With so much teaching in the Word of God, how can an assembly ensure that there is an adequate programme of Bible teaching, or should this be left to the individual to do on a personal basis?`
There are four ways at least by which a believer may get to know the teaching of Holy Scripture. One is through teaching in the assembly. Then there is the personal study of the Word of God. Books too can be most helpful, but they should never be a substitute for either the public teaching of the Word or the personal study of the Word. Then again, many a believer has been much helped by individuals who have taken time and effort to open up the truth of Scripture - like Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18 who expounded the word of God to Apollos. But no matter how much or how little teaching is provided in the assembly, the need for personally reading and meditating on the Scriptures must not be overlooked and never should be allowed to cease by the argument that "I get what instruction I need in the assembly". Sadly, far too few believers today take time to read and study the Word of God. While teaching in the assembly is most important and must be valued by the child of God, it is never intended by God to be the only means of getting food for the soul.
Yet there is need to emphasize the importance of the public instruction of the Scriptures in the gathering of the saints. It is the responsibility of elders in the assembly to see to it that the flock is taught the whole counsel of God. Regular teaching should be provided in the assembly so that all in fellowship are getting a balanced spiritual diet through, where possible, a weekly or monthly meeting for ministry, or a series of meetings by a gifted teacher on a book or a subject. Timothy is required to give attention to the public reading of Scripture and to exhortation and teaching (1 Tim 4.13).
The questioner refers to "an adequate programme of Bible teaching". If an assembly gives place to the Word of God in its exercise and testimony then there will surely be a definite time set aside for its teaching. Truth as to the Person of Christ, New Testament principles of gathering, the pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus, as well as the importance of living a godly life, are paramount lines of teaching for today.
John J Stubbs
To which coming does Matthew 24.44 refer, the Rapture or the Manifestation? Does the "ye" refer to believers today?
The section of the so-called "Olivet Discourse" from Matthew 24.29 to 25.46 is concerned with events taking place immediately after the Great Tribulation. The following outline may help to place the verse referred to in the question in its proper context:
24.29 The Prelude to His Coming
24.30 His Coming in Public Manifestation
24.31 The Ingathering of Israel.
There follows a digression or parenthesis from 24.32-25.30 where the Lord Jesus gives six parables or illustrations:
a) 24.32-35 The Fig Tree
b) 24.36-41 The Days of Noah
c) 24.42-44 The Thief
d) 24.45-51 The Servants
e) 25.1-13 The Ten Virgins
f) 25.14-30 The Talents.
The disciples had asked, "What shall be the sign of thy coming?" (24.3). He now (24.30) tells them of the appearing of "the sign of the Son of man in heaven". What is this sign of the Son of man? Could it be the Shekinah cloud? N.B. "Shekinah" is a word that means residence or dwelling place, i.e. of God; it is a word used to express the visible divine presence. It was a cloud that enshrined His form when the LORD tarried with Israel. A cloud it was which received Him out of sight as He ascended from the Mount of Olives; a cloud must bring Him back.
The Lord Jesus then goes on to say, "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (24.30). He will appear in His official glory. He later says to Caiaphas, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven" (Mt 26.64).
The "parable of the fig tree" is concerned with the imminence of His coming (24.32,33) and with the certainty of his coming (24.34,35), whilst the illustration of the thief (Mt 24.42-44) stresses the need for the expectation of His coming.
The answer to the question is that Matthew 24.44 refers to the "manifestation". "Son of man" is a title associated with the earth, with Israel, and with judgment. We as believers today are waiting for "the Lord himself" to "descend from heaven" (1 Thess 4.16). Although the Lord Jesus in this "Olivet Discourse" is addressing His disciples, nevertheless, in the setting of the passage, the disciples represent the faithful witnesses of the Messiah, the believing remnant of the Jews at the end time. As to the interpretation, it is to these that the word "ye" (24.44) refers.
David E West
