+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior...

Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior...

Date post: 07-Mar-2020
Category:
Upload: others
View: 38 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
12
Editor Jeffrey Loh Sub-editor Cecilia Perh Design Joyce Wong Contributors Francis Lim Jeffrey Loh Kelly Nandar Joyce Wong Photographs Francis Lim Correspondence address: Entrusting the Word 151 Chin Swee Road, #04-06 Manhattan House, Singapore 169876 Email address: [email protected] Donations & Offerings Please make cheques payable to Entrusting the Word Please include your name, church, contact numbers, e-mail address & mail to: Entrusting the Word 151 Chin Swee Road #04-06 Manhattan House, S169876 For e-banking, fund transfers can be made to “Entrusting the Word” OCBC corporate account 515-846590-001 OCBC Bank, Jalan Sultan Branch Bank Code: 7339 Branch Code: 515 Bank Address: OCBC, Jalan Sultan Branch, 200 Jalan Sultan, S199018 OCBC Bank Tel: 1800-438-3333 Printed by Unimax Copy Centre Pte Ltd Entrusting the Word to the Faithful MICA (P) 229/03/2009 Issue: 1H2011 A ND LET US NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD …” The phrase above is taken from the letterhead of Palangoy Christian Gospel Church (PCGC) as they send in their annual report for the Bukas Puso program that ETW supports as part of our Philippines partnering with PCGC. Indeed let us not grow weary of doing the good that has helped so many students. The donations which you faithfully give has helped to support a total of 22 college students and 17 high school students for the past year. The students are performing well academically with one graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Many of them are actively involved in the various church ministries, some even in leadership roles. One of the student’s parents even came to faith in the Lord and are now worshipping in the congregation. But there are also some who had to be dropped either because the financial support from the Bukas Puso program is not enough and the students had to drop out from school to help support their family, or they faced parental objections or personal problems. One of the requirements of the program is that the recipient needs to attend church service and cell group meetings regularly. Please do pray for these students that they will receive guidance and for those who are believers to continue to trust in the Lord. ETW recipients serving the Lord faithfully Continued on page 3 T IMOTHIAN T IMES Donations to the Philippines Project Account Number: 515-859700-001 ETW C ENTRE @ M ANHATTAN H OUSE ETW Centre is located along Chin Swee Road. Manhattan House Car Park charges: $1.20 per half hour; $2.50 per entry after 6pm Mon-Fri, after 2pm Sat, whole day Sun & Public Holidays There is a HDB carpark opposite the centre, free parking on Sundays and Public Holidays. The nearest MRT is Chinatown, 10 minutes walk. The only bus along Chin Swee Road is 174, other buses are along Eu Tong Sen Street. www.etword.org 20
Transcript
Page 1: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

� �

Editor Jeffrey Loh

Sub-editor Cecilia Perh

Design

Joyce Wong

Contributors Francis Lim Jeffrey Loh

Kelly Nandar Joyce Wong

Photographs Francis Lim

� Correspondence address:

Entrusting the Word 151 Chin Swee Road,

#04-06 Manhattan House, Singapore 169876

� Email address:

[email protected]

Donations & Offerings ����

Please make cheques payable to Entrusting the Word

Please include your name, church, contact numbers, e-mail address & mail to:

Entrusting the Word 151 Chin Swee Road

#04-06 Manhattan House, S169876

For e-banking, fund transfers can be made to

“Entrusting the Word” OCBC corporate account

515-846590-001 OCBC Bank, Jalan Sultan Branch

Bank Code: 7339 Branch Code: 515

Bank Address: OCBC, Jalan Sultan Branch, 200 Jalan Sultan, S199018

OCBC Bank Tel: 1800-438-3333 �

Prin

ted

by U

nim

ax C

opy

Cen

tre

Pte

Ltd

Entrusting

the Word to

the Faithful

MICA (P) 229/03/2009 Issue: 1H2011

“ AND LET US NOT GROW

WEARY OF DOING GOOD…”

The phrase above is taken from the letterhead of Palangoy

Christian Gospel Church (PCGC) as they send in their annual

report for the Bukas Puso program that ETW supports as part of

our Philippines partnering with PCGC. Indeed let us not grow

weary of doing the good that has helped so many students. The

donations which you faithfully give has helped to support a total of

22 college students and 17 high school students for the past year.

The students are performing well academically with one

graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Many of them are actively involved in the various church

ministries, some even in leadership roles. One of the student’s

parents even came to faith in the Lord and are now worshipping in

the congregation.

But there are also some who had to be dropped either because

the financial support from the Bukas Puso program is not enough

and the students had to drop out from school to help support their

family, or they faced parental objections or personal problems. One

of the requirements of the program is that the recipient needs to

attend church service and cell group meetings regularly. Please do

pray for these students that they will receive guidance and for

those who are believers to continue to trust in the Lord.

ETW recipients serving the Lord faithfully

Continued on page 3

TIM

OT

HIA

N T

IME

S

Donations to the Philippines Project Account Number: 515-859700-001

ETW CE N T R E

@ M ANH AT T AN HO U SE

ETW Centre is located along Chin Swee Road.

Manhattan House Car Park charges:

$1.20 per half hour;

$2.50 per entry after 6pm Mon-Fri, after 2pm Sat, whole day Sun & Public Holidays

There is a HDB carpark opposite the centre, free parking on Sundays and Public Holidays.

The nearest MRT is Chinatown, 10 minutes walk. The only bus along Chin Swee Road is 174, other

buses are along Eu Tong Sen Street. �

www.etword.org

20

Page 2: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK � 2011 CLASS SCHEDULE �

Greetings to friends of ETW,

Shalom, Jeffrey Loh

Contents: “Let us not grow weary of doing good…” From the editorial desk Kurdistan trip 2011 Ekklesia news – Passover Second coming – Let us reason Philippines mission trip – November & December 2010 2011 Class schedule

Page

1 2 4 9 10

15 19

M O N D A Y N I G H T S ( 7 . 30PM - 9 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 0 J U N E 20 11 <

Colossians Parts 1 and 2

(10 Lessons each)

T U E S D A Y M O R N I N G S

( 9 .30AM - 12 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 1 J U N E 20 11 <

“What does the Bible Say about the Coming of our Lord and the

Gathering Together of the Saints,

Pt 2 (11 Lessons)”, followed by Titus (7 Lessons)

T U E S D A Y N I G H T S

( 7 . 30PM - 9 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 1 J U N E 20 11 <

Revelation Pt 3 (8 Lessons) &

Pt 4 (9 Lessons)

W E D N E S D A Y M O R N I N G S ( 9 .30AM - 12 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 2 J U N E 20 11 <

Daniel Pt 2 (12 Lessons)

W E D N E S D A Y N I G H T S

( 7 . 30PM - 9 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 2 J U N E 20 11 <

Isaiah Pt 1 (10 Lessons) & Pt 2 (11 Lessons)

F R I D A Y M O R N I N G S ( 9 .30AM - 12 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 4 J U N E 20 11 <

Isaiah Pt 1 (10 Lessons), Pt 2 (11 Lessons) & Pt 3

S A T U R D A Y A F T E R N O O N S ( 1 . 30PM - 2 . 45PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 5 J U N E 20 11 <

Knowing God through His Word - Ongoing : 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy

( 3 . 15PM - 4 . 30PM )

> C O N T I N U E S 2 5 J U N E 20 11 <

Reading God’s Word – Ongoing

Gospel of Matthew

S A T U R D A Y E V E N I N G S

( 5 . 00PM - 7 . 00PM )

> S T A R T 1 J A N U A R Y 2 01 1 <

ETW Ekklesia – Ongoing Prayer (6 weeks 21 May-25 June

2011) Joshua (interspersed with topical

messages about once a month)

2 19

Page 3: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

During the trip, we were encouraged by Mary Yong who text Isaiah 58:6,7 to us while we were there. This aptly describe the driver behind our Philippines Ministry:

Isaiah 58: 6-7:

6"Is this not the fast which I choose,

To loosen the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the bands of the yoke,

And to let the oppressed go free

And break every yoke?

7"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry

And bring the homeless poor into the house;

When you see the naked, to cover him;

The gratefulness of the growing believers from PCGC and Tayuman were expressed by Pastor Murel in Tagalog: “Kuya, maraming salamat sa pagmamahal ninyo sa kapatiran (Brothers, thank you very much for your love for the brethren).

We can only response by declaring: “All glory and praise be to our Mighty Yahweh!” Indeed, we were all blessed in so many ways from these trips.

Besides the Bukas Puso program, ETW

also helps to support the Compassionate

Ministry where PCGC buys groceries and

helps families who need it the most. A total

of 21 families are being supported regularly

with rice being the most common and

immediate need. Although most of the

families have at least one breadwinner with

insufficient income to meet the needs of the

family, yet many of them still continue to

faithfully attend and serve in the church

despite their circumstances.

Some of the recipients of the Compassionate Ministry

Truly all the donations are greatly

appreciated and being stewarded faithfully.

ETW wants to thank everyone who has

given to these two programs and hope that

you will continue to support the program as

they are ongoing projects.

If you would like to read the full reports

for the Bukas Puso Program and

Compassionate Ministry, please get in touch

with David or Francis. Included in the report

is a short write up of each student and

family so that you can pray for them.

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV) 9And let

us not grow weary of doing good,

for in due season we will reap, if we

do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to

everyone, and especially to those

who are of the household of faith.

IBS WO R KSH O P S INTRO TO IBS SKILLS Those with no knowledge of IBS IW 001 Psalm 1 (1.5 hr) IW 002 1 Thessalonians 1 (2 hr) IW 003 Matthew 6:24-34 (1 ½ hr) IW 004 1 Corinthians 12 (2 hr)

BASIC IBS SKILLS BW 101 Overview of Philemon (4h) BW 102 Overview of Obadiah (4h) BW 103 Overview of Haggai (4h) BW 104 Overview and Chapter Study

of Jude (1 day) BW 201 Overview and Chapter Study

of 2 Peter (2 days) BW 202 Overview and Chapter Study

of 1 Thessalonians (2 days)

STRUCTURING SKILLS SW 101 Structuring of Philemon

(1 day) SW 102 Structuring of Jude (1 day) SW 103 Structuring of Titus (1.5 days) SW 201 Structuring of 2Peter (2 days) SW 202 Structuring of Philippians

(2 days) SW 203 Structuring of Colossians

(2 days)

Page 4: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

18 3

Page 5: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

KURDISTAN TRIP JANUARY 2011�

BY KELLY NANDAR

Kurdistan – the name often arouses strange or incredulous looks. “Where is that?”

people will often ask. It is in Northern Iraq. “Iraq, is that safe?” is the usual response.

I must admit I was a little hesitant about going there initially. Very few people know

much about that country but you can find online a document from the Kurdish

Regional Government claiming to protect people’s freedom to practice their religion

and promotes inter-faith tolerance. My experience from the trip is that it is indeed

true, attested by local believers too.

This mission trip is a test of my faith. We went there, not knowing much about the

country and worse still, not having any contacts of believers there. However my

pastor has heard that it is a safe country to go to from other missionary reports. And

so off we go!

It was quite a journey to Kurdistan. We started from Istanbul, Turkey and took a

plane to Eastern Turkey, Diyarbakir. Due to the fog, it was not able to land and had

to be diverted to Malatya, where a few years ago the first Christians were martyred

in Turkey because of Bible distributions. God’s hands of protection were upon us

and in the plane, my pastor got to talk to the passenger seated beside him. He is a

secular doctor who does not believe in the Koran and is open to talk about

Christianity. He happened to also be one of the few Kurds in the plane who speaks

English. Perfect chance! We later gave him a Turkish Bible at the Malatya airport, a

very symbolic act! Rambo, our new-found Kurdish friend helped us find a taxi to

travel from Diyarbakir to Silopi (the town to the border of Turkey-Iraq) – a 3-hour

ride.

Our gracious God provided the perfect timing for Cecilia, David, Esther and Francis (CDEF) to go from 22nd to 26th December 2010. He even ensured that all were able to board the same flight thanks to the praying brethren in Singapore and Philippines. Due to some problem with the airline’s internet booking, David and Francis were supposed to go the day after Cecilia and Esther. By faith, we went to the airport hoping to get a last minute seat even though the flights are fully booked due many overseas Pilipino returning home.

This trip was another opportunity to meet their spiritual and physical needs. Beside the seminar and speaking engagements, we arranged to meet another contractor and those we met earlier to discuss the revised plan. Esther Goh also helped by cooking the meals for the seminar participants.

Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals

and the Cell Group Leaders

We also have the rare opportunity to meet the other pastors from Rizal Province together with Ronny and Sharon Low who introduced the Philippines ministry to ETW.

Cecilia, David, Esther, Francis, Ronny and Sharon Low with Rizal Pastors

4 17

Page 6: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

Just like our previous trip in April 2010, David and Francis were slotted to speak at their Wednesday Adult Prayer and Friday Youth Prayer Meetings as well as the Sunday Morning Services at Tayuman and Palangoy. Mabel spoke at the Saturday Women Fellowship and Sunday Couples Fellowship Meetings.

Benediction at Couples Fellowship

We also met two contractors to discuss the Training Center cum Church building project in Tayuman. The initial plan for a three-storey building was beyond our budget. On our return, the Building Committee decided on a two-storey structure to save cost. However, this was contingent on acquring the adjacent land at a price that will be lower than the structural cost of adding a third storey. In His perfect timing and providence, God gave us the chance to buy the adjacent land in mid November.

Tayuman Church and adjacent land behind

Pastor Murel was finishing Cecilia's Revelation Series for Sunday Services, Romans for the Cell Group and Evangelism in the Marketplace for the Young Professionals. During our dinner conversations, he indicated an interest in the OT Feasts and was hoping for Cecilia to come and conduct a seminar on this topic.

At Silopi, after giving the driver a New Testament, we took a bus to the border. The

border crossing was slow but very smooth on the Turkish side. At the Iraqi side, we

waited at a new-looking terminal building for quite some time. My pastor was asked

about his employment and the purpose of his visit. He told them he worked in the

church and was going to Kurdistan for tourism. All three of us got through. One

unexpected thing we experienced in the terminal building was Kurdish hospitality –

we were served teas.

Finally, after the border check, we took a

taxi to Erbil. We told the driver not to go on

a certain road, which is dangerous for

foreigners, and so we set off on a 3-hour

drive through Berdegesh. This driver

stimulated us to pray, as he was fast and

reckless, overtaking when the car is very

close to oncoming traffic. At a lunch stop in

a restaurant, they showed us hospitality by

serving free teas – one thing which we can

all learn from. The taxi driver dropped us in the center of Erbil near the Citadel (this is

a distinctive feature of the city as it is build on a mound) after being paid and receiving a

Turkish New Testament. We took a local taxi to attempt to go to the Bible Society but

in the end, we ended up in a church in Ankawa (Ankawa is an area in Erbil commonly

known to locals to be a Christian neighbourhood as a lot of churches are located here. Many

Christians live in this area too.).

This was not an evangelical church. A group of young

children were playing at the courtyard with their teacher.

We got down from the taxi as the driver did not know of

any other churches; the others that we passed by were

obviously Roman Catholic churches. Almost at the same

time, a parent came by the church in a car. My pastor

talked to him (an Armenian Christian) and found out that

he knew the pastor of the evangelical church who works

with the Kurds. He took us to meet his family but the

founder of the church was in Germany at the time of visit.

The visit struck upon us with many believers’ contacts,

expatriates included. We were informed that weekend in

Kurdistan falls on Friday and Saturday. So we have to wait one more day before we

can go to International Bible Society (IBS) on Sunday to obtain Kurdish New

Testaments.

16 5

Page 7: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

The man whom we met then took us to a small hotel with ‘0’ star, because we told him

we are looking for something basic and simple and we did not want to waste the

Lord’s money on expensive hotels. This man was a blessing to us, paid the bill for us at

the hotel and hosted us on several occasions in restaurants. My pastor, in turn, shared

the gospel with him and prayed that he, too, will come to a saving knowledge of the

Lord.

Not many people speak English here but we have seen God’s hands again and again to lead us to the right people that we can give the gospel message to. A waiter at one of our lunch stops used to live in the UK. He was able to converse with us in English. We returned to give him a New Testament in Kurdish a few days later. When we finished our meal at the same place we met a man who spoke English. He curiously asked if we

were missionaries from the way our conversation was going. We ended up giving him our only a New Testament in Arabic/English and he paid for our meal. Once, on our way back to our hotel, we saw a coffee/tea shop and as we sat down to drink, my pastor started to talk with a former Kurdish rebel/freedom fighter. He asked him if I had ever been to Israel, he said yes and he replied by saying he liked Israel. We were sorry that we could not hand him any literature but a few days later as we were walking down the street, by God’s providence, he came up to us and invited us for a coffee. We were then able to give him a New Testatment.

During our five-day stay in Erbil, we gave out 35 Kurdish New Testaments, 10 Arabic New Testataments and tens of Kurdish DVDs. The Lord gave us favour and many opportunities whether in taxis, walking in the streets or visiting the malls.

Continued on page 8

PHILIPPINES MISSION TRIP – NOVEMBER &

DECEMBER 2010 � BY FRANCIS LIM

In partnership with Palangoy Christian Gospel Church (PCGC) in the Philippines,

David Tan, Francis Lim and Mabel Lim from ETW Ekklesia ferried 16 pieces of luggage containing used clothings and soft toys, generously donated by ETW students and friends, for our Pilipino brethren.

We were warmly received into their fellowship from 1st to 8th November 2010. They gave us numerous opportunities to exercise our gift of help and exhortation.

David distributing the soft toys

6 15

Page 8: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

Counting back from the seventh day which we know will be the resurrection, Christ’s first coming must be at the dawn of fourth day. (Explanatory note: If the 3rd day in Hosea corresponds to the Sabbath / millennial week, then Christ’s first coming has to the 4th millennium.) If Christ’s first coming is on the 4th day, then about two thousand years later, we are now near the end of the 6th day. We are nearing the Sabbath day, very near. Having taken the trouble to reach an appreciation of the millennia week, let us take heed of the warning of the Hebrews writer in chapter four.

Hebrews 4:8-11 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Since we know that the seventh day is approaching and thus our rest in Christ is at hand (His second coming), let us purify ourselves from sins of unbelief and disobedience (Heb 12:1) so that we may be able to stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy (Jude 1:24).

Hebrews 12:1 1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Jude 1:24 24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

Maranatha!

JUST A CLICK AWAY…. The lesson notes and a whole collection of information are available through a click on the internet!

The location is @

http://www.etword.org

LET’S WATCH …. The Jewish Roots of Christianity, many times we forget that the roots of the olive tree is Jewish, we Gentiles are but grafted on @

http://www.dod.org/Products/DOD2151.aspx �

LET’S READ …. Shadows of the Beast: “Jacob Prasch's latest book, Shadows of the Beast, is now available for purchase from each respective Moriel country. Unlike so many other works on the Antichrist, this book does not attempt to name a specific person or over-emphasize a single aspect of the Antichrist, but examines the whole of Scripture to fulfill the goal of the book's subtitle, "How the identity of the coming Antichrist will be revealed to the faithful church". This is a good-faith effort to present what the whole of Scripture has to teach about the Antichrist and how this information is supposed to be used and practically applied by the true followers of Christ. This is not a textbook work in the classic sense. ”

Originally posted on the MORIEL website

http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/announcements/now-available-shadows-of-the-beast#more-7504

Available at the Centre from June 2011.

14 7

Page 9: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

Church Visit and Consultation with Local Believers

During our trip, we spoke to the leaders of two evangelical churches in hope to encourage and help them where there are needs. It is worth noting there are more missionaries than believers in the country. The leaders of an evangelical church were disillusioned by the foreign parachurch organisations because of some bad experiences with them in the past. There are quite a few of them in the area. This is why they eyed us initially with much suspicion and grilled us mercilessly.

The local Arabic church is made up of refugees who came from the south of the country to escape persecution and the dangers of daily life in Iraq. They held an evening service, which was translated into English, and we met a few foreign people there. They were short-term volunteers who came to build children playgrounds. We were surprised to meet only a few foreign believers. It seemed they have a meeting amongst themselves.

The local Kurdish evangelical church is quite small. Their leaders who are wary of foreign missionaries (in name) spoke to us before their weekly prayer meeting. They did not invite us to their prayer meeting probably because we were foreigners. However my pastor managed to build a relationship and he hopes to go back in the future to nurture it and build on it. We pray they will come to see that our intentions are godly and noble.

My Experiential Knowledge of God

The whole experience has been one that is exciting yet I have experienced the truth of what Christ said in Luke 10:20.

Luke 10:20 - "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."

When the dust settled and I went back to normal life, really, one realised that the ONE thing that we all have reasons to rejoice in all seasons of life is the salvation work that Christ has wrought for us at the Cross. When we see the power of God working through us, we are excited. Yet our daily rejoicing should only be based upon His salvation to us. Grace upon grace, that such a sinner as I, should have been found in Him and forgiven of all my sins to gain the glory of Him (2 Thess 2:14). I boast not that I have done mighty deeds but that in Christ I have eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 2:14 - It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Enoch then mentions an eighth day in which humanity will enter timeless existence with God. This is also paralleled in the Book of Revelation, where humanity enters eternal existence with God after the millennium (the seventh day).

Looking at Tertiary Source – Early Church Fathers’ Teachings

Irenaeus, born in A.D. 140, worked intensely against powerful Gnostic heresies and wrote a treatise on the virtues of the Christian faith. Among his writings was found this statement:

“For in so many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded … and God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works He made … This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come … in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end after six thousand years.”

According to Irenaeus (one among many who held this view) the history of the human race from creation to the consummation will span a 7,000 year period of time. The seventh millennium is to be the reign of Christ.

In the Last Day

Now that we are more able to appreciate the concept of seven millennia human history, corresponding to the seven days creation, and that Christ’s second coming will occur at the beginning of the seventh day or millennium, how close are we to the seventh day? While some may argue that the calculation made by Bishop Usher in 17th century using genealogies in the Bible as well as historical records of Babylon to make up 4000 years from Biblical time of Adam to Christ’s birth is not without error, if and since human history timeline can be paralleled to seven days creation week, then Christ must come on the fourth day of the millennia-week. There is one important Scripture that underpins this thought – Hosea 6:2.

Hosea 6:2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.

Page 10: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

8 13

Following Martha’s train of thought, the resurrection of the dead is mentioned in Rev. 20:4.

Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded… and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

Doing a cross referencing like this makes it reasonable for us to accept that a ‘day’ mentioned in the Gospel of John, used when it refers to human history, can be equivalent to a thousand years in actual human sense of time. When it comes then to a reading of 2 Peter 3:8, ‘…that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day’, one can no longer carelessly brushed this expression aside as mere symbolic and not consider the high possibility of its literal interpretation.

Looking at Secondary Source – OT Apocrypha

A mysterious book, known, as The Book of Enoch was not accepted as part of the Bible, though early Church leaders sometimes quoted it. It may not have made the list because there are, at least, three versions with significant discrepancies between them, so no authoritative text exists. Nevertheless, Enoch retains the distinction of being the only non-biblical book quoted word-for-word within the New Testament. Jesus' own brother Jude quotes from Enoch in his brief letter.

Found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, Enoch is believed to have been written by a Jew living just before the time of Christ. The Secrets of Enoch (otherwise known as 2 Enoch) contains the following intriguing prophecy regarding earth's historic time line. It indicates that history, from the time of Adam, will run its course in 7,000 years, corresponding to the seven days of creation in Genesis. It also indicates the seventh thousand will follow the Messiah's second coming:

"I [God] said to him [Adam]: '. . . Then I can again take thee [by resurrection] at My second coming.' . . . And I blessed the seventh day, which is the sabbath on which he [Adam] rested from all his works. . . . and that the . . . seven [days] revolve in the form of the seventh thousand, and that at the beginning of the eighth thousand there should be a time of not-counting, endless with neither years, nor months nor weeks nor days nor hours."

(Secrets of Enoch 32:1, 2, 4; 33:1)

Continued on page 13

EKKLESIA NEWS �

The Ekklesia celebrated Passover again this year on 17 April 2011. It is always a blessing

when we celebrate the feasts of the Lord together as a body of believers. Many others do not have the opportunity to celebrate Passover as it is deemed a ‘Jewish’ celebration and thus redundant for the church. But we do encourage you to invite your friends to join us or you can organise one yourself in your own homes! That is how Passover is celebrated by the Jewish community, as a family affair. One of the members of the Ekklesia did just that with her Sunday School class and this was their response: Hi Cecilia I want to specially thank you for sharing the Passover Seder Notes with me so that I can share with my Sunday School class. We had it last Friday and these are the feedback I received:

“It was surely an educational time for us” From my Sunday School Teacher and his wife “Thanks for making this fruitful, educational & enjoyable event possible” From my classmate “...such a wonderful, memorable evening of observing the Passover in your home.” From my classmate who brought his entire family including his children. His children were very attentive during the Passover. “The notes are well organized to guide us through that meaningful symbol and I think all were blessed who participated. The Scripture readings, narrative and songs were very worshipful. I don't think any of us will ever forget this special time together.” From a missionary couple from IMB attending Sunday School “The songs are appropriately weaved and timed with the notes...” Sunday School Classmate.

I thank God for blessing ETW with such a wonderful teacher like you. Thank you for teaching me. All of them want to do it again next year!! Tan SK (Ms.)4

If you want to share the joy of celebrating Passover with your family and friends who may not have the opportunity, please do contact Cecilia. She will gladly share the notes with you.

Page 11: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

12 9

SECOND COMING �

LET US REASON BY KELLY NANDAR

If you have attended the Second Coming or Genesis bible study in our ministry,

you would have probably seen the chart (please refer to chart on page 11) showing human history in Seven Millennia Week. You may have heard of it for the first time and thus you are doubtful of its validity, but this was no foreign a concept to the Jewish mindset and early church fathers.

They have both agreed that human history was to last for 6,000 years, sixth millennia, before the ushering in of the seventh millennium — the 1000 year long Messianic Age. Just as the creation week in Genesis spans seven days, human history will span seven millennia. The validity of this concept is hinted at in our sole and primary source for truths, which is the Scripture, clearly written in secondary source like the Old

Testament Apocrypha (considered a secondary source for its insight into Scriptural truths because it is cited in canonical Scripture, but should never be considered as a basis for

developing doctrines) and confirmed by tertiary source like the Early Church Fathers’ teachings in the 2nd and 3rd century.

Looking at the Primary Source – Scripture

When you read the Gospel of John, the language used by both Jesus and Martha, his disciple in the 1st century seems to allude to the notion of seeing the span of human history as days.

John 6:54 (Jesus said) "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he (referring to his brother Lazarus) will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Continued on page 12

Page 12: Cecilia Perh I M E S - Entrusting the Word · Cecilia spoke to the Rizal Pastors, Leaders, Senior Youth and the Young Professionals and the Cell Group Leaders We also have the rare

10 11


Recommended