The Faith Of Abel

  Among the numerous saints which Paul mentions in Hebrews 11, as being noted for their faith, Abel occupies a special place.  He was the first of the line of faithful servants.  In contrast to Cain, Abel’s mode of worship and praise was acceptable to God, and so he obtained a blessing. 

  From the time of Abel onward, there have been two seed-lines within the visible church.  There are those who, like Abel, trust in the merits of atoning blood to reconcile them to God; whereas others, like Cain, seek to approve themselves by their works.  Cain and Abel have always stood at the head of the only two religions the world has ever known.  One seeks justification by faith; the other seeks justification by the works of the law. 

  When Cain brought his offering to God, the act of devotion was not in itself bad.  Works are not to be thrust aside as if they don’t count at all.  James writes that “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” — “for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2: 17, 26). 

  In other words, faith is to works as the tree is to the fruit.  Every tree planted by God must bring forth its own fruit.  So, if a man has real faith, good works will naturally follow.  Paul writes: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk therein” (Eph. 2: 10).

   But was Cain a child of faith?  If not, then what avail could his good works have had?  Cain was culpable in that he tried to obtain merit without faith. He sought works alone as a means of justification.  This was a reversal of God’s order of worship and devotion.

   The sacrifice of an innocent lamb had been first instituted in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3: 21).  It was committed to Adam, the first priest of God, who doubtless taught his sons the value of such a sacrifice, and its absolute requirement, now that sin had entered the world. The fact that Cain neglected this all-essential part of worship demonstrates him as a true unbeliever.

  I suppose that if Cain had offered a slain lamb first, then his first-fruits offerings from the products of his labors would have been acceptible in the eyes of God.  But Cain sought to be justified by works apart from faith.  Wherefore his sacrifice was not accepted (Gen. 4: 5). 

    Cain was angry that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, and not his own. But if Cain had honored his mother and father, he would have remembered the ordinance which had been committed to him.  He failed.  The corruption of his own heart caused him to stumble.  And we see the outcome when, in a fit of rage, he slew his own brother (Gen. 4: 8). 

  This makes Abel the very first martyr.  And it shows the struggle that would ensue from that time onward in the world.  There have been, and can only exist, two kinds of religion.  Professing Christians will be found to have the faith of Cain, or the faith of Abel. 

   There is a kind of religion which at its very center is man-based.  It seeks by human effort to bring about the glorious millennium, and desires dominion in the name of Jesus Christ – but without His personal presence.  It seeks to postpone his presence as far off as possible — even to the extent of claiming that it is a “very long time” before his second coming.  This “very long time” means, in many cases, something like 10,000 years.  This is the faith of Rome, which stands complete with its papal powers and dark dungeons. 

    There is, however, another faith which is the exact antithesis to that of Cain.  It looks backward to the cross (first advent) for justification unto God, and forward to the crown (second advent) for the consummation of Christ’s kingdom on earth.  It is heavenly in its aspect, and weak and lowly when compared to the religion of Cain.  It seeks not worldly power, but is often persecuted and chased from shore to shore.  When the former religion gains dominion, its adherents are killed and tortured.  Yet should this surprise us?  It is only a repeat of what happened at the very beginning of the age.

   The faith of Abel contains little of that worldly wisdom of which the puffed-up clerics and clergy pride themselves.  It believes the words of God over the interpretations of man, and strives not to wrest words to no profit but to the subversion of the hearers.  Would that all professors of Christian religion might have the faith of Cain.  But we see it is not so.  And so a struggle goes on — a silent struggle, unseen by most, but none the less real.

  And what will be the end of this struggle?  As in the days of Cain and Abel, so it will be in the final days of the world, prior to the coming of the Son of Man.  Despite the faithful preaching of the Gospel by those who follow the faith of Abel, the harlot church will gain its long-sought dominion as Daniel’s 70th week begins (see Revelation 17).  The persecution endured by the servants of Christ will be intense.  Peter likens it to a fiery trial (1 Peter 4: 12).  But those who endure to the end will be saved.  Christ has even promised to keep His faithful remnant out of the hour of temptation (Revelation 3: 10).  The prospect of this great and glorious prize is not to be treated lightly. 

  But how many will attain thereunto?  We fear, not many at all.  As the consummation of the age moves forward, and many fall into the snares of the devil, or succumb to the allurements of the world, the battle becomes one on which life or death hangs.    Let us cleanse our hearts and draw nigh to God.  For only by the faith of Abel will we stand in the end.

What’s Next On God’s Prophetic Program?

  As the end of the age draws nearer, Christians often wonder what is the next major event on God’s prophetic program.  When we turn to today’s prophecy teachers, we are usually told that it will be — A: The rapture; or B: The Gog and Magog battle.  Although I am not going out of my way to be “different,” I cannot agree with the popular consensus.  If someone were to ask me what would be the next major prophetic event, my answer might surprise him.  I think the next event will be the complete collapse of mainstream Christianity. 

  There are many reasons for my thinking so, and some of these have to do with the “signs of the times” (Matthew 16: 2-3).  But I am not a futurologist.  Although observations of current trends are important, it is best to get our info directly from the inspired Word of God.  And when we look at the very last epistles that Paul wrote (around A.D. 67-68), before he suffered martyrdom in Rome, we’re told that at the end of the present dispensation there will be a great apostasy (1 Tim. 4: 1-3; 2 Tim. 3: 1-5; 4: 3-4). That’s where I believe we are today.

 Now, I am not saying that the gates of hell have prevailed against Christ’s church — for that is impossible (Matt. 16: 18).  But when Christ made that promise, we must keep in mind that He was talking about the church invisible, and not visible organized Christianity.  To say that He meant the visible church is to make Him a liar, because for hundreds of years the mainstream church worshipped icons and images, before the Reformation set Christianity free.  That was a corruption of the visible church.

  So, at least we know that there is precedence for a widespread apostasy.  It should come as no surprise, then, to find so many Christians wandering from the truth and taken in the nets of error.  Various forms of false doctrine have seeped into the larger denominations, so that it may be said that the collapse of the western church is “even at the doors.” 

   These doctrines have taken diverse forms, from the “Purpose Driven” theology of Rick Warren, and the emergent iconoclasm of Brian McLaren, all the way down to the latest fad of the hour.  Paul was right on the money when he wrote: “For the time will come when they shall not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Tim. 4: 3).

   True, it took many centuries for this trend to become fully developed.  As we know, the mystery of iniquity was working in Paul’s own day (2 Thess. 2: 7).  Yet over the course of centuries, the final manifestation of this mystery never got a chance to ripen — until now.  And so it’s here, the predicted apostasy.  It’s only a matter of time before it attains full growth.

 What will we do?  Is there any place to run?  And, if we could run, would we choose to do so? or would we stand our ground and remain on the field to fight the enemy?  To those entangled in the things of “this life,” the proposition is a difficult one.  For us, however, who remember our high and heavenly call, we recall the words of Jesus.  “For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9: 24).  This thought will help keep us in the trenches, as we wage war for the Captain of our Salvation, and wait for the morning-star to appear on the horizon (2 Peter 1: 19) – and for that voice like a trumpet that will say, “Come up Hither!” (Rev. 4: 1).

   Speaking of the rapture: Although many Christians feel that the rapture will occur before the apostasy is fully developed, I cannot agree with this concept.  Remember, the apostasy involves the church, and the church will not be taken up until it has become Laodicean in thought and practice (see Rev. 2 & 3).  Thankfully, there is a Philadelphian remnant (Rev. 3: 8) that remains pure in all ages, and it is this remnant that will be saved from the hour of temptation (Rev. 3: 10).  But the rapture, when it occurs, will leave a church that is so corrupt that it will be nauseous in the sight of God (Rev. 3: 16).

  There will be many reasons for this nausea.  Lack of zeal to preach to the Gospel; an over-emphasis on formalism and ceremonialism; lack of prayer and spiritual preparation on the part of ordained ministers: all these will contribute to the problem.  But the “killing factor,” the thing that will bring the whole to a state of putrefaction, will be the church’s final alliance with the world, and it’s love of men’s regard.  Once this happens, and the church ceases to be distinct from the world, then the gangrene will be incurable.

   Keep in mind, in Christ’s letter to the Laodicean church, he upbraids them for their boasted wealth and worldly prosperity (Rev. 3: 17).  That is a sign of a church that has commingled with the world — a church that has no more witness.  And when we look at the modern-day churches, what do we see?  All the signs are in order, are they not?  Again, that tells us how close we are to the full development of the apostasy.

  With a spiritual collapse so widespread, it won’t be long before the smaller denominations start getting sucked down by the undertow.  This is why it is essential to to the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ and His inspired apostles — come what may – and not to be entrapped by novelties.  As Paul said: “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines” (Hebrews 13: 9).  Even if this entails leaving a church that has become corrupt in doctrine or practice, what is more important? our image before men? or our walk with Jesus Christ?

  Let us make no mistake.  When the apostasy comes, it will come like a flood, and take everything in its path.  Only those who have remained spiritually pure will survive the epoch of darkness which will precede Christ’s second coming.  As the night looms darker over our heads, let us put on all the armor of God, that we may stand in the evil day (Eph. 6: 13).  And when the last trump sounds, and we are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4: 17), then we’ll know the victory that is ours in Christ.

Timing Of The Rapture

This brand-new Bible study lesson is a sequel to Preterism and The Rapture. The question it addresses is one of great importance. When does the rapture of 1 Thess. 4: 16-17 occur? In this 35-minute podcast, Brian Simmons goes through some more texts to demonstrate that the rapture will occur in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week. In this podcast are addressed some important issues, such as the meaning of Revelation 12: 1-5 and the eschatological significance of Christ’s parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25). A must-listen for those who are studying the doctrine of the rapture!

Listen now: Timing of The Rapture

The Millennial Reign: Earthly Or Spiritual?

Throughout the centuries, Christians and scholars have disagreed concerning the nature of the Millennial reign. Will it be earthly or heavenly? In this short podcast Brian Simmons touches upon the issues involved, and establishes the earthly nature of the Millennium by examining some key Biblical texts.

Listen now: millennium