Paul's Anticipation

Read II Timothy 4:1-18. These are the last words given by Paul to his son in the ministry—not his natural son, but his son spiritually speaking.

The kingdom of Christ will be different from both His control of the church as her Head, and His sovereignty—providential rule over the universe. If Christ were reigning as king now, all the people of the world would recognize the reign—the knowledge of the Lord would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Is. 11:9). His providence is both visible and invisible. Christ works mediately in both the assembly and providence, but His rule in the kingdom will be direct and immediate. The world at large knows not that the Lord is reigning in providence or the body. He is not reigning in either one.

Confusion on several aspects of our Lord’s rule leads to serious consequences: (1) It makes the present age the period of the kingdom. (2) It has the church in her present imperfect state performing functions which can only be fulfilled when the body of Christ is complete and perfected. (3) It dissolves the divinely covenanted purpose in the nation of Israel. (4) It makes the present age of the church the final period of historical redemption. (5) It seats mortal, sinful, and fallible men on the throne with the risen and glorified Lord.

John was inspired to write, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Rev. 22:16). When David was chosen of God and anointed as king of Israel (I Sam. 16:1, 13), he did not immediately occupy the throne. For a time, he was actually a fugitive in the wilderness, pursued by Saul whose rights had been abrogated. Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind” (I Sam. 15:28-29). Therefore, Saul said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God” (I Sam. 15:28-30).

Later, when Saul’s rule was ended by defeat and death, the kingdom of David was established over Israel. Similarly, at Christ’s first coming, our Lord was exalted to be both Lord and Christ and the Messianic King (Acts 2:36); but not until His second coming will He establish His kingdom on earth as the rightful successor to the throne of His father David. In the interim, Christ is gathering to Himself His elect, distressed and debtors because of sin, who are destined to be associated with Him in the coming kingdom.

The kingdom honors the past, present, and future work of Jesus Christ. It has been the hope of the assembly through many starless nights, when other hopes had gone out one by one. It is no dream of carnal enthusiasts, no vision of the politician, no imagination of the religionist; and when there are so few with whom we can take true counsel—when falsely accused of heresy and bigotry—the kingdom will not fail.

The saints of this dispensation are represented as waiting for the kingdom. Paul said to the Christians at Thessalonica, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows even greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed” (II Thess. 1:3-10). (See I Thess. 1:2-10, Rom. 8:18-25, and I Pet. 1:2-13.)

The house of Israel is left desolate (Matt. 23:37-39) until Christ comes again. At that time its fallen, desolate condition will be removed when Israel shall mourn before the personal presence of Christ. There is to be a Jewish kingdom based on Jewish covenants. This is proved by Jewish Scriptures, Jewish prophets and apostles, and—the climax to it all—the Jewish Son of Man in descent and office. “And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Matt. 27:37).

The apostles, after the ascension, did not preach that the kingdom was established. What we have in the Acts of the Apostles is a record of events in a period of history which is transitional in certain important respects. Some of the things recorded were never intended to serve as a permanent norm for the assembly of the present age. It is fitting that the books of “facts” should be followed by the book of “Acts.” Believers prove their faith by their “works.” James said, “…faith without works is useless…” (James 2:20).

The Christian has his needs, trials, and assurances. These are vividly portrayed in Paul’s closing words to Timothy, his son in the faith. These are Paul’s last words not only to Timothy but also his last words before his martyrdom. The strong, emotional style is understandable as the apostle reflected upon the past and anxiously thought of the future. It has been said that Paul, like his beloved Lord, though bearing the burden of loneliness and consciousness of approaching death, forgot himself in his thoughts and concern for the sheep. While it may be impolite to read other people’s letters, here all Christians are expected to look—as it were—over Timothy’s shoulder and read this last epistle Paul wrote to his son in the faith. Thus, we will better understand the needs of the Christian life.

Following Paul’s final charge to Timothy (II Tim. 4:1-5) and his triumphant confession (vv. 6-8), the apostle gave some personal examples of the Christian’s needs, trials, and assurances. There is no better way to conclude one’s farewell message than to share his own personal experiences in the Christian life.

Paul’s needs may be classified as physical, mental, spiritual, and social. His trials were disappointments. They came from wicked practices of evil men. His imprisonment was in view of martyrdom. Paul’s assurance was the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ. A man inspired to write desires books. No sooner are the chosen ones of the Father regenerated by the Spirit and converted by the word than they are drawn by magnetic force to God’s chosen company.

The Christian life has not only its needs but its trials. In his needs, Paul turned to those upon whom he felt he could rely for help and encouragement; but to his disappointment, they turned away. Adversity exposes the weakness of our friendships. Paul’s friends were either ashamed of being associated with a prisoner, or they were afraid of what might happen to them. The same thing happened to Jesus Christ. He said, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions [one legion equaled 6,000] of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way? At that time Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. Then all the disciples left Him and fled” (Matt. 26:53-56). Job said, “All my associates abhor me, and those I love have turned against me” (Job 19:19). Neither Christ nor Job was suffering from paranoia. They were neither suspicious nor distrustful.

Having the care of all the “churches,” Paul had another trial in Alexander who did him much harm (II Tim. 4:14). This was probably the same Alexander that Paul had turned over to Satan trying to get revenge. The apostle mentioned him in his first letter to Timothy (I Tim. 1:19; Acts 19:33-34). Wicked men do not oppose our persons as much as our message.

The Christian life has not only its needs and trials, but thank God, it also has its assurances. Although men did not stand with the apostle Paul, he said, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (II Tim. 4:16-18).

There are two prepositions in the last two assurances: apo, meaning “from,” and eis, meaning “to.” “From” contemplates the removal from one place to a place where there is no evil. “To” denotes the place where no evil is known. Peter said, “Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Pet. 1:5).

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.