The terms “tribulation” and “wrath” are NOT synonymous in Paul’s letters or the Book of Revelation. “Tribulation” is what the disciples of Jesus endure for his sake. “Wrath” is the horrific fate that awaits the wicked at the final judgment. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes that God did not appoint them to “wrath.” Yet, in the same letter, he states that believers are appointed to “tribulation.”
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The Spiritual Man
The spiritually minded man understands that the proclamation of Christ Crucified is God’s power and wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2:14. Overused today by both the church and society, the English term ‘spiritual’ has become virtually meaningless. To some people, it is synonymous with the word religion. To be religious is to be spiritual. To others, it refers to things that are not of this physical universe, things and beings that are supernatural, otherworldly, noncorporeal, invisible, and timeless.
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Jesus proclaimed a new political reality, the Kingdom of God, one that bears little resemblance to the political systems of this age.
The Nazarene appeared in Galilee and began to proclaim the Kingdom of God – “Repent, for the kingdom is at hand.” In his ministry, the reign of God began to invade the Earth in earnest. However, this realm was and is of an entirely different nature than the political systems of the nations. Moreover, on more than one occasion, the Messiah of Israel refused to embrace the kind of power that dominates the governments and ideologies of this fallen age.
Continue readingThe Unforeseen King
A theme threaded through the Gospel of Mark is the inability of men to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel apart from his crucifixion, and even then, and most paradoxically of all, he is called the “Son of God” by the unlikeliest of persons, the Roman centurion in charge of his execution. And so, it remains ever since his death and resurrection. The Suffering Servant of Yahweh continues to confound human expectations.
Continue readingPaul on the State
Writing to the churches of Rome, Paul presents principles for Christian conduct in relation to the State. Believers must “subordinate themselves to governing powers, for there is no authority except by God.” His statement was written when Nero ruled the Roman Empire, the same man who became the first emperor to persecute the church. But what is truly exceptional is Paul’s exhortation to show respect to “governing authorities” in an imperial system that was anything but democratic, one ruled by autocrats with absolute power.
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