.  He writes that Jesus is King of the Jews.
 2.  Mark would have been written before any of the gospels.  Mark was not an apostle and is said to have been the son of Mary, the sister of Barnabas.  He was apparently won to Christ by Peter.  His conversion was after Christ’s resurrection and possibly after Pentecost.  He wrote for the Gentile Roman and presented Christ as a man of instant action and unlimited power.
3.Luke was not a Jew at all, not an apostle, never saw Jesus in the flesh, but was a physician from Galatia or Phillipi.  He wrote for the Gentiles generally.  He carried Christ genealogy back to the Garden of Eden.  He emphasized the humanity of Christ Jesus. 
4. John was an apostle.  He emphasized that Christ was the Messiah. 61 or 62 years after Christ birth he wrote and is writing of the deity of Christ to all people. He wrote for the whole Christian church to prove that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God.

The human genealogy of Christ is set forth in two of the Gospels, namely Matthew and Luke.  One for the Jews proving him the Messiah and the Gentiles proving him the Saviour. 
Matthew writing for the Jews, traces a line from Abraham to Joseph, the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus Christ.   Matthew traces the legal descendants, the line of Crown descendants on through David down to Solomon down to Joseph the husband of Mary. 
Luke traces bloodline from Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15, down to Seth, third named son of Adam and Eve, through Abraham, David, Nathan, to Mary.  He is the first promise fulfiller. 
Solomon's descendants were cut off because of wickedness.  The bloodline and legal line passed over to Nathan’s line that was a full brother, but a younger brother of Solomon in a person called Salathiel, mentioned in Matthew 1:12 which goes up and Luke 3:27 which goes down.   The crossing point where Matthew comes down the line and Luke goes up the line is Salathiel.

We now have had an interesting series of visions and related incidents. 
1. The vision of Zacharias an aged priest while he was serving as a priest.  The angel Gabriel who had revealed the coming of Christ to David had appeared to Zacharias and informed him that Elizabeth his wife was to have a child, and that his name was to be John.  This John was to prepare the way for the Lord by announcing the coming of the kingdom of God, and by calling the people back to repentance, and to personally point out and introduced the Messiah. “Behold the Lamb of God that take away the sin of the world  (John 1:29).”
2. The visions of Mary. She was of the lineage of David.  She was also the cousin of Elizabeth, and possibly also the sister of Salome, the mother James and John.  Possibly the same angel that appeared to Zacharias, Gabriel, came to her and told her she was to bring forth a son.  This son was to be the “Son of God”. Apparently at that moment the human nature of the Son of God was generated within her Luke 1:26-38. This was six months after the angel, Gabriel had visited Elizabeth. 
Thursday February 7th, 1963. 
3. Mary then hastily went to the hill country of Judea to her cousin Elizabeth and stayed with her sometime.  She returned to Nazareth before John the Baptist was born Luke 1:39-56. 
4. The vision to Joseph, the husband of Mary.  When Mary returned to Joseph they naturally they did not know what to do.  Mary could be stoned to death under the Mosaic Law.  An angel appeared to Joseph, possibly Gabriel, and told him to consummate the marriage and to take Mary to his home as Mary's child was God’s Son Matthew 11:9-23; Isaiah 7:14.
5. Then we have the birth of John the Baptist.  He was about a six months or a year older than Jesus was.  His parents probably died when he was young.  He made his home in the Judean desert until he appeared as a preacher Luke 1:57-80. 
6. The birth of Jesus, 4 B.C. at Bethlehem.  Joseph and Mary journey to Bethlehem from Nazareth.  They were returning to their ancestral home to register.  There in a deserted limestone shaft where Christ was born. (Papaini's book “The life of Christ” the first 31 pages.) A monk named, Dionysius, Exiguus at the request of the Emperor Justinian made a calendar.  He made this in 526 A .D. reckoning the time from the birth of Christ, to supersede the Roman calendar.  It was later found that, Dionysius had made a mistake by placing the birth of Christ in AUC 753 (from the founding of Rome).  It should have been 749 AUC; if any thing a year or two earlier than that. 
7. The announcement to the shepherds. “ While shepherds watched their flocks by night” an angel or angels came and announced the birth of Christ to them.  They at once went to Bethlehem and visited the newborn king Luke 2:8-20. 
8. Eight days after Jesus was born he was circumcised.  This probably occurred in the private house to which they had moved after leaving the shaft Luke 2:51. 
9.  32 days later or 40 days after his birth, Joseph and Mary journeyed to Jerusalem and presented him in the Temple according to the Law of Moses, and thus Joseph declared him his son.  Jerusalem was a distance of 6 miles. “ The Lord of the Temple appeared in the Temple of the lord. “ They brought the poorest offering that the Mosaic Law would allow, that of two turtledoves Luke 2:24. 
10. The visit of the wise men.  Nothing is said with regard to their identity or their number.  The plural is used.  Nothing is said about their rank, wealth, or distance they journeyed.  Nothing is said about camels.  They could not have left much wealth.  Their error in going to Jerusalem to Herod cost many a baby his life Matthew 2:1-12. 
11. Joseph and Mary then fled to Egypt and remained there between six months and a year-and-a-half, until the aged and sickly Herod was dead Matthew 2:13-15.  They then returned intending to take up residence in Bethlehem but hearing that Archelaus was ruler they journeyed on to Nazareth, where Joseph had lived before Luke 2:39; Matthew 2:19-23.  Thus Jesus was called a Nazarene. 
12. The statement that Jesus, “Grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him”, only refers to is human nature Luke 2:4. Every Jewish boy learned a trade.  Thus Jesus was known as a carpenter and a son of a carpenter Matthew 13:55; 6:3.  The reference to the fact that he was unlearned Mark 7:15, means that he was not a graduate of the rabbinical school.  He was taught to read and write in the synagogue as all boys were.  He could handle three languages easily. 
13. At the age of 12, the Jewish boys went to the feast and joined the men.  They went three times every year thereafter.  This is our first glimpse of Jesus since he was about two and our last glimpse of him until he was about 30.  Thus Jesus first and only recorded words until he was about 30 were, “ Wist ye not that I must be about my father's business. “ He is thus in possessions of the knowledge of his Messiahship Luke 2:49. 

Jesus Public Ministry.

John the Baptist ministry in all lasted about two years or less.  About six months after it began he baptized Jesus.  Then shortly thereafter Antipas, who was the Tetrarch of Galilee, arrested him.  John was placed in prison from 12 to 18 months.  He spent that time in prison only 9 mi. north of the Dead Sea, and then he was beheaded as result of a drunken orgy.  Thus he decreased after Jesus' baptism and Jesus increased.  Now the Ministry of Jesus may be divided into three periods.

Tuesday February 12, 1963. 

The Judean Ministry- the period of obscurity: 
This period was from 8 to 10 months and was spent mostly in Judea with a few brief visits North to Galilee.  What little we know about this is told us mostly by John in John 2:13-4:3.
 Jesus temptation in the wilderness. This temptation takes three forms.  Each was a temptation to avoid the Cross or gain the same by a cheaper way: The first temptation was to turn desert stones into bread.  First for his own needs and then for the needs of the common people.  Thus he could gain the world without dying for it. 
The second temptation was to cast himself down from the Temple pinnacle in view of all.  It would draw all the multitude to him as one in possession of the power of God.  Again he would gain the world without having to die for it. 
The third temptation was to fall down and worship “me” and let me have this world and this human race and go build another.  This human race is not worthy of your dying.  Each of the three was an effort to get him to sidestep the cross Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1213.  This is also before his Judean ministry began proper.  Next we have the testimony of John with regard to Jesus being” The Lamb of God.” John 1:19-35. 
Next is the first recorded miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding feast John 2:1-11. 
Next is the first Passover after his public ministry began. 
Then the first cleansing of the Temple John 2:13-23. 
Next we have his discourse with Nicodemus on the new birth.  It was either alone with Nicodemus are in the presence of a few disciples John 3:1-21. 
Then we have a further period of ministry in Judea. 
Then his departure to Galilee John 2:13; John 4:1-3. 
Then we have the first call of Andrew, Peter, James, and John Matthew 4:18-22

A few of the important places he visited were:
The wilderness of Judea near the northern end of the Dead Sea. “The place of the temptation”.
Cana in Galilee, where turn water into wine. 
Capernaum is mentioned. 
Jerusalem where he attended the Passover. 
Sychar in Samaria where his discourse with the woman at the well took place. 
Again Cana in Galilee where he healed the nobleman’s son.
This first period is known as the period of obscurity.  It was an appeal to the Jewish leaders to accept him as their Messiah.  This appeal was necessarily the first step.

The Galilean Ministry also known as the “ Period of Popularity”:
It covers about eighteen months, and his headquarters is Capernaum, which was on the shores of the lake of Galilee. 
The territory of Galilee was 60 mi. long and 30 mi. wide.  During this middle period Jesus made three journeys to Galilee and several shorter ones.
Here he delivered the sermon on Mount.  This is the Magna Carta of the church and it is also a treatise on holiness of heart and holiness in ethics Matthew 5:7.  At this time he also called the 12 apostles to begin to train them for their work after his death.  In fact the Sermon on the Mount was delivered for them.  Jesus then commissioned and ordained 12 and made use of them in the active ministry Matthew 10:1-8.  He also sent 70 layman out two by two Luke 10:1; Mark 3:14.  Jesus taught concerning the Sabbath and revolutionizes their thinking concerning it.  The Sabbath was made for the benefit of man and man not created for the Sabbath.  The first organized official event against his life was because he did not keep the Sabbath as they thought it should be kept Matthew 12.  The raising of the widows son at Nain.  This showed the power of Jesus over death Luke 7:11-14.  Jesus healed the demoniac showing his power over all mental disturbances and devil possession.  Thus he was master of all the ills of the body, mind, soul and spirit Matthew 12:22.  A chapter of parables is presented in Matthew 13, setting forth the church age.  The church age is necessitated because the Jews rejected the kingdom and the king Matthew 13:3-53.  John the Baptist was then beheaded. This marked a crisis in the life of Jesus Matthew 14:10.  When Jesus heard it, he departed into a desert place and prayed and later taught with compassion.  Jesus did most of his mighty works: miracles, sermons and teachings in those places.  They rejected him and he pronounced woes upon them Matthew 11:20-21.  Nazareth rejected him for the second time.  The first effort against his life was made by as own townsmen Luke 4:29-30. In John 6, we have the second rejection.  His 12 disciples were turned down also by the people of Nazareth. 

Monday February 18, 1963

The Period of Oppression or the Perean Period:

               About six months of the last year of his ministry were spent in Perea.  And also about six months were spent in Galilee.  He journeyed backward and forwards a good deal.  The principal events during his Perean ministry were:
Peters confession of Jesus Christ deity.  He is declared and he declares himself to be the one sent from God, the Father, who is God the Son Matthew 16:13-20.
Jesus predicts his sufferings and death Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22,23.  It is altogether possible that the Ministry of the 70 belongs here Luke 10:1-17. 
The important places visited were:
From Capernaum to the coast of Tyre and Sidon; to Decapolis, area of 10 cities, where he fed the 4000; to Caesarea Philippi where the transfiguration took place; back to Capernaum again and then on to Jerusalem; then to Bethabara, House of the Ford; then to Bethany; then he fulfilled a tour in Perea: then to Jericho to Bethany. 
Many mighty works were done during this last year.  He also appeared to have traveled all around a great deal.  Everything pointed to the fact that the end was near. 

The Passion Week, the last week of Jesus’ life.
Jesus then arrived at Bethany just before 6:00 p.m. when their Sabbath day began.  Farrar says that it was our March 31st. A.D. 30. Edersheim says that it was A.D. 29 and, that would bring a change of one day.  Farrar P.327, Edersheim Vol. 2 p 364.
After the sun was low and their Sabbath was passed, a feast was made for Jesus in the House of Simeon.  Martha, Lazarus, and Mary were there as central figures. Farrar suggests that Simeon the leper could have been the cleansed father of the Bethany family. He could have been the cleansed husband of Martha of whom Martha inherited the house.  Mary, the sister of Martha anointed Jesus' feet with costly, Indian spikenard.  Judas complained at the apparent waste.  Jesus rebuked Judas, the first time he ever rebuked him in public. Then Judas unobserved slipped out and sold him for 30 pieces of silver which is about $15 and then rejoined them unobserved.  Jesus was probably anointed three times in his lifetime. 
Tuesday February 19, 1963:

The first day in Passion Week is our Sunday or Palm Sunday. Farrar says it was April the second.  Jesus rode in triumph through the city, Zechariah 9:9, and there he looked around on all things in the Temple and then returned to Bethany. 

The second day of Passion Week is our Monday. Edersheim says it was April 3rd.  It has been suggested that Jesus and his group slept outside that night.  He was hungry on his way into the city and cursed the barren fig tree, which was a perfect type of the city of Jerusalem’s spirituality.  Then he went into the Temple, and cleansed it for the second time Matt. 21:12-13.  He then returned to Bethany.

The third day of Passion Week is our Tuesday April 4th.  Farrar  (p.347) calls this third day the greatest day in Christ public ministry, and the last day of his public instruction.  Then he dealt with his own redemptive death John 12:32.He also taught about the much-married widow.  Eight woes are pronounced against the scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites Matthew 23:27.   He extended the invitation to the under dog to come to the marriage feast Matthew 23:37-39.

The fourth day of Passover week is our Wednesday, April 5th.  It was a day of rest at Bethany of which we know little or nothing.  Jesus rested in body and spirit.

The fifth day of Passover week is our Thursday, April 6th.  Parting instructions to his disciples were given in preparation for the Passover.  The Jewish timetable had a period of time in it that they called,” Between the two evenings”.  This time belonged to neither the day passed nor the one coming.  In that period they slew the paschal lamb and the Jews slew the evening sacrifice between the two evenings.  After the next day had arrived, that is after 5:30 p.m., they partook of the Last Supper.  This supper closed the sacrificial system of symbolism.  It began the Lord's supper, symbol of his death.  This Lord’s supper symbol will continue until he comes again
In John 13, Judas Iscariot goes out and for him it was night, spiritually. 
In John 14, the address on heaven was uttered while they were all setting around the table.
Then they stood, John 14:31, and Jesus uttered the address in John 15, on the vine and the branches.
While still standing he uttered the address on the Trinity. 
In John 16, while standing, not a knee was bent, or an eye closed, Jesus prayed the prayer in John 17. 
They then went out and journeyed to Gethsemane.

The sixth day of Passion Week is our Friday, April the seventh.  They reached Gethsemane a little time before midnight.  Then Jesus prayed alone till sometime after midnight.  Thus we are now in our Friday.  Let us use the best authorities we can find and chart the course to the tomb.

 Monday
February 25, 1963

1:00 a.m.-The betrayal, John 18:1-11, then they went to the House of the high priest. 
2:00 a.m.  The preliminary examination before Annas and Caiaphas the Jewish high priest John 18.
3:00 a.m.  The examination of Caiaphas, and an irregularly called meeting at the booths John 18:24. 
5:00 a.m.  The formal Sentence of the Sanhedrin in their regular place of meeting Matthew 27:1. Also the first examination of Pontius Pilate at the palace as it began to be day John 18:28
5:30 a.m.  The examination before Herod and scourging and the first mocking by the soldiers at the Palace Luke 23:7-11. 
6:30 a.m.  The formal sentence of Pilate John 19:14-16. 
7:00 a.m.- The second mocking by the Roman soldiers John 19:1ff.  Thus two judges, Caiaphas and Pilate condemned Jesus; He was mocked and flogged by two groups of soldiers.  Simon the Cyrianian, an African Jew, carried his cross.  Simon’s two sons Rufus and Alexander were pillars in the Roman church long after this. 
9:00 a.m.  The crucifixion and rejection of the first drink offered him Mark 15:25. 
12:00 noon.  The last charge. 
12:00-3:00 p.m.  The darkness, (Egyptian darkness) for three hours Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44. 
Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus took him down and laid him in Joseph’s new tomb John 19:38-42.  The authorities set a watch Matthew 27:61 66. 
The church in most of its branches has refused to hold to any other interpretation other than the standard one.  Jesus died on Friday and arose early Sunday morning.  For the Jews part of the day was considered as a whole day and night for that matter as well. 

Tuesday, February 26, 1963:

The words from the cross:
The words from the cross were probably uttered in the following order:
The first word-“Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:24.
The second word-“Verily I say unto thee, today thou shall be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43.
The third word-“ Woman Behold thy Son, Son Behold thy mother” John 19:26- 27
The fourth word-“ My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Ps. 22:1; Matthew 27:46.  This fourth word was uttered in the dark. 
The fifth word- “I thirst” John 19:28. 
The sixth word- “It is finished.” John 19:30. 
The seventh word-“ Father in to the hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46. 

After about 38 hours in the grave, three days and three nights, Jesus arose from the dead.  The father raised him, the Spirit raised him, but he himself is the active agent.  The soldiers for a time guarded an empty tomb.  The angel came and the soldiers fell as dead men.  The angel rolled away the stone and sat upon it.  He opened the tomb to show history that he was already gone.  The glory of that tomb is its emptiness. 

 Now let us notice the post resurrection period (appearances).

1. Sunday morning, April 9th near the sepulchre.  Mary Magdalene appears here Mark 16:9-10; John 20:11-18. 
2. Sunday near Jerusalem, to the women returning from the sepulchre Matthew 28:9-10. 
3. Sunday near Jerusalem to Simon Peter alone Luke 24:34. 
4. Sunday to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus Luke 24:13-31. 
5. Sunday evening to the apostles excluding Thomas, In Jerusalem, April the ninth John 20:19-25.  Those five appearances were all on the first Sunday, our Sunday April the ninth.  This is three days after he was crucified.
6. Sunday evening to the apostles including Thomas April 16th John 20:26-29. This appearance is stated to have been on the first Sunday after he arose. 
7. The seventh appearance was to the seven disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  This is in late April or early May John 21:1-13. 
8. To the eleven on a mountain in Galilee Matthew 28:16-20. 
9, To about 500 at once in Galilee I Cor.15: 6.  Appearances 7,8, and 9 could easily have been a continuation of one appearance.
10. To James only, his half-brother, probably in Jerusalem in May 1Cor.15: 7. 
11.The ascension in May from the top of the Mount of Olives near Bethany, near Jerusalem Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9,12. 
12.To Paul on the Damascus road Acts 19:5; Acts 22:8. 
        When Jesus died his side and was riven by a spear. As he himself left for heaven he tore the veil of the Temple of from top to bottom.  That veil symbolized his side.  Through that veil or his side the Holy Spirit was poured at Pentecost. 
         At the ascension, Jesus himself sat down at the right hand of the throne of God and he stays until his Second Coming Acts 1:10-11. 
Monday March 4, 1963:
                                            The Parables of Christ
1. The Sower: Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23.
2. The tares- Good and evil to be together until the end Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43. 
3. The dragnet- good and evil to be together until the end Matthew 13:47-50.
4. The treasure - the kingdom of highest good Matthew 13:44. 
5. The pearl of great price- entire sanctification Matthew 13:45-46. 
6. The mustard seed parable-the contaminating influence of evil Matthew 13:31-32. 
7.  Leaven- The contaminating influence of evil Matthew 13:33. 
8. The blade, the ear, and the full corn - the development and growth of truth Mark 4:26-29. 
9. The Selfish neighbor- importunity in prayer Luke11: 5.
10. The unjust Judge- importunity in prayer. Luke 18:1-8. 
11. The parable of the unprofitable servant Luke 17:7- 10. 
12. The labours in the vineyard Matthew 20:1-16. 
13. The talents- we must work and grow Matthew 25:14-30. 
14. The pounds- we must work and grow Luke19: 11-27.
15. The two debtors- much forgiveness, much of love Luke 7:37-50. 
16. The lost sheep-the joy of finding the lost Luke 15:3-7. 
17. The Lost coin -the joy of finding the lost Luke 15:8-10. 
18. The lost son-the joy of finding the lost Luke 1511-32. 
19. The children of the bride chamber-the joy of Christian service Matthew 9:14-17; Luke 5:33-39; Mark 2:18-22. 
20. The lowest seats at the feast- the humble in heart are the advanced Luke 14:7-11.
21. To Pharisees and publicans- real heart repentance Luke 18: 9-14. 
22. The great supper-excuse making Luke 14:16-24. 
23. The Good Samaritan-charity and true sanctity Luke 10:25-37. 
24. The unjust steward-the redeeming power of charity Luke 16:1-9. 
25. Dives (the rich man) and Lazarus-eternal destinies are taught Luke 16:19-21. 
26. The unmerciful servant-forgive to be forgiven Matthew 18:23-33. 
27. The children in the marketplace Luke 7:31-35. 
28. The barren fig tree-fruitlessness Luke 13:6-
29. The two sons-two areas of society in Jerusalem Matthew 21:28-32. 
30. The wicked husbandmen-the rejection of the son Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:9-17. 
31. The wedding feast and a wedding role-the necessity of sanctification Matthew 22:1-.
32. The faithful and unwise servant Matthew 24:45-51
33. The 10 virgins-the baptism of the Spirit is necessary to participate in the rapture Matthew 25:1 -13. 
    The following are classifieds parables in form.
1. The physician Matthew 9:12. 
2. The new patch on the worn garment Luke 5:36.
3. The new wine in old bottles Luke 5:37-39.
4. The rejected cornerstone Matthew 21:42. 
5. The porter John 10:3. 
6. The waiting servants' Matthew 25:45-46. 
7. The good man and the thief Matthew 24:43. 
8. The wise and foolish builders Matthew 7:24-27. 
Miracles
1. The water turned into wine John 2:1-11. 
2. The healing of the noble man's son John 4:46-54. 
3. The first miracle catch of fish Luke: 1-11. 
4. The stilling of the tempest Matthew 8: 23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25. 
5. The demoniac in the country of the Gadarenes Luke 8:26- 3
6. The raising of a Jairus’ daughter Luke 18:41-42; 49-56; Matthew 9:18-19; 23-26; Mark 5:22-26; 35-45. 
7. The healing of the woman with an issue of blood Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25. 
8. The opening of the eyes of two blind men in the House Matthew 9:27-31.
9. The healing of the paralytic Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26.
10. The cleansing of the leper Matthew 5:1-4; Mark 1:40-45. 
11. The healing of the centurion’s servant Luke 7:1-16.  Matthew 8:5-13. 
12. The demoniac in the synagogue after Capernaum Mark 1:23-27; Luke 4:33-36. 
13. The healing of Simon's wife’s mother Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-40. 
14. The raising of the widow's son Luke7: 11-14. 
15. The healing of the lame man at Bethsaida John 5:1-16. 
16. The miraculous feeding of the five thousand Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-15. 
17. Jesus walking on the sea Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 645-52; John 6:14-21. 
18. The opening of one whose eyes were blind at birth John 9:1-38. 
19. The restoring of the withered hand Matthew 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-11. 
20. The restoring of normalcy to the woman with the Spirit of infirmity Luke 13:11. 
21. The healing of the man with dropsy Luke 14:1-6. 
22. The cleansing of the 10 lepers Luke 17:11-19. 
23. The healing of the daughter of this Syro-Phoenician woman Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 22:30.
24. The healing of the deaf and dumb Mark 7:31-37. 
25. The miraculous feeding of 4000 Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 7:1-9. 
26. The opening of the eyes of a blind man at Bethsaida Mark 8:22-26. 
27.  The healing of a lunatic child Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42. 
28. The piece of money in the fish's mouth for tribute Matthew 17:24-27. 
29. The raising of Lazarus from the dead John 11:01-54. 
30. The opening of the eyes of the two blind men near to Jericho Matthew 20: 29-34; Mark 10:46 - 52.
31. The cursing of the barren fig tree Matthew 21:17-22; Mark 11:12-14. 
32. The healing of Malchus' ear Luke 22:49-51. 
33. The second miraculous catch of fish John 21:1-23.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles: 
The Acts of the Apostles was written about 63 A D. by St Luke.  St. Luke also wrote the third gospel and continues his story in the Book Acts.  It is thus the first history of the church ever written and it covers the period from Pentecost to the end of Paul's third missionary journey.  This book may be divided into two sections: The Petrine and the Pauline Section.  It may be divided into three sections; the church in Jerusalem, the Church in Palestine generally, and the churches among the gentiles.
Briefly observe the threefold division:
The Church at Jerusalem Acts 1-7; 29 A.D. or 30 A.D. up to 35A.D.
Jesus disappeared and reappeared repeatedly for 40 days after his death.  Then there was a period of waiting for 10 days either in the upper room or the Temple or in both. 

Judas had hung himself before Jesus expired on the cross.  Several observations of one can make with regard to Judas are: 
He was numbered with us; said Peter Acts 1:17. 
He was ordained and sent forth to preach Mark 3:14 “And he ordained 12 that they should be with him.”
He had part in this ministry Acts 1:7 b. 
He was guide to them that took Jesus Acts 1:16. 
He fell by transgression Acts 7,1:25. 
He purchased a field, they did it for him, after his death, with the reward of his iniquity Acts 1:18; Matthew 27:5. 
His body was mangled as apparently the rope he hung himself with broke Matthew 27:5 Acts 1:18 
His bishopric was given to another Acts 1:20. 
He is stated to have been the son of perdition, and to have gone to his own place John 17:12; Acts 1:25 Jesus also said of him, ”It had been good for that man, had he not been born” (Matthew 26:24).

They appointed two men, Joseph or Justus and Matthias, They prayed and then voted on them.  Thus Matthias was elected by a vote to take the place of Judas Acts 1:23-26. While waiting in unison in the upper room, on the 50th day after April the seventh, possibly about 9:00 a.m., Pentecost took place.  Their hearts were cleansed and purified and their lives were empowered.  This day marks the beginning of the Christian church Acts 2:1-3. 
The first sermon in the church age was preached by Peter.  This is what he said: first to the charge of drunkenness, He reputed it. 
Next he said, that Jesus of Nazareth is proved to be the Christ by his works, by his death, and by his resurrection, and by his exaltation.  The results were pungent conviction and pointed questions.  What shall we do? And the plain answer was given.  Repent and instantly obey Acts 2:14-41. 3000 souls were added to the Church.
Soon after Pentecost, Peter and John healed a lame man at the gate of the Temple and people gathered.  Peter preached the second sermon after Pentecost.  This led to the first Jewish persecution as Peter ascribed the miracle to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  They threatened them and let them go Acts 3:1-4:21.
  Apparently a group of about 5000 men were called to their company.  Necessity appeared to demand that there be a pooling of goods and their public distribution.  Ananias and Sapphira pooled some of their goods.  Not only did they live from the common pool but also they gained a religious recognition.  Both were struck dead as a result.  The first death among the 12 was that of a traitor by suicide and the first deaths in the apostolic church were those of hypocrites and liars Acts 4:34-5:11.  Other miracles were performed and more people became believers.  The leaders then conferred together to put them to death.  Gamaliel interposed to save them.  They then beat them and let them go Acts 5:30-46.  The church grew and the Grecians complained that their widows were being rejected.  Seven deacons were chosen to attend to this matter.  Stephen early became famous as a preacher and advocated the abrogation of Judaism.  Judaism was fulfilled and should be set aside and the acceptance of the Gentiles into the Christian church.  For this He was stoned.  But in praying he won Paul Acts 6:1-7:60. 
The Church in Palestine:
This period would cover roughly from the Martydom of Stephen in A.D. 35-to the call of Paul and the missionary work among the Gentiles, A.D. 45.  The Apostles would remain in Jerusalem, as they did not directly challenge Judaism, but Stephen wished to set aside the whole system of Judaism.  The Jewish Grecians were the scattered but the 12 apostles were not scattered.  Phillip was one off the seven and went down to Samaria and preached and had a great revival.  The church sent down Peter and John.  They appeared to be satisfied with the work done and undoubtedly preached and led the people to the sanctifying power.  The Samaritans were part Gentile and part Jew; thus the Gospel is spreading Acts 8:1-14
Simon the sorcerer apparently was converted at least he claimed to be. When he saw that Peter and John could lay their hands on converted believers and that they received the gift of the Holy Ghost; He offered Peter money to obtain this gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter told him to repent and perhaps God would forgive him of the thought of his heart. Simon answered and asked Peter to pray for him.
The conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch.  He was the treasurer of Queen Candace.  Philip joined him in his chariot and as they rode along, Phillip explained the death of Christ to him from the book of Isaiah 53.Phillip left and the Ethiopian went on his way Acts 8:26-40. 

Here at this point we have the conversion of St. Paul.  A tremendous event in history.  He was present at the stoning of Stephen and was the official witness for the higher ups.  No doubt he was put under conviction by that event.  His mind had also been enlightened by Stephen’s address.  He settled it in his heart and mind and then surrendered in his heart.  Then the light hit him Acts 9:1-22.  Paul was sanctified by the baptism with the Holy Spirit three days later in the House of Judas under the ministry of Ananias Acts 9:13.

Paul's conversion and Sanctification are referred three times: First by Luke in Acts 9.  Second by Paul, himself, to the Jewish mob in Acts 22.  Third by Paul again before Agrippa in Acts 26. 
He was commanded to preach to the Gentiles, to kings, and the children of Israel Acts 9:15.  He himself put his message into one verse:  “To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins; (work of grace number one), and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me; (work of grace number two) Acts 26:18.  This is in full harmony with Peter’s explanation of Pentecost in Acts 15.  At once Paul began to preach at Damascus then he went to Arabia for three years.  Then he returned to Damascus, and had to escape to Jerusalem.  He then went to his native Tarsus Acts 9:31; Galatians 1:17.  The Gospel has been taken to the Samaritans, now it is to be taken to full-blooded Gentiles, namely to the House of Cornelius.  He was devout, he feared God, he gave alms, and he prayed to God always.  As he prayed an Angel instructed him to send to Joppa for Peter.  Peter himself had to be prepared for the transaction.  He had been at Samaria, then back to Jerusalem, then to Lydia, where he healed Aeneas, and then he went to Joppa where he raised Dorcas from the dead.  Here he saw Pentecost repeated for the third time.  He had gone with them and as he preached the Holy Spirit came Acts 15:8-96. Six brethren who were with Peter informed the Jerusalem church about it and that church brought Peter to task.  Peter declared that this was of God, since the people were already saved Acts 10:34-48. They accepted the evidence of heart purity Acts 15:8,9.  The Hellenistic Jews went as far as Antioch and had success.  Antioch was a cosmopolitan center and they needed someone with a brain to support their position against heathenism.  Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul, he found him and brought him back Antioch.  The church now has a new center and a new leader. 

The Church among the Gentiles.
 Barnabus and Saul spent one year at Antioch and enjoyed success.  There they started on their first official missionary tour.  The group was Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark.  They journeyed down the Orontes River to Cyprus.  They touch Salamis, which is the old Greek capital of the East and then went west to Paphos.  Surges Paulus was converted and Paul became the leader of the group.  They then journeyed back to Asia Minor and landed at the port of Perga.  Here John Mark left them and went home.  From Perga they went to Antioch in Pisidia, and on to Iconium, to Lystra, then on to Derby, then back again to Perga and back again to Antioch in Syria.  The journey was successful as they probably left a church at each place Acts 13 and 14.
 On their return the matter of receiving Gentiles into the church became a problem.  So they were called to Jerusalem to settle the matter.  James presided; Peter, Paul and Barnabas were present and spoke.  The dispute was intense and finally they decided that Paul and his group could go to the Gentiles and preach as they saw fit.  The rest would stay with the Jews Acts 15. 
Some time later Paul suggested to Barnabas a second missionary journey Acts 15:36.  Barnabas again wished to take John Mark.  Paul said no.  They separated; Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyprus.  Paul took Silas and journeyed overland to Derby and touched Lystra, Perga, and Galatia generally.  Other places were Mysia, Troas, Neapolis, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Caesarea.  This took about a year.  Their Christian interest was shifted to Europe, and was finally to center in Rome Acts 15:40-18:22. 

Paul's third missionary journey Acts: 18:23-21:26.  The main points covered were from Antioch to Syria, to Galatia, and to Phrigia, then Ephesus, Macedonia. Greece proper; back again from Greece to Phillipi, to Troas, to Assos, Mitylene, Trogyllium. Miletus. Tarsus. Tyre, Ptolemias to Caesarea and to Jerusalem Acts 15:40-21:26.
Paul became a prisoner at Jerusalem and there in Jerusalem he addressed a mob and than later the Sanhedrin Acts 21:27-23:30.
Paul then was a prisoner for two years at Caesarea Acts 23:31 - 25:32.  He preached before Felix.  He later defended himself before Festus and later he addressed King Agrippa Then he appealed to Rome. 
He was sent to Rome and remained a prisoner there for two years.  He was then released for probably from three to five years.  Then he was apprehended and taken to Rome.  Shortly thereafter he was dispatched probably with a sword thrust.  Thus ends the Book of Acts.  It is a brilliant history of the Christian church for about 30 or 35 years. 
The Gospel was first presented to the Jews in Jerusalem.  Then to the Jews in Palestine, and then to the half Jews and half Gentiles in Palestine, then outside of Palestine.  There was a fight at every boundary in spite of the great commission, which was explained by the gift of languages. 

The Pauline Epistles :
In all there are 13 Pauline Epistles and 14 and if we count the epistle to the Hebrews. If the epistle to the Hebrews was not written by Paul it would have been written by a student of Paul's.  Hence it would belong to that school.
 Epistles written during Paul's second missionary journey included Paul's first visit to Europe.  He touched Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and back to Antioch in Syria again A.D. 51 -A.D. 54.  During the second tour he wrote two Epistles.  They are called Eschatological, because they deal with the Second Coming of Christ. 
1 Thess. Was probably written in Thessalonians probably about A.D. 52.  This church was composed of a few Jews and many Greeks.  Paul had to leave hastily after founding the church.  But he sent Timothy to encourage and strengthen it.  The report that Timothy brought to Paul inspired this epistle.  Its main message is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the necessity of heart perfection 1Thess. 3:10-13; 4:3 a, 7; 4:16-17; 5:23-24.

Second Thessalonians:
Second Thessalonians, A.D. 53.  The church at Thessalonica had fallen into certain errors.  Some had died since Paul's visit, and their status at the Second Coming was debated.  Others at work stopped thinking that the Second Coming was near at hand.  Paul thus wrote this letter, showing that the immediacy of the Second Coming was not probable 2 Thess. 2:1-2.  Much had yet to take place before that day arrived 2 Thess. 2:3-17.  He again urged watchfulness and prayer in the performance of daily Christian duty.  They were to be prepared for his immediate coming and plan as if it were still a long way off.

The epistles of Paul written during his third missionary journey. 

This group of Epistles represent what is known as the period of Judaic controversy area.  Here we have the battle: faith in Christ alone, over faith in Christ and the keeping of the Mosaic Law.  This controversy comes out particularly strong in Galatians and Romans Acts 18:23-21:20.  This is the third time for this controversy about 54-58 A.D. 

1 Cor. was probably written in Ephesus about A.D. 57.  The Corinthian Church was a problem church during Paul's lifetime.  At that time it was the biggest city in Greece and the meeting place of the vices of the East and West.  It was a city of wealth, of luxury and of profligacy.  It had 1000 priestess in the Temple of Aphrodite ministering to the bases desires of fallen man.   Greek mystery cults were there in abundance.  There were factions in the church, namely groups quarreling with groups.  Paul declared them unsanctified 1 Cor.1: 10-4:2; 1 Cor.3: 3,4.  There were moral disorders in the church.  In fact there was immorality of a serious nature in the church.  One of them apparently was openly living with his father's wife.  The church seemed to have been proud of its liberty.  Paul ordered him excommunicated from the church for two reasons: To serve as an example to others, and to bring him, the guilty one to repentance.  Other cases of immorality were also harbored by the church 1 Cor. 5:1-6:20. Paul also replies to certain questions in married life that perplexed the church.  Paul gives his answer in 1 Cor.7: 1-40.  To this matter Paul emphasize three things.  Bring God first over all such relationships.  Live natural and normal lives in marriage relationships.  A husband and wife could help each other get to heaven.  Along with this matter of social life the eating the food offered to an idol was a concern.  An idol says Paul is nothing but if the conscience of the weak brother be offended, do not eat it 1 Cor. 8:1-11 -11:1.
Disorderly conduct about assemblies; All things were to be peaceful and in order.  Brother was not to go to law with brother in heathen courts.  Tongues were running wild and outsiders looking in at such conduct would think you are mad 1 Cor. 11:2-40.  Here now there is a tremendous discussion on the resurrection of the dead.  It is one of the greatest in writing 1 Cor. 15:1 -58.  Paul then closes with some administrative and personal advice 1Cor16: 1-24.

2 Corinthians was written from Philippi late in the 57 A.D. or early in 58 A D.  Titus had brought Paul word that his first letter had done much good.  There were, however, some leaders at Corinth who were denying that Paul was an apostle of Christ. Paul wrote this second letter and sent it ahead by Titus expecting himself to soon visit the church.  His main purpose for writing was to avow his own Apostleship.   Their charge against him was untrustworthiness 2 Cor. 1:12-7:16.   The glories of the apostolic office had been revealed in and through him.  He had seen the resurrected Christ and had been called and ordained by him and was not a whit behind the chief of Apostles 2 Cor. 3:1-610.  We have here in 2 Cor. 5, a classic on where the Christian goes at death.  To be in the physical body would be to be absent from Christ.  To be out of the body is to be present with Christ 2 Cor. 5:6-8.
Paul also loved the Jew, his fellow countrymen and took up offerings for the poor saints in Jerusalem.  This he did here also 2 Cor. 8:1-9:15. Paul again avows his own character and his work as the work of God 2 Cor.10: 1-13:10.  He shows that his boasting is holy boasting.  Here we have a catalog of his beatings.2 Cor.11: 21-30. 

Romans:
 The Roman church was probably founded by laymen who had been at Pentecost proper Acts 2:10.  Paul had intended to sail from Corinth directly to Syria. Soon an unexpected plot of the Jews to take his life caused him to go a round about way through Macedonia.  He knew he would be delayed so he wrote the Roman letter from the Corinthian area and sent the letter by Phoebe to Rome. No Apostle or High Church party had yet visited Rome.  The introduction extends from Rom. 1:1-12.   The 16th verse contains the whole Gospel of salvation.  “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.”  It is the power of God to save everyone who believes the Jews first, and then the Greeks.  All the world is guilty before God.  The gentile has gone back on the light of conscience and nature and is guilty.  The Jew has gone back through his greater light brought by the law and is guilty.  The Jew is first in guilt as he has rejected the greater light.  All however are guilty.  Salvation is possible for both Jews and Gentiles through Christ and Christ alone.  God saved Abraham before there was a law.  He saved David before there was a temple. Hence those things were not eternal, but merely symbols, directories to typify and lead them to Christ.  In Chapter 6 we have a doctoral discussion on the carnal nature as Paul calls it, the old man of sin.  In Chapter 7 we have the ethical or soul battle, between the two natures; The Isaac, and Ishmael of the soul. In Chapter 8:1,2, we have the death of the old carnal nature by the operation of the Spirit.  The privilege of the gospel has been extended to the Gentiles.  What about God's promises to the Jewish people? This question is answered in Chapter 9:9,10,11.  The tame olive branch has been cut off and the wild olive branch has been grafted in.  The wild olive branch is to be removed again and the tame to be grafted in again.  Thus every promise God ever made to Israel still holds good.  Then follows an ethical discussion and personal greetings.  Chapter 12-.

Galatians:

Galatia was in Central Asia minor.  It was the main area of Paul's first missionary journey Acts 13 and 14.  They were a branch of the Gauls from north of the Black Sea.  The main migration went to and beyond France.  But this group stopped in Asia Minor in 300 B.C.  They were not Asiatic proper.  Paul had been ultimately successful in Galatia, which constituted his first missionary tour.  Many had turned to Christ.  Some Jews but mostly Gentile Galatians. 
A group of Hebrew teachers came to Galatia from Jerusalem, and told the Galatian people Paul's presentation of the gospel was inadequate as he was only preaching half the gospel.  They said that the Galatians had to keep all the Mosaic Law and then accept Christ.  Also they impeached Paul personally and the source of his message as well.  Paul declared that he had received his message directly from God and not from man at all Gal. 1:12.  He, too, had seen the risen Christ, as had the other apostles.  He also had been commissioned by Christ as the Christ’s special apostle to the Gentiles.  He declared that they had fallen from grace, if they were to go back to the Mosaic Law permanently.  They had been saved and sanctified by faith in God.  They must remain in faith in Christ Jesus, if not they would fall.  Tensions ran high in the book.  It was written from the area around Corinth or else from Rome or from Antioch in Syria.  It probably was written about two years before the book of Romans was written.  The Book of Romans was written about 58 A.D. and was about faith also. 

Paul’s prison Epistles
The prison Epistles were written during the latter part of Paul's two years of imprisonment in Rome.  This group would have been written between 62 and 63 A D. They are referred to as the prison Epistles. 
 Ephesians:
Paul was a prisoner at Rome Eph. 3:1.  He sent this letter to the Ephesians by the hand Tychicus about 63 A.D. The key verse to the whole epistle is probably Eph. 4:13.  The divine plan of salvation is through the blood of Jesus the Christ, first regeneration and later entire Sanctification and then we are to grow in grace and become more and more like Christ Eph. 1:7 
All things were to be gathered in one in Christ.  One new man Eph. 2:15.  One God Eph. 2:161 One Spirit Eph. 2:18.  One hope, One Lord, One faith, and One baptism Eph. 4:56.  Jews and Gentiles were also be one in Christ.  Paul prayed twice in the epistle for their heart purity, for their unity of purpose, for their Christ likeness Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21.  This last prayer is a great and inspiring prayer.  In the second part of the epistle Paul deals with certain ethical matters.  First is the unity of believers Eph. 4.  Second is consistent Christian living Eph. 4:17-5:21.  Then home life is dealt with in the duties of the various members of the family Eph. 5:22-6:9.  General spiritual warfare is also dealt with in Eph.6: 10-18. 

 Thursday April 4, 1963. 
Colossians:
Colossians was probably written about the same time as the Ephesian letter.  Tychicus and Onesimus probably carried the letter to Colossae.  Onesimus is returning to his master from whom he had fled.  After formal greetings Paul prayed for the church at Colossae Col. 1:12-14.  Then follows a great discussion on the person of Christ.  It is one of the greatest in the New Testament.  No matter what he laid aside he is still God in flesh.  He is pre-existing and in possession of divine fulness and he is still the creator of all and is still the indweller of the soul Col.1: 15-27. Then follows a doctrinal and instructional section Col. 2:8.  Worldly learning and legalism without Christ are powerless.  Christ is transcendent in glory and power when compared with such philosophies.  The death of Christ has abolished legalism.  Angel worship and false mysticism were condemned.  Then follows up a hortatory section Col. 3:1- 17. Heavenly aspirations are to be cultivated, natural physical desires are to be subjected.  Evil passion and evil desires are to be put off and the Christian graces and virtues are to be put on.  All things are to be done in the name of Christ and for the glory of Christ.  An ethical section follows Col. 3:18-4:18.  The various duties of the household with regard to wife, husband, children, fathers, servants and masters are all dealt with.  Paul then requests prayer and closes with a salutation. 

Philippians:
Philippians was written from Rome about the same time as the others of this group.  Paul points out that his imprisonment had led to the salvation of many in Caesar's household Phil. 4:1:13-22.  The Philippians church was Paul's first church in Europe.  It was founded ten years before this epistle was written.  It was one of, if not the best church he ever founded.  It also sustained him in his needs.  At least three times Paul pointed out that they had suffered much Phil. 4:15, 16, 1 Cor11: 9. 
Jesus Christ is the source of spiritual development and Jesus Christ was the theme of Paul's preaching.  Jesus Christ is the highest motive for Christian service.  Paul declared that for him to live was Christ and to die was gain. Let the mind of Christ be in you.  He was God but he laid aside his glory, honor and worship became in appearance a humble man, yet he was God.  They were to follow that Spirit and pattern Phil. 2:5-11. The knowledge of Christ’ redemptive work of grace is supreme on this subject Phil. 3:1-21.  Here there are also a few fine passages on the resurrection and also on growth in grace and heart holiness Phil. 3:10-13.  Paul then exhorts the brethren generally and again expressed his joy at their liberality Phil. 4:15-19. 
Philemon:
This letter was sent from Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome to Philemon, a slaveholder at Colossae.  It is a private letter.  Again the hand of Tychicus sent it. It is about Onesimus. At the same time they carried the Colossians letter.  Paul had not been at Colossae, but knew Philemon well.  Philemon was apparently well off and on very friendly terms with Paul; having been led to Christ by Paul. Onesimus, the slave runs away and possibly carries some of Philemon's possessions with him.  Onesimus had heard of Paul and when he got to Rome he went to hear Paul preach.  He got converted.  He faces restitution.  Neither the church nor society is ready to have slavery publicly condemned.  Hence Paul sends him back.  However, he writes his letter to smooth this situation.  It is a masterpiece of psychology and diplomacy.  Paul then declares that he is confident that Philemon will do more than he asked.  He then points out that he intends to visit him as soon as freedom returns.  Hence said Paul, provide me a lodging place vs. 22. 

 Monday April 8, 1963 
The Pastoral Epistles.

Paul writes these Epistles during his closing years.  They would have been written probably between 64 and 68 A D. They are generally referred to as a Pastoral Epistles:
 1 Timothy:
Timothy was probably a native of Lystra Acts 16:1 - 2.  His mother and grandmother were devout Jewesses and he had been devoutly trained 2 Timothy 3:14.  His father was a Greek.  It is not specifically stated whether he was a God-fearing Greek or a pagan Greek.  Timothy inherited the religious bent of the Jews and the intellectual bent of the Greeks. 
Tuesday's April 9, 1963 
He was led to Christ when he was 16.  This happened on Paul's first missionary journey.  On Paul’s second trip he took him along as a fellow laborer and companion.  Timothy is everywhere spoken of in high praise.  The epistle appears to have two chief prefaces. 1.  To counter error by false Jewish teachers. 2. To encourage Timothy in the duties of his office.  The matter of public devotion is dealt with in 1 Timothy 2:1-8.  Then the duties and behavior of Christian women is set forth in 2 Timothy: compare also; 1 cor. 11:3-16, 1 Cor. 14:23-40; 1Peter 3:1-6.  Church officers are then dealt with.  This would also teach most of our office holders today 1 Timothy 3:1-13.   Timothy's own teaching is then dealt with.  He is sustained with the great truths of the Bible.  He is to study the great truths of the Bible. He is to read the scripture and make interpretation 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16. This area does not belittle doctrinal preaching.  Paul has been instructing Timothy as to how he should conduct himself.  Timothy is to give care to his own heart experience.  Church administration is dealt with as well as the treatment of offenders, the care of widows, and the care of good and bad slaves and of the rich 1 Timothy 5: ff. Here in Paul's two letters to Timothy we have the closest revelation given regarding the character, qualifications, and duties of the minister. 

Titus:
Titus and 1 Timothy were probably written about the same time, that is about 67 A D.  Paul's first Roman imprisonment had closed and this was before his second one began.  Titus also was a Greek on both sides Gal. 2:3.  He had been brought to Christ by Paul Titus 1:4.  He had accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem Gal. 2:1.  He accompanied Paul on many of his travels.  He also was spoken of very highly by Paul in 2Cor. 7:5-7.  We know nothing of the first introduction of the Gospel to the island of Crete.  Some people of this place had heard Paul preach before Acts 12:11.  It does appear from this epistle that Paul had labored there with success but then he had to rush away before the church could be established.  He did visit later briefly while a prisoner on his way to Rome. 
Part one of Titus contains matters dealing with church organization and a church discipline Chapter 1. 
Part two deals with sound doctrine and good works. 
Part three deals with additional instructions and sound doctrine.  This little book like the book of James has much to say about good works and deeds.  Hence Paul is in agreement with James. 

 Monday April 15, 1963

After a few years of freedom Rome again apprehended Paul.  In his first Roman imprisonment he was given much personal freedom and had his own rented house but during his second imprisonment he was kept closely confined.  Some of his friends had difficulty in finding him.  He also knew that the end was near.  During those closing days his feeling of loneliness was great.  He wrote 2 Timothy during this second imprisonment.  This was his last epistle.  This epistle may be divided into four parts.
2 Timothy

Part one deals with personal greetings and exhortation and also he relates some experiences.  He reminds Timothy of his godly ancestry 2 Timothy 1:5,6.  He also refers to the great plan of salvation 1:9,10.  He also refers to some disloyalty of some churches in Asia 1:15.

Part 2 deals with council to the young servant of the Lord.  He is to be strong, morally and manifest soldierly qualities.  He is to be a good spiritual husbandman and he is to keep certain basic truths always in mind.  He was to avoid foolish questions.

Part 3 deals with predictions of apostasy and social and moral corruption.  The Evil characteristics of the last days are set forth.  Timothy is to be steadfast in the scriptures as the word of God 2 Timothy 3.

Part four deals with a solemn charge to Timothy. The time would speedily come when men would despise the truth and such teachers who would teach what they wanted to hear.  Paul exhorts Timothy to be a faithful minister through weal or woe.  Paul then ends in perfect confidence in the Lord’s Providence.  Chapter 4:6-8.  And then perfect confidence in the Lord. 4:17,18. Paul then closes the epistle with greeting and salutations to the friends we know.

Hebrews:
This epistle was originally anonymous but it has been ascribed to the following: Paul, Luke, and Clement of Rome, Barnabas, and Apollos.  Paul and Apollos are the best bets.  It was written before A.D. 70, as Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus at that time.  It was written to the early Hebrew Christians: either at home or abroad who were in danger of going back to Judaism.  If they did go back to Judaism they would lose their soul.  It is an inspired Commentary of Exodus 19 to the end of Leviticus. 
 April 15, 1963:
The first thing in the book of Hebrews is the supremacy of the person of Jesus the Christ. 
Christ was superior to angels.  Angels were spirits and mighty messengers between God and man.  But Christ was superior to them. Again the Son was before all things, and by him are all things and he will be after all things are passed away. Ultimately he would be King of Kings and Lord of Lords Hebrews 1:1-2:18. 
Christ was superior to Moses.  Moses was the human founder of the national religion, but Moses was only a servant in the House or Temple.  Christ was the Son or heir of the Temple, so he is superior to Moses.  Those who disobeyed Moses were punished by stoning.  Of course much greater punishment would be to those who disobeyed the Son Hebrews 3:1-19. 
Christ was superior to Aaron.  Aaron was a human being and as such was erring and liable to err and had to offer sacrifices for himself first and then for the people.  But the Christ was himself sinless and incapable of sin and thus could offer himself as a sacrifice for others.  Aaron’s priesthood was received and was passed on to his heirs, thus he was not always a priest and he did not always remain one.  Thus Melchizedek's priesthood was a type of Christ priesthood.  He received it from none and past it on to none.  Hebrews 4: 1-13; 5:1-11. 
 Tuesday,
The supremacy of the priesthood of the Christ. 
 Every high priest who was taken from among man is appointed by proxy for man in things pertaining to God.  Thus human priesthood is called of God as was Aaron, but Christ was eternally called of God.  His calling has neither beginning nor ending.  However the Aaronic priesthood was passed on from father to son.  But Christ priesthood was and is his own eternally.  Furthermore Levitical priest paid tithes; as did Abraham to Melchizedek recognizing the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood to that of Aaron’s.  But the Christ priesthood was superior to that of Melchizedek Psalms 110:4.  The humanity of the eternal priest was perfected by the things he suffered.   In his sufferings and death he perfected salvation to all those who believe.  Now if after being saved and sanctified holy, they turned that salvation down, and they went back to Judaism, for them there was nothing but eternal damnation ahead Hebrews 2:3; 6:4-6.  This salvation through Christ was finished from before the foundation of the world Hebrews 4: 3.  The old symbolic order was imperfect and passive.  Being symbolic it pointed forward to a something and then when the something came the symbol passed.  This was what St. Stephen said with regard to the temple, priesthood and such.  Paul carried on Stephen’s position and said that the old symbolism has passed bye and now it is faith and faith alone that saves Hebrew 7:11-8:13. 
The supremacy of the sacrifice of Christ. 
Under the First Covenant there was a temple with its furnishings and continuos sacrifice and elaborate ceremony.  This system reached its climax with the entrance of the high priest into the Holy of Holies on the Great Day of Atonement.  The five sacrifices that were completed by the one act were as follows:
1. The  whole burnt offering
2. The meal offering
3. The peace offering
4. The sin offering-carnality the in the heart; the offer of ignorance is included as a separate offering for sins done unawares or through ignorance.
5.  The trespass offering
April 18, 1963:
Those five offerings as constituted were the one ritualized offering, divided into five for the sake of instruction.  There were again united in one offering by the Cross-of Christ.  He was the sacrifice and he was the priest who offered it and his cross is the altar.  He offered himself upon the altar or upon that cross.  In the old order there were many priest and many altars and many sacrifices.  But Christ offered himself once and for all.  That sacrifice never had to be repeated as it was redemptive.  The others were symbolic and had to be repeated Hebrews 9:23-28; Hebrews 10:1-39.  Then by means of that blood and through faith in the blood of the Christ believers are saved from sin and purified within.  Some great texts follow: 
Monday April 22, 1963
“Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” Hebrews 9:22.  “Having therefore brother, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil that is to say his flesh” Hebrews 10:19-20. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord Hebrews “ 12:14.

Thus we are saved by a faith in Christ and the saved are sanctified by faith in Christ and the sanctified walk by faith in Christ as we are kept by faith in Christ and we're told that faith pleases God. The just shall live by faith: but if any man drawback, my soul shall have no pleasure in him Hebrews 10:38,39.

To illustrate what faith can do for a man the author gives us a great list of the heroes of faith in the 11th chapter.  The 11th chapter of Hebrews is not an appendix but it is presented as a result of salvation and operation of faith.  Those great heroes of faith should stimulate all others to look to Jesus.  Suffering should be born patiently as it is an evidence of Sonship.  Every son is chastened.  We must take care that we do not fall away in the process of chastening like guilty Esau.  Pure and holy living is also enjoined and brotherly love should be cultivated Hebrews 13:1-6.  But we should have courage to break away from even the dearest earthly ties when necessary for Christ Hebrews 13:7-17. We then have the final exaltation and salutation.  The epistle is probably an oration delivered all over the Christian church, then when it was put into writing. It was apparently given the ending of an epistle Hebrews 13:18-25.

Ecumenical Epistles:

They are called Ecumenical because they are general, for the whole Church and are seven in number. 
1. James
2. First Peter
3. Second Peter
4. First John
5. Second John
6. Third John
7. Jude

James-It is agreed among conservatives that the writer of this the epistle is James, the Lord's half-brother Gal. 1:19.  It is apparently addressed to Hebrews generally.  The main theme is practicing practical religion or Christianity in operation in life.  But it does not ignore experiential religion.  Some hold that it is opposed to the Pauline position, rather it is merely an emphasis of a different aspect.  In fact it is very much like the book of Titus.  We could divide the book into three parts; 
1 .  The marks of true religion: joy and patience in the midst of trials.  Unwavering faith in singleness of mind.  Endurance during temptation; liberation in speech and patience under provocation.  Forsaking evil and doing good works demonstrates a perfected faith.  We have a good example of the use of Old Testament characters to illustrate different points.  There is also a fine holiness text Chapter 1:8. “ A double man is unstable in all his ways. “
2. The marks of false religion are:  A careless and forgetful hearing accompanied by an unbridled tongue.  Respect of persons. Honoring the rich and despising the poor. Mere profession of head faith unaccompanied by a heart response.  Intellectual assent to the truth without a change of character.  Blessings and cursings proceeding from the same mouth.  Envy and strife, unholy passions and worldliness and evil speaking and uncharitable judgement.  Presumption and neglect of known duty.  James 3:1-4:17. Some fine symbols or illustrations are used here.  He talks about putting bits in horse’s mouths, Helms in ships, wild beast can be tamed but the tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity and cannot be tamed by man.
3.  Warnings and exhortations. Warnings with regard to the rich concerning their future misery. Warnings to pleasure seekers James 1:1-6.Exhortations in view of the coming of the lord.  Be patient and steadfast follow in the footsteps of Job James 5:7-11.  Instructions regarding prayer.  Elijah in the Old Testament is referred to as a great hero or pattern in this regard.  Unavoidable error faults should be confessed to each other when the other party is involved.  This does not refer to acts of sin. 

 First Peter:
1. Peter taught at Pentecost.  Undoubtedly Babylon refers to the ancient Babylonian era and not to Rome at all.  The Neroian persecution was then upon the church and thus Peter was preparing all Christians in Asia Minor for the persecution.  Jesus had given Peter a double command and he is now fulfilling. That double command. The first command was first to feed the flock, John 21:16 ff and the second aspect was to encourage and strengthen the brethren Luke 22:32.  The term suffering is used over 15 times in this epistle.  They are to overcome by following in the footsteps of the Christ.  Trouble is about to come and they were to be prepared for it.
        The glorious salvation was foreordained before the foundation of the world 1 Peter 1:20,21
         It was provided for at an infinite cost 1 Peter 1:18,19.  We have an incorruptible inheritance and a 
         Living hope through the resurrection of Christ.  Salvation is and was a wonder to the angels, but it is
         for the enjoyment of man 1 Peter 1:1-21. 
2. The believer’s life as result is to be purified and freed from the evil of the carnal nature.  There are some strong holiness text in this epistle 1 Peter 1:15, “But as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 
3. Christ is the Great cornerstone 1 Peter 2: 5,6-Matthew16: 18.  This rock is a stumbling block to unbelievers 2 Peter 2:7, 8.  The believer is honorable and holy as a child of God and should have faith and give praise unto God.  At the same time he is a stranger and pilgrim here below and should conduct himself accordingly.  He is a citizen of heaven above.  In all relationships of life he should adjust himself accordingly. 
4. Encouragement to the believers in suffering is then given.  In suffering for righteousness' sake he had the pattern of Jesus.  He, the Christian was to see that he suffered only for righteousness sake and never has an evil doer 1 Peter 3:13. 
5. The elders are to be fed and cared for from the flock of God.  They are to be rewarded when the chief shepherd appears.  Seven precious things are mentioned. :
1. Fiery trials 1:7. 
2. The blood of Christ 1:19. 
3. The living stone 2:4.
4. Christ himself 2:6.
5. A meek and quiet Spirit 3:4.
6. A believer’s  faith 1:1
7. The divine promises 1:4

II Peter – 
The author is Peter.  The central theme is warning against corrupt teachers and scoffers.  There is a close parallel between 2 Timothy and 2 Peter.  Each is the last epistle of its author. Each wrote in the shadow of known death; with regard to Paul 1 Timothy 4:6; with regard to Peter 2 Peter 1:13- 14.  Other parallels between 2 Timothy and 2 Peter are that both deal with the general corruption of society 2 Timothy 3:1-7,2 Peter 2:10-22.  Both deal with the coming apostasy, that is, a turning away from the truth.  2 Timothy 4:3,4; 2 Peter 2:2,20-22. 
The epistle may be divided into three parts:
1. The spiritual life: Here we have the classic on spiritual eternal security.  There is no other security than this.  There are several steps in this ladder 2 Peter 1:5-7.  If they are present and operating we're fruitful Christians.  If they are absent we're no longer purged from sin 2 Peter 1:8,9 If we do them our election is sure.  When we cease to do them our election is cancelled 2 Peter 1:10. 
2. The corrupt characters and false doctrines are dealt with.  They even denied the Lord and bring upon themselves destruction.  God spared not the angels who sinned and he destroyed the pre-flood rebels and destroyed the people of Sodom and the plain.  At the same time he delivered the righteous and shall continue to do so 2 Peter 2:1-22. 
3. Scoffers shall come in the last days who walk after their own desires and laugh at the doctrine of the Second Coming.  They are in the church but not of it.  A day is as a thousand years with God and a thousand years are as a day.  That is God does not keep time as we do here.  God will keep every promise that he has ever made.  He says this coming of the Lord will come as a thief in the night 2 Peter 3:3-5,10.  The Christian must be steadfast in view of all things.
 First John:
 The writer is John.  It was written probably between 85 and 95 A D.  It was apparently written in Ephesus to the Christian church as a whole. 
The Exordium: 1 John 1:1-4 The author writes as an original witness.  He saw the Christ after his resurrection. A great discussion on holiness follows. The cleansed heart, the perfected heart gives us boldness in time of judgment as well as a constant witness in the heart that we are in possession of a more abundant life 1 John 2:3-5,4:16-18. 
Sin is the transgressions of the law 1 John 3:4. The child of God does not commit sin as the child of God.  “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin.”  1 John 3:9
He that commits sin is of the devil for the devil sinned from the beginning.”1 John 3:8a. Faith and love are the overcoming principles in the conflict with the world and with the powers of evil.  Such a person has the witness of the Spirit himself.  It is an internal Spirit witness and not an external witness at all. 

April 30, 1963.
2 John 
2 John is written by the same author as first John and is written to the elect lady.  Some think this means a Christian lady and her family at Ephesus.  Others hold it to refer to the Church and its members in a private house.  The book was written to succor friends against heresy and against false teachers.  Vs. 7-11. 
Divine truth unites believers and dwells in them and keeps them walking in love and fellowship vs.1, 2,3,4,5. 
Worldly error has many deceitful advocates.  It denies the incarnation of Jesus the Christ and pulls people away from the teaching of the Christ and imperils those who associate their souls with it.  Vs 7-10. 
We have the concluding words in which John informs them that he is going to come and see them and tell them much more. 

3 John:
3 John was written by the same author as the previous Epistles.  It is addressed to Gaius in verse one.  Gaius was a common name but this Gaius was probably the same man whom Paul refers to in Roman 16:23.  The keynote of the epistle is hospitality and the key verse is probably verse eight.  The epistle is written around these issues. 
Gaius to whom the epistle was written was a close friend of the apostle John and appeared to have trusted him fully and to have loved him well.  Gaius was apparently also consistent Christian vs. 3,6. 
Diotrephes was apparently a leading man in that church and was in the habit of using his influence against the cause of Christ and opposing visiting evangelist.  He was ambitious and conceded, vs.9, and assumed to be an overlord of the flock and apparently merited this sharp rebuke given to him by John, vs.10.
Demetrius is the very opposite of Diotrephes.  He was a model churchman and from the viewpoint of Christ of reputable reputation, vs. 12.  It is a stately thing to leave one's name eternally incased in holy writ as either good or bad.  Here is Diotrephes placed side by side with the bad men of all time and apparently he had no criminal record.  He was just plain nasty.
John plainly points out that those itinerant church leaders rendered great service for the cause of Christ and did so without offerings, vs.7, and were worthy of the most hearty welcome and the greatest possible hospitality, vs 8-11.  Then follows his closing salutation in vs 13 and 14. 
Jude:
Jude was written by the man named Jude.  And he was apparently a full brother of James who wrote the epistle to James.  Thus both James and Jude would have been half brothers of Jesus.  Jude claims in his own epistle to be the brother of James.  Jude apparently intended to write a full fledged epistle on this full salvation, but a sudden emergency seems to have arisen and had to be dealt with at once.  The emergency seems to be the sudden appearance of immoral teachers and alarming heresy, which were endangering the faith of the believers.  Those believers were sanctified by God the Father vs.1. 
Warnings are given of God dealing with sinners in the past; The punishment of Israel herself for unbelief vs. 8, The fate of the fallen angels vs 6; The fate of the corrupt wicked Sodomites in the cities of the plain vs.6. 
The characteristics of the depraved teachers are described and woes are pronounced upon them. 
1. They defile themselves, they despise authority and they spoke evil against the almighty (Trinity), Yet Michael the archangel when disputing over the dead body of Moses did not rail at Satan.  He merely said,” The Lord rebuked thee. Vs.9.  This reference to the burial of Moses is interesting. 
2. They corrupted themselves like brute beast and spoke evil of spiritual things vs.10.
3. A woe was pronounced against them.  In doing so he refers to Cain and to Balaam who perished over love of gold and to Korah who defied Moses vs.11-13.  Some fine figures of speech follow: spots in feast, clouds without rain, trees whose fruit withered without becoming ripe; raging waves of the sea, and wandering stars. 
  He also refers to prophecies regarding the end times and evil.  We have some prophecies here that we have no where else in the Bible regarding the Second Coming.  It is however also stated in the book of the Enoch vs. 14, 15. He also refers to statements made by the Apostles concerning the last day mockers.  These they were to avoid vs. 17-19. 
They were to always hold on to their faith.  They were to pray in the Holy Spirit and keep themselves in the hand of God and wait for the appearing of Jesus Christ.  One of finest benedictions in the Bible appears here, “And now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever.  Amen. v. 24- 25.”

Eschatology: The doctrine of Last things.
May 6, 1963:
The Second Coming: At the end of the Church age Jesus Christ, Jehovah Christ shall actually and sudden and personally appear in the clouds of heaven to catch a way his waiting bride, those ready in heart Acts 1:10,11, 1 Thess. 4:16,17-5:23. 
The man of sin or Antichrist will appear.  He will rule the world for seven years.  1 Thess.7, 8, Daniel 12:2; 7:25,12:7, Rev. 13-21:14.
The battle of Armageddon takes place at the close of the tribulation period.  It is the Antichrist world against the Jews who returned to Palestine during the first half of the tribulation period.  Daniel 9:27, Isa. 28:15,18; John 5:43; Daniel 3:23-26. 
:
May 7, 1963 
Two-thirds of all of the people on the earth both Jews and Gentiles shall be slain during the tribulation.  Zechariah 13:8,9. 
At the termination of the battle Christ actually sets his feet on the earth again.  This is his Second Coming proper Is.53: 3-5.  Then all nations, all living people, are gathered together before the judgment throne.  Matthew 25:31-46.  The good are set to one side and the evil are castaway.  The good form the nucleus of the millennial reign of Christ. 
The millennial consist of a thousand years during which time Christ reigns on earth and rules all nations with a rod of iron. 
Israel shall then be God's witnessing body Isa.60: 1-3. 
Israel shall be restored to temporal and spiritual favor Isa.53: 1; Luke 2:19. 
The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord has the waters cover the sea Habakkuk 2:14; Isa. 11: 11.
Wars will cease Isa. 2:4 Micah 4:3-4; Hosea 2:18. 
The Lord shall reign personally at and from Jerusalem Isa. 24:23; Ps. 2:6; Zechariah 2:1-4; Isa. 6:23.  At the close of a thousand years Satan is to be loosed from his prison.  The false prophet and beast are not released.  The Satan shall go out and gather all heart rebels to himself and then he shall encompass the Holy City.  God shall then pour out fire and brimstone from heaven and defeat Satan and his followers.  This is to be the last organized resistance against God Rev.20: 7-9; Ezekiel 38 and 39.

Then we have the first and second Judgements.
  I have included a part of Lecture # 3 of Apocalyptic Literature class notes as they cover the same material. J.R.

At the first judgement there is not a dead person resurrected.  Living persons, and then existing nation's only, appear at the Judgement board Matthew 25:32.  At the second judgment all the dead are resurrected and judged as persons only Rev. 20:11,12 a. 
At the first judgment not a book is opened-they were judged as to how they used Israel; books refer to our lives as we write them day-by-day; the Book refers to the Book of Revelation, by which the books are to be compared Matthew 25:31-46; Rev. 20:12 a.

 At the first judgment both the issue of judgment and the results were surprises alike to the condemned and the commended Matthew 25:37 b, 44 b.  At the second judgment no such surprises appear, as all were previously fully conscience of their relationship, or lack of it, with God. 

Those who were condemned at the first judgment for their attitude to my brethren will appear at the second judgment to be eternally condemned for their attitude to the Christ. 

It would at least appear possible that some who are commended at the first judgment and then passed into the millennium as the nucleus of physical propagation could fall from grace and be condemned at the second and final judgment.  Ham passed muster and entered the ark and later fell from grace.

At the first judgment, the commended pass into the kingdom prepared you, the Millennium.  At the second judgment the commended pass into heaven itself.  At the first judgment the condemned take their place with the unsaved dead, and at the second judgment the unsaved are cast into the lake of fire.

And at the first judgment the throne is the throne of glory upon which sits the Saviour-judge. At the white throned Judgement the throne is a great white throne on which sits the rewarding or condemning judge of all flesh Matthew 25:31; Rev. 20:11.  The being is the same in both cases.

At the first judgement the issue is how they have used my brethren, at the second the issue is what they have done with the Christ. The man with the wounded hands, feet, and side sits on both thrones.  That is the only similarity.  The offices however, differ slightly.  Then we have eternity and as we think about it. 

May 13, 1963 :
Death. 
 Physical death is the extinction of the bodily life.  It is the separation of the rational Spirit from this physical body.  That separation leaves the body dead or asleep, permanently.  The original cause of death in the human family is sin Genesis 3:19; Rom. 5:12.  As far as time is concerned we find up until now only two exceptions to this rule; Elijah 2 Kings 2:11 And Enoch Hebrews 11:5.

Spiritual death is also the separation of the spirit from God.  This is called the second death.  This second death is a final and the eternal separation.  Physical death is a type of the spiritual one.  The putrefying dissolution of the body is also a type of the moral breakdown that will take place after the final separation of the soul from all good and God. 

The intermediate state. 
At death the spirit of man goes to the God who made it apparently for some kind of the initial accounting Eccles. 3:21, 12:7.  Sometimes soul and spirit are used interchangeably like in 1 Kings 17:21,22; Luke 8:55. 
The Spirit of the righteous go directly to Abraham's bosom, God's bosom, This refers to going to the right hand of God or heaven.  These are all synonymous terms and refer to the same eternal place.  Paradise is a New Testament word as well as an Old Testament word Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:2-4.  Heaven is a big place and the city John saw coming down from heaven was big.  At present the redeemed spirits are disembodied and all are not as yet in heaven and the general Judgement is yet future.  After the general judgement heaven will be a little different.  That is the only intermediate state there is.  The place remains the same.  (Benny p. 137.) " The scriptures do not teach any intermediate place that is a place short of and distinct from heaven, the abode of Christ.” 

All we have said about heaven goes for hell also, the lake of fire.  The spirits of the lost go directly to hell at death.  There they visit until the second judgment and a second resurrection after which they will be cast into the lake of fire.  Hell is fire Luke 16:22-28, Jude 1:6.  And this lake is fire Rev.20: 10-15.  Internally there is no difference between Hell and the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is merely Hell enlarged as Hell is dumped into it.  This is the only intermediate state there is. The general judgment is not passed and the general resurrection is not passed and all are as of yet not in hell.  All wicked persons of men and fallen Angels and all evildoers will be dumped into the lake of fire.  Instead of hell it is then called the lake of fire. 
 May 14, 1963;
Various words are used to describe the concepts of Hell.
 Sheol, (Hebrew) Hell, (Greek) originally referred to the abode of the dead.  Thus it would refer to the grave or the abode of the spirit or both.  The setting determines which.  The setting also determines whether it meant heaven or hell fire.  This was its Old Testament use only.  Its New Testament use is restricted to the abode of lost. 

Tartarus-refers to being cast out.  It is found only in 2 Peter 2:12.  The fallen angels were cast down to Tartarus, a hell and in Tartarus are chained by darkness in a state of darkness. 

Gehenna (Greek) -refers to the place of punishment.  It is taken over from the valley of Ghenna where the refuse from Jerusalem was constantly burning.  Jesus used it as a type of hell fire.  Ghenna occurs 12 times in the New Testament, 11 times it is used by Jesus and one time by James, James 3:6. All are going to the grave, hence Matthew 18:9 cannot be the grave and Mark 9:43 is not the grave; both are the Gehenna of fire.

The lake of fire is different in quantity but not quality.  They differ only with respect to time as it is called hell before the general Judgement, then the lake of fire after the general judgment.
 

May 16, 1963 
 The eternal status of the soul: 
 Those who die in their sins are separated from God for ever are placed in a place of punishment and also are fully conscious. 
This is not contrary to the goodness of God.  God to be good to his own people must separate sin and sinners from his Holy People forever. 
An aspect of eternal punishment is the second death.  It is an eternal state and is not annihilation. 
Jesus himself associates this eternal death with weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30. 
This eternal punishment is privation that is they are deprived of heaven.  The privation is also positive.  They are in a place of torment John 13:42. 
This punishment is eternal and is as everlasting as the glories of heaven.  The same adjectives are used with regard to both places Matt. 12:32, Mark 10:30, Luke 18:30, Matt. 25:31. 
Blessedness is eternal for the saved.  The saved soul enters heaven at death and waits there for the resurrection of the body.  Then the body and soul are reunited in heaven forever. 
Jesus sustains this truth John 14:1,2, Stephen and Paul both sustained it Acts 7: 55, 2Cor. 5:8.
The New Jerusalem that John saw coming down appeared to have been the church triumphant.  It is the bride of Christ.  In all possibilities it means the church triumphant.

A.M. Hills has defining closing comments with regard to heaven from Vol. II page 411-414.
The absence of all physical evils. 
Our mental powers will come into their own. 
Heaven is moral and spiritual gain. 
Heaven will be social gain. 
Heaven has limitless development and progress. 
Heaven for the Christian is endless.  Such a blessed hope is encouraged by the following scripture expressions: eternal life, everlasting habitations, a house eternal in the heavens, 2 Cor. 5:1.  A continuing city Hebrews 13:14; eternal salvation Hebrews 5:9; eternal glory 1 Peter 5: Tim; the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:11. “ Eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Cor, 2:9).
 Revelation:
This book was written by St. John the apostle.  He experienced his revelation when he was banished on the Isle of Patmos, which is on the West Coast of Asia Minor 96 A. D. approximately.  He probably put it in book form after he returned to Ephesus.  There are four methods of interpreting it. 
The symbolic method: Symbols represent good and evil in every age of human history and are to be understood only as spiritual. 
The historic method: This method regards the book as symbolic of the church from the beginning to the end. 
The Patristic method: This method regards the book as dealing only with its own time, the time of John himself. 
Futuristic the method: This method deals with the future and with the end of the church age.  This last method it is probably the proper method. 
In this method we would have the following:
From chapter 1-4.  We have the entire church age.  The seven churches in those four chapters represent the seven periods of this age. 
From chapter 5-18:10. , We have the seven years of tribulation proper.  All the plagues and woes therein mentioned refer to punishments during these seven years. 
Then from 19: 10 to the end of the book we have a brief reference to the final judgment and a little about the millennial reign of Christ.  Then we have the eternal assignment of all.