Barnes church of Christ

In spite of it being so bizarre, the premillennialists’ story of the Second Coming of Jesus, the battle of Armageddon, and the thousand years reign grabs the hearts of multitudes. They maintain it was God’s ageless plan for Jesus to come to earth the first time to set up an earthly, political, worldwide kingdom. However, they maintain, He was thwarted by the Jews and crucified. Yet, before He went to the cross, He quickly made the plans to establish a temporary substitute: the church, and then come back a second time with forceful power in a horrifying battle to set up the kingdom.
In reply, it must be pointed out and stressed that this doctrine implies that the Jews’ rejection of Jesus was totally unexpected and was never foreknown by God up to that point. Thus, not having foreknown it, God never would have written about it in the OT; He never would have prophesied about Jesus’ death, resurrection nor coronation in heaven. No, if premillennialism is true, there would be no mention of such events in the Bible. Therefore, if there IS mention of these events, then God not only DID foreknow about these events, such is ALSO what God INTENDED to occur, AND the entire story of premillennialism is FALSE! Are there, then, such prophecies? Let’s see.
Isaiah 53:7-8 speaks of one who “was lead as a lamb to the slaughter“ [death] and “was cut off from the land of the living“ [death]. While this is admittedly telling of someone’s death, can it be said that it was a prophecy about Jesus Christ? Acts 8:31-35 interprets it for us. Upon reading this very passage (:32-33), the eunuch asked of whom the prophet spoke (:34), “then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (:35)! Yes, God foreknew of the rejection and death of Jesus; this was His plan—not a life on earth as a king!
Psalm 16:10 tells of one whose soul would not remain in the abode or place of departed souls, nor would his body be dead long enough to decay. Thus, this is speaking of a resurrection, but, is this a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus who was rejected and slain? Acts 2:22-32 makes it very clear. In Peter’s sermon, he preached Jesus (:22), Who was rejected and slain (:23), Who God raised up (:24), just as the psalmist prophesied (:25) in Psalm 16:10 (:27). Yes, God foreknew that He would be resurrecting Jesus (:31)—this was His plan.
Psalm 110:1 speaks of one who was to be exalted to sit at the right hand of God—thus, a coronation of a Lord in heaven (not on earth). Is this a prophecy about Jesus? Acts 2:32-36 removes all doubt. The inspired preacher says that Jesus (:32) was “exalted to the right hand of God” (:33), into heaven (:34). He then quotes Psalm 110:1 to prove that such is precisely what God said would happen! Thus, in this, Jesus was coroneted king (:36). Yes, God foreknew Jesus’ coronation in heaven—that was His plan.
Thus, by any one of three simple prophecies, the entire concept of premillennialism is proven false. The death, resurrection and coronation in heaven was not an afterthought—it was God’s plan all along! The church was not a desperately established substitute—it was part of His eternal purpose (Eph. 3:9-11). Jesus was not to be coroneted on earth to rule a physical kingdom from Jerusalem—He was to be coroneted in heaven to reign from there over a spiritual kingdom (John 18:19) which is comprised of the saints (Rev. 1:9; Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28) who will join Him in heaven’s eternal bliss (1 Pet. 1:11). May our caring God Who would have all men to know the truth, attain such on this matter by means of these three simple prophecies.
[This is the first of 6 in a series on the misinterpretations of the doctrine of Premillennialism.]
Gary Henson

Question: Was the book of Job written before or after the flood?
Answer: Job was written after the flood. This is the case because everything was destroyed in the flood–which would have included the scrolls. Also, rain, lightening and storms did not occur before the flood (Gen. 2:5-6), but Job encountered such (Job 36:27-30) [Cp., snow and hail (Job 38:22); ice (Job 38:29-30)].

2nd Question: If Job lived after the flood, and if the dinosaurs were destroyed in the flood, then why are the behemoths and the leviathans (which were evidently a dinosaur and a sea creature that lived during the time of the dinosaurs) living at the same time as Job?
Answer: Noah was commanded to take two of every kind (Gen. 7:2). Thus, Noah did include two of every kind of dinosaur (Gen. 7:5). [Note: the sea creatures were not included in the ark–they would survive in the water]. For the reason of conserving space (and for other reasons), Noah could have taken very young dinosaurs, or even eggs. After the flood, creatures were still able to live for long periods (Gen. 11) although the length tapered down through subsequent descendants. Such a long duration of time was needed for dinosaurs to grow so large. Thus, Job lived soon after the flood, during the time when dinosaurs were still possible. [Note: Job himself lived more than 140 years (Job 42:16)].
Gary Henson

By the time Josiah became King of Judah, God’s people (to whom He gave the Law) had drifted step by step until their religious way of life was quite foreign to God’s instructions. A factor which added to the falling away was the misplacement of the book of the Law.
During Josiah’s reign, the Temple was being repaired, and the book of the Law was found. Upon reading the book the King became greatly distressed for they were worship- ping and living in contrast to what God had earlier specified (2 Kings 22).
Immediately, Josiah set out to go back—back before the falling away—and do things the way they used to be done as specified (and as pleasing) to God (2 Kings 23). He taught the people the truth (v:2), they agreed “to keep His commandments” (v:3), they eliminated from their religious practices that which was not according to the will of God, (vv:4-20), and they began doing those things in religion which they had not been doing but should have been doing (vv:21-23).
Truly Josiah restored the Jewish religion as God had ordained it to be. As a result, Josiah was spared of Jehovah’s wrath (22:18-20).
Just as there had been a restoration of the Jewish religion during the Old Testament times, there has also been a restoration of the Christian religion within the New Testament times.
As with the Jews, God gave the church a law (Gal. 6:2), a pattern to follow (2 John 9; 1 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19); and, like the Jews, the church drifted away (2 Thes. 2:3). Such resulted in denominationalism and great confusion—something of which God did not ordain (1 Cor. 14:33) nor of which does He approve (Mat. 15:13).
Just like Josiah, several men in the 1800’s saw the problem and began to teach this restoring principle, that is, to go back—back before the falling away, back before denominationalism—and do things in religion the way they used to be done as specified (and as pleasing) to God. They sought to build all things according to the pattern (Heb. 8:5), speak only as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11), and whatever was done had to be authorized by the Lord (Col. 3:17).
Those, in the church of Christ, strive to follow the God-given example of Josiah’s restoration, and beckon all to do the same, for (as Matthew 7:21-23 makes clear) men will not be saved by merely being religious – but by being religiously right.
Gary Henson

Is it not true that men living today have the exact same inspired instructions which were sent by the apostles and prophets to the Christians in the first century which taught them matters pertaining to the church? If men today have the very same instructions to build the church as did the early Christians, then why cannot those of us today build according to this same “blueprint” and become not merely like that church, but become that church?

Suppose a man builds a house from a blueprint and then stores the blueprint in a safe deposit box at a bank. Several years later the house is destroyed by fire. Upon obtaining and using the blueprint from the bank, a second house is built. Would not the second house be exactly alike in design as the original? Neither time nor the existence of several hundred differently designed houses would prevent that second house from being just like the first.

Likewise, when using the same religious blueprint for the early church, neither time nor the existence of several hundred differently designed denominations could prevent the rebuilding of that original church. Yes, we all have the same inspired instructions, which, even through the passing of time, can lead men today to build and become the church as it was built by Jesus and the apostles.
Gary Henson

Jesus, as the Son of God and Savior of man, stands at the door and knocks. Jesus did His part in providing a way for mankind to be forgiven of sin, now we must do our part. So we ask, “What must I do to be saved?”
The answer to this question must come from the Bible, because the Bible and the Bible only is our authority in religion, and by it we shall be judged. Also, in order to have the Bible’s true teaching on any question, we must gather all the verses of the Bible on that subject–without adding extra thoughts of our own, nor ignoring any verse which has something to add to the subject (Revelation 22:18-19).
What then, is the Bible’s answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved?”
First, are you convinced that Jesus is the Son of God? If yes, then listen to the words of 1 Corinthians 1:21, “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” But is that all you must do to be saved? No. Why? Because there are other verses that tell us other things that we must do to be saved, and, as we see in Revelation 22:18-19, we cannot ignore them in order to get God’s answer.
Before we look at one of those verses, consider this: Two robbers were caught. While in jail, the first man’s heart did not change. He was not sorry for being a robber. When he got out of jail, he was going right back to robbing. But the second man’s heart changed. He was sorry for being a robber. He made up his mind to never do it again. In regard to your sinning against God, which of the two robbers describes you? The first? And, therefore, you are not sorry for what you have done; nor, will you change your mind nor your ways? Or, does the second robber describe you? You are sorry for what you have done, and you have or will change your heart and you ways? If you are like the second, then hear the words of 2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.” In order to be saved, you must repent. If the second robber describes you, then you have done this, haven’t you?
Two paragraphs above, it was pointed out that, in order to be saved, you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. If you believe this, would you not be willing to state that fact? Perhaps you already have. If so, consider what Romans 10:9-10 says: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…thou shalt be saved. For…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” If you have not made this confession, it is not difficult for one who knows it is to be done.
Believe, repent, confess. If you have done all this, there is only one more thing you must do. It is stated in Mark 16:16. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” What is it that you must do in order to be saved? Be baptized.
Romans 6:4 explains what baptism is: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism….” Baptism is a burial in water. A person is to be completely put under the water–not merely sprinkled or poured upon.
Also consider the teaching of Acts 2:38. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins.” What are you to do in order to have your sins forgiven? Be baptized.
Then, in Acts 22:16, we read, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.” What washes away your sins? Baptism.
Also, 1 Peter 3:21 tells us, “Whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.” What saves you? Baptism.
We have asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?” And what does God say? As you have seen for yourself: you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God; you must repent; you must confess that you believe Jesus is the Son of God; and, you must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Gary Henson

Psalm 19:9. “His (the sun) going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.“ (written about 1000 B.C.).
Facts: The telescope was invented in 1609 A.D. It was proven that the sun was in orbit around the center of a galaxy in 1927.
Conclusion: Since it was impossible for man to have known that the sun was in an orbit until 1609, then the information contained in Psalm 19:5-6 could only have been written by God.
A Few Others
1st Law Of Thermodynamics
Genesis 2:1………………………1400 BC
Discovered:………………………1870 AD
Countless Stars
Jeremiah 33:22…………………..600 BC
Discovered:……………….after 1609AD
Sound Waves of Stars
Job 38:7………………….at least 400 BC
Discovered:………………………1942 AD
Hydrologic Cycle
Ecclesiastes 1:7…………………..960 BC
Discovered:………………………1040 AD

Gary Henson
Jesus–
Our Perfect Friend

Jesus supplies our needs.
Matthew 15:32 / Matthew 6:33
Jesus comforts the bereaved.
Luke 7:12-15 / 1 Thes 4:13-18
Jesus consoles the troubled.
Luke 12:4 / Philippians 4:7
Jesus gives words to help us live.
John 6:68; 10:10
Jesus never deserts His followers.
Matthew 28:20
Jesus relives guilt.
Hebrews 9:14; 10:22
Jesus helps marriages.
Ephesians 5:22-33 / 1 Cor 13:4-7
Jesus helps parent-child relations.
Colossians 3:20-21 / Ephesians 6:1-4
Jesus gives us friends.
1 John 1:3, 7
Jesus gives us Hope and purpose.
Titus 2:13
Jesus gave His life so we could live.
John 15:13

Gary Henson

1. …the inspired Word of _ tells us so.
   [Read: 2 Timothy 3:15-16].
2. …His __ manifested it.
   [Read: John 20:30-31].
3. …He fulfilled all the __ about the Son of God on earth.
   [Read: Luke 24:25-27; (Note: Mat. 1:23; Heb. 1:8)].
4. …God the _ declared it.
   [Read: Matthew 3:17].
5. …He existed in the __.
   [Read: John 1:1,14].
6. …He ______ all things.
   [Read: John 1:3; Genesis 1:1].
7. ….He lived perfectly, never once committing _.
   [Read: 1 Peter 2:21-22].
8. …He _ all things.
   [Read: John 16:30].
9. …His __ from the dead declared that He is the Son of God.
   [Read: Romans 1:4].
   Gary Henson

Their Ears are open to the cries for help from a lost and dying world.
Their Eyes are ever searching for a receptive heart in which to plant the word of God.
Their Lips are always ready and willing to proclaim the glory of God.
Their Hands are always turning the pages of God’s word, seeking His will.
Their Feet are on the move to carry out the words of Christ in preaching the gospel to every creature.
Their Hearts are breaking with the urgency to reach the lost before it is too late.
Their Heads are bowed in prayer to the Father in heaven, seeking wisdom.
Their Faces glow with the hope that lives in them.
Their Lives are like the light of a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid.
They are the Light of the world. In Christ they live and move and have their being.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (1 Tim. 2:1). While this verse sets forth four words to identify the attitude and contents of our prayers, it also reveals the subjects of the prayer: all men. Thus, our prayer is not to be limited only for ourselves, but is to be extended toward: saints and sinners; high and low; countrymen and foreigners. The Golden Rule compels it. (Mat. 7:12). The Great Commandment demands it (Mat. 22:39). Specifically then, for whom are we to pray?
We are to pray for our BRETHREN. James 5:16 admonishes to “pray one for another.” The church prayed for Peter (Acts 12:5), and Paul prayed for others (Col. 1:3; 2 Thes. 1:11) and asked others to pray for him (Eph. 6:19). May we be sure to pray for the spiritual condition and the spiritual work of one another, as well as their health and welfare.
Pray for those in DARKNESS. Jesus taught us to pray for the lost (Mat. 9:36-38). Of all things may we pray that men be saved! Pray for open doors; pray for workers in the work; pray for receptive hearts. While we cannot “pray a person into heaven,” we need to pray for their opportunity to hear the soul saving message.
Pray for the SICK and NEEDY. “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him…” (Jam. 5:14). Let’s pray for the ill; and as we become ill, let’s notify the church so that prayer can be made for us. We ought also to pray for the poor (Gal. 2:10), for their way is full of hardship.
Pray for our ENEMIES (Mat. 5:44)–not that they flourish (Psa. 73) but that they would come to repentance and be saved (Luke 23:34).
Pray for CIVIL LEADERS that they may enact laws which would not be hostile toward Christianity, but would rather permit it to flourish (1 Tim. 2:2).
Truly, as 1 Timothy 2:1 exhorts us, whether in private or in public, let us pray for all men.
Gary Henson