The Four Eleven Foundation: 1 Thessalonians

A LEADING QUESTION

1.8. Is it possible to banish the persecuted from God's presence?

Revelation 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Revelation 1:13 "and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band."

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

God is omnipresent on the isle of exile for the gospel - in John's case isle of Patmos. Persecutors can banish the servant of God away from their own presence but not from God's presence.

John, like Daniel, saw God-given visions that indicated the all-presence of God.

John in the Spirit (Revelation 1:10 ) saw the Head of the church, the risen, glorified Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead (Revelation 1:12-13 ).

The church is represented by seven gold lampstands as the NKJV correctly translates them - not the candle, for it could represent the consuming of self by mental toil and works, the magnification of fleshly effort. Rather, the lampstands are the divine emblem of the church of God on earth, that receives the attention of the omnipresent Lord.

The risen, living Lord of the church is the supplier of the oil for the lampstand which can only shine by receiving that fullness of divine supply. The oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit. The true church of God gives light from God to the World by the Holy Spirit.

John's vision teaches the total dependance of the church of God upon the omnipresent Lord.

The vision of the all-presence of Christ in the centre of the universal church highlights essential truth:

Believers Gather Together Unto Christ
Christ who is central, in the midst, in all authority, worship and ministry.

He Is Recognised As The Great High Priest Touched With The Feelings Of Our Infirmities
"One like the Son of Man" (Revelation 1:13 NKJV; Hebrews 4:14-16 ).

He Is Presented As One Occupied With The Business Of His Heart
His affection is for the church. Notice, it is around His chest the Lord is girded (Revelation 1:13 ), in contrast to having the loins girded for laborious activity.

He Is The Source Of Wisdom And Judgment
"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow;" (Revelation 1:14 KJV; Daniel 7:9 ). Standing in the midst, all is open before the omnipresent, all-knowing Lord. "And his eyes were as a flame of fire;" (Revelation 1:14 KJV ). He looks on us perceptively, penetratingly, perpetually, with love's highest intentions (Ephesians 5:25-27 ).

His Walk Is To Be Emulated By His People
"And his feet like unto fine brass, as if burned in a furnace;" (Revelation 1:15 KJV ). We are to walk in His strength (brass). We are to walk in His purity (furnace). We are to walk in His glory (burning, glowing metal). Such a people can walk in this world with great effect.

His People Are To Hear His Voice
Hear His voice in all its satisfying, endless variety, and power. "... and his voice as the sound of many waters." (Revelation 1:15 KJV ) His people know and follow His voice (John 10:4 ). Such are distinguished as His people. Jesus said "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37 KJV ).

All True Ministry To The Church Is Shown To Be In The Right Hand Of Our Omnipresent Immanuel
"In his right hand seven stars" (Revelation 1:16 KJV ). They are ascension gifts (Ephesians 4:11- 12 ). They are Christ's messengers (Revelation 1:20 ), shining His reflected light, stars. Theirs is a heavenly message, not earthly. Such messages are sustained by the power of His right hand, His Spirit.

His Word Is To Be Used In Its Effectiveness As A Two-edged Sword
"And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword." (Revelation 1:16 KJV ). There is no substitute for His piercing, penetrating, discerning, exposing Word (Hebrews 4:12-13 ). The warning of His Word must be faithfully sounded out. The time is coming when the world will know the judgment of His mouth (Isaiah 11:4 ).

He Is To Be Seen And Extolled As The Brightness Of The Divine Glory
"and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." (Revelation 1:16 KJV; Hebrews 1:3 ).

The church of God stands for the deity and oneness of Jesus with the Father. He shines with His own glory and the Father's brightness. In these days we may experience rejection, but in our exile from the world we can know disclosures of our Lord's omnipresence through life in the Holy Spirit.

A LEADING QUESTION

1.9. Why did God reveal Himself to a Roman centurion?

A KEY SCRIPTURE

Acts 10:30-31 "So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 "and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God."

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

Cornelius experienced the presence of God in his house.

Cornelius, a Roman centurion, had turned from paganism to seek after the one true God. Seekers will find (Deuteronomy 4:29 ) the omnipresent God reveals His presence to seekers (Psalm 105:4; Psalm 27:8 ). God's reason for showing Himself is love (Proverbs 8:17 ).

Cornelius influenced his whole household by his devout life before God (Acts 10:2).
He was:-

practical in his devotion - "gave alms generously" (Acts 10:2 NKJV ).
persistent in his devotion - "and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2 NKJV ).
pleasing in his devotion - "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God." (Acts 10:4 NKJV ).
perceptive in his devotion - God could communicate with him in a vision (Acts 10:3-6 ).
painstaking in his devotion - he carried out his instructions meticulously (Acts 10:7-8 ).

Cornelius was the first Gentile convert to Christ. His conversion took place through the intervention of the omnipresent God. By his conversion the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles.

Cornelius sent for Peter, and Peter was prepared by the Lord, and told by the Spirit to go (Acts 10:9-23; 11:12-18 ). In Acts 9 divine action effected Saul's conversion - chosen to be the apostle of the Gentiles. Peter is used in chapter 10 to speak the Word of the gospel to the saving of the first Gentile household (Acts 15:7-9 ). The initiative was taken by God, creating the precedent within the Jewish Christian apostolic mission, establishing that Paul's special calling to the Gentiles was no deviation from the divine will or commission (Matthew 28:19 ). The whole account manifests the all-knowledge and all-presence of God.

	God is omnipresent on the isle of exile for the gospel - in John's case isle of Patmos. Persecutors can banish the servant of God away from their own presence but not from God's presence.
	John, like Daniel, saw God-given visions that indicated the all-presence of God.
	John in the Spirit (Revelation 1:10 ) saw the Head of the church, the risen, glorified Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead (Revelation 1:12-13 ).
	The church is represented by seven gold lampstands as the NKJV correctly translates them - not the candle, for it could represent the consuming of self by mental toil and works, the magnification of fleshly effort. Rather, the lampstands are the divine emblem of the church of God on earth, that receives the attention of the omnipresent Lord.
	The risen, living Lord of the church is the supplier of the oil for the lampstand which can only shine by receiving that fullness of divine supply. The oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit. The true church of God gives light from God to the World by the Holy Spirit.
	John's vision teaches the total dependance of the church of God upon the omnipresent Lord.
	The vision of the all-presence of Christ in the centre of the universal church highlights essential truth: Believers Gather Together Unto Christ Christ who is central, in the midst, in all authority, worship and ministry. He Is Recognised As The Great High Priest Touched With The Feelings Of Our Infirmities "One like the Son of Man" (Revelation 1:13 NKJV; Hebrews 4:14-16 ). He Is Presented As One Occupied With The Business Of His Heart His affection is for the church. Notice, it is around His chest the Lord is girded (Revelation 1:13 ), in contrast to having the loins girded for laborious activity. He Is The Source Of Wisdom And Judgment "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow;" (Revelation 1:14 KJV; Daniel 7:9 ). Standing in the midst, all is open before the omnipresent, all-knowing Lord. "And his eyes were as a flame of fire;" (Revelation 1:14 KJV ). He looks on us perceptively, penetratingly, perpetually, with love's highest intentions (Ephesians 5:25-27 ). His Walk Is To Be Emulated By His People "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if burned in a furnace;" (Revelation 1:15 KJV ). We are to walk in His strength (brass). We are to walk in His purity (furnace). We are to walk in His glory (burning, glowing metal). Such a people can walk in this world with great effect. His People Are To Hear His Voice Hear His voice in all its satisfying, endless variety, and power. "... and his voice as the sound of many waters." (Revelation 1:15 KJV ) His people know and follow His voice (John 10:4 ). Such are distinguished as His people. Jesus said "Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37 KJV ). All True Ministry To The Church Is Shown To Be In The Right Hand Of Our Omnipresent Immanuel "In his right hand seven stars" (Revelation 1:16 KJV ). They are ascension gifts (Ephesians 4:11- 12 ). They are Christ's messengers (Revelation 1:20 ), shining His reflected light, stars. Theirs is a heavenly message, not earthly. Such messages are sustained by the power of His right hand, His Spirit. His Word Is To Be Used In Its Effectiveness As A Two-edged Sword "And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword." (Revelation 1:16 KJV ). There is no substitute for His piercing, penetrating, discerning, exposing Word (Hebrews 4:12-13 ). The warning of His Word must be faithfully sounded out. The time is coming when the world will know the judgment of His mouth (Isaiah 11:4 ). He Is To Be Seen And Extolled As The Brightness Of The Divine Glory "and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." (Revelation 1:16 KJV; Hebrews 1:3 ).

	Cornelius experienced the presence of God in his house.
	Cornelius, a Roman centurion, had turned from paganism to seek after the one true God. Seekers will find (Deuteronomy 4:29 ) the omnipresent God reveals His presence to seekers (Psalm 105:4; Psalm 27:8 ). God's reason for showing Himself is love (Proverbs 8:17 ).
	Cornelius influenced his whole household by his devout life before God (Acts 10:2). He was:- practical in his devotion - "gave alms generously" (Acts 10:2 NKJV ). persistent in his devotion - "and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2 NKJV ). pleasing in his devotion - "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God." (Acts 10:4 NKJV ). perceptive in his devotion - God could communicate with him in a vision (Acts 10:3-6 ). painstaking in his devotion - he carried out his instructions meticulously (Acts 10:7-8 ).
	Cornelius was the first Gentile convert to Christ. His conversion took place through the intervention of the omnipresent God. By his conversion the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles.
	Cornelius sent for Peter, and Peter was prepared by the Lord, and told by the Spirit to go (Acts 10:9-23; 11:12-18 ). In Acts 9 divine action effected Saul's conversion - chosen to be the apostle of the Gentiles. Peter is used in chapter 10 to speak the Word of the gospel to the saving of the first Gentile household (Acts 15:7-9 ). The initiative was taken by God, creating the precedent within the Jewish Christian apostolic mission, establishing that Paul's special calling to the Gentiles was no deviation from the divine will or commission (Matthew 28:19 ). The whole account manifests the all-knowledge and all-presence of God.