chicago tabernacle

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C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

If we don’t take the biblical position, we cease to be “Above all” means ultimately we need to live with relevant in the world.

great conviction.

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not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what 15 fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer Conviction: the state of being fully persuaded by the 16 have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is truth resulting in an unwavering willingness to stand there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the firm, sacrifice that belief. templefight, of theand living God. As based God hason said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the The Bible gives us four specific divisions that are words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and necessary for the Church to maintain its relevance and the command given by our Lord and Savior through for the Christian to maintain their loyalty to Christ. your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 2 Peter 3:1-14 1

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They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they RIGHTEOUSNESS AND deliberatelyWICKEDNESS: forget that long ago by God’s word the COMMONALITY heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water andtogether by water. Byunbelievers. these waters also do Do not be yoked with For what the world of that was deluged destroyed. righteousness andtime wickedness have inand common? 2 Corinthians By the same 6:14 word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, 2 Peter 3:1-18 4

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being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand WICKEDNESS: COMMONALITY years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do understand slowness. Instead he is patient with righteousness and wickedness have in common? you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to 2 Corinthians 6:14 come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:1-18 8

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But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything 17Therefore,“Come out from them and be separate, says the 18 done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father you, and you will of be people my sons ought and you destroyed in thistoway, what kind daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 2 Peter 3:1-18 10

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That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are Commonality looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. purposes So then, and dearactivity, friends, A relationship involving shared partnership. since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace There is no overlap as we live our public lives. with him. 2 Peter 3:1-14 13

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Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not Fellowship: be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace Close mutual relations and involvement. Deep spiritual and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus and emotional bonds. Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. Privately, we have no spiritual connection. 2 Peter 3:17-18 17

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The Last Days are Marked by a Mocking of the Second Coming FELLOWSHIP Above LIGHT all, youAND mustDARKNESS: understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he 2 Corinthians 6:14 promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 3

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CHRIST AND BELIAL: HARMONY What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or Scoffer: one that mocks, ridicules, reproaches in what does a believer have in common with an the language of contempt unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:15

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The Last Days are Marked by a Mocking of the CHRIST Second AND BELIAL: HARMONY Coming

"Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and what does a believer have in common with an all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." unbeliever? So shall it be!6:15 Amen. 2 Corinthians Revelation 1:7 C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

The Last Days are Marked by Rejecting God as Creator Harmony But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s

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word the heavens came into being and the earth was To be in unity, to sing and play the same notes. formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and There is no similarity in our celebration. destroyed. 2 Peter 3:5-6 6

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TEMPLE OF GOD AND TEMPLE OF The Last Days are Marked by Rejecting IDOLS: AGREEMENT

God as Creator

They replace the power and authority ofofthe What will agreement is there between the temple God creator with science. and idols? 2 Corinthians 6:16

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ReigningAgreement Creation Theories 1. Evolution To work out a joint agreement; to have the 2. Big Bang same opinion. 3. String Theory 4. Dark Matter The state of having no conflict. C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

Reigning Creation Theories EVOLUTION: The world is a purposeless creation, created by purposeless eternal material Three Reasons We Are Conflict CREATION: God is the firstWhy cause and HeIncreated a purposeful world 1. Thebeginning Image ofGod Godcreated - Genesis 1:27 and the earth. In the the heavens 2. The Gift Genesis 1:1of God - Ephesians 5:31-32 3. Purpose God - Genesis ForThe we are God’s of handiwork, created1:28 in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

Reigning Creation Theories BIG BANG: the beginning of the universe started with an unexplainable explosion

Be Loving. CREATION: God's all powerful creative voice began Be a Light. the universe Be a Lion. And God said, 'Let there be light,’ and there was light. Genesis 1:3 C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

Reigning Creation Theories “Because the law of gravity and the quantum vacuum exist, therefore, the universe will create itself from nothing.” Be Loving. -Stephen Hawking

Be a Light. Translated into a simpler, logical format: Be a Lion.

“Because something and something else exists, therefore, some other thing will create itself from nothing.” C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

Reigning Creation Theories STRING THEORY: The essence of the universe began with the sound through unseen vibrating particles of strings

Be Loving. CREATION: Divine vocal chords produced energy that created the universe Be a Light. The Son is the radiance glory and the exact BeofaGod’s Lion. representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:3 C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

Reigning Creation Theories DARK MATTER: A non-theistic, powerful, mysterious, eternal, first-cause with the capacity to create life, order and sustain all things

Be Loving. CREATION: "Mysterium Tremendum" is what the Be a Light. world calls dark matter, and that is God Be a Lion. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 C H I C A G O TA B E R N A C L E

The Spirit of the Age Mistakes God’s Patience for an Absence of Judgment By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and Be Loving. destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: But of the Lord will come Bethe a day Light. like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the Be a Lion. elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:7-10 7

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How Then Should We Live But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been Be Loving. forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be Be of a the Light. carried away by the error lawless and fall from your secure position. Be But a grow in the grace and Lion. knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:13,17-18 13

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The disciples in the early church were marked by Be Loving. courage and conviction. Today’s church is eroding Be a Light. by compromise and complacency.

Be a Lion.

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