Salute Timothy

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will (Ephesians 1:9)." What is God's will for end times? And unto whom was it revealed? Even the word "mystery" discretely implies that these things must be revealed. The truth concerning God's will for end times was to remain an elusive mystery until the time of the end. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10)" When God causes his will to be understood, then the evidences of scripture will allow believers to have confidence that they are working together in agreement with God (John 14:4; Ephesians 1:11). “We are laborers together with God (1Corinthians 3:9).” “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17).” Prophets are discovering the hidden truths of prophecy, as well as the mystery of God's will. As they make these discoveries, others are joining in with them to help them promote their findings. Collectively, all of the people which are either bringing forth, or advancing the hidden truths of prophecy, are God's messengers. “We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake (1Thessalonians 5:12-13).” “Submit yourselves to every one that helps with us, and labors (1Corinthians 16:16).” “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer (1Timothy 4:4-5).”

God's messengers will bring the answers concerning the hidden truths of prophecy unto the religious authorities, and they are to be received (Matthew 10:14; 10:41; John 13:20). “This is work of God, that you believe on him whom he hath sent (John 6:29).” Messengers are sent unto them for their good, and for the good of all God's people. “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you (John 20:21).” But receiving God's messengers is not easy, for no one wants to be informed that their religious beliefs are mistaken, or that their teachings need to be changed. Only consider that Jesus, and all the apostles, and all of the ancient prophets, were also God's messengers: for messengers are believers, which are, and were, sent by God to declare his words. Today's leaders are facing confusion and troublous times, and they need to remember that confusion abounded when the the religious authorities of the past received the word of the Lord through the ancient prophets. Believers are to avoid making their mistakes: know that God speaks unto his people through messengers, it is his way. To minimize confusion, Paul concluded that believers ought to speak up on behalf of God's messengers. “If a man think himself to be spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are commandments of the Lord (1Corinthians 14:37).”

There is no damage done when a believer receives a messenger, for listening to others cannot defile a man's inheritance: “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him (Mark 7:15).” Believers ought to receive a messenger, then turn unto the Lord in prayer, and study to find out whether or not the information provided is supported by the evidence of scripture. The damage comes if believers reject God's messengers, and if they refuse to look into the truth of God's word, for this is rebellion against God: “As Janes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist truth… they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men (2Timothy 3:8-9).” God will send powerful delusions upon everyone that rejects knowledge, and thereby he will cause the rebellious to remain deceived until they are recompensed for their err on Judgment Day (Mark 7:9). "For this cause God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they might be damned who believed not the truth (2Thessalonians 2:11-12)." So be humble, and receive God's messengers. “It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people (Acts 3:23)."

Another way in which believers are to receive God's messengers, is by considering and receiving new understanding from the ancient prophets. One such understanding is to come from Timothy. In the book of Philippians, Paul wrote that he trusted that Jesus would send Timothy unto believers. “I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you (Philippians 2:19).” Timothy was one of Paul's helpers, and he was charged with keeping, "The Charge." “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells within us (2Timothy 1:14).” “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy… that thou by them might war a good warfare (1Timothy 1:18).”

The Charge is recorded in the first epistle of Timothy, and it is God's commandments of instruction for the deacons, elders, and others with authority in the church, that they might help the church prevail in truth. In essence, The Charge commands every helper of the church to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit (1Timothy 4:13-16); and to pray, and intercede, and give thanks for their leaders (1Timothy 2:1-2). It instructs these guardians of the church to hold faith in a good conscience (Timothy 1:19), and to count their leaders worthy of all honor (1Timothy 6:1-2). These workers are to publicly correct anyone within the church that is not acting in accordance with godliness, and they are to do it without partiality (1Timothy 5:20-21; Galatians 2:14). They are to teach the people not to trust in tradition but to trust in the living God, and they are to cause them to know the importance of maintaining good works, and of studying the scriptures: so that all of God's people might know the truth, and be able to communicate it (1Timothy 6:17-19). Last of all, The Charge instructs these acting authorities to guard the church against false teachings (1Timothy 1:3). “I give thee charge in the sight of God… That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Timothy 6:13-14).” The words, "until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ," indicate that The Charge meant was to live on through the generations of helpers in the churches, who are like Timothy.

After perceiving the truth about The Charge, then the second epistle of Timothy becomes guidance for the guardians of the church who are currently keeping, or who have kept, The Charge, unto the appearing of Christ. Timothy is said to be weeping, which insinuates that these believers will be crying out to God, and praying for the mistakes of religion (2Timothy 1:4-5). Evidence and proof that this book pertains to end times is heard in the words: "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death (2Timothy 1:10)." This verse confirms that the book of second Timothy is prophesied unto the authorities of the church at the time of Jesus' second appearing, because of its prophetic words: "Who hath abolished death." To understand the meaning of these things, it is necessary to know more about what is meant by the words. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1Corinthians 15:26)."

While Jesus walked the earth, he promoted a fresh new doctrine of God which drew large crowds, but jealousy and envy entered into the hearts of the religious dignities when they heard about his crowds. Jealousy and envy are sins which turn God's people into his adversaries, because these sins cause believers to desire the destruction of God's messengers. Jealousy and envy are responsible for forcing God's messengers to lay down their own lives in order to promote the kingdom's truths (2Timothy 4:6). The voluntary act of sacrificially laying down ones life in order to share God's truths with others, is the death which will be swallowed up in victory. Jesus Christ paid an ultimate price for his service to man, because envy, jealousy, and pride put him on the cross. His crucifixion manifests the heinousness of these sins: but, by the grace of God, Jesus' obedience also manifests a pattern of genuine love: "Lo, I come, (in the column of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7)." "Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God (Galatians 1:4)." Just like Jesus, today's messengers will also lay down their lives, sacrificially, in order to cause others to inherit eternal life, and to enter into the kingdom of God. But this should not to happen, because scripture's details of the past were recorded so that believers might avoid making those mistakes, and that they might unite and work together to know what God's will is: for then death is swallowed up in victory!

“Now if Timothy come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he works the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren (1Corinthians 16:10-11).” This verse personifies Timothy's awkward position. In second Timothy, Timothy's name now represents the helpers within the church who have gained liberty because the covenant message has freed from the rules which are currently governing salvation (John 8:36). Paul’s name represents priests which are grouped together in likemindedness with Paul, even those priests which have respect for Paul's teachings. Timothy is set at liberty, but Paul has continued to remain bound by religion's rules. Paul is encouraging Timothy to press on. "Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou a partaker in the afflictions (2Timothy 1:8)." "Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you (Hebrews 13:23).” In saying “If he come shortly, I will see you” Paul is verifying that today's priests which are bound, are, in effect, waiting to see and witness their own helpers and guardians of the church, supporting and promoting the truths of the covenant message. Additional evidence of this truth is heard in the words: "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things (2Timothy 2:6-7)."

In the parable, Paul encourages Timothy to press on, as a messenger, and as good soldier: and he pleads with Timothy to get involved in the battle, because it is the word of God. “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2Timothy 2:3).” “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he will also deny us (2Timothy 2:12).” “Stir up the gift of God which is in thee (2Timothy 1:6).” "No man that warreth entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier (2Timothy 2:4).""Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2Timothy 2:19)."

This book encourages the deacons, elders and others with authority in the church, to assume the role of God's messengers. It instructs and teaches these guardians to be firm but gentle in communicating the truths of scripture unto the deceived.“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers (2Timothy 2:14).” “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (2Timothy 2:24-25).”

Some concluding remarks: God has declared certain things which Jesus Christ was sent to accomplish. A few examples include, Jesus was sent to guide believers in the way of peace (Luke 1:79); and to proclaim liberty unto the captives, and to open the prison houses of those that are bound. It is also implied that Jesus Christ would proclaim the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:1-2). These acts will be finished and completed through believers which have the mind of Christ: for God's messengers are bearing answers to hidden truths of prophecy, and those answers are guiding believers in the way of peace, and they are setting people free from religious bondage, unto salvation. Through the covenant message and the voices of God's messengers, the day of the vengeance of our God has been announced. Receive the warning, and study the scriptures. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightfully dividing the word of truth (2Timothy 2:15).” “For if we sin willfully after that we have received knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:26).”

Scripture is a perfect work of God wherein each and every word was given one concise meaning, and it was perfectly placed. This is an impossible feat which could have only been accomplished by God. When believers search and investigate scripture, and find out that one true meaning for each and every perfectly placed word, then scripture interprets itself, and prophecy is understood (2Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 28:10). Studying prophecy reveals that it is God's will to overturn every religion, and to gather all believers together in one; and it is also God's will that end times be a time of refreshing for restoring and strengthening his people's confidence in him (Isaiah 28:12; Ephesians 1:9). "They shall know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 7:27).""Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19)." “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:11).” These messages are prepared for the express purpose of awakening believers, and causing them to study and confirm the hidden truths of prophecy, and to know the mystery of God's will: “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).”