GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIXIssue11
/Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;And
make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
THEKINGDOM OF GOD IN POWER////
/And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of
them that stand here, which/
/shall not taste of death//, till they have seen the kingdom of God come
with power.Mark 9:1/
//
////There are many passages in the scriptures which appear to us so
clearly stated that we can set forth their meaning unequivocally. One
which comes to our minds is Acts 13:48; “/And when the Gentiles heard
this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and _as many
as were ordained to eternal life believed_/_._” Another is John 1:13;
/“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, _nor of
the will of man, but of God_/.” And yet another (just to name a few) is
found in Hebrews 9:12; “/Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, _having
obtained eternal redemption for us_/.”The only controversy that can be
found in the reading or attempted “explanation” of them is in the minds
of those who simply choose to ignore what they plainly say or refuse to
give GOD all glory in the salvation of sinners.
Now we are sure that no man can have any true spiritual understanding of
the scriptures apart from the illuminating work of the HOLY SPIRIT.Yet
we are also sure that words have meanings even in the natural realm
which cannot be denied.Much of that which is recorded in the Bible for
the benefit of mankind falls into that category.Men often cannot see
because _they will not_; even as the LORD upbraided the Pharisees for
their refusal to hear HIS words which were so plainly spoken unto them.
“/Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and
they are they which testify of me. And _ye will not come to me_, that ye
might have life.” (John 5:39-40/)
Thus, no man can plead ignorance before the LORD because HIS WORD is
made plain even in the creation which surrounds all men.“/Because that
which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it
unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, _when they knew God, they glorified him not as God_,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools.” (Rom 1:19-22/)Men will, by nature, rebel against every
true revelation of the glory of GOD in JESUS CHRIST.
Many do so while professing to be the followers of CHRIST as they exalt
the free will of men and make the redemptive work of CHRIST to be a mere
attempt to save men which ultimately depends upon them instead of
HIM.One cannot deny the testimony of Paul, “/But _of him_ are _ye in
Christ Jesus_, who of God _is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption_: That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1Cor 1:30-31/)Yet many
will seek to modify what Paul clearly stated. in order to promote their
schemes which, give men a place to glory in their own decisions, works,
faith, and obedience.In the same fashion they will revolt against Paul’s
clear declaration of the absolute sovereignty of GOD, /“Nay but, O man,
who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to
him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter
power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour,
and another unto dishonour?” (Rom 9:20-21/)
While we see most of the scriptures in their “unequivocal” meaning, or
at least desire to see them more clearly, we are also aware that there
are some scriptures which men made wise by the SPIRIT of GOD, tread
lightly and confess that they know nothing as they ought to know.For the
import and meaning of these scriptures is not so clearly revealed.Yet we
must look at them, seeking greater light, and desiring to speak truth
alone. Thus, we can merely state our opinion about them, desiring to
glorify CHRIST alone, and confessing with trepidation that we are not
always correct in our opinion.The man who is convinced that his opinion
is always correct is either a fool or unlearned in the limitations of
even “spiritually minded” men.
This passage found in Mark 9:1 is one of those scriptures which I
confess to having no absolute understanding of, yet I feel it necessary
to set forth what light I have on it, thinking that I do have some
understanding of it.I hope to do so in a manner which would encompass
the essence of truth as it is in JESUS even if I might miss the exact
import of it in every detail.Many of the scriptures which seem, to many,
to speak of future events fall into that same category.
It is true enough that the LORD could have been speaking of an event far
off in the future, yet it would appear that it could not be beyond the
lifetime of those to whom HE was speaking.Some have surmised that HE is
speaking of the “coming” of HIS Kingdom at the end of the age, when HE
returns with a shout and the voice of the archangel.But such seems
unlikely to me since HE did say that the event which HE is describing
would occur while some of them were still alive. “/some of them that
stand here, which shall not taste of death/ “.
Others have thought that HE has reference to the coming destruction of
Jerusalem around the year 70 AD.Such seems a strained consideration to
me since one has to adopt the whole theory of what has been called
“preterism” (which primarily contends that all prophecies have had their
fulfillment at that time, including the return of CHRIST to the Earth)
in order to support that view.While “wise” and “studied” men have held
this position (_not_ without any foundation; I might add), I cannot
embrace it and am of the opinion that much learning has made them mad.
Then there are those who believe that HE has reference to the day of HIS
ascension back to the right hand of the FATHER, which was witnessed by
them, as the Heavens opened and HE was received into the glory which HE
had with the FATHER from the beginning.This was indeed a momentous and
glorious event which surely shaped their concept of the extent of the
reign of HIS Kingdom.Yet I do not believe this is the event which was
referenced by the LORD, due in large part to HIS statement that
“/_some_//of them/” would see this event.It would appear that _all_ of
them were present when HE ascended.
So, we are left to consider what event did HE have reference to.When we
look at the scriptures which are considered “prophetic” we can be
certain that they have their fulfillment in CHRIST, since the
“/testimony of JESUS is the SPIRIT of prophecy/”./(Rev.19:10/) All of
the creation shall worship at HIS footstool because HE is the CREATOR of
all things which HE made for that very end.HE would reveal HIS glory to
a people which HE created for that very reason, who would delight not
simply in HIS creation of them but in their redemption, which is clearly
made manifest in the unfolding of HIS Kingdom in the Earth.HE had
reference to this fact when HE said, /“upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:18/)
The opening up of the understanding of HIS disciples was an ongoing work
of HIS ministry. One can only guess at their wonderment each time HE
performed some act which caused them to say, “/what manner of MAN is
this/”.Usually the LORD brings home truth to our hearts, not in the
initial word which HE gives us, but later, as HE is pleased to open our
minds and causes us to see what should have been apparent to us from the
start, like the men on the road to Emmaus.
So, it would appear to me that the event which HE has reference to here
in Mark 9:1, is the event which occurred on the Mount of
Transfiguration.We can tell the limited knowledge that the disciples had
of who HE is and the place which HE occupies in the Kingdom of GOD, by
the fact of Peter’s desire to build three tabernacles of equal import
for Elijah, Moses, and the LORD.Now to be sure I expect that Peter was
overwhelmed at this vision and probably spoke without thinking too
deeply.Yet his line of thought is in keeping with his Jewish heritage
and tradition.How startling it was to hear that VOICE from Heaven
thundering out, “/_This_//is my beloved Son: _hear him_.” (Mar 9:7/) as
Moses and Elijah faded from view.If this is not a revelation of the
Kingdom of GOD coming with power, I am not able to imagine what would
be.Yet that revelation was not immediate to Peter, but was cemented in
his mind on the day of Pentecost when he declared, /“Therefore let all
the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that _same
Jesus_, whom ye have crucified, _both Lord and Christ._” (Acts 2:36)
/This is the message of HIS Kingdom which has no end/./mam