Bible Student’s Resource Index

The So-Called “The Prison Epistles” – “The Perfection Epistles” Ephesians and Colossians are the epistles of the Secret Administration. Many who came to see the dispensational boundary line of Acts 28 and/or the Secret Administration included other epistles they saw as written after Acts 28. Some referred to these epistles as “the Prison Epistles,” or “the Perfection Epistles.” It is easy to understand why they did so. We in fact once held such a view. Yet, we believe upon a closer examination of the epistle other than Ephesians and Colossians, that these fit doctrinally to that hope prior to Acts 28. We now see that even Philippians stood on the threshold of the grand Ephesian-Colossian writings, it being the gateway epistle to the Celestial writings of Paul.  Book Resource: Ephesians & Colossians:  Scripture for the Present Administration , Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr., Bible Student’s Press.

The Consummation God’s creation is being restored in stages throughout the ages, and will find its complete culmination at the “ Consummation ” of the ages (“ the Day of God” ). At that time all death will be abolished, as well as all illusory human “sovereignty,” “authority,” and “free will.” In the “ Consummation ” (I Corinthains 15:24, CV ) we find the Ultimate Sphere of Glory, a place where God Himself is “All in all.” God created the entire universe out of Himself. There once was nothing but God, and everything came forth out of Him. Of a surety, “out of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are ALL things” (Romans 11:36). God is the beginning of “all,” and He will be the consummation of “all.” This is the divine goal : “that God will be All in all” (I Corinthians 15:28, DT ). In other words, God will be “Everything in everything” and “Everything to everyone.” Hi s entire creation – without exception – will be gloriously complete and in perfect harmony with Himself; all that...

The heaven ly sphere is that of the “New Jerusalem” “descending out of Heaven from God” (Revelation 3:12; 21:2, 10), and is for all of those who are “of the faith of Abraham” (Romans 4:16) – those who are “Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). These are those who among Israel and the Nations who have their “calling” of hope prior to Acts 28.   This election makes them “partakers of a heaven ly calling” (Hebrews 3:1). Like their spiritual father, Abraham, they “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10; cf. 12:22-23).   The New Jerusalem will be the administrative capital of Israel’s worldwide Kingdom on Earth (Zechariah 14:16-17). This is the sphere of Abraham’s spiritual seed, which included believing Gentiles during the Acts Period (Galatians 3:29). Unlike the “meek” and “good” among Israel and the Nations who will “inherit the Earth” (Matthew 5:5), these have been granted the...

The term “Acts period” is a reference that time-period covered by the events of the book of Acts. It begins at Pentecost and ends with Paul at Rome. This period is the “ blade ” and “ ear ” stage of the Kingdom of God (Mark 4:26-29) Book Recourse:  The Acts Dispensation , Otis Q. Sellers, Bible Student’s Press

Parousia ( παρουσι ́ α  G3952 , SEC ) at its base means “ personal presence, ” and is used for the official presence of Christ on Earth as manifest during the Millennial Kingdom. The Parousia is initiated by Christ’s Second Advent. Thus, it is translated: “ c oming ” ( KJV ), “ arrival ” ( Moffatt; Analytical-Literal ), and “ presence” ( Concordant; Diaglott; Rotherham; Young ). The Parousia is central to the Messianic prophecies and Israel’s ultimate hope. However, the Parousia is not the hope of the One Body, and therefore the word “ parousia” is not found in Ephesians or Colossians, the epistles of the Secret Administration. Our hope is our joint-appearing with Christ in Glory, “ far above all Heavens ” (i.e., among the Celestials in the Super-Heavens – Colossians 3:1-4; c.f., Ephesians 4:10).   “When we think of the Lord Jesus Christ returning to this Earth, we think of it as Him  Coming  to take His place as King. The normal word ( Greek, erchomai ) j...

Fall of Israel in the Book of Acts In the book of Acts there was a threefold digression of Israel’s apostasy, which in turn resulted in the threefold progression of Paul’s ministry   – turning, going, sending: “ we turn to the Gentiles ” “ henceforth I will go to the Gentiles ” “ the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles .” Notice these three stages unfolded in their contexts: “… seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles ” (Acts 13:46). “… when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles ” (Acts 18:6).  “… And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,  s aying , ‘ Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand...

Hope of Israel “ The Hope of Israel ” concerns the coming physical, literal kingdom reign of Jesus the Messiah over a resurrected Israel (nation), in fulfillment of the prophesied Davidic (king) and Palestinian (land) covenants. This is yet future and is foretold throughout the Old Testament, the Gospels, Acts, New Testament Jewish Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. By contrast, our hope today, under the Secret Administration is a joint-appearing with Christ in Glory, “ far above all Heavens ” (i.e., among the Celestials in the Super-Heavens – Colossians 3:1-4; c.f., Ephesians 4:10). Book Reourcses: Hope , Charles H. Welch, Bible Student's Press   The Hope of Paul’s Acts Epistles , Tom L. Ballinger,    Bible Student's Press