____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 24, 2006 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Who Are the "Saints" in Jude 14? (Thomas N. Thrasher) 2) Controlling Behavior (Steve Klein) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Who Are the "Saints" in Jude 14? by Thomas N. Thrasher Jude 14 says, "...Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints." Premillennialists assert that this statement refers to the return of the righteous to the earth at the end of the so-called "rapture" period. However, I deny this is the proper teaching of this verse. The Bible never mentions the "rapturing" of the righteous with their return to this earth after seven years. Who, then, are these "saints"? Some Observations 1. The verse mentions "saints." 2. These "saints" will accompany the Lord at His coming. 3. There will be "ten thousands" of them. 4. The purpose for this coming will be to "execute judgment." "Saints" Are "Holy Ones" The word "saints" is from a form of the Greek word, hagios, which means "holy" (Machen, p. 255; Davis, p. 255). This meaning is easily seen by consulting different translations of Jude 14: A.S.V.: "ten thousands of his holy ones" N.A.S.B.: "many thousands of His holy ones" R.S.V.: "his holy myriads" Berry's Interlinear: "his holy myriads" Therefore, these mentioned are "holy ones." In the New Testament, hagios is used several times in referring to angels; they are "holy angels"! Matthew 25:31 -- "the holy angels" Mark 8:38 -- "the holy angels" Luke 9:26 -- "the holy angels" Acts 10:22 -- "an holy angel" Revelation 14:10 -- "the holy angels" It is quite natural, then, to understand that the term "saints" (holy ones) in Jude 14 refers to the holy angels of God. Angels Will Accompany the Lord at His Coming As further evidence to this conclusion, let us observe that Jude 14 states: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints." The word "with" refers to "accompaniment" (as in Luke 14:31; Robertson's Word Pictures, VI, p. 193). That angels will accompany the Lord when He comes again is easily learned from the Bible: Matthew 16:27 -- "the Son of man shall come...with his angels" Matthew 25:31 -- "the Son of man shall come...and all the holy angels with him" Mark 8:38 -- "the Son of man...cometh...with the holy angels" 2 Thessalonians 1:7 -- "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels" "Ten Thousands" of Angels Will Come God has many angels: "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels" (Heb. 12:22). In John's description of the heavenly scene, he heard "the voice of many angels...and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" (Rev. 5:11). Jude 14 says, "ten thousands." The original word is muriasin, which is rendered "myriads" in several translations. When the Lord comes, all of His angels will come with Him (Matt. 25:31). This Coming is to "Execute Judgment" Jude 14-15 states that this coming of the Lord with His "holy ones" is "to execute judgment upon all"! God's word declares that the angels will be involved in this: "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire" (Matt. 13:41-42). "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire" (vv. 49-50). Hence, when the Lord comes with His angels, these angels will be involved in His executing judgment on mankind. Conclusion The "saints" of Jude 14 are the angels of God who will accompany the Lord at His coming to judge the world. Are you prepared for this great event? If you are not a faithful Christian, I urge you to humbly obey the commands of the One who died for you, that you may one day hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matt. 25:21). -- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 10, p. 297, May 16, 1985 ____________________________________________________ -2- Controlling Behavior by Steve Klein A lot has been said in recent years about the negative effects of "controlling behavior" in marriage relationships. According to a recent Associated Press story, "One factor strongly linked to (domestic) violence is controlling behavior by men. This behavior includes keeping a woman from seeing friends, restricting a woman's contact with her family, insisting on knowing where she is at all times, becoming angry if she speaks with another man, and expecting her to get his permission before seeking medical care" (AP, 10-9-06). It is obvious to most rational people that an abusive husband's efforts to control every aspect of his spouse's life through intimidation, emotional abuse and violence are just plain wrong. The Christian understands that such behavior is sinful (see Ephesians 5:25,28; 1 Peter 3:7; Colossians 3:19). If that is what someone is talking about when they condemn "controlling behavior," I couldn't agree with them more. But Satan is ever crafty -- always looking for a way to make evil seem good, and good seem evil. And so, he has used his vast influence in our culture to broaden the meaning of "controlling behavior" to include some things that are actually righteous and good. Satan's workers would have us believe that virtually any real exercise of legitimate authority constitutes "controlling behavior." So now, if a husband merely attempts to provide headship in the home, he is accused of being "controlling." If parents require obedience from their children, they are said to be "controlling." It has even come to the point where elderships that are Scripturally shepherding local churches are accused of being "controlling." It all reminds me of the success that Satan has had re-defining "discrimination". Do you remember when "discrimination" referred to not treating black folks fairly? Now it means that you haven't bent over backwards to accommodate homosexuals and criminals. As we've mentioned, there are a number of behaviors condemned as "controlling" by the world that God's word commends! Consider the following: 1. Parents should control their children with discipline. * Proverbs 13:24, "He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly." * Proverbs 23:13-14, "Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. {14} You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell." * Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." * The Lord condemned Eli "because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them" (1 Samuel 3:13). 2. Elders should oversee and rule local churches. * 1 Timothy 5:17, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." * 1 Peter 5:2-3, "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; {3} nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." 3. A husband should be the head of wife, providing direction to her as Christ does to the church. * Ephesians 5:23-24, "For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. {24} Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." There is nothing wrong with those who have legitimate authority exercising it. This is true in the relationships that we've mentioned, as well as many others such as government-citizen, teacher-student, and boss-employee. From a Biblical perspective, many of the problems that we see in these relationships today can be traced back to too little control, not too much control. Ultimately, a person who disdains being under the legitimate control of another will also disdain being under the control of God. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, October 15, 2006 ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Emily Holton (of Columbia, SC) who passed away December 19. May those of us who are Christians be praying for her loved ones. She was the stepmother of Danny Holton who preaches in Greenville, Mississippi. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________