Comments for Sermon Rant http://sermonrant.wordpress.com "Discovering the truth, one dialogue at a time" Mon, 12 May 2008 15:36:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Who Is the Holy Spirit, and Why Does It Matter? by Downtown Julie Brown http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/who-is-the-holy-spirit-and-why-does-it-matter/#comment-298 Downtown Julie Brown Mon, 05 May 2008 01:21:24 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/?p=71#comment-298 Hey Mike...great sermon as usual. I have a question regarding the Spirit being the restrainer (of 2 Thess. 2). Are there any other scripture passages that you are aware of that would indicate that the Spirit restrains, and in what kinds of circumstances? One reason I'm asking is because I have a different theory as to who the restrainer of this passage is. Contextually, the restrainer is restraining specifically the man of lawlessness (commonly understood to be the antichrist also spoken of in Revelation 13 and Daniel 7:25 and 9:27, a few passages among many). According to Daniel 12:1, it is Michael the great prince who protects Daniel's people, but he "arises" (good word study opportunity here), and after he arises, a time of great distress comes. In the same way, according to 2 Thess 2, when the restrainer no longer restrains the man of lawlessness will be revealed (probably by the act of the abomination of desolation; see 2 Thess 2:4 and Matt 24:15). Interestingly, I think Revelation 12:7 supports that the restrainer is Michael the archangel. In that passage a war takes place, which I believe is still yet future (not past as is commonly believed) between Michael and the dragon, in which Michael defeats the dragon and casts him to the earth, where he promptly begins to pursue the "woman" (Israel) and her children (the church), an event that could easily be interpreted as a time of great distress or great tribulation, see Matt 24:21. So, what do you think? Do you think that this passage (2 Thess 2:7) speaking of the restrainer can only be interpreted as being the Spirit, or cross-referencing it with other passages regarding the same subject matter, could it be better to consider the possibility that it's Michael the Archangel? Hey Mike…great sermon as usual. I have a question regarding the Spirit being the restrainer (of 2 Thess. 2). Are there any other scripture passages that you are aware of that would indicate that the Spirit restrains, and in what kinds of circumstances?

One reason I’m asking is because I have a different theory as to who the restrainer of this passage is. Contextually, the restrainer is restraining specifically the man of lawlessness (commonly understood to be the antichrist also spoken of in Revelation 13 and Daniel 7:25 and 9:27, a few passages among many). According to Daniel 12:1, it is Michael the great prince who protects Daniel’s people, but he “arises” (good word study opportunity here), and after he arises, a time of great distress comes. In the same way, according to 2 Thess 2, when the restrainer no longer restrains the man of lawlessness will be revealed (probably by the act of the abomination of desolation; see 2 Thess 2:4 and Matt 24:15). Interestingly, I think Revelation 12:7 supports that the restrainer is Michael the archangel. In that passage a war takes place, which I believe is still yet future (not past as is commonly believed) between Michael and the dragon, in which Michael defeats the dragon and casts him to the earth, where he promptly begins to pursue the “woman” (Israel) and her children (the church), an event that could easily be interpreted as a time of great distress or great tribulation, see Matt 24:21.

So, what do you think? Do you think that this passage (2 Thess 2:7) speaking of the restrainer can only be interpreted as being the Spirit, or cross-referencing it with other passages regarding the same subject matter, could it be better to consider the possibility that it’s Michael the Archangel?

]]> Comment on Transformation From the Inside Out by mike http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/transformation-from-the-inside-out/#comment-292 mike Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:05:12 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/transformation-from-the-inside-out/#comment-292 Thanks! Thanks!

]]> Comment on God’s Will and God’s Timing by mike http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/gods-will-and-gods-timing/#comment-291 mike Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:04:31 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/gods-will-and-gods-timing/#comment-291 Ok, but I think we need your e-mail? Ok, but I think we need your e-mail?

]]> Comment on The Transformation Series: Keeping the Cross in Mind by mike http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/the-transformation-series-keeping-the-cross-in-mind/#comment-290 mike Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:01:00 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/the-transformation-series-keeping-the-cross-in-mind/#comment-290 Thanks! Thanks!

]]> Comment on The Continuing Covenant Promise by mike http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/the-continuing-covenant-promise/#comment-288 mike Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:56:37 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-288 Great question! I believe that God's call to Abraham, and His promise that he'd be a blessing to "ALL" Nations (Not to mention Revelation 5:9-10), tells us that in Christ, He is reconciling the world to Himself, and subsequently all nations would be blessed in Christ, according to god's sovereign will. The "Choosing" of Isaac over Ishmael is an issue of the line, not salvation pre se (See too Romans 9). Great question! I believe that God’s call to Abraham, and His promise that he’d be a blessing to “ALL” Nations (Not to mention Revelation 5:9-10), tells us that in Christ, He is reconciling the world to Himself, and subsequently all nations would be blessed in Christ, according to god’s sovereign will. The “Choosing” of Isaac over Ishmael is an issue of the line, not salvation pre se (See too Romans 9).

]]> Comment on The Continuing Covenant Promise by Caleb http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/the-continuing-covenant-promise/#comment-287 Caleb Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:04:16 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-287 Mike, you brought up the point about how God chooses Issac and doesn't choose Ishmael. And the nature of the promise that God gave to Abraham through Issac was such that this was a lasting promise that would go through many generations, so it seems to follow that the people of Ishmael will be generally characterized in a particular way, perhaps as unbelieving. They are the unpromised, and there seems to be a lasting effect of this decree by God to this day. In light of such a "determination" of God, is it possible to hope for, say, the salvation of the majority of muslims? Would hoping for something like that undermine a previous decree that God made? Or more basically can we meaningfully hope for the salvation of the whole world, knowing that the bible indicates that this won't be the case? Is that a foolish or unfounded hope? Mike, you brought up the point about how God chooses Issac and doesn’t choose Ishmael. And the nature of the promise that God gave to Abraham through Issac was such that this was a lasting promise that would go through many generations, so it seems to follow that the people of Ishmael will be generally characterized in a particular way, perhaps as unbelieving. They are the unpromised, and there seems to be a lasting effect of this decree by God to this day. In light of such a “determination” of God, is it possible to hope for, say, the salvation of the majority of muslims? Would hoping for something like that undermine a previous decree that God made? Or more basically can we meaningfully hope for the salvation of the whole world, knowing that the bible indicates that this won’t be the case? Is that a foolish or unfounded hope?

]]> Comment on God’s Will and God’s Timing by alipate http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/gods-will-and-gods-timing/#comment-259 alipate Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:52:54 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/gods-will-and-gods-timing/#comment-259 very good sermon with surpportive evidence...if possible, i would like to be updated with these sermons or series of sermons through my e-mail. may God continue to use you through sermons and bless you!!! alipate from fiji very good sermon with surpportive evidence…if possible, i would like to be updated with these sermons or series of sermons through my e-mail. may God continue to use you through sermons and bless you!!!
alipate from fiji

]]> Comment on Transformation From the Inside Out by Lynn http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/transformation-from-the-inside-out/#comment-258 Lynn Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:53:25 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/transformation-from-the-inside-out/#comment-258 Good Stuff!! Much appreciated!! Good Stuff!! Much appreciated!!

]]> Comment on Change God’s Way by sermonrant http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/change-god%e2%80%99s-way/#comment-242 sermonrant Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:32:26 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/change-god%e2%80%99s-way/#comment-242 Thanks Sue! I'm not sure the process is a plan to put into practice, as much as it is an abiding, intimate trust in Christ that comes from years walking with Him through the word, prayer, repentance, and trust that what He began in you, He will perfect (Philippians 1:6). Thanks Sue! I’m not sure the process is a plan to put into practice, as much as it is an abiding, intimate trust in Christ that comes from years walking with Him through the word, prayer, repentance, and trust that what He began in you, He will perfect (Philippians 1:6).

]]> Comment on Change God’s Way by Sue http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/change-god%e2%80%99s-way/#comment-241 Sue Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:12:34 +0000 http://sermonrant.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/change-god%e2%80%99s-way/#comment-241 This is what I really want. To be closer to Jesus, but I don't know how to put this into practice. This is what I really want. To be closer to Jesus, but I don’t know how to put this into practice.

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