> Ray,
>
> Hi I enjoy reading all the papers and emails that you have on your site and
> want to thank you for putting up this web site. I am currently in the
> middle of reading the letter to John Hagee and you state to him "Christ
> ceases to reign after the eons come to an end " citing (I Cor. 15:24:28). I
> have e-sword and I like to look up the verses you give and keep them for
> future reference for myself. Anyway, I also look at John Wesley's
> Explanatory Notes for alittle help with the verses that I look up (came with
> e-sword) He says. " Not that the Father will then begin to reign without the
> Son, nor will the Son then cease to reign".
>
> I am alittle confused. could you please help me to clear this up?
>
> May God Bless you and Thank you for all you do and are doing.
> Amy
>
Dear Amy:
Anyone who listens to John Wesley, John Knox, John Calvin, etc., will be confused.
Both parts of the statement: "Not that the Father will then begin to reign without the Son, nor will the Son then cease ro reign," are wrong. YES, Jesus STOPS "reigning," and the Father never STARTS reigning.
Both of John's statements are false and unscriptural. "For He must REIGN....." (I Cor. 15:24). Reign means to "rule." And here is how He will rule: "And he shall RULE them with a ROD OF IRON...." (Rev. 2:27). If Jesus never stops reigning and the Father starts reigning, then there will NEVER BE PEACE in the universe. There must come a time when REIGNING AND RULING come to an end. When "all enemies are under His feet" (I Cor. 15:25).
Notice carefully that when Jesus stops reigning, "For He must reign TILL...." (Verse 25). Till means "UNTIL." Jesus reigns "till/until" and NO LONGER, and neither does the Father then reign. Jesus does not turn over the "reign" to His Father. Let's read it: "Then comes the end, when He shall have delivered up THE KINGDOM [not the 'reign' OF the Kingdom, but 'THE Kingdom'] TO GOD, even the Father...." (Verse 24).
Hope that makes more sense to you than John Wesley.
God be with you,
Ray