"He comes and shall not tarry, in whom is our comfort and final felicity. What were this else, but to reform the face of the whole earth, which never was, nor yet shall be, till that righteous King and Judge appear for the restoration of all things." - John Knox

"It may be some professors [of the faith] think in these days to get a crown, kingdom, and throne; I know not if ever that shall be, but I think it will not be till the Jews be brought in." - John Livingstone 1659

"Sigh and long for the dawning of that morning, and the breaking of that day of the Coming of the Son of Man when the shadows shall flee away. Persuade yourself the King is coming. Wait with the wearied night watch for the breaking of the eastern sky." - Samuel Rutherford

Each of us has the most important appointment of our lives ahead of us.

It’s the day when we stand before the Lord Jesus the Messiah

His evaluation of us on that Day will be the only thing that matters forever.

Align your life accordingly.

-Tyler Luedke

The mark of those who wear the crown.

“There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8

Do you love his appearing?

-John Piper

I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds who are loyal to me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill. At that time Jerusalem will be called The Lord’s Throne, and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord in Jerusalem. - Jeremiah

Theology 101: Without Genesis 1–3 and Revelation 20–22, this world makes no sense. - Dr. Michael Svigel

Theology 101: God's plan for redemption is not merely to restore the Edenic condition but to infinitely surpass it. In fact, this was his plan from the start. - Dr. Michael Svigel

My teaching on the Maccabean background to the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus. Notes. Audio 1. Audio 2.

Tomorrow!

Dates: Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23, 2023

Schedule: 9am-Noon, 2-5pm, with dinner to follow (both days)

Location: Sessions will be hosted at Bradley Epworth Church, Peoria IL. Dinner locations will be announced each day.

Contact Chad Brewer with any questions

"No aspect of God's grace more powerfully transforms our emotions or satisfies our heart than when the Spirit reveals Jesus to us."

—Mike Bickle

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.” Proverbs 11:4

What does?

The blood of Jesus.

“Having been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5:9

-John Piper

The things God asks of us are impossible but the rewards He promises us are unfathomable. - Travis M. Snow

The bias against Jewish apocalypticism in the mainstream and conservative academies seem to stem from the basic fact that they do not want God or Jesus to be (1) Jewish and (2) apocalyptic. 

Both aspects are widely considered to be offensive and/or embarrassing, especially given modern sectarian and geo-political realities. But at some point we need to drop the baggage and come to terms with the fact that Jesus and the apostles were in fact first-century Jews. If such a mountain can indeed be moved, we might just find a glorious and incomparable hope awaiting us on the other side. - John P. Harrigan

Understanding Paul’s faith thus gives us insight and understanding concerning his practices. Those who work among Gentiles may imitate his methods, but do they orient their discipleship in the same theological direction and trajectory as Paul? Are Gentiles being conditioned and groomed to find joy and peace in believing the promises given to the patriarchs (cf. Rom. 15:13), or are their ears being tickled with Gentile myths that ease the difficulties raised by Jewish election and apocalyptic sobriety (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3)? -John P. Harrigan

Paul’s apocalyptic ethics rested upon the simple logic that eschatology informs and patterns present discipleship. An illustrative example of this is seen in 1 Corinthians 6. In light of lawsuits happening between believers, Paul decries, 

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge theworld? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matterspertaining to this life! (vv. 1–3) 

The judgment of the world and of the angels accords with Paul’s Jewish apocalyptic expectations (cf. Dan. 7:22; 1 Enoch 51:1ff.; 55:4; 61:8; 93:95:3; 4 Ezra 7:32ff.). In line with the prophetic tradition—e.g., “In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below” (Isa. 24:21, NIV; cf. Ps. 82:1; Isa. 34:5; Zech. 14:9)—the Messiah is given authority over the heavens and earth as the agent of God to execute such judgment. The saints in turn will be “co-heirs with the Messiah” (Rom. 8:17, ISV), and thus they will cooperate in governance and administration of the new heavens and new earth. 

Believers ought to evaluate everything and live out their lives in such light. To unbelievers wealth and position are of utmost importance in this age. To believers they should be “trivial” (Gk.elachistos), “to being considered of very little importance,” in light of the coming glory. Our eschatological destiny ought to form and pattern our thinking and behavior in this age. If we will govern the world to come, “how much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” Thus Paul concludes, “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Cor. 6:7). Paul urges self-restraint (even self-sacrificial injustice!) in light of the exceeding glory of the future reward. The clamorings of thisage are insignificant relative to the glories of the age to come. - John P. Harrigan

It’s a historical and scriptural fact that the first century believers had a strong emphasis on the return of Jesus (eschatology).

This focus needs to be restored.

What I’m not talking about: predicting dates, end time charts, guessing the Antichrist, etc. - Tyler Luedke

"When God at long last appears in resplendent majesty, when the heavens open wide with cleansing fire and warring hosts, then will creation be restored to its primal paradisal glory—on earth as it is in heaven, in the end as it was in the beginning." - John P. Harrigan

Prophets are formed in desert fasts, not dessert feasts. - Lou Engle

The danger of speaking of what Jesus has done in terms of creating a “new humanity” is that it almost always marginalizes the importance of ongoing national, cultural, and ethnic identities in the Body of Messiah, among both Jews and Gentiles, whereas when Paul spoke of the “One New Man” (Eph. 5:15) he simply meant that Jesus believing Jews and Gentiles would no longer experience the same levels of hostility and strife that they commonly did in the first century Greco-Roman world.

In no way does Paul mean that a Jewish person is no longer Jewish or that one’s national background is irrelevant in Christ. In fact, it is the maintenance of one’s national and cultural identity, in submission to Christ of course, that brings Jesus the most glory as King of Israel and the Nations. - Travis M. Snow

"The results of liberal theology are its own destruction." -Bonhoeffer

Fear God and you’ll preach to transform people; fear people and you’ll preach to transform God. - Dustin Messer

Theology 101: I believe later doctrinal revisions that differ from those of the earliest church fathers may be right and the views of the fathers wrong; but I also believe the later doctrinal developments bear the burden of proof, not the earliest views of the fathers. - Dr. Michael Svigel

"Why cannot men find time for prayer?

The only answer is because they do not love it."

— Charles Spurgeon

My teaching on an introduction to John the Baptizer from Luke 3. Notes. Audio 1. Audio 2. 

Throughout Paul’s letters, ethical exhortations are tied directly to eschatology, both positively and negatively. Nowhere in his letters does Paul call people to virtuous behavior apart from eschatological expectations. 

What is most notable about this reality is that Paul never redefines those expectations. There is a complete lack of explicit reasoning along the lines of realized eschatology. Paul simply declares his apocalyptic hopes (i.e., Parousia, kingdom, resurrection, judgment, etc.) and builds upon them ethically (e.g., therefore, so then, accordingly, etc.). Or sometimes the logic runs in reverse: ethical exhortations are followed by eschatological justifications. 

If Paul’s theological agenda really did revolve around realized eschatology, as so many modern commentators assert, then it seems Paul would justify his ethical exhortations with such reasoning in a straightforward manner somewhere. Since he does not, it seems more likely that he simply associates his apocalyptic expectations with his ethical engagement in a direct manner without redefinition. - John P. Harrigan

Divine attributes cannot be disassociated from covenantal redemptive history. 

Throughout the Scriptures, God makes himself known through both relationships and divine acts, all of which culminate eschatologically. Thus, the fullness of the knowledge of God is expressed in an apocalyptic approach to history, which centers on the day of YHWH. The emphasis on divine attributes disconnected from redemptive history during the Constantinian era of church history seems to be the result of Hellenistic encroachment. -John P. Harrigan

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col 3:1–4)

The things of the earth correspond to this age, while the things above correspond to the Messiah who will administrate the judgment, resurrection, and glory of the age to come. We “will certainly be raised” with the Messiah (v. 1). Therefore, we ought to live during this age with a singular focus on the Messiah, who is at the right hand of God patiently waiting to make his enemies his footstool on the day of YHWH (cf. Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:33–35; Heb. 10:12–13). In line with the apocalyptic framework of history, we identify with the Messiah by lives of selfsacrifice—even embracing death in this age (cf. Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 15:31; 2 Cor. 4:11; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24)—so that we can identify with the Messiah in glory and resurrection at his appearing. -John P. Harrigan

The eschatological wrath of God, in conjunction with the messianic glory, sets the ethical parameters for Paul. That which is earthly is also temporal, destined to be eradicated by divine wrath. That which is heavenly is eternal, destined to endure with the Creator for unending ages. 

Thus, Paul continues, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another” (v. 12–13). The putting on of “the new self” (v. 10) is contingent upon the knowledge of God and his apocalyptic plan (v. 4). Living according to “the old self” (v. 9) is associated with prior ignorance of God, his Scriptures, and his Day. Echoing Romans 12:2, we are to reject conformity with this age, while embracing righteousness and the renewal of our minds in light of the age to come. -John P. Harrigan

The same logic of apocalyptic ethics undergirds Paul’s letter to the Colossians. As in other letters, he concludes his introductory remarks with a prayer:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1:9–10)

As in previous examples, this prayer, “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,” is in context to the eschatological hope of “the inheritance of the saints in light” (v. 12) and “the kingdom of his beloved Son” (v. 13). With this end in mind, Paul finishes his prayer along the lines of perseverance: “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (v. 11). This prayer fits most comfortably within a Jewish apocalyptic framework. We need the Spirit’s help and empowerment to endure faithfully to the end of this age, increasing in the knowledge of God and walking in a manner that accords with our destiny. - John P. Harrigan