Protected: Jeanette Romero - Ph.D.C.C.
Doctor of Philosophy – Christian Counseling (Ph.D.)
“And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”. Luke 24:32 (NKJV)
Jeanette Virtual Learning Classroom
Welcome to the Doctorate Program Jeanette Romero!
1. Biographical data
Jeanette Romero
Student Identification Number [33CT-DCCE3467-02]
2. Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy – Christian Counseling (Ph.D.)
3. Start date
September 26, 2019
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
Congratulations!! Dear student Min. Jeanette Romero ID # [33CT-DCCE3467-02], Min. Jeanette, Your account with the Christian Union Theological Seminary has been given a discount!!!
IMPORTANT!!! EVERY TIME THIS RED CIRCLE APPEARS IN THIS AREA, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS A BOOK ASSIGNED FOR YOUR STUDY. YOU MUST ACQUIRE IT!
Assignment!! Dear student Jeanette Romero ID # [33CT-DCCE3467-02], as part of your study program in the field of Christian Counseling, you must acquire the book MCC 370 – Counseling and Christianity: Five Approaches – to purchase this book click on the Red Circle.
Doctor of Philosophy – Christian Counseling (Ph.D.) program is to expand the student’s practical knowledge in Christian Counseling. The program consists of courses that allow students to prepare, and have a better understanding of the foundations of Christian Counseling. The Doctor of Ministry in Christian Counseling program offers students advanced training in faith-based Christian Counseling. The program consists of ten online Module/Classes, with emphasis in key Christian Education books, key teaching, and foundational educational preparation courses; which are the equivalent of thirty hours of study; and Textbook requirements, equivalent of twenty hours of study. Texts should be selected from the list of authorized textbooks listed below. Although all textbooks can be ordered simultaneously, assignments must be submitted one at a time. Once a textbook is read, the 10 to 20 page paper describing what is read should be presented for qualification. A four to five page document is required for each module taken at the seminary site in Holyoke. We are simply asking the students for a summary of the material. Review the How to present your work card in relation to the presentation of work.
Your Professors:
Bishop Dr. Juan E. Fernández, Ph.D. – drfernandez@stucedu.org
Eduardo M. Bustamante, Ph.D. – drbustamante@stucedu.org
Rev. Dra. Sabina Fernández – drasabinaf@stucedu.org
Rev. Dr. Salomón A. Ballestero – drballestero@stucedu.org
Rev. Dr. Pedro J. González – drgonzalez@stucedu.org
Rev. Dr. Angel Machuca – dr.amachuca@stucedu.org
Master in Christian Education Curriculum
Code __________________________ Name_______________________________Hours
Biblical Theology Ministerial _______________________15
DT-401 The Call to Ministry_______________________________________03
DT-402 The Call is According to the Heart of God______________________03
DT-403 The Call is in accordance with His Purpose_____________________03
DT-404 The Glory of the Call______________________________________03
DT-405 The Vision of the Call to the Ministry_________________________ 03
Biblical Exposition _______________________________15
DT-406 The Call is in Accordance with Its Origin______________________03
DT-201 The Theology of Ministry__________________________________03
DT-301 Psalm 90: An Exposition * _________________________________03
BCC-102 Satanology: The Doctrine of Satan *________________________03
DT-103 Angelology: The Doctrine of the Elect Angels I & II* ____________03
AT Biblical Studies _______________________________15
DT-360 Old Testament Survey _____________________________________03
DT-361 Survey Book of Jonah * ___________________________________03
DT-104 Demonology: The Doctrine of Fallen Angels * _________________ 03
DT-363 Survey Book of Joel * _____________________________________03
DT-364 Eschatology – The Seventy Sevens of Daniel* __________________03
Biblical Studies NT _______________________________15
DT-701 Survey of the New Testament________________________________03
DT-702 Survey of the Book of James________________________________03
DT-703 The Seven Churches of Revelation *__________________________03
DT-704 Survey Book of Mark * ____________________________________03
DT-705 Jesus and the Samaritan Woman: John 4:1-42 * ________________ 03
Total___________________________________________ 60
Any student seeking to enroll in the D.T program must have completed an approved Master’s program or at least 60 hours semester credits.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT YOUR CLASSES!!!
Welcome to your Virtual Learning Classroom. On this page the classes that make up your study program will appear. From here you will proceed to your first class. At the end of each class you will be taking a quiz, and you also be required to type a review assessment essay of what you have learned along with your own research on the subject matter. The assessments are required and have a bearing on the credits you receive. Your assessment essay must be 700 – 1000 words relative to the length or content of the class you are going through. YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THIS IN YOUR OWN WORDS, giving your additional insights to the subject through your Biblical (using your bible) research.
IMPORTANT: You should write your essays on your personal computer using editing software such as MS Word or comparable. Afterward, copy and paste your essay into the essay field for each class in your study program. This way you have a backup in case your essay is lost due to a technical glitch.
In addition, you will have to complete all classrooms that articulate with credit hours and essay points. This must be done for all your corresponding Degrees to be accredited by CUTS with transcripts and all documents that pertain.
When you submit an exam or quiz, and we receive your review assessment essay, the next class will be posted.
Assignment for classes are given during the course of studies
Assignment for this class the student must read Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective by Siang-Yang Tan
TO SEE THE CLASSES PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLES
PLEASE USE THE PASSWORD IN RED TO ENTER MODULE BCC-301. – MDS#301
STUDY MODULE – BCC-301 PSALM 90: EXPOSURE
FAVOR DE USAR LA PASSWORD EN ROJO PARA ENTRAR AL MODULO MS105. – MDS#105
MODULO MS105 CRISTOLOGÍA- LOS TRES (3) MILAGROS MESIÁNICOS
TS103 Angelología – La Doctrina de los Ángeles Elegidos Introducción
Profesor:
Bishop Dr. Juan E. Fernández.
drfernandez@stucedu.org
Estimado estudiante, ¡Bienvenido al programa de Doctorado en Consejería Cristiana! El seminario toma muy en serio el adiestramiento y la capacitación de los candidatos al ministerio. Yo, Profesor Dr. Juan Fernández, al igual que mis otros colegas, estaremos impartiendo las enseñanzas necesarias para que puedas desarrollar con éxito tu ministerio como Ministro del Santo Evangelio de Jesucristo en el campo de la consejería. En esta primera clase del Currículo de estudio, vamos a tocar información sobre los ángeles, [TS103 ANGELOLOGÍA – LA DOCTRINA DE LOS ÁNGELES ELEGIDOS] luego de cada clase, estarás tomando pequeños exámenes o quiezz, para estar seguro de que entiendes el material expuesto. Tranquila, no todas las unidades serán largas, algunas actualmente serán solo de una o dos páginas, otras serán un poco más largas, pero todas necesarias para darte la mejor educación ministerial disponible en la actualidad. No te preocupes, estaremos contigo a lo largo del camino hasta verte completar el currículo exitosamente, ¡y graduarte para el desempeño de este importante ministerio! Dios te bendiga. ¡No te soltaremos en nuestras oraciones!
Cualquier pregunta que tengas, puedes escribir al Dr. Fernández a su correo electrónico: drfernandez@stucedu.org
TS103 ANGELOLOGÍA – LA DOCTRINA DE LOS ÁNGELES ELEGIDOS
Vestíos de toda la armadura de Dios, para que podáis estar firmes contra las asechanzas del diablo. Porque no tenemos lucha contra sangre y carne, sino contra principados, contra potestades, contra los gobernadores de las tinieblas de este siglo, contra huestes espirituales de maldad en las regiones celestes. Efesios 6:11-12 (RVR1960)
INTRODUCCIÓN
Este estudio de la Angelología es un estudio profundo de los ángeles de Dios. Eso es, lo que la Biblia enseña con relación a los ángeles buenos, esos ángeles que no cayeron. Teológicamente, esta área de estudio es conocida como Angelología, o Doctrina de los Ángeles. Hay tres divisiones principales en la Angelología. Primero, tenemos la Angelología Propia, lo cual es la Doctrina de los Ángeles que no cayeron. Segundo, tenemos Satanologia, la cual es la Doctrina, o estudio de Satanás. Y tercero, Demonología, la cual es la Doctrina o estudio de los Ángeles Caídos. Esta clase no tratara ni con Satanologia ni Demonología, sino solo con Angelología Propia o la Doctrina de los Ángeles no Caídos.
Hay varios puntos de vistas erróneos con relación a los ángeles. Por ejemplo, ha sido enseñado, que los ángeles son meramente emanaciones transitorias de Dios, o emanaciones permanente de parte de Dios. También ha sido enseñado, que los ángeles son seres humanos glorificados; eso es, que cuando un creyente muere y va al cielo, el entonces se convierte en un ángel. Entre personas no creyentes, una enseñanza común es que los ángeles no existen. Ellos creen que Jesús menciono ángeles, solo para acomodarse a sí mismo en el pensamiento popular de su época, pero que el sabia más que eso.
A los Ángeles no Caídos, se le dan dos títulos específicos en las Escrituras. Ellos son llamados los Ángeles Elegidos (1 Tim. 5:21), Lo cual significa que ellos eligieron, o fueron elegidos para no caer, y han sido confirmados en sus santidades. Después que Dios creo a Adam y Eva, El los sometió a una prueba en el Jardín del Edén, para ver si ellos obedecen o desobedecen. En la misma manera, después que Dios creo a los ángeles, El entonces los sometió a una prueba para ver si ellos serían obedientes o desobedientes. Una tercera parte de los ángeles escogió ser desobedientes a Dios, y seguir a Satanás en su rebelión y caída; esos ángeles se convirtieron en demonios. Pero dos (2) terceras partes de los ángeles, escogió no seguir a Satanás, y ellos han sido confirmados en sus estados de santidad. “Santidad confirmada”, significa que ellos ya no están en la posición de caer ni ser tentados; el periodo de prueba para ellos ya termino, y ellos son ahora encapases de pecar. Cuando los creyentes reciban sus cuerpos glorificados, ellos tampoco estarán en la posición de pecar ni ser tentados; Dios es el único que siempre ha sido firme en Su Santidad; Él es, y siempre ha sido incapaz de pecar. Estos ángeles que no cayeron ya no están en la posición de caer ni ser tentados, por eso son llamados Ángeles elegidos.
El segundo título para los ángeles no caídos es: Santos ángeles, en contraste a los ángeles caídos los cuales son malvados y son profanos (Mat. 8:28; Lucas 9:26)
I. LA EXISTENCIA DE LOS ÁNGELES
¿Enseña la Biblia en realidad la existencia de los ángeles? Los ángeles son mencionados en Las Escrituras 273 veces, en 33 de los 66 libros de la Biblia, lo que significa que la mitad de los libros de la Biblia mencionan a los ángeles.
En el Antiguo Testamento, los ángeles son mencionados 108 veces en 18 libros: Génesis, Éxodos, Números, Jueces, I y II de Samuel, I y II de Reyes, I y II de Crónicas, Job, Salmos, Eclesiastés, Isaías, Ezequiel, Daniel, Oseas, y Zacarías. Se debería notar, que en el Antiguo Testamento los ángeles, no solo son mencionados en los libros de tipo apocalípticos, sino también en los proféticos, los históricos, y los libros poéticos.
En el Nuevo Testamento, los ángeles son mencionados un total de 165 veces en 15 libros: Mateo, Marcos, Lucas, Juan, Hecho, Romanos, II Corintios, Gálatas, Colosenses, II Tesalonicenses, I Timoteo, I y II de Pedro, Judas, y Apocalipsis. Al igual que el Antiguo Testamento, todo tipo de literatura del Nuevo testamento menciona la existencia de los ángeles. Es obvio entonces, que las Escrituras claramente enseñan la existencia de los ángeles, desde el primer libro, Génesis, al último libro, Apocalipsis. Los ángeles no son solo mencionados en los libros antiguos más primitivos, sino también en los libros más modernos, la mención de ángeles, esta dispersada a través de todas Las Escrituras. En otras palabras, la mención de ángeles no es peculiar a un solo autor, ni es peculiar a autores visionarios solamente.
Además, el mismo Jesús claramente enseño la existencia de los ángeles y se refirió a ellos en cada uno de los evangelio (Mat. 13:39, 41, 49,; Marcos 12:25; Lucas 12:8-9;, Juan 1:51) Si El enseño la existencia de los ángeles, ¿qué opciones tienen los creyentes a la luz de lo que enseña el Señor Jesucristo? Tenemos cincos opciones.
La Primera: que Jesús fue engañado. Que aunque los ángeles no existan, Él enseño la existencia de los ángeles y creyó en la existencia de los ángeles. Esto desde luego, significaría que él estaba engañado. Hay algunas personas que creen esto.
La Segunda: Que Jesús estaba engañando. Que Jesús mismo no creía en los ángeles, y que él sabía que los ángeles no existen; así que entonces, Él estaba meramente siendo engañador. A algunas personas les han enseñado esto también.
La Tercera: Que Jesús estaba meramente acomodándose así mismo. El concepto de la “acomodación” trata de ensenar que Jesús sabía más que eso. Que El no trataba de ser engañador, sino que simplemente estaba acomodando sus enseñanzas a las creencias comunes de sus días, para que la gente entendiera la verdad principal de lo que Él estaba diciendo. Quizás esto pareciera un poco mejor que decir que Él era engañoso, pero actualmente, al final suena igual esto también. Esto era una atentado de ser mas eufemístico.
La Cuarta: Que Jesús nunca menciono la existencia de ángeles, ni tampoco enseño la existencia de ángeles; sino que los escritores de los Evangelios pusieron estas palabras en Su boca. Por lo tanto, no era Jesús quien estaba engañando, eran los escritores de los Evangelio. Pero si no se puede tener confianza en los Evangelios cuando ellos hablan de Jesús sobre los ángeles, como se puede confiar en los Evangelios, cuando hablen de Jesús en cualquier otra cosa.
La única opción válida es la Quinta: Que Jesús en verdad si creía en la existencia de los ángeles, y por lo tanto, enseño su existencia, porque los ángeles si existen.
II. LOS NOMBRES DE LOS ÁNGELES
La Biblia utiliza varios nombres para referirse a estos seres celestiales.
El primer nombre, y el que se usa más comúnmente es: ángel. La palabra para ángel en ambos idiomas, el hebreo y el griego significa la misma cosa, “un mensajero” y es usada para mensajeros humanos (Gen. 32:3) y para mensajeros divinos. (Gen. 32:1). Cuando se usa para mensajeros divino, se refiere a un ángel. Este nombre enfatiza la oficina y la función. La oficina es esa de ser un mensajero, y la función es esa de servicio. El termino ángel es el termino general usado para todos los seres celestiales. Es usado para seres celestiales de baja y alta categoría, pero la referencia más común es para seres celestiales de baja categoría. Es un título descriptivo de una oficina o función de servicio. (Heb. 1:7).
Un segundo nombre es Los hijos de Dios. Este es estrictamente un nombre del Antiguo testamento. En hebreo es Bnei Elohim. En el Antiguo Testamento, el termino hijos de Dios, es siempre en plural y siempre se refiere a ángeles (Gen. 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7).
Un tercer nombre es los hijos del poderoso. Esto es similar a los hijos de Dios, porque Dios es el poderoso, (Salmos 29:1;89:6)
Un cuarto nombre es ese de los santos, lo cual enfatiza su estado no caídos en oposición a los ángeles que cayeron y se convirtieron en demonios, (Salmos 89:5, 7; Dan. 4:13,17; 8:13)
Un quinto nombre es vigilante, el cual enfatiza sus funciones de observantes. Ellos son observadores para ver que la voluntad de Dios está siendo llevada a cabo. Ellos son observadores para asegurarse que si se está llevando. (Dan. 4:13, 17)
Un sexto nombre es atalayas o guardas, el cual enfatiza sus funciones de observación. Mientras que vigilante enfatiza puramente el aspecto de observación, para ver que la voluntad de Dios se está llevando a cabo, atalayas también lleva el concepto de guardia Estos son atalayas en el sentido de ser vigias sobre una situación como guardianes. (Isaías 62:6)
Un séptimo nombre es espíritus, porque los ángeles son seres espirituales. (Heb. 1:14)
Un octavo nombre es estrella. Con la excepción de Número 24:17, Siempre que la palabra estrella es usada simbólicamente, is siempre un símbolo para ángel. (Job 38:7; Rev. 1:20; 9:1 12:4).
Un noveno nombre es ministros. Este nombre enfatiza el hecho de que los ángeles son ministros de Dios, llevando a cabo su voluntad. (Salmos103:21; 104:4; Heb.1:7).
Un décimo nombre para ángeles es huestes, una traducción inglesa de la palabra hebrea que significa “ejercito” La huestes compone el ejército celestial de Dios. Es por eso que Dios es muchas veces referido como Jehová de los ejércitos, o Señor de las huestes, porque Él es el Señor de los ejércitos angelicales, o huestes celestiales. (1 Reyes 22:19; Salmos 103:20-21; 148:2).
Un undécimo nombre para ángeles es carros de Dios, enfatizando su rapidez en llevar a cabo la voluntad de Dios. (2 Reyes 6:16-17; Salmos 68:17; Zac. 6:1-8).
Un duodécimo nombre para ángeles es elohim, una palabra que significa “dios”. Elohim es usada para el único Dios verdadero, y elohim para muchos dioses falsos. Es también usada para ángeles, porque los ángeles son los representantes de Dios y tienen la autoridad delegada por Dios para hablar en su nombre. Porque hablan autoritativamente en nombre de Dios, ellos son referidos como elohim. Esto es visto comparando Salmos 8:5 con Hebreos 2:7.
III. LA CREACIÓN DE LOS ÁNGELES
Concerniente a la creación de los ángeles, cuatro cosa deberían ser mencionadas
A. El Hecho De Su Creación
La primera cosa es el hecho de su creación. El hecho de que los ángeles son seres creados es ensenado en Colosenses 1:16, donde tres cosas son descubiertas. Primero, todos los ángeles fueron creados simultáneamente; Dios no creo algunos ángeles en una ocasión, y más ángeles en otra ocasión. Segundo, entonces, el número de ángeles no aumentó, porque Dios no está continuamente creando nuevos ángeles. Y tercero, tampoco el número de ángeles disminuye. Los ángeles, una vez que son creado, existen por siempre; ellos no pueden ser destruidos.
B. El Tiempo De Su Creación
La segunda cosa acerca de la creación de los ángeles es el tiempo. De acuerdo a Job 38:4-7, los ángeles ya estaban en existencias cuando Dios creo los cielos y la tierra en Génesis 1:1. Así que los ángeles fueron creados antes de la creación del universo material. La existencia de los ángeles precede al universo por algun espacio de tiempo desconocido. Por lo tanto, ellos también preceden al hombre por algún espacio de tiempo desconocido. No es sabido cuanto tiempo antes de Génesis 1:1 ellos fueron creado, pero sí que ya estaban.
C. Su Poder De Elección Contraria
La tercera cosa acerca de la creación de los ángeles, es su estado cuando ellos fueron creados; ellos fueron creados santos, con el poder de elección contraria (Marcos 8:38; Judas 6). El poder de elección contraria significa la habilidad de escoger contrario a su naturaleza, o sea libre albedrío. Ellos tenían la habilidad para hacer una elección impía, lo cual una tercera parte de ellos eventualmente tomaron, y se convirtieron en demonios. La otra dos tercera parte más tarde fueron confirmados en sus santidades, y por lo tanto, ya no pueden escoger pecar, ya no tienen el poder de elección contraria.
D. Su Posición
La cuarta cosa acerca de la creación de los ángeles, es su posición. Dos cosas deberían ser notadas: primero, ellos son inferiores a Jesucristo en cuanto a Su deidad (Heb. 1:4-2:3), y ellos también son inferiores a Él en cuanto a Su humanidad (Heb. 2:5-8). Ellos son inferiores al Dios-Hombre, el Señor Jesucristo, el Mesías. Segundo, ellos son superiores al hombre común, porque son seres más elevados que el hombre. (Salmos 8:4-5; Heb. 2:5-7; 2 Pedros 2:11).
IV. EL NÚMERO DE LOS ÁNGELES
¿Cuantos ángeles hay? Hay varios pasajes en la Escrituras que dan una idea concerniente al número de ángeles. Deuteronomio 33:2 menciona diez mil ángeles; 2 Reyes 6:17: toda una montaña… llena de ángeles; Salmos 68:17: veinte mil ángeles mas miles sobre miles; Daniel 7:10: miles de miles, y diez mil por diez mil; Mateo 26:53: doce legiones de ángeles, una legión consiste de tres mli a seis mil individuos; Lucas 2:13: una multitud de las huestes celestiales; Apoc. 5:11: diez mil por diez mil, y miles de miles.
La mayor respuesta en cuanto al número de ángeles que existen, es la que nos da Hebreos 12:22: innumerables huestes de ángeles. ¿Cuantos ángeles hay? Ellos son innumerables, miríadas y miríadas. Por el concepto de guardianes, siempre hay por lo menos tantos ángeles como hay seres humanos sobre la faz de la tierra. Esto también muy bien puede significar, que hay tantos ángeles como hay seres humanos que existen o jamás existieron, esto es en combinación o en totalidad.
V. LA MORADA, ESFERA, Y APARIENCIA DE LOS ÁNGELES
En esta área de estudio tres cosas deberían ser discutidas: La morada angelical, la esfera angelical, y la apariencia de los ángeles.
A. La morada angelical
Donde moran los ángeles? La morada de los ángeles es el cielo. Alli es donde ellos habitan de acuerdo a Mateo 18:10, sus ángeles en el cielo; Mateo 24:36: los ángeles en los cielos; Marcos 12:25: ángeles en los cielos; Marcos 13:32: los ángeles del cielo; Lucas 22:43: un ángel del cielo; Galatas 1:8: un ángel del cielo; 2 Tesalonicenses 1:7: desde el cielo con los ángeles; Judas 6: los ángeles tienen una morada apropiada y esa morada es el cielo. A través de las Escritura, ellos son referidos como la huestes celestiales. Obviamente entonces, la morada angelical es el cielo.
B. La Esfera Angelical
La “Esfera Angelical”, significa su área de operación. Mientras que ellos viven en el cielo, ellos operan más allá de la esfera del cielo. Ellos operan en dos esferas más.
Una esfera son los cielos, (Efesios 3:10) “cielos” es lo que ahora normalmente se refiere al espacio, o segundo cielo
La segunda esfera de operación es la tierra. Los ángeles son ministros de Dios para hacer la voluntad de Dios en la tierra. Como resultado, ellos tienen ministerios especiales y funciones en la tierra. Algunos ejemplos del control especial en la tierra incluye Apocalipsis 8:1-2, el cual menciona los siete ángeles que están delante de Dios en el cielo. Cuando tocan una trompeta, gran daño físico ocurrirá en la tierra. Apocalipsis 14:8, habla del ángel que tiene el poder sobre el fuego. Apocalipsis 16:5, habla del ángel que tiene el poder sobre las aguas. Todos estos pasajes, muestran que la segunda esfera de los ángeles es la tierra. Así que mientras tienen una función en su morada en el Cielo, el tercer cielo, su esfera no está limitada al Cielo. Ellos también operan en la esfera del espacio, y en la esfera de la tierra.
C. La Apariencia de los Ángeles
La tercera área de estudio es la apariencia de los ángeles. Las Escrituras contienen records de ángeles apareciéndole a las personas. Concerniente a la apariencia de los ángeles, tres cosas deberían ser mencionadas.
1. Su Visibilidad
Primero, el modo de su visibilidad. Hay tres maneras principales en que ángeles aparecieran. Algunas veces aparecen en sueños, como era el caso de Jacob cuando él vio ángeles… ascender y descender sobre una escalera entre el cielo y la tierra (Gen. 28:12). Una segunda manera que ángeles aparecen a ls humanos es en visiones. Una visión se abre, y ciertas personas vieron ángeles en estas visiones; tales personas como Daniel, Zacarías, y el Apóstol Juan en el libro de Revelaciones. Una tercera y manera más común de ángeles aparecer, es sencillamente apareciendo. De repente apareciendo y manifestándose públicamente, como la aparición que hizo el ángel en la tumba de Jesús.
2. Su Forma
La segunda cosa acerca de la apariencia de los ángeles, es su forma: ángeles siempre han aparecido como hombre jóvenes (Gen. 18:1-2, 16, 22; Marcos 16:5; Lucas 24:4; Hechos 1: 10-11). En ningún lugar en las Escrituras, aparecen ángeles en formas de mujeres, niños, tales como cupidos, o como ancianos.
3. Su Efecto
La tercera cosa que debemos mencionar en la apariencia de los ángeles es su efecto. El principal efecto que la apariencia de ángeles causa en las personas es miedo. (Daniel 10:4-9; Mateo 28: 2-6; Lucas 1:11-12, 26-30; 2:9).
FINAL DE LA PRIMERA PARTE: CUANDO TERMINES ESTE ESTUDIO, MANDA UN CORREO ELECTRÓNICO AL PROFESOR INDICANDO QUE ESTAS LISTO PARA TOMAR LA SEGUNDA PARTE DE ESTA UNIDAD
VI. LA PERSONALIDAD DE LOS ÁNGELES
Algunos ensenan que los ángeles no son seres personales. Que son solo meramente emanaciones, poderes o rayos, pero que no son reales o seres personales. Sin embargo, los tres principales atributos de la personalidad, son intelecto, emoción, y voluntad. Aquello que posee intelecto, emoción, y voluntad, todos los tres, es una personalidad. Los seres humanos son personalidades, porque los humanos tienen estos tres atributos. Si puede ser probado que los ángeles tienen estos tres atributos, entonces se prueba la personalidad de los ángeles.
A. Sus intelecto
Primero, los ángeles tienen intelecto. 2 Samuel 14:20, habla de la sabiduría de un ángel, y ciertamente, tener sabiduría significa tener intelecto. En el Salmos 148:2, vemos que los ángeles tienen la habilidad de adorar, otra característica que requiere intelecto. En Mateo 24:36, ángeles tienen la habilidad de saber cosas, y esto, también demanda intelecto. También en Mateo 28:5, ellos tienen la habilidad de comunicarse, lo cual requiere intelecto. En Efesios 3:10, ellos aprenden del programa de Dios para la iglesia, y el hecho de que están aprendiendo, muestra que ellos tienen intelecto. 1 Pedro 1:12, establece que hay cosas que los ángeles desean mirar, y de nuevo, tal deseo es el resultado del intelecto.
B. Sus Emociones
Segundo, los ángeles tienen emociones. Job 38:7, y Lucas 15:10, habla de ángeles teniendo la emoción del gozo. Si ellos tienen gozo, estos seres tienen que tener emociones.
C. Sus voluntades
Tercero, los ángeles tienen voluntad. En Lucas 2:13, los ángeles glorifican a Dios, ejercitando sus voluntades. En Hebreos 1:6, ellos adoran a Dios, también en ejercicio de sus voluntades. Finalmente, en Judas 6, algunos ángeles decidieron abandonar sus propias habitaciones, ejercitando nuevamente sus voluntades.
Podemos estar absolutamente seguros, que los ángeles tienen intelecto, emociones, y voluntades. Por lo tanto, ellos son personalidades y no meras emanaciones.
VII. LA NATURALEZA DE LOS ÁNGELES
La naturaleza de los ángeles será tratada en cuatro categorías.
A. La Creación de los Ángeles
Primero, los ángeles son seres creados. (Colosenses 1:16). Porque los angeles son por naturaleza seres creados, tienen las limitaciones de “criaturas”. Un ser creado es una criatura, y una criatura nunca podrá tener todos los poderes, atributos, y habilidades de su Creador. Así, mientras que son mas superiores que los humanos, ellos son muy inferiores a Dios.
Por ejemplo, los ángeles no son omnipresentes; están limitados a espacio (Daniel 9:21-23, 10:10-14). Los ángeles no son omnipotentes; no son todopoderosos sino que su poder está limitado, aun mientras son fuentes y poderosos (Daniel 10:10-14; 2 Pedros 2:11). Por esta razón, el Arcángel Miguel necesito asistencia divina (Judas 9). Los ángeles tampoco son omniscientes; ellos no lo saben todo, sino que son limitados en conocimiento. En Mateo 24:36, ellos no saben cuándo el mesías va a retornar. En Efesios 3:10 y 1 Pedros 1:11-12, hay una limitaciones en sus conocimientos, lo cual es la razón por la que continúan aprendiendo. Alguien que es omnisciente no tiene necesidad de aprender nada, porque El conoce todas las cosas.
B. El Cuerpo de los Ángeles
La segunda categoría concerniente a la naturaleza de los ángeles, es discutir los cuerpos angelicales. De acuerdo a Hebreos 1:14, los ángeles son seres espirituales, y esto significa que son seres inmateriales. Sin embargo, ellos tienen corporalidad; no son fantasmas. Sin embargo, esta corporalidad no consiste de carne y huesos (Lucas 24:39). El cuerpo angelical está compuesto de un cuerpo espiritual, pero pueden aparecer en forma corporal físicamente (Génesis 18:19; Mateo 1:20; Lucas 1:11; Juan 20:12; Hebreos 13:2). Porque los ángeles son seres espirituales e inmateriales, ellos generalmente no son visibles. Pero porque ellos tienen alguna clase de corporalidad, ellos pueden aparecer en forma corporal. Cuando ellos aparecen en forma corporal, ellos siempre aparecen como hombre jóvenes.
Otra cosa importante acerca del cuerpo angelical es que su clase no se reproduce (Marcos 12:25). Ya que los ángeles son siempre masculinos, y no hay ángeles femeninos, ellos no se pueden casar y procrear más ángeles. Pero esto no significa que los ángeles son asexuados. El Griego tiene forma neutra, pero no usa la forma neutra para ángeles; sino que siempre usa el sustantivo masculino y el pronombre masculino. En el caso de Génesis 6, cuando algunos ángeles caídos se juntaron con mujeres humanas, la unión pudo producir una raza grotesca; pero lo que produjeron no fueron otros ángeles, ya que el cuerpo angelical, ya sea de Ángeles de Dios, o Ángeles Caídos, no puede ser reproducido.
C. La Compañía de Ángeles
Una tercera cosa, acerca de la naturaleza de los ángeles, es que son una “compañía” y no una raza. El concepto de raza implica la habilidad de reproducirse según su especie, con características raciales particulares. Como ya nosotros hemos visto, los ángeles no se reproducen según su especie; por lo tanto, no son considerados como una raza, sino como una compañía (Hebreos 11:22). Como una compañía, tres cosas deberían ser observadas: primero, son distintos de los humanos, (Salmos 8:4-5); segundo, ángeles son seres superiores a los humanos (Hebreos 2:7; 2Pedros 2:11); y tercero, ángeles de Dios o ángeles elegidos no se casan (Lucas 20:34-36).
D. Los Atributos de los Ángeles
La cuarta categoría concerniente a la naturaleza de los ángeles, es discutir sus atributos, y cuatro principales características pueden ser mencionadas.
1. Su Santidad
Primero, los ángeles son santos. (Lucas 9:26). Santidad en este caso significa que ya no son capaces de pecar, porque ellos ya han sido confirmados en su santidad, los ángeles ya no pueden caer, como una vez podían.
2. Su Poder
El segundo atributo de los ángeles es que ellos son fuertes poderosos. En esta área, ellos son superiores a ningún hombre que jamás haya existido. El Salmos 103:20 habla de ángeles como siendo poderosos en fortaleza. En Mateo 28:2, solo un ángel se necesitó para remover la piedra de la tumba de Jesús. Aunque normalmente, varios hombres se hubieran necesitados para remover tal piedra. Un ángel abrió la puerta de la prisión en Hechos 5:19. En Hechos 12:7, un ángel pudo romper las cadenas de Pedro en la prisión. Un ángel pudo herir a Agripas con una enfermedad que le causaría la muerte en Hechos 12:23. Ángeles son referidos con el término de poderes en Efesios 1:21; 3:10, y Colosenses 1:16. 2 Tesalonicenses 1:7 habla de los ángeles de su poder, y 2 Pedro 2:11 se refiere al poder de los ángeles. Asi que el segundo atributo clave de los ángeles, es que son poderosos.
4. Su Inmortalidad
Un tercer atributo es que ellos son inmortales; a diferencia de los humanos, ellos no pueden morir. Desde su estado de la creación, ellos tiene el atributo de la inmortalidad (Lucas 20:35-36).
4. Se les Prohíbe ser Adorados
El cuarto, no son divino. Esto es importante, ya que se tiene prohibido la adoración a los ángeles, porque no son divinos Colosenses 2:18; Apocalipsis 19:10; 22:8-9).
VIII. LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ÁNGELES
Los ángeles están muy bien organizados. Hay ocho títulos que muestran un tremendo grado de organización en la esfera de existencia angelical.
A. Títulos que Muestran Grados de Organización
Los títulos muestran categorías de organización, y grados de organización. Hay ocho títulos como tales.
1. Tronos
El primer título es tronos. Esos ángeles que están en estos tronos, se sientan en la inmediata presencia de Dios (Colosenses 1:16).
2. Dominios
El Segundo título es ese de dominios. Esto enfatiza el concepto de gobernación. Esta categoría de ángeles gobierna en algunas áreas específicas (Efesios 1:21; Colosenses 1:16). Esto incluye ángeles mayores, gobernando sobre ángeles menores.
3. Principados
El tercer título es ese de principados. El cual enfatiza el concepto de gobernación en la categoría de gobernar principalidades. Estos ángeles que son principados son vistos como como gobernante dirigentes de naciones. Mientras que dominios aparentemente se ocupa en ángeles superiores gobernado sobre ángeles inferiores, principados son gobernantes sobre naciones (Efesios 3:10; Colosenses 1:16).
4. Autoridades
El cuarto título es ese de autoridades, lo cual significa ejercer supremacía (Efesios 1:21; 1 Pedro 3:22).
5. Poderes
El quinto título es ese de poderes, lo cual enfatiza responsabilidades imperiales (Efesios 1:21; 3:10; Colosenses 1:16; 1 Pedro 3:22).
6. Huestes
El sexto título es huestes, la palabra hebrea para “ejercito”. Este título enfatiza su organización militar (1 Samuel 1:11; 1 reyes 22:19).
7. Legiones
El séptimo título es legiones. Legiones al igual que huestes, enfatiza organización militar. Mientras que el termino huestes enfatiza la organización militar como un todo, la legión es una división dentro de un ejército, comprendiendo alrededor de tres mil a seis mil ángeles (Mateo 26:53).
8. Príncipe Jefe
El octavo título es príncipe jefe o príncipe principal. El príncipe jefe es un ángel que está a cargo y reina sobre una nación lo cual significa ejercer supremacía (Daniel 10:13; 12:1).
A. El Orden en los Seres Celestiales
Hay tres órdenes específicos de seres celestiales: ángeles, serafines y querubines.
1. Ángeles
Esta orden es la que se ha estado estudiando en esta clase; es la primera orden básica de seres celestiales, la orden mas bajita, es la de simple ángeles. La mayoría de lo que se ha discutido en este estudio, ha específicamente de esta orden en particular. Algunas veces el termino ángel es usado para todo el orden de seres celestiales, ya que todos los seres celestiales son seres angelicales. No obstante, con más frecuencia el término ángel se aplica a la mas bajita de las tres órdenes. En apariencia estos seres lucen como hombres jóvenes, y ellos no tienen alas como son muchas veces representados.
A. Miguel
A través de las Escrituras hay dos ángeles que se les conoce por sus nombres. El primero es el Arcángel Miguel. El nombre Miguel significa ¿Quién como Dios?, y arcángel significa “ángel jefe o principal.” Esto significa que Miguel es un ángel con autoridad sobre todos los demás ángeles. Él no está en autoridad sobre los serafines ni los querubines, pero está en autoridad sobre la orden más bajita, la orden de los ángeles.
El concepto de arcángel es reflejado en otro dos nombres usados para Miguel. Primero, en Daniel 10:13, él es llamado el príncipe principal. Hay muchos príncipes, pero él es príncipe principal, el que tiene autoridad sobre todos los demás. Segundo, en Daniel 12:1, él es llamado el gran príncipe. Hay solo un gran príncipe, y ese es el arcángel. Gran príncipe, y príncipe principal básicamente significan la misma cosa, y son dos de sus títulos hebreos. El título griego es arcángel, lo cual enfatiza que Miguel es Señor sobre todos los ángeles comunes (Apocalipsis 12:7).
La posición de Miguel, significa que él tiene responsabilidades específicas. Como el arcángel, él tiene a todos los demás ángeles comunes bajo su autoridad (Apocalipsis 12:7). Tal como los demonios están bajo la autoridad de Satanás, los ángeles en esta categoría, están bajo la autoridad de Miguel por su posición de arcángel. Como el arcángel, su responsabilidad es ejercer gobierno y a autoridad sobre los demás ángeles; la responsabilidad de los ángeles comunes, es el someterse a la autoridad de Miguel.
A Miguel también se le da el nombre de Príncipe jefe. El termino príncipe jefe, se aplica a ángeles que tienen autoridad sobre naciones específicas. Como el príncipe jefe, Miguel es responsable de la nación de Israel, y esa es la razón por la cual fue Miguel, quien protegió el cuerpo de Moisés en Judas 9. En Daniel 10:13-21, Miguel se asegura que Daniel recibiera la revelación necesaria concerniente al futuro de Israel. En Daniel 12:1, Miguel protegerá a Israel durante la Gran Tribulación, y por cierto, la razón por la cual Israel va a sobrevivir la Tribulación, es por el trabajo de Miguel. Todo esto desde luego bajo la dirección divina. Otras cosas futuras que Miguel va a hacer, incluye el anunciamiento del Rapto (1Tesalonisenses 4:16); y en medio de la Tribulación, Miguel echará a Satanás de su presente tercera morada en los cielos atmosféricos, a su cuarta morada en la tierra (Apocalipsis 12:7-12).
B. Gabriel
El segundo ángel nombrado en las escrituras es Gabriel. En el idioma hebreo, el nombre Gabriel significa “el poderoso de Dios.”
El principal trabajo de Gabriel es ser un mensajero de revelaciones, trayendo revelaciones de Dios para el hombre. En Daniel 8:15-27, el hace la revelación concerniente a Israel en los últimos días. El revela la Setenta semanas, y el tiempo de la primera llegada del Mesías (Daniel 9:20-27). En Lucas 1:11-20, él le revela Zacarías el nacimiento de Juan el Bautista. Y en Lucas 1:26-38, él le revela a María, el nacimiento de Jesús.
Al igual que Miguel, Gabriel también tendrá trabajo que hacer en el futuro. Lucas 1:19 establece que Gabriel es uno de los ángeles que estara de pie en presencia de Dios. En Apocalipsis 8:2, hay siete tales ángeles, lo cual significa que Gabriel es uno de los sietes, que estara de pie en la misma presencia de Dios, y quien derramara los juicios de las trompetas en Apocalipsis 8 y 9.
C. Otros Ángeles
La Biblia también menciona otros ángeles individuales, quienes no están nombrados, pero se establece lo que hacen. Por ejemplo, en Apocalipsis 8:2, hay siete ángeles de pie ante la presencia de Dios, uno de ellos es Gabriel, pero los otros seis no son nombrados. Apocalipsis 15 y 16 menciona a siete otros ángeles, quienes tendrán el juicio de las copas. Los otros ángeles referidos, incluye a los cuatros ángeles de los cuatro vientos (Apocalipsis 7:1-4), el ángel del fuego (Apocalipsis 14:8) y el ángel de las aguas (Apocalipsis 16:5),
2. Serafines
A. En el Libro de Isaías
De Isaías 6:2-3 y 6-7, cuatro cosas pueden ser aprendidas acerca de los serafines. Primero, ellos están alrededor y también rodean el trono de Dios. Segundo, Ellos se caracterizan por tener seis alas. Mientras que los ángeles no tienen alas, serafines tienen seis alas, o tres pares de dos alas. Cada par de alas tiene un propósito y una función diferente. El primer par de alas tiene el propósito de cubrir los pies; el segundo par de alas cubre sus caras; el tercer par de alas, es para volar. Tercero, ellos alaban a Dios entre ellos continuamente diciendo una y otra vez: Santo, santo, santo, Jehová de los ejércitos: toda la tierra está llena de tu gloria. La cuarta cosa que podemos aprender cerca de los serafines es que un seraf purifico el pecado de Isaías. Cuando el seraf toma el carbón encendido del altar del sacrificio en el cielo en el versículo 6, y los pasa sobre los labios de Isaías, su pecado es limpiado (Ver. 7). Esto es lo más que podemos aprender de los serafines en el Antiguo Testamento.
B. En el Libro de Apocalipsis
El resto de lo que podemos aprender está en el Nuevo Testamento, en el Libro de Revelaciones, donde los serafines son mencionados en ocho pasajes diferentes..
El primer pasaje está en Revelaciones 4:6-11. De este pasaje siete cosas podemos aprender de los serafines. Primero, ellos están alrededor del trono de Dios. Segundo, en el versículo 6, ellos están llenos de ojos, al frente y atrás, simbolizando que ellos pueden mirar y ver más allá de la esfera humana, para poder llevar a cabo la providencia de Dios. Tercero, en verso 8, serafines tienen seis alas.
Cuarto, en verso 7, serafines no todos lucen iguales; mientras que todos tienen seis alas, la principal característica común de los serafines es que ellos tienen características faciales diferentes. Hay cuatro categorías de serafines, basadas en cuatro diferentes características faciales: Como de león, como de becerro, como de hombre, y como águila.
Quinto, en verso 8, ellos están llenos de ojos alrededor y por dentro. Habíamos mencionado que estaban llenos de ojos por delante y por atrás, ahora se indica que están llenos de ojos todo alrededor los lados, también adentro.
Sexto, Ellos continuamente alaban a Dios y dicen las mismas palabras mencionadas en Isaías con una leve variación. Verso 8 y 9 indican que ellos continuamente alaban a Dios diciendo: Santo, santo, santo es el Señor Dios Todopoderoso, el que era, el que es, y el que ha de venir. Y siempre que aquellos seres vivientes dan gloria y honra y acción de gracias al que está sentado en el trono, al que vive por los siglos de los siglos.
Y Siete, en el verso 10-11, cada vez que ellos decían: santo, santo, santo, esto es una señal a los 24 ancianos, que ellos también, ahora deben adorar al que está sentado en el trono. En este contexto, el que está sentado en el trono es Dios el Padre.
El segundo pasaje es Revelaciones 5:6, donde se aprende que ellos también rodean el Cordero, Dios Hijo. Serafines, por un lado rodean a Dios el Padre, pero también rodean a Dios el Hijo.
El tercer pasaje es Revelaciones 5:8-10, y 14. Los serafines adoraran el Cordero en el futuro cuando el Cordero tome el rollo de los siete sellos. Con el rompimiento de los sellos, empieza la Gran Tribulación. Cuando el Cordero toma este rollo con los siete sellos, los serafines adoraran al Cordero.
3. Querubines
La tercera y más alta orden de seres celestiales es la de querub o querubines. La palabra hebrea traducida querub tiene la raíz significando “guardar” o “cubrir.” Es usada un total de noventa y unas veces (91): veintisiete veces (27) está en el singular, sesenta y cuatro (64) está en el plural. De estas noventa y una veces, noventa (90) ocurren en el Antiguo testamento. Solo once (11) son encontradas en el Nuevo Testamento.
QUERUBINES: ESTUDIO EN ESTE TEMA ESTARÁ EN – EXÉGESIS – ¡DETENTE Y ESCUDRIÑA!
IX. EL TRABAJO DE LOS ÁNGELES
Al hablar de la obra de los ángeles, siete categorías diferentes necesitan ser discutidas.
A. El Trabajo de los Ángeles en Relación con Dios
Una categoría de la obra de los ángeles se refiere a su trabajo en relación con Dios. En esta categoría, hay cuatro ministerios específicos. En primer lugar, ellos se emplean en la adoración de Dios, y ellos adoran activamente a Dios (Salmo 29: 1-2; 103: 20; 148: 2; Is. 6: 3; Apocalipsis 4: 8-11; 5: 8 -13). En segundo lugar, ellos ejecutan la voluntad de Dios; La voluntad de Dios se lleva a menudo a cabo por medio de los ángeles (Sal. 103: 20; Heb. 1: 7). En tercer lugar, los ángeles se regocijan en la obra de Dios; cuando Dios creó los cielos y la tierra, los ángeles se regocijaban (Job 38: 7), y cuando Dios salva a un individual, hay alegría entre los ángeles (Lc. 15:10.). En cuarto lugar, ellos ejecutan los juicios de Dios; ángeles se utilizaron para destruir Sodoma y Gomorra (Gen.19: 1-22): se utilizaron en conexión a la décima plaga de Egipto (Ex. 12:23); y se utilizaron en relación con la pestilencia en Israel (I Chr. 21:15)
B. El Trabajo de los Ángeles como Agentes de Revelación
Una segunda categoría de la obra de los ángeles es que son agentes de revelación. La Ley de Moisés no vino a Moisés directamente, sino que fue mediada a Moisés por medio de ángeles. Esto se insinúa en Deuteronomio 33: 2 y claramente en Hechos 7:53, Gálatas 3:19, y Hebreos 2: 2. Por otra parte, mientras que Daniel a menudo recibió su revelación directamente de Dios, algo de su material; como por ejemplo, Daniel 8: 1-12: 13 llegó por medio de ángeles. Lo mismo es cierto de Zacarías. El libro de Zacarías tiene catorce capítulos, pero los primeros seis de estos capítulos (Zac. 1: 7-6: 15) llegó por medio de ángeles. El libro del Apocalipsis, escrito por el apóstol Juan, fue mediado y revelado a él por medio de un ángel (Apocalipsis 1: 1; 10: 1-11; 17: 1; 19: 9-10; 21: 9; 22 :16).
C. El trabajo de los Ángeles en la Vida del Mesías
Una tercera categoría es como los ángeles trabajaron en la vida del Mesías. Los ángeles se utilizaron en cinco períodos específicos en la vida del Mesías.
1. En el Nacimiento del Mesías
El primer período fue el momento de su nacimiento. Fue un ángel que predijo el nacimiento del Mesías a María (Lc. 1: 26-38) y a José (Mat. 1: 20-21). Los ángeles se utilizaron para anunciar el nacimiento del Mesías a los pastores judíos fuera de Belén (Lc. 2: 8-15). Fue un ángel quien advirtió a José a huir de Belén (. Mat 02:13), y un ángel le dijo a José que saliera de Egipto y regrese a Israel (Mat. 2: 19-20).
2. En el ministerio del Mesías
El segundo período fue durante el ministerio de Jesús. Salmos 01: 1-12 predijo que los ángeles serían utilizados en todo el ministerio del Mesías. Pablo afirmó esto en una declaración general en 1 Timoteo 3:16, cuando dijo que el Mesías fue visto por los ángeles en todo su ministerio. Cuando Jesús fue tentado, se utilizaron los ángeles para servirle en sus tentaciones (Mateo 04:11;.. Marcos 1:13). También a lo largo de su ministerio, los ángeles subían y descendian sobre el Hijo del hombre (juan 1:51). Ellos ministraron a Jesús durante su agonía en el huerto de Getsemaní, así (. Lc 22:43). Por último, según Mateo 26:53, hubo más de doce legiones de ángeles listos para defenderlo en su juicio, si Él los necesitaba para cualquier propósito, que, por supuesto, no lo hizo.
3. En la Resurrección del Mesías
El tercer período de su vida en que se utilizaron los ángeles fue en relación con la Resurrección. Fue un ángel quien quitó la piedra de la tumba (Mat. 28: 2). Los ángeles se utilizaron para anunciar la Resurrección a las mujeres que acudieron a la tumba (Mat. 28: 1-7; Mc. 16: 5-7; Lc. 24: 4-7; Jn. 20: 12-13).
4. En la Ascensión del Mesías
El cuarto período que ángeles fueron utilizados en la vida del Mesías fue en la Ascensión. Después de ascender, los ángeles anunciaron que este mismo Jesús, quien partía, vendría otra vez de la misma manera (Hechos 1: 10-11). La frase de la misma manera, significa que así como Él se fue en las nubes del cielo, que lo hará algún día, y volverá en las nubes del cielo.
5. En la Segunda Venida del Mesías
El quinto período es todavía futuro. Los ángeles vendrán con Él en las nubes del cielo en su segunda venida (Mateo 16:27; 24:31; 25:31; II Tes. 1: 7.). Por lo tanto, los ángeles estarán involucrados en la vida del Mesías incluso en el futuro.
D. El trabajo de los Ángeles Entre las Naciones
La cuarta categoría se refiere a la obra de los ángeles entre las naciones. Aquí, hay que mencionar dos cosas.
En primer lugar, los seres angelicales funcionan en la capacidad de “cosmo-cratas”, que significa “-rulers mundo” o “los gobernantes de las naciones.” Por ejemplo, en Daniel 10:13, un ser angelical líder, era el príncipe del reino de Persia. Miguel el Arcángel, no sólo tiene autoridad sobre los otros ángeles, pero también pasa a ser el príncipe sobre Israel (Dan. 10:21; 12: 1.)
En segundo lugar, los ángeles también están estrechamente asociados con los gobernantes humanos sobre naciones específicas. Por ejemplo, Isaías 14: 3-20 habla de Babilonia: versos 11.3 habla del rey humano de Babilonia; versículos 12-14 hablan de Satanás; versículos 15 a 20, una vez más habla del rey de Babilonia. Lo mismo es cierto de Ezequiel 28: 1-19, que habla de Tiro: versículos 1-10 hablan del príncipe humano de Tiro; versos 11-19 se dirigen a Satanás como el rey de Tiro. Debido a que tanto caídos, y seres angélicos no caídos, se utilizan como cosmo-cratas o gobernantes del mundo, y llevan a cabo la voluntad de Dios entre las naciones. Muchas cosas que suceden entre las naciones, se deben a estos seres angélicos. Con bastante frecuencia, las razón por la que las naciones van a la guerra unas contra otras, es porque han sido movidas a hacerlo, por estos seres angelicales cosmo-democrática.
E. El Trabajo de los Ángeles Entre los no Creyentes
La quinta categoría de la obra de los ángeles es su trabajo entre los incrédulos, y tres facetas hay que señalar.
1. Los ángeles Anuncian Juicio Inminente
En primer lugar, los ángeles anuncian Juicio inminente. Esto se hizo históricamente en Génesis 19: 12-13, cuando los ángeles anunciaron la inminente destrucción de Sodoma y Gomorra. En el futuro, lo harán de nuevo como anuncian los juicios terribles de las copas. “(Apocalipsis 14: 6-7)..
2. Los Ángeles Infligen Castigo.
En segundo lugar, los ángeles infligen castigo. Los ángeles fueron utilizados para infligir castigo en el pasado; por ejemplo, fue un ángel quien llevo a cabo la décima plaga sobre los hijos primogénitos de los egipcios (Ex. 12:23). Otros ejemplos se encuentran en II Samuel 25:16 y Ezequiel 9: 1-8. Un ejemplo del Nuevo Testamento es Hechos 12:23, cuando se utilizó un ángel aquí para herir Herodes Agripa con una enfermedad mortal.
Lo que han hecho en el pasado, también lo harán en el futuro; ángeles infligirán el castigo en la tribulación (Apocalipsis 8: 1-2, 6; 16: 1)
3. Los Ángeles Actuarán como Segadores.
En tercer lugar, al final de la tribulación, los ángeles se utilizarán para actuar como “reaper”. Como segadores, ellos separarán a los creyentes delos incrédulos (Mat. 13:39-42, 49-50).
F. El trabajo de los Ángeles en Relación a los Creyentes
La sexta categoría es la obra de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes, y la Biblia tiene mucho que enseñar sobre este tema. De los muchos pasajes de las Escrituras que hablan de la obra de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes, deben mencionarse diez cosas.
1. La Salvación de los Creyentes.
En primer lugar, estos buenos ángeles se regocijan cuando uno se salva. Mientras que los ángeles caídos no se regocijan cuando es salvado uno, los elegidos, los santos ángeles, son los que se alegran de los salvos (Lk15: 10).
2. Custodia de los creyentes.
En segundo lugar, en relación a los creyentes “, los ángeles tienen una tutela; que llevan a cabo el cuidado de protección general. Salmo 34: 7 y Salmo 91:11 enseña que nada puede suceder a un creyente fuera de la voluntad de Dios por el cuidado de protección general de los ángeles. Estos versículos no enseñan que nada malo le puede pasar a los creyentes, sino que nada puede ocurrir fuera de la voluntad de Dios. Cuando las cosas malas le suceden a un creyente, no es porque los ángeles estaban fallando en su trabajo, sino que esta era la voluntad de Dios .
Mateo 18:10 enseña que todos los niños tienen ángeles de la guarda. Hebreos 01:14 declara que cada creyente tiene un ángel de la guarda también. De hecho, tan pronto como uno se salva, tiene un ángel de la guarda “asignado” a él.
3. La Seguridad de los Creyentes.
En tercer lugar, los ángeles se utilizan a menudo para salvar o rescatar a los creyentes de situaciones específicas. Por ejemplo, en Génesis 19: 1-22, se utilizaron los ángeles para rescatar a Lot. En Génesis 32: 1-2, se utilizaron los ángeles para ayudar a Jacob. En 1 Reyes 19: 5-6, se utilizó un ángel para alimentar a Elías el Profeta. Ángeles protegieron a Elías en II Reyes 6:17. En Daniel 324-28, un ángel protegía a los tres amigos de Daniel en el horno de fuego. Y en Daniel 6:22, un ángel cerró la boca de los leones, para que ningún daño viniera sobre Daniel el Profeta. En Hechos 5: 17-20, un ángel rescató a los apóstoles. Por último, un ángel rescató a Pedro en Hechos 12: 6-11 .
4. Guía de los Creyentes.
El cuarto trabajo de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes es que son también guían a los creyentes en la verdad y acciones. Por ejemplo, en Mateo 1: 20-21, un ángel instruyó a José a creer la historia de María; que ella realmente era virgen, a pesar de que estaba embarazada. Un ángel trajo a Felipe a una situación en la que pudo ser testigo al eunuco etíope en Hechos 8:26. En Hechos 10: 3-8, un ángel instruyó a Cornelio que enviara por Pedro, para que pudiera predicar el evangelio a él. El mismo punto se reafirma en Hechos 11: 13-14. En Hechos 27: 23-24, un ángel guió a Pablo también.
5. Las Oraciones de los Creyentes.
El quinto trabajo de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes es para responder a las oraciones; a veces oraciones son contestadas por medio de ángeles. En el caso de Daniel, por ejemplo, esto ocurrió en dos ocasiones; en Daniel 9: 20-23 y 10: 12-13, se utilizó un ángel para responder a la oración del profeta para más revelación.
En el Nuevo Testamento, los grupos de santos estaban orando por la liberación de Pedro de la prisión. En respuesta a sus oraciones, se utilizó un ángel para rescatar al apóstol (Hechos 12: 1-19).
6. Estímulo de los Creyentes.
El sexto trabajo de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes es uno de estímulo (Hechos 5: 18-20; 27: 23-25).
7. Muerte de los Creyentes.
El séptimo trabajo de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes es llevar el alma a su morada en el cielo cuando un creyente muere (Lc. 16:22).
8. Para el Ministerio de Observación.
La octava obra de los ángeles es servir como espectadores de los creyentes”. Los ángeles tienen el ministerio de la observación de los creyentes para ver la forma en que están actuando y respondiendo. Por ejemplo, en Lucas 12: 8-9, la fe de un creyente se confesó ante los ángeles. Más tarde, los ángeles observan cuando uno es salvo (Lc. 15:10). Los ángeles también observan el sufrimiento de los creyentes (1 Cor. 4: 9). En 1 Corintios 11:10, los ángeles observan si las mujeres son obedientes a llevar la cabeza cubierta en la iglesia. En 1 Timoteo 5:21, ángeles están presentes cuando los creyentes hacen un compromiso con el Señor. Y los ángeles observan y ven en la obra de Dios en la salvación, de acuerdo a 1 Pedro 1: 10-12.
9. Para la Iglesia Local.
El noveno trabajo de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes, es que sirven como guardianes sobre las iglesias locales. No sólo los creyente tienen ángeles de la guarda, sino que cada iglesia local tiene un ángel de la guarda. Esto se ve en Apocalipsis 2 y 3, donde cada carta está dirigida al ángel de tal o cual iglesia.
10. Para la Actitud Correcta de los Creyentes Hacia los Ángeles.
El décimo y último trabajo es: ¿Qué debería la relación de los creyentes será con ángeles a la luz de los nueve trabajos anteriores? Cuatro cosas deben tenerse en cuenta. En primer lugar, los creyentes se les permite el preguntarse y sorprenderse, de la capacidad y el trabajo de los ángeles, al igual que Daniel (Daniel 8: 16-17; 10: 1-9.). En segundo lugar, los creyentes pueden apreciar su ministerio (. Hebreos 01:14). En tercer lugar, a los creyentes se les prohíben dar a los ángeles adoración (Col. 2:18; Apocalipsis 19:10; 22: 9). En cuarto lugar, en el futuro, los creyentes juzgarán a los ángeles (1 Cor. 6: 3). Los creyentes no juzgarán a los ángeles de Dios, por supuesto, sino a los ángeles caídos en el Juicio del Gran Trono Blanco..
G. El trabajo de los Ángeles en el Futuro
La séptima categoría de la obra de los ángeles en relación a los creyentes, es su trabajo en el futuro. Este trabajo se puede subdividir en cuatro divisiones.
1. En la Tribulación.
El primero y especifico trabajo de los ángeles en la Tribulacion, será el causar danos luego de que los 144,000 jóvenes judíos sean sellados, de acuerdo a Revelaciones 7:1-3. Es necesario sellar a estos 144,000 judíos, porque ese sello los protegerá de cualquier daño. Una vez que son sellados, los ángeles serán usados para causar danos sobre la tierra como parte del Juicio divino parte de Dios.
En segundo lugar, siete angeles serán usados para derramar el juicio de las sietes trompetas (Rev. 8:1-9:21; 11:15-19).
En tercer lugar, a mitad de la Tribulacion, los santos ángeles de Dios serán usados para lanzar a Satanás y a los ángeles caídos de su presente morada en los cielos atmosféricos, para ser confinados a la tierra por el resto de la Tribulación (Rev. 12:7-12).
En cuarto lugar, los ángeles van a llevar a cabo algunos anuncios a mitad de la Tribulación (Rev. 14:6-20).
En quinto lugar, así como los ángeles son usados en la Tribulación para derramar los juicios de las trompetas, así también los ángeles se usaran para para derramar los juicios de las copas (Rev. 15:7-16:21).
En sexto lugar, un ángel será usado para pasar la sentencia de destrucción sobre la Ciudad de Babilonia (Rev. 18:1-3; 21-24).
El séptimo trabajo específico de los ángeles en la Tribulacion, será llamar a las naciones a Armagedón, para que así Dios pueda derramar Sus juicios sobre estas naciones (Rev. 19:17-18).
2. En la Segunda Venida.
La segunda división de sus trabajos en el futuro, es en relación a la Segunda Venida, y dos cosas deberían ser notadas concerniente a esto.
Primero, los ángeles de Dios retornarán con Jesús en la Segunda Venida (Mat. 16:27; 24:31; 25:31; 2 Tes. 1:7).
Y en segundo lugar, también en la Segunda Venida, los ángeles separarán a los creyentes de los incrédulos (Mat. 13:39-42; 49-50).
3. En el Reino Mesiánico.
La tercera división del trabajos de los ángeles en el futuro, son sus trabajos en conjunción con el Reino Mesiánico (Milenial). Dos grandes verdades son enseñadas.
Primero, será un ángel común, a quién se le dará autoridad para atar a Satanás en el abismo por 1000 años (Rev. 20:1-3). El poderoso, ungido querubín, será humillado por el hecho de que será atado por un ángel sin nombre, del orden mas bajito.
En segundo lugar, los ángeles serán usados para juntar nuevamente a todos los Judíos a la Tierra Prometida (Mat. 24:31). Por primera vez en su historia, el Pueblo Judío podrá gozar de todos los deleites de la Tierra Prometida.
4. En el Orden Eterno.
La cuarta división del trabajos de los ángeles en el futuro, es en relación al Estado Eterno u Orden Eterno. De acuerdo a Rev. 21:12, los ángeles servirán como los guardianes de los Portones de la ciudad. La Nueva Jerusalén, la cual será la morada eterna de todos los creyentes de todos los tiempos, tendrá doce portones (puertas), tres en cada lado de la ciudad. Cada puerta será hecha de una gran perla, y cada una estara custodiada por un ángel.
X. EL DESTINO DE LOS ÁNGELES
La última cosa para discutir brevemente es el destino de los ángeles. Hebreos 12:22 enseña que el destino de todos los ángeles de Dios es el mismo que el de todos los santos del Antiguo y del Nuevo Testamento: La Nueva Jerusalén. Todos los elegidos, santos ángeles, aquellos que no cayeron con Satanás, tendrán su destino eterno en la Nueva Jerusalén. En Hebreos 12:22, el escritor dice que los creyentes vienen a la ciudad la cual tiene innumerable huestes de ángeles; por lo tanto, el destino de todos los creyentes, y todos los ángeles de Dios es uno y el mismo. ¡Aleluyaaaaa!!!!!.
Final de la clase.
Recuerde, esto no es solamente material de lectura, es material de estudio!!!
Lea y estudie nuevamente la clase, para asimilarla!!
PARA EL ESTUDIANTE: PARA EL ESTUDIANTE: ESTA CLASE FUE POSTEADA HOY MAYO 14, 2020. ESTARÁ DISPONIBLE PARA SU ESTUDIO Y APROVECHAMIENTO HASTA MAYO 28, CUANDO ENTONCES SE POSTEARÁ EL EXAMEN DE LA MISMA. USTED TIENE 2 DIAS, DEL 28 AL 29, PARA COMPLETAR Y SOMETER SU EXAMEN DE ESTA CLASE!!!
CLASE: MAYORDOMÍA CRISTIANA – WATERBURY, DRA ANDINO – LIBRO: ADMINISTRACIÓN: UN ENFOQUE BÍBLICO BY: MYRON D. RUSH – FECHA TERMINADO: 3/07/2020 – CREDITOS ACADEMICOS: 6
THE BOOK OF JOEL: AN EXPOSITION
Professor:
Dr. Salomón A. Ballestero.
drballestero@seminarioteologicouc.net
Dear student, Welcome to the Doctorate in Christian Counseling program! The school of ministry takes the training of candidates for the ministry very seriously. On this occasion we have an Exposition on the Book of Joel. [THE BOOK OF JOEL: AN EXPOSITION] Interesting teachings you will learn in this study. after the class, as is customary, you will be taking the exams or quiezz, to be sure that you understand the exposed material.[DT-302- THE BOOK OF JOEL: AN EXPOSITION]
The Study is divided in two main parts:
I. THE DAY OF JEHOVAH, A TIME OF INVASIONS: JOEL 1:2-2:17
II. THE SALVATION AND RESTORATION OF ISRAEL: JOEL 2:18-3:21
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO START WITH A READING OF THE BOOK OF JOEL.
Any question you have, you can write to my email electrónico:
DT-302- THE BOOK OF JOEL: AN EXPOSITION
Joel 1:1-3 (NKJV)
The Locust Plague in Judah1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
The Land Laid WasteHear this, you elders,
And give ear, all you inhabitants of the land!
Has anything like this happened in your days,
Or even in the days of your fathers?
3
Tell your children about it,
Let your children tell their children,
And their children another generation.
INTRODUCTION: JOEL 1:1
The word of Jehovah that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
The name Joel means “Jehovah is God.” This is an inversion of the name Elijah, which means “God is Jehovah.” The fact that his parents gave him a name in connection with God indicates that they were members of the Believing Remnant of that day. The only thing known about Joel’s family is that he was the son of Pethuel, which means “the openheartedness of God” or “the sincerity of God.”
As far as the date is concerned, like Obadiah, Joel does not reveal the name of the king under whom he prophesied. This has to be determined another way. Joel is quoted twice by Amos: Joel 3:16 is
quoted in Amos 1:2; Joel 3:18 is quoted in Amos 9:13. This would place him before the Prophet Amos. But, because he does not rail against idolatry the way Amos did, he probably prophesied around
835 B.C., during the reign of Joash.
As for his locality, Joel was a prophet from Judah, the southern kingdom, and may have been from Jerusalem because of certain references he made to Jerusalem (Joel 1:9, 13-14; 2:15).
The historical setting that brought about Joel’s prophecy was a recent great invasion by locusts that caused tremendous destruction of the crops of the Land. With the background of this tremendous locust invasion, Joel gave certain prophecies of invasions to come in the future.
The Book of Joel makes two major points. First, God is in control of
world events. Nothing happens anywhere in the world that is outside
of God’s control, nothing that happens to a believer is outside of God’s control. Secondly, God responds to repentance. Where there is true repentance, God will respond accordingly.
The theme of the Book of Joel is the Day of Jehovah or the Day of the Lord. He used this expression in 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; and 3:14. Whenever the Bible uses the term the “Day of Jehovah” or the “Day
of the Lord,” it is the most common biblical term for what is now called the Great Tribulation. Thus, Joel’s theme is speaking about the Great Tribulation. The locust invasion that occurred in Joel’s day is
the starting point. As bad as that locust invasion was, what will happen in the Great Tribulation will be far more severe.
Joel is quoted twice in the New Testament: Joel 2:28-32 is quoted by Acts 2:17-21; and Joel 2:32 is quoted in Romans 10:13.
The way the prophecy came to Joel is stated in the English rendering as: The word of Jehovah that came to Joel. The Hebrew phraseology actually means “the Word of Jehovah took possession of Joel.” This
divine possession resulted in a prophetic revelation. This also happened to the Apostle John when he wrote the Book of Revelation. The Book of Joel can be divided into two main units. The first unit
deals with the Day of Jehovah as a time of invasions. The second unit deals with the salvation and restoration of Israel.
I. THE DAY OF JEHOVAH, A TIME OF INVASIONS: JOEL 1:2-2:17
There are two subdivisions in the first major unit dealing with two invasions: the historical invasion of locusts and the prophetic invasion of demons.
A. The Historical Invasion of Locusts: Joel 1:2-14
It is this invasion that gave rise to the prophecy as a whole. Verses 2-4 give the actual account of that invasion. The uniqueness of this particular locust invasion is emphasized by verses 2-3: Hear this, ye old
men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Has this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
Verse 2 states that this is the most unique invasion of locusts in all past history. Joel calls upon the old men of Israel, those who had lived the longest, and asks them if they could remember anything in their
lifetimes like this recent invasion. None of the oldest men in Israel could remember a previous locust invasion that was as bad as this one. In fact, these old men could not remember that their fathers had told them of an invasion as bad as this one. In verse 3, because of the uniqueness of this locust invasion, they are to pass it on to succeeding generations. Let future generations know what a terrible locust plague this was indeed. This is exactly what Joel did when he wrote about it in his book.
Joel described the devastation as he told about four waves of locust invasions in verse 4: That which the palmer-worm has left has the locust eaten; and that which the locust has left has the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm has left has the caterpillar eaten. Most English translations read that these are four types of locusts: the palmerworm, the locust, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar. The Hebrew rendering is a bit different, since the Hebrew words describe what they actually do. Literally, the four categories are “the gnawer,” “the swarmer,” “the licker,” and “the devourer.” Joel was not talking about four different kinds of locusts, nor was he speaking of the different stages of the development of a locust. Rather, he was speaking of four successive swarms of locusts eating what the previous swarm had left behind.
The number four is often used by the prophets to designate the totality of destruction, especially in the Old Testament in Jeremiah 15:3 and Ezekiel 14:21. What Joel tried to do here was to emphasize the totality of the devastation by presenting these four swarms of locusts, each swarm eating what the previous swarm had left behind. By the time Joel wrote these words, it is not prophecy; it is already history. But this history is going to become the background of something prophetic.
The devastation of the crops leads to the lamentation by the local drunkards in verses 5-7: Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and wail, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the
teeth of a lion, and he has the jaw-teeth of a lioness. He has laid my vine waste and barked my fig-tree: he has made it clean bare and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
In verse 5, Joel tells the drunkards that the source of the wine has now been removed, so they are to awaken out of their sleep and weep. The word used here means “to reel in intoxication.” They are to awaken out of reeling intoxication, and they are to weep because they have been destroyed by a nation of locusts in verse 6. It is not unusual for locusts to be depicted as a human military army. In fact, both locusts and ants are depicted as a military army in Proverbs 30:25-27. Joel’s personal agony is seen in his statement: “These locusts have eaten my land.” Verse 7 once again describes the totality of this particular
devastation. The drunkards who live from one cup of wine to the next, those who have not learned to drink in simple moderation as the Bible allows, but have gone into excess, which the Bible forbids, are
the ones lamenting. Indeed, they must, for the source of their joy and security has been eaten by this army of locusts.
In verses 8-12, it is not only the drunkards who lament, but there is a call to the whole nation in verse 8: Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
The term virgin here does not mean “virgin” as we think of it today, but a young widow who has lost her husband in the first year of marriage. The whole nation is to mourn as a bride who has lost her husband in the first year of marriage.
One of the reasons that they must mourn this way is given in verse 9: The meal-offering and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah’s ministers, mourn.
They must mourn now because there is no offering remaining for the Temple. There is no meal offering because the cattle and sheep are dying due to lack of grain. There is no drink offering because the
vines have all been eaten up. As a result, the priests, who are responsible for making these offerings and who are sustained by these offerings, are also to lament.
Joel again describes the totality of the devastation, resulting in a cessation of the joy of harvest in verses 10-12: The field is laid waste, the land mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil languishes. Be confounded, O ye husbandmen, wail, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for
the barley; for the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is withered, and the figtree languishes; the pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all the trees of the field are withered: for joy is withered away from the sons of men. Just as the drunkards who are mourning for one reason, the nation is to be mourning for another. The drunkards are mourning because there will be no wine for the next year, but the nation is to mourn because there is nothing left for the first fruits offering to the Lord.
The lamentation of the priesthood is reemphasized in verses 13-14: Gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests; wail, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meal-offering and the drink-offering are withheld from the house of your God. Sanctify a fast, call
a solemn assembly gather the old men and all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of Jehovah your God, and cry unto Jehovah. In verse 13, Joel called upon the priesthood to begin lamenting, and
they are to do it publicly by girding themselves with sackcloth. He then gave the same reason as he did for the national mourning and lamenting: there are no more drink offerings and no meal offerings for
the House of Jehovah. In verse 14, they are to call a solemn assembly. They are to gather the old men and all the inhabitants of the land. The place where they are to gather is the house of Jehovah. They are too fast; they are to put on sackcloth; they are to cry unto Jehovah to see if the He will respond. The clear implication is that, because there was true repentance, the Lord did respond.
This subdivision spoke of the historic invasion: an invasion of locusts. This, in turn, gave rise to a prophetic invasion: an invasion of demons.
B. The Prophetic Invasion of Demons: Joel 1:15-2:17
The second subdivision describes the devastation that will occur during the Day of Jehovah or the Great Tribulation. Having described the devastation caused by the locusts and pointing out that
this was the worst that had ever occurred until that day, Joel now indicates that as bad as it was in their day, a day is coming when things will get even worse. During the Day of Jehovah, there will be an
invasion that will prove to be even more unique than the locust invasion that had just occurred.
1. The Devastation of the Day of Jehovah: Joel 1:15-20
This passage introduces Joel’s new theme announcing the coming Day of Jehovah in verse 15: Alas for the day! for the day of Jehovah is at hand, and as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
He described the Day of Jehovah as destruction from the Almighty. It is God’s judgment upon this earth. When the Day of Jehovah comes, it, too, will result in massive devastation, even worse than that which
occurred with the recent locust invasion.
There will be a devastation of the crops in verses 16-17: Is not the food cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seeds rot under their clods; the garners are laid desolate; the barns are broken down; for the grain is withered.
As a result of the devastation, there will be no sustenance for the Temple in verse 16, nor will there be any sustenance for the people in verse 17.
Furthermore, this will also lead to a devastation of the livestock because they will have nothing to eat, and they, too, will die according to verses 18-20: How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed,
because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Jehovah, to you do I cry; for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field. Yea, the beasts of the field pant unto you; for the water brooks are dried up, and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Whereas in the preceding invasion, everything was destroyed by being eaten by the locusts, verses 19-20 bring out that things are destroyed by fire in this invasion. The result is that the same things will be cut off
from the Temple and from the people.
2. The Account of the Future Invasion: Joel 2:1-11
Verses 15-20 describe the results of a second invasion without describing the invasion itself. In this section, Joel begins to detail the account of the invasion by sounding the alarm in verse 1: Blow ye the
trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah comes, for it is nigh at hand.
In the ancient world, the alarm was sounded to announce an approaching army (Num. 10:9). Now an alarm will sound from the holy mountain, Mount Zion, upon which the Temple stood. When this
alarm sounds, it will mean that the Day of Jehovah has arrived with full force. The result is that all the inhabitants of the Land are trembling, because that alarm finally signals that the Day of Jehovah,
that day of special judgment has arrived.
What the Day of Jehovah will be like is described in verse 2a: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains.
The Day of Jehovah is described in four ways. First, it will be a time of darkness. Secondly, it will be a time of gloominess. Thirdly, it will be a day of clouds. Fourthly, it will be a day of thick darkness. These are common descriptions of the Day of Jehovah or the Great Tribulation throughout the Scriptures (Is. 8:22; 60:2; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:14-16). Joel concluded his description with the words: as the dawn spread upon the mountains. The point he is making in using this particular illustration is that just as dawn is sudden and widespread, so also will the Day of Jehovah come suddenly and be widespread. It will come not only upon the Land of Israel, although this is Joel’s particular theme, but the Tribulation will also extend to all parts of the world. It is considered to be the darkest period in human history because it is
the outpouring of the wrath of God before the establishment of the Kingdom.
Next, in Joel 2:2b-9, the prophet describes the actual invading army in some detail by using the words as and like. It will have similarities with the locust invasion, yet there will be certain crucial differences.
Joel describes their approach in verses 2b-3: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none has escaped them.
Verse 2 emphasizes their uniqueness. Just as the locust plague was unique to Joel’s day, the approach of this new invading army will be unique to the future in that it will surpass the locust invasion of the
past. He describes them as a great people and a strong; they will be functioning like a human army. Verse 3 describes the massive devastation they will cause. Whereas the land on one side may look
like the Garden of Eden, once the invasion passes through, all that remains will be a desolate wilderness.
Joel describes the invading army itself in verses 4-9: The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale. They run like mighty men; they
climb the wall like men of war; and they march everyone on his ways, and they break not their ranks. Neither does one thrust another; they march everyone in his path; and they burst through the weapons and break not off their course. They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.
Verse 4 describes their appearance as the appearance of horses, and they run as horsemen. Joel is describing something that appears to be “like” an ordinary military invasion, but it is not. Verse 5 describes the noise they make: Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap,
like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble. They make a crackling sound. Verse 6 emphasizes the terror they will cause. As soon as the people see them, they are in anguish. Their faces turn pale or white. Verses 7and 8 emphasize their speed and their discipline. As they march, everyone walks in step and keeps to the line of their part. Verse 9 describes their attack.
It is very clear that what is being described is similar to the locust invasion, yet they are different from locusts. They have certain characteristics, such as horse-like characteristics, which prove that
they are not locusts, though the devastation they cause is similar to that caused by locusts.
The result of this invasion is given in verse 10: The earthquakes before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. When this invasion occurs, there will be two major results: first, there will be tremendous convulsions of nature; and secondly, there will be a blackout. The word “blackout” means that no light will be penetrating to the earth from the sun, moon, or stars. Throughout the last days there will be five such blackouts. The blackout Joel is
speaking of here is the third of the five blackouts, a blackout that occurs some time during the first half of the Great Tribulation.
Joel gives the reason all these things have occurred in verse 11: And Jehovah utters his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executes his word; for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
As Joel concludes his description of this massive invasion, he points out that it will occur because of divine judgment from God. He states that God is able to execute his word, and He will execute it during the great and very terrible Day of Jehovah. The period of special, divine judgment of the Tribulation has finally hit, hence the question: who can abide it?
What Joel described in these verses is the same thing John described in Revelation 9, where he wrote of two demonic invasions: the first, in verses 1-11, is for the purpose of tormenting. The demons are given
authority to torment men for five months, but they are not permitted to kill anyone. The second demonic invasion, in verses 13-21, comes after five months of torment that will destroy one third of the
inhabitants of the world in that day. The reason Joel 2:11 stated that the camp or the army is very great is because, according to these verses in Revelation 9, the army will be comprised of 200 million demons.
The description given by Joel in 2:4-9 is remarkably like that given by John. Revelation 9 also mentions the same blackout in which there will be no light penetrating to the earth from the sun, moon, or stars. Thus, Joel set the stage for what John developed later. What Joel described in the prophetic invasion is not a locust invasion, but a locust like invasion. The demons that will be involved in this invasion will have
the appearance of locusts as well as the appearance of horses and horsemen.
3. The Exhortation and Call to Fasting and Prayer: Joel 2:12-17
After the historical invasion of locusts in chapter 1, Joel encouraged the nation and the priests to fast and repent and call upon the Lord in prayer. The same thing will occur in the future. As a result of this
demonic invasion, there will be an exhortation and a call to fasting and prayer in Joel 2:12-14.
Just as it was in the past, an exhortation will be issued in the future in verses 12-13a: Yet even now, says Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God. Joel stated that the people’s requirement in that future day will be to turn, meaning “to repent.” The repentance is to come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. This time they are not to rend their garments, but to rend their hearts. The word repent means “to turn around.”
Where there is true repentance, God will respond in grace in verses 13b-14: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repents him of the evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink offering.
unto Jehovah your God?
If they will turn around, God will turn around and leave a blessing behind, so that the destruction will not be total. Indeed, toward the end of the Tribulation, the whole nation will repent in just this way,
and God will respond in grace.
The actual call to fasting and prayer is in Joel 2:15-17. The alarm is sounded once again in verse 15: Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.
When the trumpet sounded in chapter 2:1, it was a warning that the invading army had arrived. This time the alarm is sounded for the purpose of calling a solemn assembly. That, too, was a biblical use of the
trumpet (Num. 10:10). Once again, the trumpet will sound from Mount Zion, a call to sanctify a fast and to call a solemn assembly. The totality of the call is emphasized in verse 16: gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
All should come to repentance in the nation of Israel; even the old men and the children even the nursing babies, as well as the bridegroom and the bride.
There will be a special calling upon the priests to cry for help, according to verse 17: Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O Jehovah, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore
should they say among the peoples, where is their God?
They are to weep between the porch and the altar. This is the space between the Altar of Sacrifice and the front door of the Temple building. They are to call for help based on two things: first, on the basis of being the chosen people; secondly, on the basis of not allowing the Gentiles to deride them and say: Where is their God? Psalm 79 is another example of Israel calling upon the Lord in the closing days of the Tribulation. Psalm 79:10 uses the same reasoning as Joel 2:17: in order not to remain a derision among the Gentiles.
To summarize this unit: Joel describes the recent invasion of locusts and the calling of a solemn assembly, asking God to intervene, lest there be mass starvation. This led to a discussion of a prophetic invasion of demons, bringing destruction by fire, and once again a call goes out for a solemn national assembly for national repentance.
MINISTER DENIS CHECK OUT THIS NEWS!!!
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/larger-wave-locusts-threatens-millions-africa-70079587
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-pandemic-threatens-the-people-of-east-africa-and-now-locusts-threaten-their-food
https://www.wired.com/story/africas-huge-locust-swarms-are-growing-at-the-worst-time/
https://qz.com/africa/1836159/locusts-set-to-hit-kenya-east-africa-again-400-times-stronger/
II. THE SALVATION AND RESTORATION OF ISRAEL: JOEL 2:18-3:21
That Israel will indeed come to repentance is taught in many places in Scripture. The whole nation will then be regenerated, and “all Israel will be saved.” As a result of Israel’s salvation, she will be
restored into all the Promised Land.
A. The Restoration of the Land: Joel 2:18-27
1. The Answer of God: Joel 2:18-20
While the first main unit of the book ended with Israel’s mourning and lamenting in repentance, these verses describe God’s response to that repentance in three ways. First, He responds in mercy in verse 18:
Then was Jehovah jealous for his land and had pity on his people. Two statements are made regarding God’s in mercy on behalf of Israel. First, God’s mercy arises out of His jealousy for his land.
Elsewhere, His jealousy is described as being unique to Jerusalem (Zech. 1:14; 8:2). Secondly, He had pity on his people. God’s pity will never allow a total destruction of the Jewish people.
Secondly, He responds by removing their reproach in verse 19: And Jehovah answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you grain, and new wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. In verse 17, they had asked that the reproach of the Gentiles against the Jews might be removed, and so it will be.
Thirdly, God will remove the invading army in verse 20. but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill savor shall come up, because it has done great things.
Joel will develop this point further in chapter 3, but he begins dealing with a third invasion: the invasion of a human army known today as the Campaign of Armageddon. That final war will bring about the
Second Coming and the Messianic Kingdom. In this verse, God states: I will remove far off from you the northern army. When the locusts invaded Israel, they came from the south, but most of the time human
armies come from the north. In the counterattack, the main body of the army is destroyed in the Negev Desert, the land in the southern part of Israel that is barren and desolate. Its forepart will be destroyed in
the Dead Sea region on the east side of Israel. The hinder part will be destroyed in the western sea, which is Mediterranean Sea on the west side of Israel. This will result in the stench of dead bodies of the armies
of the Antichrist that come against the Jews in the Campaign of Armageddon. They will be destroyed in the south, east, and west of Israel. The north is not mentioned because this is the direction from which the army invaded.
2. The Restoration of Material Blessings: Joel 2:21-27
Joel draws a contrast between the invading army of verse 20 and what God will do in verse 21: Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah has done great things.
In verse 20, the stench arises thickly because they had “done great things” in a negative way. In verse 21, the Land does not need to be afraid, rather it can both be glad and rejoice because now Jehovah has done
great things in a positive way.
The animal kingdom will rejoice in verse 22: Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
The beasts who had earlier suffered because of the devastation of the land will also be rejoicing because the pastures and wilderness will spring up again, and there will once again be sufficient food and water.
Not only will the Land and the animals rejoice, Israel also will rejoice in verses 23-26. They give thanks for five reasons. The first reason is given in verse 23a: Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure. Too many translations render the Hebrew word here former rain in just measure because that seems to make more sense in the context. But this is not a valid translation because the Hebrew literally reads, “the teacher of righteousness.” This Teacher of Righteousness is the Jewish Messiah Himself. So, they are rejoicing because the Teacher of
Righteousness, the Messiah, is in their midst.
The second reason for the rejoicing of the people is in verse 23b: and he causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.
The rains will now come in their proper seasons. Joel mentions three categories of rain: the main body of rain, the early rain that precedes it, and the latter rain that follows it. If the rains come in their proper
seasons, the land will produce more. Since the rains will come in their proper seasons after Israel is saved as a nation, there will be rejoicing because that will mean an abundance of crops.
The third reason the people are rejoicing is given in verse 24: And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. Indeed, when the rains come in their proper seasons, an abundance of grain, wine, and oil will occur. Instead of tearing barns down as they had done previously, now they will have more than they can fit into these barns.
The fourth reason Israel will rejoice is given in verse 25: And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the canker worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent among you. Not only will there be this new abundance, but there will also be a restoration of all previous losses Israel suffered in all previous plagues, such as the locust plague of Joel’s day. God will so massively produce in the Messianic Kingdom that all of the previous losses will be more than compensated.
And the fifth reason for this rejoicing is given in verse 26: And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that has dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame. They will have plenty to eat and will be satisfied. The reproach they
felt among the Gentiles, which they prayed might be removed in verse 17, will indeed be removed and now they will rejoice for it.
So, the Land will rejoice, the animals will rejoice, and the people of Israel will rejoice over the restoration of the material blessings. The result of the restoration of material blessings in given in verse 27: And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame. The key result of it all is that they will certainly know that Jehovah is indeed the God of Israel. When they see all of these material blessings in the Kingdom and all previous losses restored, then they will clearly see that God is among them and never again will they be ashamed.
B. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Joel 2:28-32
Israel’s national salvation is frequently connected with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Joel describes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in verses 28-29. The timing is given in verse 28a: And it shall come to pass afterward.
Joel specifies the timing of this outpouring with the word afterward. After what? After what the preceding context has been dealing with, after the judgments of the Great Tribulation, after Israel’s repentance. When Israel repents, there will be this outpouring upon the whole nation that
will lead to the nation’s salvation. It is an outpouring that occurs during the last three days of the Great Tribulation (Hos. 5:15- 6:3). Joel describes the universality of this outpouring and its results in
verses 28b-29: that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.
The term all flesh in this context is “all Jewish flesh.” Joel does not mean that there will be an outpouring upon the whole world in general, but upon the whole nation of Israel in particular. This is the
same event that Paul spoke of in Romans 11. Notice the pronoun your; your daughters, your young men, your old men. He is speaking of Israel, not of the Church. In this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there will be no distinction of age, sex, or social status. The whole nation will receive this outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will result in prophetic dreams and visions. Thus Joel speaks of that future outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will result in the salvation of the whole nation during the last three days of the Great Tribulation.
Joel points out certain signs that will lead to this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in verses 30-31: And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah comes.
He mentions two things: first, there will be convulsions of nature in verse 30; and secondly, the whole thing will be signaled by a blackout in verse 31. Once again, no light from the sun, moon, or stars will
penetrate to the earth. The blackout described here is the first of the five blackouts. This one will occur sometime before the Tribulation, because he gives the timing of the blackout as coming before the great and terrible day of Jehovah. Sometime before the Tribulation starts, the first of five blackouts will occur. These are all signs that the final salvation of Israel will soon come.
The prerequisite for the outpouring of the Spirit upon Israel is stated in verse 32: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah has said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah does call.
Joel gives the one prerequisite to Israel’s salvation: Israel must call upon the name of the Lord. The Remnant of Israel will do precisely that.
C. The Judgment of the Gentiles: Joel 3:1-17
The third subdivision deals with the judgment of the Gentiles following Israel’s national salvation.
1. The Announcement of the Judgment: Joel 3:1-8
The timing for the announcement of that coming judgment of the Gentiles is given in verse 1: For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.
The judgment will be at the time of the restoration of Israel. It will be in conjunction with the time of Israel’s regeneration and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, it will be when God shall
bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem. Hence, it is at the time of Israel’s final restoration, as well as their regeneration. This judgment will take place after the Tribulation in preparation for the Kingdom.
The subjects and the location of the judgment are named in verse 2a: I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. The subjects are all nations. The Hebrew word for nations simply means “Gentiles.” All Gentiles who survive the Tribulation will be gathered together for this judgment. The location of this judgment is the valley of Jehoshaphat, also known as the Valley of Kidron. It is one of the two valleys that surround the Old City of Jerusalem. It is in this valley,
separating the Old City from the Mount of Olives, that the judgment will occur.
The basis of this judgment is given in verses 2b-3: and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
The basis of this judgment will be pro-Semitism or anti-Semitism, or how these Gentiles treated the Jews during the Great Tribulation. Many of these Gentiles will be guilty of three anti-Semitic acts during
the Great Tribulation: first, for scattering Israel; secondly, for dividing the Land among themselves, a Land that belongs to the Jews; and thirdly, for enslaving the Jews. Joel gives some examples of the sins of which they are guilty in verses 4-6: Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of
Philistia? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head. Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold and have carried into your temples my goodly precious things, and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye may remove them far from their border.
Joel mentions three examples of the sins committed against the Jews. First, in verse 4, is the sin of vengeance against the Jews. Joel speaks of the recompense of Tyre and Sidon and Philistia. The Philistine country today is the Gaza Strip, comprised mostly of Palestinian Arabs, and Phoenicia today is Lebanon. Those living in the area of the Philistine country and the Phoenician country will be particularly guilty.
Apparently, these two areas will be especially vengeful against the Jews. Their vengeance against the Jews is now to be repaid by vengeance from God. Secondly, in verse 5, they will be guilty of
spoiling the Temple. And thirdly, in verse 6, they will be guilty of selling Jews as slaves to the Greeks.
Having given examples of their sins, Joel gives the example of the punishment that is to come in verses 7-8: behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head; and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of
Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah has spoken it.
Joel makes two points. First, the Jews who have been sold far off will be brought back to the Land. Secondly, the sellers themselves will be sold far off. How far off is given elsewhere in Scripture, but the anti-Semites will be slain in this judgment and sent to Hell. In that sense they are indeed sent far off.
2. The Occasion of the Judgment: Joel 3:9-13
In verses 1-8, Joel announces the judgment of the Gentiles and in verses 9-13 he summarizes the beginning and the end of the Armageddon Campaign. The gathering of the nations for war is
described in verses 9-11.
There is a proclamation issued among the nations to prepare for War in verse 9: Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.
This is the same proclamation found in Revelation 16:12-16, where the Antichrist will be responsible for gathering these armies together in the Valley of Jezreel and calling for war against the Jews. The
Hebrew words for Proclaim and prepare war mean “to sanctify a war.” In other words, the Antichrist declares a holy war against the Jews. In this holy war, he will bring all the armies together in the Campaign of Armageddon for one final onslaught against the Jews. Furthermore, the mighty men are to be stirred up.
Indeed, the armies that join the Antichrist will not do this merely out of a sense of necessity, but will do it with enthusiasm in verse 10: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
They will turn all farming equipment into weapons of war. Their enthusiasm will be seen in two ways: first, it is seen in the way they will form weapons of war from peaceful materials; secondly, in the way the
weak and cowardly will deceive themselves into believing they are strong and very courageous.
Their speed in coming together is described in verse 11: Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah. Just like the Nazis, they cannot wait to begin killing Jews. Nevertheless, while the nations are gathering, God causes His own mighty ones to come down. This refers to the angels, to carry out His own purposes, not
those of Satan or the Antichrist. Hence, this is going to be both a human and an angelic conflict, ending in Gentile defeat and Gentile judgment.
The gathering of the nations for judgment is given in verses 12-13: Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their
wickedness is great. Verse 12 describes the gathering itself and marks the beginning and the end of the Campaign of Armageddon. When the nations gather for the purpose of annihilating the Jews, the Antichrist will gather them in the Valley of Jezreel, the Valley of Megiddo. But just as the
Antichrist will gather all the nations for war against the Jews, the end result will be that God will gather all the nations in another valley for judgment: The Valley of Jehoshaphat, between Jerusalem and the
Mount of Olives.
In verse 13, the nations are pictured as undergoing “reaping” and “treading.” Throughout the Scriptures, reaping is a symbol for salvation. Thus, the reaping results in salvation because many Gentiles
are pro-Semites; these are the “sheep” Gentiles and they are reaped unto salvation. The pro-Semites are not saved because they were good to the Jews, but they were good to the Jews because they were already
saved. Their pro-Semitic acts show their faith. This is also found in Revelation 14:14-16. The treading results in the destruction of the anti-Semites. This treading is also described in Revelation 14:17-20,
which speaks of this treading as taking place just outside the walls of Jerusalem. The anti-Semite Gentiles will be trodden down into destruction in Hell.
3. The Execution of the Judgment: Joel 3:14-17
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. And Jehovah will roar from Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am
Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
In verse 14, this judgment of the Gentiles will be the outworking of the Day of Jehovah, during which time they tried to destroy the Jews. Now, this judgment is an outworking of that period. In verse 15,
another blackout is described. This is the one that happens after the Tribulation and is the fifth blackout of the last days. It is also mentioned in Matthew 24:29. Of the five blackouts of the last days,
Joel mentions three: the one before the Tribulation, the one in the second quarter during the first half of the Tribulation, and one after the Tribulation. According to verse 16, this is a war of judgment against the Gentiles, for God is a refuge for Israel. Following the judgment of the Gentiles, the Kingdom is established in verse 17. This judgment of the Gentiles described by Joel 3:1-17 is the very same judgment as that described in Matthew 25:31-46, the judgment of the sheep and the goats.
D. The Messianic Kingdom: Joel 3:18-21
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall abide forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwells in Zion.
Joel describes the Messianic Kingdom by stating five things. First, in verse 18a, the Land will be well watered. Secondly, in verse 18b, there will be a special Millennial River, which is also mentioned in
Zechariah 14:8 and Ezekiel 47:1-12. Thirdly, in verse 19, there will be a desolation of Egypt and Edom, which is southern Jordan. According to Ezekiel 29:8-14, the desolation of Egypt is limited to only forty
years, the first forty years of the Messianic Kingdom, but Edom will be desolate throughout the 1,000 years of the Millennial Kingdom. Both of these nations, Egypt and Edom, will be desolate is because of
their previous violence against the Jews. Fourthly, in verse 20, Israel will live in security. And fifth, in verse 21, Israel will experience a national salvation.
In this manner, Joel concludes his book.
End of class.
Remember, this is not only reading material, it is study material !!!
Read and study the class again, to assimilate it!
FOR THE STUDENT: THIS CLASS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR STUDY AND USE THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 11, WHEN THEN THE EXAMINATION OF THE SAME WILL BE POSTED. YOU HAVE FROM TUESDAY 12 TO WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT YOUR EXAMINATION OF THIS CLASS TO THE SEMINARY!!!
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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CHRISTIAN COUNSELING, (PH.D. C.C.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling.
Credit for ministerial experience will be taken into consideration for people who qualify. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT CREDITS FOR MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE WILL BE CONSIDERED AND APPLIED TOWARDS A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE ONLY. To request the ministerial experience, send an email to the offices of CUTS at: minexperience@cutsedu.org or call (413) 883-4893 and request these forms.
COMBINATION DEGREE PROGRAMS: We have Combination of Degree Programs. Combination of Degree Program, Master’s/Doctoral degree is available. Talk to a student advisor, or to the Admissions Office about a Master’s/Doctoral degree combination program.
ABOUT THIS DEGREE PROGRAM: The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling program consists of courses that allow students to prepare, and have a better understanding of the foundations of Christian Counseling. The Doctor of Ministry in Christian Counseling program offers students advanced training in faith-based Christian Counseling.
The program is offered in conjunction with the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). The program will lead to your earning your Doctor of Ministry degree and advanced certification by the AACC.
The program consists of ten online Module/Classes, with emphasis in key Counseling books, key teaching, and foundational counseling preparation courses; which are the equivalent of thirty hours of study; and Textbook requirements, equivalent of twenty hours of study. Texts should be selected from the list of authorized textbooks listed below. Although all textbooks can be ordered simultaneously, assignments must be submitted one at a time. Once a textbook is read, the 10 to 20-page paper describing what is read should be presented for qualification. A four to five-page document is required for each module taken at the college site in Miami. We are simply asking the students for a summary of the material. Review the How to present your work card in relation to the presentation of work.
ONLINE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM: The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling program requires a total of 10 Module/Classes, to be completed online. The students will take the Module/Classes and at the end of the class will be ready to take the Doctoral Module Examination for that class. These requirements are also applied to students on campus, but the classes are presented live with a college professor.
SPECIFIC TEXTBOOKS REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM: The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling degree program requires a total of 50 hours. This consists of ten online courses (30 hours); and life experience, ministry, education, military and/or four textbooks homework (20 hours). Four of the textbooks homework required, must have the essential subjects, chosen from the list of authorized textbooks listed below. Up to four of the eight required courses may be optional. The Electives can be chosen from the Electives that appear on the page or in person attendance at the seminary. Up to two of the electives may have Substitute Books. Substitute books must be first submitted for consideration through the alternative form of textbooks.
ABOUT PROGRAM TEXTBOOKS AND MODULE/CLASSES: We are Christ-centered and Bible-based institution. So, it should be an encouragement to know that (CUTS) use well respected textbooks and other learning resources that fit within the general middle of evangelical Biblical teaching and doctrine. Textbooks are carefully selected for both academic and theological appropriateness. It’s usually the theological appropriateness that concerns prospective students. This is certainly understandable, especially in light of the fact that nearly everyone considering enrolling in a program with Christian Union Theological Seminary (CUTS) is already well versed in Bible and Theology, and many are actually advanced teachers and preachers of the Word of God.
LIBROS DE TEXTO AUTORIZADO DE BACHILLERATO EN ARTES EN CONSEJERÍA CRISTIANA:
BCC 310 – Introducción a la psicología pastoral (Spanish Edition) by: Dr. Esdras Betancourt (Author) 
BCC 330 – Manual del consejero Cristiano (Spanish Edition) By: Jay E. Adams
BCC 340 – Consejería cristiana efectiva (Spanish Edition) (Spanish) 6th ed. Edition by Gary Collins
BCC 350 – El Arte de Aconsejar Bíblicamente (Spanish Edition) by Larry Crabb Jr.
BCC 360 – Consejería Bíblica, tomo 3: Manual de consulta sobre adolescentes (Spanish Edition) by Dr Tim Clinton
BCC 370 – Consejería Bíblica: Manual de Consulta sobre 40 Temas Críticos (Spanish Edition) by Dr Ron Hawkins, Dr Tim Clinton
BCC 380 – Consejería Bíblica Cristo-Céntrica (Spanish) Hardcover – 2018 by James MacDonald (Author), Steve Viars Bob Kellermen (Editor)
BCC 390 – Capacitados Para Restaurar (Curso de Formacion Ministerial: Consejeria) (Spanish Edition) By Jay E. Adams
BCC 400 – La Consejería: Cómo Aconsejar Bíblicamente (Spanish Edition) (Spanish) Hardcover by John F. MacArthur
BCC 410 – La Practica de Aconsejar (Spanish) Paperback – April 29, 2013 by Dr. Jay E. Adams
BCC 420 – Cómo aconsejar en situaciones de crisis (Curso de Formacion Ministerial: Consejería) (Spanish Edition) by Norman Wright
BCC 430 – El Pastor Y La Consejeria (The Pastor and Counseling) – 9Marks: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need (Spanish Edition) By Deepak Reju, Jeremy Pierre
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Use assignments@cutsedu.org for the presentation of the courses by email. This email address should also be used for the presentation of PhD projects in Ministry and for PhD dissertations. CUTS expects a summary of at least ten to twenty pages from each textbook for all degree programs. Typewritten, or computer, type double-spaced font should be 10 – 12. Microsoft Word is preferable to send it as an attachment, or attached file, by email. If Microsoft Word is not available, assignments can be copied and pasted into the body of the email. Please check your paper for spelling and grammar errors before sending to:
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FORM TO SUBMIT YOUR EXAMS / REPORT
El examen – G – CRISTOLOGÍA- LOS TRES (3) MILAGROS MESIÁNICOS – ya no está disponible!
The exam – STUDY MODULE – BCC-301 PSALM 90: EXPOSURE – is no longer available!
The exam – DT-302- THE BOOK OF JOEL: AN EXPOSITION – is no longer available!
El examen – MEC – 103 ANGELOLOGIA – LA DOCTRINA DE LOS ÁNGELES ELEGIDOS I & II – ya no está disponible!
1. Biographical data
Jeanette Romero (the “Student”)
46 Morton Road
Waterbury, Connecticut 06705
Cell Phone (203) 565-3314
denisjiny@msn.comStudent Identification Number [33CT-DCCE3467-02]
2. Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy – Christian Counseling (Ph.D.)
3. Start date
November 29, 2019
Financial information
November 29, 2019 Payment received for Registration $ 200.00
December 29, 2019 Payment received $100.00
January 26, 2020 Payment received $100.00
February 14, 2020 Payment received $100.00
March 21, 2020 Payment received $100.00
April 25, 2020 Payment received $100.00
May 18, 2020 Payment received $100.00
Jun 23, 2020 Pago recibido $100.00
July 01, 2020 Pago recibido $0.00
BECA DE ESTUDIO PARA JEANETTE – APROVADA, $0.00
Payment made so far $900.00
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
Congratulations!! Dear student Min. Jeanette Romero ID # [33CT-DCCE3467-02], Min. Jeanette Romero, Your account with the Christian Union Theological Seminary has been given a discount!!!
I. This Student Agreement (this “Agreement”) is hereby made effective as of November 29, 2019 (the Effective Date). All student communication to CUTS must include the Student Identification Number.
ll. Degree Program
The student has enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy – Christian Counseling (Ph.D.) program with Christian Union Theological Seminary, on November 29, 2019.
The student is required to complete courses of 50-hour credits with CUTS. The Joint Study Curriculum is designed to complete the program in a convenient and manageable manner. It is the student’s responsibility to buy, read, comment, and summarize the required books; and study the classes, in accordance with the instructions specified in the class of your virtual page.
In addition, this Ph.D. program requires the student to complete and submit a Disertation Within the next few weeks, CUTS must receive, directly from the educational institution that confers it, an official, signed copy of the transcript of the Student’s Master’s degree, which shows the date on which the degree was granted.
The student can submit their assignments by regular mail, or by email. (“e-mail”). In order for them to be processed, assignments submitted by regular mail must include an envelope with their address and postage. The notes of your assignments submitted by mail, will be returned in the envelope with your address and postage that was sent with your assignment. Assignments submitted by email will receive your notes via email. To avoid delays in the process of correcting assignments and works, a signed and dated copy of this Agreement must be filed with CUTS and the Student’s account must be current. The student must complete his Ph.D. Program within a “maximum” of two years from the date of the Effective Date of this agreement to avoid increases in his course work.
Dear student, in this page, there are your academic credits that you have already completed. This page will always be updated, to reflect your accumulated credits.
Jeanette ID# [33CT-DCCE3467-02]
ACCUMULATED CREDITS – 34
To see the finished classes and final grade, please click on the titles.
CLASE: MAYORDOMÍA CRISTIANA – WATERBURY, DRA ANDINO – LIBRO: ADMINISTRACIÓN: UN ENFOQUE BÍBLICO BY: MYRON D. RUSH – FECHA TERMINADO: 3/07/2020 – CREDITOS ACADEMICOS: 6
CLASE: MÓDULO DE ESTUDIO – TS105 CRISTOLOGÍA – LOS TRES (3) MILAGROS MESIÁNICOS – FECHA TERMINADO: 03/24/2020 – CREDITOS ACADEMICOS: 4
CLASE: MÓDULO DE ESTUDIO – BCC-301 SALMO 90: UNA EXPOSICIÓN – FECHA TERMINADO: 04/07/2020 – CREDITOS ACADEMICOS: A
CLASS: DT-302- THE BOOK OF JOEL: AN EXPOSITION – DATE FINISHED: 05/12/2020 – FINAL NOTE: A
CLASE: MCC-103 ANGELOLOGÍA – LA DOCTRINA DE LOS ÁNGELES ELEGIDOS I & II – FECHA TERMINADO: 05/21/2020 – NOTA FINAL: A
These resources to our students help them in their studies, in the preparation of reports, theses, and dissertations for their classes. We hope you find them useful.
TO SEE CONTENT PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLES
We can not fail to mention the need to cultivate, from the first moment, healthy and correct habits in the study. Next we will mention nine habits of importance for the good performance of the study of the Bible.
TO SEE CONTENTS PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLES
PRAYER
Every study of the Scriptures must begin with prayer. Asking the Holy Spirit for direction and wisdom for the study of His inspired Word will guarantee a better use of time and learning. This is one of the most difficult habits to acquire in the biblical study, but at the same time it is also one of the most strategic, because it depends on our reading becoming knowledge and use.
TIME
Sporadic study is of little use, the serious student of the Bible will separate time for reading and study. That time should be daily and the best hours of the day, usually the best time is early morning when the mind is fresh and rested body.
PLACE
It is often believed that any place is good for studying the Bible, but choosing an appropriate site is more important than we imagine. It must be a place, quiet, free of interruptions and where there are as few distractions as possible.
PLAN
One should never study the Bible, without following a definite plan when reading sautéed passages, or studying different books without any specific system, the results tend to be minimal.
CONCENTRATION
It is of supreme importance that we form the habit of concentrating on reading, even though perhaps this means that at first we subject ourselves to discipline, that if we discover that we are progressing in reading without really reading, let’s go back to the beginning and go back to begin by understanding word by word what we read.
OBSERVATION
It is necessary to accustom the mind to pay attention to the simplest details of what we read, for example: The Characters or groups that are mentioned, the places, the events and what is said of each one.
MEDITATION
Perhaps this is one of the most important habits to acquire in the bible study, but at the same time it is also one of the most strategic, because again it depends on our reading becoming knowledge and use.
ANNOTATIONS
Few people are endowed with such extraordinary retention capacity that they can retain everything they read. For that reason it is advisable to always accompany the study with a paper and pencil, we must write down the most outstanding discoveries.
REVIEW
This is one of the fundamental laws of the learning of any subject and much more of bible study, it is not enough just to study, it is necessary to review what has been studied over and over again.
FOR THE STUDENT: The Virtual Library is a resource that you, as a registered student, can use to do your studies and biblical research. Your password or Password to enter the Virtual Library is: BARUC
FORMULARIO DE DATOS DE ASIGNACIÓN
FORMULARIO DE DATOS PARA SOMETER SU ASIGNACIÓN
Este formulario de datos de asignación debe ser presentado a STUCI con todas las tareas.
STUCI prefiere que las asignaciones sean enviadas por correo electrónico a:
Cuando envíe sus asignaciones: El formulario de datos de asignación debe ser copiado,pegado y se inserta en el cuerpo del correo electrónico. Este formulario no puede ser incluido como un archivo adjunto. La asignación de trabajos y reportes deben acompañar este correo electrónico, los trabajos se pueden enviar como un documento. Usted recibirá una respuesta confirmando la recepción automática de su correo electrónico.
Al enviar sus asignaciones (sólo si usted no tiene acceso al correo electrónico): El formulario de Asignación de datos, debe ser la primera página, seguido de la página del título, seguido de la asignación. Comunicaciones enviadas por correo requieren la inclusión de un sobre franqueado, y con su dirección – sin excepciones. No envíe cualquier cosa que requiere una firma en la entrega – pues le será devuelto a usted sin reclamar.
Las presentaciones recibidas que no satisfaga la información requerida no serán revisadas.
FORMA DE DATOS DE ASIGNACIÓN
(Todos los datos deben ser completados.)
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We’re happy to share this list of 14 “best practices” that may be helpful as you write papers and reports.
Not every item may apply to you personally, but a few will prove to be of assistance. We have students from many countries, speaking many languages – if some of these instructions seem rudimentary, please recognize the needs of our international student body.
We want your work as a student with Christian Union Theological Seminary and Emmaus Road College of the Bible to produce ever-increasing knowledge for your ministry to the Church. I suggest you print this message and keep it nearby as you produce papers and reports as a Christian Union student.
1. Basic requirements for your reports and papers
There are some basic paper writing requirements set forth for your degree, which you can conveniently find here at our Christian Union Theological Seminary website under the Academics tab.
Find our web page related to your degree program, read the requirements for papers, and print them out so you can have them for convenient review as you complete your assignment.
In addition to the website instructions, we encourage students to use a title page for each assignment.
A good title page contains:
- The course number of the text (you can find this on your degree program page)
2. The full title of the text.
3. The name of the text’s author(s)
4. The name of the text’s publisher and the year the book was published (found within the first few pages)
5. Your name
6. The name of the degree you are seeking at Christian Union Theological Seminary and Emmaus Road College of the Bible
7. The fact that the paper is prepared for Christian Union Theological Seminary and Emmaus Road College of the Bible
8. The date you are submitting the paper for grading
Most title pages have each item on an individual line, with spaces between lines, and all lines set alignment-centered on the page. Title pages do not count as part of a paper’s minimum length requirements.
- Formats for submission
It is always best to submit your report in Microsoft Word compatible formats whenever possible, using a common 11 or 12 pt. type (Times New Roman is a good choice. Choosing unusual fonts causes problems when your grader does not have the font on his computer). Double-space lines. Using a larger type size to artificially inflate the length of a paper is frowned upon, and can result in having your paper returned without a grade or receiving a lower grade. Do not set your entire paper in boldface type. Send your report in as one, single document. Do not send in multiple documents for a single assignment.
- Common seminary capitalization questions
Capitalize the word Bible when it refers to the Word of God. Also capitalize the words Old Testament, New Testament and the various books of the Bible (such as I Corinthians). Capitalize the word Trinity when it refers to God. Capitalize Father, Son and Holy Spirit when referring to the Three Persons of the Trinity. Out of reverence many students choose to capitalize Him, His, He and other pronouns when they refer to God, and of course this is acceptable, but take care to capitalize these words consistently throughout your paper.
Capitalize the word church when it refers to the complete number of truly saved individuals in Jesus Christ throughout history, often referred to as the Church Universal or the True Church. Also capitalize the word when it is part of a proper name such as Hillside Church or in the proper name of an established denomination, such as Church of God in Christ. When the word is used generally to refer to one or more local churches use the lowercase spelling of the word.
Examples: We’re attending worship services at church next Sunday. The visiting preacher’s lecture is on the subject of Christ’s sacrifice for the Church. The speaker will preach at Hillside Church next week. He’ll speak at other local churches before returning to seminary next month.
Capitalize the word pastor when used as a title preceding a name. Do not capitalize when the word is used as a description following the name, or as a word describing a general position.
Examples: We also enjoyed Pastor Smith’s comments. Smith serves as pastor for Hillside Church. He leads a monthly devotional time for pastors in our region.
- Common quotation marks usage
In American English, when ending a quotation you commonly first place the period which ends the sentence, then the closing quotation mark. See William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s The Elements of Style or www.grammarbook.com for more details. The same order holds true for partial sentences being quoted and ending with commas, colons, semicolons, etc. Most often, you will first place the punctuation mark, and then place the closing quotation mark. There are some minor exceptions.
- Proofreading and self-correcting
I always encourage the student to perform good proofreading and self-correcting before sending in a paper for a grade. Some of our students are better at this than others – but proofreading is a very important step. It’s better to delay a paper for one or two days for good proofreading than to rush it in with careless errors! This is true with academic papers, and with normal ministry items like church bulletins and published orders of Sunday morning service.
If writing and grammar are not your best subjects, you may wish to ask a trusted friend with a strong academic background to help you with your proofreading. Do not look at asking for help as a sign of weakness – rather, look at it as allowing the Lord to use others to help you in your ministry progress.
- Grammar helps at no cost
From time to time, even the best writer and/or grammar student needs a resource guide for help with things like using apostrophes or quotation marks properly. I suggest all our students add www.grammarbook.com to their internet bookmarks for when that time arises. This is a free online resource to help answer challenging grammar questions. There are many free grammar guides available online, feel free to use them when writing a paper.
It is advisable to purchase a copy of The Turabian Style Manual for writing papers at the Ph.D. or Th.D. program levels. You can also purchase a copy of William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White’s Elements of Style, (not a requirement, merely a suggestion) for less than $10.00 in paperback form in most chain bookstores or college bookstores.
- Bad habits to avoid:
- When writing academic papers, do not refer to the author by his first name only. Use his first and last name when you refer to him for the first time in your paper, and then his last name only throughout the rest of the paper.
- Do not copy directly from the textbook without making it clear you are quoting from the text. This is a very serious issue.
- Do not share your personal thoughts, experiences or additional insights instead of reviewing the chapter for your report. First show you have read and understood the material, then share your thoughts, experiences and additional insights to what you have read and understood. This can be a struggle for students who are also preaching weekly: The skillful retelling of personal experiences and stories from history, so extremely useful in the pulpit, can actually become a distraction when writing summary papers for seminary.
- Quoting the author in your paper
I encourage students to consider providing some quotes from the author in each paper. While not essential to paper writing or your grade, it is helpful because authors often best summarize their own thoughts on a given subject, especially near the end of chapters. When you do choose to quote from the author, be sure you are using quotation marks correctly and please provide the page number from which the quote is taken.
Quoting can be accomplished by simply following this format:
Billings, in his book The Deliberate Church, summarizes his feelings on the matter when he reports that “knowing Christ as Lord and Savior should change the way we look at people around us” (p. 25).
- Show your work in chapter-by-chapter form when appropriate
Some degree programs advise students to review the text in chapter-by-chapter manner. This is a wise way for any student to review any textbook. When doing so, break your paper into reviews of each chapter, using the chapter titles as headings as you go.
Provide quotation marks and page number references when quoting directly from the author. This shows your grader that you are not “skipping over” a chapter as you present your assignment, and that you are not simply copying words out of the textbook to fill up the required length of your report.
- Clearly distinguish the author’s thoughts from your thoughts and/or thoughts from other sources
When writing academic papers, it is important to distinguish which thoughts belong to the text’s author, which thoughts belong to you, the student, and which thoughts come from other sources. This is easily accomplished by using the style below:
In this chapter, the author states we must always love our local church despite its flaws and imperfections. I agree, but would like to add that times can come when such flaws and imperfections grow so deep that false doctrines about Christ exist. This leaves no recourse other than separation, as seen during the Reformation. This exception is clarified in the pamphlet “Ichabod’s Legacy” by Rev. Bill Jonesboro of Augusta GA, who also preached in April of 2007 that “the only way to help a church where the Spirit is no longer present because of years of false teaching is to leave it.”
- Provide book, chapter and verse references, and note which Bible translation is quoted
Nearly every paper written for Christian Union Theological Seminary and Emmaus Road College of the Bible will contain references to Scripture. When quoting from the Bible, please provide book, chapter and verse references. Also, with the wide array of translations and paraphrases in today’s marketplace, it is important to let your grader/professor know which version of the Bible you are using.
This is accomplished early in your paper simply by inserting a line which states, as an example: “All Bible references in this paper come from the King James Version of the Bible, except where clearly noted by the student.”
We suggest our students use translations rather than paraphrases for their primary Bible, and for the purposes of writing papers. Usually, one can discover if their Bible is a translation or paraphrase by looking over its first few pages. Paraphrase versions of the Bible (such as The Message) have their useful place as sources of additional comment, but please use actual translations for your primary Scripture references.
- Using B.C. and A.D. correctly (and understanding B.C.E. and C.E.)
Always use capital letters when writing B.C. and A.D. The correct way of writing years with B.C. and A.D. is to put A.D. in front of the date and B.C. after it.
Examples:
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius took place in A.D. 79.
The murder of Julius Caesar took place in 44 B.C.
Now that communication between the various cultures of the world is becoming more commonplace, some writers think a dating system based on one particular religious view is no longer appropriate. They have adopted the notations B.C.E. and C.E., which stand for “before common era” and “common era.” However, in seminary we are very comfortable using B.C. and A.D., as these notations honor the history-changing existence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some students have shown offense to the notations B.C.E. and C.E. when they encounter them in textbooks. They are not obliged to use them (outside of quoting directly from the text material).
- Do you desire to review a text, but it isn’t on your degree list? Be sure it is approved by your Christian Union Theological Seminary advisors before you start.
Christian Union Theological Seminary will consider accepting a review of a text that is not on your degree list, but before you start your report work, be certain the book has been cleared by our advisory committee.
When submitting a paper on one of these “elective” texts, help minimize potential confusion by indicating which CUTS staff member approved the textbook as an elective, and the date the book was approved.
- Some other helpful best practices: Footers and page numbers
I encourage students using Microsoft Word to use the footer setting to place their name, degree and text title at the bottom of each page, in small (7 pt. is fine) type. This is not a requirement, but it is a good practice. Making sure pages are numbered is another good practice. Remember, your papers represent your approach to your seminary studies – a neat and well-organized paper demonstrates you take your studies seriously.
Remember, it’s all about learning, and applying what you learn to ministry!
I hope these suggestions are of some use, and that you will take them to heart to strengthen your presentation of papers with Christian Union Theological Seminary and Emmaus Road College of the Bible. Earning a degree from a seminary is a tremendous undertaking, and since you will be using your knowledge to impact people for Christ, it deserves the best effort you can provide. If our CUTS staff can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to call on us. We’re here to help you succeed and accomplish mighty things for the Kingdom of God!
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK:
Textbook Summary submissions should be 10-20 pages in length. The majority of the paper should be a summary of the content of the text. In addition, a statement or paragraph concerning what was learned and how it is applicable to the Student’s life and/or ministry should be included. Christian Union suggests that the Student briefly summarize each chapter of the text as it is reviewed. Once the paper is completed, the Student should then review and make any revisions necessary to present a good summary for submission.
Seminar Summary submissions should be between 4-6 pages in length. The majority of the paper should be a summary of the content of the seminar. In addition, a statement or paragraph concerning what was learned and how it is applicable to the Student’s life and/or ministry should be included.
Christian Counseling (CC) Verbatim reports should be between 1-3 pages in length. CC verbatims are word-for-word reports of actual counseling or ministry care dialogue sessions. The CC verbatim reports may cover formal counseling sessions as well as time spent with someone in a helpful situation such as a hospital visit, nursing home visit or a conversation with someone at church. Each CC verbatim report should begin with a paragraph describing the setting in which the counseling or dialogue session took place. Each CC verbatim report should conclude with a paragraph summarizing the Student’s perception of the result of the counseling or ministry care dialogue sessions.
Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth (MECG) Verbatim reports should be between 1-3 pages in length. MECG verbatims are word-for-word reports or summaries of actual missions, evangelism or church growth experiences. MECG verbatim reports may cover experiences that include, but are not limited to, the following: personal witnessing/evangelism encounters (these are encounters where you have in some way shared the gospel with a person who is not a Christian); any effort to build up your church, small group, Sunday school class; or any mission effort such as Bible school or handing out gospel tracts. Each MECG verbatim report should begin with a paragraph describing the setting in which the mission, evangelism or church growth experience took place. Each MECG verbatim report should conclude with a paragraph summarizing the Student’s perception of the result of the mission, evangelism or church growth experience.
Christian Sales and Marketing (CSM) Verbatim reports should be between 1-3 pages in length. CSM verbatim reports are word-for-word reports or summaries of actual sales talks, or presentations given or made to an individual or group of persons. CSM verbatim reports may cover talks or presentations that include, but are not limited to, conversations in which you are attempting to sell or market an item or a concept to another individual or group of persons. Each CSM verbatim report should begin with a paragraph describing the setting in which the sales and marketing experience took place. Each CSM verbatim report should conclude with a paragraph summarizing the Student’s perception of the result of the sales and marketing experience.
Dissertations should be between 60-150 pages in length and must include a bibliography with at least 20 references. A dissertation should introduce the theme and then in detail research the theme and provide in lay language the exposition or details of the theme. Footnotes and research notes should be noted numerically after each quote with the source listed at the end of the paper. The following is a great resource for dissertations: A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Seventh Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) by Kate L. Turabian, Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams (Apr 15, 2007).
Ministry Projects should be between 35-50 pages in length. A Ministry Project should introduce the theme and then in detail research the theme and provide, in lay language, the exposition or details of the theme. Footnotes and research notes should be noted numerically after each quote with the source listed at the end of the paper.
Requirements for all types of submissions:
- Each submission must be received in Microsoft Word or compatible software.
- Each submission must be typewritten.
- Each submission must be double-spaced.
- Each submission should be typed using the Times New Roman or similar font style in a font size no smaller than 10 and no larger than 12.
- Each submission must include a completed Assignment Data Form.
- Each submission must include a title page.
Carefully review “Good Habits and Helpful Hints for Writing” found behind the tab labeled RESOURSES on the homepage. An Assignment Data Form must accompany each submission. This form is found behind the tab labeled Assignment Data Form on the homepage.
Carefully review the instructions provided on the Assignment Data Form for electronic mailing of assignments to ensure timely processing of submissions. Contact assignments@cutsedu.org directly with any questions concerning submissions.
Please note that the Student is responsible for keeping track of core courses, electives, alternates and seminars. Should a student purchase a seminar that is not applicable to the degree program, no refunds or transfers will be granted. Should a student submit more than the allowable number of electives or alternates, the Student will be responsible for the tuition cost associated with additional coursework.