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No More Pain Red.And.White.Flowers.JPG

Or, The Instructive Past and Hopeful Future Concerning Pain, Suffering, and Death

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

by Tom Stewart Preface

ain is something that we all desire to avoid because we are human. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the LORD the Church" (Ephesians 5:29). However, pain, suffering, and even death are often unavoidable, when we seek to accomplish the will of God. "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Instead of running to the extremes of seeking to embrace pain as a constant companion, or running from pain at all costs, we need to understand the wisdom of how God uses pain in our lives. "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philippians 4:12). Sin: The Origin of Pain

hough we may have wondered if a newly created Adam could experience everyday pain, we can be certain of what Scripture records as the occasion for the beginning of pain-- SIN. "Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:16-19). God's command was plain. "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). Satan's temptation questioned the very essence of the Truthfulness and Love of God to man. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (3:4-5). Adam and Eve's first sin brought forth the by-product of pain, which is the condition of separation from the Living God. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:6-8).

This condition of separation from the Living God yields pain, while union with our LORD yields joy. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). Compare that to this. "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11).

Punishment and Reformation: The Purpose of Pain and Suffering

hough pain and suffering seem only to have a negative purpose, as Christians, we can be sure that it is entirely untrue. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). The God of Wisdom and Love must have a deeper purpose than simply to watch His people suffer. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (11:33).

God's punishment of Adam and Eve's sin was not only punitive, but it was reformative for the promotion of Godliness, i.e., "cursed is the ground for thy sake " (Genesis 3:17). The punishment of Adam and Eve was the All Wise God's method of securing their salvation and sanctification. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21). This was the beginning of salvation in mankind. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). Eve was punished with sorrow in childbearing and the necessity for submission to her husband. "Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee" (Genesis 3:16). Eve was established as the pattern for even the women of today. "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (1Timothy 2:15).

Adam was punished with the pain, toil, and sorrow of physical survival for himself and his family. "And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:17-19). Though neither Adam's toil nor Eve's childbearing could in itself have saved them, it was necessary (where appropriate) for their acceptance by faith with God. "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1Timothy 5:8).

Clarification: Physical Pain Does Not Necessarily Imply Sin

f pain is the result of sin and sinning, then is physical pain sin? No. If physical pain indicated that you were in a sinful condition, then how could the Sinless Son of God-- "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1Peter 2:22).-- have lived as a human being, suffering the human condition, and not have sinned? The LORD Jesus was always the Perfect "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Remember what the disciples asked the Master concerning the man born blind. "And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2). Jesus clearly indicated that the man's form of suffering, i.e., blindness, was not due to any wrong doing on the man's part or his parents' part. "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (9:3).

Even Jesus-- the Perfect Man-- Was Not Exempt Jesus is Actually Both Man as Well as the Living God. Though the Old Testament Scriptures predicted the miracle that God would appear on Earth as a real man-- "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)-- how startled our predecessors must have been to discover that Jesus of Nazareth was THE Living God! "And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1Timothy 3:16). Jesus is the Example. The value of the doctrine of the humanity of the LORD Jesus Christ can be seen in the wonderful example that He has given as to how to live our lives. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). Yes, we have been commanded by His Word concerning our conduct, i.e., "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), but just as significantly, the Master leads us by His example. "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). The LORD Jesus Experienced the Human Condition. A mistaken notion is that the LORD Jesus Christ somehow extinguished the sin out of the human flesh, when He became a man-- "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Actually, there was no such necessity, because physical human flesh does not metaphysically transmit sin like a modern virus. Sin is only an act of the human will against the known and understood will of God. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law: for sin is the transgression of the Law" (1John 3:4). Also, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). It is appropriate then to identify the act of sinning as moral depravity, and the resulting sinful condition as being morally depraved. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit" (Matthew 12:33). We are only sinful (or, morally depraved) when we are in the condition of not having repented of known sin. But, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).

Since the LORD Jesus Christ never committed sin before, during, or after He became a man in human flesh, He never can be said to have been morally depraved (or, sinful). "For He [the Father] hath made Him [the Son] to be sin for us, [Jesus] Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus] " (2Corinthians 5:21). How unlike the rest of us! "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him [Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). Who can truthfully deny that we have all sinned? No one. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). [For a more developed discussion of moral depravity compared to a less understood concept of 'physical depravity'-- yes, that's a term from Charles G. Finney's " Systematic Theology "-- see the sub-point " (4) Physical depravity is the physical consequence of sin " of the sub-section "Back to the Basics: The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ" of our article, " An Urgent Call to Christian Perfection ".] Jesus Knew Pain, Suffering, and Death in His Earthly Life. "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred " (Matthew 4:2). "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst " (John 19:28). "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death , even the death of the Cross" (Philippians 2:8). Our LORD Was Born to Die . The LORD Jesus obviously knew what He was getting Himself into long before He came to Earth as a man. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7). Understanding perfectly the suffering and death He would experience on a Roman cross; still, He manifested Perfect Love by enduring it. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Thank you, LORD Jesus, for your Magnificent Love!

The Apostle Paul: A Notable Example A Thorn in the Flesh. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure" (2 Corinthians 12:7). The Apostle Paul seems to be describing some kind of physical affliction from which he requested deliverance from the LORD. "For this thing I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me" (12:8). Finally, Paul arrives at the conclusion that obtaining God's grace simply to sustain him in his need, was as important as taking away the "thorn in the flesh" -- in this particular instance. How did he know this? Because the LORD gave him a special revelation to tell him that he would not receive the normally expected healing or deliverance, i.e., "My [the LORD's] grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (12:9). As a consequence, Paul learned to rejoice even in his distresses, knowing that God's power was resting on him. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (12:10). That I May Know Him. Paul demonstrated to us the value of knowing the LORD Jesus Christ. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings , being made conformable unto His death " (Philippians 3:10). To know the LORD Jesus Christ means to know the "power of His Resurrection" as well as the "fellowship of His Sufferings" . If you get to know one part of the LORD Jesus, you will get to know the other part-- as well as "being made conformable to His Death" .

Suffering: The Secret of Personal Sanctification Need for Sanctification. Though we were made holy in Christ when we first believed-- "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity , and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14)-- that holiness must be maintained by our continual abiding in Christ by faith. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not" (1John 3:6). Also, the same confidence that the LORD would save us in the first place, is the confidence that He will continue to sanctify us to the end. "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). God only gives holiness to those who ask Him for it in faith-- "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (1John 1:9). Similarly, we cannot pretend to be walking in faith while walking in disobedience. "And why call ye Me, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Holiness must be in our conduct, if it has truly been given to us by the LORD. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14).

The secret to our personal sanctification or holiness is found in our suffering. "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). Even as the Apostle Paul knew the "fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10), he understood the Entire Sanctification available to all the Saints. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians 5:23). Only those who have "suffered in the flesh" have "ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). God intends that the result of suffering would be our ceasing from sinning. This must be possible, or else, why does Scripture place such an emphasis upon Not Sinning for all those who are Born Again? "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1John 5:18).

Medieval monasticism is not to be confused with our ceasing from sin through suffering. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility... Touch not; taste not; handle not... after the commandments and doctrines of men?... Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body" (Colossians 2:18,21,22,23). The monastic error was to place the emphasis upon the man gaining mastery over the human will through his suffering, i.e., "will worship" (2:23). However, the Spirit taught Saint understands the necessity of his own sufferings, but also acknowledges the necessity of God's mastery of his will for that suffering to bring forth the "peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11). "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Value of Pain, Suffering, and Death . Again, it is entirely appropriate to avoid pain, suffering, and death; but, not at all costs. The Apostle Peter's First Epistle speaks at length concerning the Christian's Suffering and the Glory that will follow. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you , as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings ; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1Peter 4:12-16). How often have we seen ourselves partake of suffering. i.e., because we were doing right, while we see the unrighteous prosper-- fully engaged in their sin? John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed, while the ungodly banqueted. David ran like a hunted animal, while Saul enjoyed the throne of Israel. The Psalmist recounts his struggle-- and ours-- with the paradox of our suffering and the ungodly's prospering. "I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression... these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches... all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning... When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction... So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee... Thou shalt guide me with Thy Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory... But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the LORD GOD, that I may declare all Thy works" (Psalms 73). Christian, take heart. Our suffering is but momentary, compared to our "exceeding joy" when Christ's "glory shall be revealed" (1Peter 4:13)! When Death is Unavoidable. Life is the normal and expected thing for the child of God. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). However, there does come a time when the LORD may specially reveal to His people that death-- and not life-- is to be expected. This is exactly what will happen during the Tribulation Week. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown Of Life" (Revelation 2:10). In this instance, suffering and death are only a gateway to a "Crown Of Life" . Abundance of Difficulties, But More Abundance of Grace. God's Overcoming Grace has been the experience of the Saints down through the ages. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). It has rightly been said that our difficulties are God's opportunities. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2Chronicles 16:9). Our pain, suffering, and dying are opportunities to see God's power manifested on our behalf. Unfortunately, it seems to have been necessary to experience pain, suffering, and dying, for us to be properly motivated to seek the LORD-- and His holiness. "When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and enquired early after God" (Psalm 78:34). True, we should seek Him anyway, but that is the track record of man.

What the Future Holds for Pain, Suffering, and Death No More Tears and Pain. Though tears and pain will no longer be part of the lives of those Saints who are Raptured Home to the LORD, Scripture indicates that rebellion will occur on Earth after the Millennium is completed. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them" (Revelation 20:7-9). As dramatic an event as this will be, the LORD only gives three short verses to accomplish the necessary description. The sin that brought us pain, suffering, and death will be summarily brought to a conclusion-- "and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them" . None of the Godly will mourn at the outcome; instead, they will rejoice! Only after this fiery conclusion will there be the "New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2Peter 3:13 cp. Revelation 20). This is where we have the description of the LORD wiping away "all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). The LORD God Almighty will no longer have any more need for pain, suffering, and death in His creation. It is ashamed that we made it necessary for God to have had to use them at all. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10). No More Sting of Death. One of the most triumphant passages of the New Testament, is the conclusion of the 15th chapter of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. "Death is swallowed up in victory" is the LORD's way of telling us that no more righteous people will die after the Last Trump-- which is the 7th Trumpet Judgment. [See our article about the Seven Trumpet Judgments, " Tribulation Timeline: When Shall These Things Be? (Part 3) " to get a better appreciation of when death will be swallowed up in victory.] "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Corinthians 15:51-57).

Conclusion

e all have probably concluded long ago that pain, suffering, and death will have no part of the future for the Righteous, i.e., in Heaven. The ultimate victory of the Righteous over death is a recurrent theme throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. The Apostle Paul cited Isaiah 25:8 when he wrote, "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1Corinthians 15:54). But, the prophet Hosea gave us the most sublime, direct quotation from the lips of Jehovah concerning the Righteous and the destiny of death. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction" (Hosea 13:14). Hallelujah!

What we may have neglected is the value of pain, suffering, and dying in our own sanctification. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy Statutes" (Psalm 119:71). Much of the progress we have made in our walk with the LORD has come because we have been subjected to pain, suffering, and even dying. "For I will shew him [the Apostle Paul] how great things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Only Eternity will tell all the good that has come from these Unsought For Companions, i.e., pain, suffering, and death. "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1Corinthians 3:13). Certainly the Tribulation Week will afford the Body of Christ more opportunities to be sanctified through contact with these Companions. "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).

May God alone receive the praise for what you accomplish by your pain and suffering-- and even dying. "That God may be all in all" (1Corinthians 15:28). .

Tom Stewart

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit
+No More Pain
+http://whatsaiththescripture.com/Graphics/victorian.floral/Red.And.White.Flowers.JPG
+Or, The Instructive Past and Hopeful Future
+Concerning Pain, Suffering, and Death
+"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away"
+(Revelation 21:4).
-"Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10).
+by Tom Stewart
+Preface
-by Tom Stewart
+ain is something that we all desire to avoid because we are human. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the LORD the Church" (Ephesians 5:29). However, pain, suffering, and even death are often unavoidable, when we seek to accomplish the will of God. "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Instead of running to the extremes of seeking to embrace pain as a constant companion, or running from pain at all costs, we need to understand the wisdom of how God uses pain in our lives. "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philippians 4:12).
+Sin: The Origin of Pain
+hough we may have wondered if a newly created Adam could experience everyday pain, we can be certain of what Scripture records as the occasion for the beginning of pain-- SIN. "Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:16-19).
+God's command was plain. "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). Satan's temptation questioned the very essence of the Truthfulness and Love of God to man. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (3:4-5).
+Adam and Eve's first sin brought forth the by-product of pain, which is the condition of separation from the Living God. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:6-8).
-Preface
+This condition of separation from the Living God yields pain, while union with our LORD yields joy. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). Compare that to this. "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11).
+Punishment and Reformation: The Purpose of Pain and Suffering
-When many Christians speak of the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit, they are making reference to the Pre-Tribulational Rapture interpretation of Second Thessalonians chapter two, verse seven. "For the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth [Greek, katecho, restrains] will let [will continue to restrain], until He [the Holy Spirit] be taken out of the way" (2Thessalonians 2:7). This writer agrees that the Holy Spirit is the Restraining Influence taken out of the way when the Spirit Indwelt Saints are Raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation Week. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9). [See our article, "Must There Be a Pre-Tribulational Rapture?" ---New Window, for a more thorough discussion of 2Thessalonians 2.] The very identification of the Holy Spirit as the Restraining Influence brings up the significant Ministry of the Holy Spirit as the Restrainer of Evil. "7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter [Greek, parakletos, advocate] will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove [Greek, elegcho, convince or convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:7-11). What did Jesus mean-- "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (16:9)? The Holy Spirit was given to:
+hough pain and suffering seem only to have a negative purpose, as Christians, we can be sure that it is entirely untrue. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). The God of Wisdom and Love must have a deeper purpose than simply to watch His people suffer. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (11:33).
-(1) Convict the world of the sin of not believing on Christ, i.e., "18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth Truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God" (John 3:18-21),
+God's punishment of Adam and Eve's sin was not only punitive, but it was reformative for the promotion of Godliness, i.e., "cursed is the ground for thy sake " (Genesis 3:17). The punishment of Adam and Eve was the All Wise God's method of securing their salvation and sanctification. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21). This was the beginning of salvation in mankind. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). Eve was punished with sorrow in childbearing and the necessity for submission to her husband. "Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee" (Genesis 3:16). Eve was established as the pattern for even the women of today. "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" (1Timothy 2:15).
-(2) Convince the world of Christ's Righteousness, because if He (the Spirit) is present in this world, then our "Advocate [Greek, parakletos, comforter] with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1John 2:1) (Who, consequently, is the Sender of the Spirit) must have ascended successfully back to the Throne of the Father, i.e., "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear" (Acts 2:33), and
+Adam was punished with the pain, toil, and sorrow of physical survival for himself and his family. "And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:17-19). Though neither Adam's toil nor Eve's childbearing could in itself have saved them, it was necessary (where appropriate) for their acceptance by faith with God. "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1Timothy 5:8).
-(3) Convict the world of judgment, because Beelzebub-- Satan, who is the "god of this world" (2Corinthians 4:4) and the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2)-- was judged at the Cross, for Christ "having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15), i.e., "7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory" (1Corinthians 2:7-8).
+Clarification: Physical Pain Does Not Necessarily Imply Sin
+f pain is the result of sin and sinning, then is physical pain sin? No. If physical pain indicated that you were in a sinful condition, then how could the Sinless Son of God-- "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1Peter 2:22).-- have lived as a human being, suffering the human condition, and not have sinned? The LORD Jesus was always the Perfect "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
-How the Holy Spirit Works
+Remember what the disciples asked the Master concerning the man born blind. "And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2). Jesus clearly indicated that the man's form of suffering, i.e., blindness, was not due to any wrong doing on the man's part or his parents' part. "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (9:3).
+Even Jesus-- the Perfect Man-- Was Not Exempt
+Jesus is Actually Both Man as Well as the Living God. Though the Old Testament Scriptures predicted the miracle that God would appear on Earth as a real man-- "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)-- how startled our predecessors must have been to discover that Jesus of Nazareth was THE Living God! "And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1Timothy 3:16).
+Jesus is the Example. The value of the doctrine of the humanity of the LORD Jesus Christ can be seen in the wonderful example that He has given as to how to live our lives. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). Yes, we have been commanded by His Word concerning our conduct, i.e., "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), but just as significantly, the Master leads us by His example. "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).
+The LORD Jesus Experienced the Human Condition. A mistaken notion is that the LORD Jesus Christ somehow extinguished the sin out of the human flesh, when He became a man-- "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Actually, there was no such necessity, because physical human flesh does not metaphysically transmit sin like a modern virus. Sin is only an act of the human will against the known and understood will of God. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law: for sin is the transgression of the Law" (1John 3:4). Also, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
+It is appropriate then to identify the act of sinning as moral depravity, and the resulting sinful condition as being morally depraved. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit" (Matthew 12:33). We are only sinful (or, morally depraved) when we are in the condition of not having repented of known sin. But, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).
-God the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, works through: (1) the material Creation, (2) the Truth, and (3) the Spirit Indwelt Believer. [See our article, "St. Patrick: The Trinity and the Shamrock" ---New Window, for a discussion of the Doctrine of the Trinity.]
+Since the LORD Jesus Christ never committed sin before, during, or after He became a man in human flesh, He never can be said to have been morally depraved (or, sinful). "For He [the Father] hath made Him [the Son] to be sin for us, [Jesus] Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus] " (2Corinthians 5:21). How unlike the rest of us! "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him [Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). Who can truthfully deny that we have all sinned? No one. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). [For a more developed discussion of moral depravity compared to a less understood concept of 'physical depravity'-- yes, that's a term from Charles G. Finney's " Systematic Theology "-- see the sub-point " (4) Physical depravity is the physical consequence of sin " of the sub-section "Back to the Basics: The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ" of our article, " An Urgent Call to Christian Perfection ".]
+Jesus Knew Pain, Suffering, and Death in His Earthly Life. "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred " (Matthew 4:2). "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst " (John 19:28). "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death , even the death of the Cross" (Philippians 2:8).
+Our LORD Was Born to Die . The LORD Jesus obviously knew what He was getting Himself into long before He came to Earth as a man. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:5-7). Understanding perfectly the suffering and death He would experience on a Roman cross; still, He manifested Perfect Love by enduring it. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Thank you, LORD Jesus, for your Magnificent Love!
-First, Creation was manifestly an act of God employing His Word-- the Eternal Logos, which is Christ Jesus (the Second Person of the Trinity), who is the "Word of Life" (1John 1:1)-- and using His Spirit. Notice in the following verse, the reference to the Word (Christ) and the Breath (Spirit) of the LORD in Creation. "By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the Breath of His mouth" (Psalm 33:6). Does this not coincide with the statement of Genesis? "1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. 2 And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said [i.e., His Word, which is Christ], Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:1-3). Not only has the "Spirit of Christ" (1Peter 1:11) been instrumental in the Creation, but He necessarily is the sine qua non ("without which not" or the essential element or condition) of maintaining the material Universe. "27 These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 28 That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good. 29 Thou hidest Thy face, they are troubled: Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30 Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: and Thou renewest the face of the Earth" (Psalm 104:27-30).
+The Apostle Paul: A Notable Example
+A Thorn in the Flesh. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure" (2 Corinthians 12:7). The Apostle Paul seems to be describing some kind of physical affliction from which he requested deliverance from the LORD. "For this thing I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me" (12:8). Finally, Paul arrives at the conclusion that obtaining God's grace simply to sustain him in his need, was as important as taking away the "thorn in the flesh" -- in this particular instance. How did he know this? Because the LORD gave him a special revelation to tell him that he would not receive the normally expected healing or deliverance, i.e., "My [the LORD's] grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (12:9). As a consequence, Paul learned to rejoice even in his distresses, knowing that God's power was resting on him. "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (12:10).
+That I May Know Him. Paul demonstrated to us the value of knowing the LORD Jesus Christ. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings , being made conformable unto His death " (Philippians 3:10). To know the LORD Jesus Christ means to know the "power of His Resurrection" as well as the "fellowship of His Sufferings" . If you get to know one part of the LORD Jesus, you will get to know the other part-- as well as "being made conformable to His Death" .
-Second, all Truth is the ministry of the Spirit in Its authoring, superintending, distributing, instructing, interpreting, persuading, preserving, etc., for He is the "Spirit of Truth" (John 15:26). All factual knowledge, which is consistent with Spiritual Truth, is just as much the Spirit's domain as Biblical Truth, for the Spirit is the Spirit of the Almighty God, Whose "understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5). Of course, Scriptural Truth is understood especially to be from the Spirit of God. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2Peter 1:21). Whenever any Truth-- Scriptural Truth or otherwise-- is ever understood by any man-- Saint or Sinner-- it is only because the Spirit of God has directed it. "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from Heaven" (John 3:27).
+Suffering: The Secret of Personal Sanctification
+Need for Sanctification. Though we were made holy in Christ when we first believed-- "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity , and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14)-- that holiness must be maintained by our continual abiding in Christ by faith. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not" (1John 3:6). Also, the same confidence that the LORD would save us in the first place, is the confidence that He will continue to sanctify us to the end. "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
+God only gives holiness to those who ask Him for it in faith-- "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (1John 1:9). Similarly, we cannot pretend to be walking in faith while walking in disobedience. "And why call ye Me, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Holiness must be in our conduct, if it has truly been given to us by the LORD. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD" (Hebrews 12:14).
-Third and finally, the Holy Spirit residing in the Spirit Indwelt Believer is the primary means through which Spiritual Truth is disseminated to the world. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you" (John 16:7). The Spirit is not given to the world, but to the Christian. "Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:17). Plainly, the world cannot understand the Spirit of Truth, other than the Spirit's warning that "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5). The fine points of Spiritual Truth are unintelligible to Unsaved Humanity and consequently wasted upon them until they become willing and repent. True Willingness to obey Christ is the Crucial Test of being a Christian, and it is the key to understanding the doctrines and teachings of the Scriptures. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). But, until man becomes willing to do the Will of God, the Spirit of Truth will not be truly understood. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1Corinthians 2:14).
+The secret to our personal sanctification or holiness is found in our suffering. "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). Even as the Apostle Paul knew the "fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10), he understood the Entire Sanctification available to all the Saints. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians 5:23). Only those who have "suffered in the flesh" have "ceased from sin" (1Peter 4:1). God intends that the result of suffering would be our ceasing from sinning. This must be possible, or else, why does Scripture place such an emphasis upon Not Sinning for all those who are Born Again? "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1John 5:18).
+Medieval monasticism is not to be confused with our ceasing from sin through suffering. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility... Touch not; taste not; handle not... after the commandments and doctrines of men?... Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body" (Colossians 2:18,21,22,23). The monastic error was to place the emphasis upon the man gaining mastery over the human will through his suffering, i.e., "will worship" (2:23). However, the Spirit taught Saint understands the necessity of his own sufferings, but also acknowledges the necessity of God's mastery of his will for that suffering to bring forth the "peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11). "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
+Value of Pain, Suffering, and Death . Again, it is entirely appropriate to avoid pain, suffering, and death; but, not at all costs. The Apostle Peter's First Epistle speaks at length concerning the Christian's Suffering and the Glory that will follow. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you , as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings ; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1Peter 4:12-16).
+How often have we seen ourselves partake of suffering. i.e., because we were doing right, while we see the unrighteous prosper-- fully engaged in their sin? John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed, while the ungodly banqueted. David ran like a hunted animal, while Saul enjoyed the throne of Israel. The Psalmist recounts his struggle-- and ours-- with the paradox of our suffering and the ungodly's prospering. "I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression... these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches... all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning... When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction... So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee... Thou shalt guide me with Thy Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory... But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the LORD GOD, that I may declare all Thy works" (Psalms 73). Christian, take heart. Our suffering is but momentary, compared to our "exceeding joy" when Christ's "glory shall be revealed" (1Peter 4:13)!
+When Death is Unavoidable. Life is the normal and expected thing for the child of God. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). However, there does come a time when the LORD may specially reveal to His people that death-- and not life-- is to be expected. This is exactly what will happen during the Tribulation Week. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown Of Life" (Revelation 2:10). In this instance, suffering and death are only a gateway to a "Crown Of Life" .
+Abundance of Difficulties, But More Abundance of Grace. God's Overcoming Grace has been the experience of the Saints down through the ages. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). It has rightly been said that our difficulties are God's opportunities. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2Chronicles 16:9). Our pain, suffering, and dying are opportunities to see God's power manifested on our behalf. Unfortunately, it seems to have been necessary to experience pain, suffering, and dying, for us to be properly motivated to seek the LORD-- and His holiness. "When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and enquired early after God" (Psalm 78:34). True, we should seek Him anyway, but that is the track record of man.
-How the Holy Spirit Restrains Evil Through Endtime Christians
+What the Future Holds for Pain, Suffering, and Death
+No More Tears and Pain. Though tears and pain will no longer be part of the lives of those Saints who are Raptured Home to the LORD, Scripture indicates that rebellion will occur on Earth after the Millennium is completed. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them" (Revelation 20:7-9). As dramatic an event as this will be, the LORD only gives three short verses to accomplish the necessary description. The sin that brought us pain, suffering, and death will be summarily brought to a conclusion-- "and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them" . None of the Godly will mourn at the outcome; instead, they will rejoice!
+Only after this fiery conclusion will there be the "New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2Peter 3:13 cp. Revelation 20). This is where we have the description of the LORD wiping away "all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). The LORD God Almighty will no longer have any more need for pain, suffering, and death in His creation. It is ashamed that we made it necessary for God to have had to use them at all. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10).
+No More Sting of Death. One of the most triumphant passages of the New Testament, is the conclusion of the 15th chapter of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. "Death is swallowed up in victory" is the LORD's way of telling us that no more righteous people will die after the Last Trump-- which is the 7th Trumpet Judgment. [See our article about the Seven Trumpet Judgments, " Tribulation Timeline: When Shall These Things Be? (Part 3) " to get a better appreciation of when death will be swallowed up in victory.] "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Corinthians 15:51-57).
+Conclusion
-How does the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit relate to your conduct as an Endtime Christian? Other than by His supernatural intervention in the Material Creation, e.g., a worldwide flood cleansing the Earth of wicked mankind such as in the days of Noah, the Holy Spirit restrains the Evil in the world through the Truth lived, prayed, and ministered by His Spirit Indwelt Saints. "Ye are the Salt of the Earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men" (Matthew 5:13). Can even a seemingly small number of True Saints ministering, praying, and living the Truth have such a large effect upon a vastly larger world of Ungodly Humanity? Evidently so, for consider the case of "just Lot" (2Peter 2:7) dwelling in Sodom. The Almighty would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah "for ten's sake" (Genesis 18:32), if "ten [Righteous Saints] shall be found there" (18:32), for Abraham had so interceded. "That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the Righteous with the Wicked: and that the Righteous should be as the Wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of All the Earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25). Did not Jehovah instruct His Old Testament Saints, "Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace" (Jeremiah 29:7)? Only Eternity will tell how much the intercession of the Saints has benefitted even the world that never repented. "1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1Timothy 2:1-2). So, the Holy Spirit restrains Evil simply by the salty presence of the Godly, as well as by their prayers and actions. Consider that Enoch's great-grandson Noah was declared to be a "preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly" (2Peter 2:5), while Enoch had done the same kind of preaching some 900 years previously to his generation of Ungodly Rejecters, i.e., "14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the LORD cometh with ten thousands of His Saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" (Jude 14-15). If the Godly Saint is able to affect the preservation of his burgh, village, town, city, province, territory, state, or nation, then think what greater good can be accomplished, if any of them should ever succeed in gaining a Sinner's repentance through ministering the "Truth of the Gospel" (1Peter 1:23)? Depending upon the circumstances and opportunities of different Saints in different times and places throughout history, aggressive evangelism or retreat to the catacombs would be directed by the Spirit to accomplish His Purpose through Providence and Prophecy. "I being in the way, the LORD led me" (Genesis 24:27). Whatever the case, the Godly have been commanded to labour "while it is day: [for] the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4), and to continue until the "LORD cometh" (Jude 14) for us. The All Wise God knows your circumstances; and better yet, He has providentially planned your life and circumstances that you will be able to fulfill His Will for your life, without you attempting to become a duplicate of some other Christian (living or departed). "We must all appear before the Judgment Seat [Greek, bema] of Christ" (2Corinthians 5:10). The godly Apostle Paul attempted to lead by example, as well should we. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1Corinthians 11:1). However, in being led of the Spirit, i.e., "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14), we may be conducted down paths that only the Spirit of Christ travels with us. "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).
+e all have probably concluded long ago that pain, suffering, and death will have no part of the future for the Righteous, i.e., in Heaven. The ultimate victory of the Righteous over death is a recurrent theme throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. The Apostle Paul cited Isaiah 25:8 when he wrote, "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1Corinthians 15:54). But, the prophet Hosea gave us the most sublime, direct quotation from the lips of Jehovah concerning the Righteous and the destiny of death. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction" (Hosea 13:14). Hallelujah!
+What we may have neglected is the value of pain, suffering, and dying in our own sanctification. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy Statutes" (Psalm 119:71). Much of the progress we have made in our walk with the LORD has come because we have been subjected to pain, suffering, and even dying. "For I will shew him [the Apostle Paul] how great things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Only Eternity will tell all the good that has come from these Unsought For Companions, i.e., pain, suffering, and death. "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1Corinthians 3:13). Certainly the Tribulation Week will afford the Body of Christ more opportunities to be sanctified through contact with these Companions. "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).
-How the Gospel May Be Advanced Even in the Face of Opposition
+May God alone receive the praise for what you accomplish by your pain and suffering-- and even dying. "That God may be all in all" (1Corinthians 15:28).
+.
-An example from the New Testament shows us the circumstances of the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Philippians. Paul was writing from his prison in Rome to the Philippian Christians (about 60 AD) during the administration of Nero, i.e., "my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace [Greek, praitorion, probably the Emperor's palace] and in all other places" (Philippians 1:13). Philippi was a Roman colony and city of Macedonia to which Paul had been instructed by the Holy Spirit to visit. "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us" (Acts 16:9). Lydia, a "seller of purple" (Acts 16:14) and the Philippian jailer (16:29) were possibly readers of this letter-- about seven years after their first meeting with Paul. Specifically, Paul was in prison because the enemies of the Gospel were seeking to use Roman law to execute him, i.e., "Away with such a fellow from the Earth: for it is not fit that he should live" (Acts 22:22). Despite years of imprisonment, Paul's confidence in Christ had only grown, and his encouragement to the Philippians was, "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Paul was imprisoned in Rome because he had appealed to Caesar, i.e., "17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of" (Acts 28:17-19). While Paul waited for his case to be decided in Rome, Paul explains that the Truth of the Gospel was being spoken about or preached both by sincerity and deceit. "12 But I would ye should understand, Brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the LORD, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel" (Philippians 1:12-17). He makes a Spirit-inspired observation about both the True and False Preaching of the Truth of the Gospel: "18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (1:18-19). Two things are necessary to make both forms of preaching work for the futherance of the Truth of the Gospel: (1) "your prayer" (1:19), and (2) the "supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (1:19). Even when antagonistic or false teachers of Spiritual Truth successfully spread their poisonous teachings, the Spirit of God is able to use the element of Truth in their false positions, if we petition Him (prayer) to do so (by His Spirit). "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). We need to claim promises from the Word of God in our intercession that even the element of Truth in the false teaching can be forced home by the Holy Spirit to do a True Work of Grace in the heart of the hearers. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10). By no means do we pray for the advancement of false teachings, but we do ask the LORD that, for ourselves, it would "work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28) and be used by the Spirit to both convert the Elect and ready the Unelect for judgment. "That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2Thessalonians 2:12). As an encouragement, Paul ended his epistle to the Philippians with a greeting from all the Christians residing in the official household of Nero. "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household" (Philippians 4:22). How could the enemy ever defeat a Spirit-filled Christian, who lives by Paul's motto, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21)? And, what kind of world would this be without the salty presence of such Spirit-filled Believers? "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1Peter 4:18).
-How Endtime Christians Should Promote the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit
-With the understanding that the Saints must have "prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:19) for success, the following are a few suggestions to promote the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit.
-First, since knowledge shall be increasingly multiplied at the End of Time, i.e., "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4), Christians should be praying that good applications for that knowledge would increase, edifying applications of that knowledge would be manifested, Christ-honoring and soul-saving applications for that knowledge would be developed, e.g., publishing the Truth of the Gospel on the technological medium of the Internet as anticipated by the Psalmist: "The LORD gave the Word: great was the company of those that published It" (Psalm 68:11), and that man's sinful attempt to pervert such knowledge would be thwarted, e.g., China's central government's examination of URL requests of Mainland China's Internet users, filtering, and blocking of Google's search engine results to block information deemed "too sensitive" by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen" (Romans 1:25). [See our editorial, "China's Future Is Written In Scripture" ---New Window for understanding of the prophetic future of the People's Republic of China (PRC).]
-Second, since there exists a good deal of Truth revealed by False Teachers, False Religions, False Philosophies, False Science, etc., the Godly need to be praying that the element of Truth in their False Teachings would be used by the Spirit to convert the Wicked, or at least restrain the remainder of their wickedness, if done with promise, i.e., "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10). For example, the Roman Catholic Church's beatification of the 19th century German mystic nun, whose visions inspired Mel Gibson's hit movie, The Passion of the Christ (2004), demonstrates that the movie promotes a Catholic traditionalist approach to a salvation centered upon participation in the False Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC); however, without promoting the viewing of the movie, prayer should still be made that the Spirit of God may use the movie to impress upon viewers the great sin of rejecting Jesus Christ. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20). [See our article, "An Earnest Appeal to Roman Catholics: Or, Roman Catholicism Examined in Light of the Scriptures" ---New Window.]
-Third, though True Christians by no means represent the core beliefs of their respective nations, many countries of the western world have Christian traditions; therefore, many of the laws and political leaders must still appeal to the religious and moral values of their Superficially-Christian-Constituency. Pray and vote (if you can) that candidates would be elected and laws would be passed that would be conducive to Godliness and stem the tide against abortion, homosexuality, the anti-God sentiment in the court system, etc. "1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1Timothy 2:1-2).
-Fourth, through example and practice, a True Christian should "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Perhaps it would be simply your considerate conduct while patiently giving directions to a passerby, True Politeness while standing in line at a store, or your lack of rage, when challenged or confronted by increasingly selfish drivers on the streets and highways, that by all of this, you may be instrumental in Restraining Evil, by the power of the Holy Spirit. "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you" (Luke 6:28).
-Fifth and finally (for the sake of brevity), even if you feel comfortable with but few charitable organizations-- and of course, do not ever contribute contrary to your conscience or sensibilities-- obvious benefit will be gained by those who will receive donated canned goods, articles of clothing, money, etc., when you obey the Scriptural directive: "Do good and to communicate [Greek, koinonia, share] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16). The less organizationally and the more directly charity can be given-- particularly in the name of the LORD, where possible-- the better; and, the preference should be to especially relieve the needs of the Christian Household of Faith, i.e., "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10), and in particular to relieve the needs of the Church's "widows indeed" (1Timothy 5:3) and to "visit the fatherless" (James 1:27). "14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:14-18).
-Conclusion
-The exponential explosion of population in this 21st Century means that a population of Christians must grow at the same rate or comparatively be swallowed up by the godless majority of the world, and our Restraining Influence would become relatively unfelt. However, "at this present time also there is a remnant [still] according to the Election of Grace" (Romans 11:5). A citation quoted by A. J. Gordon in his classic book, The Ministry of the Spirit (1894), relates how the "inChristed" body of Believers are to manifest Christ to the world:
-"The Holy Spirit not only dwells in the church as his habitation, but also uses her as the living organism whereby he moves and walks forth in the world, and speaks to the world and acts upon the world. He is the soul of the church which is Christ's body."
-"Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular" (1Corinthians 12:27). Such powerful witnesses for Christ will be felt in the positive and missed in the scale of things in the negative, if the witness is missing. "Ye are the Salt of the Earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men" (Matthew 5:13). In the end, we must also remember that the Almighty will withdraw His Spirit when He deems it wisest. "And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years" (Genesis 6:3). As in the days of Noah, He will ensure the safety of His people, but this time by Pre-Tribulational Rapture and not by a physical ark. "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Hebrews 11:7). Likewise, though Abraham was concerned about the safety of his nephew Lot, certainly he did not feel that Jehovah had abandoned His promise, when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, while delivering Lot. "And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt" (Genesis 19:29).
-You may notice that the emphasis of this article is not upon the traditional positions of Biblical Christianity, i.e., Christian Education, Personal Evangelism, Revival, or Worldwide Missions, not because they are not useful tools, which should be supported wherever there is opportunity, i.e., "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1Corinthians 9:22), but because we are attempting to emphasize those actions, which we may have given but little thought. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17).
-May God cause us to "walk worthy" (Luke 21:36) of Him by our cooperation with the Restraining Influence of the Holy Spirit being so felt that our Rapture Home to Heaven would be noticed by the world by a sudden lack of restraint erupting upon the world. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely" (Revelation 22:17).
-Amen, and Amen.
 Tom Stewart