Dear family, brethren, and friends,

Julie Notarte took Trey to visit several churches Thursday and they harvested 12 more souls who obeyed the gospel of Christ.  It is important to remember that we are not baptizing these people after preaching one or two lessons, but they have been studying and learning at the feet of Filipino preachers – we are simply shaking the tree and helping to catch the apples which fall.

Mark and I were taken by Frank Isla to the New Matina church in Davao City where Juanito Balbin has preached for many years with the assistance of his sons – and now his youngest son, Connie, is helping him.  About 100 people including many preachers gathered for all-day preaching.  I preached “From Wretched Man to More Than Conquerors” to open the service, followed by Mark’s presentation of two sermons on lessons we learn from faithful Abraham.  My final topic was “Finish the Race (2 Tim. 4:7-8).”

An hour-long open forum completed our day, concentrating on questions from a denominational visitor about the necessity of baptism as a condition for pardon.  Robert Agsao has been teaching him and the man has an open heart, but he is struggling to escape the false doctrine of salvation by faith alone before baptism.  He offered John 5:24 which connects faith and salvation without mentioning baptism.  I pointed out Jesus always used faith in the true sense of obedient faith, not mere mental assent.  Furthermore, 1 Peter 3:21 connects baptism and salvation without mentioning faith, but that does not mean we are saved by baptism without faith.  The mistake which must be avoided is adding the word “only” unconsciously to “faith” in John 5:24 or to “baptism” in 1 Peter 3:21.  Our visitor was not belligerent but manifested a searching heart.  Let us pray that he will soon yield himself to Christ by obeying the original gospel of Christ preserved in the New Testament.

It was good to see brother and sister Juanito Balbin today – though his health is failing, his faith and zeal are as strong as ever!  Many first generation Christians in the Philippines like Juanito are passing from the scene and younger men must step forward to fill the gap – many of them are being trained at New Matina and other congregations around the Philippines by the grace of God.

There were no preaching appointments on Saturday, but we met with some brethren to take care of expenses they have in connection with our work here and we also took some needed extra rest.  Sunday Mark and Trey went to Digos City, captial of Davao del Sur, where Julie Notarte labors and then preached at Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. Eleven were baptized in those two places.  Julie took Trey on to the airport in Davao City to return to Manila, and he flew safely home Monday.

Today Frank Isla brought me to the church at Bansalan, Davao del Sur, where 120 attended as I spoke on “Work While It Is Day” and “Finish the Race.”  It is not unusual for dogs to wander in, lie down, and sleep during the worship.  But today for the first time I saw two dogs come to the front and they lifted up their voices and sang with us.  Literally. True story!  Only in the Philippines!  I will confess that I slept for an hour this afternoon, and finally my back is beginning to feel more normal after tormenting me for the past week.  I guess I have traversed too many rocky roads in remote places and gotten too little sleep at night, but I feel some better as I prepare tonight for the classes on Revelation.

The classes on the book of Revelation began Monday at Bansalan with Frank Isla as our host.  There were 102 present and we are using Dan King’s excellent workbook (The Book of Revelation) as an outline or guide.  My first lesson was a general introduction to Revelation, followed by a study of the unique nature of apocalyptic literature such as may be found in Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah – literature revealing the coming of God’s judgments against nations in highly symbolic language.

Next, I presented a study of how to read this book of symbols – watching for its great themes such God’s rule over nations, persecution and martyrdom, and the inevitable victory of Christ over the mighty Roman Empire which enforced emperor worship under the threat of death.  This lessons also included brief explanations of various approaches to interpreting Revelation and explaining why “the historical background approach” is valid rather than the premillennial or preterist views.

Mark then conducted two sessions covering the letters to the seven churches of the Roman province of Asia found in Revelation 2-3.  After lunch I taught Revelation 4:1-8:1 which covers the opening of the seven seals of the scroll picturing God’s coming judgments against the Roman Empire.  This session was interrupted by a rain storm which knocked out the electricity for almost an hour, but after we sang a few songs I taught in the dark for about 20 minutes until the power returned.

Then Mark covered Revelation 8:2-11:19 in which seven trumpets sound announcing God’s judgments.  We closed the day with a good open forum with several questions about how God pictures the unseen world to us in terms we can grasp.

The Revelation classes continued on Tuesday with 105 souls present.  My first session dealt with the beast sequence in chapters 12-14.  Satan declares war on God and His faithful remnant.  When he failed to destroy Jesus, he attacked his followers.  A beast rises from the ocean representing the power of the Roman government and then a companion beast rises from the earth to enforce emperor worship.  The emperor claimed to be divine which would attain the symbolic number 7, but he is a mere man  –666 – and cannot rise above it in spite of his arrogant claims.  God numbered His saints and the martyred souls are safe at His throne, all 144,000 of the new Israel (the number symbolizes the complete number).

Mark studied chapters 15-16 where God poured out bowls of wrath to chastise Rome and call her people to repent of their many sins including the persecution of His saints, but they refused.  I taught the last lesson in chapter 17-19 which pictures the Empire as another wicked Babylon, a harlot destined for judgment and doom.  The conflict between the forces of Christ and Satan reaches its climax in the great battle of Armageddon.  Heaven rejoices in celebrating the marriage feast of the Lamb and his faithful bride while angels call vultures to feast on the carcasses of the defeated forces of Satan.  Both pictures are symbolic – there is no literal feast in heaven and no literal battle littering the ground with corpses.

Next, Mark and I conducted a two hour open forum in which we clarified some things presented in today’s classes and also addressed a wide range of questions  An interesting brotherly discussion occurred about whether a faithful Christian must baptize a person for it to be valid and whether women may baptize if no men are available to do it.

Yes, women are authorized to baptize according to Matthew 28:19-20 because when they are baptized, they will be taught to teach and baptize others just like the men are taught.  No, the status of the baptizer does not validate baptism – baptism is essential for pardon of sins, but things like the baptizer, the location, the time, etc. are incidental.  Paul rejoiced for the work of some preachers who had sinful attitudes but faithfully preached the gospel and converted the lost in Philippines 1:14-18.  The people they baptized did not need to be taught again and baptized again for their conversion to be valid.

Mark and I were exhausted at the end of the day but also happy and thankful for these productive study sessions.  So many people here are hungry to study and learn, which is what brings us back again and again!

The series on Revelation was completed Wednesday with 120 present and very attentive.  I taught chapter 20 showing that the saints who had been executed for their faith in Christ and their refusal to worship the emperor were pictured as ruling with Christ in perfect and complete victory symbolized by the perfect and complete number 1,000.  Satan was bound and cast into a pit, meaning he would never be permitted to afflict the church through a worldwide empire again.  God would permit him “a little time” to work his evil schemes before the end of time and then he will be cast into the lake of fire with his followers forever. John is shown a short vision of the final judgment.  There is not one word in the chapter presenting the premillennial theories which are so rampant.

Mark then covered chapters 21-22 where John saw the vision of our heavenly home with God.  It is a graphic picture of symbols representing the peace, glory, and fellowship of eternal life in heaven with God.  We will dwell in God’s tabernacle and in his new Jerusalem protected by secure walls 1,500 miles high covered in dazzling jewels with gates of pearl and streets of gold.  The tree of life and the water of life will sustain us forever in this beautiful home of the faithful where we never grow old.

There was another two hour open forum with most questions focused on clarifying some of the details covered in our lessons, We also sang the praises of God and the Lamb, and sang of our hope of heaven.  We all have been edified and encouraged by learning more about the faith, hope, and courage of the saints who suffered the onslaught of Satan’s malice in the early history of the church.

We prayed in thanksgiving for God making it possible for us to spend these three days feeding our souls on His Holy Word in the book of Revelation.  We thank God for the many saints who donated funds and offered prayers to make it all possible!

To see good Bible study material, go to:
https://www.hebronlanechurchofchrist.com
https://biblework.congregateclients.com
https://truthbooks.com
https://www.truthmagazine.com