Bible Doctrine

The gifts of the Spirit were given to benefit and bless one select group of people – the body of Christ, the redeemed sons and daughters of God alone! Not only do the charlatan faith healers decline to visit nearby hospitals and heal all the patients, those true servants of the Lord blessed with the gifts of healing do not do so either. I do not possess the gifts of healing, but even if I did, you would not find me in the nearest hospital, going from room to room hoping to be used of God to heal everybody there. The gifts of the Spirit are given “that the church might receive edifying” (See I Corinthians14:5).

“Even so you, for as much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, SEEK that you may excel to the edifying of the church” (See I Corinthians 14:12). And notice that FOUR TIMES Paul urges these Corinthians believers to “covet (desire) earnestly the best gifts” (I Corinthians 1`2:31), “and desire spiritual gifts,” (I Corinthians 14:1), “seek (spiritual gifts) that you may excel to the edifying of the church,” (I Corinthians 14:12), and “covet to prophesy” (I Corinthians 14:39). Why would Paul do this if he knew these gifts were to shortly disappear?

In I Corinthians 1:7, Paul alludes to these spiritual gifts being utilized right up until the return of the Lord! Why would God withdraw from the church those things that helped the church to grow and maintain their spiritual life?

A gross misunderstanding of I Corinthians 13:8-13 has led millions of believers to think that the Lord withdrew the gifts from the body of Christ either when the Bible was completed or the last apostle died! “But when that which is perfect is come,THEN (and only then) that which is in part shall be done away (I Corinthians 13:10). “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (as well as the various gifts of the Spirit) FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God UNTO A (SPIRITUALLY) PERFECT MAN, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight (deceitful scheming) of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, MAY GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS, WHICH IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES, ACCORDING TO THE EFFECTUAL WORKING IN THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART (EVERY MEMBER) MAKES INCREASE OF THE BODY UNTO THE EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE” (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Just as in the human body every member of that body has a particular and definite function, such as the hand, the eye, the ear, etc., so, too, in the body of Christ, every member has a definite and particular function. (See I Corinthians 12). In most denominational assemblies only a few of the members have a definite and easily identifiable function, usually the pastor, the musicians and a few deacons. It appears the only function the other members have is to financially support the pastor and pay the mortgage on the building, the electric bill, and what have you.Many of the Pentecostal assemblies exhibit what they call the gifts of the Spirit, but no one seems to have the gift of healing, the gift of miracles, the ability to accurately foretell the future, etc. Many of them are certain they have the gift of “tongues,” but it is always a “heavenly” language they speak. None ever speak Chinese, or Japanese, or Arabic.

Satan and his demonic hordes have marched through the ranks of Christianity for nineteen hundred years, leaving in their wake assemblies that our Lord’s apostles would find utterly unrecognizable. Satan has skillfully replaced God’s truth with his profound error. And he has replaced our Lord with another Jesus, as well as the Spirit of the Mighty God with another spirit, and the gospel with his own perverted gospel. (See 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 and 12-15). God help you to understand.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Actually there are several reasons one does not see the gifts of the Spirit operative and utilized in most assemblies of believers today. If the pastor of a given congregation convinces his assembly no such thing exists today, that will effectively stop the gifts from being operative in that assembly. Then again, many assemblies embrace so much error there is no way God will set His seal of approval on the same by manifesting the gifts through those congregations. The surfacing of these gifts say quite clearly, “The truth is taught here. Listen and learn!” In granting “signs and wonders” to be done in a given assembly, Jesus Christ is thereby “bearing witness to the word of His grace” (See Acts 14:3). He will not bear witness where error and false doctrine is taught. Is that all that surprising???“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Chrisy depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor (honorable purposes of use) and some for dishonor (such as chamber pots). Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter , he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (Therefore) flee also youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (See 2 Timothy 2:15, 19-22).

Again, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies (including mind, speech, actions) a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable to God (God will NOT use an unclean vessel), which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (for your life)” (See Romans 12:1-2).

Satan will use an unclean vessel, counterfeiting the “gifts” and swaying the minds of carnal believers. GOD ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT! Again, “And He (the Lord) said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man, for from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications,” etc. “All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (See Mark 7:20-23). And to such, Jesus says, “Depart from me, you who work iniquity..” He will NOT use a defiled mind or life. There must first be cleansing by the blood and a forsaking of anything that brings defilement.

And how do these modernist preachers miss the clear import and meaning of Paul’s words in the very beginning of the 1st Corinthian letter, the very letter in which he addresses the subject of the gifts of the Spirit? Notice: “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Jesus Christ (the One who administers the gifts of the Spirit), that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge (exhibiting such gifts as the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, prophecy, interpretation, etc.), even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you (by these gifts) to the end (THESE GIFTS OPERATIVE RIGHT UP TO THE POINT OF CHRIST’S RETURN), that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (See I Corinthians 1:4-8).

Paul then says, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (verse 10). Those who teach against the gifts of the Spirit, saying they ceased when the Bible was completed and/or when the last apostle died, cause far-reaching harm to the body of Christ and actually counter-work the Lord. They are going to need a lot of mercy extended to them by the Lord when they see Him face to face at their judgment. There is an old proverb that says, “Too many cooks spoil the broth!” And too many self-appointed preachers do havoc to the body of Christ and continually sow confusion among God’s people. God help you to understand.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“Magic – The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.”  Drop the word “apparently” from that dictionary definition and you will have the Bible definition of a miracle.  Of course a Bible miracle is mysterious to humans because God has yet to explain to us just how He performs a miracle.  We know, of course, that it is by supernatural means, but just how the miracle is performed has not yet been revealed to us.

God, in essence, is a Magician.  He did not cease performing His magical wonders two thousand years ago.  He performs them minute-by-minute around the world.  He maintains an active, on-going interest in His creation.  This is especially true regarding His spiritual sons and daughters.  In the lives of many of them He performs His miracles, His “magic” through operating what the Bible identifies as the “gifts of the Spirit.”  Satan seeks to nullify belief in God’s operating such by counterfeiting each and every one of those gifts.  And just as a counterfeit twenty dollar bill can look remarkably like a real twenty dollar bill, a counterfeit spiritual gift can sometimes appear on the surface to be the genuine article.  But where as counterfeit twenty dollar bills are much rarer than real twenty dollar bills, the opposite is true regarding the counterfeit gifts of the Spirit.  The counterfeits far outnumber the genuine gifts.  One can attend a “Pentecostal” church service and witness the counterfeit gift of “speaking in tongues” weekly.  But one can live a long life and never once witness the true gift of someone miraculously suddenly speaking in another language, having never learned a word of that language.

Many Christians believe the gifts of the Spirit ceased being given to believers on either one of two occasions: 1) These gifts ceased when the last word of the New Testament was written, or 2) These gifts ceased when the last apostle of our Lord died.  There is, of course, no scriptural foundation for such a belief.  The exact opposite is true.  These gifts did NOT cease with the completion of the writing of the Bible, nor did they cease when the last apostle died.  Many fail to realize just WHY the gifts of the Spirit were given in the first place.  The gifts are given for the edification and benefit of believers, to build them up in the faith and to assist them in overcoming the wiles of the devil.  Why would God then withdraw such beneficial help and assistance??

In the 12th chapter of I Corinthians, verse 1, Paul writes: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”  If believers would just allow Paul to speak on this issue, listening to this apostle instead of some well-meaning but mistaken pastor or preacher, they would quickly see that the gifts of the Spirit are valid yet today.  Paul then writes, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit (via these spiritual gifts) is given for the common good” (I Corinthians 12:7, NIV).  If the church was blessed and edified by the gifts of the Spirit two thousand years ago, why wouldn’t the same hold true today?  Paul concludes this rather lengthy discourse on the gifts of the Spirit in the 12th chapter of I Corinthians by saying, “But covet (desire) earnestly the best gifts” (verse 31).  And then, in the very first verse of I Corinthians 14, Paul urges believers to “follow after charity (love) AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS!”  And again in the 12th verse of this chapter Paul says, “forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, SEEK that you may excel to the edifying of the church.”

Why would Paul urge these believers to “covet earnestly, desire, seek” these spiritual gifts if they were to soon pass away?  Would he not then be saying the opposite, playing down these gifts, cautioning the church that these gifts would soon be withdrawn?  And, of course, that is exactly what some think Paul does in the 13th chapter of I Corinthians, for does he not say in that 13th chapter that these gifts shall “fail…shall cease…shall vanish away?”  In another article we closely examine that 13th chapter and try to discern if Paul really was sounding the warning that these gifts were about to be withdrawn from God’s church.  Folks might be a little bit surprised at what is revealed therein.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Have you ever noticed the one thing that caused the apostle Paul the most mental anguish and distress? He places his finger squarely on it in 2 Corinthians 12, verse 21, “When I come again, my God will humble me among you and that I shall bewail many WHICH HAVE SINNED already, and have not repented….” SIN, unforsaken and unrepented in a congregation Paul had nurtured caused him the greatest anguish and grief! Such behavior prompted Paul to even question their conversion, whether they had ever truly been justified and granted God’s HOLY Spirit. “Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, HOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU, except you be reprobates?” (See 2 Corinthians 13:5). Paul feared that many in the Corinthian assembly were false converts, false brethren without, God’s powerful Holy Spirit given to prevent them from sinning, enabling them to live holy lives.

There are many such deceived persons in the various “Christian” assemblies even today, thinking Paul himself was the servant of sin due to their gross misunderstanding of what Paul wrote in Romans 6, 7 and 8. They are utterly blind to the many statements made by Paul in all of his epistles that clearly reveal that this apostle was a supremely godly man. They portray Paul as a defeated Christian, one who struggled continuously against the temptation to sin and usually losing the battle in that struggle. They have no comprehension and understanding at all of Romans 7, and will use their erroneous interpretation of that chapter to excuse their continued sinning while urging others to adopt their view, assuring them believers cannot stop sinning, pointing out, “See, even this mighty apostle obviously sinned every day of his life!” Unable to discern the voice of the Shepherd, they flee from those who speak and teach the truth! Try enlightening them to the truth and they will flee from you and refuse to hear your words of truth and wisdom. Beware of false brethren as they infiltrate themselves in many assemblies. A word to the wise……

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

The more I visit YouTube and view videos posted by various and sundry YouTubers, who claim they have been visited personally by Jesus Christ, or have been to hell and back – literally – or to heaven and back – literally, or listen to preacher after preacher expound on various scriptures, one saying one thing and another so confidently saying the opposite, the more I realize how inspired is the scripture warning that Satan deceives THE WHOLE WORLD! Since I am not from another planet, I realize that includes ME! Of course, I realized that truth long, long ago. And it was then I knew it was imperative that I allow Jesus Christ to be the absolute LORD of my life and that I study the scriptures diligently – ALL OF THEM – in order to discern truth from error.

Every day I generally have two or three, or more, persons visit my Facebook page asking that I confirm them as “friends,” so that they can receive all that I write. I now have over 3,000 such “friends.” Of course, many of them then have anywhere from a few to hundreds, or even thousands of friends, so that my articles are read by multiplied thousands around the world. (I was just communicating with a gentleman from Ireland). This is just one more reason why I believe my life course will last somewhat longer – maybe much longer.

Through my articles I have a greater and more lasting influence than some pastor who speaks in person to a congregation of several hundred two or three times a week. Via the internet I speak, through my articles, around the clock, 24/7 to many thousands around the world. The knowledge that this is so compels me to prove, re-prove and prove once again that all that I write is in total agreement with the Word of God.

Many of the articles I now post to my Facebook page are articles I posted there a year or more ago. Some of them I have expanded, sometimes including more scripture references proving what I have written is in total agreement with God’s Word. I trust you all are blessed by reading these articles.

Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

The vital key to understanding the scriptures correctly is not just given one time in the Bible in some obscure passage in the middle of one of the prophet’s writings. This key is given over and over and over again throughout the scriptures in both Old and New Testaments. Omit this key, fail to use this key in your attempt to unlock the scriptures and gain a good understanding of what God says to us in the book we call The Holy Bible and, for the most part, the scriptures will seem contradictory to your mind at times and many scriptures will simply be unintelligible. Here is that key:

“As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us, yet made we not our prayers before the Lord our God THAT WE MIGHT TURN FROM OUR INIQUITIES, AND UNDERSTAND THY TRUTH” (See Daniel 9:13). Trying to understand God’s truth while permitting sin to remain in your daily life is as foolish as trying to empty the ocean by filling a teacup with its waters and then pouring the contents on the dry ground.

“You, therefore beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also , BEING LED AWAY WITH THE ERROR OF THE WICKED, fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). Those who do wickedly, by continuing to sin day in and day out, are led by Satan into embracing gross error all the while thinking they have and know the truth!

“You might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, ADD TO YOUR FAITH virtue (moral excellence), and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance (self control), and to temperance patience (fortitude), and to patience GODLINESS, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity (love). FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU AND ABOUND, THEY MAKE YOU THAT YOU SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (See 2 Peter 1:4-8).

Many, who present themselves as spiritual guides to others have yet to escape the corrupting influence of the world. The lusts that drew them into gross sin prior to their belief in Jesus Christ still lures them into the same old sins of the flesh today years, even decades after their supposed conversion. Been there. Done that. They have not added to their faith in Jesus Christ. They are not godly and they know they are not godly. Self control, virtue and godliness does not abound in their lives. Such attributes are woefully absent. They, therefore, remain unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious, but unto them which be disobedient (continuing to give in to their lusts and sinning), the stone which the builders (the Jewish elders and religious leaders) disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner (the Chief Cornerstone), and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, EVEN TO THEM WHICH STUMBLE AT THE WORD, BEING DISOBEDIENT, WHERE UNTO ALSO THEY WERE APPOINTED” (1 Peter 2:7-8) It is a divinely appointed spiritual LAW that if you are disobedient to God’s Word, continuing to allow any manner of continued sin in your life, you will stumble at what God’s Word actually says. You will believe it is saying one thing when in actuality it is saying something quite different from what you believe to be the truth. This law is inexhorable and as sure as the law of gravity. Continue to sin and the scriptures will remain locked to your understanding. You will actually think the scriptures teach that a fully surrendered believer cannot stop sinning, that God never intended to purge your sins via the cross but only to forgive your sins while leaving you in the bondage of sin! What a devil’s doctrine that is.

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the same man was JUST AND DEVOUT (a righteous, godly worshiper of God), waiting for the consolation of Israel (the Messiah’s arrival), and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the anointed Messiah – Jesus)” (Luke 2:25-26). Notice, godliness brought revelation. The two are conjoined twins. Had Simeon just been a religious man, but a man still allowing sin to rule in his life, he would never have lived long enough to hold the infant Jesus in his arms. In all probability Simeon was of great age at this time. (See Luke 2:27-35).

“His secret is with the righteous” (See Proverbs 3:32). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). The knowledge granted those who walk in holiness and purity of mind and life is a good understanding of God’s Word. The hidden things of the Lord are opened to the minds of the righteous ones.

“You through your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies” (See Psalm 119:98). “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness” (Psalm 112:4). “Light is sown for the righteous” (Psalm 97:11).

“I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you” (See Isaiah 43:12). God warns that Satan deceives THE WHOLE WORLD! (See Revelation 12:9). Satan is the strange god who taints and oftentimes engulfs entire denominations of Christianity with his deceptions and errors. Don’t sell him short. He deceived the wisest man who ever lived into wholeheartedly embracing idolatry. “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel….he kept not that which the Lord commanded…And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon….And the Lord stirred him up another adversary” (See I Kings 9-10, 14 and 23). Satan was able to reach into the very nucleus of Jesus Christ’s apostles and lure one of them (Judas) into betraying the Lord! Peter warns every believer, “Be sober, be vigilant, because YOUR adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). Are you so blind and arrogant that you think, “Well, he might be able to deceive Solomon and Judas, but not ME!” Well, if that is what you think, you are in all likelihood, already held firmly in Satan’s clutches. God help you to understand is my prayer.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley,

In order to understand the scriptures correctly a redeemed believer will have to abandon any and all known sin in their life in order for the Holy Spirit to shine the light of the truth of what is said in the scriptures as the fantastic blinding power of Satan continues to blind the mind to the truth if that person has unrepented of and unforsaken sin in their life. That is a spiritual law as inflexible and fixed as any law of physics. The apostle Peter warned that disobedient believers, those believers who continue to sin, are divinely appointed to stumble at God’s Word unable to see what the scriptures actually teach. (See I Peter 2:8). That is WHY many preachers, evangelists, Bible teachers, pastors, etc. are unable to see the truths of scripture. They have some unrepented of and unforsaken sin in their life which effectively prevents the Holy Spirit from illuminating their minds as Satan is permitted to continue operating his blinding POWER in the minds of such persons. In fact, many denominational churches teach that it is impossible for a believer to stop sinning! All such denominations, therefore, embrace gross error in some, if not most of their doctrines. The Word of God cannot be broken. It says what it says and means what it says. (See John 10:35).

Peter further warned that there would be false preachers and teachers in Christianity and that the majority would follow such, causing the way of truth to be evil spoken of. (See 2 Peter 2:1-2). And what is the one common trait among all such? THEY CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN! (See 2 Peter 2:14). They promise their followers liberty from God’s law, while they themselves are servants of corruption. (See 2 Peter 2:19).

Another reason many cannot see the truth is their pride gets in the way. When confronted with a doctrine diametrically opposed to what they already believe, they automatically think they are being confronted with false doctrine. Their pride will not allow them to even entertain the idea that it is their self that is in error.

It shakes their faith to even think for a minute that they have been horribly mistaken and wrong in some basic belief they have held to be true all their lives. And, of course, with pastors they also realize that if they are wrong in some basic doctrine then they have passed along their error to their congregations. How do you get in the pulpit at the next service and tell your congregation, “Hey, we are trying to keep holy a day God never made holy!”

One other satanic device the devil uses to keep pastors in error is the thought he interjects into their mind that all these great preachers of the present and past could not possibly be in error in this most basic doctrine. There is just no way this could be. The majority has to be right in such matters. The few must be in error.There are going to be a lot of surprised and dumbfounded believers at the judgment of the believer. Instead of finding themselves complimented and praised they will find that a stern Jesus Christ will be castigating them for their errors. They may not lose their eternal lives but they will have their rewards greatly diminished if not totally non-existent.

I arise in the wee hours of the morning day in and day out, month in and month out, year in and year out, proving and re-proving all of my beliefs as I know what it feels like to stand in front of a stern judge. I want the only Judge that really counts to look at me with a fond gaze and say, “Well done, faithful one, well done.” God help you to understand.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),Donald Wiley

There is a very interesting truth given in the “mount of transfiguration” account that many seem to read right over and it never dawns on them what marvelous information or enlightenment is given in that account. The disciples instantly recognized the two persons standing beside Jesus in that vision as being Moses and Elijah. How could this be? These disciples had never seen these two men before, nor had they seen portraits of them (such images were forbidden in ancient Judaism). Moses had died approximately 1500 years before and Elijah’s ministry had occurred about 700 years before this vision, yet Peter instantly knew this was Moses and Elijah. Did they have little name tags? Did they wave and say, “Hi! I’m Moses,” and “Hey, what’s happening? I’m Elijah.”

Paul writes in I Corinthians 13 that “now (in this life) we see through a (looking) glass (a mirror) darkly (vaguely), but THEN (when resurrected) face to face. Now I know in part (our spiritual knowledge will ever remain incomplete in this present life), but then shall I know even also as I am known.” (verse 12). And, I believe this includes instantly recognizing not only fellow believers we knew in this life, but instantly recognizing believers and servants of God whom we never met in this life. The moment we see Mary we will recognize that this was the mother of Jesus! King David won’t have to introduce himself to us, nor will we have to introduce ourselves to him!

The scriptures teach that we are all brethren in the Lord. Isn’t it ludicrous to think that brothers and sisters wouldn’t recognize one another? True, the marriage bond ends at the grave, but that doesn’t mean those who were husband and wife in this life will not recognize one another upon being resurrected. It simply means they will no longer have the relationship of marriage.

Yes, we will meet again, and the sunny day on which we meet will be resurrection morning. Talk about a reunion. That will be a reunion unique in all human history. And, to top it off, we will never ever part again. And who do we have to thank for that – Jesus our Lord!

Christ’s Thankful Servant,

Donald Wiley

There is a very interesting truth given in the “mount of transfiguration” account that many seem to read right over and it never dawns on them what marvelous information or enlightenment is given in that account. The disciples instantly recognized the two persons standing beside Jesus in that vision as being Moses and Elijah. How could this be? These disciples had never seen these two men before, nor had they seen portraits of them (such images were forbidden in ancient Judaism). Moses had died approximately 1500 years before and Elijah’s ministry had occurred about 700 years before this vision, yet Peter instantly knew this was Moses and Elijah. Did they have little name tags? Did they wave and say, “Hi! I’m Moses,” and “Hey, what’s happening? I’m Elijah.”

Paul writes in I Corinthians 13 that “now (in this life) we see through a (looking) glass (a mirror) darkly (vaguely), but THEN (when resurrected) face to face. Now I know in part (our spiritual knowledge will ever remain incomplete in this present life), but then shall I know even also as I am known.” (verse 12). And, I believe this includes instantly recognizing not only fellow believers we knew in this life, but instantly recognizing believers and servants of God whom we never met in this life. The moment we see Mary we will recognize that this was the mother of Jesus! King David won’t have to introduce himself to us, nor will we have to introduce ourselves to him!

The scriptures teach that we are all brethren in the Lord. Isn’t it ludicrous to think that brothers and sisters wouldn’t recognize one another? True, the marriage bond ends at the grave, but that doesn’t mean those who were husband and wife in this life will not recognize one another upon being resurrected. It simply means they will no longer have the relationship of marriage.

Yes, we will meet again, and the sunny day on which we meet will be resurrection morning. Talk about a reunion. That will be a reunion unique in all human history. And, to top it off, we will never ever part again. And who do we have to thank for that – Jesus our Lord!

Christ’s Thankful Servant,

Donald Wiley