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The Mountains of the Lord

2 Comments / Blog, Home Bulletin, My Blog / Christopher Peppler

The Mountains of the Lord feature bold and large in the unfolding saga of God’s dealings with humankind.

The first biblical reference to the Mountain of the Lord is in Genesis 22:14, which concludes the dramatic story of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son. At the last moment, God substituted a ram for Isaac and the account ends with the words, ‘And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”‘

Approximately 1900 years later Jesus, God the Son, the Lamb of God, gave up His life as a sacrifice on behalf of all humanity. The place where this took place was Golgotha, one of the seven hills of Jerusalem collectively known as Mount Zion. Moriah, the place of Abraham’s sacrifice is also part of Mount Zion, as is Olivet where Jesus mourned over Jerusalem and later ascended back into Heaven. Another biblically famous mountain was Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments from the hand of God. Mount Carmel was the place where God and the prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal.

However, I want to write about possibly the greatest of all the mountains of the Lord: Mount Hermon.

Mount Hermon

Hermon is a magnificent, perpetually snow-capped mountain that marked the northern-most border of ancient Israel. It is the highest mountain in the region, but it has a long sloping ridge that descends southwards. Although the waters of the Jordan river come from the melting snow of Mount Hermon, they run underground until they surface at a place on the mountain ridge called Paneas, or Caesarea Philippi. The ancients regarded water sources as gateways to the underworld of the dead and therefore erected temples and shrines nearby to honour their particular gods. As the name suggests, a shrine to the pagan god Pan stood there, as did a memorial to Caesar a self-proclaimed Roman god. The fountainhead of the river Jordan was a low cave appropriated known as ‘the gates of Hades’.

Jesus at Paneas

Matthew 16:13-20 records the trip that Jesus and His disciples took to Paneas. It was there, standing amidst the pagan altars, shrines and temples that Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” This was a theologically loaded term referring to the long-awaited Jewish Messiah, the Representative Man, the new Head of regenerated humanity. Jesus then asked who his disciples thought he was, and Peter, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

Both Jesus’ humanity and divinity are in evidence in this brief exchange, for ‘Son of Man’ indicates his humanity and ‘Son of God’ indicates his divinity.

Jesus on Mount Hermon

In a more subtle and veiled way, this visit to Paneas was as much a confrontation with the powers of Hell as was Elijah’s challenge on Mount Carmel. Hence Jesus’ declaration that He would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). In Paneas He stood as the ultimate prophet, the true Son of Man, but his divinity was yet to be authenticated. This took place further up the mountain ridge on the slopes of Hermon, the Mountain of God. Matthew 17:1-13 records what we know as The Transfiguration.

It is best that you read this account directly from the scriptures, but the highlights are as follow:

Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up the mountain where they witnessed something truly remarkable.
The Lord’s face began to shine like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. Moses was, of course, the first great leader of Israel who had received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Elijah was the great prophet who defeated the servants of Baal on Mount Carmel. Luke’s Gospel records that they were briefing Jesus on His forthcoming exit from the earth that would take place at Jerusalem.
Peter was so overcome by witnessing this that he offered to build three shrines, one for each of them. He was probably thinking back to the shrines to the gods he had seen just days before at Paneas.
However, he was soon corrected when a bright cloud enveloped them and a voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him”. Peter and the other two were terrified when they heard this voice and fell face down in worship for they understood that there was but one true God and that they were in his presence. The Voice of God the Father spoke from the cloud. The Holy Spirit transfigured their master gloriously right before their eyes.

God the Son stood before them as Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

God revealed on Mount Hermon

We need to read the full account starting at Panaes and ending at Hermon (Matthew 16:13 – 17:13) to comprehend the importance of what took place on that Mountain of the Lord. Here Jesus of Nazareth was authenticated as both Son of Man and as Son of God – The ultimate representative of the human race, the last Adam, and the full embodiment of the Godhead.

This why Paul wrote ‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him’ (Colossians 1:19) and ‘For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form’ (Colossians 2:9). This is why God the Father told the early disciples, and also us, to “listen to him”. This is why Jesus himself said:

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:25-27).

This is why, when the glory cloud had disappeared from the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples looked up and ‘saw no one except Jesus’ (Matthew 17:8).

The centrality of Jesus

The message told on the mountains of the Lord, the declarations by God and by men, and the inspired teaching of the Apostle Paul, have all lead me to an unshakable faith in the primacy of the Lord Jesus Christ in all things. He is the supreme and ultimate revelation of the Godhead, the embodiment of all authority in Heaven and on Earth (Matthew 28:18), the prime subject of the Bible and its preeminent interpreter. Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3).

Why then…?

Why then do many theologians contend that while Jesus of Nazareth was the FULLEST representation of God on earth, he is not the FULL divine representation? In other words, they hold that the Jesus of the Gospels reveals much of the nature and character of the Godhead, but other parts of the Bible reveal additional aspects of God’s nature. I will attempt to address this issue and provide an answer to my question in a later article. For now, let me just say:

Turn and look to Jesus for your salvation
Look to Jesus to know the nature and character of God
Look to Jesus to unlock the meaning of the Bible.
Just look to Jesus.

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TruthTalks (Sermons): Connecting the dots

Leave a Comment / Home Bulletin, Podcast, Sermons, TruthTalks / Christopher Peppler

People who doubt the authenticity of the Old Testament or the divinity of Jesus should listen to this message.

The Lord Jesus connects the dots between His life and key Old Testament events. By doing this He is in effect saying, “Yes, it is true, and I AM the one who did it!”

Click HERE to read the article on which this sermon is based or press play below to listen or download the sermon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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TruthTalk: Andy Stanley – Unhitched, Unhinged, or Misunderstood

Leave a Comment / Blog, Home Bulletin, My Blog, Podcast, TruthTalks, Uncategorized / Christopher Peppler

Should we be concerned when Andy Stanley, the leader of the biggest church in the USA, says that it is time for us to ‘unhitch’ from the Old Testament? Is he unhitched from truth, unhinged, or just misunderstood?

This TruthTalk seeks to answer these questions and explores the relevance of the Old Testament and the nature and purpose of the whole Bible.

Click HERE if you want to read the article, or simply listen to or download the audio below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Easter Saturday

1 Comment / Blog, Home Bulletin, My Blog, Uncategorized / Christopher Peppler

Truth Is the Word Post on the Glory of Love

If Friday represents the death of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and Sunday represents His glorious resurrection, then what does Easter Saturday represent?

I dislike using the term ‘Easter’ because it derives from Ishtar the pagan demon Queen of Heaven. However, almost all societies and churches call it by this name, so for the sake of simplicity and clarity, I will use the term ‘Easter’. I would prefer to call Good Friday ‘Crucifixion Friday’ or ‘Atonement Friday’. I would also prefer to call Easter Sunday ‘Resurrection Sunday’, but what then do I call the Saturday of the Passover weekend?

Traditional denominations usually call it ‘Holy Saturday’, the Coptic church calls it ‘The Saturday of light’, or ‘Joyous Saturday’, and the Philippine Roman Catholic church calls it ‘Black Saturday’ and commemorates it with a sort of funeral service. So, what then are we supposed to commemorate on the Saturday between Crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday?

The Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that Jesus descended into Hell where the devil tortured him until He had paid both physically and spiritually for the sins of humanity. The Word of Faith and some Pentecostal teachers have adopted this and added that Jesus was then ‘born again’ from spiritual death on the Sunday. This would make Easter Saturday a black Saturday indeed, but they base this erroneous understanding on several scriptures taken out of context (Acts 2:27 Romans 10:6-7 Ephesians 4:8-9, and 1 Peter 3:18-20) and a particular reading of the Apostles Creed that was written in AD 390.

On Earth, that Saturday must have been dark indeed. The dead body of Jesus lay partially embalmed in a cold tomb. The disciples had no idea that He would rise again the next day and they must have been terribly distressed and confused. Their Messiah was dead, hope was gone, and the Jewish leaders would surely be coming after them. Black Saturday, a funeral day to end all funeral days!

However, in Heaven, something glorious was happening! In Colossians 2:13(b)-15 Paul writes about Jesus Christ, ’having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’. The language he used here is similar to that adopted in the military court’s marshal of his day. Here is the scene in Heaven as I deduce it to have been:

The Lord Jesus Christ ascends in spiritual form into Heaven where He presents himself before the throne of God the Father. The archangels sound out the trumpet call to gather all of heavens’ citizens before the throne. The Father dispatches one of the mighty angels, let’s say Michael, to enter Hell to summons Lucifer, the fallen archangel to present himself. Lucifer, (the devil, Satan) appears before the throne of God. A look of utter astonishment replaces the insolent sneer on his face when he sees Jesus at the right hand of the Most High. God the Father rises from His throne and addresses the Prince of Darkness: “Lucifer, I have already charged you with high treason but have till now allowed you freedom to come and go as you please. Now, your guilt has been established beyond all doubt in the life and death of Jesus Son of God. Therefore, I now pronounce your sentence; you are henceforth prohibited from entering Heaven and are restricted to the realms of Earth and Hell. Moreover, you will be bound to obey all commands issued rightfully in the authority of Jesus by any of His disciples of all generations. Any violation will result in your immediate and absolute incarceration.”

As the voice of The Ancient of Days thundered through the court of Heaven, the Lord Jesus stepped up to Lucifer and symbolically ripped from his clothing all symbols of authority. His voice was clear and commanding as He pronounced, “All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me!” (Matthew 28”18(a)). Then He added, “Now go!” As He made this pronouncement, the entire population of Heaven shouted out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments” (Revelation 19:1-2).

Black Saturday? No. Joyous Saturday of light? Yes

Be blessed today as you celebrate the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ and rejoice tomorrow as you revel in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave!

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Two Beastly for words

Leave a Comment / Blog, Home Bulletin, My Blog / Christopher Peppler

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and perhaps that is one of the reasons why John linked the book of Revelation to the star sign pictures in the heavens. For instance, look at this depiction of the constellations of Aries, Taurus, Cetus, and Orion; what a story it tells.

Orion, a star picture of an angel of the Lord, confronts two huge beasts, one a land beast (Taurus) and the other from the sea(Cetus). Right between these two monsters is a small ram, who’s ancient name, Taleh, actually means ‘the lamb’. This picture almost says it all, doesn’t it?

I wrote about Orion in my posts on Chapter 10, but here in Revelation 13 the focus is on the two beasts. Let’s explore the first beast: John describes the first of these as ‘coming out of the sea’. It has 7 heads, representing nations, rulers, institutions and the like, and 10 horns representing power and authority. Cetus, the beast from the sea, represents worldly power and authority and so the label I attach to him is ‘humanism’, the sum of science, medicine, philosophy, economics, technology, military power, politics, and hedonism. The physical description of this beast as being part leopard, part bear, and part lion comes from Daniel’s prophecy concerning three major world powers of the ancient world (Daniel 7:1-7) and John notes that their power and authority are given by the dragon, Satan.

Revelation 13:3 contains a detail that has provided endless stretches of imagination for many commentators: ‘One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the wound had been healed.’ Fanciful explanations have ranged from State presidents who have survived assassination attempts, like Regan, to Gorbachev who is unfortunate enough to have a red gash-like birthmark on his head. However, it is far more in keeping with the purpose and style of Revelation to understand this verse as a reference to the hydra-like nature of humanistic powers. For instance, the USSR fell apart as surely as the Berlin Wall, yet we are currently observing how Russia is once again becoming a power player on the world stage. Humanistic ideas, institutions, and forces don’t die out, they simply re-brand themselves.

Unregenerate mankind worships the beast of Humanity and its master the devil (Revelation 13:4), and their blasphemous hymn of praise, “Who is like the beast?” is a parody of Exodus 15:11 and Psalm 89:8.

Think for a minute on the sources of truth and authority drawn on by the majority of people – science, philosophy, the military? And their sources of power are economics, technology, and politics. Although they wouldn’t own to this, don’t these people, in reality, worship at the altar of humanism?

The 42 months during which this beast exercises its demonic authority is the church age, from the first to the second coming of Christ as described in THIS post.Revelation 13:7 is set within this context and states the unpalatable idea that humanism has the power to conquer the church. Of course, when we consider this carefully, there is no real surprise here. The world seemed to conquer Jesus when the Romans crucified Him, but Jesus rose from the dead! Again, the world seemed to conquer the early church when Saul hunted down Christians wherever he could find them, but all the persecution did was to scatter Christians all over the known world and to spread the Gospel through them. John’s final comment on the beast from the sea’s assault on the church is; ‘This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints’ (Revelation 13:10b).

In my next post, I want to describe the other beast, show you the relationship between them, and perhaps include some information on the infamous number of the beast!

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