(May 2003 Edition)
Caribbean Comment - God's Judgment
Caribbean Comment
God's Judgment
Over the years, Bro. Timothy Whittaker has inspired us with his wonderful knowledge of the scriptures. His talks and exhortations are always full of inspiring thoughts. We look forward to seeing him annually at the Year-End Bible schools in Jamaica.
Last December, though, was very special because Bro. Timothy was accompanied by his wife, Sis. Muriel, his daughter, Sis. Anna, and son-in-law, Bro. Simon. We were truly happy to have them. Their visit to May Pen was a welcome one. The brethren and sisters and visitors turned out in good numbers.
The topic for the Bible class was God’s Judgement Day. In his talk, Bro. Simon pointed out that the resurrection will be a bodily form (Phil. 3:21; I Cor. 15:35-38). If there is no resurrection, then the only thing is to eat and drink and enjoy ourselves. In I Peter 5:4 we are told there is a crown of glory for the redeemed. The wise and the foolish will be at the judgement seat. Our reward of eternal life is related to how we live now (Matt. 25:31-35).
Bro. Timothy then put the icing on the cake with his usual energetic style. He was quick to remind us of the importance of watching patiently for the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:48-51). If we are not prepared and we think that the Lord will never come, then we will be cut asunder. We are not to fall asleep as the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:7. We are to be alert and prepared so that when Jesus comes and calls us, we can go straight ahead and meet him as the five wise virgins did.
Our faith, love and hope must be in tune with the Master’s requirements. Make use of the opportunity we have now. Our lives must be full of faith as the oil in the five wise virgins’ lamps in Matthew 25:7-9. There will be no time to go and buy – the Lord has come and the door is shut. Bro. Timothy drew our attention to Romans 2:28-29, where it says that the circumcision of the heart is not done with a knife. We have to cut bad things from our lives. It’s a complete change of heart or God will cut us off. The life we live now is like a woman in travail, but after giving birth there is rejoicing. There will be everlasting joy in the kingdom. Though we suffer pains and trials now, the reward of eternal life will bring great rejoicing and happiness.
Bro. Timothy and family, we thank you for enriching our understanding of the truth and wish you God’s blessings as you continue to spread the message of salvation.
Melvin Gordon, May Pen, Jamaica
The majority of Christadelphians do not believe that you must accept all their interpretations of Scripture to be saved. On non-essentials these interpretations vary widely. Stephen Cox’s articles on Enoch are an example. Some readers of the Tidings find them convincing; others do not. Incidentally, if we consider the two Books of Enoch to be inspired Scripture, then we are committed to belief in astrology and horoscopes. It was never part of Jesus’ Bible: “I Enoch was generally rejected by the early church” (Encyclopedia of Early Christianity).
Alan’s Eyre’s books The Protesters and Brethren in Christ demonstrate that very many sincere people through the centuries and in many lands, besides those called Christadelphians, have sought and found saving truth from God’s word, and given their lives for “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). The Protesters explains which fundamental Bible doctrines have been rejected or abandoned by popular Christianity and which have continued to be treasured by groups of Bible believers including the Christadelphians. And both books tell how every time some sincere group adopted Bible teaching, they were persecuted by church and state, at least in Europe. No one will be excluded from God’s coming Kingdom for just believing in fallen angels. But if we believe in going to heaven (or a demonic hell) at death rather than in resurrection at the return of Christ, then our faith is vain and we are yet in our sins (I Cor. 15:17). Unless we believe and teach the full humanity of Christ, that he condemned sin in the flesh, we are “Antichrist” (I John 4:3).
We agree totally with you that it is the gospel of Christ which saves. Christadelphians believe sincerely that on all fundamentals the teachings of Jesus Christ are totally consistent with the rest of scripture.
We cannot, of course, doubt your own experience of Christadelphians. But right now we can tell you that in the year 2000 many hundreds of sincere people, from Albania to Zimbabwe, learned the truth of God simply from His holy word alone, in their native tongues, were baptized as Christadelphians, and are readily and very gracefully defending their faith.
A final thought. We can assure you emphatically that Christadelphians do not believe that “they alone have the true teaching.” The first followers of Jesus were not called Christadelphians, obviously. They were called “The Way.” Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and we seek to follow him in whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen, to the glory of God the Father.
Alan Eyre and Gerzel Gordon