The Worst and the Best Are Yet To Come

When the Bible speaks of angels, demons, and Satan, Christians recognize that there must be a study of angelology, satanology, and demonology. Satanology goes from the heights of created glory to the depths of degradation. That is where we have to start in our present state. We will see what Satan was before his fall, a bright and shining angel. Lucifer was his name, and he was the head of the angels. (Study Is. 14 and Ezek. 28.) Subsequent to his fall, Satan will have made the earth to tremble; kingdoms will be shaken; cities will be destroyed; and prisoners will be allowed to go home. The Father and Holy Spirit have high-ranking celestial beings who are over other celestial beings as their representatives or messengers on earth. Michael is associated with God the Father, and he is the only one designated “the archangel” (Dan. 10:13, 21; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7). Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21-23; Lk. 1:19, 26) is associated with the Holy Spirit. Since Lucifer’s fall, Jesus Christ has not had such a high-ranking representative. Lucifer was to be the representative of Christ, the anointed; but in his fall, he became Christ’s greatest antagonist and remains the same. Satan is the leader of all the fallen angels; therefore, he leads the demons (fallen angels). Together they are against Christ and God’s people. Among the angels are cherubim and seraphim with a special ministry regarding God’s holy character and the purification of those who approach God.

There were chosen and reprobate angels. The chosen angels do like work of God the Son and belong to Christ. Nothing is said about the fall of the cherubim or the seraphim when the angels and Lucifer fell. The angels are divided into two groups: elect and non-elect. Therefore, the chosen angels are not subject to falling anymore than God’s chosen ones in Christ will fail to be regenerated. Paul said to Timothy, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality” (I Tim. 5:21 NASB). Since these were chosen angels, it means that God passed by some angels.

In Galatians 6:14, Paul said, “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (NASB). There is a double crucifixion. In The Revelation, John put the capstone on what Paul said with this statement: “And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. And the four living creatures kept saying, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshiped” (Rev. 5:11-14 NASB).

There is one subject behind all the others, even the mountain of glory. That subject is the departure of the eternal Son of God who has been foreshadowed by Moses, the lawgiver, and the Old Testament. There are two great divisions of the Old Testament and our Lord used those in Luke 24:27. As the women stood by the empty tomb on the resurrection morning (Luke 24), two men suddenly stood and said, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” (Luke 24:5 NASB). Luke continues in Acts 1: “The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen” (Acts 1:1, 2 NASB). Could it be the same two men, Moses and Elijah, who were referred to later on in the chapter? “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1: 9-11 NASB).

Moses and Elijah symbolize the law and the prophets of the Old Testament. Moses was drawn out of the river (Ex. 2:10), and Elijah was drawn up into heaven (II Kings 2:1). Moses was the lawgiver, and Elijah was the prophet. Moses died, and we do not know where he was buried. Elijah escaped death (II Kings 2:1). Moses experienced the exodus from Egypt, and Elijah’s exodus was from the earth into the presence of God. The theme of these two men not only changed from Christ’s crucifixion to His resurrection in Luke 24, but now must change from ascension when He went up in Acts 1:9-11 and His coming again. His coming again is the only thing left. What a hope!

The worst and the best are yet to come. Although the worst is yet to come, some pretty bad things have already come. Genesis 6:1-13 documents the corruption of man leading up to the destruction of the earth by water, and chapter 11 records the confusion of languages. Further on was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the plot by Joseph’s brothers to kill him, the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage, the plagues, and the wicked kings. There was the division of the nation between north and south. Most were Jews by name but not true Israelites by regeneration. Going on through the Old Testament, we find the den of lions and furnace of fire. In the New Testament, right after the Lord Jesus left and the apostles were going throughout the world preaching the gospel, the restored temple was destroyed. This was in 70 A.D., and the Jews were scattered. Yet, the worst is yet to come, and the best.

This should bring us to the point where we want to be tested to see if we really are Christians. “Test [present active imperative of the verb peiradzo] yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine [present active imperative of the verb dokimadzo] yourselves!” (II Cor. 13:5 NASB). These are two commands. They are Christ’s commands to us through the inspired apostle for our own good.

Increasing apostasy today makes it necessary for every professing Christian to be testing himself as to his Christianity. The Lord alone knows how many people who make professions of faith in Christ know nothing about salvation. They evidence that by what they say and the way they live. Most people today who are religious have never had the opportunity of hearing anybody make the distinction between God’s choice of some and passing by others. They have not heard of regeneration and conversion. They have not heard that saving faith is the gift of God. Every person should be testing himself to see if he has really been converted as the result of grace in regeneration of which he had no part. There are many conversion experiences apart from regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

The following questions should be considered by every professing Christian in order to test his or her conversion experience to determine whether or not it is genuine:

1. Is your conversion experience impressionistic, like that of Simon Magus (Acts 8)?

Simon Magus represents people impressed by something seen, but their hearts have not been touched. He would be welcome in most assemblies today. He believed, but his belief was not genuine. He made a decision, tried other things, and now he would try Jesus. His conversion experience was impressionistic. He was imitating the mannerisms of those who were truly converted. Eventually, he showed himself for what he really was. He saw that Philip’s message was true, but the soil of his heart had not been prepared by the Holy Spirit in regeneration to receive the gospel. His request for authority instead of for the Holy Spirit indicated that he had a low concept of high things. Simon’s faith was based on miracles. Nothing is stated about Simon receiving the Spirit. He continued with a self-centered interest in authority he saw exercised by men who had been given that authority by God Himself.

2. Is your conversion experience hypocritical, like that of Judas Iscariot?

Six days before the Passover, Lazarus was raised from the dead. As he sat at the table with Christ, Mary took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus Christ, and wiped them with her hair. Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Christ, asked why the ointment was not sold and the money given to the poor. However, he was not concerned about the poor, because he was a thief (John 12:1-6). Judas’ conversion experience was not genuine. It was merely hypocritical. Judas exemplifies humanitarianism, but he was a reprobate. What a contrast between Judas’ money box and Mary’s alabaster box, Judas’ thirty pieces of silver and Mary’s ointment valued at three hundred denarii, Judas’ love for money and Mary’s Christian liberality, Judas’ hypocritical profession of concern for the poor and Mary’s noble Christian deed for the Lord, and between Mary’s devotion unconsciously providing for the honor of Christ’s death, and Judas’ selfishness bringing about the death itself.

3. Is your conversion the result of a mental concept of spiritual things, like that of the five foolish virgins?

The foolish virgins’ knowledge was merely mental; therefore, their conversion was not genuine (Matt. 25:5-12). A person may memorize and quote Scripture, but that does not indicate genuineness of conversion.

4. Is your conversion experience the result of mere lip service? Is your conversion experience legalistic, like that of the Pharisees? A person who has had a conversion experience apart from regeneration may say he sees, but he is blind (John 9:39-41). As long as the Pharisee feels that he sees and does not recognize his need, he is blind. The Jews knew the Old Testament Scriptures, but many of them were spiritually blind. The Pharisees drew near with their lips, but their hearts were far from Jesus Christ (Matt. 15:7, 8). Read Ezekiel 33:31-33.

5. Is your conversion experience a result of affliction, like that of Pharaoh?

After the plagues came on the Egyptians, Pharaoh said he had sinned, but he did not repent. Scripture records five characters who said they sinned, but they were unregenerate: (1) Pharaoh (Ex. 9:27; 10:16), (2) Balaam (Num. 22:34), (3) Achan (Josh. 7:20), (4) Saul (I Sam. 15:24, 30; 26:21), and (5) Judas (Matt. 27:4). Unless a confession is preceded by regeneration, it is a confession that needs to be confessed.

6. Is your conversion experience based on good works?

Many put “their” faith in Christ, follow the Lord in baptism, and become workers in the “church.” In his unregenerate state, Paul did more works than anyone. He profited in the Jews’ religion (Gal. 1:13-16). However, he counted his achievements as refuse in order that he might be found in Christ not having his own righteousness but that righteousness that had been imputed and imparted to him by grace.

7. Is your conversion because of providence?

A conversion because of some adverse circumstance in your life will not stand the test of Holy Scripture.

8. Was your conversion brought about by a program instituted by a “church”?

An example of this would be programs by national organizations, like the “four spiritual laws” and programs within local assemblies.

9. Did your conversion take place by the persuasion of a preacher or a soul-winner?

Simon attached himself to Philip because he wanted to be close to the preacher (Acts 8). A preacher might ask a person a few questions about Christ, shake his or her hand, ask if he or she wants to be a Christian and believes in Christ, and then pronounce that this person is saved.

10. Is your conversion self-produced? Did you put “your” faith in Christ?

Although Simon believed and was baptized, he did not have a true conversion experience resulting from regeneration by the Holy Spirit. He believed, but belief alone does not prove that a person has passed from death into life. Human faith will not save (Luke 8:13)

11. Were you converted by emotionalism?

Tears alone are vain. Esau's tears did not bring him repentance (Heb. 12:15-17). He who was a reprobate gave up his physical birthright (Heb. 9:13). The writer of Hebrews named Esau as an example to the Jews who were turning back. The doom of the apostate is irretrievable. However, a person who has been turned by the grace of God never turns back.

12. Was your conversion experience temporary?

There is such a thing as believing for a time and then ceasing to believe (Luke 8:13). Lot’s wife exemplifies temporary conversion. Although she was leaving Sodom and Gomorrah, her heart remained there. When she turned back, she became a pillar of salt. When faith which is the fruit of regeneration is exercised, the person believes and continues believing. A true conversion experience is permanent.